Shimano 105 or Ultegra

[MauiRockHopper]

I've narrowed my choices down to these 2, although everyone seems to say Ultegra is way better. Is it really worth the extra money for Ultegra? I don't plan to race, will ride for fitness, most rides are 20-30 miles, 5 times/week. Some hills.

[celerystalksme]

I've narrowed my choices down to these 2, although everyone seems to say Ultegra is way better. Is it really worth the extra money for Ultegra? I don't plan to race, will ride for fitness, most rides are 20-30 miles, 5 times/week. Some hills.

105 is durable enough...and functions just fine! sure, ultegra is lighter...but you don't need to shave a few grams unless you're going to race. some people say ultegra is smoother than 105...i can't feel a great deal of difference...and besides, some people prefer SRAM and Campy, which are much more chunky/louder/organic than shimano components...so "smoothness" means nothing aside from personal preference...

go with the 105 unless you have the extra cash and feel like treating yourself to a luxury!

[VeloVT]

I have a 105 bike and an Ultegra bike. The shifting in the rear is about the same. The Ultegra front derailleur/shifter are superior, in my opinion. It shifts with a lighter touch (which is nice if you have smallish hands, you don't have to shove the shifter over as far to shift up into the big ring), it has the ability to trim the derailleur through half-shifts, which is nice (though newer 105 may have this? my 2005 105 doesn't). It also just seems to shift a bit more precisely and hold a tune better.

I have also heard that Ultegra brakes are vastly better than 105 brakes. My bike with 105 has canti brakes, not caliper brakes (it's a cyclocross bike), so I can't really speak to that, but maybe someone else here can.

Edit: reading over this, I realize it could sound like I'm coming down harder on 105 than I really mean to. I think 105 is very reliable -- there are just one or two aspects of my Ultegra components I like just a teeny bit better. But I think 105 is a respectable choice and I'm actually glad I have it, rather than Ultegra, on my commute bike, which sometimes gets ridden in icky weather.

[Becky]

IMO, they're both good component groups. 105 is good bang for the buck. I wouldn't go into major debt just to have Ultegra...

DH has 105 on his carbon "go fast" bike, and has never complained about it. I have Ultegra and love it, but I got a really good deal on the parts. If I had been paying full price, I probably would not have spent the extra for Ultegra and stuck with 105 instead. Just my $0.02....

[MauiRockHopper]

Some forums and reviews say the 105 broke after 7 months. I'm pretty rough on my gear, but so far I haven't killed my 2001 mountain bike w/ has Shimano--probably bottom of the barrel components.

[GLC1968]

My last road bike was a 2006 Specialized with all 105 (10-speed). After riding it for a year, I sold it to a friend and bought a 2005 Terry that is all Ultegra (9-speed). I swore I'd never go back. The Ultegra is significantly nicer in my book. It's smoother shifting and it stays tuned. I was constantly having to adjust (and have adjusted) my 105 bike but this one still shifts like silk 2 years later! I'm pretty hard on my stuff, and the Ultegra is holding up very, very well.

I don't know if there is a something about the 9-speed and the 10-speed groups that might be part of the difference, but in my limited experience, Ultegra was well worth the upgrade.

I'm thinking of building up my next bike and I'd like to do it with 9-speed Ultegra again if I can. It works for me, so I want to stick with it. That said, I agree that there is no point in going into debt to upgrade. There are many, many people out there who are perfectly happy with 105 components! In fact, until I got my Ultegra bike - I didn't know any better and was happy with the 105. (Now I've been spoiled which is why I hope to never ride Dura Ace ).

[Aggie_Ama]

I can't lie, I have the perk of working right next door to my LBS and often if it is a tiny deraileur adjustment it is free. Even so I believe the deraileurs have only been adjusted 2-3 times in 5,000. According to the mechanics I am a "soft pedaler" (as opposed to a masher I guess), don't know if they makes a difference. I didn't even need a new chain until about 4,500 miles. And the cassette looked practically new at that time.

[milkbone]

I ride with the Ultegra and haven't had a problem yet...

[Aggie_Ama]

I ride the 2006 version of 105 with an Ultegra rear, keep everything lubed and tuned and she shifts like a dream. I have over 5,000 miles on my bike right now and have only had a basic tune up and a routine bottom bracket service. My husband rides 2004 Dura Ace and said he thinks my 105 shifts *almost* as crisply. Save the money for spoiling yourself with new bike clothes unless you are hung up on labels. In my mind it is like spending less on a Toyota instead of Lexus. There are perks to the pricey one but the other is still a nice ride you will enjoy.

[MauiRockHopper]

I ride the 2006 version of 105 with an Ultegra rear, keep everything lubed and tuned and she shifts like a dream. I have over 5,000 miles on my bike right now and have only had a basic tune up and a routine bottom bracket service. My husband rides 2004 Dura Ace and said he thinks my 105 shifts *almost* as crisply. Save the money for spoiling yourself with new bike clothes unless you are hung up on labels. In my mind it is like spending less on a Toyota instead of Lexus. There are perks to the pricey one but the other is still a nice ride you will enjoy.

Thanks for posting, I drive a Toyota Matrix too even though my "dream" car would be the Lexus SUV. The Matrix is way more practical (30mpg, plastic cargo floors). Owning a Lexus is just for the image or status symbol. I guess the same theory on bikes