Do I really need Ultegra?

[Sunny Portrush]

Rapidly approaching my 50th birthday to the old N+1 equation is upper-most in my mind! However, just wondering if it`s worth the added expense of Ultegra on a new bike. I`m certainly not going to be winning any races lol

At the minute, I have a Cannondale Synapse that runs Tiagra - what would the difference in getting Ultegra actually mean to me?

Cheers in advance

 

[Drago]

It would mean little, if anything, in making you ride faster, harder, or otherwise better.

If you simply want it because its lovely engineering and looks fantastic then go buy some. If you're wanting it because you think it'll turn you from Clark Kent to Superman on two wheels then forget it.

 

[User33236]

I had mechanical Ultegra on one bike and 105 on another, both 11 speed. There was very little, if any difference, in shifting between bikes.

I've not used the most recent Tiagra but the last version, even when well set up, just wasn't as slick as 105 or Ultegra.

Do you need Ultegra? Probably not as 105 is as good, although a bit heavier.

If you are treating yourself though then go Ultegra or even Ultegra Di2

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^^^^ 105 is where Shimano 'Quality' kicks in.

 

[ianrauk]

^^^^^^^^ 105 is where Shimano 'Quality' kicks in.

I dunno. I ran Tiagra on my commute bike for a couple of years. It proved to work faultlessly. Ran it into the ground, now have Ultegra.

 

[mjr]

^^^^^^^^ 105 is where Shimano 'Quality' kicks in.

Do you mean I'd notice an upgrade from a mix of Shimano 600 Arabesque and SunTour Vx?

 

[smutchin]

The new Tiagra (4700) is very good - a major improvement on the old Tiagra (ie the original 4400), which was a bit agricultural. The differences with 105 and Ultegra now are minimal in practice.

The main reason to go for Ultegra/105 rather than Tiagra would be for the 11th sprocket.

 

[Banjo]

If you can afford it and want it go for it your only 50 once but remember it will make replacement chains/cassettes etc more expensive as well.

I currently have one tiagra and one 105 bike. Very little if any difference in shifting smoothness. Used to have an ultegra bike not sure if that actually functioned any better than 105.

 

[MichaelW2]

By the time you have worn out Ultegra, Shimano will have progressed to 15-speed cassettes with gesture-controlled gear changes.

 

[mjr]

By the time you have worn out Ultegra, Shimano will have progressed to 15-speed cassettes with gesture-controlled gear changes.

Escape the upgrade treadmill now! Return to downtube friction levers and five-speed freewheels!

 

[Drago]

I would suggest that in recent years Tiagra has become the point at which youre getting 'quality', whatever that means. The Tiggy on my 2014 bike is visually almost indistinguishable from the 105 on my 2011 bike, and aside from the longer throw at the levers it feels identical too - crisp, efficient, dependable. Shimano aren't kidding when they talk about their 'trickle down' policy on their higher gruppos.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Id probably go for the 11speed 105 setup at the least. Better range of gears and lighter shifting. I do love my ultegra though

 

[jowwy]

Get the best you can afford and enjoy

I got sram red/force on the carbon and will be ugrading from rival to di2 on the Ti in the very near future........and im 17+st and 40yrs old

 

[Roadrider48]

Agree with @RoubaixCube.
The new 11sp 105 is a really good groupset.

 

[Banjo]

By the time you have worn out Ultegra, Shimano will have progressed to 15-speed cassettes with gesture-controlled gear changes.

Gesture control will then rapidly be made obsolete by the new Shimano thought control shifting.