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Brake/Shifters, DA7800 or Ultegra 6700, Which Is Better?

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Old 04-21-16, 07:45 AM
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roccobike
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Brake/Shifters, DA7800 or Ultegra 6700, Which Is Better?

It looks like one of the Ultegra 6600 brifters on my bike is failing and can't be repaired. Assuming it's toast, I'm looking at replacing both. I'm considering used DA7800 or Ultegra 6700. The Ultegra has the advantage of being a newer design, but I recall some who complained that the full internal cable routing didn't shift as well as the older design when this was first released. If that's true, I'd rather go with the DA.
The remainder of the drive train is mostly Ultegra, 6600 Rear DR and 6700 Crank, with a DA front DR.
I'm not interested in changing to 11 speed so that's not an option.
Any input regarding the two brake/shifters I'm considering is appreciated.
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Old 04-21-16, 07:49 AM
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Originally Posted by roccobike
It looks like one of the Ultegra 6600 brifters on my bike is failing and can't be repaired. Assuming it's toast, I'm looking at replacing both. I'm considering used DA7800 or Ultegra 6700. The Ultegra has the advantage of being a newer design, but I recall some who complained that the full internal cable routing didn't shift as well as the older design when this was first released. If that's true, I'd rather go with the DA.
The remainder of the drive train is mostly Ultegra, 6600 Rear DR and 6700 Crank, with a DA front DR.
I'm not interested in changing to 11 speed so that's not an option.
Any input regarding the two brake/shifters I'm considering is appreciated.
DA7800 is one of the best groupsets ever. Better than Ultegra 6700.
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Old 04-21-16, 07:56 AM
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7800 shifters work great, and have a better shape 6700 shifters.
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Old 04-21-16, 08:41 AM
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If you want to stay in 10sp, there's also the option of 4600/4700 Tiagra and 5700 105. Both are pretty good

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Old 04-21-16, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by upthywazzoo
If you want to stay in 10sp, there's also the option of 4600/4700 Tiagra and 5700 105. Both are pretty good
Tiagra 4700 shifters aren't compatible with the rest of his drivetrain.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by dr_lha
Tiagra 4700 shifters aren't compatible with the rest of his drivetrain.
Why not? They're all 10-speed.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by upthywazzoo
Why not? They're all 10-speed.
Because they have a different pull ratio than every other Shimano road 10 speed group. Check out Shimano's compatibility chart.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by upthywazzoo
Why not? They're all 10-speed.
Different pull ratio on the shifters and derailleurs, more'ish like current 11 speed than older 10 speed from my understanding.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:12 AM
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Ah, I stand corrected.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by dr_lha
DA7800 is one of the best groupsets ever. Better than Ultegra 6700.
+1.

Also, 6700/5700 have a tendency to break the shift cables inside the shifter body. I have 5700 and I've had this happen 3 times now, so about once every 7,000 miles or so. It's not too hard to fix, but it's still one additional issue that the older 7800 levers don't have any trouble with.
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Old 04-21-16, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan333SP
+1.

Also, 6700/5700 have a tendency to break the shift cables inside the shifter body. I have 5700 and I've had this happen 3 times now, so about once every 7,000 miles or so. It's not too hard to fix, but it's still one additional issue that the older 7800 levers don't have any trouble with.
Yep, this also happened to me with 5700 shifters. What a bit of a pain to fix too.
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Old 04-21-16, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
7800 shifters work great, and have a better shape 6700 shifters.
Personally, I find the 6700 shifters have a far better shape. If you ride primarily on the hoods, I find 6700 has much better braking from the hoods. Complaints about the shifting and broken cables are definitely over-stated. 6700 shifts great. I recently replaced the cables on my 6700 after ~7k mi, the cables showed no fraying at all and I use the shifters like video game buttons.
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Old 04-21-16, 11:23 AM
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I still vote for 7800. Beware though buying used shifters in general.

Can you get NOS ones?
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Old 04-21-16, 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan333SP
+1.

Also, 6700/5700 have a tendency to break the shift cables inside the shifter body. I have 5700 and I've had this happen 3 times now, so about once every 7,000 miles or so. It's not too hard to fix, but it's still one additional issue that the older 7800 levers don't have any trouble with.
This is an issue common to 7800 shifters as well. They force the cable into a sharp bend at the cable head where eventually it can fray and then separate. https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...ng-cables.html.
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Old 04-21-16, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by upthywazzoo
This is an issue common to 7800 shifters as well. They force the cable into a sharp bend at the cable head where eventually it can fray and then separate. https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...ng-cables.html.
Interesting, I was under the impression it was unique to 5700/6700 but I stand corrected.
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Old 04-21-16, 01:06 PM
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7800 is one of the best mechanical groups that has ever been placed on a bicycle.
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Old 04-21-16, 04:55 PM
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Agree with 7800 as being superior.
But last time I bought some 7800 NOS, I paid premium because it's getting harder to find.
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Old 04-21-16, 05:03 PM
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Be sure to get some DA 7800 brake calipers as well. Best brakes I've ever used even with ultegra 6600 levers on my Allez.

That combo feels even better than the ultegra 6800 on my Supersix.
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Old 04-22-16, 02:44 AM
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Yep, of those options, the DA7800 are nicer shifters and IMO, they feel better ergonomically - I've had both.

cheers
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Old 04-27-16, 09:17 PM
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Just wanted to follow up and thank all those who responded. The DA 7800 Shifters just arrived in the mail today. I'm going to buy some new cables, than begin installing them. Should have everything installed within a few days (Need to time it right between rides).
Thanks again.
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Old 04-27-16, 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by f4rrest
Be sure to get some DA 7800 brake calipers as well. Best brakes I've ever used even with ultegra 6600 levers on my Allez.

That combo feels even better than the ultegra 6800 on my Supersix.
Thanks, I bought the DA 7800 brakes last year. Installed them with some Koolstop salmon colored pads. You're right, they perform great.
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Old 04-27-16, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by roccobike
Thanks, I bought the DA 7800 brakes last year. Installed them with some Koolstop salmon colored pads. You're right, they perform great.
have you tried Swissstop Flash Pro green pads? I like them even better than Kool Stop salmon pads.

I always swore by salmon pads in the past, but SS Flash Pros are even better.
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