Why choose DA over Ultegra? Is it worth the cost?
Thanks,
Ed
I’m not sure what the price difference is at the moment, but there is no reason to choose DA apart from astetics. The Ultegra - DA difference is about as narrow as the 2005 Chorus vs. 2005 Record measure. i would save my money and put it into nicer wheels.
Cheers
No, I can’t. And therein lies the rpoblem for a retailer. The gap between Dura-Ace and Ultegra really closed with the new Ultegra upgrade. There are still differences to be sure, but they are small and largely irrelevant to the consumer style end user.
The new Ultegra is excellent. I would rather have an all-Ultegra kit than a Dura-Ace kit with a down-spec crank.
Eddie–Are you going to build it up yourself? If so, check out this site for prices:
I can’t. My bike has DA components but I use an Ultegra cassette on my training wheels. My race wheels have a DA10 11-23 on them. I’m doing a hilly race at the end of the month and I’d like the ‘insurance’ of the 25. There’s no way I’m spending over $150 for a DA cassette. I bought an Ultegra instead for half the cost.
No, my good LBS would do it. This is all dependant if I go through with the new bike.
Thanks all.
Ed
Great review and article on Ultegra 10 in Cyclingnews.com. Look under tech section. Basically they say the stuff is awesome and unless money is no object, you are a pro or you are weight weenie, forget about DA10
Exactly what I was looking for!
Same reason you would choose a Rolex over a Seiko. Both tell time to the same accuracy, but a Rolex is all for show and status.
Yeah, Rolex are crap…that is why I wear Tag Heuer and Mont Blanc usually…
But back to bikes…NEITHER
DA = Increases coolness factor and speed
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A guy from Rockford IL shouldn’t be critiquing on style.
Now that is more like Patek Philippe
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So much agreement. How un-slowtwitch. Allow me to throw in a tiny bit of dissent, based purely upon hearsay and salesmanship. My understanding is that Ultegra shifters are still using some plastic parts inside which, over time, may not perform as well as the DAs. So, if you’re looking to keep the same components for 4-5 years, the recommendation I received was to trade up on shifters (I went DA on the rear DR as well, but that was more of a vanity thing). Go Ultegra everywhere else.
I’ll second the STI piece. I had really hoped they would upgrade the inside of the Ultegra shifters to using all metal pieces. I have had to replace 5 Ultegra shifters since '95 (3 8-speed and 2 9-speed). Go with the Ultegra kit, but, whatever you do…get the DA STI levers.
FWIW, the shifters are the reason my next road bike will have Campy…their levers are rebuildable.
What kind of bike are you thinking about? Last fall I put DA 10 on my tri bike because my LBS didnt have the Ultegra yet. On my road bike I just upgraded from 105 to the new Ultegra 10 and besides the color I can’t tell any difference.
Its for a tri bike, so the STIs aren’t an issue.
Coolness factor baby, if you can afford it… it’s just cool…
A guy from Rockford IL shouldn’t be critiquing on style.
And your from Elgin!? Then again, I avoid Chicago, the burbs and everything to do with it…
No, I’m from Chicago and okay with that.