Groupset upgrade

[Racing roadkill]

My commuter has Sora, and originally had Tiagra calipers. The brakes were useless.

I did the often recommended first upgrade to Swisstop green pads. They were still useless.

Then I swapped to 5800 calipers - a massive improvement. More stopping power than I could ever need in the dry and okay/good in the wet - especially from the drops. I've not bothered to try the Swissstop pads yet - just using the ones that came with the calipers.

Don't bother with 5700 calipers. They're a completely different design and probably no better than what you have now.

I'd agree with this.

 

[S-Express]

I'd agree with this.

I wouldn't. If the poster thought that Tiagra brakes were 'useless' then there must have been somethign wrong with his setup and/or maintenance.

 

[T4tomo]

My commuter has Sora, and originally had Tiagra calipers. The brakes were useless.

I did the often recommended first upgrade to Swisstop green pads. They were still useless.

Then I swapped to 5800 calipers - a massive improvement. More stopping power than I could ever need in the dry and okay/good in the wet - especially from the drops. I've not bothered to try the Swissstop pads yet - just using the ones that came with the calipers.

Don't bother with 5700 calipers. They're a completely different design and probably no better than what you have now.

If you put the Swiss stop pads in you'll find the performance in the wet is much better.

 

[outlash]

I wouldn't. If the poster thought that Tiagra brakes were 'useless' then there must have been somethign wrong with his setup and/or maintenance.

This.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I wouldn't. If the poster thought that Tiagra brakes were 'useless' then there must have been somethign wrong with his setup and/or maintenance.

I regularly change bits of groupsets on my various bikes, to fit the sorts of rides I'll be doing on particular bikes. The poster that thought Tiagra brakes were relatively useless, is spot on, in my many years of experience of riding my many bikes with different groupsets many thousands of miles per year.

 

[S-Express]

in my many years of experience of riding my many bikes with different groupsets many thousands of miles per year.

I've seen you say this kind of thing a few times. It's not like you are the only one on here with 'experience'. It's perfectly reasonable for someone else's 'extensive' experience to be different from yours.

 

[faster]

I wouldn't. If the poster thought that Tiagra brakes were 'useless' then there must have been somethign wrong with his setup and/or maintenance.

New levers, new calipers, new cables and set up perfectly - you'll just have to trust me on this

I probably should qualify what I said though - these were not the new 4700 calipers, but ones from an older series. I think the 4700 are of a similar design to 5800 and 6800, and I'm sure they are excellent.

For MY usage, they were, as I said, useless to the point of being dangerous. For you they may be acceptable. I do need good brakes though, as I'm heavy (>90 kg), commute in all weathers, often in heavy traffic and I push fairly hard on my commute, usually averaging over 20 mph.

If I was much lighter, riding at a more leisurely pace or on quiet roads, I'm sure the older Shimano calipers would be fine.

 

[outlash]

I've seen you say this kind of thing a few times. It's not like you are the only one on here with 'experience'. It's perfectly reasonable for someone else's 'extensive' experience to be different from yours.

Not to mention in this case experience doesn't always equate to mechanical competence.

 

[vickster]

Not to mention in this case experience doesn't always equate to mechanical competence.

I'd agree with that, been riding bikes on and off for 40 years probably and I am truly and utterly mechanically inept!!

 

[T4tomo]

Refreshing honesty!

I'm struggling with regularly changing bits of group sets to suit the ride.

Sort of mmm on B487 today, that calls for Ultegta shifters and 105 rear mech.
You make have meant swapping cassettes, in which case my bad.

Essentially all group.sets do the same thing, change gear. Yes some are prettier, some peoples hands suit different shapes, yes you may prefer thumb shifters or double tap or bragging rights on cost, or an unnoticeable weight reduction, but to me its the least effective bang for your buck upgrade.

 

[RegG]

Just come across this thread so here is my contribution for what it may be worth...

My partners son is in a similar position to the poster. He has a 2013 Giant Defy 3 with the 18 speed Sora groupset but the difference is he fitted a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels earlier this year. His cassette is now showing signs of wear as is the chain. He is perfectly happy with the bike/frame as it stands but has decided to upgrade the groupset to a 105 5800. His LBS advised him earlier this year that the original Giant wheelset would NOT accept an 11 speed cassette, but this was not said in order for them to sell him a new set of wheels!

At the end of the day, it is what the poster is able to afford and what he wants from the upgrade. Many reviews over the last few years have praised the Giant Defy frame as a very good one. Yes, it is possible to get a new bike, with a 105 groupset but is the frame going to be as good as the Defy unless you are able to spend a lot of money?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Just come across this thread so here is my contribution for what it may be worth...

My partners son is in a similar position to the poster. He has a 2013 Giant Defy 3 with the 18 speed Sora groupset but the difference is he fitted a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels earlier this year. His cassette is now showing signs of wear as is the chain. He is perfectly happy with the bike/frame as it stands but has decided to upgrade the groupset to a 105 5800. His LBS advised him earlier this year that the original Giant wheelset would NOT accept an 11 speed cassette, but this was not said in order for them to sell him a new set of wheels!

At the end of the day, it is what the poster is able to afford and what he wants from the upgrade. Many reviews over the last few years have praised the Giant Defy frame as a very good one. Yes, it is possible to get a new bike, with a 105 groupset but is the frame going to be as good as the Defy unless you are able to spend a lot of money?

He's quite lucky then as Mavic wheels have been 11spd compatible for many many many years.

 

[RegG]

He's quite lucky then as Mavic wheels have been 11spd compatible for many many many years.

Yes, I realise that - I was pointing out that the Giant wheelset originally fitted to his Defy would not take an 11 speed cassette, at least according to his LBS.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

No you won't. You'll be okay with the rear wheel you have, dependant on whether the existing freehub body is long enough to take an 11 speed cassette, it could be that the existing freehub body is long enough for an 11 speed cassette, and that the 9 speed cassette is on there with spacers. It's not s big job to get an 11 speed compatible freehub body, if needs be, and cheaper than an unnecessary new wheelset. As has also been correctly stated, the pull to click ratio of the 11 speed set up will be different.

spot on. worth checking…