Ultegra SL, Ultegra or 105?

mtbhenry888

I want a hardwearing but decent groupset, i'm happy to look at campag but would ideally like to stay with shimano as i have all the right tools for cassettes/bb etc..

I'm building up a new steel audax bike and want to have decent stuff on it so far spec list goes, hope pro 3 hubs on open pro cds, conti gp 4 seasons, thomson stem and post etc, san marco regal, gore ride on cables and a Chris king headset but i cannot decide on a gruppo, merlin cycles have ultegra SL for £500 which seems like a deal but i'm worried it's more racy than reliability from a lightweight delicate point of view, so normal ultegra is good but again, will it have the same problems, 105 the 'workhorse' groupset as evans cycles describe, it would that be better!

which one to choose, any ideas?

alfablue

I have regular Ultegra on my audax bike, had it for 3 years, seems robust to me. I have heard stories of 105 left shifters failing of late (a few people on this forum).

TheStone

Ultegra and Ultegra SL are basically the same thing. The SL is slightly lighter and looks a bit different (nicer in my opinion).

I think the step up from 105 is worth it.

I'm like you, sticking with shimano as i have all the tools, spares etc, but the exchange rate is making the switch to campag a closer choice.

STEFANOS4784

I have Ultegra sl and, personally would either go for Ultegra or straight to Dura-ace but just because the 'ice grey' finish marks very easily and is most annoying

P.s other than that i cannot fault them, i went from rx100 shifters which are about 9 years old i think and the difference is enormous, the Ultegra sl is so light and easy to shift and the changes are smooth as i could hope for

billy whippet

go Campag centaur - you won't regret it once you experience the joy of campag

maddog 2

I'd go ceramic rims - more money but they last and perform better than standard, or CD, rims in my view. I'd also question mark the Gore cables as the latest lot have had some issues with going 'sticky'. Plenty of MTBers have had to send them back, me included. Shame as the older versions are excellent.

Frank the tank

All three are good. If cash is not a big issue be damned and buy with your heart, however, if the pennies are tight 105 won't let you down and it's the cheaper option.

mtbhenry888

thanks for the advice, esp about the gore cables!! i am leaning toward campag as it does seem to be cheaper and i can get hope pro 3s with campag freehub! would it be better to go for the new look shifters or the older shape ones? basically i'm looking at veloce/centuar mark

TheStone

Didn't like the old style Campag shifters.

As far as I can tell Dura Ace and the new style Campag shifters have met somewhere in the middle.

kingrollo

mtbhenry888 wrote:

thanks for the advice, esp about the gore cables!! i am leaning toward campag as it does seem to be cheaper and i can get hope pro 3s with campag freehub! would it be better to go for the new look shifters or the older shape ones? basically i'm looking at veloce/centuar mark

I started of with ultegra - then switched to centuaur - I wouldn't advise it. Shimano has a much lighter shifting action which I prefer, - my next bike will be shimano. Be aware of the internet factor with campag - everyone will tell how great it is ......but watch what people buy & ride.

gethin.norman

what about sram? You can use your shimano tools and also shimano chains and cassettes are compatible.

My new bike has sram force (my old bike has shimano 105) and have been very impressed. If force is too expensive then sram rival has also had very good reviews...

nferrar

My bike was mostly 105 originally but a crash necessitated replacing the levers and calipers and had to go for Ultegra as needed it done asap and the LBS had them in stock. Brakes don't feel any different nor does shifting on the rear, however the front is much better as I had the seemingly common problem with sticky 105 front changes but not had it since with the Ultegra levers. So for function the only thing over 105 I'd get would be Ultegra levers.

appletrees

Any of them will do just fine.

Are you really set on the Hope hubs? You could get a pair of Planet X superlights for a smidge under £40 - they only weight37 grams more than the Hopes - and then spend the extra £160 on the groupset...

I have just built a pair onto Open Pro's, having mentally had the Hope/Dura Ace at £200+ a pair or PX's at £40 debate, and I have to say that I'm convinced I made the right choice with the PX's.

And they come in Campag if you go down that road.

billy whippet

what a load of rubbish:

"Be aware of the internet factor with campag - everyone will tell how great it is ......but watch what people buy & ride"

Like saying that a ford focus or vauxhall vectra is worth buying because everyone else does - Shimano works ok but is ugly, low rent and mass produced, and now, because of the exchange rate more expensive... not sure what the arguments are for buying shimano

Nuggs

billy whippet wrote:

what a load of rubbish:

"Be aware of the internet factor with campag - everyone will tell how great it is ......but watch what people buy & ride"

Like saying that a ford focus or vauxhall vectra is worth buying because everyone else does - Shimano works ok but is ugly, low rent and mass produced, and now, because of the exchange rate more expensive... not sure what the arguments are for buying shimano

Brilliant, another worthy comment in the unending debate :roll:

kingrollo

billy whippet wrote:

what a load of rubbish:

"Be aware of the internet factor with campag - everyone will tell how great it is ......but watch what people buy & ride"

Like saying that a ford focus or vauxhall vectra is worth buying because everyone else does - Shimano works ok but is ugly, low rent and mass produced, and now, because of the exchange rate more expensive... not sure what the arguments are for buying shimano

Isn't Campag mass produced ?
Ugly - thats down to personal preference

All I am saying is don't switch based on internet forums, I did this - I was completing ultegra - but could I save £80 by going centaur ? - I took the advice of forums , and regretted it - I (and thats not everyone just ..my experience) much preferred the shifting action of my shimano, and my next bike - will choose 105 over centuar. - but hey, Im paying !!

STEFANOS4784

kingrollo wrote:

billy whippet wrote:

what a load of rubbish:

"Be aware of the internet factor with campag - everyone will tell how great it is ......but watch what people buy & ride"

Like saying that a ford focus or vauxhall vectra is worth buying because everyone else does - Shimano works ok but is ugly, low rent and mass produced, and now, because of the exchange rate more expensive... not sure what the arguments are for buying shimano

Isn't Campag mass produced ?
Ugly - thats down to personal preference

All I am saying is don't switch based on internet forums, I did this - I was completing ultegra - but could I save £80 by going centaur ? - I took the advice of forums , and regretted it - I (and thats not everyone just ..my experience) much preferred the shifting action of my shimano, and my next bike - will choose 105 over centuar. - but hey, Im paying !!

Well said that man! Some people who use Campagnolo would have you believe it is hand crafted by jesus himself! Personally i think it looks old fashioned and clunky. But then it's all personal preference and i will try Campag on my next bike, if i ever get it, just to see for myself :?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

I you want hard wearing (that is over light weight) then 105 is the answer cheap as well especially when compared to ultegra SL, i wouldnt actuallysay 205 is heavy tbh you wouldnt notice difference in bike between Ultegra sl or 105.

fergyorbea

purely from appearances shimano appears more robust and campognolo a bit racy.

If you don't mind spending 500 pounds, I would go for the sram rival black groupset from merlin http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... goryId=159

Looks nice, is lighter and compatible with shimano as far as i know, freehubs and that.

Spikedhope

GO CAMPAG!! Why put anything from a fishing rod manufacture on your bike????

JAGGY

If you can't decide then test ride two new bikes. One Campag and one Shimano. See which one YOU like and go bargain hunting from there.

The choice is a personal thing. Both companies make excellent equipment.

fast as fupp

and youve always got somewhere to hang your shorts up to dry with shimano

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Merlin were a good price for groupsets earlier in the year, not sure how they compare now....

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=categ ... goryId=159

Ally_GT

I ve tried 105 ultegra and duraace aswell as veloce and centaur i have toured europe on my British Eagle touring bike,(Steel of course) and found that dura ace is not strong enough for the job as was proved when touring through spain, I was riding along the mountains doing about 2500 rpm on my cadence meter with a northwestly wind running a gearage of 42/23 with about 7lbs of presure going through my pedals and 90 psi in my goodyear tyres when the rear mech dislocated itself from the gudgeon pin creating a negitive force on my bottom bracket which then in turn caused my wheels to colapse and my vintage handlebars to split and crack which meant my knee hit the bars and caused my 2nd tibular to fracture
I WOULD GO FOR THE S RAM GROPUSET

mtbhenry888

what sort of experiences have people had with sram groupsets, are they fairly tough, also are campag shifters rebuildable?

GavH

I've just 'upgraded' my 105 front and rear mechs for Ultegra ones. Got to say, not entirely convinced 'upgrade' is an appropriate term. Certainly my shifting feels slightly easier, requiring less effort perhaps but this is merely a highly subjective thought on my part. In fact I'm not even sure I'd have noticed the change or that if it really is that tangible that its not down to my new Ultegra mechs being setup slightly better.

Don't get me wrong, it's good kit, but given the very tangible cost difference between the two (105 & Ultegra), I'd opt for 105 or even look at what Campag or SRAM have to offer.

edeverett

I've had a 105 and Ultegra rear mechs on my bike - i had a habit of trashing them for a while - and I couldn't tell any difference. I suspect shift quality comes primarily from the shifter and then the ramps on the cassette.

One reason I'd stick with Shimano is that it is available everywhere. For a bike that is going to go further than Richmond Park being able to find spare parts in any old LBS is major benefit.