Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came with Windsor Ke

Favorite Ride:
Saturday Team Ride

Bike Setup:
Windsor Kennett, Ultegra bumper to bumper except Dura-Ace 180mm crank, various wheel, tire, and cassette combinations

Summary:
I can’t imagine why I would need to upgrade to Dura-Ace.
The bike is now 2 years old with about 8,000 miles on it. I had the cables replaced after about 3k and intend to have that done again this winter.
I run a 12-27 cassette for street/road/training and the 11-23 and the Shimano WH-550 wheels that came with the bike for races.
The heart of the system is the shifters and they work nicely. I suppose the derailers are heavier than DA. Brakes work fine. Replace the pads when they get noisy. Grit picked up when it’s wet makes the brakes wear fast.
I’ve probably changed the chain a lot more than I ever needed to, generally at a bout 2,000 miles. The Park Chain gage said so, not because I noticed any problems. Better than breaking a chain out in the middle of nowhere. I can’t understand how people have problems with Shimano chains. I don’t try to take them off and clean them, just wash, wipe, and re-oil from time to time.
If you carefully follow the Shimano instructions you can adjust the rear derailer to be nearly silent, and I like that.
I’m a total Shimano fan. About the only thing I don’t like are the nipples being on the wrong ends of the spokes on the wheels. I chose an Ultegra rear hub for my custom, heavy-duty road training wheel.

Strengths:
Strengths:
Works flawlessly.
Interchangeability: I switched out my crank and bottom bracket for a DA 180mm (the 180 doesn’t come in Ultegra). Cassettes, chains, brake pads, etc. are all interchangeable with DA and the newer 105.

Weaknesses:
I’m trying to think of one …
OK how about this: some times the rear doesn’t downshift (to the larger sprocket) instantly when you are in the middle of the cassette, and it takes two clicks on the shifter instead of one. Maybe I could try to adjust it, or lube the cable or something. Naaah, couldn’t be my fault.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Sora Group

Price Paid:  $625.00 at www.pinoybikes.com

Favorite Ride:
anywhere I can beat my legs up!

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra 10's, Trek 1500 aluminum frameset (with carbon fork by Bontrager), Shimano Components and wheelsets, Cateye Astrale 8 cycle-computer

Summary:
This review is for the Ultegra 6600 (10-speed). So far its awesome! Shifts real quick when upshifting, even quicker in downshifting! Click, blink, and bam! You're in the next gear! Almost 100% power goes to the rear wheel, since the crankset is one of the stiffest cranksets in the world today, even compared to carbon ones! Brake power is so good, I was going 40+kph, and pressing on the brakes with force (not too much or the wheels will lock) and in less than 3 second, I'm going 0 kph. The Ultegra simply can't be matched!

Strengths:
Just look at the summary. You'll see.

Weaknesses:
Almost a pound heavier than the Campi Record, but I dont fell the weight difference. Besides, so what?? I'm a 115 pound rider! Im already light! I dont need to spend big $$ to give my bike a diet! Ain't I already about 20-70 pounds lighter than many cyclists?

Similar Products Used:
Dura-ace 7800 series, 105 5600 series

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
faggin,specialized allies expert

Summary:
Ultegra ive riddin the 600 6,7,8, speed gruppos i now ride a 10 ultegra the difference is in braking, shifting is more quiet on the older models the speed in shifting i dont notice a difference but in down shifting of course the 10 is quicker. and the sti levers are a nicer design though i agree with the fact you need a shorter stem the levers are a lil long. its a good quality group but the chain needs to be always clean and after 500 - 700 miles you got to change it out they get loose, a good preventive measure is to never dry lube it. for the money ultegra is great.

Strengths:
value, bang for the buck

Weaknesses:
chain is a wuss

Similar Products Used:
suntour sprint,shimano sante, 600ex ultegra 600 7 and 8 speed and 105 7 and 8 speed.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Titanium

Bike Setup:
Airborne Zeppelin Ti with Ultegra 9
Flyte Defiant Ti with Ultegra 10
Litespeed Firenze with Ultegra 10

Summary:
This is a review of the new Ultegra 10 speed group. I had my Litespeed built with the group when it first hit the market. There is a marked difference in performance when comparing it to the previous 9 speed Ultegra group. The front shifts like lightening. The brakes are more powerful and have better modulation. While the external BB stiffens the bottom bracket area, it is prone to annoying ticking sounds. Ti frames have the reputation of ticking in the BB if you don't prep them properly. I own 3, 2 with the new group, 1 with 9 speed. Only the 9 speed doesn't tick. I suppose the extra cog on the rear is useful. My real riding began when 6 speed freewheels were the stuff. Once I got up to 8 then 9 speeds I was satisfied, so the 10 doesn't do much for me. It does tighten up the gear ratios nicely. The real problem in the system is the ultra narrow 10 spd chain. Once you hit 500 miles, even with good maintenance, they stretch and get sloppy. With all the ultra endurance riding I do, I find myself replacing chains quite frequently. If you replace your own chains like I do, remember to be careful - they are trickier than 9's. Another drawback which Shimano resolved was faulty big chain rings. I snapped a tooth after 200 miles on mine. The shop told me they were recalled. I just built my new bike with Ultegra 10, and this hasn't happened. The easily worn chain situation hasn't changed. Overall, the group is much better than the 9 speed. You may as well make the change with the purchase of your next machine. I'm finding that it is more difficult to get replacement parts for the 9 as the sales of those parts are slowly being phased out.

Strengths:
Blink your eye and your front just shifted
Excellent braking performance
BB adds stiffness to any frame
10 speeds tightens up gear ratios

Weaknesses:
On my group, the big ring recall
Reduced chain life, tricky to install
BB seems to be prone to ticking

Similar Products Used:
Have always used Shimano, 6 speeds all the way up to 10

Price Paid:  $600.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Anytime Hot

Bike Setup:
Steel Bike with Ultegra

Summary:
I just had a custom steel bike built, and wanted to upgrade to a full Ultegra group. My last bike (Trek 1500) was a mix of Ultegra 6500, 105, and no name brakes. For a first bike the 105 was good and I was expecting quite a bit of difference with the new 6600 Ultegra.

I noticed a huge difference in two areas; shifting and braking.

The indexing on the Ultegra 10 speed is a bit different on my front derailleur (I have a triple), from the 105. It took about 3 rides to get used to it.

The braking power is about 200% better than my old set up. I don’t know if it was because of the old brakes (no name, stock) or the shifters, but I have no problems stopping.

I rode a friends Dura-Ace group and couldn’t notice any significant functional difference. Dura Ace does look very cool.

When building up my bike, I had the opportunity to try out several Campy groups. I actually really like how they shifted and if it weren’t for the thumb lever, I probably would have gone with the Campy. I guess I am just used to the Shimano (for now).

Overall I am very happy with this set up.

Strengths:
Best group for the price. The new 105 may give the Ultegra a run for the money.

Weaknesses:
The hoods a little longer than I would like. I actually had to shorten my stem to make the shifters comfortable, although they feel great in the drops.

Similar Products Used:
105, Test rode Dura Ace and Campy.