Kai Winters

Hi everyone,
I thought I'd share my change over from mechanical to electronic/hydraulic drive train/braking.
After a lot of hemming and hawing I've finally taken a dive into the electronic shifting age. I'm currently changing my '22 Aethos frame from 11 speed Ultegra (mechanical shifting and braking) to 105 Di2. I'm nearly done and hope to take it on the road Monday. I'm going to the Black Fly Challenge this weekend and still waiting on the crankset which won't be in until Monday.

So far the build is going great. I'm no expert on hydraulic brakes but they came out great. I used several YouTube videos and found GC Performance's to be the best. The most important part was removing the 'olive' from the shifter and sliding it over the hose then insert and tighten the through lock to prevent uneven insertion and possible leaking. It was a breeze and the brakes feel great. The 105 calipers also work great with no rub at all thanks to a bit of a wider design.
I do work in a bike shop as a wrench but don't work on a lot of hydraulic brakes so I'm always a 'nervous nelly' that I'm going to screw something up. I never have but it still makes me nervous because stopping is kinda important. I have much more experience with mechanical systems (20 years part time in bike shops in sales and wrenching).

I've not started the derailleurs yet as I'm waiting on the wires, charging cable and chain to come in. But I've checked the battery levels on the shifters and they are flashing green so good to go knowing at least that function and the braking work.

While able to buy at wholesale I opted to go 105 based on cost and watching/reading many many reviews. I just didn't feel the need to go to Ultegra and the savings are quite a bit.
Build pics soon.

veganbikes

I am curious on the 105 Di2. I took the plunge years ago with Ultegra Di2 and it was and still is fantastic though it is mechanical rim brakes. The 105 looks to be good stuff and has always been solid in the past. It should be a fun build. If you don't need the Ultegra I can make sure it goes to a good home...LOL!

Camilo

Should have gone with Sram wireless, you'd be on the road by now

eljayski 

Good for you! My experience with 105 Di2 is very positive. I think making the change from Shimano to Shimano will please you.

Just to note, I recently acquired a mechanical Campy Chorus 2x12 equipped bike and the multi-gear shift capability of Campy is a feature I like and use a lot and would not give up. Fortunately, I don't have to!

Ride safely!

KerryIrons

What are you doing with your perfectly serviceable Ultegra group that is in no way deficient in braking or shifting?

datlas 

So you currently have mechanical disc brakes? Otherwise does not compute to go from rim brake to disc on same frame. Unless frame and fork accept both, which I have not heard of.

datlas 

BTW you should be able to use current crankset with new group.

Kai Winters

Unsure at this time...possibly keeping or ebay bound

Kai Winters

My Aethos was running TRP Spyre mechanical disk brakes.
The Aethos is disk only.
While I had absolutely no problems with the mech disk system I've been wanting Di2 for some time but just couldn't pull the trigger on Ultegra even at wholesale but 105 is within my budget and the finance minister...wife to you lol...gave me the go ahead so I made the purchase.

Kai Winters

Funny you say this as I'm waiting for the 105 crankset to come in and didn't want to wait to set up the di2 so I used the Ultegra 11 speed crankset which is roughly 3 years, perhaps 4, old...I got it on a bike I bought a few years ago. It is working fine and the front der. shifts the chain perfectly.
I will change to the 105 crank when it comes in just because I've not had a complete, matching grouppo for nearly 23 years.

Kai Winters

Update
Finished the Di2 install and setup today.
Took several days due to a bit of a get away. A crew of us went to Inlet NY to race the Black Fly Challenge Gravel Grinder and I just got back this afternoon.
Setting up the Brakes was a piece of cake thanks to help from the YouTube video on how to install and bleed the brakes provided by GC Performance. He made it look so easy and indeed it was.
The drivetrain was also straight forward and the ETube app quickly picked up the derailleurs, battery and shifters. The derailleurs and battery had updates but the shifters were up to date.
The crank hasn't arrived yet...Monday I think...so I tried my 11 speed Ultegra crank and it worked fine. I'll still use the new crank. I want a completely new kit and it's the first matching kit I've had in around 23 years lol.
I'm unsure what I'm going to do with the 11 speed Ultegra mixed system.
I took the bike for a quick spin around the neighborhood and oh boy does the Di2 work great. It is so smooth and honestly far faster than mechanical which surprised me. It is also a nice feature to just hold down the rear der button and have the der move all the way up or down...very cool. It is also very quiet which also surprised me. I watched a few YouTube videos where it was commented on the sound of the derailleurs during shifting.
The brakes are also so smooth. My Diverge, which survived the Black Fly race quite well, has Sram hydro and it's the first bike with hydro I've owned and love the light tough required. I have small hands and appreciate the light touch lol.
Overall I'm thrilled with my new system and can't wait to take it out for a training ride tomorrow.
Thanks for all the input...love this forum...

Kai Winters

Update:
I've been on two rides thus far and yesterday was intervals day, a great way to test a bike under extremes. It is flawless ! ! ! I'm thrilled at how fast it shifts and the braking is butter smooth and very powerful now that the pads are bedded in.
I have not yet received the 105 crankset and am using my 11 speed Ultegra crankset. Wow ! it works just fine. It is roughly 2 years old and has around 15k miles on it so I'm guessing the teeth are worn enough and the 12 speed chain is close enough to the 11 speed chain that it works. The chain moves smoothly from the big to small and vice versa. I guess I could just use the Ultegra but I've not had a matching groupo in over 20 years so I'll use the 105 crankset when it comes in.
The drive train is also very quiet and I only hear a faint sound of the front derailleur servo moving the chain.
I do wax my chains and am using Silca's wax which is very nice.
That's all for now...thanks for reading and commenting.

Kai Winters

Another update:
While sitting on the Chesterfield today I was wondering if my Di2 system could connect with my Garmin Edge 830. I googlyed a search and huzzah lots of links to exactly what I was wondering about. It seems this has been around for awhile so I jumped on the train and synced my Edge with the Di2 system and it works great.
Here is a pic of my display...I left it stock since it seems to display everything I'd be interested in looking at now and then.

50PlusCycling

I upgraded my Birdy folding bike to XTR Di2, and am enjoying it. A faulty wire caused me a little grief for a time, but now it works flawlessly. I’m in the process of converting my Moulton from Dura Ace 7700 to Di2 9070 with XTR 9050 levers (I hate “brifters”), and am looking forward to getting it on the road.

Kai Winters

Here she is, all done. The 105 Crankset came in today. It only required a bit of a tweak to the front derailleur to set it up perfectly. I have it set to manual shifting mode now. I want to get used to it before I start monkeying with the semi mode and what gears I want the shifts to occur.

eljayski 

^ ^ ^
this is a handsome bike!

jfouellette

Impressive bicycle and interesting to see how technology can be used with them. It’s not for me, I’m an urban commuter, but I can see the purpose. It reminds me of sports cars, not always useful but nice to drive and look at.

Kai Winters

It would not be my choice for any type of commuting bike. I'd rather sit more upright, flat bars, racks to hold things and comfy, durable tires that go thru anything. But those are not why I ride my Aethos.

phughes

Looks great!