Guys,
I am building up my first bike (first self build) and am debating the cost vs. weight savings of the Dura Ace and Ultegra builds. I am building a Fuji SL-1 frame set, so I know weight savings are a premium on that type of frame. So what are the pros and cons?
Also if anyone has a Group Set they are wanting to sell PM me.
Thanks,
James
Check out the new 2010 SRAM Force: http://cxmagazine.com/new-sram-force-gruppo-2010-upgrades-shifters-brakes-adds-bb30-and-gore It’s lighter than DA, just slightly more expensive than Ultegra, and rumor has it that it’s hard to tell from Red. So far I’ve heard very good things about it (search here for an inquiry I posted a few weeks ago). I just spec’d it on my new road bike 
Fred
Are you thinking of running 7800 or 7900 DA?
Looking for 7900 or equivalant
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My 2 cents – maybe think about some DA and some ultegra. I’d consider DA rear deraileur, chain, cassette, and crankset, with Ultegra everywhere else. The post about the 2010 SRAM Force gruppo is intriguing too.
Why Ultegra front derailleur? In my opinion, it’s the front shifts that are harder to get right, and Shimano DA 7900 front shifting is second to none, from what I’ve heard and read. If I were doing a split group, I’d put DA in the front and Ultegra in the rear: I never had a missed rear shift on my Ultegra 6600 stuff.
7900 front shifting is second to none, and a significant upgrade from the previous generation. Performance wise, the rest of the group:
brakes: big improvement over ultegra
shifters: hidden cables/carbon levers and feel much better than ultegra
cassette: save some money and buy an ultegra cassette, you won’t know the difference
It’s a definite cost advantage to go the ultegra route, DA will save you a couple hundred grams that you may or may not notice while actually riding the bike. A full water bottle will easily negate any weight savings on a groupset. That being said, IMO If you have the cashflow and can put in enough miles to justify it, I’d say go for the 7900. That’s what I did and I don’t regret it for one minute.
I went with DA rear and ultegra front as my philosophy was to get DA for the moving/rotational parts and ultegra for non-moving. If money were no object I’d go full DA. If money is a signficant object, go full Ultegra since it is a great gruppo.
+1. For Shimano, Ultegra is the real value. I haven’t tried 7900, yet. Two local pros I know say it doesn’t shift as well as 7800, but they love the cranks. I’ve been told it’s a bit harder to adjust, too. Again, all secon hand.
The weight savings for SRAM, at least 2009 and earlier is mostly in the shifters. I’ve converted all my bikes to SRAM. I’m happy with the weight saving, but I think the D/A 7800 shifted more crisply than either Red or Force. I really like the SRAM bar end shifters, though. Very firm.
For SRAM, I think Rival is the real value.
I had DA 7900, I used it for a bit, took it off and sold it. there were many things about it that I didnt like, I went back to 7800 and I have no complaints (other than no in-line cables, but thats aesthetic). I love the 7800 and plan to use it for quite awhile, I also run red on my TT bike and love it too.
I just upgraded my road bike to 7800. It is the best bike money I’ve ever spent. Get out and get it while you still can. All the mechanics I have talked to say that the 7900 stuff isn’t worth the money while the 7800 stuff is still out there new. It shifts so smooth, even under load. The crank is stiff and after just a few break in rides, I have gone completely bonkers over it. I’m working on doing my tri bike with full 7800 now.
Great info…wonder why the 7900 are not performing as well as the 7800?
probably the cable routing under the bar tape. tighter bends and all that.
I still have no compelling reason to switch from 9 speed Dura Ace. looks better than the 7800, IMO.