105 - ultegras advice

willtri

hi there, ive just purchased a new bike with shimano 105 group on it. I have some spare cash and would like to slowly start to upgrade some components. Does anyone know which ultegra shifters I will need to get to be compatable with the 105 (5700) I have already so I can easily straight swap them.

rick_chasey

Just curious - why are you looking to upgrade?

willtri

to be totally honest im not sure !! I just have some decent wheels etc and have a bit of cash left to put towards something for the bike.

rick_chasey

In terms of performance the difference between 105 and ultegra is pretty minimal.

Mainly weight in my experience. Not sure it'd be value for money at all.


Appreciate snot what you're asking and feel free to ignore - it's your money after all.

w00dster

Heres a document with some info for you...
http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/ ... le.html/01)%20Drivetrain%20Compatability%20Chart.pdf
And another forum discussing the same topic..
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... 3&t=117152

Would it be worth saving up and buying the entire groupset, then going full Ultegra 6800? A very quick scan showed that full 6800 would cost slightly less than 6700 (based on two well known stores)

If your after weight gains, very little between 5700 and 6700. If your after performance gains, again 6700 not significantly better imo.
If your looking at improving your bike, generally wheels are the first place to look, but depends on what wheels you've already got. I think most would agree, if your new bike has the factory wheelset, upgrading this would be more beneficial than slowly upgrading from 5700 to 6700.

smidsy

Keep the 105 (it is the best VFM groupset in the Shimano range) and spend the money on a holiday or you significant other, or some other more worthy cause.

Anonymous

You should have just bought an Ultegra bike if you wanted it.
Don't say you could not afford it because upgrading group sets on a new bike is financial suicide :shock:

Luckily (as has been said) you do not really need to upgrade from 105 to Ultegra anyway.

Ride the bike for a bit then get some new brake pads, wheels and tyres for the summer

I would upgrade things like chain and cassette when they wear out (or if you need a different ratio cassette).
Depending on what brand of bike you have the chain and cassette are probably cheaper ones that were put on to keep the cost down.

markhewitt1978

willtri wrote:

hi there, ive just purchased a new bike with shimano 105 group on it. I have some spare cash and would like to slowly start to upgrade some components. Does anyone know which ultegra shifters I will need to get to be compatable with the 105 (5700) I have already so I can easily straight swap them.

All Ultegra 6700 stuff - i.e. 10 speed is compatible with your 105 setup. However 6700 is now old, and has been superceded by 6800 - i.e. 11 speed Ultegra.

As it is the difference between 5700 and 6700 is very small, and I've ridden bikes with both. Since your 105 is brand new it would be the biggest waste of money ever to start throwing those components away. If you really want to upgrade I'd say wait a year (or two) and then go a full upgrade to Ultegra 11 speed.

However in the meantime if you have cash burning a hole in your pocket, when wheels are the best bang for your buck upgrade for new bikes. Plus you can keep your stock wheels for winter use.

What bike do you have, exactly? Preferably with a link.

slowbike

The 6700 STIs are direct replacement for the 5700 you currently have - there is practically no difference. I have just done the replacement (I wanted the 5700 for another bike so the 6700 went on the best bike) - I can honestly say that I haven't noticed any difference in operation at all.

topdude

to be totally honest im not sure !! I just have some decent wheels etc and have a bit of cash left to put towards something for the bike.

Resist the urge to "buy something for the bike" ride it for 6 months, then you will have a better perspective on what if anything you want / need.

rickeverett

To notice differences you need to jump 2 in shimano group sets. I wouldn't go for ultegra just for the sake of it. You will have a fractional performance gain and a tad less weight.

Most noticeable difference if you want to splash out on upgrades is a new wheel set and tyres. A lighter wheel set and nice rolling tyres almost always makes a noticeable difference. Not only that but you can loose hundreds of grams off a bike straight away if your bothered about that.

But yeah with shimano you will have much more noticable difernces every 2. ... Sora - 105, Tiagra - Ultegra, 105 - DuraAce.

It really isn't worth it IMO.

ic.

Spend it on a bike fit.

HellsCyclist

Spend it on petrol.

boydster76

Spend the cash on decent clothing. You want to be comfortable on your new bike and decent shorts, gloves, shoes etc. cost money but will make your riding a lot more enjoyable.

cougie

Spend it on a trip to the Alps !

boydster76

+1 on the Alps trip!

buckles

Give it me

wandsworth

IC. wrote:

Spend it on a bike fit.

+1

wishitwasallflat

Good quality clothes for all types of weather - or - better wheels - upgrading shifters is not worth it (unless you are super rich in which case do it and give the old ones to me)

marcusjb

cougie wrote:

Spend it on a trip to the Alps !

Fine advice (pyrenees also an option). Spend a week out in the mountains, enjoy the cycling, the views etc.

The memories that will give you will be with you for the rest of your life. Changing shifters will give you a novelty that will wear off in days.

Bikes are just tools to take us to interesting places - doesn't matter whether that is an old knackered beater or the latest 11-speed, electronic geared carbon wonder bike.

Sure, I like nice bits on the bike, but I don't have fond memories of the day I bought XYZ - however, standing at the top of a mountain that you have just ridden up, admiring the view - that is the stuff I will remember when I am old.