Shimano Ultegra 6700 Vs. Ultegra SL

steve23
steve23 Posts: 2,202
edited February 2010 in Road buying advice
im after a new groupset for my bike!!!

i love the look of the new Ultegra 6700 (Dura-Ace is out of my budget!), esp. the internally routed cables, new chainset etc, and its lighter!

but having looked at some reviews they say the new 6700 doesnt shift as well as the old SL?

anyone any ideas/thoughts?

£50 price difference..........just dont know which would be better.....

thanks
_______________________________________________________________________________________
If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!
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Comments

  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    Shifting is not quite as slick as the older version. The new STIs feel more like Campag
    when shifting. Possibly the trade-off for internal routing (I'm not sure).

    Due to a change in the way the brake cable is attached, the braking is much better in the
    new version and the STIs seem more robust.

    Otherwise, hard to tell which is better. Both mechs seem as good as before.
    exercise.png
  • Percy Vera
    Percy Vera Posts: 1,103
    I've just bought 6700.
    I decided shifting will be Ok with low friction cables - I shall see
  • slunker
    slunker Posts: 346
    I to am in this dilema, but to throw a spanner in the works is it worth spending a bit more and getting sram force????
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    I would guess that you have to ask yourself just exactly what does "not shifts as well" mean? I really can't see it being of any consequence. You move your finger a half inch or so to shift every single one of the road shifter group sets. How much worse or better can one be than the other? Even among different brands? I mean, it's a half inch. How different or difficult can it be? You move your finger to the lever, exert a bit of pressure, the lever moves slightly, you hear the shift happen, you relax your finger, shifting done.
    It really can't get much easier.
  • Percy Vera
    Percy Vera Posts: 1,103
    dennisn wrote:
    I would guess that you have to ask yourself just exactly what does "not shifts as well" mean? I really can't see it being of any consequence. You move your finger a half inch or so to shift every single one of the road shifter group sets. How much worse or better can one be than the other? Even among different brands? I mean, it's a half inch. How different or difficult can it be? You move your finger to the lever, exert a bit of pressure, the lever moves slightly, you hear the shift happen, you relax your finger, shifting done.
    It really can't get much easier.

    Ahhh Dennis the voice of reason...

    Maybe if shifting is that bit slowing, we could move the lever 1/10th second before we actually want to change it :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    dennisn wrote:
    I would guess that you have to ask yourself just exactly what does "not shifts as well" mean? I really can't see it being of any consequence. You move your finger a half inch or so to shift every single one of the road shifter group sets. How much worse or better can one be than the other? Even among different brands? I mean, it's a half inch. How different or difficult can it be? You move your finger to the lever, exert a bit of pressure, the lever moves slightly, you hear the shift happen, you relax your finger, shifting done.
    It really can't get much easier.

    You tend to put into words what I'm thinking about posting. Spooky.
  • cyclingpunk
    cyclingpunk Posts: 368
    Its a toss up. SL is a good set and looks nicer in some ways. However if you ever sell you are going to get a fair bit less for SL as it would be seen as 'old'.

    I am sure they both shift well but SL is a bit better. On the flip side the new group is lighter. I would go for the new one.
    My Madone: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=
  • reba6768
    reba6768 Posts: 1,030
    Have 6700 with Gore sealed cables and to me there is no noticeable difference in shifting between 6700 and the previous version.
    Infact the only difference for me is the ergonomics when on the hoods - the 6700 are a little chunkier.
  • steve23
    steve23 Posts: 2,202
    thanks for the info guys!!!

    im still not sure though!!!
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!
  • cyclingpunk
    cyclingpunk Posts: 368
    Steve... if it helps you make a decision I can sell you my SL group set thats in very good condition. I have just ordered some SRAM Red :shock: . If your interested send me a PM and I will let you know about it :)
    My Madone: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    steve23 wrote:
    thanks for the info guys!!!

    im still not sure though!!!

    Not sure about what????
    Personally, I'd buy the one I like the looks of the most. You won't be disappointed.
  • akcc05
    akcc05 Posts: 336
    I have just upgraded to 6600 to 6700 and have done about 300 miles so far.
    Braking and front shifting have improved hugely. Shifting from the small ring to the big ring is super smooth and light. Rear down shift is a wee bit stiffer but nothing you can't get use to.

    If you count the wheels as part of the group, then the 6700 tubeless is AMAZING. I'm running Fusion 2 at 90psi up front and 100 in the rear, the ride is silky smooth once up to speed and feels as if I'm riding a new compliant frame. Compared with my previous Bonty Race Lites with Krylion Carbons, the tires do feel faster but that could be placebo. Acceleration is quicker since you are saving about 100g rotating mass per wheel by running without tubes. On quiet rides, you also get a unique wooing sound from the tubeless setup that constantly reminds you your money is well spent.
  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    I don't get all this smooth shifting stuff, my winter bike runs a Sora, Xenon, Tiagra mix and the shift is still fast enough to race on.

    Its not like we are talking downtube friction shifters.
  • steve23
    steve23 Posts: 2,202
    on looks id say the 6700..........

    the cable do look neater!!!
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!
  • chrisw12
    chrisw12 Posts: 1,246
    eh wrote:
    I don't get all this smooth shifting stuff, my winter bike runs a Sora, Xenon, Tiagra mix and the shift is still fast enough to race on.

    Its not like we are talking downtube friction shifters.

    ...and what's wrong with friction shifters. A lot lot less hassle imho. :shock:
  • rickhotrod
    rickhotrod Posts: 181
    There is a big difference between the 6600 and 6700 shifters. The 6700 shifts a maximum of 2 sprockets per stroke whereas the 6600 shifts a maximum of 3.

    If you shift 2 sprockets when you double shift go for the 6700. If you shift 3 sprockets when you double shift go for the 6600.

    I would use a 53/39 12-25 (12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,25) setup and would shift 2 sprockets when i double shift (from 17 to 21), so my choice would be the 6700.
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    I've gone for the nicer looking SL mechs and the nicer looking 6700 shifters for my new build, best of both worlds...
  • rickhotrod
    rickhotrod Posts: 181
    ravey1981 wrote:
    I've gone for the nicer looking SL mechs and the nicer looking 6700 shifters for my new build, best of both worlds...
    Don't 6700 shifters pull different amounts of cable to the 6600 model?
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    no, fully compatible
  • steve23
    steve23 Posts: 2,202
    what do you mean by will only shift two sprokets and not three?

    does that mean the size of sprokets?
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    It means that pushing the lever all the way over shifts up the cassette more than one sprocket. On 6600 it will do 3 sprockets, on 6700 it will do 2 sprockets
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    I have SL - but if I were buying now and there was only a few quid in it - its got to be 6700 - pretty easy decision I would have thought.

    I commute on 4 year old sora,and that shifting is plenty good enough as others have said.
  • aogan
    aogan Posts: 52
    I bought 6700 for the wife for her new cervelo. She had dura-ace on her old bike. Went for a spin in the cold weather and descending towards the end of the ride she couldn't get the front mech onto the big sprocket - combination of stiff lever and cold fingers.

    I've always had ultegra myself - don't know if her levers are just stiff or if it's the character of the 6700...
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    aogan wrote:
    I bought 6700 for the wife for her new cervelo. She had dura-ace on her old bike. Went for a spin in the cold weather and descending towards the end of the ride she couldn't get the front mech onto the big sprocket - combination of stiff lever and cold fingers.

    I've always had ultegra myself - don't know if her levers are just stiff or if it's the character of the 6700...

    Or a badly set up front mech/stretched cable?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    aogan wrote:
    I bought 6700 for the wife for her new cervelo. She had dura-ace on her old bike. Went for a spin in the cold weather and descending towards the end of the ride she couldn't get the front mech onto the big sprocket - combination of stiff lever and cold fingers.

    I've always had ultegra myself - don't know if her levers are just stiff or if it's the character of the 6700...
    Have you routed the cable to the front mech fitting correctly? On my Ultegra setupo it was really stiff, I suspected the lever, but you actually need to run the cable to the bolt on the mech over the top of the bolt.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    alfablue wrote:
    aogan wrote:
    I bought 6700 for the wife for her new cervelo. She had dura-ace on her old bike. Went for a spin in the cold weather and descending towards the end of the ride she couldn't get the front mech onto the big sprocket - combination of stiff lever and cold fingers.

    I've always had ultegra myself - don't know if her levers are just stiff or if it's the character of the 6700...
    Have you routed the cable to the front mech fitting correctly? On my Ultegra setupo it was really stiff, I suspected the lever, but you actually need to run the cable to the bolt on the mech over the top of the bolt.

    +1

    I had this issue and sorted it when I redid the front mech.
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    alfablue wrote:
    aogan wrote:
    I bought 6700 for the wife for her new cervelo. She had dura-ace on her old bike. Went for a spin in the cold weather and descending towards the end of the ride she couldn't get the front mech onto the big sprocket - combination of stiff lever and cold fingers.

    I've always had ultegra myself - don't know if her levers are just stiff or if it's the character of the 6700...
    Have you routed the cable to the front mech fitting correctly? On my Ultegra setupo it was really stiff, I suspected the lever, but you actually need to run the cable to the bolt on the mech over the top of the bolt.

    Any chance you could post a pic of the correct cable routing? Is this the same for ultegra SL?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    I can tomorrow, don't have the bike with me here, but this is Dura Ace - same idea I think. Notice how dirty my bike is :oops: and notice the angle of the cable in the bolt, rather than a vertical route, it sort of goes round the top, so the mech moves more horizontally at first.
    frontmech.jpg
  • acidstrato
    acidstrato Posts: 945
    my 6700 is very crisp and very sharp when shifting. seems to click up and done very well. a treat compared to my 2 year old tiagra on my other bike but they do feel very different to hold, ergonomics i suppose
    Crafted in Italy apparantly
  • forward_loop
    forward_loop Posts: 314
    the swing arm extends further on the 6600 if I remember correctly, than on the 6700.

    Does your wife have a small frame ? I have a small frame (52)(not cervelo) that was produced prior to 6700. because of the angles(seatpost) and the positioning of the frame hole through which the gear cable comes up through the cable catches periodically on the rivet under the swing arm mechanism - this can disturb shifting on the front ring, especially up to the big ring. There is only mm in it - but I have found no way around it.

    I'm about to fit a compact which will make the angles slightly more acute and may lessen the issue.

    When I change out the cables I will probably go frictionless if I have the cash - as things dont run quite as smoothly as my 6600.

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