Shimano Polymer shift cables
07-23-18, 03:13 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Shimano Polymer shift cables
I think it will be the last I use these inner cables. Was out for a ride a few days ago and my Ultegra 6800 FD would not shift to small chain ring.
After getting home and investigating I discovered the coating frayed and restricting cable movement inside housing. This cable is only 4-5 months of use.
I replaced with one of the spare Teflon coated cables I been using for many years and shifts great. Also 1/2 the price of the ploymer coated version. I could get
2yrs of use from the teflon cables when running 9sp Durace shifters.
After getting home and investigating I discovered the coating frayed and restricting cable movement inside housing. This cable is only 4-5 months of use.
I replaced with one of the spare Teflon coated cables I been using for many years and shifts great. Also 1/2 the price of the ploymer coated version. I could get
2yrs of use from the teflon cables when running 9sp Durace shifters.
07-23-18, 04:41 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 17,546
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3972 Post(s)
Liked 3,337 Times
in
2,022 Posts
Agreed, coated cables are great when fresh but as the coating is worn it frays and clogs things. Like with Gore cables install care reduces but does not prevent this. We find that the more convoluted the cable's path the greater the problem of fraying. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
07-23-18, 05:48 PM
#3
Senior Member
Shimano's optislick (the green teflon ones) are much, much harder than the traditional black teflon cables, and wear much better than the Dura Ace/XTR cables. The performance difference is minor, but as with everything, the devil is in the details. If the bike you have suffers from tight, high friction housing bends, well...
07-23-18, 06:52 PM
#4
With a mighty wind
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,440
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1013 Post(s)
Liked 792 Times
in
446 Posts
Do you mean that copper colored inner cable that looks like it's wrapped with an extremely fine wire?
I installed one on my road bike last night. I was shocked at how much grime it picked up just in the garage. There is a seal of sorts at each cable end, we'll see how well it works.
And yep, I've got a brand new regular shift cable ready to replace it with, I certainly don't trust this thing.
I installed one on my road bike last night. I was shocked at how much grime it picked up just in the garage. There is a seal of sorts at each cable end, we'll see how well it works.
And yep, I've got a brand new regular shift cable ready to replace it with, I certainly don't trust this thing.
07-23-18, 07:06 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
07-23-18, 07:36 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,947
Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 174 Times
in
113 Posts
I use the polymer on my Wilier that is Shimano 6700 and it shifts way better than the regular cables. I agree it looks dirty if exposed but mine never misses a shift now and i have used the cables 2 years.
The original cables were good die drawn stuff but the polymer stuff and new housing that goes with it work great.
Jagwire makes some super expensive equivalent now be interested in how that works. I also have the polymer stuff on my 6800 and it almost shifts by itself.
The original cables were good die drawn stuff but the polymer stuff and new housing that goes with it work great.
Jagwire makes some super expensive equivalent now be interested in how that works. I also have the polymer stuff on my 6800 and it almost shifts by itself.
07-23-18, 11:02 PM
#7
Senior Member
Shimano is phasing that stuff out anyways. The Shimano Optislick cables don't fray like that. They theoretically have slightly more friction when brand new, but I think they work better long term. Also really nicely smoothed plain cables like the jagwire pro work really well.
07-24-18, 06:04 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,318
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,088 Times
in
721 Posts
Since the coefficients of friction of PTFE on steel and PTFE on PTFE are nearly identical, the die-drawn wires in a housing with a PTFE-like liner should be about as good as it gets, without the peeling and clamping difficulties of plastic-coated wires.
07-24-18, 08:12 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,318
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,088 Times
in
721 Posts
Since the coefficients of friction of PTFE on steel and PTFE on PTFE are nearly identical, the die-drawn wires in a housing with a PTFE-like liner should be about as good as it gets, without the peeling and clamping difficulties of plastic-coated wires.
07-24-18, 08:12 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
Maybe it's just me but I've never really had a problem with them and I've switched all my bikes to the polymer cables, some 11 speed, some 10 speed. Usually get 2-3k out of them at least and they feel better on all shifters. There's a difference between the ultra and duraace ones IIRC, the DA ones have a tighter denser wound sheath. Use them with good sp41 or lex-sl lubed housing and they work great and don't shed or clog up inside of the housing.
