Upgrading Sora to 105

[Bristolian]

I'm fairly sure this has been done before (but not by me) so I thought I would ask here. I have sourced a new R-7000, 105 11-speed mechanical groupset for a really good price which should arrive in a couple of days. I have a couple of questions in the meantime:
1. There is no freehub included in the groupset. From what I can see, the correct freehub would be the FH-5800 but
a) am I right about that?
b) is it a direct replacement for the FH-2200?
2. I am moving from 3x9 to 2x11 so
a) do I need a spacer on the drive side of the crank to get the correct chain alignment?
b) if yes, what size spacer?

Many thanks for any assistance

 

[Shearwater Missile]

I am not an expert but I do have Sora on one bike and 105 on another. The FH-2200 you mentioned looks to be an 8 speed hub and the FH-5800 is 10/11 speed so would be compatible. I would think that if you have the latter hub you would not need a spacer, only if using 9 speed. What is your current rear wheel/hub ? I dare say that somebody else may come along who has done just what you are trying to do. I left my Sora as it was but as you say you got the 105 group set at a good price so worth doing but you may need a new 11 speed wheel.

 

[T4tomo]

The question is, I guess can you fit an 11 speed cassette onto your existing rear wheel / free hub. If you have spacers behind your current 9 speed cassette, the answer is probably!
I would try it and see when you get your 11spd cassette rather than worrying about what might be a hypothetical issue. Try that bit before you start swapping everything else over.....
If it is an issue, you'll either need an 11 speed freehub that is compatible with whatever wheel you have, or you treat yourself to some new wheels!

 

[DCLane]

To answer your question:

1. It'll depend on your current wheels. If they've got 11 speed on there then you're fine; just remove the spacer. If it's not then you need a different freehub or an 11 speed rear wheel.

2. You should be fine if it's an entire groupset as it'll be spaced appropriately for a double crankset.

 

[Bristolian]

The question is, I guess can you fit an 11 speed cassette onto your existing rear wheel / free hub. If you have spacers behind your current 9 speed cassette, the answer is probably!
I would try it and see when you get your 11spd cassette rather than worrying about what might be a hypothetical issue. Try that bit before you start swapping everything else over.....
If it is an issue, you'll either need an 11 speed freehub that is compatible with whatever wheel you have, or you treat yourself to some new wheels!

After writing my original post I went into the garage and removed the 9-speed cassette from the rear wheel on the bike. There aren't any spacers so that suggests the freehub is an 8/9-speed. If I fit a 1.85mm spacer and the 9-speed cassette to the freehub I can't get the lock ring to do up so the freehub definitely doesn't support an 11-speed cassette and is likely an FH2200.

On my turbo trainer (Zwift Hub One) there is an 11 speed freehub and 9-speed cassette with a 1.85mm spacer. In know that because I fitted them. My plan for tomorrow is to remove the freehub from the turbo trainer and see if it fits my rear wheel - I think it should, but assumption is generally the mother of all c**k-ups. IF it does then I will see if that still fits the bike 🤞

 

[fossyant]

Different hubs/freehubs aren't often interchangeable.

 

[T4tomo]

After writing my original post I went into the garage and removed the 9-speed cassette from the rear wheel on the bike. There aren't any spacers so that suggests the freehub is an 8/9-speed. If I fit a 1.85mm spacer and the 9-speed cassette to the freehub I can't get the lock ring to do up so the freehub definitely doesn't support an 11-speed cassette and is likely an FH2200.

On my turbo trainer (Zwift Hub One) there is an 11 speed freehub and 9-speed cassette with a 1.85mm spacer. In know that because I fitted them. My plan for tomorrow is to remove the freehub from the turbo trainer and see if it fits my rear wheel - I think it should, but assumption is generally the mother of all c**k-ups. IF it does then I will see if that still fits the bike 🤞

Different hubs/freehubs aren't often interchangeable.

^^^ this. You might be lucky but it would be a massive coincidence.
better / quicker / easier to just swap the wheels over. if you are fussy about matching wheels - swap the front ones too!
Ohh hang-on a Zwift doesnt have a wheel, I was thinking you had a second bike set up on a turbo trainer. Doh!
Defo time for new wheels as you need your turbo to be 11 speed compatible anyway once 105 is on your bike so you don't want to robbing the freehub off it.

2. You should be fine if it's an entire groupset as it'll be spaced appropriately for a double crankset.

Correct BTW!

 

[Bristolian]

An update from my last post. My rear wheel is not suitable for having an 11-speed free hub so I either need a new rear wheel or to have an 11-speed hub laced to the existing rim (which still has plenty of life left). A quick chat with my LBS got me a quote of £50-75 to swap out the existing hub for an 11-speed one. A new hub from SJS is going to be another £75, so £150(ish) which keeps the wheel looking like the front one. Alternatively, SJS have a rear wheel with a DT Swiss R460 rim and Shimano 105 10/11-speed hub for £135. The only downside I see to this is the wheels will be odd. Not sure if that's going to bother me, or not 🤷‍♀️

Actually, it will so the extra £15 for the re-lacing gets my vote. I have a spare rear wheel (from when I used a wheel-on trainer) I can fit to the bike while the LBS replaces the hub.

I think that's me sorted, unless one of you more knowledgeable folks can think of something I've missed.

 

[davidphilips]

8,9 and 10 speed shimanio hubs are all the same length but as you have found out the 11 speed has 2mm, longer splines, if you want you can file 2mm of the hub takes a bit of time? Watch the Installing 11 speed cassett on 10 speed hub.

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https://www.google.com/search?q=fil...s_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCjI1NjUzajBqMT

 

[Bristolian]

8,9 and 10 speed shimanio hubs are all the same length but as you have found out the 11 speed has 2mm, longer splines, if you want you can file 2mm of the hub takes a bit of time? Watch the Installing 11 speed cassett on 10 speed hub.

​

https://www.google.com/search?q=fil...s_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCjI1NjUzajBqMT

Interesting idea 🤔 I've got a few gash 9-speed freehubs so might give it a try.

 

[EckyH]

Microshift produces cassettes without spider for the biggest sprockets: https://www.microshift.com/models/cs-h110-11-32t/
In my opinion it is safer and cheaper to take an 11 speed cassette and remove the biggest sprocket and add spacer(s) for the remaining 10 sprockets.

E.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Shimano 11-34 cassettes in 11-speed flavour fit 10-speed freehubs, on 11-speed freehubs you put a spacer behind the 34t sprocket iirc.

Officially, you will need a GS rear mech, if using with a 34/50 double chain set.