af2nr

So I'm about to pick up a new road bike and have the option of these two groups on the same frame and wheels. There are a couple other differences, seat, post, stem, and bars are "better" on the eTap model. A couple months ago the difference between the two MSRP's was $2500, it's now $2000, but I can get the eTap for $1400 more. Everyone I've talked to says to go electronic on a new bike and I've purposely not ridden an electronic bike so I wouldn't know what I was missing. At this price difference is it a no brainer to go with the eTap bike? If I try and save a few dollars on the Ultegra will I quickly regret it? The "deal" on the eTap bike is significantly better than the Ultegra. So in the opinion of the BF crowd what say ye?

redfooj

etap. no wires

GlennR

Do you have a Shimano vs Sram preference?

Sram eTap is really nice.... i have it.

Marcus_Ti

One thing I wonder about-how active has SRAM been about firmware updates with eTap?

Larry77

I have a couple Di2 bikes and other bikes that are mechanical, the electronic shifting is "nice" to have but certainly not necessary.

How are the wheels on the bike, do you have some you like already? When I bought my last complete bike the weak component was definitely the wheels so those were upgraded at purchase. $2K can get you some really nice wheels that will improve the performance of the bike a lot more than electronic shifting...my 2 cents.

ARPRINCE

Very active....0 updates from when it came out with the production firmware (afaik) . But it just works so I'm fine with it.

To the OP, eTap +1.

Capo72

I don't know if you will regret going with Ultegra, but you may regret not going with eTap if you ever ride it. I'm very happy with eTap!

Marcus_Ti

LOL. Was wondering.

Love my Di2 bike, but the firmware side was something I wondered about with etap since they seem to lock firmware news behind an email list.

RShantz

I have it and like it a lot, but I always liked mechanical also. Main benefits to me: no cable adjustments needed, no changing of cables (only applies if you ride a lot), and easier to for air travel

BluFalconActual

I haven't ridden either (also on purpose), but I'm tempted to spend the extra $$ for eTap just for ease of installation.
The shifting on the sram seems more intuitive, but I don't like the idea of having to monitor 4 batteries instead of just 1.

Marcus_Ti

Di2, all the switches are software custom configurable. You want paddle-shifting, you can do it (I did it on my rig) in E Tube (both the mobile app and the desktop client)

BluFalconActual

Interesting. I didn't know that. Thanks. That just saved me some future money if I decide to go that route.
Sorry for hijacking the thread, OP.

GlennR

The FD and RD batteries are interchangeable. So in the event you don't check the batteries ones a week and it dies, you can move the front to the rear and still ride. Shifter batteries are going on their 2nd year and still green.

Psimet2001 

They had etap for a long time before they made it public. They rode the hell out of it here locally. I don't tend to throw accolades SRAM's way unless they deserve it and they definitely deserve it with etap.

Danny01

I had 6800 and switched it out for etap. I would the the Ultegra bike and upgrade it. I was able snag the etap upgrade kit and 2017 sram Red crankset for $1,450 from one of the UK sites. So that would save you a couple hundred bucks as you said. Whether you go the convenient route for an extra 2 grand or upgrade it yourself and save $500ish, its worth the moneys

michael75455

I have a little over 6300 miles on my eTap and have to say this has been the best investment I have made. Yes, as an early adopter I paid full list price but even at that I feel I spent my money well The new shifting logic is so simple and so far is has shifted 100% of the time. No half shifts like I would get sometimes on my mechanical setup. Every time I clicked the paddle it shifts fully and smoothly. Also battery life is great too. I get a little over 600 miles before needing to charge. Usually I just try to remember to charge every three weeks. Once I did notice right before a group ride that the light was flashing red but it lasted the full ride. However there is one thing I would like changed. I would like SRAM to update the firmware so that it would report a battery percentage to my bike computer instead of just a good/bad label.

af2nr

I appreciate all the replies so far. Just to clarify, I can get the same frame and wheels, with better bars, stem, saddle, and post on the eTap for $1400 more than the Ultegra model. The $2000 is the current difference between the MSRP of the two, it was $2500 before both dropped in price for closeout. So the real question is it worth $1400 to get the "upgraded" model?

Danny01

You can do it for cheaper after selling off the Ultegra stuff. But if you're lazy, yes its worth the $1400

Racing Dan

Interesting. I tried DI2 with "normal" shifting, like on mechanical but with buttons instead of moving the levers, and I really didnt like it. Buttons are way too small. Im sure I would have liked it much better had it been set up like paddles in a car. I was under the impression that only mtb DI2 could be set up like that?

Marcus_Ti

Hehe, funny. I dislike Shimano mechanical and its big old dead space lever throw....also never liked the release-the-lever-to-actually-get-the-shift mechanic....I hit the button, give me the damn shift

Di2 of both road and MTB variety can be setup however you want. Example:

Right shifter:
-Front button: upshift FD
-Rear button: upshift RD

Left shifter
-Front button: downshift FD
-Rear button: downshift RD

Alternatively with S2 full synchro shifting (presuming you have the hardware support for it) you could completely dispense with the FD shift controls, and then "right harder, left easier" (or vice versa), and Di2 would shift the FD at your predetermined shift points you program in E-Tube.


That customizability is something I'm not sure eTap can do (yet?).

Shimano for its part does a fairly terrible job explaining and documenting all the crap you can do with Di2 in firmware.

af2nr

Thanks for this post, hadn't even thought about it this way and it actually gives me multiple options. Ordered the Ultegra bike today, mostly because I liked the colors better and after taxes it turned out to be closer to $1600. There are lots of things I could do with that, and stay happily married. Thanks again for this insight!

SevenTwentyNine

E-Tap - this coming from someone who uses and loves Ultegra. E-Tap!!!!!!!