STi change - worthwhile?

dag_on_a_bike
dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
edited January 2014 in Road buying advice
Currently I have Ultegra 6600 F&R derailleurs with Dura-Ace 7800 shifters (thanks to a crash replacement no extra cost upgrade).

Is there any advantages to changing the shifters to either Ultegra 6700 or Dura-Ace 7900, apart from the concealed cables? Are there any compatibility issues?
There's no such thing as too old.

Comments

  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    If you can live with the cosmetic issue of the cables then DA7800 offers some of the best shifting experience in the Shimano range. Why bother?
  • Mccaria
    Mccaria Posts: 869
    7800 shifters are very good, 7900 from a shifting perspective are not really an improvement (some would say it's not as good) - it's just the aesthetic of concealed cables. There is a compatibility issue 7900 shifter and 6600 FD as the 7900 shifter has just 3 positions as there is no trim on the big ring, whereas the 6600 FD requires trim and so requires 4 positions (3 clicks). So 7900 sti and 6600 FD is not a good idea. Not an issue with 6700 as it still has trim on the big ring. However shifting on 6700 is (in my opinion) is not as good as 7800, so would be a backwards step.

    One other consideration is the brakes you are using. The pull ratio was changed between 7900/6700 and 7800/6600, so the brakes don't work as well when mixed. They can be made to work, but will not be as good as sticking with consistent sti/brake pull ratios.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    If everything works fine I'd stick with it.
    7800 had the best shifting so you're not going to gain anything apart from aesthetics, the brakes will mix and match without an issue despite the pull ratios being different.
    I swapped from 7800 to 7900 this year and the shifting wasn't as good, I've just bought 6800 because I've been told that the new 11sp shifting is very good but we'll see.......maybe I should have stuck with the 7800.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    7800 shifts better than the newer sets which route the cable under the bars. The new ones look nicer in terms of cable routing but 7800 works better and I think the shifters look nicer.
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  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    Thank you all for your responses.

    Aesthetics are not a major issue - the only time the cables get in the way is if I fit a bar bag while away on a riding holiday.

    I'm not disappointed in my current shifting performance, so I will stay with what I have and find something else to spend my money on :)
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • PoorInRichfield
    PoorInRichfield Posts: 56
    edited January 2014
    I have bikes with Ultegra 6500 (9 speed), 6700 (10 speed), and 6800 (11 speed), and of those, the 6700 is my least favorite. The 6700 levers aren't horrible, but take considerably more effort to shift than the other two.
  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    PoorInRichfield wrote:
    I have bikes with Ultegra 6600 (9 speed), 6700 (10 speed), and 6800 (11 speed), and of those, the 6700 is my least favorite. The 6700 levers aren't horrible, but take considerably more effort to shift than the other two.

    6600 is also 10 speed but without concealed cables
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Then he must mean 6500, or 6510, I'm sure he knows how many gears he's got !


    According to Shimano, the 6600 FD is not compatible with 6700 (or presumably 7900) shifters, although I've used it and found no issue
    - my suspicion is that as friction is a little bit greater with the concealed cables, a 6700 FD has a bigger return spring in it than 6600
  • PoorInRichfield
    PoorInRichfield Posts: 56
    nochekmate wrote:
    6600 is also 10 speed but without concealed cables
    Ah... you are correct. I meant 6500 (9 speed).

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