FlowerBlossom

I've been searching for information about a build I am considering, and, read through this forum for help. I don't have much experience with mechanical issues, your help will be greatly appreciated.

I'd like to have an Ultegra + Chris King set of components, and switch out the Ultegra triple crank and replace with a sugino xd600. The shimano cranks and chain rings are uuuuugly.

Based on the bits and pieces I gathered from this forum, I think the following components will be compatible. Am I correct?


a) Chris King hubs
b) sugino xd600 (triple) crank
c) shimano ultegra rear and front derailleur, shifters, cassette

I haven't picked out the range of the cassette or chain rings yet, so any advice/warnings you would pass on would be great. Especially, too, since the builder is holding me responsible for compatibility issues.

badamsjr

What type of riding are you setting it up for? Gearing for loaded touring will be different than for sport/racing type riding. I use 11-32 and 11-34 cassettes with XTR 9spd rear derailleur, and on road bikes, 24/34/50 tripple. My touring rig has 22/35/48 rings. I use XT front derailleur on touring bike, and Dura Ace on road bikes. Brifters on all road bikes, but had to change to bar end shifters on touring bike to fix the problem I had shifting all the way from small ring to big ring. (middle ring unaffected).

Hope this helps.

FlowerBlossom

This is going to be a road bike for unloaded riding. Not racing; short days, long days, centuries (supported). I want the triple for hill climbing/mountain passes.

So, does this mean that the sugino crank is compatible with ultegra components? Apologies, I realize it might be a no-brainer for most of you, but I'm a beginner at all this.

desertdork

Will your Ultegra components be 10-sp (6600-series) or 9-sp (6500-series)?

bluenote157

probably the 6600..cuz he made references to the ugly crank. haha

FlowerBlossom

You're asking because, one is not compatible and one is?

I haven't purchased anything yet. I haven't decided, was concerned about the compatibility, and once I get that straight I'd start working on the gearing. FWIW, I don't have an extra Ultegra cassette lying around, I'll be buying new. I know parts go obsolete; are both series still available?

edit: I went to the shimano website quickly, clicked through to Road Ultegra, only cassette listed is the 6700 series (10 sp).

Al1943

Since you are buying all new components definitely go with 10-speed, not 9. The shifters must match the cassette in speeds.

One possible problem could be the front derailleur hanger. If your frame has a "braze-on" type instead of a "clamp-on" type FD it will limit how low you can adjust it. In many cases the smallest chainrings compatible with a braze-on FD are 50-38-26, approximately. Or if the frame has a seat tube shape that is not consistently round a clamp-on may not adjust low enough.

Chainring compatibility is not black or white, yes or no. Sugino rings will work with Shimano but will likely not shift as well as the Shimano rings. This is especially true with a triple.

FlowerBlossom

Hmm, it's looking like I'll have to stick with Shimano cranks. I do want this to shift well.

Thanks so much for the information, this is exactly what I was hoping for. And, thanks for your patience, discussing the basics can't be as interesting as other posts.


So, perhaps, I'm not the only one who thinks the newer Ultegra cranks are ugly? And the new 105s?

desertdork

If the new 6700 crankset doesn't appeal, you can still purchase the previous 6600 (or 6603 in your case) crankset. It should work almost identically as the 6703 crankset, and it features all of Shimano's ramps, pins and other details for optimal shifting with STI. You won't find all of these same features in the XD600. Also, the 6703 front derailleur has some compatibility requirements that may not play well with the XD600 on your frame.

FlowerBlossom

Where can I get the 6603? I've checked ebay, only doubles there.

shelbyfv

My experience was that the 6603 fd did not work well with the XD600 in 48/36/26. I ended up with a 105 fd which works ok. The XD does not shift as smoothly as the Ultegra triple I used previously but the ratios are very nice if you have hills.

desertdork

Here is a 175mm 6603 crank and a 172.5 6603. Don't know anything about these sellers. I've seen some recent sales on ebay. Also the 6604 SL (ice grey) version. Backstock on these does look thin, though.

Additionally, a 105 triple (FC5603) is another possibility, but you'd really want the 5703 fd; the minimum tooth difference of the Ultegra FD is 13 teeth and isn't a great match for the 11 tooth difference on the 50-39-30 105 crankset.

I know it's a bit OT, but you didn't mention which brakes you'll be using. From what I understand, the new 5700/6700/7900 STI levers aren't truly cross-compatible with earlier brakesets and front derailleurs.

FlowerBlossom

Shoot, I ride 170s. I'll keep my eye on Ebay. I googled '6603' and got a lot of sites "out of stock".

Then again, you're right, I didn't mention brakes. I'll probably get what's available, i.e., current stock. So, it sounds like the 6700 is my only choice. At least I'll have CK bling.

Thanks again for all the help everyone. This has been an interesting puzzle. I'm glad I asked before buying!

operator

The leverage has been changed. The brakes are not compatible. But they do work if you really wanted to match it up with incompatible STI's.

Kimmo 

Since you're using a triple and it's not a touring bike with panniers, etc, I'd advise going for the closest-ratio cassette you can get. With a triple there's no need to compromise between closeness and range, unless you need an unusual amount of range.