Do I really need Ultegra?

[Moodyman]

No.

You 'need' Dura Ace, coz you is worth it.

 

[outlash]

FWIW, I have 11 speed 105 on my frat and with winter gloves on, the shifting action is so light that I frequently shift down two gears due to the lack of feel. Nowt' wrong with Tiagra, it took a hell of a lot of abuse and lack of care on my Cannondale before the front mech finally siezed.

I personally don't like SRAM because I can't get on with the DoubleTap shifting but YMMV - and as you say, there are other reasons for choosing it.

If money were no object, I would go for eTap without hesitation.

I can relate to that, my new crosser has Rival 1 and I'm still getting used to the double tap thing. Takes a bit....

 

[hatler]

It was a few years ago (pre 11 speed) when I was speccing my one new bike and I pondered the 105 / Ultegra question for a while. I asked the LBS who was assembling it (and also providing the group set) if I would notice the difference if I went for Ultegra.

"A bit smoother and £200 more." was his answer. This was when the 105 set was about £300 IIRC. I plumped for 105. I can't think I would ever need anything more sophisticated.

 

[addictfreak]

Im currently running 105 and DA on my bikes and have also used Ultegra on a previous bike.
Im finding the 105 a bit ropey to be honest. DA is pure quality, smooth and sleek. But having tried all 3 I would be more than happy to stick to Ultegra.

 

[sackville d]

For my fiftieth birthday I got Ultegra derailleurs and brakes along with DAce shifters and chainset and put them on my steel Basso. I don`t regret spending a penny of what it cost

Short answer, get the best you can afford

 

[Levo-Lon]

I have Tiagra on my road bike which as Ian says..reliable as a toyota..
I like high end stuff and have sram XO 11s on the mtb..
cleaning maintaining and using high end stuff is just nicer

if you get Ultegra you will want Dura its the way of things

 

[cyberknight]

If you can get it then enjoy

 

[Shut Up Legs]

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

One day we'll evolve to a higher state of existence, and simply thinking of a good bike ride will cause some lower-order being somewhere in the universe to go for a good bike ride.

I second what @ianrauk said, by the way: Tiagra works pretty well, and I've been using it on my commuter bike for years with no problems. It's great when it's newly-installed, too: I just had a very smooth week of commuting, having installed chain rings, chain, rear cassette, new wheels and new brake pads last weekend.

 

[raleighnut]

Shimano 600 Arabesque

Down tube shifters too?

 

[RoubaixCube]

You know what...

Just get the 11 speed ultegra already. Save you the headache.

A nice carbon deserves a nice groupset

 

[mark st1]

A nice carbon deserves a nice groupset

Dura Ace it is then

 

[Drago]

And now SRAM have gone all 12 speed on us, just to make things trickier.

 

[davidphilips]

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

worth it no, little difference and large cost, theres an old saying forget upgrades just ride up grades.
but if you really want it then treat yourself money spent on cycling is money well spent think of the smiles per mile plus the grin factor when friends etc notice the ultegra. if you do change or buy another bike then pay the bit extra for the best you can get or you will always regret it.
as i said worth it no for practical purposes but for a cycling enthusiast worth every penny and more you only live once and could be half way to the finish line so break out and treat yourself.

 

[Cycleops]

 

[jowwy]

View attachment 139344

The biggest load of bullshit ever written, by a drug taking fraudster

It should read " dont ride upgrades, take amphetamines and fly up them instead"