Sky-blue rim tape included	Carbon fibre cladding is bonded to aluminium rim section
Angular hub design a departure for Shimano	Low-spline freehub body is retro-compatible

Sleek hubs, aluminium braking surfaces and a return to the old eight/nine-speed compatible freehub body marked Shimano’s latest Dura-Ace wheels. A key feature of the complete Dura-Ace wheelset is the use of carbon fibre as a bonded cladding for a lightweight aluminium rim section, thus retaining such useful attributes of aluminium as easy machining and provision of fixtures plus that important braking surface while taking advantage of the stiffness of carbon.

The latest Dura-Ace hub design goes back to the low-spline freehub body that preceded the move to aluminium for the original 10-speed Dura-Ace hub. The new freehub shell is made from titanium, has the quick-engagement 36-pawl ratchet from current XTR, and will be retro-compatible with older eight and nine-speed Shimano cassettes.