trueno92

From a bike blog that i frequent... wish i had more details, but it has been done:



Working in a bike shop, you can become pretty desensitized to some of the more ludicris projects customers would like you to take on. Everything from $15k tri bikes with all the latest, most expensive aero equipment to Surly LHT’s with Rolhoff 12 speed hubs to be built up as a commuter bikes, I’ve done it all and not batted an eye at the request.

This particular project caught me off guard. A fellow came in with a bright orange Diamond Back road bike from decades ago, equipped with a Shimano 7 speed group and down tube shifters. I will note that the bike was in immaculate condition. Additionally, he brought with him a bag full of brand new Ultegra Di2 components he had gotten for a screaming deal from Indonesia. Despite spending nearly an hour trying to convince him that it was not the most ideal project and that he should consider saving the components for a bike that was not only modern enough to accept a 10 speed group but also specifically Di2 compatible, he was relentless in his quest and firmly stated while looking me in the eye, “If it can be done, I want you make it happen.”

And here you have it, the most entertaining bike build I’ve been tasked with to date!

Creme Brulee

ahhh i got nothin

Chris_in_Miami

I had to google Di2.

4Rings6Stars

I think it's badass. More power to him.

zonatandem

Testing Di-2 with new in-the-seatpost NMH battery on our tandem.

gaucho777 

I'm curious, what would make a bike like this incompatible with Di2 (notwithstanding any biases against older steel frames)? Anyone know if any mods would be required to the frame or parts to get the Di2 group to work?

Btw, aside from the cost, what's so ludicrous about a 12 speed Rohloff hub on a Surly LHT commuter?

RFC

Ignorance is not a virtue.

champion city

Di2 requires a bit of a different cable routing from a traditionally cabled bike, and the battery needs to mount somewhere on the frame. Overall, not too much would be required, but I'm not sure if the wiring is separable to be run through cables guides and the like. Lots of zip ties might be necessary.

Cool project OP, do tell how the cable routing worked!

Mithrandir

Wait... what's wrong with that?

LesterOfPuppets

Besides the ugly squid crank, levers too high, stem too high and WTF saddle...

I LIKE IT. Love those frames.

randomgear

What's odd about an LHT with a Rohloff? Makes sense to me!

mapleleafs-13 

could have been worse, he could have had you install that on a supercycle

Italuminium

That's a mutt. Not because of the frame/group combo (hell, this will be the norm in the modern group/old frame thread in five years), but that saddle and mismatche wheels? Get out of here!

CardiacKid

Regardless of the virtues of battery operated drivetrains, that bike is fugly.

cudak888 

It's stupid, ludicrous, and - for the mere fact that someone had the guts to do it - fantastic.

-Kurt

Bikedued

Well, while working at the bike shop I installed 2012 Ultegra on a first gen OCLV 5500, and 2012 XT on a 94 C'dale mtb, so I guess anything is possible. Di2 has the same shifting headaches that STI's do, and looks like Tourney on top of that. Give me cables any day.,,,,BD

Bikedued

I also had the umpteenth owner of a first generation CF Kestrel trying to find a way to haul a trailer. The guy was 6'3" and the bike was a 53ish sized bike. It takes all kinds. Once I start making some okay money in a few weeks(hopefully), I may do equally strange things,,,,BD

jr59

Well, I always thought Rohloff had 14 speeds!

noglider 

I know what Di2 is and am feeling lazy. In a nutshell, what is the appeal? Is it a great leap forward in convenience compared with STI or Ergo?

IthaDan 

Why not? it's not like once you've fit the parts to a frame they're eternally paired to that frame. Seems like a really unique ride until he decides (IF he decides) it's time for a more modern frame. I'm not sure I'll ever understand the "is this [part x] worthy of [part y]?" line of questioning, just like I don't get the "well, if you have [frame x] then IT deserves [wheelset/components y]".

Other than coldsetting the rear triangle wider, I don't think any other modifications would have been needed.

conradpdx

It does, and my dream over the top commuter would be the Rohloff and the Schulmph Mountian drive. Though I'd probably make it even stupider, and put it all on an old Schwinn Cruiser frame and Rat Rod it out.

I always thought that was one of the greatest things about bikes, you can do just about anything to them. For the most part, parts are interchangeable.

WNG

I think the OP's chain of thought is that someone goes to the extent to buy Di2 is to attempt to gain a competitive edge. That little edge is negated by the older platform. And the Diamondback looks like a nice enough bike as is. (Cool paint)

If one just wants to experience Di2 or their goal is to showcase what he/she has to others, then whatever floats their boat. No different than me mixing Campy, Shimano and Suntour components on a particular bike, which will result in some of us here 'palming their foreheads.'


I personally welcome the advent of electronic shifting, only because in the end, it will be A LOT cheaper to manufacture, eliminate unsightly cabling, lighter, and as an EE, I get to hack it.
It doesn't mean it'll ever replace my favorite C&V drivetrains.

thirdgenbird

I would love a vintage bike build with Campagnolo eps. If I had the money, I would be in the market for a vintage frame in need on new paint. Prior to the paintwork, I would have a frame builder modify if for internal routing and electronic shifting.

jr59

If this is so;
Then it would be something to use a 12 speed Rohloff!

photogravity

Give it to DD and he can certainly do something with it. The bike is orange, yes? Actually when I first saw it I thought it might've been one of DD's bikes. : innocent: