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Submitted by
danielflood80
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: April 17, 2007
Strengths: (when set up properly) - awesome shifting. Only a tiny movement required to jump from small to big chainring. Trim allows me to use the 12tooth cog in the small chainring with no rub, and something like 23tooh cog in the big chainring with no rub. Shifting is smooth and precise, although due to the fact that you can go up 3 shifter on the rear with one sweep of the lever, sometimes you accidently go up too many gears, although this applies to all the other road shifters out there too.
As brake levers they are great, very solid and reliable. I find the hoods comfy, although some people seem to find the campy hoods better. Use whatever fits your hand best.Weaknesses: requires more maintenance than campy, but come on, what bike part doesn't require maintenance? If you want a "set and forget" bike, then a high end road bike isn't for you.
Getting the trim set up can take some experimenting, although this isn't a weakness, just my lack of knowledge.
The only serious weakness is that it's too easy to accidently go up too many gears sometimes on the rear, although this is really just a matter of getting used to it.Bottom Line: I bought these second hand on ebay a year ago, and they have worked flawlessly ever since. These work great, but like any mechanical component require servicing. For some reason, cyclists seem to think shifters with all their moving parts can just keep working into infinity without proper care.
I am writing this because I think the 9spd ultegras are fantastic shifters, and a fantastic groupset, and if you're like me, building a bike on a budget, you can get them for a great price on ebay.
These shifters clog up with dirt quickly and easily. Twice a year, more depending on how much you ride, you need to disconnect the cables, buy a can of teflon based lube with a narrow nozzle, and thoroughly flush out the entire innards with the lube. That means every single crevice, pull the brake levers down, flush behind them etc, it's easier if you take the shifters off first. While you flush you will see dirt running out. Keep flushing until it's 100% clean. Use half a can if you have to, we're not lubing so much as cleaning. Then dry them as best you can with a clean rag. If you do this, I bet you they will never seize.
As far as functioning, when properly maintained and set up, these are amazing. Rear shifts are spot on, only a tiny movement of the lever required to go up a gear, or you can go up 3 in a big sweep. Front shifting is incredible IF you have it set up properly. I installed these myself and spent ages getting the trim working properly, and now it works flawlessly, only the tiniest movement of the lever is required to go from the small to big chainring. If yours doesn't do this, it's not set up properly.
I can't recomend these enough. Nowadays they are very cheap on ebay, and provided you service and set them up properly, they will perform on par with any other shifters out there.
Favorite Ride: murray river around mildura in summer
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: ebay!
Similar Products Used: shimano sora
Bike Setup: Omega matrix frame, ultegra 9spd groupset, crappy alex wheels, thomson masterpiece seatpost, modolo kx bars
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Submitted by
Jubal Dais
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: July 25, 2006
Strengths: More precise shiftingWeaknesses: PriceBottom Line: I have a Cannondale R800 with a mix of 105 and Ultegra. I wanted to make it all Ultegra, so I upgraded from Shimano 105 shifters to Ultegra. Shifting is definitely more precise and quicker, especially with the front gear(left shifter)
Favorite Ride: rolling hills
Price Paid:
$170.00
Purchased At: ebay
Similar Products Used: Shimano 105
Bike Setup: Cannondale R800 triple
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
ElSupreme
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: February 10, 2006
Strengths: Shift feel in great, espically compared to the 9speed 105 which are crap.Weaknesses: Blowing up feature tha requires buying new 200$ shifter combo.
^&$@%!#$%%&^%&#$%@# top caps SURE SUCK.Bottom Line: Great shifting, last pair has lasted really long time. The first pair blew up for no reason.
Fairly light and exelent shifting feel. Mine say DURA-ACE on top because the *^$*&%#*@^&$#%*&@# SOB top caps fall off all the f-ing time.
They also have atendency to blow up for no reason.
GETS 3 in value because 105 is that bad.
Gets 3 in overall because the top caps are worthless and they blow up randomly (but it seems to lock you in your 25 about 40 miles from your house)
Favorite Ride: In the sunshine.
Price Paid:
$210.00
Purchased At: Atlanta SUCKling
Similar Products Used: Dura-ace, 9.
105 9.
Campy Record.
Bike Setup: Ultegra shifters with NO FLIGHT DECK ribbons, and Dura-ace top caps.
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Submitted by
HALsaves
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: October 26, 2004
Strengths: Smooth shifting while it lasts.Weaknesses: Low quality. Unserviceable.Bottom Line: Complete garbage and unservicable to boot. The right shifter siezed after 1 year. The left shifter has now stopped working correctly after 2.5 years. I bought Campy Veloce yesterday.
Favorite Ride: Lefthand Canyon to Ward
Purchased At: Excel Sports
Similar Products Used: Modolo Morphos
Bike Setup: Redline Conquest Pro
Campy Veloce and Ultegra
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Submitted by
Fuzznsmoo
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Strengths: Cheap and SimpleWeaknesses: Not Rebuildable ala CampyBottom Line: My levers are still working fine after five years and 11,000 miles, but some maintenance was required. The screw under the cap had to be loctited in, and most important, the levers have to be flushed out with lube about once a year or they will seize up. I've tried Finish Line dry lube (spray), silicone spray, and Triflow spray, and the Triflow is the clear winner. I get in every nook and cranny and really try and flush the dirt and grime. If I do this once a year or so, the levers work great. But I do wish there was some way to really take these apart and clean them properly.
Favorite Ride: Jamison Creek
Purchased At: OEM
Similar Products Used: Other Shimano
Bike Setup: 1999 Trek 5200
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