How to identify quality or cheap components ?????

charlosparky

Hi. apologies in advance if this is a daft question, but how do i identify wether the components on my bike - or rather on bikes i want to compare brfore purchase - are of good quality? from what i can see, manufacturers such as shimano etc tend to give a marketing name for each item in their range, rather than a number or letter to denote wether they are budget, mid range, or prestige items. For example a Ford Escort was either an L- LX- GLX- so you knew wherabouts each model was in the line up. Is there any catalogue or info available to help as i dont wanna buy a bike just to find out some of the components are a bit cheap. Also are thre any review sites that compare similar priced bikes like car magazines do for new and used cars?

nicklouse

have a look at online prices.

but yes most of the transmission will have some identifier on it as to its level.

But this years kit with the same name as last years might be a better design/matereal etc as the trickle down effect happens.
So it can be not that easy.

Niffleman

If you go to the Shimano website it will give you a list of the different types of components, e.g Sora, Tiagra etc, starting with the least advanced. You will find there are two types, road and MTB (off road) hierarchies. In terms of the road components higher cost usually means lighter weight, as far as I can see. I don't know enough about the off road stuff to really know what a higher price buys you.

To be honest, I think the Shimano stuff is all pretty fine , although they do have a bargain basement range called "Tourney" which I would avoid. I have worked on a few bikes fitted with "Tourney" stuff and it is pretty plastic, and lacks durability. That is only a personal opinion, though.

charlosparky

Thanks chaps that was helpful. i checked out shimano site.
I have just bought a used Claude Butler Pinelake. it is listed as a £200 bike new but got it at my LBS for 70 quid, it has standard fixed forks but thats fine for commuting, more importantly it already has full chromoplastic mudguards.
It has Acera rear deraillieur and Deore front, which seem to be medium quality not base models so thats good and shimano SIS chainset. The rest of the bike seems a mish mash- i assumed it would all be shimano (or one brand the manufacturer preferred) but i have Quando QR hubs, rigida Safety line rims (black) unbranded "V line" brakes, and shimano shifters. Tyres are scwalbe land cruiser- sort of slicks with knobbly sides. It will do for now - and is miles better than the £57 Asda townsend that only lasted 3 weeks. :roll: Everything on that is made of plastic!!!! even the brakes and cranks!! :shock:

singlespeedexplosif

[opens can of worms]

Easy.
Cheap - says 'Shimano' on it
Quality - says 'Campagnolo' on it.

[ducks, runs for cover]

wgwarburton

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

[opens can of worms]

Easy.
Cheap - says 'Shimano' on it
Quality - says 'Campagnolo' on it.
[ducks, runs for cover]

Sadly, it's not that simple: SRAM, TA and Stronglight all make some good kit, and there's some nice bits & bobs come out of the US, too... (EAI & Phil Wood spring to mind).

Also, whilst it may not be "Quality", quite a lot of Shimano parts are not "Cheap", either..

:-) (of course)

Cheers,
W.

Wooliferkins

Quality=Fit for purpose at an appropriate price. Not Shimano these days I fear
Any room in your foxhole Singlespeed explosive?

biondino

Buns, Jash, if Campagnolo made helmets would you expire in a fit of apoplectic indecision?