Shimano Ultegra 11-speed

by Simon · 22/08/2013

Groupset choice is all about economics and, no matter what Shimano try to tell you, without sponsorship, the groupset you end up with will depend on how much cash you have, not the level you race at. Unless you are new to cycling or not that serious about it, if you can afford the best, you will buy the best; if not, you buy the best you can afford. Simple.

With Ultegra though, the promise is that you can have top level function without having to part with top level bucks. Shimano, perhaps somewhat surprisingly for the innovative market leading Japanese manufacturer, may have shot themselves in the foot; either that or they are onto something way too clever for us to comprehend… Maybe for the first time, riders will start asking themselves “Why if Ultegra is so good, should I bother spending more on Dura Ace?” The canny cyclist might use the money they save to buy something that makes a real difference to performance, like some super fast/light wheels. Still with Shimano producing some of the best wheels we’ve ever tried, it’s unlikely that they are going to worry about this too much…

It should be no surprise that Ultegra has once again made a big impression with racing cyclists. No longer is it frowned upon as a lesser product by ‘elitist’ racing cyclists. The previous generation, 6700, did much to improve Ultegra’s image; the Di2 6770 version even more so, with many mechanics we know claiming it surpassed the Dura-Ace 7970 version due to improvements made from the learnings Shimano took from that earliest Di2 group. This new 6800 groupset looks set to further boost Ultegra’s image.

Perhaps then this marks the start of the real rise of Ultegra and we’ll see the start of a shift upmarket for Dura-Ace, with 9000 the last Dura-Ace groupset that is widely available to none professional cyclists?

We doubt it though. Its all about economics after all.

Shimano Ultegra 6800

So what’s new with Ultegra then? Well quite a lot. The mechanical and electronic version of the group share the new 4-arm cranks, 11-speed cassettes, dual pivot brakes, Sil-tec chain and 11-speed wheels, with the shift levers and derailleurs the only difference to enable the Ultegra 6870 Di2 version’s electronic shifting system.

Shimano Ultegra 6870 di2

Many of the changes mimic its big brother. The dual control shifters have a much needed shorter lever stroke, a lighter action and a more defined click. The old 6700 hoods were positively immense and though we quite liked this, as it allowed a variety of positions when riding on the tops, the new 6800 hoods will be more compact, likely to be greeted positively by those with smaller hands. The carbon brake lever has been redesigned to improve ergonomics and control, as well as give more tactile feedback to the rider.