shimano 105

[stuberry]

Purely out of curiosity:

Finally got my hands on my first newish groupset (105 r7000) during this parts shortage after lots of ringing around, I was lucky to get a demo set from the LBS. Previously been riding Shimano 600 so pretty excited to feel the difference after it's assembled.

During my calls around, it seemed most LBS' were keen to up sell me to Ultegra, and even the demo unit had THICK black grease stuffed into the pulley cages.

It makes me suspect the riding experience between 105 and Ultegra would be minimal and that LBS' would tamper with the riding experience on 105 demo bikes to up sell the Ultegra.

I assume there is a higher margin for Ultegra part/bikes and the 105 is just really good and just a tad heavier? I recall GCN did a video where they compared the 105 to the Dura ace shifting performance and they could hardly tell the difference with a blindfold on.

Colour me disillusioned..

[rkelsen]

Coming from an old groupset, the difference will be night & day.

The main differences between Ultegra and 105 are in the materials and finishing. I recall reading something about 105 cassette sprockets being stamped, while Ultegra are also stamped but then milled to a smooth finish on the surface that meets the chain. Not sure if that's still true.

I think you'll be quite happy with 105.

[familyguy]

Purely out of curiosity:

Finally got my hands on my first newish groupset (105 r7000) during this parts shortage after lots of ringing around, I was lucky to get a demo set from the LBS. Previously been riding Shimano 600 so pretty excited to feel the difference after it's assembled.

During my calls around, it seemed most LBS' were keen to up sell me to Ultegra, and even the demo unit had THICK black grease stuffed into the pulley cages.

It makes me suspect the riding experience between 105 and Ultegra would be minimal and that LBS' would tamper with the riding experience on 105 demo bikes to up sell the Ultegra.

I assume there is a higher margin for Ultegra part/bikes and the 105 is just really good and just a tad heavier? I recall GCN did a video where they compared the 105 to the Dura ace shifting performance and they could hardly tell the difference with a blindfold on.

Colour me disillusioned..

The grease-stuffing thing is probably a long bow, but I've had 105 level for most of my stuff and it's been great. I rank 4700 Tiagra above 6600 Ultegra in terms of comfort and usability. Never underestimate the ability of people to let themselves be talked into upgrading without even trying something. I can't comment on margins, but I would've thought it would only be a marginal difference in profit for the store (pun intended).

Also, getting 105 here seemed pretty tough for a while. As for silver, forget it. Shimano Aus told me point blank "we're not bringing it in, nobody wants it", whilst geoblocking sales from overseas. I'd have silver 105 on everything if I could manage it.

Jim

[Retrobyte]

On the cassettes, the cogs on both are steel and the spiders aluminium, but the Ultegra is lighter because the spider has some carbon and the lockring is aluminium. The 105 cassette is 30 grams heavier than Ultegra.

The 105 and Ultegra chains are identical in build and weight, but the Ultegra has low friction plating on both the inner and outer plates vs 105 which only has the plating on the inner plates.

[blizzard]

105 is great, shift quality is excellent. As noted, generally it's made from cheaper and heavier materials than Ultegra or Duraace.

[10speedsemiracer]

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It makes me suspect the riding experience between 105 and Ultegra would be minimal and that LBS' would tamper with the riding experience on 105 demo bikes to up sell the Ultegra.

Would find this highly unlikely.

[Duck!]

As mentioned above, the major difference between 105 and Ultegra is in the materials and some manufacturing processes.

Some parts are shared across both groups - the front derailleur is exactly the same thing, only the model number stamping is different, and shifters are the same except for the brake lever. Chains are the same pieces, but surface treatment is better at Ultegra level, which improves corrosion and wear resistance.

Cassette sprockets are cut by different methods, although one would be hard-pressed to feel a functional difference; like the chain, Ultegra sprockets are subject to different surface treatments which improve durability. Six of the Ultegra sprockets are shared with Dura-Ace; the five largest sprockets in D-A are titanium, while Ultegra are all steel.

Cranks are a bit more different; although both are hollow, the void in the 105 crank is smaller, so it's heavier. The 105 large chainring is a one-piece thing, which although heavily machined is considerably cheaper to produce than the bonded two-piece hollow rings of Ultegra and Dura-Ace.

Short version: functionally they're identical. Most of the extra cost of Ultegra is less weight, but there is better durability with some parts.

[Bentnose]

I’ve just been through the task of obtaining new R7000 shifters and drivetrain from 5700, couldn’t get the shifters locally and needed to get them from China, everything else was local. I considered getting Ultegra, saying to myself it’s only a little bit more for this part and that part but it starts to add up. I’d been fine with 105 for the last 6 years and 8 years on the CX bike, why change? I also already had the 5800 crankset so figured 105 will match better though I have 6800 Ultegra brakes and front derailleur. I did get a Sunrace 11-34 cassette and KMC chain instead of the Shimano ones though.

[AUbicycles]

Don’t be dissuaded by 105, better price and value that benefits from trickle down. Taking time to care for it and keeping it in good working order will go a long way.

[warthog1]

Have it on my TCR in a mix of 5800 and 7000.
No need to upgrade. It's good to use and dura ace won't make me any faster.

[baabaa]

Have it on my TCR in a mix of 5800 and 7000.
No need to upgrade. It's good to use and dura ace won't make me any faster.

And really bet the real pros would not bother about the difference also (apart from TT events and sections) and so you could ask the question - would 105 make them any slower?

[DavidS]

I have 105 on my flat bar, it came with it. Works very well, and given the bike has done 46,000KMs I reckon that's pretty damned good.

DS

[AUbicycles]

A well known ex-pro I interviewed said if he is paying, he would choose 105. A family father where practicalities outweigh bling.

Others may opt for Dura Ace if they can… but even in the peloton, there are still team riders who are on Ultegra because it is cheaper.