All things being equal, which groupset?
03-16-15, 06:27 PM
#1
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All things being equal, which groupset?
Let's say you have a choice between two brand new groupsets? One is 6700 10 speed Ultegra compact, the other is 5800 11 speed 105 compact. Same bike frame, wheelset, etc. Gearing (ability to have a huge rear cog) is not an issue. Just curious, which do you take and why?
03-16-15, 06:36 PM
#2
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03-16-15, 06:43 PM
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Let's say you have a choice between two brand new groupsets? One is 6700 10 speed Ultegra compact, the other is 5800 11 speed 105 compact. Same bike frame, wheelset, etc. Gearing (ability to have a huge rear cog) is not an issue. Just curious, which do you take and why?
One could make the case very easily for the 11 speed as it seems to be the wave of the current and future.
Of course I am a Campy fan so I would prefer to shift over to Athena or Record instead but that is a different debate.
03-16-15, 06:48 PM
#4
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I would probably go with the least expensive one. They are both excellent quality groupsets but if I had to pick between the 2 I would probably go with the Ultegra. I think that it is just a little better than the 105 but truthfully I would not cry over either one.
One could make the case very easily for the 11 speed as it seems to be the wave of the current and future.
Of course I am a Campy fan so I would prefer to shift over to Athena or Record instead but that is a different debate.
One could make the case very easily for the 11 speed as it seems to be the wave of the current and future.
Of course I am a Campy fan so I would prefer to shift over to Athena or Record instead but that is a different debate.
03-16-15, 06:58 PM
#5
Kit doesn't match
I'd go with the 11 speed 105 as it might be somewhat more future-proof. As others have noted, though, both are dandy.
03-16-15, 06:59 PM
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It's kind of a toss up. 5800 gives you extra gear and marginally better shifting and braking but 6700 has slightly better fit and finish and slightly lighter. Hood ergonomics are also different but it's a personal opinion as to which is more comfortable.
03-16-15, 08:24 PM
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6700. You won't notice any difference when riding...but the way I look at it, I'd much rather have the higher groupset than one extra cog. I like the old 9-speed Dura Ace on my one bike, better than the 10-speed Ultgra on my late-model bike (just aesthetics- no difference in performance)- and so I'd be willing to bet that I'd prefer last generation Ultegra to current 105. Brand new Chevy, or a few-year-old Town Car? I'd go with the Town Car. My ancient Dura Ace still impresses me. I'm sure 105 of the same vintage would be just fine...but I wouldn't be still loving it as much. Go Ultegra!
03-16-15, 08:34 PM
#9
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The extra cog is not noticeable. Get the 6700. That is a very solid groupset.
Better yet, if you can find a like new 7800, go with that. Best groupset ever made by Shimano.
Better yet, if you can find a like new 7800, go with that. Best groupset ever made by Shimano.
03-16-15, 08:47 PM
#10
Optically Corrected
Personally, I'd go with the 6700 10 speed Ultegra. The 5800 11 speed 105 would be good as well, but as previously mentioned, I'd bypass the extra cog in favor of the Ultegras' "step up" in Shimanos' groupset hierarchy. I have the 6700 groupset on my Roubaix and it shifts like butter! Replacement chains are also cheaper for 10 speed vs. 11 speed. I don't think that 6700 (or any 10 speed) replacement parts will be hard to source for quite a while.
03-16-15, 09:39 PM
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I don't see any point in getting older Ultegra unless you're a weight weenie.
03-16-15, 09:46 PM
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5800, no question.
lol at old stuff being hierarchy.
yes, 7800 was good like mentioned but that's in part because it's successor was so bad (7900).
Also that was the first (6700 and 7900) under the bar tape group and shifting problems are notorious.
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/cat...roupset-35500/
lol at old stuff being hierarchy.
yes, 7800 was good like mentioned but that's in part because it's successor was so bad (7900).
Also that was the first (6700 and 7900) under the bar tape group and shifting problems are notorious.
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/cat...roupset-35500/
Shift performance – hidden cables but more friction
There's simply no way around it: the new hidden cables look better but the more convoluted routing also yields noticeably more friction than before – and unfortunately, Shimano's 1:2 cable pull ratio makes it more sensitive to that friction than its main competition.
There's simply no way around it: the new hidden cables look better but the more convoluted routing also yields noticeably more friction than before – and unfortunately, Shimano's 1:2 cable pull ratio makes it more sensitive to that friction than its main competition.
Last edited by bt; 03-16-15 at 10:16 PM.
03-16-15, 09:57 PM
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I'd go Ultegra 10 speed. I don't think 1 extra gear makes much of a difference on a road bike with a double in the front. On a mountain bike going 1x, that 11th gear in the back vastly improves the setup. On a 2x, not so much.
03-16-15, 10:04 PM
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IMO, 7700 was the pinnacle! -and old as it is, I still prefer it to anything. Aesthetically (which is about 99% of the difference between the different levels and model years) the newer stuff seems to be going downhill.
03-16-15, 10:14 PM
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Setting aside 10 vs 11, the 5800 shifting is superb.
03-16-15, 11:41 PM
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Completely agree, the new 5800 shifting is absolutely superb.
03-17-15, 12:53 AM
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Neither. Tiagra 4600 shifts just as well as 105 or ultegra, and has a beautiful finish.
Take the hundreds of dollars saved and invest in a set of lightweight wheels, where the weight savings actually matters.
Take the hundreds of dollars saved and invest in a set of lightweight wheels, where the weight savings actually matters.
03-17-15, 01:21 AM
#22
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^maybe a hundred...
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03-17-15, 02:23 AM
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I'll second that statement. I held onto my old 7700 group until just recently when it became apparent to me that 6800 and 9000 had proven themselves and had enough advancements to offer to make it compelling to upgrade. Actually I was about to go full 9000 but found a striking deal that allowed me to go to a mainly Ultegra Di2 blended along with some Dura-Ace Di2 and FSA bits for not that much more.
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