Dura Ace ST-7900 Front Derailleur Compatibility

[Gartenmeister]

I just scored a set of NOS Dura Ace levers, ST-7900. These are the second generation of 10 speed, that is the fat levers with the hidden cables.

I have read that Shimano specs this particular shifter to work only with FD-7900. Question is, in the real world do they actually work with other front derailleurs....such as 5700 of 6700? Or something else like a good ol 6500? I mismatch parts/groups on all of my bikes and (road) front derailleurs just tend to work....no matter the age or the label. Skeptical of the FD-7900-only bit but interested in your experience.

Thanks

[ahumblecycler]

My experience with 7900 is to best keep it within the family. I opted to run a 5700 RD on my CX setup to save money to my woes - shifting suffered and switched out for the expensive 7900 RD eventually and was happy there after.

I tried 7800 FD and nothing got it right. 7900 is designed to have no trim, which makes FD a bit trickier but also fantastic; other FDs are built with the assumption of trim, and I think this is why I could not 7800 FD to work great.

In terms of the "fat" shifters, 7900 never bothered me and is narrower than 6700 and 5700 shifters (I liked the latter for CX for additional width and thus grip). I know 7900 was not well received, but I thought it was great and truly was worth the upgrade from Ultegra and 105. I still consider 7800 to be the Rolls Royce for me though but those are days past.

[oldpotatoe]

I just scored a set of NOS Dura Ace levers, ST-7900. These are the second generation of 10 speed, that is the fat levers with the hidden cables.

I have read that Shimano specs this particular shifter to work only with FD-7900. Question is, in the real world do they actually work with other front derailleurs....such as 5700 of 6700? Or something else like a good ol 6500? I mismatch parts/groups on all of my bikes and (road) front derailleurs just tend to work....no matter the age or the label. Skeptical of the FD-7900-only bit but interested in your experience.

Thanks

No, 7900 only sir.