Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Last week we were helping my friend and teammate Mike Andalora with tips on how to know when his shift cable needs replacing and how often he should do it. In response, “Russ,” “Stephen” and “Joe,” posted comments discussing Shimano shift cables that break inside STI shift levers. Joe mentioned that he’s never had problems with his circa 2002 Campagnolo shift cables.
To help them and anyone else with the problem here are two stories on the issue. Both are from last year and lots of readers have weighed in with comments so don’t miss those. Here’s Pondering Shimano STI Shift Cable Breakage And here’s Advice for Dave on His Breaking Campagnolo Cables.
Shimano’s Latest
Almost perfectly timed to coincide with last week’s story, Shimano announced that they’re finally delivering their promised 12-speed Shimano 105 R7100 mechanical groupset (drivetrain shown). This is your highest-quality option now if you want a cable-shifting Shimano group. Cost is said to be about $1,190.
It’s the only option because their latest higher end road offerings which were released earlier this year, 12-speed Ultegra R8100 and 12-speed Dura-Ace R9200 are both Di2 groups with electronic shifters. That means no shift cables.
If you’re building a gravel bike, they also recently announced a new cable-shifting group for these bikes, their 12-speed GRX RX820 mechanical components.
The good news is that Shimano is sharing components such as the crankset, cassettes, chain and brakes between their 105 Di2 groupset and their new 105 mechanical. Plus the 12-speed 105 cable-shifting derailleurs and levers are brand new. Which should mean high quality components that work together perfectly.
Since if you want cable shifting components this is your only option I think it’s important to compare the weight. According to Bike Radar the total weight of 105 R7100 is 2,845 grams (6.27 pounds). While Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Di2 2,514 grams (5.54 pounds) – for a weight savings of .73 pounds. These weights are ballpark because it depends on the specs you run but clearly one of the penalties with R7100 is it’s heavier, which may or may not matter to you.
Cables Versus Wires: Shifting Performance
I believe that shift cable failures had some part in Shimano’s decision to eliminate cable shifting from their best road component groups. Electronic shifting doesn’t have any cables that stretch or break inside the levers. Shimano’s version now only has short lengths of wire exposed too and they’re pretty safely tucked in and unlikely to get broken.
In February I purchased a Trek Checkpoint SL-5. It’s equipped with a Shimano GRX 11-speed mechanical group with shift cables. Here’s my review: https://www.roadbikerider.com/new-trek-checkpoint-sl-5/ and here’s my video review:
The bike’s so much fun that I’ve logged thousands of miles on it so far. And even better, thanks to riding pals who have been exploring, I’ve tagged along with them on awesome (sometimes extremely challenging!) new routes in the Santa Cruz Mountains that I never knew were there – even though I’ve been riding here for 42 years.
But once a week I usually do a hill repeat training ride because intervals are so beneficial for maintaining strength, fitness and health. For that I switch from the Checkpoint to my Cervelo S5 aero road rocket. That bike has Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifting.
What Makes Electric “Better”
Going back and forth between mechanical and electronic shifting regularly, it’s easy to appreciate why you’ll hear that electric shifting is “better.” Because it is “better” in terms of the effort to shift and the shifts themselves.
Shifting Di2 is a little like clicking a touchpad on a computer. You tap the shift lever and the derailleurs shift. There’s no effort required to push the shift levers as there is with cable shifters. Plus with rear shifts there’s also hardly any delay in the shift, you’re in the next gear almost immediately. With front Di2 shifts it’s not as fast as rear shifts but it’s still faster than cable shifting. On my GRX drivetrain the lever travel to shift is long. And it requires effort – especially for front shifts.
The other thing about electric shifting is it doesn’t change until it’s worn out (and it does wear out – see my video about a worn out Di2 front derailleur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZO0av3EOW4 ). But, while it’s working the way it should, for at least 5-7 years (30,000 – 50,000 miles), it shifts exactly how it shifted when it was set up.
Your Take
To explain, I put quotes around the word “better” because in my opinion while electric shifting does shift better, I don’t think that electric shifting is better overall than mechanical. Because mechanical is more durable and fixable. When a Di2 derailleur fails it must be replaced. Plus, with electric components there are batteries and chargers – technology that changes fast and can render things obsolete rapidly.
It would be fun to hear your experience with electric shifting if you’re riding it and/or your reasons for not giving up on your mechanical-shifter.
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
Cable vs electronic… My prime ride is a 24-year-old Independent Fabrications Crown Jewel. It is an absolutely wonderful ride! Furthermore, with a combination of Chorus and Record, it weighs in at a tiny bit under 17 lb. However, as I approached 70, I found the need for a cog larger than 27 teeth. I also hate “shifting gaps”, so I wanted 12-speed. (The 12-speed Record and Super Record build has it approaching 18 lb.) Campy EPS and Shimano Di2 were not options as too many pieces need to be inside the frame. I did consider SRAM, which should have worked… Whatever, upgrading a fine vintage bike to electronic leaves SRAM as the only option. Campy EPS or Shimano require new frames.
If you want longer shift cable life, use Alligator 31 strand cables. Normal cables are 19 strand and the Alligator cables have a much longer fatigue life (Alligator says 3x as long). They also make 31 strand brake cables.
A front Di2 derailleur will only last 3 to 5 years? Do you all realize those frt ones cost $400? A mechanical will last at least 30 years and cost around $100 for DA. Cost victory in this category goes to the Mechanical by a landslide.
A Di2 battery only lasts 3 to 5 years, at a cost of $90; Shimano shifter cables cost $10 unless you go with DA cables those are $20 and those work great. Cables last at least a season, so if you go by changing cables every season then the standard cables win the cost victory, if you go with DA it’s a wash. However, my STI Shimano DA cables are 10 years old and they’re still looking good. Since the after purchase/breakin tuneup was done I haven’t had to readjust the derailleurs, this isn’t unusual either, all my mechanical systems rarely if ever need to be readjusted until the cables wear out which will be at least 10 years. Even when I use to race, and since I had to pay for everything, I only changed out the cables every 5 seasons whether they needed it or not. Win goes to mechanical.
Another issue, not discussed in this article, but it does pop up, is that rear cassettes last longer with electronic, maybe, depends on if you’re using aluminum gears or steel gears, electronic would probably make AL, or TI gears last longer, but not steel where it would be a wash since the cost of a DA cassette would be $250, however all you really need to do is replace the worn out cogs for around $13 each. 105 cassettes are only $55. Win in this category? not sure, it’s going to depend on the user and how well they keep their chain clean and lubed.
According to a video of the Nevada Bicycle trade show, electronic shifting was voted very high for the most overrated item to buy, and these votes came from professionals in the business! They all agreed that simplicity is the best.
Sorry, I disagree with this article, the overall win is heavily in favor of mechanical.
Actually you are agreeing with my article Igor.
Jim I have a Trek Emonda SL5 thst has mechanical 105 (hydraulic disk brakes) I was thinking of upgrading to 105 Di2. Any idea what the cost would be and which components would be needed? I’ve talked to a couple LBS and they seem to want to sell me the entire group set.
I never considered a change from my Ultegra mechanical because try as I might, I couldn’t find a darn thing I didn’t like about it. Nothing wrong here. It takes more effort to shift mechanical? Oh, you poor sweet baby. I’m 80 & shifting the Untegra mechanical hasn’t tired me in the least.
So, I’m back to, “If it aint broke, don’t fix it.” Especially when it’ll cost a wheelbarrow of cash to do so.
Shimanoitis, as a mechanic removal of the broken cable can be a real pain. Bad design that they surprisingly never fixed.
Thanks for the comment Daniel. I addressed the issue of how difficult it is to remove a broken cable some time ago in one of my columns. I’ll see if I can find that article and provide a link next week. There was a good tip in there I think.
Thanks,
Jim
Tuh-may-toh or Tuh-mah-toh which is right. All comes down to what each person likes and is willing to send for what they like. Some of us who have arthritic joints in our hands (trapezium thumb joint myself) would not be able to continue riding, especially mountain biking if not for electronic shifting. I have electric shifting on both road and mtn. bike and electric dropper post on the mtn. bike along with hydraulic disc brakes. Advancements in technology have improved biking for the better for a lot of people overall.
After four years with an electronic shifting system that had numerous reliability issues as well as sub-par front shifting performance, I switched to Campagnolo 12 speed mechanical for this season. The performance, and so far, reliability are fantastic! I do acknowledge that the shifting effort is notable; that has been the only downside. During the off season, I will do a thorough inspection of cables to see if there is any degradation.