Shimano 105 Di2 // Is It ACTUALLY Worth It?
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Shimano 105 Di2 is an electronic 2x12 shifting system for the masses. A technical review along with some philosophical debate.
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I put 105 Di2 on a bike for my wife - she struggled a bit with FD shifts, usually from small to big ring, where the tension required a bit of oomph. The electronic shifting has alleviated all that for her, and now she can cross chain to her heart's content. I could have messed around with the FD and the cabling, but I think Di2 def solved a problem in this case
Next get an eBike. It's even easier than e-shifting.
In Germany current retail prices for the 105 di2 groupset are around 850€ which is just above 900$. At this price point the additional charge compared to mechanical shifting is ~200$ and therefore finally worth calling it the groupset of the people even as di2.
Very important comment here :) This makes me even wonder more why the big brands (Canyon, Rose etc.) charge soo much more for the 105 di2 than for the mechanic one. For example when you look at the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7 2599 € vs. the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7 di2 3999 €. The additional 4iiii Powermeter (350 €) can definitely not explain this huge gap... Guess this is marketing hocus pocus :D
Yes it is, they want to push their sales so they overcharge this stupid electronic bs. It’s just a nice to have…
I’ve run Di2 since it was first released. To be honest it’s a joy: it never requires adjustment,faster shifting and better hood ergonomics in particular. Is it worth it? That’s person dependent.
I used to have di2 on my old super six. Was nice, but I just hated having yet another piece of digital tech I had to charge/manage.
I was literallly stressing out about my lever batteries the other day--had no idea about the tip to check the battery level. Thanks dude!
I like the way you present information. Have to say I don’t need or want electronic shifting on my bikes . Simple is better. My wife however has arthritis in her hands and even though she can still use manual shifting and does on most days , she does have a gravel bike with sram electronic shifting which makes it much easier on her hands . So there is a place for it , but not everyone really needs it.
I had Shimano Di2 11 speed electronic shifters and now have SRAM Force AXES 12 speed electronic shifting. I have really enjoyed both systems. In the past with mechanical shifting I would have to use two hands to shift my Shimano Di2 when moving the brake lever to change gears because of the longer throw especially during the cooler months of fall thru spring when my arthritis would cause me the most problems. But now with the push of a button I can painlessly change gears whenever the need arises. Electronic shifting I love it and think that it is worth every penny of the cost. (Year around riding for me) Oh yeah, never any cable adjusting a real plus.
You meant mechanical re: two-hands shifting, right? Not Di2? Anyway, THIS. People forget that 105 Di2 and now SRAM Apex AXS allows the masses with arthritis or wrist weakness to just tap a button. And those who hate on hydraulic disc brakes don't realize the access to cycling it allows people when anyone with a pinky can come to a full stop. Game changers.
Great episode, good insights. Roadie here. FWIW, in January I got a bike with electronic shifting, my first foray into this (SRAM Force). Really liked it, for all the reasons you enumerated. Recently I’ve been riding my older bike with Ultegra manual shifting. That’s when I really noticed how much better the shifting (esp front derailleur) is - so much smoother, easier. The other big thing I noticed was of course how much force it takes from my hands with Ultegra vs the slight movement with Force. That was eye opening. I’m a convert, but of course manual shifting works great, as do rim brakes, etc.
Next get an eBike. When riding your old bike, you'll suddenly notice how much better, smoother and easier it rides, compared with e-shifting.
I have had 1st generation ultegra di2 for 10 years now and it has been bomb proof. still going strong with the og battery. ive even upgraded it to get the bluetooth readings on my wahoo. its been a fun experience over the years and i have no regrets.
Same here, still works on my 2012 Cannondale SuperSix and now have GRX Di2 on my gravel bike. Love that I no longer have to worry about if my shifting because it just works every time.
The nicest part about electronic shifting is that when you pull out your bike after not riding it for a bit, you know the shifting is going to be just as good as when you first set it up. Do you NEED that? No, but it's certainly nice to have.
still my all time favorite bike channel when it comes to reviewing parts
😀😀
This is the best review I have ever seen....technical yet understandable...not the usual marketing mumbo jumbo ... Thank you
Love my GX AXS on my mountain bike as you shift quite often. On my 2018 Specialized Venge I'm just happy shifting with a 105, not much reaching for gears at a moment!
Thanks for entering a logical voice to this 'dilemma'. It's much appreciated.
I agree with everything you said. What I would like to know (the true reason) is why they (industry) are pushing us in this direction? Both my mechanical Ultegra and GRX 800 series work flawlessly, and I don't have to plug anything in. I do agree there is a place for it, though. Someone who has finger/hand mobility issues would be a great candidate. However, not every challenged cyclist is a rich cyclist, and $900 is still a lot of money.
Because they will sell more stuff at a higher price?
The same way road bikes suddenly need wide tyres, so you need a new bike because older fork, brake and frames won't fit 30mm tyres?
Something like that?
Been riding for 40 years, just got Di2. I find it a great innovation as it allows rapid change when climbing but more over encourages you to change up or down to keep your cadence. Highly recommend it if you can afford to do so
Thanks for another excellent video, and I gotta say, I'm with you - I don't need or want electronic shifting. I too dislike the industry pushing us toward it. Mechanical drive trains are brilliant and elegant. I don't want my bike to require charging. I prefer HUMAN POWER.
i ordered this bike few days ago :X am so excited.
Thanks for this. Considering getting the canyon endurace 105di2 if it ever comes back in stock. Upgrading from 105 rim alu frame for hopefully added compliance of wider tires and carbon frame, so quite some change.
Yup that would be an absolutely massive upgrade.
I just bought a new Giant Advanced TCR with the 105 di2, it took me two weeks of research to finally make a descision. After a liitle bit more than 1000 km of cycling, I‘m super happy with it. Shifting is awesome, Even though it took me a while to adjust myself to Shimano after 13 years of Campy.
Good video. Very informative.Thanks.
Is it worth it? No. Should you get it if you can afford it? Yes. :)
I just purchased a 2023 tarmac sl7 and it came with the 105 12 speed di2 I love it
Roadie here. I have a 21 yo Calfee with mechanical Campy Chorus. It’s reliable, bombproof, and requires very little maintenance. After trying electronic shifting (Shimano Ultegra) on a Backroads trip, I knew I had to go electronic for my next bike. So now I have a 2 yo BMC TeamMachine with SRAM Force AXS. I ride both bikes but find I’m much more willing to shift more frequently to be in the most optimal gear with the BMC. It’s the difference between a quick tap with the SRAM vs a more conscious physical push of the shift levers for the Campy mechanical setup. So in the end, even though I have to monitor 4 different batteries with the SRAM, I enjoy riding the BMC more and feel I ride more efficiently on it. But I won’t give up my Campy bike either; I doubt the SRAM drivetrain will last 20+ years.
I am generally onboard with electronic shifting. My main gripe is it's vastly overpriced. I've had a similar experience to you where I thought my di2 was charged and then went out on a ride and could only shift the rear. To be fair, that bike sat for like 3 months between rides, though. I don't think that would happen if my di2 bike was my daily ride.
I'm sure Di2 is nice but I'm satisfied with my mechanical group sets on all three of my bikes: gravel, road, and MTB. I hope that the industry doesn't force us all into electronic shifting.
ive had 105 di2 for half a year now the feature that drew me to it was the Full Synchronized Shift mode where it automatically shifts the front and rear derailleur to the next hardest gear ratio with the push of a button ie you can go from the lowest to highest ratio and back with only two buttons
this is my first bike with drop bars so its one less thing i have to learn/think about when I'm riding
Great video! Greetings from Colombia
Good video. I’m doing research on my next road bike after 12 or so years. Last road bike was 105 mechanical. Bike I’m looking at is $1k difference for 105 and 105 Di2. My mtb’s run sram AXS and I like it a lot. It’s mostly an experience rather than a performance boost. For the mtb’s I find it much much easier to adjust and tune the drivetrain. In fact, one AXS equipped bike I own has never needed an adjustment. All that being said, I need to find another $1k for my new road bike budget 😂
Good review.Thanks
Love the in detail about the group….. dying at the fact of the top tube being clamped, bold move
No compression on it. Basically hanging
The shifting down a large number of gears is especially useful when you need 15-20 km to leave your large European city of choice, it really helps with the traffic lights while riding in traffic.
Top end rim brakes & shifting for the DISCOUNT WIN!
Good review was contemplating if will get the new tcr with 105 mech or di2 , will get the di2 one
Great video for sure. I am not sold on electric shifters as of yet.
Electronic shifting does the cycling experience a lot. That’s why people like it so much. Who is being forced to buy electronic? Nobody.
I have noticed that folks either go Di2 (AXS if you're SRAM) or go to the dark side to shift friction. I personally went friction while my partner went AXS. I agree with what you said. Electronic shifting is excellent, and I've never had a more effortless RD adjustment than AXS electronic shifting. It's fast, accurate and is one less thing to occupy your mind when grinding up that hill or making that breakaway. I hate how you are stuck with hydro disc brakes with the newer groupsets. I hate how you must constantly reset the self-adjusting pads and how dirt can throw the brake pistons off. At least you can micro-adjust and accurately dial out any brake rub with mechanical brake options. (Even though you have to do it more often, it is at least predictable.)
Regarding friction, I love how you are no longer tied to a brand/ groupset. You can chop and change out different parts and still work. I've even mixed other cogs from different cassette groups from various brands and for different speeds, and friction still works. If you are a tinkerer like me, friction shifting is the way to go and is a giant middle finger to the major drivetrain brands. Alternatively, I suppose you can go single-speed and skip all the above. Having your phone tethered to your bike is also annoying; another thing to pair and another thing to charge, as you said.
I may just be grouching but, a huge part of what makes bikes so beautiful is their practical purely mechanical nature.
For super long distance riding, you sometimes end up with some finger weakness/nerve damage. I have found switching from. mechanical to hydraulic/di2 has alleviated all of my issues. Specificially, I just finished PBP for a second time and my fingers have no issues whereas the previous iteration, I had numbness and weakness for several weeks after PBP.
Umm.. congrats of finishing pbp!!! 🤘🤘🤘
As a sometime bikepacker I have no desire to be stuck somewhere with a non-functional gearset - even if I do carry a spare spoke to magyver a stick shift (like Lachie Morton)
I was a reluctant adoptee of beep-boop shifting a few years ago, and while it has suited me fine, I'm actually aiming to move back to analogue (hopefully scooping an 11-speed grx or sword group) this winter when I sell my gravel race bike.
Is that the projected release date for sword? I haven’t seen anything on a release date for it.
Supposedly Oct or Nov for consumers
@@TheBikeSauce Right in time for my birthday then, hah
It looks great. Don't like stressing about batteries though. One thing not talked about here is the extra gear. Did you find that at all helpful? Is it mostly just-another-gear or is there wider range?
I have been using SRAM Rival electronic shifting since last year. Do I need it? No. Do I love it? Yes. If you’ve got an extra $900 sitting around, I think electronic shifting is a pretty nice upgrade. Fewer cables is also a nice plus IMO. Having it sync with my Wahoo to let me know which gear I’m in is also something that I find myself looking at all the time on rides.
For recreation, get whatever bells and whistles gets you excited about riding. On the other hand for utility (commuting/shopping), maybe stick with something cheaper and with less maintenance.
Electronic shifting is an example of a brilliant product that I absolutely do not want. I'm not racing and shifting under high wattage, I like my bike to be simple and I've already got enough recharging to keep track of in my daily life. If my future bike has it, I'm sure I'll enjoy the user experience, but for the added cost, I'd rather have a mechanical shifting bike and a new gaming console than electronic shifting!
I’ve had Di2 since 2015. IMHO, the true benefit of the Shimano Di2 is, when paired with a Garmin head unit, the gear combination can be seen. I never really noticed this benefit until I was trying to help my wife, who was a new rider, understand how, why and when to shift. As we all probably remember, shifting efficiently is a skill that took some to learn. However, when I put Di2 on my wife’s bike along with adding the gear combo display on her Garmin, seeing 50-17,19,,21,etc made it easier to grasp shifting up and down. To that end , if the industry ever wanted to lower the shifting learning curve, they should start thinking of Di2 as actually being the best option for beginners and market (along with price) Di2 as such.
Learning to shift on a bike is no harder than using gears on a car or learning to drive(auto gearbox)just a bit of time.
My GRX Di2 has gone through hell and still works flawlessly. Which I why I just ordered 105 Di2 for my coming winter bike. Found it on sale so it was closer to the price of mechanical.
I wonder how electronic shifting will hold up to the Canadian winter?
Triathletes not wanting to pay a fortune for a group set really appreciate the 105 Di2 when the bike is setup with the remote buttons on aero bars so they don’t need to change positions for shifting. Very nice.
Unlike hookless tires, electronic shifting is a real and tangible improvement
Interesting point to know, r7100 cassettee is in fact same shape as r8100 cassette despite r7100 is not officially equipped with HG+. Rear derailleur shifting is close enough to 8150 FD that you won't tell the difference. FD is a bit slow, but since the chainring requires the shirting teeth to catch the chain, it shifts just as well as other higher end ones.
Anyways, I grab mine when it is sub-1000 usd. (those kind of stock that is stripped from whole-sale bikes) So, 100% no complains as it is in fact cheaper than the msrp for mechanical 12sp 105 released recently.
Not a necessity for me personally. New tech is cool, but I honestly don't see a need. Thanks for the information, always on point brother!
I started with Sora and moved to 105 mechanical. Lots of fettling and adjusting to keep shifting 'crisp'. Then I went to Di2 and found that it just works - Every time! Had it on 2 different summer bikes (6800 and 8070) and it is superb. I still have mechanical on my winter/commuter bike, which requires the odd fettle, occasional cable change and odd shift up and down to get the right gear. I have never been able to get a mechanical set as 'crisp' and consistent as Di2. Yes, its (very) expensive, but road cycling is my main hobby - And I'm worth it! 🙂The question for me though is, do I go Ultegra or 105 Di2 for my first new build?
Nice! Totally worth it then. Just make sure they’ve sorted out the ultegra crank issue first 😀
With the upgrade prices in my country it doesn’t make any sense to upgrade my existing mechanical 105. It’s better to sell the old bike and buy a new one with an electronic group set. Because then I get everything new. Newer bikes also have better tire clearance and other modern features making it a better long term choice . Also the frame would be designed for an electric group set.
Agree 100%...I'm one of the few in my group still on mechanical. As a Cat 3...i dont see the benefits!
My main question is whether good shifting is maintained longer. For instance I tend to get crappier shifting to do less than ideal maintenance (not adjusting very often, probably dirt and dust in my brifters and maybe into the housing, or whatever). Would electronic shifting stay better longer or would I be substituted one set of problems for a different and more expensive set of problems?
Great question. I don’t have the answer 😆 (yet)
It absolutely is. I installed SRAM GX AXS on my MTB two years ago…haven’t touched it once since. Flawless shifting in any conditions. Swapped my chain this season and it’s been fantastic. SRAM is also truly wireless, DI2 seems like old tech with the wiring. The only downside is the amount of money hanging off the back of my bike as I roll through rock gardens…😬😬
70 ys old and new to biking and trying to improve. On the bike computer, i can see wch gear combo I am in and the speed I am suffering at. Great learning tool. Need to balance between cadence and heart rate adn precisely knowing wch gear I am in allows me to fine tune my practice session to improve
Prefer the Sram Setup as its 2 external batteries and in the event of the rear battery dying on you , you can transfer the front battery to the rear derailer.
On the bike computer , you can set up to check all teh batteries of connected devices onthe page screen
have fun
I like that they exist. having more options is usually good thing (as long as they're all compatible!).
Having never tried one, though, it seems that the price delta is too much.
Iusedto think that but my Canyon was $2699. Less than some mechanical shifting bikes and it’s a great bike.
@@jarhead4657 It's relative, I guess. My current bike was less than $200 new. In over 17k miles, I've spent maybe $400 in upgrades/replacements (new wheels, convert from 3x8 flatbar to 1x11 drops, etc).
Is your bike better? For sure. Is it 5 times better? Probably not. But if you can afford/justify that cost, it doesn't really matter. It's worth it for you.
I've always been curious about electronic shifting, but again, the jump in price is too much (for me).
I’ve been really happy with my 2014 Trek Madone 2.5 (Ultegra), but I’ve been wanting to upgrade to a new carbon Trek with fully integrated cables and disc brakes. Unfortunately all the decent ones are electronic shift now. I really don’t want to have to charge my bike… just pump the tires and roll out.
I have the 105 mechanical version of this bike and it shifts flawlessly. The bike is fast, stiff and very smooth, but the frame is a little too compliant.
105 Di2 hoods and disk brakes is the same as Ultegra Di2 version. Including the weight. GC Performance compared and weighted it. The only difference with the 105 version is it’s intentionally crippled without the top ‘hood button’ feature for shifting and there is no external ‘blip buttons’ option.
I absolutely love my Felt AR Advanced 102 Di2
I don't have Di2 but I do have SRAM on 2 bikes. I don't know if it is the same situation, but I had a fully charged battery die on me. I fully charged both batteries and was getting ready for a ride. My brother texted me to tell me he would rather ride gravel bikes. I went over a month without riding my road bike. (I was sick once and spent the rest of the time on the gravel bike.) I went for a ride on the road bike without checking the battery level. I got 15 minutes in and the front derailleur battery was dead. I just kept doing my ride in the small since I was alone. SRAM says to remove the batteries when not riding. I left the batteries on the bike. There must be a little bit of a drain even when not in use. I have no idea if it is the same with Shimano though.
After I moved to di2 i never look down at which gear I am at.
Interesting. Why did mechanical encourage you to look at your gears more?
@@TheBikeSauce to be sure if i come to smallest or biggest cog or simply in which gear i am in.
I've heard that said before when people mention electronic shifting, but I don't think people really do look at their gears anyway... unless there's a shifting issue of course. I certainly don't, nor do I look at the shifters on my bikes or cars.
I see. And you don’t do that with Di2?
@@TheBikeSauce yeah because i have a data field on my garmin which tells which gear i am on.
I'm old school and often kick and scream into newer technology until the issues have been worked out. 29ers is a great example of that. I still refuse to convert my bikes over to electronic for a number of tge reasons you noted. Makes me faster, no. Makes it more enjoyable, no. Makes it more reliable, no. Been riding all forms bikes since 1988 with cable actuated shifters. I've never had a cable failure. Did dirt and grim interfere with performance, yes, but it didn't stop me from riding or shifting. Having been in the industry it drives me crazy to force customers to adopt a narrative. The pros race on it, they have 24/7 support and don't drop any coinage if an issue arrises, or when it arrives. Electronic shifting for the masses or the common rider does not address the true common rider. My wife as an example. Beautiful road bike with Ultegra Di2. She is the true recreational rider. Inflate tires and go for a ride. Unfortunately her occasional rides turned into frustration when more than once the batteries were dead after sitting a long time or they died during the ride after sitting a long time. Being the husband I took heat for it (still trying to figure out that one). Being the wrench that I am her bike now has mechanical shifting. Old school speaking, no to electronic shifting and internal routing.
i feel like it really depends because obviously if you're trying to save every watt and go for those KOMS di2 might be worth it but for most people it just feels like a little too much work and too much money, it's like hydraulic disc brakes yeah i bet they work better but mechanical still works just fine and is cheaper
My issue is. When u have to replace parts, it becomes expensive. Another issue for me is the longevity for the parts/system. I wear out a mechanical group set in 2 yrs of riding. With the electronic groupset, im not sure how long it would last.
I'm a 50+ racer who just made Cat 3, do I need electronic DI2? I presently am mechanical, and can't fathom why to switch. Thx in advance
No, it won’t make you faster. A better choice is a wheel upgrade.
Great balanced review of the 105 Di2. My wife has arthritis in her hands so I’m going to upgrade her bike to 105 Di2. This is a pretty complex upgrade-have you considered doing a video on that? It would be right up your alley!
Electronic shifting is good. Get on with the times people, prices will come down. On top of this the A7X is such a good value bike. Especially in Australia. If i didn't have a Canyon Endurace already i'd have bought one too!
👍👍👍Great video, enjoyed listening to your thoughts on the subject. Good luck with the comments on this one...... They'll get heated 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Jon
I have two bikes with mechanical shifters and my main bike with Ultegra di2. My di2 system has given me the fewest problems by a long shot, 18k miles in and I only ever had my battery die once and I've never had to adjust my derailleurs. It's very nice and better system IMO, but I'm not about to go spend +$1k for the upgrade on my mechanical bikes. It's worth it if you're buying a new bike.
Canyon is offering its endurace carbon frame with 105 11-speed mechanical for 1900 bucks. Makes you think really hard about that 105 Electric groupset.
Honestly I've been using DI2 and now SRAM AXS for years and when ever I go back to my bikes with mechanical I wish for them to be electronic only my bike with 9 speed Microshift Advent is the only mechanical geared bike where I never had problems with.
After 4 tries to get my 12 speed SRAM GX (mechanical) to shift right I gave up and I'm also buying a GX AXS upgrade kit soon.
My Ribble CGR SL with moslty Ultegra mechanical is also not shifting perfectly, the front derailleur in particular doesn't work well, and I've already switched all cables twice but the interalcable routing in that bike is just horrible, buying an electronic shifting gravelbike next year to replace it!
Up to 11 speed, mechanical shifting works great (if the internalrouting of the frame is designed well enough and not like my Ribble) but 12-speed is just so easy to get wrong I would only recommend it to people who have the time (and knowledge) or a bikeshop nearby, for everyone else that wants 12-speed get electronic and thank me later!
Would I love to have electronic shifting. Helll yeah, especially for the clean look. Will I pay to upgrade my already damn fine mechanical groupo. Nah. Maybe in 10 years time when its new road bike time (and as you say, we may have no option).
I like my old school group but I’m open to trying it however not at a grand more
I have no experience with electronic shifting myself, but several riders around me have told me how their Di2 systems make shifting less burdensome on long rides. That makes sense. The more you shift, the more effort. Electronic shifting alleviates that. Now I have a mechanical 105 11-speed groupset on my bike. I have absolutely no problem with it, and I won't spend $1,800 USD to upgrade it to 105 Di2. That said, if I were in the market for a new bike, I'd seriously consider models that come with 105 Di2.
It’s easy to buy it for $1200 but most people will buy a new bike to get it.
@@jarhead4657 That's good to know, but it's still way too much money.
Blinded me with science
I think electronic is the way to go…..easier to install….no adjustments needed because no cable that wear out….you can program the shifts the way you want it….the front adjusts the trim automatically for no chain rub….the feel of the levers…….overall better…..whether that’s a better value for the person buying it…..to each his own
My previous bike was a ultegra mechanical.. recently got a Trek Émonda 105 di2…
After trying electronic shifting I’m not going back to mechanical 😂
spontaneously dying batteries is a common issue on Di2. always check before rides, a few minutes of charging will be enough for a single ride.
apart from that it's really solid and fun.
Common issue!? How common?
@@TheBikeSauce Can't put a number to it, but all of my Di2 mates and people i talked to on rides and trains and such experienced this at least once.
it didn't bother them too much though, as we live in a very flat area :)
the bigger issue is the battery lasting too long in general, so you get into the habit of not checking before rides haha
The prices will go down. Electronic shifting is a few buttons, a servo motor, and a couple microchips. Cheap! Mechanical shifters have to be machined and assembled well, they have to have way more smaller parts. And electronic shifting allows folks with arthritis to ride longer and later in life. Plus, over time, electronic shifting means way less Pfaff, fewer visits to the shop, and more time not thinking about your shifting, adjustments, replacing cables, "tune-ups", etc. Shifters no longer "gum up" due to old grease, they no longer have pawls that break, there's no cable "stretch" and no ferrules to seat, no cables to rust or fray, no cable pull ratios to jerry-rig, and no trim shift! You already charge your smartphone daily, and your smart watch weekly...you can charge your Di2 or AXS batteries 3x/year.
Never missed electronic shifting nor do I miss disc brakes. My bike weighs 6.7 kg. and I want to stay it that way. This stuff only adds expenses, complexity and weight. What do I gain? Bragging rights? Hardly these days. Gear wanking parking at the coffee shop? Probably not. My 'Ultegra' mechanical shifting has been just fine for the last 6 years and I enjoy the feel of it.
I say yes. We need electronic shifting. Please don't troll that comment, I'll explain. Electronics are cheaper to produce, even though the industry is not selling it to us that way. I think the more electronic becomes common ground on bikes and people get to try it they will be sold on it for it's ease of use and performance benefits. We are seeing less frames from manufacturers that are compatible with mechanical and only accept electronic groups so together I think and hope the future demand will bring the price down. Dura-Ace is over $4000 you say, well you don't really need Dura-Ace do you? I have had SRAM eTap and now I have DA Di2 and I will never go back to mechanical. I love the spot on shifting every time and the auto trim feature. Charging? I don't mind that either because it's only once every couple of months. No more cables to replace or adjustments to be made, it just works.
Great video! A key benefit of electronic shifting for me is the cockpit ergonomics. It's great to be able to ride on the hoods, and reach down with your pinky to change gear. Or fit climbing shifters so that you can climb with your hands on the tops and still change gear. And, finally, I love being able to view my current gear on my head unit, saves having to keep peering between my legs.
The ergonomics of the hood are really great. Shimano also looks better and higher quality than sram rival.
I had R7020 on my bike and did not like it at all!!!! Upgraded to R8020. The 105 shifter were noisy?rattly and parts kept falling off!!!
Its definitely a luxury item...but I love it.
If you're running 2x or 3x it makes sense, as indexed front derailleur suck.For the rear, I see no need. To me friction front, indexed rear is the water to go!
To now when I bought a groupset I owned it, all of it. This is no longer the case with wireless. You still own the H/W but not so the software. It’s easy to envision S/W subscription fees to continue using your bike. I think I’ll stick with mechanical.
So why do you have so little seat post sticking out in this bike? Is it something strange with the fit of the frame or do you have freakishly short legs or something?
The freakish one 😀. Sizing chart points me to medium. Geo-wise, I was between sizes. Reach is ok though
Sounds like biggest benefit is front derailleur electronic shifting. Not an option
105 pricing in Europe:
11 speed mechanical groupset with hydraulic brake: ~650€
12 speed Di2: 1000€
Not that much of difference now, is there :)
Electronic shifting encourages me to shift more often because it costs no energy to shift and won't collect a muscle pain due to repeative actions.
I think I stand with you on this one.....I just don't know!
Is Shimano discontinuing mechanical 105 or will it continue with both mechanical and electronic versions? I’ve heard it said that the current 105 is equal to the previous Ultegra. Maybe Tiagra will become the new “group set of the people”. 😎
They've just released 12 speed mechanical 105, so I guess they are planning on continue having mechanical for a while at least
Mechanical 105 is still here, but disc only now
Electronic shifting is not for me - heavier, more expensive, doesn't add significant performance, and harder for me to trouble shoot and work on. Also, I like the more tactile feel and engagement of mechanical. There seem to be good options available to stick with mechanical aside from SRAM and Shimano, thankfully, and I think Shimano 105 is going to be offered in mechanical?
when your heart rate is at redline and you spend zero thought of worry about shifting.. it's all makes sense
Been using Ultrega Di2 for two years, cabled Di2, shifts better and made me faster. My Strava segments show a difference between mechanical and electronic. The battery lasts 2-3 months 😂 but wireless no thanks! I measure my rides in "saddle sores per km" and not "smiles per mile". 😅
I'M ALL FOR TECH.💯 I just hope that it would be much more affordable. 💯😎 That's why the Chinese electronic groupset is more attractive in terms of pricing compare to the BIG BRANDS. If they can make the price at par with the Chinese groupset, it would be GAME OVER! 👍😎
The only real difference between 105di2 and ultegra di2 (besides weight) is the lack of hood buttons to control head unit on 105di2. A fwiw