Shimano di2 - worth it?

cashy16

Buying a new road bike - options to upgrade to integrate di2 --- is it really worth the extra cash or just some serious bling?

Scotty-Gee

Worth every penny.

Although I haven't got much to compare it to, having not ridden much before I got it. However it's so smooth, so easy to use, no chain rub, automatically indexing during setup, battery lasts ages etc etc

velohutts

well worth it , you won't regret it !

Mccaria

Dura ace 9000 manual runs it very close and has the benefit of being more easy to maintain and service at home.

Having said that, both are very good.

Guglielmo

NOT worth it. It's very expensive for the gains you get and mechanical shifting is fantastic as it is! And au naturel!

I'd spend the money on frame/wheels/riding holiday/bike fit/massage/kit instead, better gains to be had in those areas.

Just my opinion, I'm not a Di2 hater, I've ridden it and it works great - slightly slicker than mechanical but lots more money. And I just prefer my bike without a battery. And without the robotic noises! Haha

spasypaddy

whats the build?

depends on whether you are scrimping elsewhere...

cashy16

There's 500 pound difference in the Kuota kharma evo 2013 from ultegra manual to di2 .

Or there's a similar option to upgrade the group set myself .

I won't be racing so just wondered if its really worth it!?

mallorcajeff

i love mine. easy to set up and maintain myself (I cant do the mechnical version)
Well worth it in my opinion. When i go on my tt bike with normal ultegra it feels so different from DA Di2.
I wont go back unless I cant afford it one day.

smidsy

I have to say I like the fact that the front mech auto trims to suit the rear cassette selections, BUT I do wonder why we need it and it is another thing to go wrong...plus think of the extra weight will all those batteries :-)

northpole

Definitely worth spending extra - and getting yourself a great Campag Super Record groupset!!

Peter

PS I really don't believe there is a need for the added complexity of battery/ electronics to a bike.

cashy16

Thanks all

---

I'll have a think

rich164h

I've only tried it once (the ultegra flavour) but I've got to say that I do think it's worth having, BUT, is it worth paying a ridiculousl large amount of money for over the top of a mechanical group of a similar quality? well only you can judge that.

I would pay more, but I'm not sure that i'd pay the £500-1000 more that I've seen being asked for.

For me it's not about the shifting performance under load etc (although that is very nice) it's really about the accuracy of the shift and the convenience of a dramatic reduction in maintenance and possibly a reduced wear of the chains/cassettes etc due to me riding with a not quite perfectly setup mechanical groupset. I can get a mechanical groupset setup up pretty well but I know for a fact that it's not always perfect and I'm not always the quickest at getting around to sorting things out if they are only slightly out (obviously major problems I do sort out straight away). I struggle to find time to ride the bike, let alone fettle it mechanically as I might ideally like/need, and this technology potentially reduces that issue and in theory some of the difference in price could be clawed back from not having to replace parts quite as often (although I'm sure it wouldn't close the gap entirely).

awsm

Pretty sure Ultegra will go 11 speed during the latter part of this year. So depends if current Ultegra Di2 will be updatable via firmware or not.

Would be tempted to go mechanical until we know for sure then get the upgrade kit at the end of the year.

izza

awsm wrote:

Pretty sure Ultegra will go 11 speed during the latter part of this year. So depends if current Ultegra Di2 will be updatable via firmware or not.

Would be tempted to go mechanical until we know for sure then get the upgrade kit at the end of the year.

Ultegra is going 11 speed but in the 2014 model year so that is at least 9-10 months away.

As for price, I have committed since the Ultegra upgrade kit comes in at £700 inc. VAT, a 40% reduction on MSRP. I can't see prices going much lower than that. Does anyone have quotes/costs/estimates for fitting charges?

flasher

Will it make you go faster? Is it lighter than the mechanical version?

CliveDS

The new 9000 mechanical is really fantastic but after doing some miles on a Dogma with 9000 I switched to a Ultegra Di2 Ridley and came to the firm conclusion that electronic shifting is far and away better than than the best mechanical shifting.

True Super Record and DA 9000 are flawless mechanical groups and do exactly what you ask of them but electronic shifting changes the way you ride. You can shift more often with more confidence specially in tight situations.

It might not be apparent on a parking lot test ride but if you spend some time on a electric bike you would have a hard time going back to mechanical.

moscowflyer

Do I love my Di2? Yes

Would I spend the money on upgrading from Ultegra 6700 to Ultegra Di2 if it didn't come with the bike? Probably not.

chadders81

My Rose Xeon CRS 3100 is sitting in a DHL depot in Cologne. Carbon, Ultegra Di2 and Ksyrium Elites. £1,850. So it can be had for a pretty reasonable price.

I don't know a great deal about the frame but think it might be the best bike and I'll build something else for racing.