DonDenver

(Sorry OP for this side note)

cv, it's posts like yours that keep me reading this forum...my wIfe thought I was a fool laughing for so long.

shokhead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJXKCoxMLnU

cooleric1234

Al Gore must be rolling in his grave. What's this you say, he's still alive?

mutantdunk

This is the way to go.

mutantdunk

It's not an engine it's a motor.

travkat

How about the environmental concerns? Don't get me wrong, I am a huge tech person and always want the latest and greatest new gadget. However, I remain cautious about things like e readers and electronic shifting of bicycles and other technologies of a similar vein. The environmental cost of mining for the metals used in batteries, let alone the sheer volume of e waste already affecting the world is staggering. It is so bad that in the US companies actually smuggle e waste out of the US and send it to poor countries to be stripped of its metals, as its a cheaper way to do business, rather than being responsible. My point being that I try to pick and choose my battles with regard to new tech. But batteries are going to be a large problem as even the best wear out within 3-5 years.
I would wager that a lot of us on the forum don't really recognize the impact that some of the coolest stuff out there has now or will have in the future.

And just to be clear, I used to work in shops and wrench on bikes, I have ridden the DI2 and liked it, but not enough to justify the cost monetarily, nor the cost environmentally of adding yet another chunk of electronic stuff into my life...

JohnJ80

Seen that. I'm looking to see user reports of the Ultegra version. Right now, there's something like less than 10 sets in the US.

J.

shokhead

Then with only 10 sets in the US it might be a tad of a problem getting real reviews, don't ya think?

JohnJ80

You'll be able to order it and buy it pretty quickly. I believe Trek and some other major mfgs will be offering Ultegra DI2 based bikes shortly. Obviously it's not possible to buy one right now, today.

j.

shokhead

John 180 was wanting user reports, not buying info I think.

metalheart44

[QUOTE=DonDenver;13091154]Use the electronic DTrain of the new U Di2 (and superior to that of DA Di2) along with mech 7900 brake and crank. Some nice performance with that combo.

The Ultegra Di2 is a new color -- a drank grey/black. The Dura Ace cranks and brakes are not the same color. So, if you are anal about things matching, then they won't, but it seems the parts might look ok.

Digitalfiend

The Di2 battery is supposed to last 300 charges and if we assume that someone recharges their battery every 500 miles (even though the battery goes a LOT longer than that) then we have 150,000 miles. If you're riding 150K miles in 3-5 years, firstly power to you, and secondly the number of tires, lube, clothing, and other components you're going through likely far outweighs the environmental impact of a single battery. Also, aren't lithium ion batteries recyclable?

JohnJ80

FWIW, Li-ion batteries also die from old age not just charge cycles. 3-5 years is a good estimate. I'm not going to lose much sleep worrying about the hazards of Li-ion batteries either. This is a very promising technology that is just about to go mainstream from what I can tell.

J.

boostbutt

OP here......

I have given up on Ultegra Di2 because....the FD and RD really looks chunky! + I'm gonna be spending even more! + I can't wait! + "Dura Ace" just sounds better! .... I have some free time so I installed it myself!

You can check pics here

And the build (short!) process here

JohnJ80

That is one of the issues that I see with it right now. Normally Shimano stuff has the esthetics well under control. This looks a bit off.

J.

DonDenver

Yes guys; both valid points.

I guess I've gotten to the point that since I'm not looking at it when I ride I don't care. If I can "feel" the performance gain (e.g., shifting under load in the mountains out here) and realize a price advantage combining the electronic and mech, that for me trumps style points. Although it would be nice if it was all sleek in form as well as color matched somewhat between Ult and DA in this case.

Always a compromise, right?!

JohnJ80

Yes, concur. After I posted, I looked at some more on line articles that are more current.

According to this article:
https://velonews.competitor.com/2011/...ace-di2_187814

it performs very well. Too, the weight differential is explained better and isn't as dramatic as previously thought (at least as I thought). The weight penalty of about a pound for for the entire Ultegra DI2 group (cranks etc...) against the entire DA DI2 group. The weight penalty from Ultegra not DI2 to Ultegra DI2 is only about 80g more - not a big deal and about what DA to DA DI2 was (60g).

Also, in the pictures on these bikes, it's doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Not going to be a huge deal, I think. Somewhat clunkier but not as bad as I thought.

J.

Ron Harry

I'm not about to buy one of them danged nabbid horseless carriages. They are noisy and stink up the place. My horse and buggy does just fine. It's all a flash in the pan don't you see.

patentcad

I ride about 12K miles annually, so that's 12 years of riding for me. I'm confident the batteries will outlast your desire to have that stuff on your bike for that long. By the time the battery wears out we'll all be riding George Jetson flying hover bicycles.