Upgrading an ST2 to the Di2 derailleur/ cassette of the ST2s

[Chuck E. Cheese]

I've had my ST2 for only a few weeks and despite having to replace the motor control cable, I am as thrilled with the bike as any purchase I have ever made. However...

I had a chance to ride an ST2s yesterday. Holy smokes. The shifting is on a whole other level. I never use the small chainring anyway, so what I'd like to do is convert the bike to a Di2 (or SRAM or whichever is the best price/ performance solution) and ditch the small chain ring altogether. Has anyone tried this? Is it easily doable? I'd have my LBS do the swap, but I'm not certain whether it can even be done without crazy expense and modification. Ideally, I'd just remove the front derailleur and shifter, remove the small chainring and install the Di2 rear system and shifter. Is this a relatively straightforward procedure? I've had the guts of the bike out once already to do the motor swap, and it looks like there is room to run the control cable from the shifter internally through the down tube and through the chain stay. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Can be done.

You will need the

Derailleur
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-xtr-di2-m9050-11-speed-rear-mech/rp-prod119809
Display
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-xt-di2-mt800-system-display/rp-prod148578
battery + shifter etc.

It IS going to be expensive.

People have done it. Those who want this level of componentry simply get the ST2-S instead of going through all the upgrade process.

 

[Stromer2work]

lol I dislike my shimano Di2. The upshift is a far, unnatural reach for me, exacerbated by the position of the stromer speed/headlight control. with my st1x and the normal style manual shifting, my right grip is firm while I shift. With the st2x, my grip is light and I ride in bad potholes and city setting. no, i'm not interested in parting it out , I just would prefer a high quality manual system instead.

 

[bluecat]

I had a chance to ride an ST2s yesterday. Holy smokes. The shifting is on a whole other level.

A test ride is always the way to be convinced (or not).

Once you did this expensive upgrade, you might come back on the topic of optimized acceleration

 

[bluecat]

The upshift is a far, unnatural reach for me, exacerbated by the position of the stromer speed/headlight control.

Are you considering changing the assignment of the Up / Down buttons using the Shimano e-tube project?

 

[Chuck E. Cheese]

I met with my LBS to talk about the upgrade. They suggested I wait a year. New wireless technology is just coming out, with Sram being the first to offer a wireless solution where the batteries for both the shifter and the derailleur incorporated into the components themselves. The shifter uses radio frequency to talk to the derailleur. Right now the only Sram wireless system only works with their 12 gear cassettes which my LBS didn't think would fit on the ST2 wheel. That motor takes up a lot of space. If I were to do the Di2 right now, with all the extra bits and pieces like batteries/ battery holders, cables etc., I'd be looking at around $1300 in parts depending on how invisible I wanted to make it. When I spoke with them over the phone yesterdy he thought it could probably be done for $1000. I'd pay that. But once he saw the bike and how tight everything is, and once I explained what it takes to remove the battery compartment etc., he thinks it could be $1500 or more depending on labor. that's too much. If, in a year, there are more options and more elegant solutions I'll do it.

If my wife knew I was looking at throwing another thousand dollars at a bike she already thought was too expensive there would be hell to pay. I suppose she would have a point. When the XT derailleur is adjusted well it shifts fine. I should be happy with what I've got. For now...

 

[smitty]

You might want to consider selling your ST-2 and moving up? Not only do you get the electronic shifting...you get better brakes, lights, and a larger capacity battery...

 

[Kurt S]

lol I dislike my shimano Di2. The upshift is a far, unnatural reach for me, exacerbated by the position of the stromer speed/headlight control. with my st1x and the normal style manual shifting, my right grip is firm while I shift. With the st2x, my grip is light and I ride in bad potholes and city setting. no, i'm not interested in parting it out , I just would prefer a high quality manual system instead.

I swapped the placement of the shifter and the speed/headlight control so it is now next to the grip -

 

[Stromer2work]

I swapped the placement of the shifter and the speed/headlight control so it is now next to the grip -

ya that's what I intend to do, but too many bikes, and only one of me lol. Like you, probably figured, much more likely to just put the motor in a speed boost stetting and ride, but gear changes are very frequent. I don't know wny they didn't set the bike up this way in the first place, but no worries, it's a small change. I haven't ridden the ST2S in a while. I use the ST1x as my daily mule. I just bought another ST2s so time to sell the ST1x and put the ST2s into rotation as my daily mule. Thanks for the reply.

Update 7/27/18. I did switch out the order of shifter and controller on ST2s #2 ( named Utica ) last night and used it today on my commute. I still don't like the Di2 shifter, not ergonomic at all. It's in the way of my thumb wrapping around the grip for a firm hold on the grip when I'm in city traffic and ramped curbs, etc. I'll get used to it, I"m sure, as the ST2s (utica) is now my daily commuter, replacing the ST1x that's for sale now.

 

[Chuck E. Cheese]

Here's a bump to an old thread.

Today I replaced my ST2's OEM XT derailleur with an XT clutch derailleur. That's the one that should have come with the bike in the first place. As a commuter, I ride on some pretty rough roads at relatively high speed. Though I didn't have a problem with chain drops, I did have issues with skipping gears and lots of chain slap. The list price for the new derailleur is only a few dollars more than the list price of the OEM one. The difference it makes in how the bike handles on rough roads is more than worth the difference. So now I have a spare XT with low milage. Maybe I'll need it one day. I don't expect to though.