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.