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Hi
Trying to upgrade a 10 speed mechanical groupset to disc
From what I’ve worked out the only 10 speed hydraulic brifters shimano do are tiagra which seem to be about £225 each end (if in stock) - but I haven’t really shopped around yet
Other option would be to go 11 speed which would obviously need a mech and cassette, and probably chain
Am I missing anything?
Thanks
As I understand it the pull ratios on new tiagra 10 speed are the same as 11 speed above it so the new brifters won't shift properly with your current mechs unfortunately - I'm happy to be corrected though. Might have to be an entire new group set if you're set on the frame.
Am I missing anything?
a set of BB7?
Ermm - so you are saying bb7’s will work with the existing ultegra shifters? I hadn’t thought of that!
I was going to say, as per Dels advice, surely the easiest upgrade is to just upgrade the brakes.
Hope V twin
TRP parabox
TRP HyRd
Juintech R1/F1
Zoom hb100
Or BB7, Spyre etc.
Crossed post.
Ermm – so you are saying bb7’s will work with the existing ultegra shifters? I hadn’t thought of that!
Yep, just make sure whatever you get is the road version, road brakes pull about half as much cable (at twice the tension) as MTB brakes. So get compressionless outer too.
Under current bonkers pricing, a pair of 11-speed RS505 hydraulic brifters and calipers for £249 at Merlin is deal-tastic, an r7000 cassette and rear mech to go with them will cost up to another ~£110 before using some reward point discount.
My Cube has the 505s, I find them ok, some don't like the longer reach they have to the hoods and some say the newer hydraulic brifters shift more cleanly... But they're now about twice the price!
How about:
You'll need a Giant stem as well.
GRX 400 is 10speed and should be compatible with road 10
https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/gravel-upgrades--mixing-and-matching-shimano-grx-and-road-compon.html
If you can get them is a different question.
If you went for full 11spd groupset check if the free hub can take the wider cassette. Shimano increased the width by 1.8mm (around that I think.
GRX 400 is 10speed and should be compatible with road 10
They're compatible with newer pull ratio 10 speed, that is you can use Tiagra 4700, GRX400 or any road 11 speed mechs with them, but not any of them older road 10 speed mechs.
I'm a big fan of giant conduct hybrid mech-hudro brakes - self adjusting, very short cable lengths and hydro to the calipers massively reduces maintenance and improves feel.
They are by some way the closest thing to full hydraulic you'll get.
You don't always need a giant specific stem so long as your existing stem matches the mounting hole pattern (granted this is unlikely but it's possible).
As I understand it the pull ratios on new tiagra 10 speed are the same as 11 speed above it so the new brifters won’t shift properly with your current mechs unfortunately
No they are the sane pull ratio so will work. Provided you have the correct speed cassette and shifters.
But I think cable discs are the answer. I'm happy with trp spyres
Why not these https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r517-road-disc-brake-caliper
Basic cable disc but for £28 a pair with 'free' 180mm adaptors. Bargain.
No they are the sane pull ratio so will work
No, they really won't. Old shimano 10 speed (4600, 5600, 5700, 6600, 6700, 7800, 7900) is incompatible with current 10 speed shimano (4700, GRX400)
And as if that’s not enough there are similar issues matching cable discs: Ultegra 6600 uses SLR brake cable pull and works great with BB7s (road). Newer Ultegra 6700 uses ‘NSSLR’. They will work with BB7s but performance is meh and it won’t feel like money well spent. I understand that 6700s work with Spyres (but I have no experience of them) but the same logic says they’ll be hard to setup with 6600s and potentially dangerous (lever pulls all the way to the bar).
Just get the Giant system. Cheap, will work, easy to fit, excellent results. Honestly.
And as if that’s not enough there are similar issues matching cable discs: Ultegra 6600 uses SLR brake cable pull and works great with BB7s (road). Newer Ultegra 6700 uses ‘NSSLR’. They will work with BB7s but performance is meh and it won’t feel like money well spent. I understand that 6700s work with Spyres (but I have no experience of them) but the same logic says they’ll be hard to setup with 6600s and potentially dangerous (lever pulls all the way to the bar).
That shouldn't be the case. Campag, Shimano (x however many supposedly incompatible variants), Sram, BMX, cantilever, they all have slightly different pull ratios. But not enough to stop them working.
I'd suggest it's down to setup or pads more than compatibility?
Even MTB V-brakes will just about work, although it relies on setting them up with almost no clearance and they're a bit on/off.