Is Shimano 105 the current industry standard?
Discussion
Phooey said:
Been looking at bikes (hybrids mainly) and from what i can gather so far Shimano 105 is considered to be the favorable gear set thingy. Is this worth looking for on a bike if buying one today?
Yes, it is the industry standard. That is partly because Shimano outsells every other brand by a mile and partly because it is very good.Unless you are a racer (or like to spend money) there isn't a reason to buy Ultegra or Dura-Ace, but parts are largely inter-changeable between these groupsets if you decide to upgrade either something specific or a piece at a time.
However, for balance SRAM and Campagnolo are both equally good in terms of day-to-day use. I'd say that Campagnolo is more expensive and unlikely to be seen on a hybrid and SRAM has a bigger chunk of the mountain bike market (and therefore perhaps hybrids) but despite making excellent road groupsets just hadn't got the volume of Shimano.
Bike groupsets are like cars these days - there aren't really any terrible ones (if you exclude the really cheap-end stuff that goes onto bike shaped objects in supermarkets etc).
IrateNinja said:
To be honest, in my experience there's not a lot wrong with Claris / Sora / Tiagra as well before you even get to the expense of 105.
I’ve not got any experience of the 105 set, but the difference between Sora and Ultegra is night and day. The indexing works much better, so much so that each change is quick and smooth with EVERY click of the shifters. The Sora set was nowhere near as accurate or reliable.I understand that the 105 set is very much the benchmark set.
bltamil1 said:
I’ve not got any experience of the 105 set, but the difference between Sora and Ultegra is night and day. The indexing works much better, so much so that each change is quick and smooth with EVERY click of the shifters. The Sora set was nowhere near as accurate or reliable.
.
Without wishing to doubt your experience, it was likely more due to other factors (set up, alignment) than to the actual components themselves..
A well-set-up Claris 8-speed groupset will be better to use than a poorly installed Dura-Ace one, for example.
Derailleur hangers are often out of whack on cheaper bikes. There´s no way you can the rear mech to index nicely in that case - and it won´t be the fault of the mech.
Also, fitting a posh(er) set of cables and outers (Jagwire Road Pro, for example) to cheap Shimano components transforms them when compared to cheap cables/outers.
Barchettaman said:
Without wishing to doubt your experience, it was likely more due to other factors (set up, alignment) than to the actual components themselves.
A well-set-up Claris 8-speed groupset will be better to use than a poorly installed Dura-Ace one, for example.
Derailleur hangers are often out of whack on cheaper bikes. There´s no way you can the rear mech to index nicely in that case - and it won´t be the fault of the mech.
Also, fitting a posh(er) set of cables and outers (Jagwire Road Pro, for example) to cheap Shimano components transforms them when compared to cheap cables/outers.
I know what you mean, I would have doubted it myself!A well-set-up Claris 8-speed groupset will be better to use than a poorly installed Dura-Ace one, for example.
Derailleur hangers are often out of whack on cheaper bikes. There´s no way you can the rear mech to index nicely in that case - and it won´t be the fault of the mech.
Also, fitting a posh(er) set of cables and outers (Jagwire Road Pro, for example) to cheap Shimano components transforms them when compared to cheap cables/outers.
My bike came fitted a Sora set and I could never get it to shift reliably. I would find myself giving the shifter an extra little squeeze to get it to shift and no amount of fettling would solve it. When it was wet it was an absolute nightmare, eventually I upgraded it to a complete Ultegra set, and I’ve never had a dodgy shift since. I’ve no doubt There were other factors at play, but it can’t have been blind luck.
Besides, the 3g saving in weight really makes me fly up the hills!
Phooey said:
Been looking at bikes (hybrids mainly) and from what i can gather so far Shimano 105 is considered to be the favorable gear set thingy. Is this worth looking for on a bike if buying one today?
No. It is however common on bikes around £1k, which I suppose is the upper limit of most peoples budgets when buying bikes, thanks in part fo cycle to work scheme. Nothing it eventually gets the tech and style of the two better group-sets (Ultegra/Dura Ace). Works well, lasts ages, is pretty cheap. Lovely job.
Most road bikes have 2 x 10 (10 speed) or 2 x 11 (11 speed). 11 speed is newer so Dura-Ace, Ultegra and now 105 are 11 speed groupsets. If you have 3 x 10 or 11 (or 12!), then you have a triple chainset. I wouldn’t bother with this, extra weight and faff for no real benefit.
I have 10 speed 105 on one bike, 11 speed Ultegra on the other. It makes no practical difference to the gears you have on the road, the range can be identical, you just have a slightly bigger jump somewhere.
You can also upgrade 10 speed fitted bikes to 11 speed, and I didn’t know this when I first got into road bikes. I thought you were stuck with 10 speed for the life of the frame.
I have 10 speed 105 on one bike, 11 speed Ultegra on the other. It makes no practical difference to the gears you have on the road, the range can be identical, you just have a slightly bigger jump somewhere.
You can also upgrade 10 speed fitted bikes to 11 speed, and I didn’t know this when I first got into road bikes. I thought you were stuck with 10 speed for the life of the frame.
MiseryStreak said:
Most road bikes have 2 x 10 (10 speed) or 2 x 11 (11 speed). 11 speed is newer so Dura-Ace, Ultegra and now 105 are 11 speed groupsets. If you have 3 x 10 or 11 (or 12!), then you have a triple chainset. I wouldn’t bother with this, extra weight and faff for no real benefit.
I have 10 speed 105 on one bike, 11 speed Ultegra on the other. It makes no practical difference to the gears you have on the road, the range can be identical, you just have a slightly bigger jump somewhere.
You can also upgrade 10 speed fitted bikes to 11 speed, and I didn’t know this when I first got into road bikes. I thought you were stuck with 10 speed for the life of the frame.
Brill. Thanks for explanation. I think the gearing on this should be ok then.. https://road.cc/content/review/269779-merida-speed...I have 10 speed 105 on one bike, 11 speed Ultegra on the other. It makes no practical difference to the gears you have on the road, the range can be identical, you just have a slightly bigger jump somewhere.
You can also upgrade 10 speed fitted bikes to 11 speed, and I didn’t know this when I first got into road bikes. I thought you were stuck with 10 speed for the life of the frame.
That looks like a very nice bike, apart from the bloody flat bar! I’m kidding, if you’re after a hybrid then flat bar it is.
Merida are very well regarded (apart from by the Colnago snobs), and it has Ultegra (but not the most expensive part which is the drop bar shifters).
There’s quite a lot of choice out there for hybrids with that budget. Is it just the review making you favour that one? You may be able to get a really good deal at a local bike shop or online.
Merida are very well regarded (apart from by the Colnago snobs), and it has Ultegra (but not the most expensive part which is the drop bar shifters).
There’s quite a lot of choice out there for hybrids with that budget. Is it just the review making you favour that one? You may be able to get a really good deal at a local bike shop or online.
bltamil1 said:
Barchettaman said:
Without wishing to doubt your experience, it was likely more due to other factors (set up, alignment) than to the actual components themselves.
A well-set-up Claris 8-speed groupset will be better to use than a poorly installed Dura-Ace one, for example.
Derailleur hangers are often out of whack on cheaper bikes. There´s no way you can the rear mech to index nicely in that case - and it won´t be the fault of the mech.
Also, fitting a posh(er) set of cables and outers (Jagwire Road Pro, for example) to cheap Shimano components transforms them when compared to cheap cables/outers.
I know what you mean, I would have doubted it myself!A well-set-up Claris 8-speed groupset will be better to use than a poorly installed Dura-Ace one, for example.
Derailleur hangers are often out of whack on cheaper bikes. There´s no way you can the rear mech to index nicely in that case - and it won´t be the fault of the mech.
Also, fitting a posh(er) set of cables and outers (Jagwire Road Pro, for example) to cheap Shimano components transforms them when compared to cheap cables/outers.
My bike came fitted a Sora set and I could never get it to shift reliably. I would find myself giving the shifter an extra little squeeze to get it to shift and no amount of fettling would solve it. When it was wet it was an absolute nightmare, eventually I upgraded it to a complete Ultegra set, and I’ve never had a dodgy shift since. I’ve no doubt There were other factors at play, but it can’t have been blind luck.
Besides, the 3g saving in weight really makes me fly up the hills!
MiseryStreak said:
That looks like a very nice bike, apart from the bloody flat bar! I’m kidding, if you’re after a hybrid then flat bar it is.
Merida are very well regarded (apart from by the Colnago snobs), and it has Ultegra (but not the most expensive part which is the drop bar shifters).
There’s quite a lot of choice out there for hybrids with that budget. Is it just the review making you favour that one? You may be able to get a really good deal at a local bike shop or online.
Merida are very well regarded (apart from by the Colnago snobs), and it has Ultegra (but not the most expensive part which is the drop bar shifters).
There’s quite a lot of choice out there for hybrids with that budget. Is it just the review making you favour that one? You may be able to get a really good deal at a local bike shop or online.
Got to be flat bar.. need somewhere to hang me basket
Yes, reviews were v.good which pricked my ears up. I've decided I'm in no rush, will buy something else eventually, but in the meantime quite enjoying window shopping on internet / ebay etc.
105 has been the sweet spot of the Shimano range for a while now (or at least since 5700). Within a couple years of any new whizz-bang DA being launched, you’ve most of the new tech, most of the new looks (should they matter), for a LOT less financial outlay and only a minor weight penalty (should it matter to you).
There’s always a good amount for sale on eBay (‘cos upgrades innit).
There’s always a good amount for sale on eBay (‘cos upgrades innit).
It it helps, I was in the exact same situation last Autumn - I wanted a road oriented flat bar but had no clue about gearsets etc.
As it was going to be my first real "proper" bike I know whatever it had would be a million miles ahead of the clunky 10 speed that my supermarket brand last bike had (20 odd years ago!)
I ended up going with a Cannondale that best suited my needs, had good reviews online, and was a good price at the time. As it happens, it does have 105's but if I'm honest I was less concerned about the gears and more focussed on it as a value proposition.
Cheers
PS
Also it changes SO fast and slick it's sweet as a nut :-)
As it was going to be my first real "proper" bike I know whatever it had would be a million miles ahead of the clunky 10 speed that my supermarket brand last bike had (20 odd years ago!)
I ended up going with a Cannondale that best suited my needs, had good reviews online, and was a good price at the time. As it happens, it does have 105's but if I'm honest I was less concerned about the gears and more focussed on it as a value proposition.
Cheers
PS
Also it changes SO fast and slick it's sweet as a nut :-)
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