Shimano

Ultegra FD-6700 Front Derailleur

The skeptics among us have been using the same front derailleur since their down tube shifting days; 'they're all the same' they cry when they see that there is yet another iteration of the front mech. Shimano says otherwise; their Ultegra FD-6700 front derailleur is different from the derailleur it's replacing, the 6600, and it is different from the Dura-Ace 7900.

Compared to the 6600, this shape of this unit has been tweaked to minimize the need for trimming the front derailleur, and the spring is lighter for less push necessary at the lever. The shift links have been widened to make the shifter torsionally stiffer. All in all, the shifting will feel smoother, lighter, and more precise. It is different from 7900 in that the cage is wider and designed to work with a front STI shifter that still has an intermediate "trim" shift -- Dura-Ace doesn't have this feature anymore. Shimano says this front derailleur will work with older 6600 shifters, but considers it 'B' compatible -- it works, but not great.

This Ultegra FD-6700 front derailleur is designed for compact (110mm bolt circle diameter) and standard (130mm bcd) double cranksets. There are three different versions -- braze-on, 34.9mm clamp, and 31.8/28.6mm clamp (which comes with a shim to reduce the diameter from the larger size to the smaller). It can handle a big/small ring differential of up to 16 teeth (as in up to 34/50).

• Wide Pivot Link design inhibits flex for better shifts
  
• Braze-on fits frames with pre-existing front derailleur braze-on mount
  
• Can also be used with braze-on clamp adapters
  
• SG-X Chainring compatible
  
• Compatible with older 6600 10-speed systems