So price aside, I need some input on which of these platforms to build a road bike up with. What are the pros and cons from people who are actually riding these. I looked around the inter webs and didn’t really get the non biased info from riders, just editors. I am going with the DA crank for sure, but the rest of the drivetrain is up fro debate. So any input from the people who own and ride each?
With a Dura Ace crank, cassette and chain I think you can shave a chunk of the weight!
With a Dura Ace crank, cassette and chain I think you can shave a chunk of the weight!
So my instinct was the opposite.
By using Ultegra cassette and chain (consumables) you can save a good amount of the ongoing costs
Dura Ace chain is more expensive and wears faster, maybe use it for racing only. I defy anybody to tell the difference between Ultegra and DA di2 or brakes.
what about the shifts and derailleurs?
DA chain does not wear faster than ultegra, it’s got a zinc coating that reduces wear. However it’s true that the DA cassette wears faster than ultegra because of the ti cogs.
Well if we are putting initial expense aside, as you stated, then go DA for shifters and derailleurs.
To me, they are what makes a groupset that groupset.
The Dura Ace stuff still lasts a LONG time. Wouldn’t worry about the additional wear unless you are are really seriously counting your dollars and cents.
DA is a bit lighter and has more “bling” factor, but there isn’t any performance difference beyond the weight. If weight/image is worth the $, go for it.
I asked myself the same question a few weeks ago when getting ready to re-spec my mechanical P5. Verdict? For shifters and derailleurs, I went with DA: the servo motors, for instance, are more compact, durable, and made to Shimano’s spec (whereas Ultegra Di2 use generic servos). The Ultegra Di2 front derailleur feels flexier to me than DA. For cassette, I went with Ultegra. There is a small weight penalty as against DA, but the DA cassette does wear noticeably faster on account of being made out of Ti - in my experience, shifting begins to deteriorate after about 1,200mi (I’ve noticed this on every one of my 4 DA cogsets over the last 3-4 years, whereas mu Ultegra cassettes just seem to stay crisp forever). On the chain front, previously I’ve used Shimano DA, Ultegra, all kinds of SRAMs, and one or two Wippermans, but nothing has ever come close to my all-time favorite: KMC X10SL (and now KMC X11SL) - quiet, light, shifts great, doesn’t stretch, just a fantastic chain overall. The biggest surprise was the crankset choice: I had Shimano DA7800, which I loved, and naturally assumed that I would go with DA9000. Not! Felt really spongy, and I mean *really *spongy. (It’s official: DA cranks are no longer benchmark for light and stiff.) Got rid of it and replaced it with Rotor 3D+, which is a bit heavier but fantastically stiff - to the point that it reminds me of C’dale’s legendary Hollowgram SiSLs.
In a blind test, I guarantee you would never be able to tell the difference in stiffness. Whatever “sponginess” you feel or think you feel is either due to something else that’s wrong, or in your head.
edit: never mind the below. I actually have 6770 (10spd) ultegra shifters, have not ridden the 6870 shifters.
*I’ve only ridden a DA Di2 bike for an hour and I have ultegra di2 on my road bike. Couldn’t tell a difference in the rear/front shifting but the shifters themselves are very different. Ergonomics of the DA shifters are far superior and the shift buttons have a firm click-snap to them. The ultegra shifters have a mushy feel to them and no click feedback. Also, it may be just my shifter set but my ultegra hoods are a bit loose. *
Actually it was a blind test - set up by our mechanics, involving 6 different elite and age-group riders during winter (off-season) training. Mechanics basically masked/covered up derailleurs just for fun, asked riders if they could tell any difference (team was wondering if some $ could be saved by going with Ultegra instead of DA). Verdict on FD: 5 out of 6 felt Ultegra was significantly spongier (also more prone to chain drop). No scientific experiment, obviously, but sufficiently telling anyway - at least for our team purposes.
I read your post as talking about cranks and not fd’s. In any case, wrt fd’s, I am sure most of the difference in feel between da and ultegra is due to setup and cabling differences. Mechanically there is no difference. Just lighter material. But leverage, angle of connection, etc are identical between da and ultegra.
I think surely if it is money aside then go for the DA? Seems like a bit of a self answering question? I recently brought a DA 9070 groupo and it is just fantastic. I wasn’t bothered about electric until I rode it. My mechanical DA9000 although great just never seemed to 100% reliably change gears. The electronic is just superb. Never ever misses a shift and I can’t imagine not having it now. The girlfriend has Ultegra Di2 on her bike and similarly, in 3 years or so it hasn’t missed a beat.
I’m sure the Ultegra works fantastically, but you are paying the extra for the refinement, and let’s face it, the Kudos of having DA stamped all over your bike. I’m sure you could be happy enough on an Ultegra, but really if cost doesn’t matter to you why is there even a question of what to get?