Same bike: $2200 Ultegra R8000 vs. $2700 105 Di2
08-02-23, 03:41 PM
#1
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Same bike: $2200 Ultegra R8000 vs. $2700 105 Di2
Which would you buy?
I'm coming from riding a 1980s steel frame with 11-speed Athena mechanical.
My current thinking is to go "all in" on electronic shifting, disc brakes, carbon frame. And that I should just get the $2700 105 Di2 12-speed. Saving the $500 and going with mechanical 11-speed Ultegra R8000 has some appeal because I like a bargain, but I'm not exactly short on cash. They don't currently offer an Ultegra Di2 right now for the bike I'm considering.
I'm coming from riding a 1980s steel frame with 11-speed Athena mechanical.
My current thinking is to go "all in" on electronic shifting, disc brakes, carbon frame. And that I should just get the $2700 105 Di2 12-speed. Saving the $500 and going with mechanical 11-speed Ultegra R8000 has some appeal because I like a bargain, but I'm not exactly short on cash. They don't currently offer an Ultegra Di2 right now for the bike I'm considering.
08-02-23, 03:47 PM
#2
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I just bought a Canyon CF 8 Endurace with Ultegra and while I am sure Di2 must be awesome, I think the ultegra is so nice I can't imagine needing or wanting anything more.
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08-02-23, 04:47 PM
#3
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I already have one bike with R7000 105 and another with R8000 Ultegra, so I'd go for the 105 Di2.
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08-02-23, 04:55 PM
#4
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105 is a good group set. Electronic shifting is the future. Personally I would go Di2.
08-02-23, 04:59 PM
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Are you able to test out either bike? Or perhaps test a bike with Di2 at a bike shop somewhere? That might give you an idea of whether you like the electronic shifting.
Personally, I'd go for the 105 Di2 all other things being equal.
Personally, I'd go for the 105 Di2 all other things being equal.
08-02-23, 05:16 PM
#6
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I have two bikes with electronic shifting. I would go with 105 Di2. The 12-speed cassette is icing on the cake.
08-02-23, 05:20 PM
#7
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Curious what bike you are seeing for $2,700 for 105 Di2. Most I have seen with that group are $4,000 plus.
I have bikes with Ultegra Di2 and105 Di2, bot 12-speed. Other than some additional features on the Ultegra, the two perform virtually the same with no discernible differences in shift speed or shift functions.
I have bikes with Ultegra Di2 and105 Di2, bot 12-speed. Other than some additional features on the Ultegra, the two perform virtually the same with no discernible differences in shift speed or shift functions.
08-02-23, 05:24 PM
#8
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Curious what bike you are seeing for $2,700 for 105 Di2. Most I have seen with that group are $4,000 plus.
I have bikes with Ultegra Di2 and105 Di2, bot 12-speed. Other than some additional features on the Ultegra, the two perform virtually the same with no discernible differences in shift speed or shift functions.
I have bikes with Ultegra Di2 and105 Di2, bot 12-speed. Other than some additional features on the Ultegra, the two perform virtually the same with no discernible differences in shift speed or shift functions.
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08-02-23, 05:35 PM
#9
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There’s the answer.
I’m a LBS kind of guy.
I’m a LBS kind of guy.
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08-02-23, 06:53 PM
#11
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I just made that choice on a Domane and went with Ultegra. No regrets.
But this is my randonneuring bike and I'm not ready for more electronics in that use case. If it were a bike for more typical one day rides, I'd go electronic based on rave reviews from friends.
But this is my randonneuring bike and I'm not ready for more electronics in that use case. If it were a bike for more typical one day rides, I'd go electronic based on rave reviews from friends.
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08-02-23, 07:05 PM
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My vote is for the 105 Di2, because:
1. The RD cable on 11-speed Shimano STI mechanical levers wear out relatively quickly.
2. I could upgrade to an Ultegra 11-30 cassette (which has a 16T cog) to avoid the 15T to 17T transition.
1. The RD cable on 11-speed Shimano STI mechanical levers wear out relatively quickly.
2. I could upgrade to an Ultegra 11-30 cassette (which has a 16T cog) to avoid the 15T to 17T transition.
08-02-23, 07:32 PM
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105 di2. electronic shifting is just so much better and more trouble-free. both are good groups otherwise, with a pretty small weight difference, around 400-500g assuming you’re talking about R8000 disk (R8020?)
08-02-23, 10:36 PM
#14
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I hate Di2’s buttons - not enough differentiation for my fingers to immediately know which button I’m pressing. Granted, this was with (I think) 6800, so the buttons might be dramatically different now.
My R8000 setup shifts nearly perfectly with a 12-29 Miche cassette to avoid the 15-17 gap (straight corncob from 12-17), and shifted perfectly with a Shimano cassette and a SRAM cassette. Shimano doesn’t offer anything with a 12-17 corncob, and while SRAM gave that in the 1170 11-28, it also gave me an 11t that I don’t need, while robbing me of an easier gear than a 28.
In my opinion, the reason to go Di2 is more for the 12 speed option that gives 11-17 in single tooth steps, and also gives a 30t bailout. If you don’t need the bailout, or don’t care about gaps between gears, R8000 is fantastic.
Personally, I wish Shimano gave the option for 12 speed mechanical. If 105 and up are going to be purely electronic going forward, I may go for Campy next time around…
My R8000 setup shifts nearly perfectly with a 12-29 Miche cassette to avoid the 15-17 gap (straight corncob from 12-17), and shifted perfectly with a Shimano cassette and a SRAM cassette. Shimano doesn’t offer anything with a 12-17 corncob, and while SRAM gave that in the 1170 11-28, it also gave me an 11t that I don’t need, while robbing me of an easier gear than a 28.
In my opinion, the reason to go Di2 is more for the 12 speed option that gives 11-17 in single tooth steps, and also gives a 30t bailout. If you don’t need the bailout, or don’t care about gaps between gears, R8000 is fantastic.
Personally, I wish Shimano gave the option for 12 speed mechanical. If 105 and up are going to be purely electronic going forward, I may go for Campy next time around…
08-02-23, 10:40 PM
#15
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Can't imagine paying 2700 for a 105 equipped anything regardless of electronic and Ultegra has always been a sweet group. I'd pay the 2700 for a Di2 ultegra.
08-03-23, 01:33 AM
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My R8000 setup shifts nearly perfectly with a 12-29 Miche cassette to avoid the 15-17 gap (straight corncob from 12-17), and shifted perfectly with a Shimano cassette and a SRAM cassette. Shimano doesn’t offer anything with a 12-17 corncob, and while SRAM gave that in the 1170 11-28, it also gave me an 11t that I don’t need, while robbing me of an easier gear than a 28.
I ended up getting two Prestacycle (formerly Edco?) 12-28 UniBlock cassettes.
08-03-23, 06:20 AM
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dang I am glad I saw your post. I checked and the cf 8 has dropped in price. I emailed Canyon last night as I recently paid $2500 for mine and this morning I got a notification that they have refunded me $300.
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08-03-23, 06:42 AM
#18
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Thank you for the correction there. I’m too weak to turn a 25t unless the road’s almost completely flat, so I forget about all the super tight cassettes. But yes, for cruising along, 14-17 are all quite handy depending on wind, exact gradient, what I had for dinner last night, etc.
08-03-23, 07:19 AM
#19
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11 speed mech Ultegra is really sweet. It's on my Domane.
I have 12 speed Di2 on a different bike that I'm selling. Great groupo and the shifting is flawless, but not so different from 11 speed mech that I'd switch groupsets before selling bike #2.
I have 12 speed Di2 on a different bike that I'm selling. Great groupo and the shifting is flawless, but not so different from 11 speed mech that I'd switch groupsets before selling bike #2.
08-03-23, 07:53 AM
#20
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1 more gear isn't going to make a difference in your performance. Ultegra will save you weight and that's a plus anytime you are climbing or accelerating. But we don't know if your 105 bike is lighter everything else and maybe the bikes weigh about the same.
Electronic shifting will end your issues of bad shifting because you don't keep your cable pulled stuff properly adjusted. But personally, my cable pulled stuff shifted fast and better then Ultegra Di2. However I don't have to dink with my Di2 several times a year to keep it perfect like I did with my cable pulled stuff. So that's a big plus in the favor of Di2 for me.
But I still might take the lighter bike, which ever that is.
Electronic shifting will end your issues of bad shifting because you don't keep your cable pulled stuff properly adjusted. But personally, my cable pulled stuff shifted fast and better then Ultegra Di2. However I don't have to dink with my Di2 several times a year to keep it perfect like I did with my cable pulled stuff. So that's a big plus in the favor of Di2 for me.
But I still might take the lighter bike, which ever that is.
08-03-23, 09:12 AM
#21
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I'm going to say go 105 Di2. Having just re-cabled my 1x road bike back to 2x. Adding back my front derailleur cabling still took me an hour or so. My next bike will definitely be wireless and I look forward not spending hours just to mess with internally routed cables.
08-03-23, 12:35 PM
#22
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Not so much a correction as just letting you know what (else) are available.
Me too! I had only bought a 12-25 with the intention of combining it with an 11-28 to make my own 12-28 before discovering the Prestacycle. That was unsuccessful so the 12-25 is reserved for my vintage bike while the 11-28 sit unused.
Me too! I had only bought a 12-25 with the intention of combining it with an 11-28 to make my own 12-28 before discovering the Prestacycle. That was unsuccessful so the 12-25 is reserved for my vintage bike while the 11-28 sit unused.
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08-03-23, 12:42 PM
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I had compared two Canyon bikes (online), same model and size, except 11s Ultegra mechanical vs. 11s Ultegra Di2, both with hydraulic disc brakes. The Di2 is slightly lighter than the mechanical version, which was surprising, at least to me. I did not think that steel braided cables would weigh more than wires (of similar length) plus servos plus a junction box and a battery.
08-03-23, 02:42 PM
#24
I had compared two Canyon bikes (online), same model and size, except 11s Ultegra mechanical vs. 11s Ultegra Di2, both with hydraulic disc brakes. The Di2 is slightly lighter than the mechanical version, which was surprising, at least to me. I did not think that steel braided cables would weigh more than wires (of similar length) plus servos plus a junction box and a battery.
Looking at the Canyon website they show weights as 8.46 kg for 105 Di2 and 8.42 kg for Ultegra 11s mechanical. The weight difference is negligible. I would go electronic, but the Ultegra 8000 version is on sale at the moment. So depending on your budget, that could sway it the other way.
Actually I would probably get the Rival eTap version for $2,399 as I really like the fully wireless SRAM setup.
08-03-23, 03:30 PM
#25
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I just checked the site again and the ultegra cf8 dropped to 2099 so I called and they promptly refunded me the other $100. pretty great service.
