Which Electronic Groupset?

[Navias007]

I'm looking to upgrade my year old mechanical Shimano 105 12spd hydraulic disk groupset to electronic. Have read various reviews etc... but still not quite sure which route to go. I have a budget so Sram Red, Dura Ace and any Campag is not an option. Options available, SRAM Force/ Rival or Shimano Ultegra/ 105. This may have have been asked before but I couldn't find any thread. Anyone else been in this situation and what are the various opinions out there?

[Ozzie NL]

I had a look at this a while ago:

SRAM vs Shimano; this is the old BMW - Merc debate both are good but you have to get used to how things work if you switch, i.e. the tapping both levers to switch the chain ring for SRAM

Force/ Rival or Ultegra/ 105: in my experience both sets of both manufacturers are good, The main difference is a minimal weight differential

[Navias007]

39 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

I had a look at this a while ago:

SRAM vs Shimano; this is the old BMW - Merc debate both are good but you have to get used to how things work if you switch, i.e. the tapping both levers to switch the chain ring for SRAM

Force/ Rival or Ultegra/ 105: in my experience both sets of both manufacturers are good, The main difference is a minimal weight differential

I know. Too fork out a fair wack in my opinion probably Ultegra or Force would be much of a muchness and like you said the main differences is weight, gear change style and completely wireless vs semi wireless.

[thebob]

I have had both 12 speed 105 mechanical and Di2. The shift quality of mechanical is as good as Di2, though the front derailleur on the Di2 might be a bit smoother overall. Unless your mechanical stuff is destroyed, I would keep going with it. Then again, if you have the money burning your hole in your pocket, Merlin Cycles has some great deals on Di2

[Navias007]

14 minutes ago, thebob said:

I have had both 12 speed 105 mechanical and Di2. The shift quality of mechanical is as good as Di2, though the front derailleur on the Di2 might be a bit smoother overall. Unless your mechanical stuff is destroyed, I would keep going with it. Then again, if you have the money burning your hole in your pocket, Merlin Cycles has some great deals on Di2

Thanks for the heads up at Merlin Cycles, the deals are good. It's more of a want than a need.....😄

[Jimmy 2.0]

because you already have Shimano 105 on your bike i suggest getting shimano di2 as you can use your current brakes, cassette, chain and crankset. if you go sram you'll have to change freehub body and it is recommended to change everything else with it.

[Navias007]

8 minutes ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

because you already have Shimano 105 on your bike i suggest getting shimano di2 as you can use your current brakes, cassette, chain and crankset. if you go sram you'll have to change freehub body and it is recommended to change everything else with it.

Thanks. Didn't even cross my mind so thanks for that. Can I use Ultegra Di2 with current brakes, cassette, chain and crankset?

[Jimmy 2.0]

I do it for my clients on the regular. if you're running 105 12speed mechanical all you need is Di2 shifters, derailleurs, Battery, charger and 2 Di2 wires to connect the derailleurs to the batter. if the cassette and chain are worn i suggest you replace but otherwise everything else is compatible.

[Guest Mike Dewing]

My mate was setting up his new madone with the new sram rival axs the other day.. wow, it’s impressive.. they’ve cut out the cranks and it’s like a very skeletonized version of a groupset.. it looks amazing.. I was so jelous 

[Navias007]

20 minutes ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

I do it for my clients on the regular. if you're running 105 12speed mechanical all you need is Di2 shifters, derailleurs, Battery, charger and 2 Di2 wires to connect the derailleurs to the batter. if the cassette and chain are worn i suggest you replace but otherwise everything else is compatible.

For all the above what are we looking at roughly cost wise?

 

[Navias007]

17 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

My mate was setting up his new madone with the new sram rival axs the other day.. wow, it’s impressive.. they’ve cut out the cranks and it’s like a very skeletonized version of a groupset.. it looks amazing.. I was so jelous 

New crank does look far better that the previous one. Shifters are smaller and carbon also.

[Eugene]

Not sure if things have changed, but isn't the freehub the same for Shimano and Sram? 

3 hours ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

because you already have Shimano 105 on your bike i suggest getting shimano di2 as you can use your current brakes, cassette, chain and crankset. if you go sram you'll have to change freehub body and it is recommended to change everything else with it.

 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

1 hour ago, Eugene said:

Not sure if things have changed, but isn't the freehub the same for Shimano and Sram? 

 

No that’s a good shout.. I had a old Scott speedster and it was suggested to me to upgrade to wireless rival but it would also mean new wheels because the freehub connects differently or something I can’t quite remember exactly.. probably stick to shimano..

[Mongoose!]

13 hours ago, thebob said:

I have had both 12 speed 105 mechanical and Di2. The shift quality of mechanical is as good as Di2, though the front derailleur on the Di2 might be a bit smoother overall. Unless your mechanical stuff is destroyed, I would keep going with it. Then again, if you have the money burning your hole in your pocket, Merlin Cycles has some great deals on Di2

From my experience any mechanical groupset is good ...but performance starts to fade once you go internal cabling ~ specially one-piece bar and stem with extreme cable bents. 

Shimano semi wireless groupsets makes more sense (in my opinion) than all wireless. Once a groupset is installed on the frame, wireless only adds issues such as battery contact points / pins not connecting ; extra heavy battery on front derailleur that looks ugly and limit tire clearance and hassle to charge two batteries. By removing batteries every time to charge it's just a matter of time before something will wear out or clip break off or get lost.

a wireless groupset is a once of "benefit" to the person assembling the bike and adds no benefit to riding the bike 🙃

Sadly, Shimano already started to make wireless groupsets...  

 

[Scott roy]

14 hours ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

I do it for my clients on the regular. if you're running 105 12speed mechanical all you need is Di2 shifters, derailleurs, Battery, charger and 2 Di2 wires to connect the derailleurs to the batter. if the cassette and chain are worn i suggest you replace but otherwise everything else is compatible.

Having a mixed groupset like that, as specially with the crank would drive me nuts. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

7 hours ago, Mongoose! said:

From my experience any mechanical groupset is good ...but performance starts to fade once you go internal cabling ~ specially one-piece bar and stem with extreme cable bents. 

Shimano semi wireless groupsets makes more sense (in my opinion) than all wireless. Once a groupset is installed on the frame, wireless only adds issues such as battery contact points / pins not connecting ; extra heavy battery on front derailleur that looks ugly and limit tire clearance and hassle to charge two batteries. By removing batteries every time to charge it's just a matter of time before something will wear out or clip break off or get lost.

a wireless groupset is a once of "benefit" to the person assembling the bike and adds no benefit to riding the bike 🙃

Sadly, Shimano already started to make wireless groupsets...  

 

Hmm having used both i would say the opposite. The convenience of an external battery and zero wires makes AXS the simplest and easiest to install and upgrade. Also Sram AXS ships with a cage to protect the battery on the MTB groups.

Secondly i haven't heard of anyone knocking the batteries off in MTB let alone in road bikes. You have to be unlucky or crash properly for that to happen - not saying it hasnt but ... Stolen yes. Many carry them on the dropper and can change if its an emergency mid ride.

Batteries are easily removed to charge plus you can always get a spare battery. Thats what i have done. Also the more bikes you have with AXS the more you can rotate batteries. The need for a specific cable to charge the battery and the batteries living inside the frame IMO is a fault in Shimano but the major issue is that Batteries eventually fail. To get to them is a mission if they are in frame. You never have this issue with SRAM.

IIMO with early DI 2 shimano was ahead - i loved my 11 speed DI 2 on my road bike but having run AXS on both road and mountain its basically made me move from Shimano love to admitting SRAM has whipped them on this. And i will not easily go back irrespective of how good Shimano is.