Beginner Tries to Install Ultegra Di2 12-Speed

What do you get when you give an inexperienced home bike mechanic a brand new Shimano Ultegra 8100 Di2 12-speed groupset? You get a mess.

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[EditioCastigata]

Before removing your old group and installing the new 12s: Just remove the front derailler and install the new (tape the battery to the top tube and so on). Check whether it's able to shift (leave the chain in the middle at the back) reliably into the lower ring. The new 12s group is designed around a 1mm outboard setup and your frame could be outside tolerance. Most of the time you can work with a 1mm spacer (both sides of the crank!), but sometimes it doesn't work out and it would suck to reinstall everything.

[samuelcarter]

I didn’t realize you’d have to remove the bottom bracket to fish the wires through. Tough job!!! You did awesome for a first time, it’s not as intimidating as I thought it would be.

[hnworm]

Not having a speed link is kind of weird. The only real difficulty in doing things like upgrades, changes, and heavy maintenance is the tools (how often do you need a cable cutter or press-fit removal tool?). But once you have them, it's such a pleasure to work on your bike

[ridesofjapan]

Excellent work! Soon you’ll be rebuilding bikes just for fun on the weekend ;)

Also 60grams, definitely worth it ✊

And cheers for the plug!

[SaschaRissling]

Dude you really know how to do this youtube thing extremely well.
I'm only 34 seconds in so i cant say anything about the video.
Just wanted to tell you i'm a fan.
All the best from germany

[FordChristmas]

Hi
A tip!
When removing the wires and breakcables, when everything else is removed, I always attache the old ones to the new ones with tape, barbwire(a string of steel wire fits breakcables perfect and hold them together!). Then pull every old out together with routing the new through the frame. That way you dont have to try rute it afterwards. 👌🏼

[llgmota]

You are CRAZY and courageous… I would never try this at home, but I enjoyed every sec of your painful experience. Great video!

[GuidoGabriele]

It’s weird how the first time doing this seems so intimidating, but then you realize it’s all just screws and 90% of the bike can be assembled with one Allen key.

[CamNicholls]

Well done on persevering mate. I would have given up at minute one 😂

[edfranks]

I admire your courage, but nothing about this video convinces me I should ever try this myself. Kudos to you, sir!

[kevinhawker]

Chapeau to you‼️ I’d never set a deadline like that (would remind me too much of writing a late-night term-paper due the next day!!!). I’m building a Dura-Ace version; wish me luck‼️🙏‼️

[LukeRichardson]

Nice. I just did the same thing on my road bike this week - though I was changing from R8000 Ultegra with mechanical disks to 105 Di2 with hydraulic brakes. I was actually most worried about bleeding the hydraulic brakes, but despite having to cut the hoses to fit, the brakes worked without any sponginess right from the start - guess I was careful enough that I lost almost no brake fluid. With respect to the time issue, from my experience working against the clock basically never goes well. It always takes me quite a bit longer to do any work than I'd originally thought it would - and seemingly minor issues like your FD alignment problem are almost always the culprit for eating up huge amounts of time. Love my Di2 setup too, and can't wait to get out and get some real kms on it.

[Stevenvs]

I loved your printing videos and I subscribed for that reason. To see you uploading videos about cycling, which I also love, made me stay for the ride!

[RobertBeckk]

I love how you quote something, and my mind goes to the clip and then suddenly it cuts to the clip. very satisfying.

[ranlo.justin]

I'm a bit late to the party but thats such an awesome feat! I started taking apart and building my bikes around the same time you posted this video and I know exactly how you feel!!

Scheduling a bike build into a tight full-time employed schedule and also getting all the right parts/tools is stressful enough in itself!!

[longtianhao]

its the troubleshooting that usually takes time, effort and mental strength and im glad you held on and got it all fixed by yourself 👍

[hadhemilaouini]

Hands down my favourite cycling and entertainment channel. 🎉

[thomasbrotherhood]

Great video! And nice to see a crossover with Rides of Japan, another favorite channel.

[diegorobayo]

Some day i'll hope trying to do a full maintenance of my bike for myself, disassembly everything... i'll take the risk like you do with this epic video! BRAVO! PD. And the new Ultegra is simply awesome...

[blackfie]

After a wait, video didn't disappoint! 1:42 wait, you never broken/changed the chain before? 2:58 don't worry about the scratch. Gives it character