Ultegra Di2 - real life experiences?

[jay clock]

Coming back to the topic, I have had 3 years on 10 speed Utlegra Di2. ZERO problems and the battery last ages. Didnt use over the winter and still worked fine in the spring.

However I am told SHimano have bought up all the stock of 10 speed stuff so if you break the mech you are up for a new 11 speed front/rear mech, chain, cassette and chainset. Amazingly you can reprogramme the shifters from 10 to 11

 

[Citius]

Thanks. That's the problem - we've seen a 49cm Tarmac and he just won't fit for a year or so.

Take a look at Paul Milnes' ebay shop - he usually has a few useful smaller size framesets. Don't get hung up with seeing kids on £12k bikes - they might have them - but they are not needed at that level - not for flat, 20min circuit races.

 

[DCLane]

Take a look at Paul Milnes' ebay shop - he usually has a few useful smaller size framesets. Don't get hung up with seeing kids on £12k bikes - they might have them - but they are not needed at that level - not for flat, 20min circuit races.

Thanks - and I agree with you. We're looking at an upgrade from what he has now rather than being stupid.

I've been to Paul Milnes a couple of times. We've also got a good LBS that supports his junior team.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

The shifters, front mec, battery etc (basically everything except the rear mech) are all compatible with Ultegra and Dura ace 11 speed, but once you have upgraded the firmware on each part you cannot go back to 10 speed.

 

[Onyer]

At the risk of going slightly off topic, I am looking at changing my Ultegra mechanical to Di2 (either Ultegra or Dura Ace). However my current set up has 11-32 cassette with the medium cage RD. From what I can see the Di2 versions only come with the short cage version. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? If so would I need to change the cassette? I love the 11-32 as it gets these old knees up the hills a little bit easier! It is combined with 52/36 chainset.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

The 11 speed ultegra has different length rear mechs. The 10 speed is only available in short cage and the max size you can officially use is 28t. I had an 11-30 on for a while and it does work up tp a point, but you cannot use big/big, it locks solid.

 

[Onyer]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I was talking about the 11speed Ultegra.

 

[Sbudge]

At the risk of going slightly off topic, I am looking at changing my Ultegra mechanical to Di2 (either Ultegra or Dura Ace). However my current set up has 11-32 cassette with the medium cage RD. From what I can see the Di2 versions only come with the short cage version. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? If so would I need to change the cassette? I love the 11-32 as it gets these old knees up the hills a little bit easier! It is combined with 52/36 chainset.

I did exactly the same, went from mechanical 11-32 Ultegra to Di2...no problems at all. Wouldn't go back now if you paid me! You just need to make sure you get the Ultegra medium cage Di2 RD...certainly available.

 

[Onyer]

I did exactly the same, went from mechanical 11-32 Ultegra to Di2...no problems at all. Wouldn't go back now if you paid me! You just need to make sure you get the Ultegra medium cage Di2 RD...certainly available.

Thanks for that. I can see that the Di2 kits are for sale, i.e. Shifters, RD, FD and cables, but all of them have the short cage RD. How did you buy the bits you needed? Did you install the gear yourself?

 

[Sbudge]

Thanks for that. I can see that the Di2 kits are for sale, i.e. Shifters, RD, FD and cables, but all of them have the short cage RD. How did you buy the bits you needed? Did you install the gear yourself?

I just had a word with my LBS, they were happy to price match the kit with the medium mage RD swapped in. No, I might consider it for a second build but not the first. There are some issues with Internal/External mounting that can catch out the unwary so I left it to those that have more experience. To be honest though the costing was pretty comparable to what I could have achieved on a self-build.