Mikebike12

I have a 2012 Cannondale synapse carbon.

I want to get the best 2x11? groupo I can get that is fully mechanical. I know there is an adapter I can get to put the SHIMANO cranks in my bike that is built for a bb30 so that won’t be an issue.

What I want to know is if it’s an Ultegra or 105 groupset, what is the number series? Like 7000 or 8000? I don’t know if an older Dura ace is even worth it because I’m no pro.

it must be rim brake and I guess 11speed. What do you suggest?

choddo

Dura Ace 9100

jimc101

2012, can your rear hub take a 11 speed cassette? 11 speed came out a few years later, stock 2012 would probably not be able to fit an 11 cassette (yes there are exceptions is your one?)

Mikebike12

Oh, I didn’t know there were exceptions. I thought the chain and spacers were thinner so they all took up the same space. Thanks for asking. Do you know how I could tell? I have a vernier caliper so I can measure inside frame to inside frame. What would be the minimum?

Hondo6

Knowing precisely what you have now in the way of hubs would be a great help. Even as a newbie, you can post photos to your gallery and someone here will likely give a "pic assist" and post them here on your behalf.

Difference between Shimano 8/9/10 speed and 11 speed hubs isn't generally in the dropout spacing. Difference is in the length of the freehub body.

Working from memory, but as I recall the length of the 8/9/10 speed freehub body is around 35mm, while the length of the 11 speed is 37 or 38mm.

Edited to add: here's an article with pix showing how to measure a Shimano freehub to determine which you have. 11-speed is 36.8mm in length.

https://www.wheelworks.co.nz/you-nee...-freehub-body/

There are some 11-speed cassettes that will fit the older Shimano 8/9/10 speed freehub, but many will not.

Iride01 

Difference between Shimano 105 and Ultegra ever since 105 became 11 speed beginning with the 5800 series is mostly just weight. 105 shifts with about the same performance. Dura Ace is just the miracle of marginal gains to put it at the top of any list.

Best is going to rely entirely on what best means to you and for your situation. Possibly even Claris might be best, though it does not fill the 11 speed requirement.

Mikebike12

I have a set of Neugent Cycling wheels. They say they are SHIMANO 8/9/10/11 compatible. So I think my wheels should be fine. So I am back to the groupo. I think for me, either 105 or Ultegra will be fine. I just don't know which series number to look for. All Mechanical rim brake.

Barry2 

Mike,
Welcome to Bike Forums.

How many miles do you ride in a year?

Barry

Hondo6

Sounds like you already had the answer to your concerns regarding 11-speed compatibility for your rear wheel. If the paperwork that came with the wheels says they're Shimano 8/9/10/11 compatible, then you should be able to use anything up to an 11-speed Shimano-style cassette - though you may need one or more spacers behind 8/9/10 speed cassettes if you go that route.

I see you're relatively new here. FWIW: telling someone you have a set of "[insert company name here] wheels" really doesn't tell them much. Shimano, Campagno, Wheelsmith, and a load other wheelset makers have made a huge number of different wheelsets over the years. Without knowing the precise model numbers of the wheelset in question, someone reading what you wrote has no idea when it was made or how many speeds it supports (or which style cassette it supports, if it's a 3rd-party wheelbuilder) - nor do they have enough info to find out. And even then, the specific model number of the wheelset might not be enough.

That's particularly true if dealing with a 3rd-party wheelset, which may use a hub from one manufacturer (which may have freehub options, e.g., a choice of a Campagnolo-compatible freehub or a Shimano-compatible one), spokes from another source, and rims from a third maker.

Bottom line: specific details are critical if you want to get accurate advice. And more is far better than less when it comes to providing specific details.

Regarding your question about 11-speed Shimano 105 and Ultegra groupset series: these 2 URLs should provide you the info you want.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ...105-r7000.html

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ...gra-r8000.html

Best of luck.

icemilkcoffee 

I would avoid all 11 speed Ultegra and Dura Ace cranksets. Read about the ongoing recall campaign.
In general the best 11speed mech Shimano groupset would be a SRAM groupset with yaw technology that got rid of the need to trim.

kcjc

If given the choice, I would stay with the DA shifter and the front derailleur. I haven't used 105 since the early 90s but have some experience recent experience with 6800, R8000, & 9100. What I remembered from the old lineup was that engagement of 105 was chunky, Ultegra was sloppy, and DA was chunky but precise. I was surprised that the feeling remained with 6800 & R8000 vs 9100. The DA front derailleur just works better.

105 - 5800, R7000 (has both rim & hydraulic disc)
Ultegra - 6800, R8000

veganbikes

If you want the best Dura-Ace is the best. If you want really good stuff Ultegra is really good stuff. I am running the Di2 Equivalent of the 6800 gruppo and it has been fantastic and more than adequate for my usage and pretty flawless beyond a single warranty issue (minus the crank issue but I haven't seen any crank problems yet).

Steve B.

I would say that “best” means cost effective and that would be the 105 11spd. group. Shifts as well as Ultegra, weighs a little more but who cares. Really cost effective bang for the buck group.

veganbikes

Huh? Best would be the best. You wouldn't say the 3rd place finisher was the best. It is not that 105 is bad it is great but it is not the best otherwise they wouldn't have Ultegra above it and Dura-Ace above that.

Steve B.

I consider “best” to have a value. You’re saying DA or something is “best” because it’s the most expensive and lightest of the Shimano groups. That doesn’t make it “best” to me. The value of 105 is in the superior performance as compared to a much more expensive Ultegra group, that offers little in terms of performance advantage compared to the 105 of that era. In my opinion and not yours, I place value in a best category.

squirtdad

ultegra r8000 as balance between cost and function...last ultegra mechancial group

Mikebike12

I'd say 3000 or so. Hoping to up it

Barry2 

@ 3000/yr I’d go Ultegra.

Barry

smd4

DA is the best value for me.

delbiker1 

Shimano 105 7000 is really good. I have had a group set on a bike for 4 years and 8-10 thousand miles. Other than changing housing and cables, the only times I have made adjustments was when changing wheels/cassettes. IMO, it’s the most cost effective for good quality 11 speed.

However, I had my first ride, ever, on a Dura Ace equipped bike 2 days ago. This is a DA 9000 group, no crankset, and DA C 24 wheels. I am very impressed with the feel, comfort, and oustanding shifting and braking. I got the whole package for very low dollars from a friend. To me, it is obviously higher quality, lighter materials, and performance is a step up.

If I was buying a new 11 speed group, it would probably be the 105, and I would be perfectly fine with it. I have the DA mostly due to the low price I paid, and now that it is on a bike, I am thrilled and I am keeping it.

zacster

I've been riding Campy Chorus 10sp for almost 20 years now and it still performs like new. When I rented an 11sp 105 equipped bike I was surprised at how well it shifted. I wasn't expecting much. When I first got my bike I test rode another with the same frame but equpped with 105 9sp and it shifted like crap. But I also just built up an older Cannondale Super 6 Evo with parts pulled off another bike that was 105 9sp for my daughter (she outgrew the donor frame) and it performed perfectly well on my test rides. I also put a 105 R7000 11sp crank on it, and used an adapter from Praxis for the BB30 and it worked like a charm.

Bottom line though is that 105 is plenty good for anybody that isn't racing.

smd4

The OP wasn’t asking about “plenty good.” He wanted to know about the best.

And the best is Dura Ace.

Kontact 

Santé.

cpach

105 works totally fine, but you can feel the difference, particularly in shifter feel, as you step up to Ultegra, and another, more gentle, step up to Dura Ace. If you mix and match things, probably it's best to spend on the shifters, then the rear derailleur, then the chain. Cassette and chainrings only matter for weight--they all shift similarly well. I'd probably choose R7000 over 6800, if only for the revised front derailleur design.

For you, R8000 should make sense. Recent manufacturing runs should not be recalled on the crank, but do check on it. Really there's no need to change cranksets necessarily-original chainrings may work (even if they don't officially support 11 speed) and you can likely replace the chainrings with ones that do (maybe Praxis?).

choddo

Ultegra 6800 then