Is Ultegra the top notch Shimano groupset ?
05-13-15, 04:34 AM
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is Ultegra the top notch Shimano groupset ?
Thinking of buying an S-WORKS frameset and building a bike.
Not a SRAM fan.
Not a SRAM fan.
05-13-15, 04:40 AM
#2
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,067
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22609 Post(s)
Liked 8,930 Times
in
4,162 Posts
05-13-15, 05:02 AM
#3
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
ah so ...
05-13-15, 05:09 AM
#4
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,434 Times
in
1,187 Posts
05-13-15, 05:37 AM
#5
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
It depends. Dura-Ace is the flagship Shimano group but there are sometimes reasons one would pick Ultegra or parts of Ultegra over Dura-Ace. The main difference is actually found in weight. Dura-Ace components are lighter. But sometimes that translates into less durable. In the past (don't know about current), the D-A bottom brackets had a shorter average lifespan than Ultegra. It used to be that Dura-Ace shifted noticeably better than Ultegra but in recent years and with the latest incarnations, pretty much everyone (including myself) will claim that their shifting performance is on par. Also, there are certain things you can get in Ultegra that you can't with Dura-Ace. For instance, if you want to run really low gearing, you have to go with an Ultegra RD (GS) and cassette since D-A stops at 28T whereas Ultegra will go to 34T.
I recently upgraded my bike from 2001 9-speed Dura-Ace with FSA cranks to a primarily 11-speed Ultegra Di2 group with Dura-Ace shifters and an FSA crank/BB combo. Even though I "stepped down" a notch, my bike with Ultegra actually weighs less than it did with the 9-speed D-A group due to advancements in technology, material and design.
I recently upgraded my bike from 2001 9-speed Dura-Ace with FSA cranks to a primarily 11-speed Ultegra Di2 group with Dura-Ace shifters and an FSA crank/BB combo. Even though I "stepped down" a notch, my bike with Ultegra actually weighs less than it did with the 9-speed D-A group due to advancements in technology, material and design.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
05-13-15, 05:40 AM
#7
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Seconded... unless you have some deep-down aversion towards electronics....
Just as something to consider... Ultegra Di2 costs about the same as Dura-Ace Mechanical.
Just as something to consider... Ultegra Di2 costs about the same as Dura-Ace Mechanical.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
05-13-15, 05:43 AM
#8
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Granted almost all gadget companies make decent hardware these days and screw up the software....But Shimano really f'd up their firmware support toolset.
05-13-15, 05:45 AM
#9
Banned.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southeast
Posts: 356
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
From reading a previous thread the OP stated he has been going to the same LBS for over ten years and now he is asking the forum is Ultegra the top Shimano groupset. Am I the only one that finds that odd? I researched groupsets before I ever bought my first bike.
05-13-15, 05:55 AM
#10
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Just so long as you make sure to spend a good day reading on compatibility issues....and you're prepared to need a few graduate degrees in order to mess with the firmware in the future.
Granted almost all gadget companies make decent hardware these days and screw up the software....But Shimano really f'd up their firmware support toolset.
Granted almost all gadget companies make decent hardware these days and screw up the software....But Shimano really f'd up their firmware support toolset.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
05-13-15, 05:57 AM
#11
Emondafied
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 4,939
Bikes: See sig
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Honestly I'd be happy with Ultegra on a new bike in any form. Decades ago when I built my bike, there was a noticeable shifting difference between DA and Ultegra, but even with my 9-speed stuff, the 105 on my spare bike and the DA on my main bike are very similar. Probably better to put that money into a decent pair of wheels.
__________________
my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -AlpineStars Al Mega
my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -
05-13-15, 06:02 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 641 Times
in
398 Posts
05-13-15, 06:08 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,472 Times
in
2,079 Posts
He also rides 200 miles a week as a *cough* "Clydesdale", all the mileage he racks up has given him a "longer stroke", does MMA training, has a gymnast girlfriend, has a masseuse, a saddle nose down 10 degrees, raised his saddle multiple times but says he was fitted at the shop, a pump mounted on the right side, flipped his stem for a more aggressive position at 40+mph, flipping his stem put him in a "runners starting line position", says flipping his stem soaked up road vibrations.........
05-13-15, 06:43 AM
#14
Senior Member
I ride Ultegra Di2 and love it, sure DA is the top line stuff but unless you're bleeding $$$ out of your pockets and need the lightest bike the shifting performance will be pretty much the same. I would only consider DA components if I found them on sale and only after my Ultegra components decide to wear out.
05-13-15, 06:48 AM
#15
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,226
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have 10 speed Dura-Ace and 10 speed Ultegra on two different bikes. Not delighted with either although not horrible. Ultegra is heavy and the reliability is questionable from my experience with it.
Put SRAM Red 22 on two bikes. Quicker shifting and much more intuitive shifting and the FD on the Red requires no trimming.
Put SRAM Red 22 on two bikes. Quicker shifting and much more intuitive shifting and the FD on the Red requires no trimming.
05-13-15, 07:03 AM
#16
Senior Member
If you're doing a greenfield build and update everything to the latest firmware then there shouldn't be any issues. Granted the firmware situation gets muddier if you're going from 10-sp to 11-sp and you're mixing 6770 and 6870 series components. Still, it's not all that complicated.
Not true. Pretty straightforward.
05-13-15, 07:25 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 557
Bikes: 2021 Trek Checkpoint SL (GRX Di2), 2020 Domane SLR 9 (very green), 2016 Trek Emonda SL, 2009 Bianchi 928, 1972 Atala Record Pro
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 143 Times
in
55 Posts
Just so long as you make sure to spend a good day reading on compatibility issues....and you're prepared to need a few graduate degrees in order to mess with the firmware in the future.
Granted almost all gadget companies make decent hardware these days and screw up the software....But Shimano really f'd up their firmware support toolset.
Granted almost all gadget companies make decent hardware these days and screw up the software....But Shimano really f'd up their firmware support toolset.
Last edited by tigat; 05-13-15 at 12:33 PM. Reason: thread confusion
05-13-15, 07:40 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhere in TX
Posts: 2,266
Bikes: BH, Cervelo, Cube, Canyon
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
He also rides 200 miles a week as a *cough* "Clydesdale", all the mileage he racks up has given him a "longer stroke", does MMA training, has a gymnast girlfriend, has a masseuse, a saddle nose down 10 degrees, raised his saddle multiple times but says he was fitted at the shop, a pump mounted on the right side, flipped his stem for a more aggressive position at 40+mph, flipping his stem put him in a "runners starting line position", says flipping his stem soaked up road vibrations.........
05-13-15, 07:45 AM
#19
Custom User Title
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE MN
Posts: 11,239
Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro & Quintana Roo Kilo
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2863 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times
in
14 Posts
It goes: Sora > 105 > Claris > Dura-Ace > Tiagra > Ultegra
Trust me.
Trust me.
05-13-15, 12:24 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2013 CAAD10 Black Inc.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
He also rides 200 miles a week as a *cough* "Clydesdale", all the mileage he racks up has given him a "longer stroke", does MMA training, has a gymnast girlfriend, has a masseuse, a saddle nose down 10 degrees, raised his saddle multiple times but says he was fitted at the shop, a pump mounted on the right side, flipped his stem for a more aggressive position at 40+mph, flipping his stem put him in a "runners starting line position", says flipping his stem soaked up road vibrations.........
05-13-15, 12:50 PM
#21
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rather than buy another factory bike i will prolly buy an S-works frame set and have my tech build me a bike.
Basically because i need beefier components.
Ive already talked with him about it.
05-13-15, 01:11 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Your "Master Tech"?
05-13-15, 01:16 PM
#24
Senior Member
I have no idea what to make of this thread. It smells of troll.
05-13-15, 01:16 PM
#25
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts