Destroyed my original FD with a chain drop shifting under load like an ape...this was the perfect replacement and it arrived quickly!
This was an upgrade from a Shimano 105 on my wife's bike. (Guys/gals, jump on your partner's bike sometime and see what feels right/wrong... it's amazing what you don't know about their riding experience.) This Ultegra R8000 braze-on front derailleur is so much smoother and precise than the previous one. I'm an amateur bike mechanic, so no pro, but it was very easy to install and adjust this derailleur on the braze-on mount. The price was great, and the improvement in performance would have been worth twice the price!
Smooth shifting and function that you'd expect from Shimano
I upgraded from integration 6800 to 8000 when my old 6800 FD broke.
It was a great decision. The 8000 is so much more adjustable and manages the cable. Instead of having to fix the the cable just right to keep it from rubbing on your tire, the new model has a plastic cap which routes the cable backwards in a reliable way.
The auto tension is the other big change. After fixing the cable you tune up the cable tightness with a few turns of an Allen key. So much easier.
This front derailleur isn't like installing your basic front D. Once you've done tinkering with it, it's fine, but installing it is a pain. I wouldn't say it shifts better than any shifter I've had because it doesn't.
It's ok, but not great
This is by far the best front derailleur I've ever used. Shifts are lightening fast, silky smooth, and absolutely reliable. It was a little tricky to cable -- after passing through the pinch bolt, the cable wraps around the front of the housing then passes through the protective cap and back toward the rear wheel -- but once I figured out the cabling and adjusted the stops, it works great. Shifting is effortless and precise, and the price was very reasonable given the derailleur's quality. I highly recommend this derailleur. Get it -- you won't regret it!
What a few years of progress makes between groupsets. Much more predictable shifting
One of the parts I need to repair my bike.
Smooth-shifting that gives you awesome transaction. love the look and adjustment and that fact that I work great with my shifters.
The adjustability of this derailleur is amazing. Every shift is perfect.
