Components?

Pottsie said:

I'm purchasing my first road bike. I was told not to get one with anything less than 105 components. Is this correct?

If you plan on actually riding a lot then it's probably a reasonable rule. It's a good indication that you are buying something that is meant for more than occassionally riding around the block.

Bro Deal said:

If you plan on actually riding a lot then it's probably a reasonable rule. It's a good indication that you are buying something that is meant for more than occassionally riding around the block.

That's a bit harsh on Tiagra - it's a dependable, if blingless, groupset.

Pottsie said:

I'm purchasing my first road bike. I was told not to get one with anything less than 105 components. Is this correct?

Complete bollocks. Why would Shimano manufacture three groups under the 105 if that would be the case?

I haven't ridden Sora, but I've done at least 4000+Ks on Tiagra and it's flawless (hell....I've done 4000+K on RSX and that was flawless as well..). Only major disadvantage is that Tiagra is it a 9-speed vs 10-speed for 105 and above (which is only recent for the 105).

Assess your riding needs. If you're going to be riding recreationally up to 100K / week, a Tiagra groupset will be more than enough.

cheers

LeDomestique said:

Complete bollocks. Why would Shimano manufacture three groups under the 105 if that would be the case?

I haven't ridden Sora, but I've done at least 4000+Ks on Tiagra and it's flawless (hell....I've done 4000+K on RSX and that was flawless as well..). Only major disadvantage is that Tiagra is it a 9-speed vs 10-speed for 105 and above (which is only recent for the 105).

Assess your riding needs. If you're going to be riding recreationally up to 100K / week, a Tiagra groupset will be more than enough.

cheers

Sora, Tiagra - what's the third?

Tiagra is adequate for any amount/week of recreational riding, and you wouldn't lose much time in low grade races with it, either.

Sora is a little heavier than the others but will last for years, I don't think you can break it - I think most people start with Sora. I use 105 now, excellent feel to the levers and they have the extra lever rather than the button like Sora.

I've got Ultegra cranks, maybe somewhat lighter, but really they do the job pretty much in the same fashion.

I've never used Tiagra though.

artemidorus said:

Sora, Tiagra - what's the third?

2200. It's a parcial (non-complete) group under Sora.

shimano.com.aucategory.jspOpen ↗

I rode 10,000+ miles on Tiagra/RSX before getting a new bike 2.5 years ago. The stuff worked flawlessly. It wasn't light, and certainly didn't have the bling-factor; but it worked.

I have now put 15,000+ miles on the replacement bike (with all Ultegra except for 105 cranks), and that has all worked flawlessly, except that I tend to go through bottom brackets like no one else I know...

Anything you get will work if you take care of it. But still get the best you can afford! My new bike will have SRAM Force bit and pieces, and I look forward to that as well.

Pottsie said:

I'm purchasing my first road bike. I was told not to get one with anything less than 105 components. Is this correct?

How thin can you slice the balogna?

Shimano makes 5 road bike component group sets. None of them are really bad. As you move progressively up the food chain, the components get a little lighter in weight and operate a little more crisply. Honestly, I can't tell the difference if I move up or down only 1 groupset but I can feel the difference if I change two levels.

Shimano's Dura-ace are at the top of the food chain, but as far as durability, Shimano's Ultegra beats thier Dura-ace. Most people buy the Dura-ace because it's considered Shimano's best and they think they have the bling. If you are not going to race save your money and get the Ultegra components.

deckard said:

Shimano's Dura-ace are at the top of the food chain, but as far as durability, Shimano's Ultegra beats thier Dura-ace. Most people buy the Dura-ace because it's considered Shimano's best and they think they have the bling. If you are not going to race save your money and get the Ultegra components.

What do you base that on? Aside from the some BB and chain problems that have plagued Dura Ace, which were due to poor designs and later fixed, what is there on Dura Ace that would be less durable than Ultegra? The Dura Ace shifters are a big step up in quality compared to Ultegra.

Bro Deal said:

What do you base that on? Aside from the some BB and chain problems that have plagued Dura Ace, which were due to poor designs and later fixed, what is there on Dura Ace that would be less durable than Ultegra? The Dura Ace shifters are a big step up in quality compared to Ultegra.

Easy,
Ultegra is a heavier construction, meaning built sturdier. There is a 8 oz weight difference (Dura-ace being the lighter). Dura-ace also has to be adjusted more often than Ultegra. I'm not saying Dura-Ace is garbage, but for abuse, the Ultegra will hold up better. If your doing time trials and racing Dura-ace is great and better suited. I have the Dura-ace on my Giant (repaired and adjusted 5 times in one year) but I went with the Ulterga on my Carbon Soloist as it was cheaper and I mostly do long rides. Unless your an professional athlete you will not tell the difference. By cutting cost on the componenets I purchased better wheels, which I needed for hills.

deckard said:

Easy, Ultegra is a heavier construction, meaning built sturdier. There is a 8 oz weight difference (Dura-ace being the lighter).

Right now I am pretty worried. My Record components are even lighter than Dura Ace. I guess they might fall apart on me at any time. 😉 The weight differences are largely due to product differentiation. Ultegra is intentionally made heavier so it gives people a reason to buy Dura Ace, just as 105 is made heavier than Ultegra.

deckard said:

Dura-ace also has to be adjusted more often than Ultegra. I'm not saying Dura-Ace is garbage, but for abuse, the Ultegra will hold up better. If your doing time trials and racing Dura-ace is great and better suited. I have the Dura-ace on my Giant (repaired and adjusted 5 times in one year) but I went with the Ulterga on my Carbon Soloist as it was cheaper and I mostly do long rides. Unless your an professional athlete you will not tell the difference. By cutting cost on the componenets I purchased better wheels, which I needed for hills.

I think it's more likely that your Dura Ace stuff was not adjusted well to start out with. If your DA setup keeps drifting out of adjustment then something is wrong.

I am sure a couple hundred grams saved on wheels will make you a lot faster. Didn't we just have a thread on that.

105 offers the best value for money as an OEM group IMO, not as aftermarket. If you want to 'upgrade' you aer better off biting the bullet and slowly moving to Dura-Ace or Record parts, cause there is nowhere to go after that. As a group, 105 is excellent. I ride a BMC SL01 with 105, though many would say it deserves better, I will ride it until parts of it break then I will change them up to Dura Ace (thanks to Crank n' cycles. Owned by weightweenie ejm). Ultegra is the kind of group you go for on a bike if you don't want to upgrade or don't plan to. 105 -presents a much cheaper OEM option which gives you a little extra money and a reason to eventually change things over.

Any thoughts on Campag? I like the look of chorus.

deckard said:

Most people buy the Dura-ace because it's considered Shimano's best

MOST people? So most bikes out there are fitted with DA?. Nonsense

deckard said:

If you are not going to race save your money and get the Ultegra components.

He was asking about 105....you just made him go up another level for no reason.

bobbyOCR said:

Any thoughts on Campag? I like the look of chorus.

Well, I ride older Chorus (last year before carbon - 2004 I think), and it is wonderful. I would purchase the new Chorus to save on Record - and I salivate re: the ultratorque!

I have always preferred Campy over Shimano. When I think of the "soul" of cycling, it's definitely Campagnolo. I think it's inexcusable for a manufacturer to have major issues with its top-line component group (based only on what I've read here.) Unfortunately, fewer and fewer bike manufacturers spec Campy groups...even the Mirage and Veloce on lower price-point bikes. One of my bikes has a 1995 Chorus 8-speed group and it's still going strong after 40 or 50,000 miles. The finish on the brakes and crank still look almost new and the Ergo levers are still going strong. I like the fact that nearly all of the Campy line is cross compatible and completely serviceable - especially the Ergo levers. I prefer the clean look of the cable routing with the Ergo levers, too. I recommend Veloce or, if you're able, Centaur. The higher you go in the Campy line, the better your resale value will be, too. There's quite a market for used Campy parts, just take a look on eBay.

I just picked up a new BMC SL01 and I'll probably throw Centaur on it for now. They should both last years and you'll have the heart and soul of a real Italian cycling company behind you. Not a place that makes fishing reels, too. 😄

The main point is to get out and ride, no matter what you're on!

Powerful Pete said:

Well, I ride older Chorus (last year before carbon - 2004 I think), and it is wonderful. I would purchase the new Chorus to save on Record - and I salivate re: the ultratorque!

LeDomestique said:

MOST people? So most bikes out there are fitted with DA?. Nonsense

He was asking about 105....you just made him go up another level for no reason.

that's not what I meant. Most first time buyers are swayed toward the Dura-ace because it'a already on the bike and they do not know they can have it switched out (cheaper) or the LBS talks them into it. My first road bike was very basic until I rode for awhile, then I gradually upgraded. I am just trying to help the guy save some money and buy what is suited for his riding. no harm.

I used the Ultegra as a medium standard. Happy riding.

deckard said:

that's not what I meant. Most first time buyers are swayed toward the Dura-ace because it'a already on the bike and they do not know they can have it switched out (cheaper) or the LBS talks them into it.
I used the Ultegra as a medium standard. Happy riding.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound rude, but I guess I'm a bit annoyed by people recommending top-notch gear when it is not really necessary.

I come from a 3rd world country where bike gear is expensive (very). All my bikes were lowerish end as far as components go. One time I sold my old bike, and decided I was going to take the plunge with the new one: I was going to get a 105 rear derrailer. The rest of the bike was Tiagra. You get the picture. I put more than 4000K on that bike and with proper maintenance, the Tiagra performed flawlesly.
When I read things such as "the minimum you can get is 105" to a guy who's going to do 50-100 km /week, I get ...well...upset.

On the other hand (there's always another hand)....if you enjoy the sport and you can afford top notch, then....by all means go ahead and burn your hard-earned cash. God knows its feels great to ride DA or Record (I do now...). But do so because you ENJOY riding it, not because someone missinformed you.

cheers