Dura Ace vs Ultegra
03-31-16, 04:39 PM
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Dura Ace vs Ultegra
Trying to decide, thought some here might have some helpful feedback.
What is important to me is, primarily, function. Bling doesn't matter. Impressing others doesn't matter. Comparisons with others' bikes and componentry doesn't matter.
Fine workmanship matters, but is not exactly primary. Feel matters -- smoothness matters.
Money factors in -- I can afford the Dura Ace, but I don't like wasting money. If Dura Ace were slightly more, it wouldn't be an issue; but it is a lot more.
Durability matters. I am more familiar with Shimano XT and XTR componentry. XT can be more durable. XTR is lighter and more race-oriented. I am not familiar enough with Dura Ace vs Ultegra in these areas.
Thanks in advance for any helpful input.
What is important to me is, primarily, function. Bling doesn't matter. Impressing others doesn't matter. Comparisons with others' bikes and componentry doesn't matter.
Fine workmanship matters, but is not exactly primary. Feel matters -- smoothness matters.
Money factors in -- I can afford the Dura Ace, but I don't like wasting money. If Dura Ace were slightly more, it wouldn't be an issue; but it is a lot more.
Durability matters. I am more familiar with Shimano XT and XTR componentry. XT can be more durable. XTR is lighter and more race-oriented. I am not familiar enough with Dura Ace vs Ultegra in these areas.
Thanks in advance for any helpful input.
03-31-16, 04:56 PM
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I'm sure others will chime in to disagree, but if you think of them like XT vs XTR, you're not too far off the mark.
03-31-16, 05:13 PM
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03-31-16, 05:17 PM
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Trying to decide, thought some here might have some helpful feedback.
What is important to me is, primarily, function. Bling doesn't matter. Impressing others doesn't matter. Comparisons with others' bikes and componentry doesn't matter.
Fine workmanship matters, but is not exactly primary. Feel matters -- smoothness matters.
Money factors in -- I can afford the Dura Ace, but I don't like wasting money. If Dura Ace were slightly more, it wouldn't be an issue; but it is a lot more.
Durability matters. I am more familiar with Shimano XT and XTR componentry. XT can be more durable. XTR is lighter and more race-oriented. I am not familiar enough with Dura Ace vs Ultegra in these areas.
Thanks in advance for any helpful input.
What is important to me is, primarily, function. Bling doesn't matter. Impressing others doesn't matter. Comparisons with others' bikes and componentry doesn't matter.
Fine workmanship matters, but is not exactly primary. Feel matters -- smoothness matters.
Money factors in -- I can afford the Dura Ace, but I don't like wasting money. If Dura Ace were slightly more, it wouldn't be an issue; but it is a lot more.
Durability matters. I am more familiar with Shimano XT and XTR componentry. XT can be more durable. XTR is lighter and more race-oriented. I am not familiar enough with Dura Ace vs Ultegra in these areas.
Thanks in advance for any helpful input.
03-31-16, 05:17 PM
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****.... because this will go south quickly
03-31-16, 05:36 PM
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Ultegra will probably do everything you need it to but I have never regretted buying premium stuff...
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03-31-16, 05:39 PM
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I bought 6800 because most of the articles I read said it operated very close to 9000, but with a weight penalty that I didn't feel was material for my riding.
03-31-16, 05:48 PM
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If you're going mechanical, Ultegra. If you're looking at electronic, wait for the Dura Ace refresh later this year (I'd still go with the Ultegra chainring/cassette though)IMO.
03-31-16, 05:53 PM
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ultegra, or save some serious money and go 5800, as the 105 is now 11spd. if you look closely a lot of "ultegra" and "DA" bikes use 105 cassettes and chains now to save a few bucks.
03-31-16, 06:02 PM
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when picking a group for my last build, I went Ultegra 10 because the crank was more aesthetically pleasing to me than the DA version.
but, I did go DA C24 for wheels.
but, I did go DA C24 for wheels.
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03-31-16, 06:26 PM
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Ultegra sounds like what you want. The DA finish is a bit nicer and it is a bit lighter, but the durability is about the same, or edge to Ultegra.
Best I know they are interchangeable. We have both sets and I have not had the need to swap them.
Best I know they are interchangeable. We have both sets and I have not had the need to swap them.
03-31-16, 06:41 PM
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+1.
Weight, bling, and cost are really the only appreciable differences between 9000 and 6800. I use Ultegra because the difference isn't worth the cost to me. If I was buying Di2 versions though, the weight difference might change my choice.
Weight, bling, and cost are really the only appreciable differences between 9000 and 6800. I use Ultegra because the difference isn't worth the cost to me. If I was buying Di2 versions though, the weight difference might change my choice.
03-31-16, 07:06 PM
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I've got both. After more than four years the DA works a little better and feels a little more solid. The finish on DA looks new. But both function well.
03-31-16, 07:09 PM
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When I purchased my 6800 groupset, 5800 was still a year away. If I were buying now it would be hard to justify the higher cost of Ultegra.
I haven't done the math, but is the price to weight difference $1 per gram? That is the budget WeightWeenie measuring stick I go by.
I can justify $100 to cut 100g of weight.
I haven't done the math, but is the price to weight difference $1 per gram? That is the budget WeightWeenie measuring stick I go by.
I can justify $100 to cut 100g of weight.
03-31-16, 07:25 PM
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I posted DA held up slightly better for me. Then I remembered I used the Ultegra bike for two years at the Cheaspeake Bay in the salt air and some sand. So that probably accounts for the difference.
03-31-16, 07:46 PM
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Does that make sense?
03-31-16, 07:48 PM
#22
Kit doesn't match
The folks at Art's Cyclery offered this and their picks for "the best value Shimano road components":
Rear Derailleur: 105 5800
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9000
Shifters/Brake Levers: Dura Ace 9001 or 105 5800 depending on budget
Cassette: Ultegra 6800
Chain: Ultegra 6800
Crankset: Ultegra 6800
Brakeset: 105 5800
So when I bought a new groupset I went all Ultegra except for shifters, where I coughed up the extra $100 for DA.
Art's Cyclery Blog » Shimano Road Components ? Where to Spend Your Money
Rear Derailleur: 105 5800
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9000
Shifters/Brake Levers: Dura Ace 9001 or 105 5800 depending on budget
Cassette: Ultegra 6800
Chain: Ultegra 6800
Crankset: Ultegra 6800
Brakeset: 105 5800
So when I bought a new groupset I went all Ultegra except for shifters, where I coughed up the extra $100 for DA.
Art's Cyclery Blog » Shimano Road Components ? Where to Spend Your Money
03-31-16, 07:54 PM
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The folks at Art's Cyclery offered this and their picks for "the best value Shimano road components":
Rear Derailleur: 105 5800
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9000
Shifters/Brake Levers: Dura Ace 9001 or 105 5800 depending on budget
Cassette: Ultegra 6800
Chain: Ultegra 6800
Crankset: Ultegra 6800
Brakeset: 105 5800
So when I bought a new groupset I went all Ultegra except for shifters, where I coughed up the extra $100 for DA.
Art's Cyclery Blog » Shimano Road Components ? Where to Spend Your Money
Rear Derailleur: 105 5800
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9000
Shifters/Brake Levers: Dura Ace 9001 or 105 5800 depending on budget
Cassette: Ultegra 6800
Chain: Ultegra 6800
Crankset: Ultegra 6800
Brakeset: 105 5800
So when I bought a new groupset I went all Ultegra except for shifters, where I coughed up the extra $100 for DA.
Art's Cyclery Blog » Shimano Road Components ? Where to Spend Your Money
Back with 6600 and 7800 shifters, the difference was obvious. What parameter influenced the 9001 upgrade?
03-31-16, 08:07 PM
#24
Kit doesn't match
Two things, really. First, I had read that materials were modestly better in the internals of the DA shifters, so they might be less likely to fail over the long term (who knows). Second, I had ridden 6800 so I knew front and rear shifting were excellent, though I thought the action of the shifters was ever so slightly imprecise (they work freaking great, don't get me wrong); I had hoped DA might be slightly better. Is it? Maybe. A little.
03-31-16, 08:13 PM
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Fair question -- if I had a compelling answer I would have included it in my original comment ;-)
Two things, really. First, I had read that materials were modestly better in the internals of the DA shifters, so they might be less likely to fail over the long term (who knows). Second, I had ridden 6800 so I knew front and rear shifting were excellent, though I thought the action of the shifters was ever so slightly imprecise (they work freaking great, don't get me wrong); I had hoped DA might be slightly better. Is it? Maybe. A little.
Two things, really. First, I had read that materials were modestly better in the internals of the DA shifters, so they might be less likely to fail over the long term (who knows). Second, I had ridden 6800 so I knew front and rear shifting were excellent, though I thought the action of the shifters was ever so slightly imprecise (they work freaking great, don't get me wrong); I had hoped DA might be slightly better. Is it? Maybe. A little.
Both 6800 and 9001 work so well that it's very difficult to tell the difference. Longevity might be different, but with 25k miles on my 6800 shifters, I can't feel a difference in performance yet
