Hi All 👋 I’ve always rode Shimano 105 mechanicals on my Madone and Domane since 2009 and 2020 bikes. I’ve ridden Sora and Claris on some hybrid bikes throughout the years as well and not noticed a huge difference.
🚲 What’s the real feel difference here between two? Does it help with gearing up and down hills? Is it more fragile aka cost to fix if a mechanical? Does it get annoying to charge or is the trade off worth it? Etc
Thanks in advance 👋
^Yes, I’ve read Shimano’s website but looking for real feel Cyclists and opinions
by Distinct_Run_6429
20 Comments
More fragile?
My bike tipped over at a stop (leaning against a wall and got bumped into) and the shift button was broken. You can’t repair (sp edit) it. Whole new assembly.
Annoying to charge? Depends on how much you ride. For me? Yes. For most, no.
I’m in the minority about hating electronics.
Is there a feel difference? I do not notice – I love both setups and have multiple bikes with mechanical and Di2 – if you can afford electronic, I’m sure you will not be disappointed but it’s not a necessity. Mechanical 12 speed 105 is just as good.
In my 35,000km experience with 8170 and a few thousand more on 105, it’s significantly more reliable than mechanical. I haven’t indexed once since the initial install. I was literally changing rear shifter cables on my Ultegra 8070 setup more often than I currently charge 8170 Di2. Yes this sounds sensational, but this has been my experience.
I love the synchro shifting and auto trim on the di2.
For me, not having to worry about replacing my cables every 10 thousand kilometers, not having to look between my legs to see what gear I’m in, and not having to micro adjust the front derailleur, all those are major reasons why I’ll always get electronic over mechanical, if I can.
I can barely remember to charge my phone, let alone remembering to charge my bike gear set. I’m mechanical all the way.
Thanks I needed the reminder to check my shifter battery level this time of year.
I have both mechanical and di2 105 groupsets. Charging isn’t a big deal. I’ve ridden 400 miles since the last charge and have about 40% battery remaining. This is even with keeping my bike in a very cold garage over winter. Battery life will probably be even better in the warm season. As far as performance, the di2 just works, especially the front derailleur. With the mechanical, I was never able to get things dialed-in to where there was zero front derailleur rub for all of the gears I use. Indexing on the rear is very precise with the di2. Again, with the mech, it always seemed like there were 1-2 gears on one end of the cassette that didn’t shift as smooth as the rest. Some of this may come down to my skill as a mechanic, but I prefer the di2 for its ease of use.
I have one mechanical 105 and one Di2. To be honest, the Di2 is just a delicate luxury with no performance improvements whatsoever, everything seems more expensive.
If you don’t use your bike there is a risk the battery could damage. On the other side, In the worst case of a mechanical group set you only replace the wires and fine tune your der railer, clean, and oil the chain, and you are ready to go.
Di2 feels so magical until you’ve done a few rides **stuck** in biggy-smalls and then you just want to chuck your bike in the nearest canal.
I’m now of the opinion that your bike, unless an e-bike, really shouldn’t be something you need to charge. Went back to mechanical about two years ago.
I went from Ultegra mechanical to 105 di2 and never going back. Running out of battery isn’t an issue as long as you stay on top of it. Literally just plug it in when it’s low and change shifter batteries every year or so.
OP, you know you can also ask ChatGPT for the question instead of a slop post
I never had many issues with mechanical. I’ve never had any at all with Di2.
I had the chance to upgrade very cheaply to 11s Ultegra Di2 from mechanical GRX. The mechanical shifting was perfectly fine and worked great, but the difference was still a little larger than I expected.
It’s just all a bit smoother and faster. Battery life is a non-issue as it easily lasts for over 1500km for me (though apparently it’s quite a bit worse with wireless shifters).
Di2 is just so awesome. The shifting is just so crisp and precise.
di2!
I have a cheap usb-c to usb-c cable and a di2 usb-c charge adapter in my saddle bag. I can always use my phone to charge my drivetrain in a pinch. I have also traveled, realized my battery is low and grabbed the adapter in the saddle bag to charge using my wall charger overnight. Have not considered mechanical since getting di2
If you decide to go electronic. Pick the Ultegra Di2 instead of 105 Di2. Ultegra Di2 Brifters has hidden buttons on top the hoods that is customizable. (ex: shifting, flip pages on your bike computer). Ultegra Di2 also enables you to add external blip button. (ex: sprint shifter buttons on the drop bars). This feature was purposely removed on the 105 Di2 Brifters.
Less manual engagement when switching gears, literally your pressing not engaging a lever. Better shifts under load and really no need to adjust the derailleurs thereafter since there is no cable/housing stretch. Also, if you are running fully integrated it’s almost essential since a mechanical bike in a one piece fully integrated cockpit will shift like crap.
IMO electronic is totally worth it although I am a SRAM AXS fan boy, but I do also own Shimano Ultegra Di2. Not to get into an SRAM vs Shimano debates, but as of 2026 SRAM is simply better but again it could just come down to a Shimano refresh or personal preferences.
Di2 is more expensive than mechanical. A 105 12 speed RD is $70 or $50-$60 on sale and 105 Di2 is $325 and but they are commonly on sale for $250-$270. As a mechanic told me, Di2 isn’t really fixable per se, it either works or has to be RMA kind of like a phone.
electric stuff is more fragile, the plastic lever body most likely crack if you crash, since the brake lever doesn’t collapse inwards and is fixed like on sram or ltwoo. but it makes more sense for crit and cx racers
I have the di2 and I love it. It is butter smooth, tells me what gear I’m in on my Garmin, and doesn’t need to be tuned up regularly like my bike with mechanical gears. That being said, I’m not as religious with charging it as I should be and once or twice a year I go to hop on for a nice ride I’ve been looking forward to and my shifter is dead. That’s on me though.