Originally Posted by
plonz
I've seen a fair amount of negative opinions on the Shimano 600 Arabesque groupset in this forum and am wondering what's behind this? I am planning to use this group for the first time on an upcoming build and want to go into it knowing what to expect. I personally think it's one of the more aesthetically appealing groups for a vintage Asian build so maybe there are performance issues? My experience with other groups is that all down tube friction shifting systems pretty much operate the same. Maybe the "feel" of a shifter is different but I find them to be pretty comparable with getting into gear and staying there. It's also been my experience that condition, cables and adjustment are equally big, if not bigger, factors affecting proper operation.
So what's not to like about Shimano Arabesque?
...it works fine in comparison to everything else contemporary with it, except, as already stated, probably a little harder to get it shifting crisply on the back, compared to the same years of Suntour. You can tweak that by using SIS cable housing, a ramped freewheel, and a swell KMC 8.93 chain. The brakes work better if you run new low friction smooth cables and cable housings that are lined. I have it on at least a couple of bikes, and it does OK. When first was released, it was either at or near the top of Shimano's component line. (I'd have to Google when the first year for Dura Ace was, and I'm too lazy.)