Originally Posted by
Steev
Don't be too harsh on it. All those spendy folk that bought early Dura-Ace made the freehub concept sucessful enough for Shimano to go on and design the standardized parts we use now.
While Dura Ace was the proving ground for some of the most revolutionary changes in bicycle component design, 1996 was well after the introduction of the freehub... 1996 or 1997 must have been the last year 8 speed was offered (although 8 and 9 sp cassettes have the same spacing and so there should be no need for a redesign)
Anyhoo, to the OP, good luck on getting your top-of-the-range parts, and vive la planned obsolescence!