Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Band-on Front Derailleur

Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Band-on Front Derailleur

Drastic changes have been made in the creation of the Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Front Derailleur, changes which breathe new life into mechanical shifting and will pose serious questions if you are considering switching to an electronic groupset.

The Shimano FD-9000 Front Derailleur introduces an elongated actuation lever arm. This longer lever is able to impart greater shifting force which means, when teamed with Shimano's reduced friction polymer coated cables, the required shifting effort is reduced by 43%. The FD-9000 is, therefore, able to offer an incredibly light feeling shift with a very short lever throw, much like that of Di2.

To cope with the stresses of increased shifting force Shimano have introduced the same support bolt as used on their Di2 units, which greatly increases rigidity and ensures a stable and secure fit to the frame.

Shimano have re-introduced the ability to trim, and also added an elastomer insert to the inner side of the chain cage to eliminate the chain rub and prolong the lifespan of both chain and derailleur. This helps to accommodate for the increased width of the 11-speed cassette and give the rider precision control over the position of the chain cage.

The Shimano FD-9000 Front Derailleur offers the purist, light, smooth, precise gear changes like that found on electronic systems, whilst maintaining the superior feel and feedback that only mechanical-shifting is able to offer.