Sora, Tiagra, 105

[Thomk]

I was wondering how much more you would expect to pay for a roadbike if it had a full Tiagra or 105 groupset instead of Sora but everything else was identical(ish).

 

[cyberknight]

So many bargains about that its a tricky one.

Just a google .

cannaonadle synapse

sora £700
tiagra £949
105 £999

 

[Thomk]

So many bargains about that its a tricky one.

Just a google .

cannaonadle synapse

sora £700
tiagra £949
105 £999

Does that mean there is a big gap between price/quality of sora - tiagra but not much difference betwen tiagra - 105? I'm guessing it's a bit more complicated than that though.

 

[Glover Fan]

IMO pretty much. Tiagra/105/Ultegra are all for intents and purposes the same concept with lighter weight as you go up the range. Dura ace is the top end concept market where the innovations are first realised. Sora is the basement product, but at the same time perfectly adequate. I go for 105 just because you rarely go wrong with a mid range product.

 

[Hacienda71]

Sora has downshift buttons rather than a lever behind the brake. It hasn't done Campag any harm though.

 

[Oldlegs]

One thing to watch out for is 2012 Tiagra is 10spd but anything earlier is the old 9spd version. Any "sale" bikes will be 9spd and that's a way below 105.

 

[HLaB]

Sora has downshift buttons rather than a lever behind the brake. It hasn't done Campag any harm though.

I don't know why Shimano didn't copy Campy further, their buttons are bigger and can reached from hoods and drops, whereas sora is only reachable from the hoods (for me at least)

 

[Milo]

I used to manage at a push with sora stis

 

[ColinJ]

Sora has downshift buttons rather than a lever behind the brake. It hasn't done Campag any harm though.

True, but I didn't like the Sora shifters I had on one bike whereas I have Campagnolo groupsets on two bikes and really like those shifters. I found Sora functional, but very 'clunky'.

I've tried 105 and thought that was pretty good, and Tiagra is only a cheaper, slightly heavier version of that.

So ... I'd suggest crossing Sora off the list (if you can afford to do so) and decide whether you fancy spending a little bit more money to get 105.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Sora and 2300 shifters are fine for pootling around on the tops or hoods as the shifter button is easy to reach from these hand positions. It's tricky to reach the button in the drops though.

If you're a pootler then Sora is great, if you intend racing a bit then Tiagra 105 would be an improvement.

I have triple 2300 on a Defy 4 for pootling, it's quite clunky compared to my 105 compact double on my other road bike, but does the job fine.