Bicycling - Shimano Road Bike Parts Compatibility

Page Contents

• Shimano Compatibility Charts
• Cycling Components Store
• Notes on Compatibility of Components
• Real World Reports

I was gifted with big lungs and strong legs and so I enjoyed it. - Jobst Brandt on cycling

Compatibility Charts 2008-2011

Store

Next some Shimano products available from our shopping site. Several new products, some used, and free shipping may be available.

Product	Condition	Check our Store
Dura-Ace 7900	Available (new)	10-speed Dura-Ace 7900 series: Shop the Dura-Ace 7900 Series Section
Ultegra 6700	Available (new)	10-speed Ultegra 6700 series: Shop the Ultegra 6700 Series Section
105 5700	Available (new)	10-speed 105 5700 series: Shop the Shimano 105 5700 Section
Dura-Ace 7800	Available (new & used)	10-speed Dura-Ace 7800 series: Shop the Dura-Ace 7800 Series Section
105 5600	Available (new & used)	Quality, budget 105 series: Shop the shimano 105 5600 Section
SRAM Cassettes	Available (new)	Shimano-compatible SRAM cassettes are available here at the SRAM Cassette Section
KMC Chains	Available (new)	Shimano-compatible KMC Chains, both lightweight and long-lasting, can be found here at the KMC Chain Section

Compatibility Notes

Get the latest compatibility chart from the US source directly. Shimano site charts available right here.

Shimano R700 (crankset) is the compact version of Ultegra (back in 2008). R600 is the compact version of Shimano 105.

B-level compatibility: "Shimano says Ultegra 6700 has A-level compatibility ONLY with 6700 derailleurs. In an effort to offer some backward compatibility, the shifters work with both 6600-level Ultegra (and 7800-level Dura-Ace), but Shimano's terminology is B-level compatibility. It works, but it's not ideal." The dotted lines in the charts represent B-level compatibility. A real-world review of B-level compatibility is included below.

Another way they have put it: "ST-6700 levers are backwards compatible with 6600 series Ultegra drivetrains and brakes, though Shimano says mixing the groups will not take full advantage of the new features. The front derailleur stroke of the new group is similar to the 6600 front derailleur, but the brakes have revised pivots like Dura Ace."

Cogsets, sprockets compatibility: For compatibility of the many rear Cogsets with Shimano drivetrains, please see the excellent compendium on the Sheldon site: Shimano Cogset Compatibility which covers many options from Shimano, IRD, Miche, SRAM, SunRace, and custom.

Triple Crank and compatibility: See the 2011 front drivetrain compatibility chart above for some details. The left (front) shifter, the crankset, and both derailers may be specific for a triple gearing. If you have a 105 front brifter, you may be lucky as it's non-indexed so the same brifter can be used with a double or a triple. If yours is Ultegra, there should be a difference so you need the specific front brifter for double or triple whether you're on the 6600 or 6700 series. The front derailer has much different spacing on a triple crankset. And the rear derailer has a long cage to collect more chain - so both of these are specific for triple gearing. Another thing that many people don't realize - the new Shimano chains are *not* triple-compatible. (As indicated on the 2011 compatibility chart), The reason for this is that the new chains (CN-7901, 6701, or 5701) do not allow enough lateral movement. So for the moment, your triple chain needs should be satisfied by KMC, by SRAM, Wippermann maybe, or by the older Shimano chains (CN-7801, CN-6600, CN-5600).

Regarding Dura-Ace backward compatibility, some of it is in the charts here. In general, a Shimano Rep. is on the record as stating that everything 7900 is backwards compatible with 7800 except the chainrings and FD. So you can use a 7900 chain with a 7800 cassette and rings.

Shimano Chain compatibility: Generally, chains tend to be very compatible between SRAM and Shimano as long as they are of equal gearing. 10-speed chains won't work well with 9-speed mech and vice versa. Also, Wippermann and KMC provide chains compatible with Shimano. The 7900/6700/5700 series chains are not compatible with triple cranksets (see note above). And chains in these series will wear slightly less on the rear sprockets (when installed correctly) due to the asymmetry - outer link plates being a bit shaped for shifting. Wippermann provides an excellent joining pin which works fine with Shimano chains. For 10-speeds, the KMC joining pin is also great, and with 9-speeds, the KMC or SRAM joining pins will work well with Shimano chains. The Shimano joining pin system requires a chain tool and is quite a bit harder to work with than any of the others.

Some comments about SRAM compatibility with Shimano:

• SRAM chains and cassettes are fully Shimano compatible.
• SRAM derailer/shifter sets are compatible with Shimano chains and cassettes (however be consistent with shifter / derailer choices. SRAM shifter and derailers can be used with Shimano chains, cassettes.
• For best results, replace the cables when upgrading any drivetrain part.

Shimano 9-speed to 10-speed compatibility:

Questions:

• Will the 10 spd chain run on the 9-spd chainset (e.g. a 6500 or 5500 chainset)?
• Can a pair of 10-speed chainrings be mounted to a 9-speed chainset with good results?
• Are the spacing between chainrings similar on 9-spd and 10-spd crank sets ?

I can't stand the old adage that you are what you eat. You're not what you eat, you're a combination of the things you eat, do, think, believe, and feel. - Chris Carmichael

Real-World Reports

Successful Shimano mixed builds, case 1: 
Shifters/Brake Levers:  Dura-Ace 7801
Brake Calipers:  Dura-Ace 7700
FD:  Ultegra 6700 
RD:  Ultegra 6700 SS 
Crankset:  Ultegra 6700 53/39
Comments:  
  I am happy to say that no issues were encountered. 
  Shifting is perfect, braking appears to be excellent. 

Successful build Case 2: 
Shifter/Brake Levers:  Ultegra ST-6600 
Brake Calipers  Tektro 
FD:  Ultegra FD-6600 
RD:  Dura-Ace RD-7800 
Crankset:  FSA Gossamer 
Cogset:  105 CS-5600 
Chain:   KMC 
Bottom Bracket:  BB30 

Successful mixed build Case 3: 
Shifter/Brake Levers:  Dura-Ace ST-7900
Brake Calipers  Ultegra BR-6600
FD:  Dura-Ace FD-7900
RD:  Dura-Ace RD-7900 
Crankset:  Specialized S-Works
Cogset:  Ultegra CS-6600
Bottom Bracket:  BB30 

Successful mixed build Case 4: 
Everything:  SRAM Red
Chain:  SRAM 10-spd
FD:  Ultegra 6700
 (see description below) 

The following is one rider's Summary of upgrading a bike to ST-6700 shifters from ST-6600. (this combination is dotted-line B-level compatible in Shimano's 2010 charts). This should give an illustration of "B-level compatibility" concept in practice.

"Shifting (Ultegra 6700 shifters with Ultegra 6600/Dura-Ace 7800 derailleurs):
The actual shifting is perfect. However, the FEEL of the shifters is not quite the same.
The front (left) shifting from small to large chainrings is probably better. The Ultegra 6700 shifter retains the feather/trim position like the ST-6600."

"However, my opinion is that the FEEL of the back (right) shifter is less positive than the 6600. As before, the actual shifting quality (accuracy, quickness, etc.) is unchanged." But the reviewer preferred the feel of the ST-6600 shifter when paired with the Dura-Ace RD-7800 Rear Derailer.

"Braking (Ultegra 6700 shifters with DA 7800 brakes):
The difference in pull ratio is noticeable. Braking is inferior with this combo compared to Ultegra ST-6600 with Dura Ace BR-7800 brake calipers. Still, braking performance is fine. Braking, however, is definitely more comfortable with the new shifters with the pivot being relocated higher up."

From a bike shop:
"we just had a bike in for a service today that had one 5600 lever paired with a 5700 brake. It was the first time I'd got to try this combination, and I immediately found out that the braking sucked on the test ride ... I was surprised by how pathetic and mushy it felt."
"So stick with components of the same series unless you have no choice."
"BTW, going the other way (e.g. new 6700 levers with old 6600 brakes) can be made to work OK - just setup the brake so that it doesn't hit the rim until the lever has moved a little more than normal, but still far from the bars, and you get reasonably decent power and modulation. The cable pull ratio actually changes during the lever sweep with the new levers, which I believe Shimano call Servo Wave technology, which is why it matters where the bite point of the brake is."

SRAM RED with the Ultegra FD:
"It works perfectly.
I've been having trouble with SRAM front shifting. I thought it was the Red FD, so I went and bought a Force FD. That didn't help much at all. I set both up exactly as I was supposed to, but it just didn't want to work. I tweaked this and tweaked that, but in the end there is a very limited range of adjustment that a FD can have... It's not rocket science, but for some reason I couldn't get reliable shifting with either the Red or Force FDs. I wasn't dropping the chain, but there was simply too much hesitation and grinding before the chain actually caught."
"Then I installed the Ultegra FD...in one try. That's all it took for superb shifting. I couldn't be happier with the performance... It's not quite as solid shifting as the full 6700 group was when I had it on my bike, but it's more than good enough."

105 9-speed derailer replacement:
"It depends on whether or not you have indexed shifting. If you have indexed shifting only a 9-speed rear derailer will work regardless of claims."
"9 speed to 10-speed compatibility in rear derailers only applies for non-indexed shifting. [sources: Shimano Reps, a mechanical engineer]. Your only options are as follows: locate a true Shimano 105 9-speed derailer (RD-5500); purchase a 9-speed Tiagra rear derailer (includes 2010 and 2011 models); or upgrade to a 105 10-speed drivetrain."
"Since I have replaced the derailer with a true 9-speed Tiagra derailer (2011 RD-4500), the shifting problems are gone. I also measured the derailer movement / shift and it matches the cassette cog spacing."
For a triple, the Tiagra RD4500-GS 9-speed (2011) is the way to go.

Back to:

• Shimano Compatibility Charts
• Cycling Components Store
• Notes on Compatibility of Components
• Real World Reports