SethL

Hi, I was researching purchasing new brake levers and shifters for my 10 speed road bike. Seems like 10 speed is phasing out and the only shimano option to buy new is the 5700 series which was put out in 2016. Do you think its better to buy new 5700 or used Dura Ace ST-7801 off ebay?

Iride01 

Not all 10 speed is created equal. It's going to depend on what your current model DR's are. Tiagra 4700 is 10 speed, but it has the pull ratios of the 11 speed groups.

Shimano 105 5700 hasn't been new for some time. So you'll only find NOS or used on eBay at more than new prices.

Is your current stuff 105 5700? If so, you might just get Tiagra 4700 and change out your DR's too for less money. And then you'll at least have something that is still made today. Though it's probably time for another version of Tiagra to make a debut.

SethL

Thanks.. I have the flight deck, 105 st 5500. They are 10 years old and never been replaced. They are bomb proof, still working but stiff. I have durace front and rear DR and those are newer.. Tiagra is an interesting suggestion

rccardr 

Isn’t 5500 nine speed?
If your intention is to change to ten speeds, not that hard- everything nine and ten speed road works well together.
When you decide on shifters, the only other things you have to change are the chain and cassette. Everything else = sympatico.

Crankycrank

You should try flushing out the internals of your current brifters to see if that will make them work better before buying anything. A good dousing with WD-40 or some petroleum solvent work well for this. Just make sure the WD40 doesn't stay on the rubber covers too long without cleaning it off as it can make the rubber permanently soft and swell. As mentioned 10 speed brifters that are compatible with your current 10 speed derailleurs have been out of production for 8 years or so and the 5700 actually was around from 2010-14.

easyupbug 

You have a 9 speed group if ST-5500. Take Crankycrank's advice, it is standard practice for these shifters, in the unlikely case they are shot look at Microshift 9 speed replacement, they will give you years of service at a good price. If you do have a 10 speed group you can still get new ST-5700 shifters should you need them.

SethL

Thanks. Sorry for the confusion. I have the 105 ST 5600 2X10 currently installed. See below as this is what they look like

Shimano 105 ST-5600 STI Shifter and Brake levers 2x10 speed Road bike: brifter | eBay

The microshift or micronew are interesting ideas. I like the fact that these are still being manufactured and seem easy to install. Do you think they are as good as shimano products?

delbiker1 

Another vote for spraying the innards to clean out the gunk. I have 2 sets of 9 speed Tiagra, 4400/4500, and they were doing exactly as you describe. A thorough cleansing, wipe down, some drops of light oil on the innards, voila, working like new. Also, when was the last time the cables and housing were replaced? If the cables are not sliding freely inside the housing, shifting is negatively affected. The price of 10 speed brifters compatible with your present components has sky rocketed.

CliffordK

I've used the 9-speed Ultegra/Dura Ace, and have never been happy with them, and things like shifter covers are almost impossible to source.

I'm not sure about the 10-speed Dura Ace 7800 series. But, personally I'd go for a more modern groupset.

So, probably I'd choose the 5700 groupset.

Possibly even the 4700 Tiagra shifters. HOWEVER, keep in mind that the 4700 shifters take the 11-speed rear derailleur (4700, 5800, 6800, 8000, etc).

Which shifters have side cable routing, and which shifters have aero routing? I find I dislike the side cable routing.

jim_pridx

I'm also in agreement with flushing your current shifters out if you're in hopes of continuing to use them. These things are notorious for the existing Shimano grease to get gummed up internally over time, and more likely than not a good flushing will get them working like new again.

Iride01 

While flushing would also be what I'd do. It'd mostly just be so I could ride sooner than later. Also the stuff is old and maybe near it's end of days.

I'd still be considering how much longer I'm going to ride that bike. If it's going to be for several more years and it's my primary ride, I'd really consider putting Tiagra Shifters and DR's on the bike.... Assuming there are 10 cogs on the back. If I had a little more to budget, then Shimano 105 11 speed shifters, DR's and 11 speed cassette.

11 speed cassette should fit most wheels with 10 speed freehubs.

CliffordK

It depends on the age of the freehub/wheel, and the gearing choice.

If the wheel is over 10 years old, it probably is a 10 speed freehub and not compatible with the "road" cassettes.

Cassettes with 34T and larger large sprocket will work on the 10 speed freehubs.

Smaller cassettes may work, but may require modifications. The exception are disc wheels which typically are flat in the middle rather than with spokes, and deal well with overhanging cassettes.

Iride01 

That's probably about right. And probably the OP's wheel is older since they have a 5700 or 5600 group. But if they bought that wheel only 5 or maybe as much as 7 years ago it might be likely has a freehub body to fit a 11 speed cassette. At least for Shimano and SRAM compatible stuff.

My only Campy stuff is Nuvo Record from the late seventies. So I can't say for them, but casually reading I'm under the impression it's different for Campy compatible freehubs, cassettes and such. At least is slightly different in the what can and can't on blue sky days vs lavender sky days.

CliffordK

True, Campagnolo is different. But, if the OP is asking about Shimano 10s shifters, he probably doesn't have a Campagnolo wheel, especially since the sprocket pitch for 9s and 10s is generally not considered compatible between Shimano and Campagnolo.

I don't use the Campy freehubs much, but I think 9s had the small splines, the 10/11s had the large splines.

alcjphil

Campagnolo freehubs are all the same for 9,10,11, and 12 speeds

easyupbug 

Except Campagnolo now has a new freehub for the newer 12 or 13 speed cassettes that shares the same grooved design as the classic body but is lighter and shortened by 4.4mm which allows it to handle the smaller 9t or 10t cogs for you guys who could motor a 9 tooth.

Viich

I put a GRX 400 group (Tiagra 4700 equivalent with 10sp with the 11sp cable pull) and was extremely impressed with how well the longer pull works. I wouldn't say that 5700 is a huge upgrade on 5600 - really not much change other than the aero cable routing, but it will still work with your existing derailleurs.

I have found the aero routing shifter cables with the old short derailleur pull (ie. 5700) is more finicky with the tight cable bends. The newer shifters (GRX 400, anyway) have really improved that.