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I'm sort-of new to road biking. I'm planing to upgrade my bike and group set slowly (since I'm a broke high school student). Right now I'm running Shimano Claris group set (except I have a R8000 Ultegra rear derailleur) because I'm planning to upgrade from 8 speed to 11 speed, however I don't have other shifter levers.

Can I use Shimano Claris levers for 11 speed?

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    The whole Claris groupset is built around 8 speeds with the 8 speed chain. The 11 speed casette would not work nicely at all and you would have only 8 speeds anyway.
    – Vladimir F Героям слава
    Commented Oct 14, 2019 at 12:10
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    A frame that came with Claris components probably isn't worth upgrading. Ride it until it dies, then upgrade to a newer bike - its far more economical. Also, the only thing you NEED from your gears is enough range (difference between highest and lowest) - more cogs are more of a luxury than an upgrade in my eyes.
    – Andy P
    Commented Oct 14, 2019 at 13:24
  • @AndyP A frame that came with a Claris groupset does not have to be bad at all. There are much fewer frame models than bike models. It is very likely the manufacturer sells the same frame on higher bike models as well. My Claris-based bike was also sold with 105 (and now is with GRX 400) and with 1x Apex. Also with the same wheels. And Claris is not a crap groupset at all, just a bit heavier and fewer speeds, but it works well.
    – Vladimir F Героям слава
    Commented Apr 29, 2020 at 13:24

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No, that will not work. The latest generation R2000 Claris groupset and it's predecessors are all 8 speed systems, so you can't select 11 sprockets on the cassette.

If you are thinking that you can use the 8 of the 11 sprockets, that won't work either.

A quick explanation of the differences between different 'speed' groupsets: the sprocket spacing on 8, 9, 11 and 11 speed systems gets progressively closer, the sprockets narrower and the external width of chains narrower also. Proper positioning of the derailleur over each sprocket is controlled by the incremental length of cable pulled by the shifter and the actuation ratio of the derailleur (the ratio of cable length pulled to lateral movement of the cage).

So, an 8 speed shifter, even with a 11 speed derailler, won't position the cage over the sprockets on an 11 speed cassette properly.

Additionally, the 11 speed Ultegra derailleur isn't compatible with the 8 speed Claris group. Shimano 11 speed road derailleurs have a different actuation ratio than 10 speed and below. Using an 11 speed derailleur with 8 speed shifters and cassette will give you trouble with indexing all the sprockets properly.

Shimano publishes extensive specifications and compatibility information you can consult to figure out what components work with each other https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/.

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