Shimano 105 5800: 11-speed, the third

Test: Shimano released the new one in March of this year 105he presented, which bears the series nickname 5800. The special thing about the group is that it also takes the step that has already been taken before it Dura-Ace as well as those ultegra gone and now has 11 sprockets on the cassette.

In the past few weeks we have been able to get a better impression of the qualities of the group. The first thing to look at is the compared to the Shimano 105 5700 much more grippy and more compactly shaped brake-shift lever. They weigh 484 grams and only refer to the group membership at the end of the lever. Drivers with small hands also have the option of adjusting the lever width.

Another innovation is the extended lever arm on the front derailleur. This allows significantly more pressure and guides the chain noticeably faster over the blades than its predecessor. It also has a new spring mechanism, which also improves the shifting performance, but it lags behind its model siblings in terms of the manual force to be applied and the perceived precision Dura-Ace and ultegra stays behind.

The crank is different. With a semi-compact gear ratio of 750 grams, this is heavier than Shimano's more expensive models, but offers flawless performance in use. It is positive that the Japanese are also using the new four-arm system here, which allows the blades to be easily changed from standard 53/39 to compact 50/34.

The new rear derailleur from Shimano 105 features a short cage. It weighs 225 grams and can shift sprockets with up to 28 teeth. For those who think that's not enough, Shimano offers a rear derailleur with a medium cage that also accepts 32 teeth. The rear derailleur also has the new spring mechanism and shifts relatively crisply and precisely.

But while the shifting performance is an expected improvement over the 105 5700 offered, the braking performance caused amazement. Heavier riders in particular are likely to be able to handle the comparatively low pressure old stopper know, but Shimano has got this problem under control with the new brakes. Even fast descents can be tackled with the current model - that was by no means the case before. The Dura-Ace pack even more powerfully, but if you don't want to race but just enjoy your time on the bike, you have a trustworthy partner here.

Conclusion

The new Shimano 105 5800 not only comes 11 times, but also takes over many other advantages of the brand siblings Dura-Ace and ultegra. In terms of weight and performance, it lags somewhat behind them. However, if you consider the group price of just under 400 euros, you get an attractive price-performance ratio here. The shifting performance is good and not only looks good on mid-range bikes. What is really impressive, however, is the significantly improved braking performance.