Mixing Shimano Tiagra and Ultegra

[ChimpyFire]

I currently have the Ultegra CS-6700 11-28T cassette, and am looking to buy the rest of the drivetrain. I've found the Tiagra FC-4700 crankset which pairs with the Tiagra BB-RS500 (my frame is threaded), but I just want to make sure that these two components will be compatible.
I'm also new to building so not sure about this: will I need to buy an Ultegra rear-derailleur, and a Tiagra front? Or do I just need to buy a Shimano 10sp rear and 2sp front, regardless of the groupset?

Would greatly appreciate any help.

Links:
Ultegra CS-6700 cassette: https://www.pushys.com.au/shimano-ulteg ... sette.html
Tiagra FC-4700 crankset: https://www.bikebug.com/shimano-tiagra- ... nkset.html
Tiagra BB-RS500 b-bracket: https://www.pushys.com.au/shimano-tiagr ... acket.html

[Duck!]

What shifters will you be using? They will dictate derailleur compatibility. Everything else will be fine.

[ChimpyFire]

Haven't looked at shifters yet - thought it would be best to get a crankset first and then look at derailleurs and shifters at the same time. Thanks for the reply, I'll probably just get those components then and check the Shimano site for derailleur and therefore shifter compatibility.

[Duck!]

4700- series Tiagra works on a different cable pull at both ends to all other Shimano 10-sp, it's more closely related to the 11-sp. family. The shifters are the expensive bit; decide on them first, then pick compatible derailleurs.

[Bentnose]

I would personally give up on the cassette you have as it is from 2 generations ago and not compatible with current 10 speed Tiagra or 11 speed other group sets. If you can afford a little extra go for either R7000 or R8000 11 speed.I recently found no shifters available locally and had to buy the R7000 (105) shifters from AliExpress. I’m going from 5700 10 speed, only put the new drivetrain on recently but the shifters have become a bit dicky so I’ve decided to change it all again.

[Duck!]

I would personally give up on the cassette you have as it is from 2 generations ago and not compatible with current 10 speed Tiagra

That is complete bollocks. All Shimano 10-sp. cassettes are the same spacing, so all generations are compatible.

The difference between 4700 and other 10-sp. is the cable pull to cover the gaps, so shifter/derailleur pairing is where it can go wrong.

[Bentnose]

I would personally give up on the cassette you have as it is from 2 generations ago and not compatible with current 10 speed Tiagra

That is complete bollocks. All Shimano 10-sp. cassettes are the same spacing, so all generations are compatible.

The difference between 4700 and other 10-sp. is the cable pull to cover the gaps, so shifter/derailleur pairing is where it can go wrong.

That's fine but if the OP is basing their drivetrain decision on them only having a 10 speed cassette their only mainstream option is really Tiagra, I would personally give up on the cassette and go 11 speed, if their budget allows it.

[MattyK]

That's fine but if the OP is basing their drivetrain decision on them only having a 10 speed cassette their only mainstream option is really Tiagra, I would personally give up on the cassette and go 11 speed, if their budget allows it.

Probably this, but if you're limited to 10 speed by the wheels/freehub (quite likely) then without upgrading that I'd just get Tiagra 4700 everything - it will be fine with your 10-speed cassette.

[10speedsemiracer]

That's fine but if the OP is basing their drivetrain decision on them only having a 10 speed cassette their only mainstream option is really Tiagra, I would personally give up on the cassette and go 11 speed, if their budget allows it.

Probably this, but if you're limited to 10 speed by the wheels/freehub (quite likely) then without upgrading that I'd just get Tiagra 4700 everything - it will be fine with your 10-speed cassette.

What MattyK said, just go Tiagra.

It works quite well when set up properly. I have a Tiagra 4700 on one bike, 4600 on another. Both work just fine, if anything the 4600 is the better shifting groupset (due to the ancestry of the shift levers).

Or .. go completely aftermarket, and throw Microshift R10 on there. The shift levers work quite well. Different feel to Shimano, more clicky. I prefer the Microshift to SRAM, for example.

The rear derailleurs seem fine, am seeing a lot more on OE fitment. The fronts are a little bit primitive, but then I've only seen 8s and 9s front mechs so far. So chuck on a set of R10 shift levers with the R10 derailleurs, a nice KMC 10s chain and Robert shall be your mother's brother ..

[cyclotaur]

I actually have a 2017 Focus CX with 4700 10 speed + hydraulic discs and it's great. Seems hard to find this combo now though, as brands seem to stick cheaper cable discs on at that low end price point.

Have actually stuck a spare 6800 50/34 crankset on there.

[Bentnose]

One thing to keep in mind is the 105 crankset is meant to be 200g lighter than the Tiagra one.