Can I strip down a Cannondale Synapse and add Di2?

brhull
brhull Posts: 6
edited January 2015 in Road buying advice
Thinking of buying the Synapse shimano 105 2015, selling the 105 and installing the Ultegra Di2 since you can't buy the frame on its own. Any reason why I can't or shouldn't do this? Any advice from those who know would be great. I assume this way would be way cheaper than the £3500 di2 version?

Comments

  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I can't comment on the specifics of the Synapse or the economics but installing Di2 is very simple. The only fiddly bit, depending upon how you plan to run the cables, might be removing the bottom bracket if they are run internally. I know nothing about the specific Synapse though. Have you considered other Di2 ready framesets that are out there with Di2 included? Or us your heart set on the Synapse?
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • brhull
    brhull Posts: 6
    The synapse gets such an awesome review. There is one other I was considering - the Ribble R872 comes in at about £1850. I ride in the Peak District on big hills and bad roads. Want a punchy comfortable all day bike and di2.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    brhull wrote:
    Thinking of buying the Synapse shimano 105 2015, selling the 105 and installing the Ultegra Di2 since you can't buy the frame on its own. Any reason why I can't or shouldn't do this? Any advice from those who know would be great. I assume this way would be way cheaper than the £3500 di2 version?

    Yes you can
    http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... wwodZbkA0Q
  • wotnoshoeseh
    wotnoshoeseh Posts: 531
    Yes you can
    http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... wwodZbkA0Q

    Fair enough, but I think this was the starting point for the OP. http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... 15-p258000

    That way he could probably recover a few quid on the 105 groupset parts he would need to replace and not purchase a full Di2 group?
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Obviously the alloy disc bike is an entirely different beast.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • brhull
    brhull Posts: 6
    Actually this was my starting point:
    http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Cannon ... Q8?wmp=272
    This one is Di2 ready at £1650. I thought it would be relatively easy to add Di2 and sell the 105 components.

    This is the Cannondale Di2 version at £3500: http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Cannon ... BT?wmp=272. Just seems expensive to me and I'm not paying £3500!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    brhull wrote:
    Actually this was my starting point:
    http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Cannon ... Q8?wmp=272
    This one is Di2 ready at £1650. I thought it would be relatively easy to add Di2 and sell the 105 components.

    This is the Cannondale Di2 version at £3500: http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Cannon ... BT?wmp=272. Just seems expensive to me and I'm not paying £3500!

    They are reasonably different bikes - especially the disc bit (which, personally, I'd highly recommend for the type of ride you're talking about). But, yes, a Di2 conversion kit (£600?) would be very easy on that 105 bike and you could sell the shifters and deraileurs. No need to change anything else from the drive chain unless you wanted to. You'll want to change the RS11 wheels too in time.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    Put Di2 on the 105 cogs and put the saving towards better wheels.

    New 105 is really nice.
    Boardman Elite SLR 9.2S
    Boardman FS Pro
  • vortice
    vortice Posts: 244
    edited January 2015
    The synapse is great bike. I bought the 2014 model and can highly recommend it. There's no advantage in upgrading to Ultegra as the new 105 is superb, so put Di2 on the existing groupset, plus the crankset is FSA BB30a (NOT BB30) which is unique to Cannondale and Specifically the synapse, so you won't get a shimano crankset to fit, though I'm ready to be corrected on this last point.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I hadn't actually noticed that the crank isn't 105. By the time you've upgraded to Di2, only the cassette and brake calipers will be 105.

    I can't believe they've introduced yet another BB standard if that's the case :roll:
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • vortice
    vortice Posts: 244
    Unfortunately, they have.....

    http://support.cannondale.com/hc/en-us/ ... BB30-BB30A
  • brhull
    brhull Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone. OK, to just upgrade the di2 with 105 components costs over £600. I can get Evans Cycles to fit the full Ultegra 6870 di2 for £900. After selling the 105 kit (£300) I reckon total cost will be £2289.

    Just upgrading the 105 to di2 will cost £2149 (after selling £100 105 kit). By buying the full Ultegra 6870 groupset you get a 52% discount versus buying individual components. For just over £100 difference I'm going to opt for the full Ultegra upgrade. Have ordered the bike! Just choosing my Ultegra gear ratio now...

    Thanks so much for your advice.
  • vortice
    vortice Posts: 244
    Have Evans said they can get the Ultegra crankset to fit???
  • brhull
    brhull Posts: 6
    Yeah you just need an adapter, they do it all the time. However, I might leave the original crankset and bottom bracket and sell the Ultegra individually. There doesn't seem to be a need to change this, but will upgrade everything else.

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