Shimano 105 12-Speed Mechanical First Look | Groupset Of The People Goes Mechanical (Again)!

Has the groupset of the people returned, as Shimano 105 12-Speed is now mechanical! Ollie is here to share everything you need to know about it, from shifting, weight, and how much it all costs compared to Di2. Let's take a look!

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What do you think? Share your thoughts with us 👇

[dbk]

Great to see Shimano offered a 105 mechanical. Not everyone wants a Di2 setup.

[miculucianionel]

I used 105 10 speed for some years. Once adjusted, it worked perfectly forever. Smooth and precise.

[Daniel-yfiy]

Very smart of Shimano. 12 speed makes a lot of sense for non racers who want and need a broader range of gears + the quality increase.

[andym]

I went from 6870 Ultegra Di2 to 105 R7000 mechanical, I’m honestly amazed how well it shifts, especially the front mech. Can’t say I miss the Di2

[crbondur]

Yay!! Mechanical shifting isn't dead! I have to say, I have been on multiple group rides where something went wrong with someone's electronic shifting, problems that were directly related to the electronics. In many of these cases, the person couldn't actually do the ride because they couldn't solve the problem. With mechanical shifting, about the only time things go wrong is when there is a crash. I LOVE my mechanical shifting. :)

[tomrachellesfirstdance]

Cannot be a groupset of the people without a rim brake option. People who have rim brake bikes do not want to throw the bike away if they need to get any new parts 😢

[OGWNF]

If we were being honest, Tiagra is about where 105 was a couple of years ago and is even more affordable. 105 is the bottom of competitive, Tiagra is the groupset of the people.

[sventice]

I'm thrilled that a new 105 groupset is available in mechanical. The cost of Di2 is certainly an issue, but ultimately it comes down to aesthetics: I just want my bikes to be analog. Electronic shifting is pretty impressive, but the performance gain is marginal, and I'm not willing to give up the very satisfying and informative tactile feedback you get from shifting mechanically.
I've always been fond of mechanical 105; it's honestly clunkier than Ultegra, you notice the difference, but it shifts just as reliably and effortlessly, it's fairly easy to maintain, and if something breaks, it won't destroy your budget.

[hansschotterradler]

1st step in the right direction. 2nd step would be a rim brake version.

[brittle]

I'm sure some comments will still argue it's NOT the groupset of the people because no rim brake option

[socopower]

OMG that final number of 17s difference from dura ace to 105, and that being a ridiculous 3w is bonkers! We’ve really gone crazy when throwing cash at high end bikes…

[dblissmn]

At half the price or less of the electronic and free of being tethered to a battery, so long as it can hold its settings without regularly going out of adjustment, I'm there.

[jellyfishsalad]

Glad to see mechanical shifting still being supported by Shimano.

[arthurzlol]

When mechanical group set is more sophisticated and more complex to manufacture but is $1000 cheaper

[biketrybe]

Ollie used to be the Presenter of the People, but now he's too good. So I guess that designation will default to Lloydy.

[marty]

I have Ultegra 11spd di2 now but honestly my fav group of all time was when I got shimano 105 9spd in 1999. It shifted so sweetly and was the biggest upgrade that I have had ever. Only problem was the octa link bb seemed to be made of cheese and needed replacing fairly frequently

[JThelen]

Di2 105 is great, but it's also really expensive. Good to see them release a mechanical version. If the whole 1/3 the cost carries through the rest of the components, then the Groupset of the People has indeed returned.

[sjjw]

Its great they are offering a more affordable option. Slightly off topic, I'm running current 105 with an 11-42 tooth shimano cassette (I'm old & need the granny option on the hills occasionally). The rear derailleur works fine in all gear combos inc cross chaining 50-42. Required just the cassette & a longer chain set up.

[phil_d]

Good to see Shimano offering shorter crank arms. I use a 160mm 105 12-speed crankset on my 11-speed groupset. No issues in noise or shifting 👍🏻