Where can I get Dura Ace cable kits..cables, housing etc...

I've gotten them off ebay a few times, the separate kits for brakes and gears. Easy to work with, come with everything you need. I'm not a huge fan of the gray housing, I prefer black.

I usually buy bulk cables and housings. When I shift, it shifts. When I brake, it brakes <shrug>

Sometimes, the D/A kits can be a good deal though. It's quick and often not much more expensive than bulk.

you consider competitive cyclist research? now that is really funny.........

I use Nokons because I turn my bars far sideways to put it in my car. Regular housing (Campy) blow up after 2-3 months of turning sideways a lot.

Nokons are also lighter and don't compress. Or, to be really specific, the housing doesn't unwind a bit :)

I use whatever machined-flat-on-the-sides cables I can get. Campy or whatever.

cdr

Why? At least they pull stuff out of boxes, use it, weigh it, and report on it....unlike other retailers who use manufacturers descriptions as gospel.

What other research would you deem to be worthwhile?

How often do you replace your shifter cables? Once a year, every 10k or when you feel it's not performing well? Do you replace both the housing and inner cables or just the inner cables?

i only replace cables and housings when performance degrades or i'm switching to a new component or handlebars. good cables tend to really last a while.

that said, its my experience that most all of the name brand cables perform well, and the routing and installation is far more important than the cables themselves.

Any bike shop that sells Shimano products (which is almost all bike shops) should also sell Dura Ace cables and housing.

I replace my cables every time I replace my chain. Lifespan is probably similar, but inspecting your cables is much harder than inspecting your chain. The most common cable failures are inside your shift levers.

I'm replacing cables by virtue of switching the group to a new frame. I hadn't noticed any shifting degradation, but I'm amazed at the amount of gunk and grime even on a bike that was rarely ridden in the wet.

So, it's worth it.

re: Nokon cables.

I found them to be only slightly better than regular cables i.e. smoother with less compression. That alone is not worth the extra money for Nokons. What does make them worth the extra $$$ IMO, is you never have to buy housings ever again. Just cables and liners.

I use Dura Ace cables with Force..

When I first installed them, I grabbed the exposed cables and pulled on them pretty hard about a dozen times. I was mean to them just short of breaking something.

1000 adjustment-free miles later..

I have been really happen with DA cables. Kits are $15 a piece at Jenson right now, so for that price you can't beat them. Nokon's would almost definitely be an upgrade, but for Shimano components w/o the hidden cable routing I don't think it is worth the added price. If I ever switch to SRAM and have some extra $$ though, I would not hesitate to use Nokons.

Does anyone know if the Yokozuna Premium shifter kit is the same as what comes in the Reaction set? I'm thinking of upgrading the shifter cables only on my 2010 Sram Force. It sounds as if the brake change isn't nearly as significant as the shift performance.
http://www.yokozunausa.com/jetlubepro.html

Yokozuna also make incredible brake pads. I use the salmon colored pads and they are just like the old Scott Mathausers I remember. I recently replaced my cables and pads with Jagwires and Yokozuna pads. Feels much smoother and better stopping too!