Shimano Tiagra compact Vs R600 compact (suspiciously similar)

[otherself]

Hi

I was looking for a new compact chainset for those long century rides.

Both the Tiagra 4550 compact and the R600 compact look to have identical crank arms and inner ring but only slightly differ with the outer ring. Is this correct or does the R600 have better material in the arms? f.e. lighter. The R600 is said to be 105 to Ultegra-level. If it is only the outer chainring that seperates them, the extra money (almost double) for the R600 doesn't seem quite worth the investment. There is no weights given out by Shimano on their website about either, which makes me think they're hiding something.

The R600 (around £100)

The Tiagra 4550 (about £60)

 

[asterix]

As far as I can see the only important difference is forty quid.

 

[TheDoctor]

IMHO the Tiagra one looks nicer! I don't know if the outer ring is steel on one and aluminium on t'other, though...

 

[02GF74]

IMHO the Tiagra one looks nicer! .

how can you say that when they appear to be idnetical?
(obvioulsy the outer chain ring is bigger on the lower one but other than that, I cannot see any difference).

 

[TheDoctor]

how can you say that when they appear to be idnetical?
(obvioulsy the outer chain ring is bigger on the lower one but other than that, I cannot see any difference).

The chainring has cutouts on the Tiagra one. That makes it look nicer IMHO.

 

[Tynan]

are we judgunt hem purely on a couple of pictures?

won;t material and very fne machining be all the difference f difference there be?

 

[MichaelM]

A friend was considering an LX HTII chainset over XT HTII based on the difference in price. He claimed there was a noticeable weight difference between the two and bought the XT. I suspect the same applies her - there will probably be a weight difference - but I don't know for sure. Whether or not it's worth the price difference is up to you.