Lucky enough to be employed now at my local bike shop. Therefore, price is not the issue it would be. I’m on 9 speed right now on my softride, and it deserves an upgrade. What would you put on this bike? Currently run Osymetric rings
Generally speaking Shimano 105 is considered the ‘best bang for the buck’. However, if you work at a bike you might get a discount on Ultegra or Dura-Ace.
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Generally speaking Shimano 105 is considered the ‘best bang for the buck’. However, if you work at a bike you might get a discount on Ultegra or Dura-Ace.
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105 is great but in terms of bang-for-the buck I would say Ultegra is that. Not much more expensive than 105 but close-to-DA quality
This^. My lady has 11sp 105 on one bike and 11sp Ultegra on the other. The Ultegra’s shifting is more than just noticeably better. Unless this is that one chance to get the very best, go for the Ultegra.
Ultegra
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Unless this is that one chance to get the very best, go for the Ultegra.
+1
I’d argue that Ultegra is more durable as well due to the materials used.
I don’t know what kind of markup you’re looking at for DA vs Ultegra, but for on general retail in the UK it’s basically double the cost. You might save 300-400g on a full DA groupset vs Ultegra but for me it’s not worth it.
Generally speaking Shimano 105 is considered the ‘best bang for the buck’. However, if you work at a bike you might get a discount on Ultegra or Dura-Ace.
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105 is great but in terms of bang-for-the buck I would say Ultegra is that. Not much more expensive than 105 but close-to-DA quality
I agree with that. I needed an upgrade on my roadie. Was going to go 105 on that but Ultegra wasn’t that much more so put the Ultegra on my old TT and the 105 from that on my roadie.
The 105 is perfectly good and I have had no problems but I think the Ultegra is worth the extra.
Ultegra
They’ve narrowed the price gap from 105 so it’s not much more to get ultegra.
Give yourself a “price gap” range. I would say $100 should be good since there is virtually no speed difference between the big 3 Shimano groupsets. If an upgrade to Ultegra or DA is going to be <$100 go for the upgrade (highest you can get). If <$100 go with 105. Don’t overlook any 10 speeds either. Two years ago I bought a new bike with 10 speed Ultegra. Bike shop owner built up an older model unused Felt B10. Ultegra only cost another $15 or something silly like that it was virtually the same price. But the 10 speed was about $150 cheaper, and came with 40mm wheels that weren’t likely to be matched if I went with an 11 speed.
No love for SRAM or campag?
If price is a consideration then definitely 100% ultegra mechanical.
If you got money to burn Dura Ace Di2 electronic. Just learn how to troubleshoot that stuff. It isn’t as obvious as mech.
Stay away from wireless electronics shifting. Have you ever had your sensors drop out, and there’s no local reason (broken, flat battery, etc) and then just starts working by itself later? That’s radio interference. That’s not so bad when it’s your HRM, but catastrophic when it happens to your shifting.
No love for SRAM or campag?
Let me first say I run SRAM Red on my race bike.
I wish I got Shimano instead…
I got a USA frame, USA group, USA wheels. That’s why SRAM. But it just isn’t as solid. It works but it just isn’t the same as Shimano. There are more instances of compatibility issues, more noise in drivetrain, components bend more readily. That sort of thing.
Generally speaking Shimano 105 is considered the ‘best bang for the buck’. However, if you work at a bike you might get a discount on Ultegra or Dura-Ace.
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I always thought ‘best bang for the buck’ goes to ultegra, always get pass down highend features, solid enough with a few more grams.
I’d chat with the shop mechanics… they’ll probably say Ultegra.
No love for SRAM or campag?
No.
Love the gear range Tiagra has, Would go for x1 and build up if i was working for the local shop
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I’m with you on Shimano over Sram for 2x drivetrains. The red/force drivetrain on my main road bike seems to need constant tweaks - particularly the front mech whereas i don’t think I’ve touched the 12 year old ultegra/105 on my old cannondale for 4 years (other than cleaning).
No love for SRAM or campag?
No.
+1
I’ve used just baout every shimano group over the past 25 years, and have used Red and force, and a lot of campy stuff as well (I do miss 1990 C-Record…).
SRAM would never tune up perfect, fd was a pain, etc. Campy to me has always felt sloppy/slow in the shifting.
Ultegra mechanical is great, and if your budget allows, you can get previous years Ultegra 11 di2 for pretty cheap.
To the person who said the performance of their ultegra was noticeably better than 105, that is not what my experience has been. Ultegra looks nicer and better resale, but I’ve had 105 groups that have shifted just as crisp as my dura ace stuff.
If you happen to be looking at NOS stuff, the only shimano I’d stay away from is 7900…that stuff was crap IMHO.
You can probably get a better price on a group if you buy from Merlin Cycles in the UK.
I’d base the groupset choice on your frame. If you have a nice carbon frame, go Ultegra. I have an aluminum Specialized Allez frame and upgraded it from 9 speed Tiagra to 11 speed 105 last year and am as happy as a clam. If it was a nicer frame, I would have spent a little more on the groupset. But the quality of 105 is quite good and is perfectly suitable for my particular road bike. This allows me to contemplate (and justify in my mind) a nice road bike upgrade sometime in the future 