I have just gotten my 2014 R3 105, have 100 miles of continental divide climbing on it and decided I'd like to put it on a diet and also visit the style salon. I'm having my lbs (Great Divide Cyclery) order up the following: I'd love your suggestions and comments before I pull the trigger.
Cogset: Ultegra 11-32
Crankset: Rotor 3D Plus 50/34 or FSA SL-K Light Compact 50/34
Chain: Dura Ace
Rear Derailleur: Ultegra 6800 long cage
Front Derailleur: Ultegra 6800
Shifters: Ultegra 6800 STI
Brakes: Ultegra 6800
Wheelset: Roval Rapide CLX 40 (1375g)
Skewers: Zipp Titanium Road
Seatpost: ENVE 25mm setback
Saddle: Fizik Antares VS Braided
Stem: 3T ARX II Team Stealth
Handlebars: 3T Ergonova Stealth

Look like you've know what you want to upgrade, that is a lot improve from you stock kits. Would be nice that up load some pics before and after, of course weight as well.

I'm curious why you are going from 105 to Ultegra. That seems like a relatively small but costly upgrade. Why not just go "whole hog" to dura ace? I ask only because the r3 105 is a bike I'm considering purchasing and upgrading piece by piece. Looks like a great upgrade spec otherwise.

I chose Ultegra over Dura Ace primarily based on the ROI. The Ultegra 6800 components are very similar in build and function to the DA with a small weight penalty. I have to make some compromises along the way to keep the budget reasonable. My lbs is going to set me up with the 6800 shifters, brakes, cables, derailleurs and cogset along with a DA chain and install for a super sweet price (I just bought an Ultegra equiped Roubaix for my wife and the R3 for me, also buying the Rovals and other upgrades from them). If you ride the Shimano 105 and 6800 Ultegra bikes you will see a significant performance jump and weight drop between the two groups. My wife's Ultegra 6800 bike is velvet compared to my 105.
BTW, I am loving the ride of the R3; fast, surprisingly comfortable and nimble.

looks good but is the Enve seatpost necessary ? It's nice but expensive and seatposts don't make much difference.

Honestly, the ENVE seatpost is pretty much an esthetic add and will only drop 30-35g which figures out to about $10/gram!

Looks like a great upgrade to a great frame although matching stem, bars, post, etc. always looks better in my opinion. Maybe look to a 3T seatpost as well?

_________________
650b Ritchey
Colnago Mapei
S-Works Tarmac

Following rule #5, I would suggest putting your 105 on your wife's bike. Then putting her Ultegra on your bike.

Sound cool but you might end up sleeping in the garage

Going with the ENVE carbon stem, saw it at my lbs today and it's sweet.

As a Cervelo owner, I really tend to use 3T parts. Is this a bad thing?

lol, that's definitely a bad ROI.

judging from your want list, you probably should have just bought the ultegra r3 and a set of wheels. but since you didn't, i would suggest you just swap out the wheels, crank, handlebar, and get a light weight set of brakes. it would also be cheaper to just buy ti bolts for the stem instead of buying a 3t team stem. the enve stuff is very nice, and if you want to plunk down the coin for it, by all means do so, but you're not going to save much weight. if it were me, i'd out that money towards a thm crank.

I was able to buy the R3-105 and have the shop install the full Ultegra 6800 groupset (minus crankset) for $1000 less than buying the R3-Ultegra. Since I would have been replacing the wheel set, handlebars, saddle, stem and seatpost anyway it really made $1000 more sense to buy the one I did and build it the way I wanted. I get it this afternoon all built up including the Roval Rapide CLX 40 wheel set. I'll let you know the before and after weight.

Since you mention the R3 105 and R3 Ultegra is it true that the frames are different? R3 105 being last years frame and Ultegra beign this years( with trickle down R5 tech)?