Originally Posted by
genejockey
I really like the Dura Ace stuff from the 80s and 90s. My first "serious" road bike was a Ritchey with 7410 DA that I bought in 1997, right after 7700 came out. I loved how it just worked. I kept the 7410 on the Ritchey till 2019. It's now a mix of 7410 with 7800 STIs and RD - too old and fat for 39x25 as my lowest gear!
Then I got a 1982 Lotus Supreme with 7200 DA, and started looking into the history. DynaDrive pedals, the freehub, the whole AX group, then SIS, then 7 and then 8 speeds, then STIs and dual pivot brakes. So much innovation in just a few years!
The 7400 stuff was my first love. As for the earlier DA, I've thought about purchasing a few pieces, just to collect and admire. Their AX stuff was way ahead of its time. Now all anyone can talk about is "aero." Shimano practically invented the concept.