Di2 Ultegra or Mechanical Dura Ace

afham07

Hi Guys,

I am consider the following:

1. electronic Ultegra Di2 R8050
2. Mechanical Dura Ace R9100

Both are different range product but the price between the two are in the same category. Not much difference in terms of price, probably just USD50-70 or so.

So, if you were to decide, would you choose electronic shifting on Ultegra Di2, or the top line of Dura Ace? Which would give me better improvement?

My current Groupset is Ultegra R8000.

Matthewfalle

Mechanical Dura Ace. Better in terms of action, feel, weight, and all that jazz. Also more transferable to other frames and cheaper to replace/update.

StillGoing

Maybe read some reviews where you'll see that the difference between the latest Ultegra and Dura Ace groupsets is just weight and materials used. Operation, function and how good they do it are identical in both the mechanical and the electronic versions. So if you want to upgrade to mechanical Dura Ace from R8000, all you'll be doing is wasting a bit of money over about 500g in weight saving. If you want an electronic groupset, then there really is a clear difference between your mechanical R8000 and R8050.

afham07

philthy3 wrote:

Maybe read some reviews where you'll see that the difference between the latest Ultegra and Dura Ace groupsets is just weight and materials used. Operation, function and how good they do it are identical in both the mechanical and the electronic versions. So if you want to upgrade to mechanical Dura Ace from R8000, all you'll be doing is wasting a bit of money over about 500g in weight saving. If you want an electronic groupset, then there really is a clear difference between your mechanical R8000 and R8050.

Yeah, read some reviews saying so. Not sure saving 300-500g is a big thing.

Looks like upgrading to R8050 from R8000 is more sensible ‘upgrade’ than R9100.

StillGoing

afham07 wrote:

philthy3 wrote:

Maybe read some reviews where you'll see that the difference between the latest Ultegra and Dura Ace groupsets is just weight and materials used. Operation, function and how good they do it are identical in both the mechanical and the electronic versions. So if you want to upgrade to mechanical Dura Ace from R8000, all you'll be doing is wasting a bit of money over about 500g in weight saving. If you want an electronic groupset, then there really is a clear difference between your mechanical R8000 and R8050.

Yeah, read some reviews saying so. Not sure saving 300-500g is a big thing.

Looks like upgrading to R8050 from R8000 is more sensible ‘upgrade’ than R9100.

And it is transferable to other modern frames despite what the resident anti electronic groupsets says. The new Dura Ace and Ultegra are no different in feel and effectiveness in both the mechanical and electronic versions. The only advantage is the weight saving and for me, not worth the extra money.

craigus89

Keep your current Ultegra and get some wheels or go on a holiday. R8000 is good enough for 99% of cyclists and you won't notice a difference.

What difference do you think you'll notice with di2 over mechanical?

Matthewfalle

viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13093939&p=20383809&hilit=Di2+charging+cable#p20383809

So begineth the pain....................

kev06

Good question ive been asking myself recently after buying a new road bike with R8000 groupset wishing id gone for Di2..... why? Honestly dont feel a massive difference compared to my other bike with tiagra groupset. :shock:

How much is the Di2 upgrade- just over 1k with fitting?

Matthewfalle

pro riders use d/a mechanical
clubbies use ultegra di2

the MFs are just saying, so don't shoot the messenger.

janwal

Don’t think so Mathewfalle. Pro teams that use Shimano all use Durace Di2
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/prod ... ide-152997

StillGoing

Matthewfalle wrote:

https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13093939&p=20383809&hilit=Di2+charging+cable#p20383809

So begineth the pain....................

OK I'll entertain the Di2 troll.

The link you've posted is for someone that stupidly lost their charging cable. How many people do you think that will universally happen to? You may as well be asking how many people will have a fall and wreck their rear derailleur. Parts are expensive, so if you break or lose one, it is going to cost. Your continuous lambasting of Di2 leads me to believe there's a pang of jealousy in you. :roll:

Craigus89 wrote:

Keep your current Ultegra and get some wheels or go on a holiday. R8000 is good enough for 99% of cyclists and you won't notice a difference.

What difference do you think you'll notice with di2 over mechanical?

I came from SRAM so can't really comment on the difference between R8000 and R8050, but I can say it has been a revelation for me. Gear changes are so much smoother and the added bonus of synchronised shifting helps me with my left arm/hand numbness after an hour of riding that prevented me from changing gear on the front. It needs charging every couple of months is all and doesn't go out of trim like mechanical does.

StillGoing

janwal wrote:

Don’t think so Mathewfalle. Pro teams that use Shimano all use Durace Di2
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/prod ... ide-152997

Oh what a surprise; they're all using electronic groupsets, be it SRAM, Shimano or Campagnolo.

afham07

philthy3 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13093939&p=20383809&hilit=Di2+charging+cable#p20383809

So begineth the pain....................

OK I'll entertain the Di2 troll.

The link you've posted is for someone that stupidly lost their charging cable. How many people do you think that will universally happen to? You may as well be asking how many people will have a fall and wreck their rear derailleur. Parts are expensive, so if you break or lose one, it is going to cost. Your continuous lambasting of Di2 leads me to believe there's a pang of jealousy in you. :roll:

Craigus89 wrote:

Keep your current Ultegra and get some wheels or go on a holiday. R8000 is good enough for 99% of cyclists and you won't notice a difference.

What difference do you think you'll notice with di2 over mechanical?

I came from SRAM so can't really comment on the difference between R8000 and R8050, but I can say it has been a revelation for me. Gear changes are so much smoother and the added bonus of synchronised shifting helps me with my left arm/hand numbness after an hour of riding that prevented me from changing gear on the front. It needs charging every couple of months is all and doesn't go out of trim like mechanical does.

Are you from etap to di2?

StillGoing

No, SRAM Force/Red 22 combination.

stueys

I went 9000 to 9070 2ish years ago and have been a convert to DI2 since. Given the choice between mechanical dura and DI2 ultegra, it’s easy, DI2 all the way. It doesn’t do anything radically different than mechanical (other than syncro which is definitely growing on me) but everything it does is just that bit better than mechanical.

I upgraded my winter bike from 105 to 8070 when i got to (it was a sale bike that came with 105), think it cost me 1k to do.

Matthewfalle

janwal wrote:

Don’t think so Mathewfalle. Pro teams that use Shimano all use Durace Di2
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/prod ... ide-152997

Pic 5


https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/art ... nds-52774/

Matthewfalle

philthy3 wrote:

janwal wrote:

Don’t think so Mathewfalle. Pro teams that use Shimano all use Durace Di2
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/prod ... ide-152997

Oh what a surprise; they're all using electronic groupsets, be it SRAM, Shimano or Campagnolo.

pic 5

https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/art ... nds-52774/

Tiesetrotter

I bought a bike with the first generation of Ultegra manual disc groupset, it is my trainer/winter bike. It was my first foray into the world of Shimano outside of some cheap Acer kit on a pub bike (which is actually really very good) and I was looking forward to the discs. However, I was very very disappointed with the hoods (not the braking which is superb), the downshift lever performance was truly, truly awful compared to my Campy buttons and the hood design is absolutely appalling. It felt like they just threw it out the door without bothering to design it properly.

I couldn't believe this was normal for Shimano. So I have been testing all the newer releases and saving to replace it. Put simply the newer Di2 Ultegra disc groupset is truly excellent. Gear change is crisp, quick configurable etc. Hoods still need some work in design but they are hugely better and have just adopted the Dura Ace design. They are certainly better than the disc SRAM eTAP mega sized hoods I tried. I have also tried manual Campagnolo disc (finding eps disc to try is impossible) and that was very good and obviously it is the gear change I know, love and prefer.

But the man in the shop, Sigma, showed me how to configure the Di2 change to be very similar to Campy and in reality, the gap between the disc hood design for comfort (apart from buttons etc) is now much closer. So for me if Dura Ace is the same as Ultegra manual ....... I'd upgrade your gear change to Ultegra Di2.

As a complete Campy fan I couldn't fault Ultegra Di2, it is utterly brilliant. Much as I'd truly like Chorus Disc 11, I'd be paying a hell of lot less for Ultegra Di2 which as I said is truly excellent, so it's got to be the choice really ........... unless I am stupidly loyal of course which with Super Record on my other bike has been a reality in the past.