We found the greatest wear on the chain. Rohloff's wear gauge ("Caliber") failed completely at several measuring points between the links - a clear indication that the chain has reached the end of its service life and should be replaced to protect the sprockets and chainrings. Minimally visible wear was evident on the teeth of the most frequently ridden sprockets and on both chainrings. Here, some teeth had lost material, especially in the area of the gear change zone; the teeth take on the typical shape of a shark's fin, whereby a replacement will probably only be necessary after another 3,000 to 5,000 kilometres. The shifting characteristics were not impaired on either the rear sprockets or the chainrings. In general, there was no increased frictional resistance in the cables when shifting; even after 5,000 kilometres, the Dura-Ace shifts as smoothly and precisely as when new.
The hardly worn brake pads were in very good condition, despite visible grooves on the aluminium sidewalls of the Ksyrium Elite wheels from Mavic. This may also be due to the brake-friendly riding style of our 65-kilogram test rider; in practice, this is not transferable to every type of rider. There is no criticism of the finish and workmanship. After cleaning, all parts appeared as good as new, with no trace of corrosion on screws or joints.
PLUS No restrictions on function and finish after 5,000 kilometres
Price 1,200 to 1,800 euros (direct sales and retail)
Reference/Info www.paul-lange.de
