Is the census of opinion that Ultegra is worth the extra money over a 105 groupset

[Keith Oates]

Go for the Ultegra, it will make you feel better and that's the main thing.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Citius]

The Ultegra bike will certainly give you the feeling of being £300 worse off...

 

[buggi]

I upgraded from 105 to ultegra and, if I'm perfectly honest, I'd happily go back to 105 and not feel hard done by if I couldn't afford an ultegra bike. But, as everyone knows me on here, they will tell that the most important thing about a bike, in my opinion, is the look. I need to love my bike. I need to look at it and immediately want to ride it. I compromised on the look when I upgraded and that's bugged me more than the groupset can make up for. It doesn't matter whether the bike you love has ultegra or 105, in your heart you've already chosen and if you have the 4.3 you'll regret it, and not bcoz of the groupset

 

[bpsmith]

The important thing is being able to afford it and prepared to spend the extra. If not, that will also taint it for you.

I am with @buggi on this one too. Feel the same about my 2 bikes. The first one is a good bike, without question, but doesn't inspire me like the second one.

 

[Andrew_P]

I upgraded from 105 to ultegra and, if I'm perfectly honest, I'd happily go back to 105 and not feel hard done by if I couldn't afford an ultegra bike. But, as everyone knows me on here, they will tell that the most important thing about a bike, in my opinion, is the look. I need to love my bike. I need to look at it and immediately want to ride it. I compromised on the look when I upgraded and that's bugged me more than the groupset can make up for. It doesn't matter whether the bike you love has ultegra or 105, in your heart you've already chosen and if you have the 4.3 you'll regret it, and not bcoz of the groupset

It sounds really trite when you say it out loud, but this for me I ended up with full Sram red on the bike I liked the look of the most purely because I had put up with the a fugly bike for the previous 2/3 years.

The only caveat I would have is that consumables in the higher groupsets wear quicker. I am running Force cassette and KMC chains now, this was pretty noticeable moving from 105 to Sram Red

 

[mickle]

Buy the 105 bike and give the £300 to charity.

If you're looking at Ultegra you might as well do the right thing and get full DuraAce.

Campagnolo! (Do people even still buy Shi**no??)

You could buy a car for that.

Etc.

 

[Drago]

Ultegra has higher quality finish and more precision build. I find it shifts and feels smoother than my 105 and should last longer.

A more precision build? Are you suggesting its manufactured and machined to finer engineering tolerances?

Higher quality finish? Its certainly prettier looking, but where's your evidence its better "quality", will contribute to longer component life span?

Some of us are still regularly using relatively mundane Shimano groupsets that are 2 decades or more old - what makes you think Ultegra will outlast these? Certainly chains, cassettes and chainrings don't last as long as their more humble relatives.

If you actually ride your bike instead of wobble around the road a few times a year when the sun comes out, then 105 really is the sweet spot between price, performance and durability. Ultegra drive trains suffer badly through the use to which I subject them whereas 105, albeit with KMC HD chains, asks only that I keep them clean and survives much, much longer between component replacements. Indeed, I'm running one bike now with Tiagra 10 speed and properly set up with decent cables its indistinguishable from the 2 year older 105.

All Ultegra does is look flasher, weigh a few grams less, and confers bragging rights down the pub. Not a single jot more.

 

[bpsmith]

A more precision build? Are you suggesting its manufactured and machined to finer engineering tolerances?

Higher quality finish? Its certainly prettier looking, but where's your evidence its better "quality", will contribute to longer component life span?

Some of us are still regularly using relatively mundane Shimano groupsets that are 2 decades or more old - what makes you think Ultegra will outlast these? Certainly chains, cassettes and chainrings don't last as long as their more humble relatives.

If you actually ride your bike instead of wobble around the road a few times a year when the sun comes out, then 105 really is the sweet spot between price, performance and durability. Ultegra drive trains suffer badly through the use to which I subject them whereas 105, albeit with KMC HD chains, asks only that I keep them clean and survives much, much longer between component replacements. Indeed, I'm running one bike now with Tiagra 10 speed and properly set up with decent cables its indistinguishable from the 2 year older 105.

All Ultegra does is look flasher, weigh a few grams less, and confers bragging rights down the pub. Not a single jot more.

I love the assumptions and judgements made in this post. Get over yourself.

I have never criticised any groupsets or people's choices of such. Kindly don't criticise mine.

Do any of your bikes run Ultegra then? Or are you just making assumptions on this too?

 

[bpsmith]

A fair review of Groupsets in general. Backs up what I posted above, whilst actually on topic.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/group-tests/road-bike-groupsets-buyers-guide-142789

 

[vickster]

If you want ultegra, you prefer the look, feel and use of ultegra, have the money without depriving yourself and others and you won't regret the extra spend, go for it

 

[Cyclist33]

I love the assumptions and judgements made in this post. Get over yourself.

I have never criticised any groupsets or people's choices of such. Kindly don't criticise mine.

Do any of your bikes run Ultegra then? Or are you just making assumptions on this too?

I think the point is you're posting in a thread that is asking for advice so I don't see anything wrong with some posting different advice, if it needs to quote yours to provide context then why not? Your advice may lead someone to spend hundreds of pounds that might not be necessary so it is right that your proclamations may be subject to scrutiny and counter argument.

"get over yourself" nice phrase, works both ways!

 

[winjim]

As 'bp' says, differences in material quality mainly, which affects things like weight, mostly. Function is identical.

You don't happen to know specifically?

 

[Andrew_P]

I would have thought the difference between the two bikes are not going to mean the kids don't eat for month, so it really comes down to which bike he prefers. For me as I am already a convert the tubeless would be a big benefit.

 

[Boyfrom64]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Having slept on the decision overnight I have come to the conclusion that if when I go back and take another look at the 4.3; I test rode it last weekend and had no problems with the 105 groupset, and I like the look of the clour scheme then this will be the bike I will buy.

The £300 I will save between the two models, I think will be better spent on new lighter and stiffer wheels.

@buggi you make a very good point about the look of the bike because the more you like, even love the look of the bike, the more you will watn to go out and ride it.

 

[Citius]

You don't happen to know specifically?

Sorry, no I don't...