Di2 - Thoughts?

Murf

Murf

Murf

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I'm starting to think about my next bike purchase (which won't be any time soon unfortunately, but I'm a dreamer! :p) and I've been looking at some of the Di2 bikes.

Have many people on the forums got experience with riding electronic shifters? Either Campag or Shimano? I'm curious as to whether they are worth the additional outlay? Anybody riding a Di2 bike and decided they could never go back to manual shifting? Anyone disappointed with their purchase?
 
Firstly, this is coming from someone who only very briefly rode a bike with Di2 (like a hundred yards or so)....but I can't see the need for it.

The only time I could see it being useful for me, is when it's been really cold and wet, your hands are weak and tired, and you struggle to get it back in the big ring lol

I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with it, but is it really worth the extra cost? For me....no
 
I looked at getting Campag EPS for my new bike. I decided it wasn't worth the premium and went for Record instead. The shifting on Record is flawless. I don't feel I miss out.

Yes it is more blingy, and I'd like to have got it if money was no object. But yes.

This is coming from someone who hasn't tried electronic shifting properly.


Although the DI2 is much more affordable than the EPS.
 
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See the main Road thread for me current choice. I would love to try Di2 but in reality I'm thinking a great frame and wheels, with Ultegra is better than a good frame, average wheels and di2 etc.
 
I have ridden it on my mates bike, and it will form the basis of my next bike which will probably be a replacement for my TT bike, where I can have the shifters on both the aero bars and normal bars.

I agree with people it isn't a necessity on most bikes, but it is very cool and provides lovely shifts every time. It is the way everything is going to go eventually.
 
SoliD said:
It is the way everything is going to go eventually.
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I disagree, and really hope not.

It's like discs, they offer an alternative to those you need/want it, but road bikes will not become disc only in the future (or at least in the near future).

There's nothing wrong with mechanical shifting, so why 'electrify' it. To me, it always seems like a 'because we can' feature.
 
SoliD said:
I have ridden it on my mates bike, and it will form the basis of my next bike which will probably be a replacement for my TT bike, where I can have the shifters on both the aero bars and normal bars.

I agree with people it isn't a necessity on most bikes, but it is very cool and provides lovely shifts every time. It is the way everything is going to go eventually.
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Your TT bike scenario is the only one I can see where Di2 really adds anything - having the shifters in two positions really matters there and Di2 is the only way to do that.
 
For me the biggest benefit of Di2 (and EPS and Sram Wireless) is that it's self indexing and self trimming.

It means your shifting should always be flawless regardless of the conditions or the condition of your chainrings, chain and cassette.

I'd love it, but I couldn't justify it.
 
I've ridden a few bikes w/ Di2 and I think it's amazing. Perfect shifts every time. It's not a necessity by any means but it's certainly a nice luxury. If I rebuilt a high end bike again I would likely go Ultegra Di2 over manual Dura Ace.
 
I have Ultegra Di2 on my racing bike. I do not ride it very often, but when I do, I am always delighted by how crisply it shifts, no matter how hard I stomp on the pedals. Going back to a normal mechanical group set feels weird for a while, especially the 105 on my commuting bike. My next bike will definitely have electronic shifting - I think it's worth the extra cost :)
 
Shadowness said:
I disagree, and really hope not.

It's like discs, they offer an alternative to those you need/want it, but road bikes will not become disc only in the future (or at least in the near future).

There's nothing wrong with mechanical shifting, so why 'electrify' it. To me, it always seems like a 'because we can' feature.
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Rumours of 105 di2 coming this year, as Aprilla says the benefits are there, and will only get better, I agree there is nothing wrong with mechanical, but there are definite benefits of electric, no doubt the invention of di2 will lead to other improvements such as the fundamental way a derraileur could work without the limitation of a cable.
 
Depends what you're using the bike for imho.

I recently built up my dream bike to be used for racing. I wanted Di2, mainly to see what all the fuss was about, and to improve on maintainence time etc.

It really superb and worth every penny. Initially after a few rides I wasn't convinced, but after racing and longer rides I wouldn't get a new bike without it. Perfect shifts Everytime without fail no matter what the power, all at the click of a button. Easy shifts across the whole cassette at the hold of a button. Perfect front derailieur shifts under power, even when out of the saddle.

In a race situation these are tiny benefits but it makes the whole experience a joy.

Also plugging your laptop into your bike is cool as!
 
Personally don't see the point in wireless. Batteries on all deraillieurs and shifters? No thanks

With internal wiring you see the last inch of each wire, and only have to have one battery. Much neater solution imho.
 
Thomas. PLease. said:
Personally don't see the point in wireless. Batteries on all deraillieurs and shifters? No thanks

With internal wiring you see the last inch of each wire, and only have to have one battery. Much neater solution imho.
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I'm with this, wireless does seem a bit stupid due to the additional batteries etc, just can't see what the benefit is, especially as the batteries will go at different points due to usage.

FrenchTart said:
I knew I shouldn't read this after ordering a load of non-Di2 Ultegra gear :p
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That's alright you only need a few components to make it into Di2 :D
 
My next purchase will be my 'dream' bike, or as least as close as dammit I can get to it without the missus killing me. So I wouldn't be scrimping on wheels to pay for Di2\EPS etc.

So a choice between manual Dura Ace, and Ultegra Di2 and the thought is the Di2 as the shifting is flawless? Unless I need to save the few grams?

I had manual Dura Ace (well, shifters and derailleurs, not chainset\cassette) on a previous bike and the shifting was amazing. My current Reynolds 525 bike with 105, the shifting is not as nice, especially the front shifts.

This bike would be ridden probably 7-8 months of the year, and the thought of less maintenance and the self trimming is nice. :)
 
The main reason I want Di2 is because I have major wrist problems, another reason I want to go to Carbon handlebars. Nerve damage in my left wrist causes a lot of issues on even medium length rides, and shifting gears can get genuinely painful on a long ride.
 
platypus said:
The main reason I want Di2 is because I have major wrist problems, another reason I want to go to Carbon handlebars. Nerve damage in my left wrist causes a lot of issues on even medium length rides, and shifting gears can get genuinely painful on a long ride.
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Come to think of it, that's another wonderful thing about Di2; you simply tap the shifter and it changes gear, and because it "auto-trims", there's never any need to wrench the shifter. Before I had my accident, I was sorely tempted to replace my commuter bike with the entry level Di2 cross bike - £1840 for Di2 and disc brakes is a tantalising prospect.
 
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