Ken Freeeman wrote:
> The DA calipers are beautiful, fully a rival for Campy sidepulls in finish
> and stiffness. The QR latches work smartly, too. What I don't like are
> everything else. The levers seem a cheapened version of bike-boom Weinmann,
> the cables are not lined and hence unsuitable to my modern eye, the cable
> clamp acorn bolts are brass and one stripped easily, and the shoes feel
> greasy. I think I'll be replacing the shoe rubbers with the black
> Kool-Stops sold for Nuovo Record and Super Record replacement.
>
> Braking performance as stock and as-aged is much worse than Campy Record of
> the same day. I have two bikes set up with those, and they are very good
> brakes IMHO. I can't see how Shimano got the reputation of building better
> brakes than Campy, at least not in the '70s (my '80s OT Shimano 600s are no
> champion, either!). I can also easily see why Shimano didn't penetrate the
> peleton early on.
I have a set on one of my bikes as well:
http://www.os2.dhs.org/
Lovely satin finish; nicely chromed hardware. I replaced the Shimano pads with Mathauser finned pads -- better performance. I like the wire tire guides fitting into the caliper arms rather than part of the shoe holder assembly. I prefer modern, lined housing as well and had no qualms about replacing the original housing -- there's nothing special about the original stuff anyway. Likewise the levers. This bike has off-topic Shimano aero-style levers with the return spring in the lever body -- very nice, I have to admit. The QR is functional, but IMHO the Campy-style cam QR is far more elegant.
--
John (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA