Ultegra v. Dura Ace

Raoul Duke

I am in the market place for a new bike and I am considering the differences
between Ultegra and Dura Ace. I used to race road bikes (Cat IV) about
12-15 years ago, and my old bike was equipped with Dura Ace components. I
really loved Dura Ace compared to the old Shimano 600 (which I undertand was
replaced by Ultegra).

My question is: what is most peoples' experience with the difference
between the two component groups? Is a bike equipped with Dura Ace worth
the extra $1,000 as compared to a similar bike equipped with Ultegra?

I would like to get back into racing and triathlons, but I am primarily
interested in riding on weekends and one or two times during the week. I
want something that will last for a lot of years. Is Dura Ace much more
durable than Ultegra?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

RD

Tom Kunich

"Raoul Duke" <r_duke@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:u_pbc.4510$Kh4.598@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com...
> I am in the market place for a new bike and I am considering the
differences
> between Ultegra and Dura Ace. I used to race road bikes (Cat IV) about
> 12-15 years ago, and my old bike was equipped with Dura Ace components. I
> really loved Dura Ace compared to the old Shimano 600 (which I undertand
was
> replaced by Ultegra).

It's sort of a matter of taste. I had the second set of DuraAce STI shifter
in the area and I thought that they were the cat's meow. I've since had
several bikes with Ultegra on them and although the quality is every bit as
good in my opinion, they feel totally different. Ultegra doesn't "click"
like DuraAce and I don't like that.

But more to the point - most of my bikes have been switched to Campy for
years. Campy levers feel better, shift at least as well (for a triple they
shift quite a bit better in my estimation) and the Centaur group is priced
about like an Ultegra group and I'd rate it better than Ultegra or even
DuraAce in operational characteristics. DuraAce is good stuff, no doubt, but
you don't gain much going to DuraAce.

Jim Flom

"Raoul Duke" wrote ...
> I used to race road bikes

First of all, please accept my appreciation for stating "used" correctly.
You don't know how many people come in here and say "I use to ..."

>
> Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Second, two words: Campy Chorus. However, since you remind me of myself
five years ago, if you have the money and you live where people care, you'll
impress your friends with Dura-Ace. If you care about value, Ultegra should
be just fine. And no one with their head screwed on straight will snub
their nose at "U."

Jim "Nothing Like Campy" Flom

Steven L. Sheffield

On 04/02/2004 10:15 PM, in article XLrbc.1521$Sh4.1047@edtnps84, "Jim Flom"
<jimflom@telusREMOVE.net> wrote:

> Second, two words: Campy Chorus.


Blasphemer.

Three words and a number: Campy Record Carbon 10


--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

Faster Bordello

Steven L. Sheffield wrote:
> On 04/02/2004 10:15 PM, in article XLrbc.1521$Sh4.1047@edtnps84, "Jim Flom"
> <jimflom@telusREMOVE.net> wrote:
>
>
>>Second, two words: Campy Chorus.
>
>
>
> Blasphemer.
>
> Three words and a number: Campy Record Carbon 10
>
>
04 Chorus 10, there, two two digit numbers and one word...
top that. Most (All?) of the carbon of Record at usd400 less.....

OK with 9 speed? Or do you just have to have 10? DA is the only current
Brand S offering in 10, Ultegra is suposed to be out next year.. (?)

That being said I have one of each, Ultegra 9 and Chorus 10. Which is
best? Shit they both work really nicely. You mind looking at the Brand
S cable routings or do you like the cleaner (IMHO) routings of Brand C?
My right ultegra shifter is a bit sloppy after 3000 miles, but still
works. The Campy levers feel a bit small, but all in all I like the
chorus better (Qualifier, the Chorus is brand freaken new with 25 miles
on it...).

My .02... If your not a full blown gearhead or a Pro racer, Ultegra or
Chorus (even Centaur..) will be just fine.

As always this is an uncompensated opinion, YMMV.

FB - apologises for making this another Campy v Shimano thread.

Qui si parla Campagnolo

raoul-<< My question is: what is most peoples' experience with the difference
between the two component groups? Is a bike equipped with Dura Ace worth
the extra $1,000 as compared to a similar bike equipped with Ultegra?
>><BR><BR>

10s DA or 9s?

If 9s, I would stay away as these components are not going to be supported for
long.

As for 9s Ultegra, expect a huge change to 10s for 2005...

The weak link in shimano is the non-repairability of the levers-

have ya considered Chorus and Centaur? Cheaper and repairable.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Jim Flom

"Faster Bordello" wrote ...
>
> That being said I have one of each, Ultegra 9 and Chorus 10. Which is
> best?

Some personal pref I suppose, but I don't like the way the shifter is
directly involved with the brake lever in Shimano. For instance, once on a
descent with a gloved hand I tried to brake, and the shifter/brake lever
slid out of my hand to the inside. It was not improperly installed.
There's just too much play in there for my taste. Yum.

Jim Flom

Andy Birko

"Raoul Duke" <r_duke@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:u_pbc.4510$Kh4.598@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com...
> I would like to get back into racing and triathlons, but I am primarily
> interested in riding on weekends and one or two times during the week. I
> want something that will last for a lot of years. Is Dura Ace much more
> durable than Ultegra?
>

Word from the Shimano rep. at worlds last year was that some DA components
are actually less durable than their Ultegra counterparts. If you want
light weight go DA. If you want best durability go Ultegra.

-Andy B.

John Everett

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 03:59:31 GMT, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>"Raoul Duke" <r_duke@nospam.com> wrote in message
>news:u_pbc.4510$Kh4.598@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com...
>> I am in the market place for a new bike and I am considering the
>differences
>> between Ultegra and Dura Ace.
>
>It's sort of a matter of taste. I had the second set of DuraAce STI shifter
>in the area and I thought that they were the cat's meow. I've since had
>several bikes with Ultegra on them and although the quality is every bit as
>good in my opinion, they feel totally different. Ultegra doesn't "click"
>like DuraAce and I don't like that.

Tom:

I'm guessing (not a big stretch) that your Dura Ace STI was the
8-speed (7400 Series) stuff. You're right, they do feel different; but
they also feel different from Dura Ace 9-speed. It's because of the
smaller amount of cable pull required. You don't have to move the
8-speed levers very far to get them to shift.

When I converted my Vitus 992 (you appreciate that, right Tom?) from 8
to 9-speed Dura Ace I put the 8-speed stuff on my old Trek beater. I
had that bike out for the first time this year just the other day. My
first impression, "Boy these shifters feel great!"

BTW, the 8-speed group was purchased in 1992, and still functions
perfectly. Too bad it's as lonely an orphan as my 992's headset. :-(


jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3

scott

"Steven L. Sheffield" <stevens@veloworks.com> wrote in message news:<BC937E1C.2A3FD%stevens@veloworks.com>...
> Ultegra == 0.98 Dura-Ace quality @ 0.70 Dura-Ace price.


This is the correct answer.

Wayne himself says, "If you could ride with your eyes closed it would
be impossible to tell the difference between DA and Ultegra. The only
real difference is weight, and that isn't much".

RWM

"Bestest Handsander" <none@u.biz> wrote in message
news:cuudnWVw-sJu3PPd4p2dnA@aros.net...
> What is the weight difference between the two... assuming one installs the
> complete group?
>
>
<SNIP>

I am not sure of the complete group with the DA 10 speed and Ultegra still
at 9 speed. I do know the differences of some of the key components.
Weight in grams.

Brakes - DA- 314 U - 335

Shifter/Brake levers - DA- 419 U - 485

Cassette - DA- 280 U - 190

Chain - DA-280 U- 304

Pedals - DA-270 U - 304

Raoul Duke

Thanks to all for the excellent responses to my original query re: Dura Ace
v. Ultegra. I am persuaded to go with Ultegra and use the $1000 savings to
upgrade various components.

Thanks again,

RD

Bill Lloyd

On 2004-04-03 06:42:38 -0800, "Andy Birko" <wattact@hotmail.com> said:

>
> "Raoul Duke" <r_duke@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:u_pbc.4510$Kh4.598@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com...
>> I would like to get back into racing and triathlons, but I am primarily
>> interested in riding on weekends and one or two times during the week. I
>> want something that will last for a lot of years. Is Dura Ace much more
>> durable than Ultegra?
>>
>
> Word from the Shimano rep. at worlds last year was that some DA components
> are actually less durable than their Ultegra counterparts. If you want
> light weight go DA. If you want best durability go Ultegra.
>
> -Andy B.

Sure, like the cassette? Steel is more duable than Ti.

I doubt as a whole Ultegra is more durable than DA, though. DA is good
for 40K+ miles for me (for everything but "wear parts" which is cogs
and chains and brake pads. I seem to get a bug to get a whole new bike
every 4 years or so, which means I don't typically test it for more
than that.