Advice on Shimano shifters and drivetrain

[Prince Albert Cycles]

I have a carbon hardtail that I am thinking of converting to a monster cross/ gravel bike.

Am running Shimano XT 2 x11 .

For sale is a set of Ultegra 2 x 11 hydraulic shifters

Will the shifters work with both derailleurs and cassette currently on the bike ?
 

thanks for bike wisdom

Arno

[Spinnekop]

I dont see a reason for it not to work.

I am running GRX shifters with XT derailleur and cassette and works perfect.

[DieselnDust]

36 minutes ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

I have a carbon hardtail that I am thinking of converting to a monster cross/ gravel bike.

Am running Shimano XT 2 x11 .

For sale is a set of Ultegra 2 x 11 hydraulic shifters

Will the shifters work with both derailleurs and cassette currently on the bike ?
 

thanks for bike wisdom

Arno

I suspect the pull ratios are different between the Ultegra mechanical (Road) and XT Mechanical (MTB)

Edited October 15 by DieselnDust

[Prince Albert Cycles]

13 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

I suspect the pull ratios are different between the Ultegra mechanical (Road) and XT Mechanical (MTB)

That is my worry 

[Brakepad]

adapter solution might be an option?
Tanpan – Wolf Tooth Components

[Ispeed_V]

As mentioned: 

🚫 Mechanical Compatibility Issue
Unfortunately, Ultegra 11-speed road shifters are not directly compatible with 11-speed XT (mountain bike) derailleurs. The reason lies in the different cable pull ratios and actuation mechanics between Shimano's road and MTB groupsets. Even though both are 11-speed, the amount of cable the shifter pulls per click (and how the derailleur responds) differs between the two systems.

🔧 Workarounds (If You're Determined)

• Adapters like the Jtek Shiftmate or Wolf Tooth Tanpan can sometimes bridge the gap between road shifters and MTB derailleurs by adjusting the cable pull ratio.
• Alternatively, you could use a Shimano GRX or RX derailleur designed for gravel setups, which often offer better compatibility with road shifters and wide-range cassettes.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

22 minutes ago, Ispeed_V said:

As mentioned: 

 

🚫 Mechanical Compatibility Issue
Unfortunately, Ultegra 11-speed road shifters are not directly compatible with 11-speed XT (mountain bike) derailleurs. The reason lies in the different cable pull ratios and actuation mechanics between Shimano's road and MTB groupsets. Even though both are 11-speed, the amount of cable the shifter pulls per click (and how the derailleur responds) differs between the two systems.

🔧 Workarounds (If You're Determined)

• Adapters like the Jtek Shiftmate or Wolf Tooth Tanpan can sometimes bridge the gap between road shifters and MTB derailleurs by adjusting the cable pull ratio.
• Alternatively, you could use a Shimano GRX or RX derailleur designed for gravel setups, which often offer better compatibility with road shifters and wide-range cassettes.

 

Thank you for a proper explanation. So replacing the XT rear derailleur with a GRX should do the trick ?

[DieselnDust]

if it was electronic it would work but with mechanical GRX = Road pull ratio

[Mook]

3 hours ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

I have a carbon hardtail that I am thinking of converting to a monster cross/ gravel bike.

Am running Shimano XT 2 x11 .

For sale is a set of Ultegra 2 x 11 hydraulic shifters

Will the shifters work with both derailleurs and cassette currently on the bike ?
 

thanks for bike wisdom

Arno

Just went through the exact same exercise. Unlike you, I used the 11 speed ST5800(105) shifters. Got the bike with a 1x11 XT groupset. The 11 speed STi pull ratio is different from the 11 speed XT RD.

My options were 1)Wolf Tooth Tanpan 11, or 2)GRX RD. Problem is that the GRX812 has a 42T max whereas I am running a 46T max cassette. 

I eventually went for the GRX822 RD which is essentially a 12 speed rear mech. With the Shimano's 11 and 12 speeds having near exact pull ratio's, I got the 822. When I upgrade to 12 speed, the RD will be compatible.

Shifting is great with zero issues.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

2 hours ago, Mook said:

Just went through the exact same exercise. Unlike you, I used the 11 speed ST5800(105) shifters. Got the bike with a 1x11 XT groupset. The 11 speed STi pull ratio is different from the 11 speed XT RD.

My options were 1)Wolf Tooth Tanpan 11, or 2)GRX RD. Problem is that the GRX812 has a 42T max whereas I am running a 46T max cassette. 

I eventually went for the GRX822 RD which is essentially a 12 speed rear mech. With the Shimano's 11 and 12 speeds having near exact pull ratio's, I got the 822. When I upgrade to 12 speed, the RD will be compatible.

Shifting is great with zero issues.

Thank you this useful. I now also saw the thread that you started .

And does the 105 hydraulics work with the XT calipers ?

[NotSoBigBen]

2 minutes ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

Thank you this useful. I now also saw the thread that you started .

And does the 105 hydraulics work with the XT calipers ?

I have Ultegra shifters working with SLX calipers without any problems!

[Prince Albert Cycles]

1 hour ago, NotSoBigBen said:

I have Ultegra shifters working with SLX calipers without any problems!

👍

[Mook]

1 hour ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

Thank you this useful. I now also saw the thread that you started .

And does the 105 hydraulics work with the XT calipers ?

No problem at all.

To be honest my 105's are mechanical. I used Avid BB7 mechanical road calipers and braking is good enough for me.

[NC_lurker]

Is the reach of the bike not going to be of concern when switching to road bars?

I looked at converting a flat bar bike to road bars and the resultant reach measurement was going to be significantly longer than my usual road bike setup.

Edited October 15 by NC_lurker
Clarity

[droo]

RD - Ultegra RX or GRX RX810 if you're keeping it 2x, otherwise RX812 if you're going 1x.

FD - I suspect you'll need a matching Ultegra or GRX cos 11sp road FDs are borderline impossible to set up properly even if they are a correct match for the shifter, I'd hate to try to bodge something functional.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

52 minutes ago, droo said:

RD - Ultegra RX or GRX RX810 if you're keeping it 2x, otherwise RX812 if you're going 1x.

FD - I suspect you'll need a matching Ultegra or GRX cos 11sp road FDs are borderline impossible to set up properly even if they are a correct match for the shifter, I'd hate to try to bodge something functional.

Thank you