SORA vs 105... ho much difference are they??

aznulrizal

i've used SORA before and never used any of the above products. I came across several road bikes with 105 specs at cheap price because they are 2007 models. The bike with 105 normally in the region of £850 at least, so if it is priced at £599... that's a knock down price!! However, i'm not sure if i would afford another 105 spec bike in the future and might settle for Tiagra for replacement/upgrade in 2-3 years time... so here is my concern: how much difference are they in performance? is it kind of once you've tried 105, anything cheaper would be dissapointing??As far as i'm aware, both tiagra and 105 seem similar in mechanism... please correct me if i'm wrong.

yogi

I'd go for 105, it outlasts Tiagra, particularly the hubs. Performance wise 105 is superior IMO and is good enough for anyone.

steve23

i had sora on my spesh allez, but upgraded to 105, its a whole lot differnt for the better!!!

having said that, get what you can afford, it wont make you ride any quicker!!!

ddraver

I'd have 105 simply for the better gear shift lever configuration....anyone says you can change gear in the drops with sora has ruddy tentacles for fingers!!

sicrow

I have a 105 set on my spesh Roubaix and love it (having said that never had anything higher). My 1st road bike was from decathlon and had mainly a Sora groupset. It did me fine and I have kept the bike as my winter Hack.

Before you buy anyhing get you LBS to let you try and see what you think.

yogi wrote:

I'd go for 105, it outlasts Tiagra, particularly the hubs. Performance wise 105 is superior IMO and is good enough for anyone.

I'd also agree with Yogi

Jon8a

Depends which components you are buying. Often the higher spec will be lighter this is normally the only difference for cranks. Gear shifters will be better, I can shift on the drops with SORA but I do have big hands but the 105 looks a lot easier to use.

The way these things normally work is trickle down technology so the sora that you buy now at one point would have been the height of technology on dura ace and ultegra but has been replaced by better models. This being the case it'll all work well enough.

It's always worth spending money on hubs and bottom brackets IMO less so mechs.

andy_wrx

ddraver wrote:

anyone says you can change gear in the drops with sora has ruddy tentacles for fingers!!

Yes I can and no I don't - I've never understood what all the fuss is about.

On the other hand, I found the shape of the Sora shifters very uncomfortable on the web between thumb and forefinger, Ultegra 9sp or 10sp is much nicer (105 9sp or 10sp is the same shape as Ultegra 9sp or 10sp)

Gavin Gilbert

I used Sora on a winter hack I ran for a couple of months and was glad to get back to 105. I could feel the difference.

Oddly, whilst the gap between Sora and 105 is really noticeable, the differences between the feel and function of 105 to Ultegra and even Dura Ace isn't as great.

ddraver

andy_wrx wrote:

ddraver wrote:

anyone says you can change gear in the drops with sora has ruddy tentacles for fingers!!

Yes I can and no I don't - I've never understood what all the fuss is about.

On the other hand, I found the shape of the Sora shifters very uncomfortable on the web between thumb and forefinger, Ultegra 9sp or 10sp is much nicer (105 9sp or 10sp is the same shape as Ultegra 9sp or 10sp)

changing both ways? or just pulling in cable?

shockedsoshocked

Went from SORA to 105 recently and the difference is amazing, really noticable (although the SORA lasted 2 winter of abuse so can't complain).

markos1963

Use 105 on my bike and love it. I have small hands so no problems using shifters on the drops

bobtravers

Weel, no more adjustment with a 105 rear derailleur... I'd ride a Opus bike with Sora, a real pain in the a$$, you always have to adjust everything after a 50 km ride... Now with a 105 gruppo on my Spech Allez 2006, everything's fine!

Go 105 all the way, you won't regret it!

redddraggon

I'm able to press the button from the drops with Sora......but it's too much effort to make it worthwhile - it's easier and quicker to put my hand I want to shift with back on the hoods to change gear and then put my hands back on the drops.

sps137

105 is a marked step up from Sora, I really noticed the difference in terms of crispness of shifting (plus the convenience when on the drops). However 105 to ultegra felt no difference at all (probably just lighter).

kmahony

Agree with all the above.

Except I quite liked the sora shifters. However the 105 (9-speed) was so much easier to maintain (sora always needed adjusting and not in an easy way)

Not such a big jump, but have also noticed a difference moving to Ultegra (10-speed). So simple, so perfect.

Where next? Dura-Ace or maybe even Record!!

wildmoustache

andy_wrx wrote:

ddraver wrote:

anyone says you can change gear in the drops with sora has ruddy tentacles for fingers!!

Yes I can and no I don't - I've never understood what all the fuss is about.

On the other hand, I found the shape of the Sora shifters very uncomfortable on the web between thumb and forefinger, Ultegra 9sp or 10sp is much nicer (105 9sp or 10sp is the same shape as Ultegra 9sp or 10sp)

you're an octopus!

have a vague feeling we've had this debate before. no way can i reach the buttons while on the drops with sora .. .must depend on the bar shape and the position of the shifters though... but it is indisputably a longer reach than with other shimano groups or campag groups.

i like 10spd ergonomics the best with shimano, but can't stand the aesthetics of those giant guns!

willbevan

Hmm reading a lot of people saying they have to adjust the sora setups after rides , can't say i've had that problem.

I have switched the rear mech now to an XT (for larger rear cassette),

Before that i did a good 800, 900 miles on it. didn't have to adjust the drivechain once.

Now I can't say i've noticed much difference between the sora mech and the XT mech, but i presume really need maybe higher shifters to notice that ?


Oh and i can not reach the button on the side to change when on the drops!, I have been considering changing to some old campag 10 speed levers if they come around, but i dont think i will change to otherwise, mainly becuase that big button on the side is handy during the winter with big gloves on etc, as easy to get to.

ddraver

I don't say SORA are bad, they re just cheap and budget in comparison to 105, if you re choosing new levers from scratch then get the 105's

if you ve already got Sora then i would nt be changing for the sake of it, unless you find them on offer somewhere (and if so - where!!)

johnnypipe85

Excuse my ignorance, but if 105 is better than Sora, where does Tiagra fall in to?

Eat My Dust

johnnypipe85 wrote:

Excuse my ignorance, but if 105 is better than Sora, where does Tiagra fall in to?

The middle.

SDP

Got DA on my best bike & when i ride my 105 bike shifting is very similar ...just sounds a bit more "positive" :-)

upgraded wifes winter bike from a sora/tiagra mix to 105 & it was noticably easier to set gears up & she commented gears were better :?

main thing was she found changes better ( same as on her ultegra bike ) & brakes much better...

also saved a fair lump of weight to boot

sora - ok for entry level & winter use
tiagra - occasional / maybe entry level racing etc..
105 ALLROUND excellent -
ultegra - do any job for any quality of rider
DA - when only the best will do

synchronicity

The sora levers work, but 105 shifters are obviously better, more speeds as well.
I hate the cheap-o sora brake calipers though.