Groupset upgrade

[Frew]

I was hoping for some advice in upgrading my groupset.

My bike is a Giant Defy 3 with a compact Sora 9 speed groupset with 34/50 crankset and an 11-32 cassette.
As winter is approaching fast, I was looking into changing the brakes to Shimano 105's as I found my current brakes to be really lacking in wet weather.
I've realized during my research that there is compatibility issues in mixing up groupsets, so I have decided on taking the plunge and replacing my entire groupset for a Shimano 105 5800 11 speed groupset.

First things first, I can't see me being able to afford a brand new bike for the foreseeable future, so thought a new groupset would be the way to go.

There are a couple of hills on my local rides that I still find use of the small 34 chainring and the 32 cog on the cassette, but I am getting stronger on the hills as time goes by. Should I stick with 34/50 and 11-32 or would it be more sensible to struggle a bit on those hills and future proof my bike to 36/52 and 11-28? Does it make a lot of difference?

Also, is it worth spending that kind of money on this frame?

 

[busdennis]

if your planning on going 11 speed you will have to cost in some new wheels. For the price of a new groupset and new wheels you will be able to get a new bike in the sale and then have a spare bike or even sell the old bike to recoup some of the cost, worth thinking about?

How are your current brakes set as im unaware that sora brakes are less powerfull than 105

 

[Racing roadkill]

if your planning on going 11 speed you will have to cost in some new wheels. For the price of a new groupset and new wheels you will be able to get a new bike in the sale and then have a spare bike or even sell the old bike to recoup some of the cost, worth thinking about?

How are your current brakes set as im unaware that sora brakes are less powerfull than 105

The Sora brakes are dreadful, much much less effective than the 105 brakes, and that's in the dry. You won't need new wheels, you may need a new freehub body on the rear wheel, that will fit an 11 speed cassette. Don't go with a semi compact chainset, unless you are planning on going into competition. I'd stick with a compact 34 / 50 up front, and an 11-28 cassette if I were you. I've got a 34 / 50, 11-28 on my 11 speed Ultegra'd bike, it's fine for even the biggest hills I regularly ride in this country.

 

[davidphilips]

easy and cheap thing would be buy secondhand 105 calipers form ebay, you could always sell your old calipers to cut the cost, keep this as a winter bike and start looking and saving for another bike if you have room.

 

[cosmicbike]

Cheap 105 5700 or 5800 calipers from eBay, compatibility not an issue. Replace stock pads with Koolstop Salmons. Much improved braking performance, especially in the wet.
Money saved goes towards n+1

 

[S-Express]

First things first, I can't see me being able to afford a brand new bike for the foreseeable future, so thought a new groupset would be the way to go.

Depends what you are expecting to achieve by spending money on a new groupset. In reality, nothing much is likely to change and if your current kit is still working fine, then it's likely to make even less difference. A move from 9 to 11 speed is also likely to require a new wheelset as well, just in case you hadn't considered that. Changing brake pads is going to make more of a difference than changing calipers, so my suggestion is to save your money, fit some new bar tape, some new pads and maybe some new tyres - which is the cheapest way of getting a 'new bike' feel for the least spend - and then spend the rest on some decent clothing and mudguards which will enable you to keep riding through the winter.

 

[T4tomo]

Yep koolstop salmon or swissstop green pads is the first and cheapest change to make and then upgrade to 2nd hand 105 calipers if the pads alone don't sort it.

Changing the rest of the Groupset isn't worth it. Sora works fine, it changes gear, plus 9spd cassettes and chains etc are so ,I have cheaper than 11 spd so all you are doing is increasing your running costs.

 

[Joffey]

5800 105 is a great groupset. I would start off with your current 50-34 set up and you can change at a later date for not much outlay.

If you wanna sort your brakes out on the cheap maybe just swap in some better break pads for starters (Koolstop Salmons are good) and if that doesn't work just swap out your callipers. There shouldn't be any compatibility issues just swapping callipers over.

But if you want a whole new groupset go for it! You won't regret it!!

 

[Racing roadkill]

If you go for a calliper swap and pad change, make sure you get the right type of calipers, Shimano do both a pivot mount and direct mount option.

 

[Frew]

Thank you for all your helpful replies.
My first thought was to buy 105 5800 calipers from ebay but while researching read in a description "Must be used in conjunction with ST-5800, ST-6800 or ST-9000 STIs for correct leverage ratio".
It made me think that my 3500 levers would be far from compatible, but if thats not the case then that would be my best bet.

 

[mjr]

If you wanna sort your brakes out on the cheap maybe just swap in some better break pads for starters (Koolstop Salmons are good) and if that doesn't work just swap out your callipers. There shouldn't be any compatibility issues just swapping callipers over.

^^ This. Swapping out generally-awful short Shimano pads for longer holders and pads of a better compound will probably improve braking enough and if it doesn't, then you can transfer the new parts to new calipers. Road pads in calipers with never be as strong as hub brakes or even 70mm-pad V-brakes, but it should be OK.

 

[S-Express]

It made me think that my 3500 levers would be far from compatible, but if thats not the case then that would be my best bet.

It wouldn't be your best bet though. Best bet would be to spend a significantly lower sum on some new pads first, to see if that makes a difference. It probably will.

 

[Racing roadkill]

It wouldn't be your best bet though. Best bet would be to spend a significantly lower sum on some new pads first, to see if that makes a difference. It probably will.

First bit is good, last bit is not so good.

 

[S-Express]

First bit is good, last bit is not so good.

Can you be a bit clearer?

 

[Frew]

Thanks very much.

Logic dictates that I should start with the cheapest option and move forward from there.