Post42K

Hi all, I'd like to change my cables/inner wires on my 2004 Dura Ace brifters. How does the bulk cable below compare to pricier sets such as the Jagwire Racer or the Dura-Ace branded sets? Is there a significant difference in feel, durability or quality?

https://www.probikekit.com/us/compone...ble-outer.html

https://www.probikekit.com/us/compone...ble-outer.html

Burton

Yes and no. The short answer is: Buy the kit!

The long drawn out answer: A Jagwire Racer Kit isn't just a couple pieces of caple housing packaged in with a few ferrules and cables. The shifter housing is compressionless and fairly straight-forward. But Kevlar reinforced compression-less linear housing is also used for the brake housing. Moreover a short length of specialty, spiral wound housing is factory swaged to the control end of those housings to facilitate bending and seamless installation under bar-tape. L3 liners are used on all cables, high quality ferrules are included in two sizes for both the shifter and brake cables and the cables are drawn stainless steel. The sum of the parts would cost more than the kit.

Post42K

Thanks for the info. So if I just wanted to replace the cable/inner wire on the shifters, is the bulk cable housing decent? I often replace the inner wire alone on the 10 speed shifter and for a few bucks, I thought I'd stock up on the bulk cable if it's good enough?

DOS

Those kits seem awfully pricey; do you really get any noticeable improvement (asks me who won't even spend a few extra pennies on stainless cables -- I haven't had a rusty cable yet)?

MileHighMark

There is most definitely a difference in feel and durability. I've used the Dura-Ace/XTR kits and Jagwire kits, and prefer the latter.

See: https://www.gravelbike.com/?p=619

Burton

The same cable housing is available in bulk and on a variety of colors. To duplicate the kit brake cable configuration you'd have to also buy some cable splicing ferrules and some L3 lined spiral wound cable to splice on. A requirement for brifter installations but not for classic brakes.

davidad

The bulk cable and housing is fine. There is no real reason to go for the top dollar kits other than not being able to fit your own.

gyozadude

I like Jagwire cables as well, but I buy in relative bulk. I think they sell an 8m/25ft roll in various colours and that pack includes some ferrules/caps in there for multiple bikes. If folks can feel a difference between my bulk install of housing and notice a difference in performance even 8 - 10 months down the road, then I'd like to know. Because my bikes have had housing and cables that have been there for years without much change. In fact, grit and mud on the rims and caught in the brake shoes have far larger impact on braking feel, and correct derailleur cable/housing routing that criss-crosses beneath down tube on brifters to reduce the radius on the bend at the handlebars has much larger impact in my opinion. But you do need to cut housing to length with very sharp, clean cutters. But that said, I use super cheap 2 for $1 type of brake and derailleur cables and after a day of stretch and re-adjustment on the tension barrels, I usually don't mess with housing for years to come. I guess if you're just fixing one bike, paying $30 - $50 for a cable set and some donuts and ferrules with rubber seals might seem okay. But if you're planning to fix multiple bikes, it definitely will be much more economical to buy parts in bulk bags if you can source them.

Burton

Am I missing something? Just because its a 'kit' doesn't mean you don't have to custom cut the cables to length. It just means that you're buying a smaller quantity of housing, a smaller quantity of ferrules, a smaller quantity of cables, and that ferrules have already been swaged on two ends of the shifter cable. Someone running a shop might be better off buying in bulk. Someone just doing one or two bikes would be further ahead buying the kits.

Burton

The guy that does the installation is always the most important part. Jagwire cables, ferrules and housings are availabe in bulk in different quantities. The shops I work in buy cables in boxes of 100. And about 6 or 7 boxes a reason. That might be a bit much for the average cyclist. Kits are offered as an alternative.

gyozadude

No, you didn't miss anything. The kits come with something like standard 1.65m long brake cables, with 1.7m of 5mm housing (go figure?). Derailleur cabling kits have their length specs. End-installer has to cut to fit their bike.

fietsbob

Pricier like Nokon? those, a series of interlocking beads are cool !
gets you completely away from traditional brake and Index needed
compression-less housing, a worthy upgrade,
Still compression-less but much more flexible.. anodized colors too.