Hi all,

I'm a cycling noob (in terms of being familiar with the parts, not in terms of skill). So I'm going to buy a new road bike and have been researching my options for a few weeks now. From everything I've seen, I like the carbon fiber Cannondale Synapse the most.

However, from their website (https://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng...-Road/Synapse/), I see many different models. And googling specific models revealed a wide range of prices (anywhere from $1000 to $5000).

1. I don't understand why there is such a huge price range within a specific series. For example, why does the Hi-MOD 1 Dura Ace model cost $5000 and the Carbon 5 105 cost $1500? What is the difference?

2. What is the approximate weight of this bicycle (Carbon 5 105)?

3. For every "upgrade" to the next better model, what am I really getting for the price?

I think the Hi-MOD uses different carbon. Past that the difference in price as you go up is due to the difference group sets. Full Ultegra cost more than 105 thus the increase in price.

So, let's consider the Shimano Ultegra vs the Shimano 105. What am I really getting for the price difference? How are these two groupsets different? Am I getting a performance increase somehow? Different style maybe?

If I had to pay more then $100 to go from Full 105 to Full Ultegra, I wouldn't do it. Ultegra will save you a few grams and MAY perform slightly better, but probably not enough that you'd notice.

Looking closer at the specs it looks like it is more complex than I made it sound. While the groupset is upgraded there are also a ton of little things like handlebars, tires, rims etc that are upgraded as well. If it were me I would probably get the 105 but that isnt to say that the upgrades aren't worth it. I am just tight with my money.

Edited to add: I didnt mention that the lower priced ones have alloy frames and carbon forks. I was going on the full carbon only.

I have the 2010 Synapse Carbon 5 56cm. It weighs 19.1 with 2 water bottle cages (aluminum) and computer on it fully stock. I would go and test ride the 5 and the higher priced models and see if you can tell a big difference. You may tell a difference, but those differences will be small for large incremental price increases. The Synapse Carbon 5 is more bike than most people will ever need.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look more into groupsets.

Yeah, I was initially looking at the Carbon 5 105. It has a full carbon fiber body.

Thanks. I will surely go and test these bikes out. It's just really hard to find a dealer who carries them in Toronto.

If you are independently wealthy, go for the top of the line. Otherwise, the general consensus is that 105 is the sweet-spot for value....durable and reasonably priced.

MSRP for the 2011 Carbon 5 105 is $2149 on the Cannondale website. The Alloy Synapse 5 with 105 group is closer to the price you're quoting. Anything with Dura Ace is going to be expensive, no matter who is selling it, or what material it is made from.

BTW, I'm trying a Carbon 6 with Apex this weekend to see how it comares with the new Roubaix Elite.

Why is Dura-Ace so expensive? How much does the group set alone cost?

The reason they're priced like that is simply marketing. They're building what they can sell. If you're flip flopping between models then their job was well done. It's when people go for the bottom or the top that they know they're leaving money on the table.

Because they can.

I guess it'll be the Synapse Carbon 5 105 then.

Good choice! Excellent bike.

When you're shopping, keep in mind the 2011 105 is a complete redesign. You might get a deal on a 2010, but personally I would get the 2011.

Please report your findings! I want to do this comparison soon myself.

It is possible to buy a 2010 bike with 5700 105 on it. I have one.
So to the OP: check to see if the 2010 bike has the new 105 (if you know the differences), because 2010 bikes should be discounted now, which is always nice.

Does anyone know any good online stores that sell these bikes at a good price? Or any bike shops in Toronto?

The pluses of the new 105 (5700 series), versus the prior 105 (5600) are:

- cables to the derailleurs are now "hidden" under the bar tape, along with the brake cables (just as they are with the current Ultegra and Dura-Ace, not to mention the SRAM groups) (whereas the 5600 had the derailleur cables coming out the side). This is almost entirely a "looks" issue.
- the pivot points for braking in both the new brifter levers and in the new 105 brakes themselves have been moved a bit - supposedly to provide a bit more braking leverage, especially when braking from the brake-hood tops. I don't know how noticeable this is. It's also not clear to me if the change is mostly in the brifters, or mostly in the brakes (I don't know if your proposed bike has the "full" 105 group, including the brakes, crank, etc., or if some parts are from other companies.)
- a small weight reduction - but as this is only 30 gm (about 1 ounce) over the whole group, it is essentially nothing.
- the new "short cage" rear derailleur (for use with a double or compact double) has a bit more "reach" than before, so that you can fully cross-chain, even with a compact double up front (16-tooth spread), and with an 11-28 cassette (17-tooth spread). In other words, the total "tooth differential" that works with the new RD is 33 teeth. (The old 105's figure was 29 teeth, which meant a 12-25 cassette.) Note that you can still use cassettes with a larger spread with the old 105 RD - you just have to avoid one or two of the worst-case cross-chaining combinations (which most people would avoid anyway). (Actually, the largest rear cog that the old 105 RD would support was a 27 - now it works with a 28.)

Sorry if the above is a bit complicated. The improvements in the new 105 are not THAT significant, but makes it a bit closer in functionality to the current Ultegra. Probably not enough of a difference to reject getting a 2010 model that didn't have it, but all else being equal, you might as well get the latest....

In your opinion, how much of a price difference would be worth getting the 2010 model? Like how much cheaper would the 2010 have to be than the 2011 for you to recommend getting the 2010 model?

Also, where are the MSRPs listen on the Cannondale website? I can't find them anywhere.

Try this link. https://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng...e-Carbon-5-105

The price is just below the bike.

I don't see any price on there whatsoever. I searched for the "$" symbol as well as "MSRP". Nothing.

The MSRP for 5700 is actually lower than 5600. Personally, I would have bought my bike (CAAD9 5) whether or not it was 5700. It was just a bonus that I got 5700. But for your purposes, I would say 10%, so around $100

Try searching for MRAP.
The link works fine. It lists as 2149 USD

Nope. MRAP doesn't return any results either.

EDIT: Now I see it. I opened the link in a proxy. It seems that it doesn't show prices for Canadian IP addresses (Canadian customers). I used a US proxy and it showed the price then.

If you are considering the Carbon 5 105, I would suggest looking at the Supersix 105 - I like the team replica paint job and the price is the same.