Shimano Acera, the Forever Champion of Reliability

“[Acera] grimly does its work then sits motionless until it's time to work again. We could all take a page from [Acera’s] book.”

The cycling economy of desirability is fleeting and fickle. There is always an outsized focus on the cutting and bleeding edges of new tech. As an engineer, I’m appreciative for smooth edges of carefully matured technologies that leverage optimized design and manufacturing. All generations of the Shimano Acera rear derailleur are the embodiment of simplicity and reliability. They are perfectly fit for purpose. They swing and click flawlessly into gear, year after year. It is a product that humbly disappears into any riding experience. With the highest respect and thanks to Shimano designers and engineers, Acera is boring. It is also value-packed and wonderfully reliable.

All brands benefit from using of "boring" components and systems. Successful brands and market leaders already recognize this by working with newer component vendors' tech for their premier-level models. The products of new component vendors is best used in small quantities. Meanwhile, smart brands anchor their lower price-point products to tried-and-true components like the Acera derailleur to deliver consistency and reliability in production and sales.

It's wise to make specification and sourcing choices that enhance the core functions of the bike. They waste no internal design and development effort and protect the marketability of popular models. There is nothing to gain but risk, bad reviews and warranty costs by swapping in super low-cost components with unproven durability and function. Every brand should seize opportunities to 'outsource' and leverage R&D and product testing by experienced manufacturers.

The secret of many successful "prestige" cycling brands is that they have a development recipe that balances integrating new vendors & tech but also minimizes risk to mass production...

The secret of many successful "prestige" cycling brands is that they have a development recipe that balances integrating new vendors and tech but also minimizes risk to mass productions. How do they do this? By loading the newest top-shelf models with the highest end, (and least developed) components from smaller vendors. Brands may only produce these top end models in triple, double or even single digits each year! This is a great way for brands experiment with desirable but unproven vendors and bleeding-edge tech.

New bikes kitted out with bespoke and highly desirable tech are paraded as the crown jewels to capture exposure by reviewers and trade-show crowds. Brands feed customers' fantasies of wealth and success but with the tiniest, cheapest, teaspoon possible. These top-end models end up heavily discounted, sold at cost for team sponsorships or written off as losses. But not before every gram of useful exposure has been squeezed from these pricey showpieces. This also allows brands to take a measured approach to test products and gradually qualify new suppliers. If all goes well, a new supplier may be approved to tackle larger, lower-cost OEM orders for future productions. See the success of Wolftooth components as a model for growth from the obscure aftermarket to mainstream OEM.

We participated in an audit of a small, budget-priced component supplier. They were tasked by our client brand to build lower cost alternatives to Shimano and SRAM parts for mass production. The results were not good. After many sample productions, units continued to fail tests at very high rates. The manufacturer became frustrated with brand demands to revise and strengthen parts. The vendor complained that our testing requirements were too demanding. They also said they had never previously designed parts to meet CPSC or EN/ISO standards. Big red flags.

It became very clear this small vendor would not beat or even approach Shimano or SRAM on quality and cost. They had already carved out a tidy market for cheap and disposable bike parts and had no ambition to punch above their weight. All brands should carefully audit & qualify new vendors and test products before trusting them to support mass production needs.

Everyone loves a great Cinderella story of the underdogs rallying to victory in the playoffs. These heroic efforts should be encouraged...but only for breaking new ground that drives forward unique and profitable innovations. These successes should win marketing headlines, satisfy customer needs and build stable platforms for new brand innovation.

Short-term efforts to re-invent the wheel, or in this case, the derailleur, rarely results in true cost savings. Savvy customers will reject even the most skilled knock-off components. And brands that cut corners on brakes and derailleurs consistently lose out in side-by-side reviews against bikes with better components. Innovate on the top end, simplify and optimize with stable components on the mid and low end. The choice is clear, especially when you have boring, cheap and reliable tech like Acera derailleurs putting the competition to shame.

More insights and praise for the Acera Rear Derailleur from Russ at "The Path Less Pedaled" YouTube Channel

https://youtu.be/TaYEF3dLPpY

...

Subscribe to True Quality Engineering for more insights into Quality Management and the Cycling/EV industry. Please share your experiences in the comments. Reach us directly to discuss your specific needs. Info@truequalityengineering.com