Nokon Slimline cable set

There's not getting away from it, Nokon slimline cables are expensive in relation to top-flight weather sealed Bowden type cables, they're even more expensive than standard width Nokons,and installation is very time consuming too. On the flip side, performance is superb and the design's malleable characteristics come into their own on bikes with torturous cable runs and or/unusual cockpit configurations (e.g. long but relatively high stem and narrow bars) plus they are claimed to last much longer than standard cables which goes some way to jutifying the price. However, rubberised cable cuffs or good quality electrical tape are essential to prevent the aluminium housing chafing pretty frame finishes.

These Slimline versions of Nokon's classic design are, say Nokon, 58 per cent lighter than traditional types, (Nokon claim their standard width cables are 30 per cent lighter). So these are very much aimed at the weight weenie wanting to put the finishing touch to a bling bike.

Open the packaging and you're presented with a beautiful anodised outer, Teflon inner sleeve and common or garden stainless inners. The housing is actually fashioned from segments that slot together like a beaded necklace, eliminating the need for cutting and theoretically mistakes. Creative types can also mix and match, adding other colours for the last word in customisation. Set to the correct tolerances, these segments provide stability for the entire system.

Before fitting take time to study and become familiar with the component parts and how they relate to each other. Offer it up to the bike a few times before snipping the Teflon inner sleeve but until then, because the outer can be added or subtracted at will, there's no risk of permanent or costly errors. Closer inspection suggested, other than the precision cut housing, there's little separating sleeve and inner wire from the very best traditional types and in the interests of thorough, investigative testing, I wired the Nokon to front and rear mechs and headed for the muddiest trails and wettest coastal roads I could find.

Credit where due, they've been fit and forget, marginally friskier up and down the block under load too. Despite my initial reservations, there's been no infuriating cable chatter over rougher roads and trails even forgoing nylon cable-cuffs. Swapping the OEM inners with a stainless Shimano made no discernable impression-other than needing a quick tweak to counteract some minor cable stretch on the first outing, leading me to conclude, the outers are key to the concept's success. While undeniably slick, I could only justify the considerable expense on top-flight, finest groupset money's no object steeds -which, again to be fair, is really what they are intended for.

Verdict

Undeniably lightweight and super refined cables but only justifiable on the most expensive bikes.