Ultegra Di2 - real life experiences?

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DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
Does anyone here have / use Ultegra Di2 10 speed?

If so, what's it been like? How robust are the components? (little'un has a tendency to push the limit a lot although he's not crashed this month ... yet)

My youngest has the chance of a really good bike. However, it's running Di2 on a 10-speed system. Now 10-speed is good for us. But I'm strictly mechanical.

Any thoughts?
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
 
I have done about 11000miles with DI2 (6770 ultegra 10 speed) I really like it and would recommend it, but with the 6770 you have to be a bit careful as shimano no longer make the rear mech, which seems to be the part that gets broken the most.
I had to replace the cable that contains the charge light and manual trim buttons after it was damaged in a strip down service (they denied breaking it, but funny how the bike worked ok before) This meant the battery would only hold a charge for a day, it took me a while to find out what it was and I just charged the battery every night until it was put on the diagnostic tool at another bike shop (that I now use instead) and they traced the problem in a couple of minutes. The new cable was £24 and has been fine since. I had to replace the rear mech after an accident and thats how I know Shimano no longer make that part. I got lucky and found one a shop had left on the shelf, but generally ebay prices for a second hand 10 speed rear mech than the 11 speed new.
I like the shifting, especially up hills. If you are in the wrong gear it changes without the grinding noises that the mechanical mechs I have used tended to make! By far the best bit is changing the front mech though, the noise is cool! It is easy to set up and you can even trim the rear mech while riding the bike, but I once I have set it up I have had not had to adjust it unless I change the rear wheel out for a different one (they should all be the same, but in practice they all seem to be a little bit different) I suppose that is one advantage of the DI2, it is very easy to set the rear mech on the fly.
I use my DI2 bike for everything, so it has done winter commuting without any problems. I am now slowly getting parts for the dura ace 11 speed DI2. I will put that on my best bike and put the 10 speed parts on another frame and I will use that for commuting. My bike shop cannot believe I use a DI2 groupset for commuting, but why not?
 

MichaelO

Guru
It is easy to set up and you can even trim the rear mech while riding the bike
I have recently bought a bike with Ultegra di2 11 speed (so can't help with the original question). But I never thought about trimming while riding - should be very easy to do - saves putting the bike up on a workstand to tinker with!!
By far the best bit is changing the front mech though, the noise is cool!
Very very true!! :smile:
 
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DCLane

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
I have done about 11000miles with DI2 (6770 ultegra 10 speed) I really like it and would recommend it, but with the 6770 you have to be a bit careful as shimano no longer make the rear mech, which seems to be the part that gets broken the most.

Thanks and noted. I'll ensure I've at least one spare rear mech.

Little'un saw the bike and went "wow". Or about 1000 words to that effect. Now we've just got to wait and see ...

How youngest is 'youngest'..?? And what bike is it?

He's 11. The bike's on eBay so I'll hold on the latter if I can. Only to state it'd be worth buying as whilst we can afford to buy him a £3k+ bike for racing next year, we've all agreed we won't be.
 

Citius

Guest
I can't think of many nationally-ranked U12s that ride electronic gears - maybe one or two. Although there are some absurdly-expensive bikes being ridden in that age group. What's he on at the moment?
 

rb58

Enigma
Location
Bexley, Kent
Mine is 11 speed, but it hasn't missed a beat since I've had it. So much less faff than mechanical.
 
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DCLane

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
I can't think of many nationally-ranked U12s that ride electronic gears - maybe one or two. Although there are some absurdly-expensive bikes being ridden in that age group. What's he on at the moment?

Agreed re. expensive bikes. New BC rules for under 13's from 2016 might change this as they're banning deep section wheels, nationally points, etc. although locally it won't change much. However, £5k+ bikes are fairly common in the front 5-10 places. One of the riders he rides with has a £12k bike. At 10 :wacko:

Tim's on a Felt F95 Junior 650c at the moment with a Pro-Lite Bracciano wheelset which we bought with a total budget of £600 last year. I would recommend one to anyone as a starter / progression road bike. It's good but outclassed by other bikes. In a sprint he's losing out to the lightweights.

We'd looked at a Spesh Tarmac and Cervelo F5, both second-hand, but finding something decent at under £1500 which will actually fit him is a problem.
 

Citius

Guest
All the new BC rules will do is stifle the kids' enthusiasm, not much else. The irony is that the riders currently winning on £12k bikes would probably still be winning on £1k or £500 bikes, so banning wheels over 35mm section is going to make no difference at all.

It's good but outclassed by other bikes. In a sprint he's losing out to the lightweights.

With respect, I doubt the bike is holding him back, for the reasons stated above. In a sprint, you lose to riders who have more left in the tank...
 
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DCLane

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
With respect, I doubt the bike is holding him back, for the reasons stated above. In a sprint, you lose to riders who have more left in the tank...

Possibly. He's tried a better bike and it seems to make a difference. However, they're also older and bigger than him since he was one of the younger riders in the U12 category this year.

What size frame is he looking for?

He's after a 45-47cm frame. The one we've seen is a 47cm which he's probably about 5-6 months growing from.

The 44cm frame he has now we bought in 2013 and whilst usable he's at the top end of the height guide.
 

Hacienda71

Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
Possibly. He's tried a better bike and it seems to make a difference. However, they're also older and bigger than him since he was one of the younger riders in the U12 category this year.



He's after a 45-47cm frame. The one we've seen is a 47cm which he's probably about 5-6 months growing from.

The 44cm frame he has now we bought in 2013 and whilst usable he's at the top end of the height guide.
Ah ok, the bike I saw would be too big for him.
 
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