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I dunno, I put an R8000 front mech on mine the other day when I stuck a load of GRX stuff on, it shifts way better than the rival that was on there in the few miles of commuting testing I've done, there is some noise when cross chaining but don't do dat. My comparisons to older shimano are all on other people's bikes I've fixed, the older stuff also worked really well, this seems to get rid of that initial firmness from the big lever arm before it threw your chain up, the same firmness that made trimming towards the big ring if you wanted to do small/smallish kinda hard, so I guess it's better but they are both good. I think the shape is also meant to play better with all the increased tyre sizes knocking about.
I've not used this new style but does it actually have any advantage over the older FDs? I never had issues shifting on the older stuff. I've got to assume they're better and this has something wrong with it, or I've fucked a step, because they shouldn't be this complicated for no benefit.
Maybe they take some effort out of the lever to change? For people with weak hands or something? I dunno. Anyone got a spare R8000 I can swap onto my bike?