Ultegra Di2 or Dura Ace 9000 Mechanical

[lammy]

I been on the fence about this for months and months. I keep changing my mind.

I ride 300-400km per week and currently ride Ultegra (wet weather) and Sram Red (upgrading the sram red).

I always like to buy the best (if I afford it) and thats why the 9000 appeals with this kit my dogma would have the ultimate mechanical groupset you can buy, also would go nice with my C50's too, but the ease of use of and price of ultegra Di2 is far too tempting. DuraAce Di2 is ridiculously overpriced.

What are your thoughts? Anybody had the same dilema?

[doggatas]

I have both 9070 Di2 and 9000.

In my opinion the shifting quality of properly adjusted mechanical Dura Ace 9000 and Di2 9070 are equal. For me the choice comes down to shifting action at the lever, just as it does when comparing the top end SRAM/Campag/Shimano groups.

In saying that the following are clear benefits of an electrical system

1. Set and forget, never have to adjust shifting due to cable stretch (maybe have to adjust for wheel swap)
2. Auto FD trim
3. Never have to replace shifting cables (unlikely the Di2 cable will fail)

I must admit after shelling our for Di2, some part of me still prefers the action and sound of the mechanical group.

[ball bearing]

At the tail end of a long, cold ride I can see how electronic shifting would be a welcomed gizmo. Sometimes I do find that when I am very exhausted the shifting is a bit of a chore.

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

If racing I'd say go electric.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

Every single one of the Di2 owners I regularly ride with has had a flat battery mid-ride at some point. I always like to sympathise while reminding them that my fingers have yet to run out of power, nor does it appear to have happened to any of the other mechanical groupset owners...

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

[Dimis]

+1 Mechanical please.

I've used Di2 for long enough to know that I don't ever intend on using it again.
Nothing wrong with it per say... but I'd rather have the cables thx.
They just work

[rebilda]

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

Every single one of the Di2 owners I regularly ride with has had a flat battery mid-ride at some point. I always like to sympathise while reminding them that my fingers have yet to run out of power, nor does it appear to have happened to any of the other mechanical groupset owners...

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

Wow! That has never happened to me.
The battery lasts, like, a month or two between charges. I just check that its in the 'green' range (hold a shft lever in for a few seconds and look at the LED)after each ride. If it flashes at all, just put it on the charge for a couple of hrs and done.
Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Do these guys also regularly run out of petrol in their cars and never have enough money in their wallet, at the Pub? (I know guys like that too )

[jasonc]

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

+1

[GeoffInBrisbane]

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

Every single one of the Di2 owners I regularly ride with has had a flat battery mid-ride at some point. I always like to sympathise while reminding them that my fingers have yet to run out of power, nor does it appear to have happened to any of the other mechanical groupset owners...

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

Wow! That has never happened to me.
The battery lasts, like, a month or two between charges. I just check that its in the 'green' range (hold a shft lever in for a few seconds and look at the LED)after each ride. If it flashes at all, just put it on the charge for a couple of hrs and done.
Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Do these guys also regularly run out of petrol in their cars and never have enough money in their wallet, at the Pub? (I know guys like that too )

Don't think so but you don't have to press a fuel button on the car to check.

To be fair, one of the guys in question has original Di2, and had a dodgy charger which wasn't behaving as it should. He ended up small ring only many times, and even ended up single speed on one ride...

In some respects I think if the battery only lasted 2 rides, nobody would ever forget to charge the system, it'd be like your lights and computer. The fact that they last months means they get forgotten about.

[im_no_pro]

Wow! That has never happened to me.
The battery lasts, like, a month or two between charges. I just check that its in the 'green' range (hold a shft lever in for a few seconds and look at the LED)after each ride. If it flashes at all, just put it on the charge for a couple of hrs and done.
Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Do these guys also regularly run out of petrol in their cars and never have enough money in their wallet, at the Pub? (I know guys like that too )

Don't think so but you don't have to press a fuel button on the car to check.

To be fair, one of the guys in question has original Di2, and had a dodgy charger which wasn't behaving as it should. He ended up small ring only many times, and even ended up single speed on one ride...

In some respects I think if the battery only lasted 2 rides, nobody would ever forget to charge the system, it'd be like your lights and computer. The fact that they last months means they get forgotten about.

I have to press a button on my car to see how much fuel I have left.... its called the ignition

[TDC]

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

Every single one of the Di2 owners I regularly ride with has had a flat battery mid-ride at some point. I always like to sympathise while reminding them that my fingers have yet to run out of power, nor does it appear to have happened to any of the other mechanical groupset owners...

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

Wow! That has never happened to me.
The battery lasts, like, a month or two between charges. I just check that its in the 'green' range (hold a shft lever in for a few seconds and look at the LED)after each ride. If it flashes at all, just put it on the charge for a couple of hrs and done.
Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Do these guys also regularly run out of petrol in their cars and never have enough money in their wallet, at the Pub? (I know guys like that too )

Sheesh...I suppose you also check if your tyres are pumped up.

[ball bearing]

Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Replacing the battery every season is probably wise maintenance.

[ball bearing]

Just read a thread that puts me off electronic a bit...

http://www.roadgrime.com.au/forum/topic ... ost_109763

[rebilda]

Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Replacing the battery every season is probably wise maintenance.

I reckon the battery is good for a bit more than a year. Mines 3 years old now, and I'm not noticing shorter intervals between charging. Besides, they cost about $100.

In all seriousness, the only issue I've had was a dodgy junction cable, which was a warranty job (I paid a shop $80 for the repair, and was reimbursed by CE) no trouble at all since then. I once had a cable fray up, inside the R/H shifter mech. on my Shimano 105 bike. That cost $50 to have repaired. so there is not a massive premium attached to going electronic - in my eyes, anyway
I am not debating whether Di2 is better or worse than a mechanical set up. For me it was a decision on buying something new & cutting edge technology. I haven't seen any pitfalls in my decision to go Di2, but it is a personal choice, nothing more.

[Dimma]

I love the stress free cycling with Di2, no cable stretch/failure, no dropped chains, increased chain life, no need for servicing RD.
But yes, I have suffered the flat battery once when I lost track of my kms and it didn't last my fortnightly charge routine.

[Dave R32]

Dogma = Super Record surely

Cheers
Dave.

[lammy]

Hmmm might have to be Dura Ace 7900 as my wheels arnt 11speed compatible.

[danny the boy]

One the other hand - at the tail end of a long, cold ride I'd hate to have a battery go flat.

Every single one of the Di2 owners I regularly ride with has had a flat battery mid-ride at some point. I always like to sympathise while reminding them that my fingers have yet to run out of power, nor does it appear to have happened to any of the other mechanical groupset owners...

That said, if somebody wants to donate a set of 9070, I'll be willing to risk it...

Wow! That has never happened to me.
The battery lasts, like, a month or two between charges. I just check that its in the 'green' range (hold a shft lever in for a few seconds and look at the LED)after each ride. If it flashes at all, just put it on the charge for a couple of hrs and done.
Di2 still requires some maintenance. But it isnt much, really.

Do these guys also regularly run out of petrol in their cars and never have enough money in their wallet, at the Pub? (I know guys like that too )

Exactly. User error does not equate to a problem with the groupset. 18 months on I still get close to 1000k's from a charge.

[TDC]

[

Exactly. User error does not equate to a problem with the groupset. 18 months on I still get close to 1000k's from a charge.

Hmmm. unlike those hammers that bend half the nails they hammer in.

[winstonw]

Things that actually happen in the real world with Di2.
- leave home at 4am, and drive 100km to the start of a ride, only to realize you didn't get the Di2 battery off the charger.
- dropped chains DO happen, and bend front derailleur cages in the process, which require straightening before you get satisfactory shifting, or replacing.
- compare the price of a new Di2 FD vs mech.

if you don't mind occupying head space with yet another battery to nurse, then Di2 won't be an issue.
But for those with a head full of household and work responsibilities, teach yourself how to fine tune mech, and change gears carefully, and your need for Di2 disappears.

At end of day, a first world problem.

[Mulger bill]

Things that actually happen in the real world with Di2.
- leave home at 4am, and drive 100km to the start of a ride, only to realize you didn't get the Di2 battery off the charger.

This sort of stuff up can occur with anything. To reduce risks of this happening, any of my bikes that isn't in a fit state to ride for whatever reason gets a strip of red cloth tied around the bars.

At end of day, a first world problem.

No argument here.

[danny the boy]

Things that actually happen in the real world with Di2.
- leave home at 4am, and drive 100km to the start of a ride, only to realize you didn't get the Di2 battery off the charger.

Same chance of this happening as leaving your helmet at home. 100% fool-proofing has its limitations.

- dropped chains DO happen, and bend front derailleur cages in the process, which require straightening before you get satisfactory shifting, or replacing.
- compare the price of a new Di2 FD vs mech.

Cables break as well, this arguement could go on forever.

[doggatas]

Like I said in my first response, di2 is brilliant, equally as brilliant is the mechanical 9000 group set. Which do you prefer: pressing a button or swiping a shifter?

[ekes]

Di2 all the way - wouldn't look back

[jcjordan]

Go ride the 9000 mechanical and you will find it shifts better than previous version of Di2.

Plus the added benefit of not having all the problems of battery recharge and easy to fix if you break anything.

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