I need a new front mech for my commuter which has 105 shifters that are about 8 years old. I’ve seen this on ebay and various other sites Shimano 105 FD-5700 Double 10 Speed Front Mech but it states ‘For use with 105 ST-5700 or Ultegra ST-6700 shifters only for optimum shifting performance’.

Now I’m guessing that the cable pull must be different on these shifters but I’m also guesing it should still work – just that the shifting may not be at its ‘optimum’.

Any ideas?

if the pull is different it won’t work. Every shift will get things slightly more and more out of sync. No amount of fettling will make it right.

But I do recall that the road shifters might be the same cable pull.

mmm I’m kinda at a loss what to buy then.

just realised it’s front and only a double, sorry, still not awake. FD should be the same pull and if you only have a double then get a double one for the best fit.

They did tweak the front mech pull, it will work, but as you rightly say, it’s not optimal. Andy’s point about “every shift” is fairly irrelevant, it’s going up and down!

You need a 5600, 6600 or 7800 serise front mech for optimum shifting. I may have one if you struggle.

Edit: Andy’s starting to wake up, but is still wrong, they’re not the same, although they will work.

Edit edit: here’s one

£31.99!!, found one on ebay for £17.99.

But as you say its only two shifts so can’t imagine it would be that far out.

yeah I was thinking it was the shifters he was replacing 😳

If it’s only a double it’s only 1 shift each way. I thought they would have kept the pull the same on the road front as they did with the mtb front.

Would a sram FD be compatible? I’ve got Ultegra 10 speed on my road bike but has a Sram FD. Built by a friend for me and that was all he had and it seems to work perfect.

Would a sram FD be compatible?

Dunno but I couldn’t mix sram and shimano – it’s morally wrong 🙂

so are road bikes 😉

If it’s only a double it’s only 1 shift each way. I thought they would have kept the pull the same on the road front as they did with the mtb front.

Yes, that’s the bit where you’re wrong.

It’s a subtle change, and it will work, but they did change.

SRAM front mech (or FSA) will work, again, not 100%, but plenty good enough.

so are road bikes

And yet here you are replying to this thread 🙄

it was tongue in cheek 🙄

This site is helpful for figuring out what goes with what.

http://www.celebrazio.net/bicycling/shimano_compatibility.html

I would bet that the current 10sp tiagra front mechs will have the same pull ratio as they inherited the 5700 designs, 15quid from ribble

merlin have the ultegra one for 19 quid…

yeh the ultegra one isn’t the right size.

Missed what shifters you have but I have a 5700 FD working with 5600 STI…

No idea which shifters, they’re around 9 year old 105, not sure what the code is. I’ve bought now anyway, if its doesn’t work well I’ll stick it on ebay.