I’m looking for a new tri bike but I already have wheels & an SRM (i.e. I don’t need a new crank). I am considering going with Di2. The bikes I am considering are either complete builds with Di2 (i.e. set of race wheels & crank), non-Di2 builds or frame/aerobar/brakes combos (they are designed for internal routing). Working out deals with the retailers leaves me paying a little under $4k to add Di2.
If I go with the frame/aerobar/brake option and decide to buy the Di2 from another supplier, what exactly do I need? This kit from ProBikeKit is $2400. It looks like I would only need brake cables/housing. Can you see anything else I would need?
How hard is this to install? I generally do my own wrenching but maybe this is best left to the pros. My LBS probably hasn’t even heard of electronic shifting (PMs are still a new oddity). I could take it to another LBS that would likely know more about this but I don’t know what a fair price would be for them to install it. I don’t want to trust this to an inexperienced shop if it is tricky but I don’t want to wait for a couple weeks and pay boutique prices for the equivalent of installing a new set of cables.
A bump for those looking to waste some time at work. I called PBK for their opinion. I was told that I would just need to get separate kits for the front and rear internal routing as this kit comes with external cables. I’m hoping I can talk them into swapping the sets.
I’d think hard about going DI2 today. The ultegra isn’t out yet for TT and is at least 6 months away. The current DA version isn’t going to be compatible, and there has been a very clear statement from Shimano that the 2nd generation of Dura Ace DI2 will be switching to the 2 cable version ultegra will use. So you’re going to be investing in a dead end technology. I’ve just wrestled with this one myself, and ended up putting a few hundred dollars into a cabled set up for the new bike as a medium term fix until either ultegra TT or DA DI2v2 is available.
I’d think hard about going DI2 today. The ultegra isn’t out yet for TT and is at least 6 months away. The current DA version isn’t going to be compatible, and there has been a very clear statement from Shimano that the 2nd generation of Dura Ace DI2 will be switching to the 2 cable version ultegra will use. So you’re going to be investing in a dead end technology. I’ve just wrestled with this one myself, and ended up putting a few hundred dollars into a cabled set up for the new bike as a medium term fix until either ultegra TT or DA DI2v2 is available.
Just sharing the thought process I went through.
It’s really no big deal whether you use what you dub to be new “technology” versus the current setup. The objective is to have shifters in your brake levers and your shifters at at flick of the thumb or another finger. It doesn’t matter whether cables in you bike is thinner or thicker. It does the same purpose! I’ve had Di2 for two years and I can’t imagine how much more improvement Shimano could do on this. Just buy it, install it, use it.
Internal cabling with non dedicated DI2 frames is a plus, but agree not a deal breaker. However in 3 years time when the rear mech gets mangled in a crash then I’d like to be able to replace with a current model of latest generation and not have to hunt around to find an obsolete old mech. And over time then when new innovations that make yet further improvements then these can be added one at a time, and not needing a full DI2 chainset. I suppose 11 speed would be an example where in theory you wouldn’t need anything other than a new cassette and a firmware upgrade. But that may not be available to an obsolete front mech, and if you have the 2 wire system then worst case is a replacement front mech and the two sets of shifters, rear mech, wiring and battteries will all be fine.
Note all that I didn’t say ‘don’t do it’. All I suggested was the OP think about it. If they think about it and it’s not an issue, then great.
Early Di2 adapters may be getting punished here in the next 12 months with some new releases and changes. Electro mechanical is here to stay, and clearly Di2 groups- Ultegra and Dura-Ace, will likely remain at the forefront of that.
That said you’ve seen rumbling about some changes coming down the pike that may or may not be backwards compatible. If you want the technology you have to enter the technology stream somewhere, but it looks like we’re close to change in the next 6 months. It’s up to you if this is your entry point.
I’d think hard about going DI2 today. The ultegra isn’t out yet for TT and is at least 6 months away. The current DA version isn’t going to be compatible, and there has been a very clear statement from Shimano that the 2nd generation of Dura Ace DI2 will be switching to the 2 cable version ultegra will use. So you’re going to be investing in a dead end technology. I’ve just wrestled with this one myself, and ended up putting a few hundred dollars into a cabled set up for the new bike as a medium term fix until either ultegra TT or DA DI2v2 is available.
Just sharing the thought process I went through.
It’s really no big deal whether you use what you dub to be new “technology” versus the current setup. The objective is to have shifters in your brake levers and your shifters at at flick of the thumb or another finger. It doesn’t matter whether cables in you bike is thinner or thicker. It does the same purpose! I’ve had Di2 for two years and I can’t imagine how much more improvement Shimano could do on this. Just buy it, install it, use it.
.
100% agree… Di2 is so awesome!! I love it… no reason to wait.