Shimano Road Bike Component Compatibility Summary

Brakes Have the Widest Compatibility

Brakes are among the most compatible parts within Shimano’s road bike components. As a general rule, if the STI lever is compatible, brakes across different grades—both higher and lower—can often be used interchangeably.

For example, even an entry-level CLARIS STI lever can sometimes be used with a top-tier DURA-ACE brake caliper.

Since new brakes are relatively affordable, they are one of the easiest components to upgrade individually.

Selecting Shimano Brakes for Road Bikes: A Summary of Model Numbers

Brakes are an important part of a road bike that is responsible for braking. In this article, we will discuss how to select Shimano brakes for road bikes, which are of high quality and highly available in Japan, and summarize the model numbers of each grade of brake.

Drivetrains Are Compatible if the Front and Rear Speeds Match

One of the most popular upgrades for components is upgrading the drivetrain (speed configuration).

Not only does it enhance the aesthetics, but increasing the number of gears also broadens the range of riding options. For many riders, upgrading a road bike means upgrading the drivetrain.

Shimano road bike components offer the following gear combinations:

• 2x12-speed (DURA-ACE, ULTEGRA, 105)
• 2x11-speed (DURA-ACE, ULTEGRA, 105)
• 2x10-speed (ULTEGRA, 105, TIAGRA)
• 3x10-speed (ULTEGRA, 105, TIAGRA)
• 2x9-speed (SORA)
• 3x9-speed (SORA)
• 2x8-speed (CLARIS)
• 3x8-speed (CLARIS)

DURA-ACE, ULTEGRA, and 105 (2x12-speed) Are Cross-Compatible

Shimano’s latest road bike components—DURA-ACE R9200 series, ULTEGRA R8100 series, and 105 R7100 series—are all compatible with each other as they share the same 2x12-speed drivetrain platform.

Older series like DURA-ACE R9100, ULTEGRA R8000, and 105 R7000 are 2x11-speed, so they are not compatible with the 2x12-speed groups.

Older DURA-ACE, ULTEGRA, and 105 (2x11-speed) Are Cross-Compatible

The older 2x11-speed components—DURA-ACE R9100, ULTEGRA R8000, and 105 R7000 series—are generally cross-compatible as long as the drivetrain uses the same number of speeds.

However, within the 105 lineup, there are differences: while both the R7000 and 5800 series are 2x11-speed, the 5700 series is 2x10-speed and is not compatible.

Older ULTEGRA, 105, and TIAGRA (2x10-speed) Have Partial Compatibility

The 2x10-speed models from ULTEGRA, 105, and TIAGRA offer some compatibility if they share the same number of gears. However, note that the current TIAGRA 4700 series (2x10-speed) is not compatible with ULTEGRA 6700, 105 5700, or the older TIAGRA 4600.

Also, in the 10-speed drivetrain lineup, there are both 2x10-speed and 3x10-speed combinations. If the number of front gears differs—even with the same rear speeds—you may need to replace the STI levers, front derailleur, and rear derailleur as a set. (In some cases, changing just the front derailleur and crank may suffice.)

SORA and CLARIS Have No Compatibility Due to Unique Gear Counts

SORA (2x or 3x9-speed) and CLARIS (2x or 3x8-speed) use unique speed configurations that do not exist in other groupsets. As a result, they are generally not compatible with higher-end or lower-end models.

However, as mentioned earlier, brakes tend to be highly compatible across grades, so these may still work together in many cases.

Front Derailleur and Crank Can Be Compatible If Speed Count Matches

Front drivetrain components—specifically the front derailleur and crank—can often be used interchangeably across groupsets if the front and rear gear counts are the same. However, compatibility may not be guaranteed for older models, especially with higher-end components.

R-Series and Previous x800 Series Often Share Compatibility

In many cases, Shimano’s current R-series (e.g., XX-R7000) and the previous generation x800 series (e.g., XX-6800) are mutually compatible.

For example, the ULTEGRA ST-6800 STI levers (x800 series) are compatible with the newer 105 FD-R7000 front derailleur (R-series).

Once you go back two or more generations, compatibility generally drops off.

Cases Where Compatibility Fails Despite Matching Speeds or Generations

When Using Di2 Electronic Shifting Components

While mechanical drivetrain components are often cross-compatible if gear counts match, Di2 electronic shifting components are not.

Di2 systems require dedicated versions of:

1. STI levers
2. Front derailleur
3. Rear derailleur

These parts are not interchangeable with their mechanical counterparts.

When Brake Types Differ

Modern Shimano road bike brakes come in two types:

• Mechanical brakes (cable-actuated calipers)
• Hydraulic disc brakes (actuated via internal hydraulic systems in STI levers)

If the brake system types differ, even if the group and speed count match, the components are not compatible.

For example:

• Mechanical STI levers cannot operate hydraulic calipers
• Hydraulic STI levers cannot pull mechanical calipers

Generally, rim brakes are mechanical and disc brakes are hydraulic in Shimano’s road components (though exceptions exist).

As we’ve seen, Shimano road bike components offer strong compatibility across generations and models. This opens up possibilities for affordable upgrades using second-hand or mixed parts.

That said, always refer to official documentation for exact compatibility.

Shimano Compatibility Information