Though the Shimano's Dura-Ace R9100 groupset is a marked departure from its predecessor, the R9000, the accompanying Dura-Ace R9100 OT-SP41 Polymer-Coated Derailleur Cable Set is largely unchanged: The stainless cables are still polymer-coated and the housing is still lubed with silicone. No surprise here, since Shimano spent all of its R&D time on far more important things like shifting, redesigning the hood shape, and increasing crankset efficiency.
And what a job the Japanese brand did. Some of us are inclined to call Dura-Ace R9100 the best mechanical shifting ever. That admittedly gets the Italian fetishists up in arms, but even they admit there's a clean efficiency to it that never gets old. Until the cables do. The bike lets you know when it's time to replace your cables by getting sloppy on the cassette. Listen to it, and tidy-up your shifting—the new Dura-Ace is definitely worth it.
