105 and better wheels or Dura Ace. Skip Ultegra. I just worked out what brifters are as I was about to say the shifters are like bricks. The front mech seems to shift well but other than that there's nothing really worth the extra money so I think you would get a bigger performance increase through better wheels.
full 105 v's full ultegra
- Thread starter jowwy
- Start date
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It's strange all these people saying the Ultegra brifters are clunky or like bricks. The pairs I have on both my Specialized and Van Nick bikes both work perfectly well and are very nice and smooth shifting. Certainly far from clunky. Perhaps some people's bikes have not been set up properly.
And as for looks, are people seriously saying that the 105 plain grey looks better then the Ultegras Carbon look?
Stick to Ultegra. You have a wonderful frame, so treat it nice with the best you can afford. Otherwise you will be thinking about upgrading all the time.
And as for looks, are people seriously saying that the 105 plain grey looks better then the Ultegras Carbon look?
Stick to Ultegra. You have a wonderful frame, so treat it nice with the best you can afford. Otherwise you will be thinking about upgrading all the time.
I'd just add that for similar money you can get Force, Centaur or Athena as well, so there is no need to confine yourself to Shimano.
My Centaur comes between Ultegra and Dura-Ace in terms of weight (helped by lightweight brakes) outperforms Ultegra in shifting joy and looks a lot better. I think Force is lighter still.
My Centaur comes between Ultegra and Dura-Ace in terms of weight (helped by lightweight brakes) outperforms Ultegra in shifting joy and looks a lot better. I think Force is lighter still.
I have ultegra, I still kick myself for not getting Athena triple...
I have ultegra, I still kick myself for not getting Athena triple...
Ultegra is not so bad
Yeah I know, first world problems...Ultegra is not so bad
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
< Dura Ace 7402 - better than this new stuff. 
Ultegra if you can stump up the extras £££'s . I run Ultegra and Dura Ace on my two bikes (of 20 plus year old vintage).
Ultegra if you can stump up the extras £££'s . I run Ultegra and Dura Ace on my two bikes (of 20 plus year old vintage).
Globalti
Legendary Member
I have 2006 Ultegra gears on my old bike and - presumably - 2013 Ultegra on the new. The old shifters have gear cables exiting sideways and thence by a very nice direct route fown the frame; the 2013 shifters have hidden cables. The 2006 version has super-smooth and lightweight shifting but quite long lever movements, the 2013 version has shorter movements and clunky heavier shifting, more like the SRAM and Campy shifters I've tried.
All in all, poorer performance for the dubious benefit of hidden cables.
All in all, poorer performance for the dubious benefit of hidden cables.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
I'd buy SRAM. Don't really feel like elaborating on why...... but I would.
I think there may be a few factors in play as to how good they work.
How good the cables (outer and inners) are.
How smooth are the cable bends and runs.
and how tight the bar tape is, though I think the tape would snap before it's pulled too tight.
well in the end i had to go with full 105 because i wanted the proper van nick carbon forks
so i've spoken to fatbirds via email and im getting the ventud with 105 triple and mavic wheels, which will be put straight up for sale as ive got new handbuilts to go on instead.
so i've spoken to fatbirds via email and im getting the ventud with 105 triple and mavic wheels, which will be put straight up for sale as ive got new handbuilts to go on instead.
