Gromit

Found this on slowtwitch.com. It was authored by Tom Demerly over at Bikesport Michigan. An excellent review of both groupsets. The first installment deals with front and rear derailleurs.

https://www.bikesportmichigan.com/fe...-ultegra.shtml

irish pat

I agree with their findings and will continue to buy ultegra. But....they don't mention the bling factor, lol

PipinFan

I noticed most of the benefits mentioned before,I have no problem with Ultegra but I'll take DA over any other component out there,and if you take into account what Shimano is working on for the future, even more,by the way that is a heck of a nice article about Shimano Ultegra vs DA... good job.

orcanova

Is there a part II out there yet? I am curious about the differences between the brifters...

sexy prison

I kept feeling like "woah, deja vu" the whole time, and then I realized it's because the author repeats everything approximately 100 times. Examples:

"One fact worth knowing for triathletes, if a bike has current Shimano 10 Speed components and shift levers in the tips of the aerobars there is only one Shimano bar-end style shifter: the Shimano Dura-Ace SL-BS78 Bar End Shifter. This is the bar end shifter used with all Shimano kits; Shimano 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace. The shifters are all the same Dura-Ace SL-BS78 shifter. This is the black vinyl tipped shift lever you see on every Shimano equipped triathlon bike with bar end shifters in the tips of the aerobars. Gray vinyl tipped shift levers denote the earlier 9 speed version.

So, every Shimano equipped triathlon bike regardless of derailleurs uses the same shifter, The Shimano Dura-Ace Sl-BS78 10 Speed Bar End Shifter. The quality of the shift you feel is delivered through the tactile interface between your hand and the shifter. Whether you are using a Shimano 105, Ultegra, Ultegra SL or Dura-Ace derailleur or a mix of those derailleurs you will be shifting with the same shifter."

"The Shimano Ultegra (short cage) rear derailleur is available in two versions: The bright silver RD-6600 and the new 2008 RD-6600-G in ice gray. The new 2008 RD-6600-G Ultegra SL version is exactly 4 grams lighter than the silver RD-6600 Ultegra “Classic” version. For your reference, three paper business cards weigh four grams. Because of this minimal weight difference the Shimano RD-6600-G Ultegra SL and Shimano RD-6600 Ultegra Classic rear derailleur can be considered equal on performance and 4 grams different in weight, the weight of three business cards. "


Quiz:
What weighs the equivalent of 4 grams?
If you have shimano 105 on your tri bike, what shimano shifter will you be using?

Answers: this article could have been 3 paragraphs long.

Bike enthusiast

+1

If you find it, let us know (via link) please....

WheresWaldo

Fixed your post.

Apparently the author gets paid by the word.

munkyv22

Ahh that was nice. I got my geek on.

jbwilmoth

word.

classic1

The article was written in the repetitive 'Here is Spot. Spot can run. Run Spot run' style, suitable for young children, dumbarses and Fox News viewers everywhere.

Here is a synopsis of the derailleur article

• There is only one type of shimano 10s barend shifter.
• Dura-Ace is lighter than Ultegra
• Dura-Ace is more expensive than Ultegra
• Dura-Ace is finished better and uses different aluminium to Ultegra
• Dura-Ace is cold forged and Ultegra isn't
• Dura-Ace is possibly more durable than Ultegra
• Dura-Ace has a longer warranty than Ultegra
• You can't tell the difference between the the rear derailleurs when in use
• Shimano say (talk crap more like it) that the DA front derailleur is 10% better than Ultegra
• The author has some kind of sick obsession with business cards

What terrific insights. The author should get a Nobel prize for stating the obvious.

patentcad

Any Dura Ace vs. Ultegra 'debate' makes me reach for the Fredcedrin.

mimis

I kept feeling like "woah, deja vu" the whole time, and then I realized it's because the author repeats everything approximately 100 times. Examples:

Quiz:
What weighs the equivalent of 4 grams?
If you have shimano 105 on your tri bike, what shimano shifter will you be using?

Answers: this article could have been 3 paragraphs long.

indicates a compulsive and insecure aspect of the author

Bob Ross

Or, perhaps the author works for Shimano...or for a shop that sells Shimano? That sort of Redundant Repetitiveness (sic) is a textbook salesmanship technique:

1) Tell the customer what you're going to say
2) Say it
3) Tell the customer what you said

Lather, rinse, repeat.

waterrockets 

FWIW: I fatigued my aluminum D/A front der cage after 6 years, and it broke. I replaced it with Ultegra.

More durable?

carpediemracing 

word

itri-45

Yes, over at slowtwitch.com, the author is said to work on the shifters and also the crankset.

Mash Master

And the differences between Ultegra and the newest 105 groupo

jbwilmoth

thats pimpin.

lol.

Hobartlemagne 

I've also read many posts and articles about DA cassettes wearing out much quicker that Ultegra.
Ive seen some new bikes for sale with full DA group, except for an Ultegra cassette, for longer life.

curiouskid55

There are no brifters on a TT or Tri aerobar set up.