morphius

I have Shimano 105. What makes Shimano Ultegra so much better. Does it worth to upgrade? Can someone please explain me the differences?

MONGO!

It's not worth it.

Ultegra will last longer but I doubt you will ride long enough to wear out 105, no offense.

morphius

No offense taken. Thanks for a quick reply.

lechat

i have 1 bike with 9speed 105 and it works great with no problems. reports are coming in that the 10speed stuff has durability problems. i'd be loathe to buy it.

Psimet2001 

do you have any idea what you're talking about?

OP - There are differences, but that said they tend to be fairly minor. 105 10spd is really smooth and very close to Ultegra in look and feel. If you're looking to "upgrade" - at this point I would have a hard time NOT recommending people upgrade to SRAM 2009 Rival. It's cheaper than just about anything else out there and it performs as good if not better than Ultegra and is lighter.

saddlebum

I have an Ultegra 10 spd on my bike. Had a few teething problems with RD adjustment. Sorted it out. Did a 100 k ride yesterday with super-smooth shifting even on climbs. Have'nt really tried out the 105 to compare the two, but I really cannot complain about the Ultegra.

sunburst

The 105 stuff on my 22 yo Trek is still working just fine. The Ultegra stuff on my 2006 Giant works better, but the most notable differences are: brifters, and the new dual-pivot brakes.

I would have bought the same Giant OCR (carbon) with 105 components, if they had my size in their closeout bikes.

Tapeworm21

Ultegra is for racers. Do you race? If you don't race, get Sora.

botto 

Tapeworm21

Oh.

PhatRoadie

I've had both 105 and Ultegra in 10 speed and you will probably feel the difference between the two. Ultegra shifting just "feels" more solid.

However there is no performance difference that I can tell, aside from slightly smoother shifting under load with the Ultegra, I'm just as slow on either gruppo.

AngryScientist 

it would definitely be a waste of money to go from perfectly functional 105 to ultegra. you would be hard pressed to notice much of a difference, and for the money you would spend - well its just not worth it.

if you start stacking on the miles, and you wear out a cassette, chain, or any other component, buying ultegra over 105 - now that makes sense, but not just swapping for the sake of "upgrading"

queerpunk

I'm inclined to say that the difference between any two groupsets is going to be weight and any performance difference, in the real world, is going to be affected by condition, cleanliness, and adjustment. "Poorly adjusted 105 sells Dura Ace." Keep your drivetrain in good condition, buy a new cassette and chain when you need it, and forego the expense of the "upgrade."

Jinker

On most 105 bikes the best place to spend your money would be on a fancier wheelset. There's good upgrades to be had in the $300 to $500 range that will make a far bigger difference in weight and performance than going 105->Ultegra

RazorWind

I don't know that paying extra for Ultegra cassettes makes sense over 105 unless you need gearing you can't get otherwise.

Reaper0Bot0

I have 10-spd 105 on one bike and 10-spd Ultegra on the other. I can feel the difference when I shift, but I certainly don't have any PROBLEMS using 105. It's fine. I can shift with just a tad less effort on Ultegra, but it's not like that's a life-altering difference.

BHBiker

weight is the major difference. aesthetics is the second including the finish of the alloy.

the most important of all is the PLacebo Effect of getting a "higher Level" gruppo...that increases your average speed by 1 to 2 kph!!!!

bigtea

Going up one notch in the manufacturer's drivetrain product line isn't usually cost justifiable unless you have a replacement need.

That is because a complete bike has so much savings built into the entire package.

I think the major exceptions to that would be stem, post, bars, saddle, and especially wheels. Those components in a store bike are almost always cheaper and lower quality that the frame/drivetrain would warrant.

Going from 105 go Dura Ace might make sense if your frame is high quality.

urbanknight

I just quit racing, although my mileage is the same. Do I need to sell my bike and get a cheaper one with Sora?

kr32

Yes and being used it is worthless so I will take it off your hands.

Tapeworm21

IMMEDIATELY! I'll be willing to bet you have carbon shoes too. Sorry buddy, only racers need those.

urbanknight

Thanks for catching that for me. I have a Decibel helmet, too. Does that need to go?

badhat

why do some folks deride people who want to upgrade drivetrain components by saying it wont make them faster?

has anyone ever actually suggested that they got faster when they upgraded to dura ace or red or record? the improvement is in durability, precision of machining, and precision of performance, and theres nothing wrong with appreciating that improvement whether youre racing on it or commuting.

dcvelo

Who said that? Almost everyone has said the performance difference won't justify the upgrade cost.

Which is correct.

silkywoods

I guess i have to sell my Tarmac since I don't race.
Tapeworm your a DS

Back to the question.
I have had both and agree with Reaper0bot0. Ultegra shifts quicker, smoother and more precise. Is it that much of a difference?, not really. You'd do just fine with 105 (especially since now 105 comes in black...very cool).