Enthusiast/Newbie - getting a new bike, 105 Di2 vs 105/ultegra mechanical.

[Ddre]

Hi all.

I caught the cycling bug about a year ago and now I feel its time to upgrade my bike (even though probably I am too amateur to notice any difference).

Most new mid range road bikes seem to come from factory with 105 R7000 or ultegra r8000 which to my understanding have been discontinued by shimano. The few bikes coming with 105 di2 are far from the mid range price.

It feels a bit odd to buy a new bike with an already outdated groupset, especially since most don't come cheap. What would you recommend? Is it simply just the wrong time to be in the market for such a bike?

 

[Dogtrousers]

We've been discussing this kind of thing in this thread: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/technical-progress-in-road-bikes.287422/

It's probable that spares for R7000 and R8000 will be available for the foreseeable future. So probably no reason to worry on that account. In fact, now may be a good time to snap up R7000 mechanical while its still available.

The fact that the 105 DI2 bikes are in the next price bracket is part of what some people are complaining about 105 losing its soul. 105 was supposed to be that sweet spot of fanciness and features but reasonable value. But now it has pushed on up to "premium", turned its back on its former mate Tiagra and is now buddying up with Ultegra.

If you look at it in terms of features, you are looking at mechanical shifting in mid price range and electronic in the higher price range. Do you really, really want electronic shifting and are you prepared to pay a big premium for it? If the answer is no, then go for the R7000/R8000 bikes.

I have R7000 on my bike. "Outdated" it may be, but it's very good.

 

[vickster]

What are you upgrading from? You might find better wheels and tyres improve your current bike

Don’t forget SRAM
posted elsewhere, this is a very good deal (although the £200 BH discount has ended) …carbon, decent wheels, SRAM Force is Ultegra equivalent (but a smidge lighter)
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXPCDFOR22/planet-x-pro-carbon-disc-sram-force-22-road-bike

 

[Fab Foodie]

Unless you're pro, I wouldn't consider electronic shifting a benefit - just bragging rights.
Money better spent on better Frame and Wheels.

 

[Grant Fondo]

bit pricey for me that 105 di2 - you can get SRAM Red eTap cheaper (under £1300), very bling, the cassettes are lighter than Dura Ace ..... not sure where Shimano are going with this strategy? Look out for electronic Sora in the shops soon at a grand, LOL.

 

[cougie uk]

Hi all.

I caught the cycling bug about a year ago and now I feel its time to upgrade my bike (even though probably I am too amateur to notice any difference).

Most new mid range road bikes seem to come from factory with 105 R7000 or ultegra r8000 which to my understanding have been discontinued by shimano. The few bikes coming with 105 di2 are far from the mid range price.

It feels a bit odd to buy a new bike with an already outdated groupset, especially since most don't come cheap. What would you recommend? Is it simply just the wrong time to be in the market for such a bike?

If you've only been cycling for a year I'd not blow the budget just yet. You may go off cycling or find you prefer gravel or MTB more.

105 mechanical is robust and will serve you for years.

Electric shifting has more options to go wrong with it. Battery and cables rather than just the gear cable.

 

[fossyant]

If SRAM Red etap is coming in cheap get that.

 

[kingrollo]

I love di2 and would highly recommend it - do be aware of the sting in the tail though - replacement parts are very expensive..£200 for a new shifter for example.

 

[wafter]

"Outdated" by what rationale? That provided by some marketing muppet with a vested interest in you spending three times as much on a version of something for the privilege of needing batteries to work?

I'd go R7000 all day long. tbh I'm tempted to pick up an R7000 groupset now while I still can, just so it can sit in its box for a time when I need a decent groupset and don't want to be reamed for £1500 in the name of arguably arbitrary and pointless gadgetry..

 

[PaulSB]

I will never buy a Di2, or similar, equipped bike. I appreciate many people ride thousands of miles on such bikes and love it.

The downside is when it goes wrong the failure is usually significant and expensive. I know too many people who have suffered a technical problem which ended their ride and lead to a week or more without the bike.

A recent example a regular buddy was without her bike for eight days which included three visits to her mechanic. £185 to find a loose connection. No thank you. We discussed this and she remains a supporter saying it's great for climbing as one can change several gears at once. I avoided the obvious response of one should select the correct gear at the bottom of the hill!

I've yet to have a gearing issue my LBS couldn't fix in 30 minutes......and that's just wandering into the shop muttering that such and such isn't working!!!!

 

[biggs682]

I am still waiting to upgrade from down tube levers to sti units as i think it's only a passing phase

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

I have Di2 on two bikes.

What I would say about it is that, if you are the type of person that requires your LBS to carry out repairs to your bike, then Di2 is not for you. It can get a bit specialised and not all bike shops are equal in being able to diagnose and fix issues. Three visits to a bike mechanic, as cited by Paul, is one example of general inexperience of it.

I’m technically minded, as reflected in my career, and never yet come across an issue I couldn’t diagnose quickly.

 

[rivers]

I'm running one bike with r7000, one with 5800 (old 105) and 6800 (old ultegra), all mechanical. None of it is outdated. To be honest, i camt tell the difference between the r7000 or 105 5800. If the 6800 wasn't on my TT bike, i probably wouldn't be able to tell the differemce between any of them. Go mechanical. In a few years, maybe the price of 105 di2 will have come down.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

it's great for climbing as one can change several gears at once

But she could do that with mechanical and you’ve been able to do that for decades.

 

[wafter]

I have Di2 on two bikes.

What I would say about it is that, if you are the type of person that requires your LBS to carry out repairs to your bike, then Di2 is not for you. It can get a bit specialised and not all bike shops are equal in being able to diagnose and fix issues. Three visits to a bike mechanic, as cited by Paul, is one example of general inexperience of it.

I’m technically minded, as reflected in my career, and never yet come across an issue I couldn’t diagnose quickly.

I'd suggest that the reality of Di2 owners' attitude to repairs is likely to be completely the opposite tbh - the people who'll probably buy it will be exactly those who take the bike to the shop for any necessary work.

IMO Di2 will target the "ideal" (from an industry perspective) cycle consumer - those who are more fashion driven, willing / able to spend more on the initial purchase of the bike and have no interest in maintenance; being happy to pay for that too.

I think such people will typically lack much mechancial understanding and will treat their bike like any other modern consumer item - it breaks, you pay someone to fix it or throw it away and buy a new one.

To these people Di2 will just be the "next best thing", the significance of which from an upkeep / longevity perspective will be totally lost on them (and potentially irrelevant too as they'll have replaced the bike with the next great thing after a year or two).


These owners being at the opposite end of the spectrum to those of us who like to run decades-old steel, expect it to last forever and would never entertain the idea of it letting it go near a shop; instead defiantly opting to fix it with twigs and gaffer tape


Fair play for having the drive and ability to sort your own electronic gear, however I'd suggest that you're atypical in being both able to afford it and willing / able to fix it..