I’m planning on building a new bike this winter. I’m on a 2011 P3 right now. My 2 options are a NP2 or NP3 Ultegra. I would add Di2 to the NP2. Whichever bike I choose I’m going to add a TriRig cockpit/brakes and power2max power meter. I already have race wheels.
I’m not a big fan of the NP2 color scheme but if I was going to go with Di2 I would go with the cheaper bike. I don’t know if I NEED Di2 but I do like the concept of it.
Looking for any thoughts or advice.
P2 is the smart choice here since you are replacing the cockpit anyway.
Same exact frame as the P3, just a fork that is slightly wider at some points.
If I didn’t already have a P5 w/ Di2 (woe is me), the easy choice would be P2. It’s a really easy choice. I prefer the P2 color scheme to the black/white P3, personally.
You’ve been riding the P5 for awhile. Have you had any Di2 issues? I live in Florida so I don’t think it would be as useful day in and day out but I travel a lot for races. I like the idea of it for traveling because I wouldn’t have any cables to worry about but if something went wrong on the road trying to find replacement parts concerns me.
It’s been a little over 18 months at this point. Never had to mess with the brakes (after an initial install bleed), never had issues with Di2 (I have 6770)…no issues at all really. I never even have issues with Garmins so maybe I’m an anomaly.
I’d go NP3/mechanical just because the stark white with blue on the NP2 is horrible.
Take the money you save on the P2 and send it to Hot Tubes.
Take the money you save on the P2 and send it to Hot Tubes.
That’s actually a fantastic idea if the price spread would cover it.
It’s probably pretty close. I’ve never inquired with Hot Tubes.
That difference was my Di2 money. If I was having it painted I could always add the P3 fork and be on par with the NP3. At that point I’d probably be well over my budget though.
The cool part is that Shimano 5800 is JUST as fast as Shimano 6870!
This is easy for me.
NP2.
Damon Rinard said in a thread on here regarding S2 vs S3 that the forks are aerodymically identical. I would guess that’s the case for the P2 vs. P3 fork, as well.
I actually prefer mechanical shifting because it’s so damn easy to work with, particularly for a TT bike. And any asshole at any bike shop can fix it. I would actually probably put Rival 22 on there (if you’re set on 11 sp) because I prefer the shifters, etc., from SRAM.
I suppose have shifting on the basebar would be nice, but you could probably buy a decent road bike for the cost of Di2.
Good luck.
If you end up building mechanical, I just posted a set of like-new Dura Ace mechanical parts in Classifieds that came off my bike when I converted to Di2 earlier this year. PM me if interested.
He said the NP2 wasn’t tested but something to the affect of maybe they’ll test it one day and see what the difference is, if any.
I looked into upgrading the components but for $400-500 more I could just have the Di2.
Now I just have to decide if I want Di2 and to live with the colors. I’m deciding against painting it because for the money I could just get the NP3. I don’t care if flat black is played out I still like it.
James any idea when they’ll update the P2 color scheme? I know they just did the P3 and P5 so I’m thinking no earlier than next year?
Yea, I guess electronic shifting isn’t really an “upgrade” for me. If it was equal, I’d probably still go w/ mechanical, but that’s a personal decision…like saddles and paint schemes.
It’s pretty clear that you want the P3. So, just get the P3. You’ll be happier w/ your decision.
Damon Rinard said in a thread on here regarding S2 vs S3 that the forks are aerodymically identical. I would guess that’s the case for the P2 vs. P3 fork, as well.
Not a safe guess, different sorts of changes on the two forks.
But either way if one day we find out that the P2 fork is one megaton slower you could always replace it
Let me just throw this out there…the NP3 is a PITA to keep clean. The matte white is next to impossible to keep looking good.
You mean the NP2? The NP3 is like 85% black.
Any thoughts on the aeroness of the new 3T Vola or Profile Aeria Alloy (just debuted at Interbike)? Looking at alloy options for a new P2 that is cost effective. I’ve have the old vision setup before, but I like to stack the pads and extensions higher than it allows.
You mean the NP2? The NP3 is like 85% black.
Oh yeah, I’m talking about the first NP3. Why in the world on the NNP3 they had the entire bike be black except for where your chain is is beyond me!