This page compares the differences between the 11 and 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 cassettes in terms of model names, weight, cog size, and materials.
Shimano 11-speed cassettes
11-speed cassette models
| Comparison | Dura-Ace | Ultegra | 105 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | CS-R9100-11 | CS-R8000-11 | CS-R7000-11 |
| Technology | Hyperglide | Hyperglide | Hyperglide |
| Cog material | Titanium, steel | Steel | Steel |
| Spider material | Aluminum, carbon | Aluminum, carbon | Aluminum |
| Retail price (USD) | $270 – $293 | $87 – $94 | $54 – $57 |
| Where to buy | Amazon Competitive Cyclist Wiggle | Amazon Competitive Cyclist Wiggle | Amazon Competitive Cyclist Wiggle |
Dura-Ace vs Ultegra vs 105, 11-speed cassette weight
| Cassette size | Dura-Ace | Ultegra | 105 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-25T | 175g | 232g | |
| 11-28T | 193g | 251g | 284g |
| 11-30T | 211g | 269g | 304g |
| 11-32T | 320g | ||
| 12-25T | 189g | 243g | 269g |
| 12-28T | 205g | 292g | |
| 14-28T | 300g |
11-speed cassette materials
All Shimano 105 and Ultegra, 11-speed cassettes have steel cogs.
Steel and titanium are used in the 11-speed Dura-Ace cassette. From the photo above, the darker grey (largest 5) cogs are made from titanium to lower the overall weight to 211g for 11-30T.
The table below shows the breakdown between steel vs titanium cogs in a Shimano Dura-Ace, 11-speed cassette.
| Cog size | Steel cogs | Titanium cogs |
|---|---|---|
| 11-25T | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16T | 17, 19, 21, 23, 25T |
| 11-28T | 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19T | 19, 21, 23, 25, 28T |
| 11-30T | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17T | 19, 21, 24, 27, 30T |
| 12-25T | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17T | 18, 19, 21, 23, 25T |
| 12-28T | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17T | 19, 21, 23, 25, 28T |
Shimano 12-speed cassettes
12-speed cassette models
| Comparison | Dura-Ace | Ultegra | 105 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | CS-R9200-12 | CS-R8100-12 | CS-R7100-12 |
| Technology | Hyperglide+ | Hyperglide+ | Hyperglide |
| Cog material | Titanium, steel | Steel | Steel |
| Spider material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Retail price (USD) | $360 | $112 | $66 |
| Where to buy | Amazon Competitive Cyclist Wiggle | Amazon Competitive Cyclist Wiggle | Amazon Wiggle |
Dura-Ace vs Ultegra vs 105, 12-speed cassette weight
The Dura-Ace cassette is the lightest, followed by Ultegra and 105 cassettes.
The Dura-Ace cassette is up to 35% lighter because the cogs are made of titanium and steel. The Ultegra and 105 cogs are made from steel only.
| Cassette size | Dura-Ace | Ultegra | 105 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-30T | 223g | 291g | n/a |
| 11-34T | 253g | 345g | 361g |
12-speed Shimano cassette materials
The Shimano 105 and Ultegra, 12-speed cassette cogs are made entirely of steel.
On the contrary, the Shimano Dura-Ace, 12-speed cassette cogs are made of steel and titanium to lower the weight. Depending on cassette size, titanium is used in the largest five and/or six cogs. From the photo above, the darker grey (largest 6) cogs of an 11-30T cassette are made from titanium.
The table below shows the breakdown between steel vs titanium cogs in a Shimano Dura-Ace, 12-speed cassette.
| Model | Cassette size | Steel | Titanium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-30T | Dura-Ace | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17T | 19, 21, 24, 27, 30T |
| 11-34T | Dura-Ace | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17T | 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 34T |