seedsbelize 

Referencing this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-question.html
It brought to the surface a question that has been dancing around in my head for some time now. What is it that makes dura ace, or ultegra better than exage or sora, for example in headsets? Are the bearings themselves better? the races? the tolerances? the finish?
And, referencing the thread, is a dura ace headset on a Japanamount different than a dura ace headset on a Waterford?

The Golden Boy 

I stumbled across this when I was thinking about using some "modern-y" stuff.

Bikesport Michigan Online - Features - Dura Ace vs Ultegra


I just saw this as well:

Choosing a Shimano road groupset. Dura Ace, Ultegra or 105? - BikeRoar



Although it's comparing stuff that's 20 years after the stuff you're referencing- the same basic ideas are there.

The difference between 105 and Ultegra are clear. The difference between Ultegra and Dura Ace are real, but the benefits may be not as striking as the difference between 105 and Ultegra.


It's kind of like having a PC running at 512M of RAM. Adding another 512M makes a HUGE difference. But going from 1G to 4G is kind of like "I think I notice a difference."

repechage

When the 600 EX head sets arrived in the late 70's we considered them as good as the Dura-Ace. You were paying for upgraded finish often between Dura-Ace and the next tier down. Hubs and pedals did seem different though.

Chrome Molly

Even with the differences explained in the referenced articles above, ultegra and dura ace are functionally equivalent to the point of being almost imperceptible. For example, it will never, ever matter that the DA RD is cold forged vs the Ultegra being hot forged. Cold forged is tougher, but what short of a wheel/frame bending crash would the RD be subjected to that would make this matter. The plastic chain plate cover might be noticeable in terms of that first trip around the parking lot smoothness, but it might become a PITA to clean off and will scratch all up with road grit leaving the advantage as marginal.

As you go down the line, the differences get more pronounced IMO. That is, 105 vs Ultegra involves more compromises than dura ace to ultegra, Tiagra vs 105 more, Tiagra vs Sora even more. You are left to decide at what price point the differences become worth the extra cost. I've never found dura ace to be required over ultegra for my purposes. Ultegra is smooth and clean every time, and gets the "job" done exceptionally well. Though most people hate to admit it, 105 is probably good enough also.

jimmuller 

The message I took from those articles (and one didn't count because it seemed to be nothing more than a re-hash of whatever Shimano would have published) was that there was little effective difference at least for RDs. Shimano claimed a "10%" improvement in FD performance w.r.t. shifting under load, but I wonder what that means. It would appear that the 105 RD might wear out a bit faster, but the article then pointed out that few people ever wear out a derailleur anyway. Okay, we're not talking about Simplex, so let's not go off on that tangent.

Wildwood 

I thought the question was about headsets. I've never worn out or felt any difference between 1" headsets.

The Golden Boy 

I took it to mean "for example- how is an Ultegra headset different from a Dura Ace headset? What are the factors?"

Not only headsets, but the differences between the entire groups themselves.
(underlining mine for reference)

As far as I'm aware, groups are groups- the models aren't specific to companies or regions- although some things may be more available in some places.

CroMo Mike 

Shimano, Dura Ace, Ultegra, Tiagra, 105, 600, Tiagra, Sora. Those are funny names. :-)

jimmuller 

That's one thing they do well.

old's'cool

I think what the cost/benefit ratio looks like as you go up the hierarchy of stuff, whether bike components or what have you is a very debatable subject.

For me it's a comfort zone, like with clothing or cars, even restaurants and hotels, this is both regarding inner quality and outer appearance. I feel comfortable with a certain level of these products and services, below which I feel like I'm slumming, and above which I feel I'm overdressed/posing or otherwise being extravagant. Using the latter-day Shimano analogy, my comfort zone is 105. That's just me, I fully understand that others have their own comfort zone that may be different.
One thing that the vintage bike hobby has allowed me to do is enjoy extravagance on a low key and small scale. and at relatively low cost by building up an (almost) all European vintage bike with Campy and other, to me, exotic components.