Ghazmh

I love my ultegra DI2 so much that as soon as 105 DI2 comes out I'm upgrading my old road bike with it.

Alias530

Is there now zero difference in shift feel/precision between Ultegra and Dura Ace? I imagine the only difference between the Di2 groups would be weight.

With mechanical versions, I can tell the difference in precision, speed, feel, etc between 11spd 105 and 11spd Dura Ace big time. Haven't ridden Ultegra 11spd, only 10spd...

JimF22003

How long do I wait? Is it like waiting for Christmas? I've had Di2 on my bike since 2011, and it had been out already for a year before that. That's practically ancient technology by now.

JimF22003

I have DA Di2 and Ultegra Di2 on my bikes (the obsolete 10-speed version of each.) Functionally they are identical. The motor sounds a little different, but that's about it.

Stucky

What feel? With electronic, it's like flipping a light switch or pressing an elevator button....all you feel is whatever tactile feel and resistance that was put into the button.

Awww, don't worry; there's hope even for you. One day even you may say "What's the point? This is BS. I think I'll just go back to mechanical!". (Although there will probably always be a small cadre of die-hard Di2 fans....those who could never manage to adjust their mechanical systems properly, and thus always had shifting issues)

svtmike

Those die-hard fans are always pretty off-the-wall.

Alias530

That's my point... I imagine the only difference between Ultegra and Dura Ace is weight whereas the mechanical version you can tell a difference in feel AND weight.

merlinextraligh

1) Di2's been around 6 years now, plenty of time to Beta test. I doubt there is some yet to be detected problem.

2) Like most electronics, its only going to get better and cheaper with time as economies of scale are realized, and the product gets refined.

Your luddite nature is showing.

Stucky

I'm wondering if they don't design the "switches" with a different tactile "feel" for the various groups?

The various electronic components are going to fail before long. When people have to start replacing very expensive parts- or find that parts are not available, and have to get a whole new system just because one component of one part failed- not because of use/mileage, but just because of time, some of the enthusiasm may diminish.

And remember-Despite Di2 technically being around for a while, it is not something which is all that common yet. I'm talking about when it's use is a common thing- like maybe 50% of all bikes are equipped with it- then we will see.... Plus, I'm already seeing quite a few complaints and/or non-chalant attitudes expressed by those who have had it for a while/were early adopters. Like i said, give it some more time....the novelty will wane.



Depends what you mean by "better". Some might say that car stereos are better today- but personally, I amso SICK of multi-function buttons- i.e. "press it quick to do this; press and hold to do that; press 4 times to do the other"-Half the time I can't rem,ember the complicated sequence to make a particular piece of equipment do what I want it to do [especially if I have several different kinds, or don't use it or a particular feature often]; and half the time it doesn't do what it's supposed to do- or maybe you held the button for 2 seconds, when you were supposed to hold it for 3. I miss real tactile buttons and switches which you could actually control, vs. ones that just send a signal to a computer...and heaven-forbid you don't do the right dance in front of it.... Just as I miss the tactile feel and response of downtube shifters vs. brifters. I don't even want to think about Di2


Thank you (I'd bet most people would think anyone who rides a bicycle by choice is a Luddite....)

carlcurry

No issues with any of my mechanical groups so little incentive to go for it. There is a 'cool new' factor though.
But probably the hangup for me is still having to plug my bikes in, even if only infrequently. Laptops, phones, Garmin, iPods, iPads, wireless desktop, bike lights, and so on. I already have a USB hub that looks like an octopus. The bike is an escape from that crap for me. Feels like a conflict of interest.

kc0bbq

Uhh, no. Being a Luddite is not a good thing, but go sabotage some steam engines if you want.

Stucky

I couldn't find any. Besides...last time I tried somethinjg like that, Ted Kaczynski sent me a letter.....

kc0bbq

Heh. I want a steam powered bicycle. It could even be modern, doesn't have to be a priceless velocipede or anything. /offtopic

Stucky

Only problem with that is, the extry weight of the person who stokes the fire would slow you down on climbs......

</reallyofftopic>

gioscinelli 

No!

Panza

*wants to go biking*
*forgot to charge bike*
*takes another bike instead*

I hate chargers. I already have 2 for my lights and one for my garmin. Anymore and my bike will literally need it's own power outlet with extension cords. Bikes are machines not gadgets.

marimorimo

If I'm still biking 5-6 years from now (have only recently taken up the hobby), Di2 has hopefully gone down in a price I can afford for when I upgrade.

Vicegrip

You know not of what you speak. Unless trolling for fun then you are spot on

I have both cable and di2 bikes. Will never ever go to cable on a primary bike and I know how to and like to build and tune bikes. My Di2 system has been flawless since day one and it was easy to install. Took me a calm comfortable afternoon of enjoyable time spent working on the bike to install and setup. Much the same as building a cable driven bike in both time and effort. I later built a new bike on another frame and switched the drivetrain and cockpit to the new frame. The new frame was Di2 compatible and the build was even less effort and far less than cable. Again easy to install no issues and not one issue on the road with well over 15K miles between the two frames the Di2 been on.
What is the big deal about wired or wireless? The time spent wiring up a modern frame is little to nothing and time spent once. No cables getting old, dry, gritty and rusty or as on my CADDX rain/slush/snow bike, iced up and locking out the shifting. I will take one time spent feeding some wires through a frame over having to remember to carry a handful of little batteries just in case. Di2 you can check ALL required power with a push of a button before you start out. If by chance it is low even a 10 min partial charge while putting on the bibs and shoes and filling the bidons will give thousands of shifts and hundreds of riding miles. The shifting does not just dead stop ether. As noted the RD will ever so slightly slow long before stopping and when the battery gets "stupid low" the front DR quits first leaving you with the full rear cog to ride home on. Of all the modern electronic things I have dealt with Di2 has been the most reliable and has exceeded my expectations.

As to feel. What "feel" is needed when making a clean crisp shift? I too time my "button push" to my pedal cranking load so the shift is fast, crisp, without hesitation in power application. My thoughts are on form of body and function while shifting up or down in or out of the saddle on or off the power. I can stand at the green light and power up in a low gear and upshift as I am hammering up to speed or gently drift up to the next stop while the rear DR slides the chain to the gear I plan to use next via a twitch of my pinky. Bare hands, feels great. Fat warm snowboarding mitts in sub 0 weather, feels great.

I see the strongest arguments against coming from those that don't own and ride Di2.

Stucky

I'll never understand this. What was so terrible about mechanical?


So then what does it matter? Electronic or mechanical- they both give you the same clean crisp shifts. I always found that the feedback from downtube shifters, which allowed me to "fine tune" my shifts, was a good thing. We've lost that feedback with brifters- so now they proffer a complex Rube Goldberg-esque contraption to automate that which a ten year-old used to be able to do with amazingly simple technology.

Personally, I [as opposed to a computer] want to be in control of my bike. If you're going to automate all the tasks involved in the participation of a sport...then it is no longer a sport- but rather a utilitarian pursuit; mights as well get a motor and be done with it.

RJM

You're still in control of the bike with electronic shifting....it's silly to think that you lose control because it's electronic shifting instead of manual.

Peter2290

I'd love to if I can afford it. My uncle just bought this Cannondale - Synapse Carbon Ultegra Di2 Disc - SYNAPSE CARBON - ENDURANCE ROAD - ROAD - BIKES - 2015 and says it's fantastic.

This is pretty much my dream bike right now - granfondo GF01 Disc Ultegra Di2 ? road ? BMC Switzerland. Of course more realistically my next bike will probably be in the $2-3k range and I'll settle for mechanical Ultegra and rim brakes haha.

svtmike

He never said mechanical was "terrible". He said Di2 is significantly better and virtually zero maintenance.



He answered that question too. It matters because he gets clean crisp shifts and he doesn't have to regularly clean/lube cables.

We all understand your love of downtube shifters. I think you are in the great minority who likes to fine tune each shift instead of having it be a clean and crisp reliable response to a simple hand input.



With electronic shifting, you are still in full control of your bike. The electronics don't shift for you. It's just a different actuation mechanism that translates a hand movement into a derailleur movement.

Vicegrip

Never said cable was bad. I said I find Di2 to be better and listed what and why. They do not both all give clean crisp shifts. With cable only the top end stuff, in full tune gives clean crisp shifts in the same realm as Di2 and even then when guided by capable hands. There is no way you can equate DT shifters to Di2. I can stand from a dead stop and power right through the rear cogs to 30 mph without hesitation or interruption in wattage being delivered. No one can do that with DT yet Di2 can do this and all that DT can. Being able to "fine tune" DT is to some an exposure of an inherent weakness with DT. The need to "fine tune" in the first place. Keep in mind I have the experience of owning riding and maintaining both cable and electronic drivetrains. No non meat based computer in play on my bike. Unless I command a shift nothing happens.

Look, not liking Di2 or liking DT shifters is fine. It is your choice. I bet I get just as much enjoyment in riding as you do. Well I hope so as I truly enjoy riding. Relax, go for a ride with someone with Di2 and notice that you both are going for a bike ride.

Lazyass

My next bike will not, nor will the one after that and the one after that and the one after that.

Mr IGH

But what about disc brakes, you'll get those, right?