Ultegra V 105

The earlier posts have been
The earlier posts have been very useful for me but I have a particular decision dilemma that I would appreciate advice on.
After 7 or 8 years on my first road bike – a Dawes Giro 200 with Shimano 150 8 speed – a faithful but now broken steed – I have the choice of a BH Quartz with Shimano 105 10 speed or Ultegra 11 speed.
Both are on sale with the Ultegra having the bigger discount but still a price increment for the Ultegra of $400 (about 200 pounds).
I ride for pleasure about 100 miles a week but live in hilly area.
The jump up to either bike from my old Dawes will be fantastic but is it worth paying the extra for the Ultegra?

There aren’t a lot of Ultegra
There aren’t a lot of Ultegra owners responding here (respondents appear to have opted for 105 and are happy with their lot). To be fair I cannot comment on the latest iterations, but my Ultegra is crisper in the change and smoother all round from the 105s I’ve ridden. I’m not going to say that it’s a massive difference, and I think the price differential reflects that (compared to the giant leap to Dura Ace). But you do feel the quality.

KiwiMike wrote:Scoob_84

KiwiMike wrote:

Scoob_84 wrote:

Both my bikes run 105 (5800) and the difference in the performance between the two was huge. The newer of the two group sets shifted like a dog whist the older set was light as a feather. If you were blind tested you’d think they were different groupsets.

The only difference between the two was that i was using 2 year old jagwire cable outers on the new groupset whilst the older set was set up with brand new cable outers.

THIS.

Swap out your cables every 1-2000km. It’s £10 worth of hardwear* and 20 minutes, max. for a vastly improved experience.

* a lot less if you buy in bulk.

Are you just referring to swapping the inners though? Swapping the outers necessitates new bar tape and the time to fit, surely?

I have just changed from 105
I have just changed from 105 calipers to ultegra and the improvement is huge, if the rest of the groupset is as different then it is worth the £300 (I use SRAM apart from the calipers because i prefer the shifting and lever shapes of the SRAM stuff)

Yes it is.
Yes it is.

I run 105 (except for my
I run 105 (except for my crank) and I swap out the cassette from time to time for different ratios, and one of the cassettes is Ultegra. Ignoring the difference in ratios, the Ultegra cassette feels much better. Gear changes are sweeter, and somehow the feel through the drive train is better – more direct. It makes me want to change the rest of the drivetrain to ultegra.

Can I stick in a SRAM-shaped
Can I stick in a SRAM-shaped curve ball…? I’ve been using various iterations of 105 for years and yes, it’s improved vastly to the point where weight appears to be the only difference between it and Ultegra. However, I’ve recently switched to SRAM Force on my winter bike and the difference between it and 105 is incredible. I’m a total convert to their Double Tap levers, which are so much easier to use than 105. There isn’t a single bit of chain rub or jumping on the cassette and the shifts are light, quick, accurate and immediate. If you can give one a try then I’d recommend it before shelling out for new 105. I’ve been really, really impressed.

Not if you go for the 5800
Not if you go for the 5800 105 spec – 11spd and some of the brake development from ultegra has shifted down to 105.
Be careful as lots of retailers are still selling bikes with the old 5700 105 groupset on them