Shimano PD-M520 v PD-M540

DRS said:

Is there any substantive difference beyond 28 grams between the PD-M520 and
the PD-M540?

$40.

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS said:

Is there any substantive difference beyond 28 grams between the
PD-M520 and the PD-M540?

$40.

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

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DRS said:

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS said:

Is there any substantive difference beyond 28 grams between the
PD-M520 and the PD-M540?

$40.

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

Maybe for those people who have forty bucks to spend on lightening
their bike by an ounce?

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

Kinky Cowboy said:

DRS said:

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 23:36:44 +1000, "DRS"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

>Is there any substantive difference beyond 28 grams between the
>PD-M520 and the PD-M540?

$40.

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

Maybe for those people who have forty bucks to spend on lightening
their bike by an ounce?

come on kids.

the difference is that the 520 has a protected spindle, the 540 is
naked, therefore lighter & more sexy looking. the bearings are supposed
to be better in the 540 too, but i can't tell a difference in smoothness
by hand turning them.

getting back to the naked spindle, theoretically, if that gets damaged,
it can initiate fatigue whereas the covered one is less likely to have
that happen. example; a friend has the 959's with naked spindle. he's
somehow managed to gouge the chrome plating off a part of one spindle,
and the corrosion that's taking hold is a /real/ spectacle. a stress
riser, corrosion & cyclic loading. mmm, that failure is going to be
text book.

DRS said...

Quoted message said:

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

Why do all of the manufacturers make so many lines of virtually the same
thing?

Kinky Cowboy said:

DRS said:

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 23:36:44 +1000, "DRS"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

> Is there any substantive difference beyond 28 grams between the
> PD-M520 and the PD-M540?

$40.

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

Maybe for those people who have forty bucks to spend on lightening
their bike by an ounce?

That sounds about right; $40 an ounce works out to $640 a pound.

Ron

SuperSlinky <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

DRS said...

Quoted message said:

That's what I thought. I wonder why Shimano makes the M540 then.

Why do all of the manufacturers make so many lines of virtually the same
thing?

heh, foolish socialist.

You make 3 "different" items. You make them differ in only subtle and
relatively meaningless ways. Preferably make it so you can use a high
percentage of the same parts, and the ones that are different are so
cosmetic they don't really matter anyway.

Now you tout one as "entry level" and sell it for X.
this appeals to people who are either engineers and understand that
it's all
the same, or to people who value money more than look.

You tout the second as "enthusiast" or "race-ready" or whatever and
sell it for 2X.
This appeals to people who think they are getting a good deal on
what is
basically a high-end item. And sets them apert from those who would
buy that
cheap [censored]

You tout the third as "Pro" and sell it for 5X.
this appeals to people with more money and fashion sense than
engineering
sense. Or to people who have a very particular goal in mind.

See Campy's veloce v/s centaur brifters as a good example.
Difference: One has a tiny hole in the shift paddle which makes it 3g
lighter. And cost $25 more.

-Tim

Tim Howe said...

Quoted message said:

See Campy's veloce v/s centaur brifters as a good example.
Difference: One has a tiny hole in the shift paddle which makes it 3g
lighter. And cost $25 more.

-Tim

I think Campy could just do away with Veloce and Chorus, and with the
savings, bring down the price a little on Record and Centaur.