Tiagra or 105?

[Ajax_Gaz]

Basically, is Shimano 105 worth the extra outlay on a road bike?

Had some great advice previously on a which bike type thread and i had narrowed bikes down to either a Cannondale CAAD10 105 or a Cannondale Synapse Tiagra.

However i spent quite a while down my LBS today and after trying some bikes i've found the geometry on a Synapse bike suits me far better than a CAAD bike, but due to the fact there are not many sizes available in 2011 synapse bikes i have a few decisions to make.

Without going into too many details and taking into account 2011 and 2012 bikes, can anyone tell me whether i should plump for the 105 over the Tiagra?

If more specifics are required i'll post up!

Cheers

Gaz

 

[HLaB]

For me size and how you feel on the bikes would be the guiding factors; I've got a bike with Tiagra derailleurs and I don't think they are any different from my 105 equipped bike. The shifters on my bike with tiagra are sora and there is a bigger jump between sora and 105.

 

[aberal]

It would be hard to tell the difference between the derailleurs - whatever difference there may be, and there probably is, I'm fairly certain it can't really be detected by the average person on the average ride. What can be detected, is the difference between the shifters. 105 shifters are noticeably smoother and slicker to use than Tiagra. Tiagra shifters work well enough, but are clunky in comparison and TBH don't look nearly as good - the little red plastic marker things looking a tad amateurish.

 

[waggoner]

Never tried the 105's so can't comment,but the 2012 tiagra is now 10 speed on the back as opposed to 9 speed as before. Apart from that can't help i'm afraid..

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Basically, is Shimano 105 worth the extra outlay on a road bike?

Without wishing to be facetious, only you can answer that question.

Yes, 105 is "better" than Tiagra but whether you will exploit the difference is another question.

105 is pitched as an "entry level racer" groupset; are you an entry level racer?

I ride a seven speed steeler with downtube shifters and regularly destroy guys on nine/ten speed carbon bikes costing ten times what I paid.

They might have bragging (boring) rights at the cake stop, but I prefer to let my guns do the talking.

Get some Rule V in your life and harden the **** up.

 

[Norm]

Basically, is Shimano 105 worth the extra outlay on a road bike?

**snipped**

If more specifics are required i'll post up! Gaz

If you give us your monthly income, outgoings, number of dependants, details of any holidays planned and a quick risk analysis and profile of your current life situation, then I'll have a shot at answering the relative "worth" of the two. Without it, any response is hot air, IMO.

Had some great advice previously on a which bike type thread and i had narrowed bikes down to either a Cannondale CAAD10 105 or a Cannondale Synapse Tiagra.

However i spent quite a while down my LBS today and after trying some bikes i've found the geometry on a Synapse bike suits me far better than a CAAD bike, but due to the fact there are not many sizes available in 2011 synapse bikes i have a few decisions to make.

IMO, again, you should never choose components over comfort, fit and suitability.

A bike which doesn't suit you will not suit you for ever, whenever you ride, you will be on the wrong bike 100% of the time. A bike with shinier bling will, at best, only be noticed for a few fractions of a second when you change gear and components are pretty easy to swap anyway.

 

[Rob3rt]

They are two different bikes with different geometries and intended users, so you need to decide what bike is best for you and go from there. The difference in groupsets is marginal in comparison to the differences in geometry.

 

[Banjo]

The Caad is more of a racer than the Synapse, The synapse is more for comfort and distance than out and out speed.

The groupset thing is not as important as getting the right bike. If you felt better on the Synapse then personally I would go for the Synapse.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Guys, many thanks for all the replies.

I'm definitely going to buy a Synapse model, but my decision is whether to spend to go for the Synapse Tiagra or Synapse 105.

I will endeavour to try both and try and answer it when I'm riding them and see what sort of deal I can get, cheers!

 

[PK99]

Guys, many thanks for all the replies.

I'm definitely going to buy a Synapse model, but my decision is whether to spend to go for the Synapse Tiagra or Synapse 105.

I will endeavour to try both and try and answer it when I'm riding them and see what sort of deal I can get, cheers!

I've got 105 3*10 on my Yukon and Tiagra 3*10 on my new Tricross, having had Tiagra 3*9 on previous versions.

The 105 is definitely crisper and more positive, the changer feels much more robust and the under tape routing is much neater

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

105 2011 £999.99
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product_15704.htm

Or

Tiagra 2012 £949.99
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product_17751.htm

I know the 2011 Tiagra is still available at about £600 but I don't have £600 and am looking to take one if the 0% offers. Plus I know if I went 105 I could also go for the 2012 model but it looks the same spec as 2011 and I prefer the black colour scheme on the 2011 bike.

Sorry this is gonna turn into a what bike type thread now. Honestly, advice is greatly appreciated.
Cheers

 

[vickster]

Evans do 0% finance, have the 2011 Tiagra (in a 51 / 56cm) for £850 it seems and they price match

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-tiagra-2011-road-bike-ec025341?query=synapse

Or Tredz have for £700 http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Synapse-Tiagra-2011-Road-Bike_39641.htm - they do 0% over 6 months

 

[smokeysmoo]

So you decided on a Synapse, no bad choice As for groupset, I'd go for 105 if you can, unless you can say categorically that you won't hanker after it if you do buy Tiagra. I will admit that I do like my bling, hence full DA on my CAAD, but even if you go for Tiagra it's a perfectly functional set up that will last you a long time, and if you did want to upgrade things as they wear out it won't cost you a fortune to slap 105 bits on it, the biggest outlay you'd have would be the shifters.

There is an argument that the cheaper stuff is more hard wearing as well. I have no comparison abilities to substantiate or deny this as I didn't keep my Ribble 105 for long, but whether it is or not, the fact is that when you do need to change a mech the Tiagra will be cheaper, although 105 aren't silly money they are obviously a bit dearer.

That said, there are so many used parts available you might end up making it full DA

 

[lulubel]

I have Tiagra on my bike, and I'm very happy with it, but if it's just for the sake of an extra £50 that you're happy to spend, I'd say go for the 105. If you get Tiagra but find you can't stop wondering if you should have gone for 105, it will cost you a lot more to upgrade later.

 

[scouserinlondon]

Without wishing to be facetious, only you can answer that question.

Yes, 105 is "better" than Tiagra but whether you will exploit the difference is another question.

105 is pitched as an "entry level racer" groupset; are you an entry level racer?

I ride a seven speed steeler with downtube shifters and regularly destroy guys on nine/ten speed carbon bikes costing ten times what I paid.

They might have bragging (boring) rights at the cake stop, but I prefer to let my guns do the talking.

Get some Rule V in your life and harden the **** up.

Lol