I loved the Shimano fingertip shifters.

Sometimes the manufactures will make a mistake (wireless shifters) but for the most part the stuff is just getting better.[/QUOTE]

Have you tried the wireless? Shifts flawlessly. Only problem is price, but that is coming down as Ultegra is going wireless. The front derailleur trim is awesome!

I try to keep the moving parts on my 1985 Mixte as up to date with as "revolutionary" parts as is posible... Because, after all it's good when parts on a bicycle revolve.

"The VxGT is a much lighter derailleur"?

I always thought that one of it's touring benefits was that it could double as a mallet for pounding tent stakes.

That makes it even better!

The VX S mid cage) weighs 211 grams and the VX GT only weighs a few grams more than this as the cage is only slightly longer... you may be thinking of the V Luxe Gt which weighs a whopping 256 grams.

Nicest thing about the VX is that it is not much heavier than a Cyclone and way tougher and if we compare the VX to the Mk2 Cycline, way prettier to boot.

I love my 41-year-old Masi that's equipped exactly as a 4-decades old road racer, but when I want to go long and hard give me a carbon frame that absorbs the bumps better, 10-speed cassettes that let me climb canyons without losing mid-range flexibility, STI levers that let me use 10-speed cassettes (and shift in the middle of corners, turns, and dicey descents), rims with machined sidewalls that respond consistently to braking, flat-top round-drop compact handlebars that give me better climbing positions, a lightweight well ventilated hardshell helmet that protects my head and is more comfortable than a hairnet, my favorite Fizik saddle that just feels good between my thighs, stiff carbon soled shoes and heat molded insoles that cradle my delicate feet, clip-in pedals that hold my feet better, and are more comfortable, than toeclips with slotted cleats while wearing ill-fitting Italian shoes that you had to ride wet and sockless for the first 400 miles just so they'd stop being excruciatingly painful.

Naw, new technology is all crap.

My 30 year old custom built Davidson is still going strong. I'm still using the original Campy NR shifters and rear derailleur, although I had to replace the matching front 2 years ago as the mount had cracked. With that campy NR setup I'm using a 10 speed Shimano wheel and it shifts flawlessly. I recently replaced the original Modolo Speedy brakes and levers with inexpensive Tektro ones, and the Tektro are MUCH better. The crank is a Chorus 10sp, except the bottom bracket is the original Zeus square taper. When I tried to use the Chorus BB, I couldn't get the old fixed cup off. I repacked the old BB and felt how smooth it still is and left it. Saddle is a new Performance store brand racing saddle, the seat post is carbon fiber. Wheels are Velomax from before the buyout by Easton. Bars and stem are original. Bottom line is that most of the important parts are new, but some are old. I'd have to say the modern parts are mostly better.

The SRAM X5 weighs 299 grams but does have a steel cage which could be of benefit for a long cage mtb derailleur as if you bang it up you can straighten it... you could probably use this to tap in tent pegs.

On a touring bike that extra 80 grams is nothing and I went on a 100 km shakedown ride yesterday and was really quite pleased with how exceptional the shifting was over a 13-30 7 speed which is well below it's rated capacity... and SRAM makes a very nice derailleur at pretty much every price point and has pretty much become the dominanat player in this market.

Still love my Vx and Cyclones... if it was not for the needs of a rather custom setup would not have required the modern SRAM.

The older stuff is actually better, if durability is important to you. Look at how often people have to change out drivetrain components on newer bikes. Some of the reason for that is because in order to make 10 speeds on the back cog work, everything has to be a little thinner. Less material = less durable. The older stuff isn't as light but it lasts longer.

I love the Cyclone on my Trek 460. Makes a sweet ***Ka-Chunk*** noise. Very smooth for an oldschool piece.

More complex is less durable, too. For example, STI levers compared to simple brake levers and downtube shifters (even ratcheting). And for durability and performance, 40 year-old Campagnolo Record hubs, headsets, pedals, and bottom brackets (loose balls) are pretty awesome.

The Hubs on my Paramount PDG are 20 years old.
The rims were just replaced (oems were araya 6000)
I still ride with the downtube shift setup on the paramount(the real fun comes when I switch bikes thruout the week and have mental breakdowns on brifters or downtubes when it comes time to shift)
I had to replace the shift levers (after 30K of shifting over 20 years)
I still have a SH24 sealed bearing jis taper BB in the bike and it spins 500% more freely than the &&**8 FSA Mega Exo in the 08 Motobecane IF and has afforded me far less headache in adjustment and repair.
Do I like the narrow spaced 10 cog setup on the Moto (over the 7 cog setup on the Paramount)? UBETCHA!
Would I Love to be able to install a Sq. Taper SH54BB with one of those Sugino Super Compact Cranksets (or the Velo Orange one)on the CF MOtO?? UBETCHA!!
There's been some fantastic new improvements to come out (ask anyone who discovered a 42 or 44cm wide bar after decades of 38cm) but for every really good idea there's been 10 "hey Look At This" POCs that turned good rides into unmemorable ones.

You should tune that up...

A cyclone should not go "ka-chunk".

Remember Bontrager's maxim:

Light, strong, cheap. Pick any two.

The thing is, it's getting very close these days where you can pick all three and be happy.

Older Suntour stuff was light, strong, and relatively cheap compared to Campagnolo and shifted far better.

After nearly 200 km I am pretty happy with the new SRAM on my pocket tourer... shifting is excellent and I really like the cable routing.

I'm not the greatest impressionist.

"Obsolete" means buy my new product. Certainly newer products have to improve or why would they be paying the designers and engineers all that money for?

Now if ai were a "true" racer with any hopes of winning races on a regualr basis I could see the benefit in newer products. But the reality is I just love to ride. My 84 Schwinn Super Le Tour which is original is lots of fun to ride, it meets a need.

I loved my 2004 C"dale R2000 double, that when I gave it to my son and went out looking for a new bike, CF, AL I set my priorities to start with the wheel set (Ksyrium SL). I ended up buying a non-riden (new) 2004 C"dale R2000 triple.

It rides great and I love the wheels!!!

Now, I bet there is a difference between 2004 and 2011 Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels but I bet I might have a bit of difficulty telling the difference. How much can you really improve upon ausome wheels?

Since my obsolete bikes (see signature) suit my needs perfectly, I have no desire to throw my hard-earned money at new equipment. Likewise, my wife and I want to keep our 2001 VW Passat wagon running as long as I reasonably can, because it is the perfect size and form factor for our needs.

I have a GT Xizang mtn. bike I bought new in 1995, when I was in my 40s. I'm now age 64 and my body has been changing. So has my riding style and interests. So, I've been upgrading some old Shimano XTR components with new Shimano XTR components. Also, new Brooks saddle, carbon riser bars, custom titanium rear rack, etc.

In my case, time and changes within my own body have caused me to make some changes to my cherished bike. And that makes me happy.