TheRef

If a friend asked your opinion on a new bike for about the same price how would you advise him/her?

bt

I'd go electric.

Doolittle

Try both and see what works for you. I find Di2 to be too soft and prefer mechanical shifting systems, but that's just personal preference. I think they both work great.

andr0id

I went with Ultegra 6800 mechanical.
I want to ride my bike post apocalypse and an EMP will destroy Di2.

merlinextraligh

Depends on how much you prioritize weight, and looks.

To make Ultegra 6870 hit a price point, they made it heavier, and less sleek. ( the derailleurs have bigger solenoids, and look clunkier than 9070 imho)

Ultegra 6870 comes in about 350 grams heavier, the better part of a pound.


We've got 9070 on our tandem (where it makes a big difference, given the difficulties in cable actuated tandem shifting) and I've had a number of generations of mechanical Dura Ace, although not 9000.

To me the mechanical shifting on Dura Ace mechanical is so good, I wouldn't take a pound weight penalty for a very slight shifting improvement.

Another option would be SRAM Red, which shifts excellently in my experience, and is cheaper and lighter than either of the Shimano options.

bt

I currently have both and still say 6870.

merlinextraligh

No. It will just turn it into a very expensive single speed.

merlinextraligh

A middle ground that shaves some weight, and avoids the expense of full Dura Ace is 6870 derailluers, and Dura Ace crankset and brakes.

rms13

I've never used electronic so I don't know what I'm missing and can't comment on performance. The new mechanical Shimano groups perform flawlessly when set up right and I don't know how much performance gains I would get for a group that cost 2x as much. DA will save around 300 grams over 6870 if that is a factor at all

merlinextraligh

Published groupset weights I've seen are:

Shimano; 1998 grams for 9000, 1982grams for 9070, 2341 for 6870.

Campy SR, 1885 grams.

Sram Red 11, 1741 grams.

Pesonally, I couldn't stomach 600 grams over Sram Red. That's only slightly less than the weight of an entire high end frame.

bt

they are both very very nice, but in the end electric is just easier.

RollCNY

If a friend asked me, I would tell him to place ergonomics over any other consideration. I would suggest he try Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo groupsets in the price range he wanted, and let his hands decide. I used the masculine pronoun because I have no female friends.

softreset

Are we building a bike or buying one off the showroom floor? Lot's of chatter about mix-and-matching, SRAM Red & Campy. But I don't know any LBS brand that offers pre-configured bikes with all those drivetrain choices.

For example, Trek's Domane 5.9 had 9000 or 6870 for the same price in 2014-2015. But not all manufacturers offer this, even fewer offer SRAM Red choices and I don't know any manufacturers that offer Campagnolo, SRAM and Shimano pre-built options across similar build/price ranges.

As others have stated, your friend has to ride both and ideally more than a parking lot test ride. There's definitely an initial learning curve for operating Di2 for some people, it's a completely different lever feel when shifting.

I have both (DA 9000 & 6870) and they're both spectacular in their "class" (mech & electro). But I've had test rides come back where the individual ended up the mechanical bike just because it was so familiar.

TheRef

I believe that's exactly what he is looking into.

My friend is looking for his first road bike. He is a MTB guy and is looking into making a move to the road. Knowing I ride mostly road he asked my opinion but I told him I have no first hand experience with either one. I'd suggest a 105 or a Ultegra bike but he wants a "good" bike and the money is not really a problem for him. Considering that he rides his MTB very frequently I know he will ride it and it won't be an expensive dust magnet on his garage

rms13

I agree. If you are strictly going for weight , you should get Red...but then you have to deal with SRAM shifting. I'm currently working on my weight weenie build with plain old 6800 which I'm "hoping" will be somewhere around 15 lbs. Should have spend the extra $600 on groupset to get down to 14 lbs!

Vicegrip

Di2. MTN bike guy not going to feel the weight delta but the di2 will stand well apart and feel more refined than anything he is used to. It also lends itself well to frequent use. Go for high contrast.

linsdog

Had this choice two years ago...went mechanical Dura Ace. So take that for what it's worth. Now if they come out with a good wireless solution....

softreset

Gotcha. They've discontinued the 5-series Dura-Ace bike for 2015/2016 and have added the 6-series, 6.5 at a much higher price point. The 5.9 with Ultegra Di2 still exists (at the same price point) with a different paint job. Last I checked, there are still some sizes of the Dura-Ace 5.9 in warehouses but the smaller sizes (52) are already sold out.

The 5.2 is also a great buy as is the Emonda SL 6 (if he likes Trek). He can always go to Ultegra Di2 in the future, so that's also an option.

On the off chance you're close to Folsom, California, I'd be happy to let him ride my DA 9k Domane and he can test ride a UDi2 bike at the shop.

RJM

Mechanical Dura Ace...one, because it is awesome..the shifting is great and the levers feel good.

Two, because I dig the looks of it; I really do.

three, because it would work with my current frameset without resorting to zip ties.

MaxxTraxx

I rode 2 minutes on Di2 and wish I could have it. No doubt, if money was no problem, that would be my suggestion.

arben

That's my feeling too, personally. Honestly, I haven't tried mechanical DA, but I can't imagine getting a mechanical groupset in the future after living with Ultegra Di2 for a while.

zvez

I've got dura ace mechanical and dura ace Di2, hands down I'd go for the ultegra di2 given the choice between mech and electric, without any hesitation.

series1811

If I had the disposable income, I would get a bike with Di2, disc brakes, and carbon wheels. I don't care if I would actually benefit from it, the technology is just cool. That said, I am pretty content with my current ride.

Nachoman

I've been riding Di2 for a few years now and I'll never go back. So I would also recommend the ultegra Di2. The weight issue really isn't an issue for a recreational rider, or even most amateur racers for that matter.

bt

this