mini-upgrade choice: Ultegra 6800 or 8000?

[tv_vt]

I have 9 speed shift systems on most of my bikes (brakes and cranks are newer). After trying out a bike with Ultegra Di2 6870, I am thinking of upgrading to 11 speed mechanical, mainly because I like the shifter ergonomics a lot more.

Am wondering if 6800 or 8000 mini-upgrade kit have substantial selling points that recommend one over the other. Both are under $500 for a 5 piece upgrade kit (shifters, FD, RD, cassette, chain) at Excel.

Any comments or recommendations? SRAM is out for this round, but I guess I could use Campy with 11 speed Shimano cassettes. I do want to use an 11-32 cassette which may rule out Campy, though.

Thanks for any info.

[Lanternrouge]

The ergonomics of the 6870 shifters are different from the 6800. For me, the main noticeable difference is that the 6870 shifters are thinner at the hoods. I have heard the ergonomics of the 8000 shifters are better than the 6800s, but I have only used the 9150 shifters (on a borrowed bike) from the latest generation. If I were you, I would probably get the 8000 series just to have the newest stuff and I think the 8000 series looks better. Either way, you should be happy since the stuff works really well. The front derailleurs are a bit finicky to set up, though I've heard other people complaining about both series.

[jtbadge]

I think the first gen 11 speed stuff looks better, especially on older frames, so personally, I'd go 6800. A couple of summers ago, a full groupset (inc. crank, bb, cables, everything) was under $500, probably going to be tough to find that deal anymore.

That said, if you're not set on one, get whatever's cheaper.

[Black Dog]

I have 9 speed shift systems on most of my bikes (brakes and cranks are newer). After trying out a bike with Ultegra Di2 6870, I am thinking of upgrading to 11 speed mechanical, mainly because I like the shifter ergonomics a lot more.

Am wondering if 6800 or 8000 mini-upgrade kit have substantial selling points that recommend one over the other. Both are under $500 for a 5 piece upgrade kit (shifters, FD, RD, cassette, chain) at Excel.

Any comments or recommendations? SRAM is out for this round, but I guess I could use Campy with 11 speed Shimano cassettes. I do want to use an 11-32 cassette which may rule out Campy, though.

Thanks for any info.

Not at all. Campy offers 11-32 and the potenza mid cage and centaur RDs are designed to accept 11-32 cassettes.

[yashcha]

I think the 8000 is a better deal because they used the Shadow technology on it. Apparently it allows for a lower profile and places the derailleur further inboard, keeping them out of harm's way and allows a better chain path off the top jockey wheel in relation to the cassette. Allegedly.

[thirdgenbird]

Not at all. Campy offers 11-32 and the potenza mid cage and centaur RDs are designed to accept 11-32 cassettes.

Chorus now has a medium cage option too. New record and super record 12 are a single cage length that accommodate a 32t. In short, you can run a 32t on every Campagnolo mechanical groupset.

[pasadena]

Am wondering if 6800 or 8000 mini-upgrade kit have substantial selling points that recommend one over the other. Both are under $500 for a 5 piece upgrade kit (shifters, FD, RD, cassette, chain) at Excel.



no brainer- 8000

shadow rear mech - they've had it on the mtb's for a while and it's great
improved front mech -
improved shifter ergonomics
a lot of details and I think it looks better as well

[jumphigher]

My bike is 9spd DA, but if I were changing to 11spd I'd get the newest stuff if that was an option. Might as well get the latest if it's gonna cost about the same.

[Big Dan]

I really like 5800 over 6800.
Call me crazy.

[R3awak3n]

normally I would say campy but for that price I will say get the 8000. It is not as nice as chorus but it works very well.

[oldpotatoe]

I have 9 speed shift systems on most of my bikes (brakes and cranks are newer). After trying out a bike with Ultegra Di2 6870, I am thinking of upgrading to 11 speed mechanical, mainly because I like the shifter ergonomics a lot more.

Am wondering if 6800 or 8000 mini-upgrade kit have substantial selling points that recommend one over the other. Both are under $500 for a 5 piece upgrade kit (shifters, FD, RD, cassette, chain) at Excel.

Any comments or recommendations? SRAM is out for this round, but I guess I could use Campy with 11 speed Shimano cassettes. I do want to use an 11-32 cassette which may rule out Campy, though.

Thanks for any info.

Potenza..shifters, ders(long cage)....use a shimano 5800 cogset and chain..done..go ride.

[Davist]

I'd go with 8000 due to the new front derailleur, doesn't have that "long arm" that the 6800 does. The 6800 FD is reportedly a bit finicky and requires a special tool for set up. I'd be mostly concerned about the longer arm and tire clearance, had one on my old bike it was close even with long chainstays. I think 8000 levers are a bit nicer, too.

[quattro]

I'm in the same boat, looking to sell my Dura Ace 7800 group and upgrade, I think, to either a 6800 or 8000. My group is full DA 7800 except for a 6800 compact crank which I like very much. Can't decide if the extra $$ is worth going to the 8000 group. I'll be curious what group tv_vt decides to go with. I also have DA 9000 mechanical on another bike and works very nice!

quattro

[chiasticon]

if I were changing to 11spd I'd get the newest stuff if that was an option. Might as well get the latest if it's gonna cost about the same.this. if you like Shimano, do that. if Campy, do that.

[skouri1]

Can anyone comment on the câble fraying issue? Reported with 9000
Is it an issue?
I hear a tight bend in the shifter was shredding those expensive shimano cables prematurely but my friends with the stuff have not reported problems...

Presumably if it's not already fixed with 6800 it's fixed now with 8000...?

[bigbill]

My Coconino has RS 685 levers, 785 calipers, 8000 derailleurs, and 6800 crankset. Actually the FD is a 9100 because 8000 was on back order at the time. The FD is excellent, 9100 and 8000 look and work identical, the setup isn't that intuitive, but I've never had a FD work this well. The 8000 RD is swoopy in a Dura-Ace way.

I'm a campy guy, but for gravel bikes, Shimano is the path I took. Now my travel tool box has a Ultegra/XT chain, cassette, and bottom bracket cups.

[berserk87]

Can anyone comment on the câble fraying issue? Reported with 9000
Is it an issue?
I hear a tight bend in the shifter was shredding those expensive shimano cables prematurely but my friends with the stuff have not reported problems...

Presumably if it's not already fixed with 6800 it's fixed now with 8000...?

Shimano fixed this within the 9000 genre. The result was the '9001' shifters, which addressed the fraying issue. I would assume that the remedy was not ignored with 8000/9100 as I've heard no complaints about cable fraying with either.

I can't comment on 6800. I never heard of any fraying issues with 6800 but I've not ridden it myself.

[tylercheung]

I guess depends on the price.

My 6800 is a great group. Except I upgraded to 9100 brakes, um, just because. But if you can get the group on sale for $300 vs. $780 or so for 8000, then that is quite a savings

[zank]

I'd wait for R7000 to land in June.

[madsciencenow]

I’ve owned/ridden both and would for sure go r8k if you want ultegra. Alternatively, what mike said about r7k looks like a viable option if you are on a budget.


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[MrCannonCam]

I'd go with 8000 due to the new front derailleur, doesn't have that "long arm" that the 6800 does. The 6800 FD is reportedly a bit finicky and requires a special tool for set up. I'd be mostly concerned about the longer arm and tire clearance, had one on my old bike it was close even with long chainstays. I think 8000 levers are a bit nicer, too.

I'll chime in and mention this is relevant. When it works the 6800 fd is great but it's a major hassle to get right and unless you have a wizard mechanic I'd say steer clear and upgrade to the 8000 just for that sole reason. The first gen Shimano 11 speed fd design was horrid (I rode thousands of miles on bikes equipped with Ultegra and 105 5800/6800). The rest was super though imo, but I'd spend the cash for the few improvements on r8000...

I believe Merlin or somewhere over there in the UK has a drivetrain 6870 group for under $800 if you wanted to go with di2...Competitive has pricing on R8000 on par with Chainreaction, Ribble etc at the moment if not

[m4rk540]

Yes, to the above.

8000 is measurably superior in 3 areas, the front derailleur which is easier to set up, the rear derailleur which allows wider gearing without the necessity of a mid cage and the brakes which have amazing stopping power and clearance.

Subjectively, the shifter ergonomics are an improvement.

[adampaiva]

I debated the same and recently went with 8000, based largely on the shifter ergonomics.
When I looked around Jensonusa had even better prices than the UK websites.
I have 6800 on my other bike (but w/ 9001 shifters) and no complaints at all.

[Hilltopperny]

I've used both and they work well either way, but the 8000 is a bit better and I prefer the fd on 8000 over 6800.

[NHAero]

I have a R8000 RD with a 6800 shifter on my CAAD10 1x11 - works great with the 11-34 cassette

[colker]

Potenza..shifters, ders(long cage)....use a shimano 5800 cogset and chain..done..go ride.

That´s my plan right now. Unless i can revamp my beloved but tired 10sp mix of centaur and record i will go Campy 11sp but w/ a shimano freewheel and cogset.
I would like to keep my square taper record crankset but i want a 36 small ring and don´t need a 53t w/a 11 cog..

[tv_vt]

Thanks for all the comments. Wrapped my hands around some 6800 and 8000 shift levers today. What I find really annoying is the back side of the brake and shift levers. With large hands, my fingers feel that part of the levers a lot, and Shimano leaves a lot of sharp hard edges on the back side. The one spot where ergonomics have been ignored.

Can't find a set of Potenza shifters to try out, or DA9100 either. Maybe they're more nicely finished. Or not...

Otherwise, I'm leaning towards 8000.

[Gummee]

I'd go with 8000 due to the new front derailleur, doesn't have that "long arm" that the 6800 does. The 6800 FD is reportedly a bit finicky and requires a special tool for set up. I'd be mostly concerned about the longer arm and tire clearance, had one on my old bike it was close even with long chainstays. I think 8000 levers are a bit nicer, too.

The long arm derailleurs ARE tricky to set up, but you don't really need a special tool once you've got it on once.

The new new new front derailleurs do have more tire clearance without the long arm.

M

[Davist]

The long arm derailleurs ARE tricky to set up, but you don't really need a special tool once you've got it on once.

The new new new front derailleurs do have more tire clearance without the long arm.

M

Since he's doing an upgrade, I took it to mean he'd be installing on existing and need (or need to borrow) the "special tool", sorry if not clear. Looks like we'd both go with 8k :beer:

[oldpotatoe]

That´s my plan right now. Unless i can revamp my beloved but tired 10sp mix of centaur and record i will go Campy 11sp but w/ a shimano freewheel and cogset.
I would like to keep my square taper record crankset but i want a 36 small ring and don´t need a 53t w/a 11 cog..

If the shifters are 2006 or older, I can OVH them.

Plenty of square taper compact Campag cranks on the 'bay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Record-Carbon-Square-Taper-Compact-Crankset-50-34-X-172-5mm/292532908277?hash=item441c51f0f5:g:dpkAAOSwZBha27A h