P R O D U C TT P R E V I E W |
Shimano Breaks the Mold with the Upcoming Calcutta D
Date: |
6/18/12 |
Tackle type: |
Reels |
Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
Reviewer: |
Team TackleTour |
Introduction:
Shimano prepares to revamp their popular round
reel
series with the new Calcutta D which sports a brand new profile as well as a few
unexpected feature additions that are designed to alter the look, feel, and
overall performance of the reel. The Calcutta B and TE series have also become popular among
both freshwater
and saltwater anglers that prefer a more traditional round reel layout. The Calcutta D is not
an evolution of these current reels, it is more of a revolution, and features a
completely new design.
This ICAST Shimano will introduce
the new Calcutta D
The Calcutta is one of the most popular round reel series of reels on the market,
delivering a blend of performance, refinement and value as well as rock solid
reliability even in harsh saltwater environments. While many would consider the
Calcutta a saltwater series it actually started out as a freshwater bass reel in
the early 90's with larger 300, 400, and 700 sizes only coming out in following
years, ultimately progressing to the higher end CTE Series. With plenty of line capacity
and a reliable Dartanium drag these reels also found popularity among big bait
anglers tossing full sized swimbaits for bass or plugs for top of the food chain
species like Muskies. This upcoming ICAST Shimano is preparing to introduce the
new Calcutta D which is designed to combine the classic performance and
reliability of the originals with a number of new enhancements in casting reel
design including X-ship and X-Drag. Anglers can expect all the usual Shimano
goodness like HEG gearing and the proven VBS cast control system.
Notice the Calcutta D has no
conventional drag star
The first thing that anglers will notice about the new Calcutta D is the gold
finish is now replaced with a silver finish that is very similar to what we saw
on the Trinidad A. Rather than expose the bare aluminum the reel is now coated
with Shimano’s E.I. surface treatment which protects the reel from corrosion.
The non handle sideplate side is
smaller than the handle side for weight reduction and better ergonomics
The frame on the Calcutta D is no longer symmetrical and is now similar to the
Torsa where the non-handle side is smaller than the gearbox handle side. When
you look at the front of the reel you can actually see the top bar slope
downwards on top of the levelwind where the non-handle side is about 15% smaller
in diameter. This is all part of Shimano’s S-compact body design which allows
the reel to have a smaller overall form factor making it both lighter and more
ergonomic.
The top is sculpted to match the
angle of the drop to the non handle side as well as provides a comfortable grip
surface when palming
Like on Shimano’s spinning reels the X-Ship design delivers smoother winding
power and improved rigidity both when cranking free and under load, and on
baitcasters that implement this feature it also delivers the added benefit of
improved freespool.
The X-Drag knob is positioned on
the outside of the handle bringing the entire handle closer to the body of the
reel
The Calcutta D will sport a long power handle fitted with septon grips and
anglers will also notice that the drag star has been replaced with the X-Drag
knob. Shimano has not yet released too many details regarding this new drag
system but there are some things that we can observe. This is not just the
replacement of a drag star with a drag knob, look at the actual placement of the
knob, it is placed after the handle as opposed to before the handle on a
traditional implementation.
The Calcutta D will make use of
Shimano's E.I. finish for extra corrosion resistance
This design brings the handle closer to the body of the reel and further down
the shaft which should improve rigidity by reducing lateral torque and by
further minimizing wobbling in the handle to facilitate the instant transfer of
cranking power. To see how this all plays out in reality and how adjustment of
this system actually feels, as well as the system’s max drag pressure ratings,
we will need to wait to check out the actual reels, but we like the fact that
Shimano continues to find ways to innovate and differentiate through design.
The Calcutta D has a long handle
ad makes use of the company's oversized Power Grips
Shimano will introduce the Calcutta D in 200, 300 and 400 sizes with 5.7:1,
5.6:1, and 5.1:1 retrieve ratios respectively. Each reel comes with a 5 bearing
design (2A-RB, 2SS + 1A-RB) and will retail from $339.99 to $379.99 depending on
size and model. In comparison to the current generation Calcutta TE reels the
new Calcutta D reels have also managed to shave off some weight. The current
Calcutta B 200 weighs 10.1oz. while the higher end Calcutta TE 200 weighs in at
10.4oz. and the larger CTE300 weighs in at 12.5oz., compared to the new
Calcutta D 200 which weighs 9.4oz. and the larger CT300D manages to come in well
under 12oz. at a very impressive 11.6oz.. In terms of line capacity the new
reels offer almost identical max capacities to that found in the current
generation.
The 300 size still looks compact
and uses the same oversized grips from the current Calcutta CTE300
With the Calcutta D we are seeing homogenization of the company’s U.S. and JDM
offerings. The original Calcutta and JDM Conquest Series reels really delivered
when it came to refinement and performance and the new Calcutta D looks to do
the same with an updated design that really breaks the design mold to deliver
the refinement that angler’s have come to demand from the series with improved
performance, ergonomics and durability. With the arrival of design elements like
X-Ship and X-Drag to baitcasting the new Calcutta D is also designed to deliver
both superior casting and improved drag performance for everything from
largemouth to dorado. In terms of availability
these reels should be available about two months after their official unveiling
at ICAST, which is right around the corner in July, and e-tailers like
Tackle Warehouse will start taking orders on July 11th, and we
expect that product will be in stock at or around the same time.
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