Ever since Shimano finally succeeded with index shifting in the 1984, real improvements in groupsets start at the highest end and then trickle down the component line as models are REFRESHED. Do you think it would be worth it? The alignment is a quick adjustment. Canyon, Cannondale and Specialized upgrade other components as you move up the range (wheels, for instance). Before changing anything I would look for the real problem. So now is the time to consider whether upgrading from Shimano 105, a perfectly functional bike groupset, to Shimano Ultegra, a perfectly functional bike groupset, will take you from dog-dog to Froome-dog. And it lets one run a larger range cassette. I don’t mind spending $90 for calipers…the best brakes you can buy is never a bad choice in my opinion. It’s worth noting that some bike makers do an aluminium-framed version of their end above bikes, fitted with Shimano 105. When you are due for chain and cassette replacement switch to ultegra. The 105 5800 groupset I bought complete with wheels and tyres for £230 was a real bargain and I found that overall it performed better than my ultegra 6700 groupset except that the brakes are not as well finished. we’re probably due an update of the Dura Ace range next). So true about what you wrote, seems the Ultegra make a difference for racing and for “looks” to be in the elite crowd. No, it will. That would be the first major upgrade for me. It looks like because of the way this is written / appearance on Google that a lot of newer cyclists are taking “yesterdays Ultegra is today’s 105” literally. The newest 105 is very slick and, I suspect, the best value of all Shimano groupsets for serious cyclists. Then I probably bought an Ultegra cassette and maybe an Ultegra 10-speed chain (my memory is a little hazy). Rather than you changing gear physically by pulling on (or releasing) a cable, electronic shifting uses little motors attached to the front and rear derailleurs in order to make the changes. But I’m deluded and believe that this might make me a better cyclist. Have you tried both? I write entertaining articles about road cycling: gear reviews, training advice. Then you start looking into gears a bit more. As Jantzen says it is only one extra gear. If I am thinking about upgrading from 105 to ultegra groupset and doing it on a budget i.e. Regardless of where you are from (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Australia, Macau...) a Fit Werx' bike fit is guaranteed to be worth the trip. The Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 2021 model costs £2,200 ($2,838) whilst the Ultegra version is £2,700 ($3,483); Specialized Roubaix Sport (with 105) costs £2,750 ($3,548); the Roubaix Comp (Ultegra) comes in at £3,500 ($4,515). In other words, when a 105 component wears out on your bike, should you take opportunity to upgrade to Ultegra? The derailleur started as a Ultegra di2 (small cage) which is modified with a Deore long cage. The cassette started as a Deore XT 11-36. Also the cables stretch. I’ll probably stick with 105 on the basis that the 11-speed R7000 version offers a significant upgrade versus the 10-speed 5700 that is on my current Domane. Seems the cost for the Ultegra set is within 20% of getting 105s. For the time being, only Ultegra and it’s pro-sibling Dura-Ace have electronic rather than mechanical gear shifts. I changed shifters from 5700 105 to 4700 Tiagara keeping the 10 speed drive train. They take very little effort to stop, yet they don’t catch bad enough to throw you over the bars. I assume both bikes are 10s. Vous pouvez aussi trouver des « mini groupe », composés uniquement des leviers, des dérailleurs et des étriers de freins. Whether a bike has disc or rim brakes affects price quite considerably. 11s is the newest and will have spare and replacement parts available longer, and that, I believe is the biggest advantage. This brings the entry price point for a bike with the 105 groupset down considerably. Seriously, how practical is that? If the upgraded bike is 11s and the online one 10s there is a slight value to the LBS bike. The heavier groupset will make you stronger because it’s heavier, then later when you upgrade to the lighter more expensive groupset you’ll be stronger and faster. http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/201326-head-head-shimano-105-v-shimano-ultegra. (okay, I couldn’t be bothered to Google what it stands for). The shifting is so precise you don’t need Di2 and that was a bonus. I have been searching for awhile and my head is spinning. the current ones), again with Di2 options. Now we find ourselves with R7000 (the current 105) as Shimano’s most recent update (of this higher-end trifecta), and people talking about Dura-Ace being due the next upgrade. (Harry Enfield I’m considerably richer than you). With these facts, you can better make the decision as to if the ~$300 more for the Ultegra group is worth it. A post by Monty from a year or two talked about a custom bike fitting service and that really struck me: for $30-400 you are measured with lasers to ensure the perfect bike fit. Yo! Il n'a donc plus grand-chose à leur envier, si ce n'est la cassette 11 vitesses, puisque ce Tiagra reste en 10 vitesses… The 40 cog is aftermarket, and I took out the 11 cog to make it work. The chain became an Ultegra and then the chain and cassette did. Because they’re both in the current ‘design generation’ (is that what we’d call it), they both share the modern-looking chunky crank design. Spend the money you save by upgrading the wheelset. Thank you. Most full groupsets are bought in conjunction with a new bike. We’ll break down a number of detailed differences next. Maybe, for once, the trickledown effect of high spec features gradually moving down the price spectrum won’t apply in the case of 105 electrification. Hello! Ensuite les 3 composants spécifiques Ultegra di2 (ST, FD, RD) sont à 500 euros et 1050 euros pour le Dura Ace di2. 105 weighs 200g more, all else being equal), which in the grand scheme of anything other than pro cycling is kind of irrelevant. So, for instance, in the article, 11 speed first appears in 2012 in Dura-Ace (9000), then a year later in Ultegra (6800), and then two years later in 105 (5800) and has yet to appear in the Tiagra line (presumably the 4800). Or nicer road bike. Sorry, I missed the part about already having gone through 2 chains when I posted my first reply. The only gain I can see from upgrading needlessly (ie you haven’t knackered something in your existing set-up) is that Ultegra seems to have a certain cache that is lacking from the ‘lesser'(?) Side by side, the Ultegra materials look more premium. The answer is Ultegra. I live and ride in the Sierra foothills and San Francisco Bay area, so I can use all the help gearing will give me. In the case of LJ’s specific example, it’s pretty easy to decide: just ride both and then choose the one she likes more, since she is comparing two complete bikes with different designs. I ride a 10s but many of the people I ride with have 11s. Hear about each post as soon as I publish. Absolutely not. Has this been happening since new or is it a recent development? If your bike shop doesn’t find anything wrong, try having them shorten the chain by one pair of links. The bike at $1750.00 will have tax added to that price. Showing the actual prices just complicates things further.). OK, it was aluminum, but I don’t ride that hard to cause frame issues : ) After 10 or so years I upgraded from low end 105 to Ultegra and things were excellent. Which I suppose makes sense since one is two years old (but is new). That said, if I ever feel that getting electronic gear shifting is an absolute must – perhaps you count yourself in this category –  then clearly Ultegra is the only choice (assuming I/you don’t have Dura-oodles of cash for the top of the range alternative). upgrading from shimano 105 to ultegra? Le nouveau groupset Shimano 105 R7000, un groupe pour tous ! I appreciate your comments . You won’t generally see Ultegra specified on aluminium frames. These are links to online stores such as Amazon, Wiggle and Chain Reaction. There’s really nothing in it. Pay a couple of hundred quid more and you’d be into Ultegra territory. I sold the old parts. I think the best non-wear upgrade is wheels. Once your chain is at .75% wear replace it. Healthy disclaimer though – the prices seem a bit all over the place. The frame geometry, design, and sizing/fit is going to matter more than the components (which is not that much weight and mostly the finish), the only exception is that if the Cannondale Synapse happens to be a disc brake version (in 2015, Canondale made both in the Synapse line). Shimano’s new 105 (5700) and new Ultegra (6700) are both great groups for road and triathlon use. Now a (very) quick canter through the different elements of the groupset: If you want more of an idea then this article provides a pretty comprehensive overview of the various group sets on the market. As road bike component, the stress-free operation is one of the most important feature to lead all day riding comfort with braking and shifting. But it will be interesting to compare the two. If you want to become a Shimano knowledge-sensai, you need to be aware that there is a number that corresponds to each named groupset (okay, need is a strong word). Unhelpfully, Shimano released products for, say, 2018, in mid-2017, so there might be the odd inaccuracy. Higher quality springs and pivots allow for solid, instant engagement in shifting. Anyway, to aid comprehension, here’s a little table I knocked up to show the range numbers of the current and prior generations of top end Shimano groupsets: The dates show the ‘model year’ for when each new generation was launched. In the big picture, the Ultegra group is 220 grams lighter (which is a little more than ½ a pound) and costs $300 more than the 105 group. Then Sora. None the wiser, that’s where. Maybe 11 speed is it. Differences in derailleurs are largely accounted for by springs and pivots. So I was faced with buying 10 speed stuff that was fast becoming obsolete and impossible to service or a new bike. I am trying to choose between a 2015 Cannodale CAAD 10 105 for $1100 or a Cannondale CAAD 10 with Ultegra for $1750. Right now I ride about 20-30 miles 2-3 days a week. it would cost shimano more to have different production lines than to just put the same parts in several levers it would cost more to make the cheaper levers cheaper. There has to be a limit to rear wheel spacing and a limit to the number of gears that are useful. It’s definitely my favorite groupset I’ve ever owned, and I’ve had a lot. $990.73 - $1,311.11. I went with carbon wheels, carbon frame, 105 gearset. Given I’m more Nosferatu than Nostradamus, this probably means that 105 Di2 is going to be announced tomorrow. If it is on the long side for your set up talk to them about removing a link. That said, my bike is setup for 126mm dropouts and is a 7 gear rear with downtube shifters. A 12-28 would have been far more practical and although I don’t think I “need” the 28, I do live in a very hilly area and would have embraced the spin if I had that smaller gear. It’s no longer as clear cut. My other wheelsets use proper cartridge bearings all round and never need adjustment, so for my next project (another titanium frame) I will buy up a new just taken off a bike 105 groupset and try and find some good used wheels. I am on the fence on paying up if it’s not too big of a difference. I suggest you go to a different bike shop, tell them you are just shopping but not ready to buy and you want to try size 54 and 52 bikes to see which is more comfortable. Is that the case? Size is most important of the factors you mentioned. If the upgraded bike has upgraded wheels that is a big value. The higher quality the internals, the more precise and longer lasting the mechanism. Shimano Ultegra R8020 Hydraulic Groupset. The chainring’s shape blends nicely into the body of the Ultegra crankarm. (And please remember to hit ‘Like’ on the video – it really helps me out with the YouTube algorithm – many fanks). En tant qu'élément pour les vélos de route, un fonctionnement sans contraintes est l'une des propriétés les plus importantes pour allier freinage, changement de vitesse et pilotage confortable pendant toute la journée. I imagine there is some sophisticated reason why these numbers are there (like, I don’t know, maybe to identify all the individual components within a given set). Shimano Ultegra R8000 Groupsets And Build Kits. Dreraillers had to be changed to match the shifter. Shimano va avoir un problème avec de 105 di2. You gaze adoringly at your clean-shiftin’ 105 drivetrain for a couple of years… and then start to wonder, “Would I be faster-stronger-sexier if I had Ultegra on my bike?”. There was no improvement in performance but the fun factor increased. 105 chains have a duller finish and due to a different riveting process, are more “flexy.” An Ultegra cassette substitutes the aluminum lock ring for the steel one found on a 105. As you might have picked up, my trusty Trek is adorned with 105 (5700). Similarly, electronic shifting (Di2) first appears in 2009 (7970), then two years later in Ultegra (6770, but with 10 speed only), and still has yet to appear in the 105 (presumably with the 5870 or 5970). Speaking to a few data points in the ‘endurance bike’ category (all of which are carbon frames): (For the USD prices, I just converted the UK prices at $1.29:£1 to give an indication. As you discuss only 11 speed groupsets, my question is about upgrading from 105 10s to 105 11s or even Ultegra 11s? Weight differences here are subtle but in these categories, it’s all about shift quality. There comes a time in every road cyclist’s life when it becomes clear* that the quickest way to progress to professional standards of performance is to splash more cash on a random bike component. For me I bought 105 sets because of the price point.. My blog contains Affiliate Links. talk of slightly crisper shifting, smoother shifting, faster, easier shifting or difference in durability has me laughing. This was all quite straightforward (okay somewhat straightforward), until Shimano started adding an ‘R’ at the beginning of some of them, and I got a bit befuddled. The Zipps are 2 oz heavier than the DAs. Cosmetically, Ultegra boasts a carbon shift/brake blade while the 105 sports an aluminum blade. And then the next generation of Dura-Ace and Ultegra came out (i.e. LJ, yes, still here by default I think. If Dura-Ace is the top of Shimano’s range of groupsets for road bikes (don’t worry, it is), Ultegra occupies second place in the list; 105 is third. In reading all these comments one sticks out to me — yesterdays ultegra (i.e. That time occurs before you buy your bike, roughly a week after you’ve bought your bike, then on a weekly basis until you cycle off this mortal coil. Again a value to the LBS. Precise shifting and much better ergonomics. Given that, thinking that I would need to replace the cassette, I thought I might upgrade to the Ultegra, along with the derailleur and chain. So I recently picked up a 1991 Cannondale SR800 that is wearing 105 (1055). I started Sportive Cyclist in 2013 to record my journey to RideLondon 100, my first 100-mile bike ride. Brake pad quality is another significant factor in the performance of Ultegra brakes over 105. What are the tricks and tips for inflating a disc wheel? Begin! As far as everything else, the difference between the 6800 and 5800 is negligible except for the rear derailleur and shifter. The electro-versions of Ultegra and Dura-Ace have Di2 added at the end of their names to make it clear that no cables are required (though unlike SRAM’s wireless eTAP electronic system, Shimano does still require the use of wires). Then as things start to wear out upgrade. Replace your cassette every two chains. We’ll break down a number of detailed differences next. Of the the articles on the web, this one answered my question best about whether or not I’d made a mistake by purchasing a new Cannondale Synapse with 105 after 24 years of riding two bikes that had, in succession, a 1993 model bike with Shimano 600 (which I believe became Ultegra the next year) and just plain Ultra on my 2004 model bike. That said, i will report back when I get some conclusive impressions. I had to have the front retuned about 750 miles ago. I’ve had a go at summarising the supposed recommended prices for the various current (R8000/R7000) Ultegra and 105 options in this table. Suite à la première partie de notre dossier sur les groupes route et triathlon, voici les détails des poids et prix publics conseillés pour les pièces ou groupes complets de ce millésime 2019/2020. Interesting and thoughtful comment. I am much inclined to go with the current 105 10s configuration and leave more expensive upgrades for later. You get some idea of the relative costs though. the 2015 Cannondale) is today’s 105 (the 2017 Trek). I found it helped me because my hands are arthritic and it really relieved the pain going to larger cogs. The 105 has a bit more ‘heft’. For Tri bikes with aerobar extensions, both groups will use 10-speed Dura Ace bar end shifters and an aftermarket TT brake lever. I am a beginner/intermediate riding a Specialized Elite 2014 Hybrid. In short, an Ultegra chain will shift better than a 105 chain. Do the two extra gears on the 5800 make a lot of difference compared to the 5700.? that being said, i’m only looking at the ultegra model because of the “better” color option, and the ergonomic design . I avoid riding in the rain so the added braking power is not something I look for, but you may consider. Want to know whether you should upgrade from 105 to Ultegra but can’t be bothered with all these pesky words? Other features (frame, wheelset) can move the price point of the whole range, independent of groupset. I didn’t love it, but did like the price and the components. Ride faster and further, and have more fun on your bike. It might not look traditional hard core but it screams common sense. Ultegra derailleurs will yield better shifting and ultimately will last longer. In addition, the machining of the ramps on the aluminum cogs of an Ultegra cassette are held to tighter tolerances. Then another 10 years pass by and it’s time again, the right shifter wasn’t shifting that smooth anymore. replacement parts, a cassette with different gear ratios), that they’re compatible with the gear bits (technical term) that you’ve already got. Ultegra’s barrel adjuster might simply be nicer from the perspective of a mechanic. Chain only showed very little change, but the new chain and cassette had a very noticeable improvement. Don’t worry though (who you calling worried? In summary, both of them weigh about 2.5kg. The overbuilt structure of the crankset coupled with the chainring has far more of an advantage in power transfer over the 105 which doesn’t sport a hollow outer chainring. Le pédalier Shimano FC-5800 délaisse l’architecture à cinq branches pour celle à quatre branches héritées des groupes Ultegra et Dura-Ace, plus légère et plus rigide. With chains and cassettes, the differences are slight but still affect performance. I’m also from Yorkshire and therefore have deep pockets and short arms. Also, as before, I’ve just converted the GBP prices to USD. there is no difference that would give rise to a different shifting experience in reality (I studied mechanical engineering degree level at university, I have reasonably trained opinion I think). The newest all have stainless plates which should last much longer, but again look different on each model, a totally cosmetic aspect that pisses me off, and so far I have NOT found these plates to be available separately; cleats being plastic should wear first, but another quibble with the designers and the young customers who never experienced old school parts that could actually be serviced and rebuilt. Buy the bike that is most comfortable for you. One of the biggest improvements with the Ultegra group lies within the crankset. Since those are a couple years apart, the difference is EXACTLY what the article is about (comparing Ultegra 6800 to 105 5800). I know because like a jackass I went my traditional 12-25 on my new 11sp cassette and I basically have a 1 tooth jump between cogs. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tiagra sits above that, followed by 105. There may be compatibility issues with the levers but I’ve not tried it myself. There are a lot of new bikes out there with 30 and 32 tooth largest cogs. Jack thank you so much for you advise, I do greatly appreciate it. Any opinions? ... un Shimano 105 vieux de 8 ans, qui comporte 7 vitesses). Fit Werx offers the most scientific and complete bicycle fitting services in New England, the Northeast and beyond. Ultegra Di2 et Ultegra normal (le petit frère des Dura-ace, en un peu plus lourd et moins cher.L’équivalent des Force chez SRAM. And you end up getting a bike with 105. I happened to run into a 2015 Cannondale Synapse 3 the other day, for $2150. It’s most helpful in working out which generation of a given groupset you have/you’re buying. The dents also reveal how many carbon frames might have been trashed in those years. Right now other than 200g and some reviewer claims that the rim brakes are better, the only real difference is the available of electronic shifting with the Ultegra 6870 which can be ignored in the case of this commenter. 10s 105 or Ultegra can be used with XT deore cassettes (sometimes derailleur needs to be changed) and this can allow expanded gear ratios for climbing. (For completeness, Tiagra is next, followed by Sora and Claris. The origin story of the term Di2 is shrouded in mystery…. That means a down-sizing of the whole hood, making it … Unless your derailleur is bent I wouldn’t change it. You pay the same price that you would have done anyway. Components have generally improved, but not across the board equally. That’s another question, and something I’m, going to find out (and REI gives you a few months to try it out, then you can still return it, thus my snapping up the bargain price without having a bike there to try out on the spot-REI is a seriously great company!!). Chains and cassettes wear out a lot faster than derailleurs. I remember when test riding bikes that the Ultegra shifters “felt” better than the 105. It means a lot of constant shifting and often over two cogs. Hope this helps and is only my opinion. New bike it was. The sprocket widths are the same as on a 10-speed system but they are a little closer. Both Ultegra 6800 and Shimano 105 R5800 could give 11 speeds and you may get up to five different options in the cassette range. One test I use is to go small/small on the gears – if the chain becomes noticeably slack the chain is too long. If that’s you, then you’ll be more interested in the price point of the full bike, which I’ve discussed above.