isuckatbiking

So I made a previous thread regarding a potential purchase. After taking into account the wonderful opinions of the board, I decided to just buy another bike. The original bike I had my eye on had too many dings plus the handle bar was switched out.

After perusing my local craigslist, I came across a Fuji SL1 Pro LE (Product: Fuji SL1 Pro Limited Edition Road Bike). The bike had only 300ish miles and the owner let it go for 975.

The reason for the cheap price was that there was a little damage, which is the reason why I am posting today.

The owner told me that he tried to squeeze in a spot a bit too small between a car and a wall and the result was that his left lever and left peddle scrapped against the wall. The peddle I could always get replaced but the lever is a bit more expensive with it being a ultegra.

The damage is circled in the red.

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As I looked around, I found on ebay (Shimano Ultegra 105 St 6700 Brake Shifter STI Lever Cover Hood Pair New Black | eBay) a ultegra housing. I was wondering if this would fit with no issues. My bike is a 10 speed yet I see mentions about an ultegra 11 speed. Also ref numbers of 6700 or 6800 (or is it 6900) so Im a bit miffed on what exactly model I have if I were to ever get a replacement lever. So the housing damage might be repairable (or replaceable per se), not sure what to do about the paint damage.

Did I come away with a good deal in your opinion? / What model Ultegra / Would the listed housing fit?

zymphad

What's to fix? You say it's scraped a little. So... what's to fix? From your picture I see no damage. Just cosmetic. Is it really worth it to spend this much money for scrapes you can't even see well unless you're looking for them?

As post below, if 10 speed, 6700. I wouldn't do anything or spend any money, looks good to me. You're probably going to fall at some point, it's a bike, it gets scrapes.

bruin11

Is it broken or just cosmetic. If just cosmetic save your money. It's most likely 6700 which is 10 speed Ultegra. 6800 is 11 speed.

dtrain

That's 6700 10-speed Ultegra. The 'hood' (rubber part) and silver nameplate can be replaced...or you can buy a new/mint left shift lever. But I don't see a need to do either (so I guess that's a '+2'). Yes, there is now a newer 6800 11-speed Ultegra series - but that's not what you have.

Don't worry, that's a nice bike purchase for the price.

isuckatbiking

@dtrain, forgot to specifically say thanks to you in the original post for the help yesterday.

But you guys are right. Maybe Im getting ahead of myself. Its just that the bike is in fantastic condition over than that one glaring blemish that seems to always be starring at me.

dtrain

You're welcome; now go ride the wheels off that Fuji! You'll get a few marks elsewhere on the bike but your ear-to-ear smile will keep you from giving a rip.

seymour1910

I will go against the grain here. OP if the cosmetic damage was no big deal you wouldn't have asked about it. Sure it's a bike and maybe will get scratches but every person is different and some people probably don't like a shifter in this condition. It's obvious that you don't like the shifter as is. I take good care of all of my stuff and like to keep things looking good. I would replace the hood and the cover plate if it were me.

I'm not at all saying the bike will not perform just as good with the scratches. If you can deal with it as is, go ahead, but if it bothers you now, it will still bother you later.

dtrain

^ those two pieces wouldn't be super difficult or expensive. Do you have to uninstall the shifter, bartape, and/or cables to get the hood on?

isuckatbiking

Yeah right now, Im slightly leaning towards getting the damaged parts replaced or repaired. At least the hood portion. I mean at 12 bucks, it wouldn't hurt the wallet that bad. I would prefer to spend less than 50 for everything but if my only level headed decision is to get the hood only, than so be it.

The lever Im not sure about how I would actually get that fixed, other than going over it lightly with some enamel paint. Any advice on that part?

seymour1910

that part is cheap. you can fix both for maybe less thn $30 if you do it yourself. The other peice is just a name plate. You can get an Ultegra 6700 name plate on ebay for $15 if not less.

The actual shift lever (black peice going down) can be touched up with automotive touch up paint or black nail polish.

seymour1910

sure don't

zymphad

So a $60 fix for a few scratches now when he will get more scratches as he rides. OK...

I suppose next it's time to get a new crank when he scuffs up the crank?

dtrain

So, the hood(s) and both or just one of these:

Shimano Ultegra St 6700 Left Name Plate B Fixing Screws | eBay

Shimano Ultegra St 6700 Left Name Plate A Fixing Screw | eBay

That isn't too bad really. If the rest of the bike looks brand new.

seymour1910

Not sure where you got $60 from. One part is $12 and the other is $15. That's why i said he can fix both for under $30.

In my origional reply I said each person is different. This wouldn't bother you but it obviously bothers the OP, and that's who my response was meant for.

mlander

Keeping stuff pristine is a rat race. I almost view my first scratch/dent on my car, bike, phone, shoes, etc, a relief. Once it's over with, whatever, now you don't have to worry about that first one any more.

isuckatbiking

Yeah the bike is truly in great condition. The damage on the lever is the worst of it.

I know bikes get scratched with use but in this situation, i rather have my own battle scars form instead of having the scars of the previous owner, if that makes sense.

The glossy lever, I cant buy a replacement for that right? My best bet is to go over it with some paint or nail polish?

Much appreciated on all the help.
@dtrain
I wonder how hard it is to install those two parts.

seymour1910

I can only speak for myself OP. I always point out 'to each their own' in any case.

The advice the other guys are giving is not bad advice. I never said it was. It's partially true, with enough use the bike will take some scuffs here and there. If you take really good care of it, you can get use out of it and still keep it looking great. I'm a guy that spends 3 hours every saturday or Sunday detailing my car. When I clean my bike I don't just wipe it down, I wash it. But that's just me.

My stance is this, you came asking for help on how to fix a cosmetic issue that you dislike. I wanted to help with your concern/question vice tell you what you should do or what you shouldn't worry about.

The name plate and hood won't set you back much, trying to replace the shifter may run you a bit more. I would go to autozone/advance auto and get black touch up paint and it will be as goodas new.

They are not hard to install, at all. I replaced the name plates in no time on my shifters. Youtube may even have some videos on how to replace this stuff.

goenrdoug

if you think you EVER will want to replace those nameplates, buy them now. I have some 105 shifters (three of them, in fact) and two have missing name plates and the third is there but is scuffed, like yours. As you can imagine, the totally missing ones look awful.

Well, guess what, it's absolutely impossible to find replacement nameplates for 5500 era 105 shifters. I've spent HOURS googling around. When I do find a web store with them listed, they're always 'out of stock.' Same goes for the rubber hoods. I actually bought a set of the WRONG rubber hoods (I think they're 6700, actually) in some attempt to use them..

hueyhoolihan

although, IMO, it's a waste of money to replace it, i understand the overwhelming disire to do it. i had a new motorcyle and when i inadvertently dropped a wrench on the gas tank i put a tiny dent in it. you can bet that when it came time to repaint it i was, let's say, more than anxious to have that damn dent fixed!!