Sora to Tiagra shifter upgrade

Farnham Gooner
Posts: 18
My wife purchased a Trek Lexa S prior to Xmas, she is new to road bikes and loves it in all respects, apart from the Sora shifters.
The shift down on the front mec using the button not the lever is incredibly hard, to the point that it will not shift under pressure. This ain't a girl thing as when I have ridden alongside I can't do it either.
We have taken it back to the shop where we got the bike and they have been as helpful as they always are, ie fantastic. They have stripped it down, removed the cable, lubed it and put it back together and checked all the adjustments, all to no avail, it should be noted that they are Trek specialists. I totally believe them when they say they have done all they can.
Which leves me pondering the option of replacing the shifters with Tiagra's, can anyone forsee any problems with that option?
FG
The shift down on the front mec using the button not the lever is incredibly hard, to the point that it will not shift under pressure. This ain't a girl thing as when I have ridden alongside I can't do it either.
We have taken it back to the shop where we got the bike and they have been as helpful as they always are, ie fantastic. They have stripped it down, removed the cable, lubed it and put it back together and checked all the adjustments, all to no avail, it should be noted that they are Trek specialists. I totally believe them when they say they have done all they can.
Which leves me pondering the option of replacing the shifters with Tiagra's, can anyone forsee any problems with that option?
FG
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Plenty of problems...
Sora is 9 speed and the new Tiagra is 10 speed, which means you need to upgrade the cassette to a 10 speed one and chain to a 10 speed one.
Alternatively, you can try to find a Tiagra 2011 9 speed STI lever set... mind you, it's going to be expensive... they retail in excess of £ 150.left the forum March 20230 -
Cheers for the reply,
There are a lot of 9 speed shifters available and I agree they aren't cheap at £150, which is pretty much ball park. But if it would solve the issue and make cycling a more enoyable experience then I will pay that.
So in terms of the upgrade are there any problems to be aware of from just changing the shifters?0 -
I don't see any problem... just make sure you get the double/triple as appropriate.
However, The fact that they are Trek specialists is irrelevant, as they are dealing with a Shimano part and not a Trek... I don't know, I struggle to believe that YOU can't shift the gear, unless the lever is faulty or the cable mis-installed.
If these mechanics were that great, they would have sorted out the problem or provided you with a new STI under warranty... if they haven't sorted the problem, they are not that great... Shimano parts are meant to workleft the forum March 20230 -
I would play around with the front derailleur cable tension as this is usually related to the symptoms you describe.0
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Sora shouldn't be that hard to operate! Sounds like the cable tension is way too high or the shifters are defective. My money would be on the former.0
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keef66 wrote:Sora shouldn't be that hard to operate! Sounds like the cable tension is way too high or the shifters are defective. My money would be on the former.
+1left the forum March 20230 -
dont shift under heavy load. the spring cant overcome the chain tension. assuming the button is actually working, if not the levers faulty.0
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I'd agree with the above and check the cable tension.
Are both left and right shifter hard to change down? Or is it just the front mech?
If it is only the left hand shifter you could upgrade just that shifter if you wanted to save some money.0 -
..I had the exact same problem with my Sora equpped Orbea...I could get it shifted but only after a lot of pushing..LBS did the same as your guys, stripped out and replaced the cable, etc....and its been fine pretty much since, though it did recurr recently. For what its worth, I think it gets stuck if if you over-do the upshift...I found on mine, when I did get the button to budge (pressing slightly backwards helped), it seemed to then "settle" on the big ring, then making the down-shift easy...(compact on mine, btw) ... I suspect the fault is in the shifter but I can now live with mine...0
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the thing is the levers use a ratchet type of system, to release it has to move slightly in the opposite direction like a car handbrake, if you try and press the release button while pressing down on the handbrake it wont move very easily.
now if when the mech is far over to the right in top gear and resting with much force against the limit stop screw the cable will have no slack and will keep the lever ratchet under tension rather like pressing down on a handbrake.
my ten year old sora's still work they must be full of road salt by now.0 -
Hi
My 14 year old daughter has identical problems with sora. The downshift lever is a tiny nub of plastic and she is almost unable to exert enough leverage. I also find it very difficult. This is an intrinsic design issue and nothing to do with cable tension etc. ( it is just as hard when the shifters are off the bike ).
I have given in and bought 9 speed tiagra shifters which can still be found for £120. or you could get a lh 9 speed shifter (any shimano) on eBay. The sora lh shifter is so awful I doubt that I will use it again on any bike, child or adult.
Alan0 -
Tiagra (and 105) shifters come up very regularly on the bay. £50 got me a very nice 9sp rh shifter in less than a week. Then sold my barely used Sora on a ''buy it now'' for £25.0
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Also worth running some heavy oil into the moving parts on the derailleur; they are supplied almost dry and can bind up quite quickly if ridden in winter conditions.- - - - - - - - - -
On Strava.{/url}0 -
To the OP.
Sora shifters are absolutely, 100%, completely and totally fine! The problems are usually caused by mechanics who set the things up wrongly. There is of course also the slim chance that you have a defective shifter. I've ridden many Sora equipped bikes and the button shifters worked absolutely perfectly with minimum effort required. Effectively if your missus and you can't change gear then the bike is not fit for purpose and your LBS should sort it for you.
Regards, EarlyGo0 -
I've just done this to my bike, and it's an easy upgrade
I picked up a complete Tiagra shifter set brand new in the box for £100 (off here). Fitting was very straightforward and setting up was easy too. Had to replace one gear cable and one brake cable as they frayed though, but these where in the box. Something to bear in mind though if you go for a single shifter with no accessories :!:
I carefully unwrapped the bar tape, and was able to re use this too 8)
As has been said, make sure you get the correct model shifters for your gears.
I found my SORA front shifter to be hard to operate also, even after lots of fettling/adjusting and lubrication. Never got it a point that I was happy with, hence why I changed them.Share The Road Event http://www.sharetheroadride.co.uk
Lancashire Cycle Link Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/126682247491640/0 -
Hi Early Go
Unfortunately my Sora shifters are not fine and require a lot of effort to drop the chain to the little ring. The thumb shift lever does not give enough leverage. Maybe I have a defective shifter but I have gone around a lot of bike shops and tried the thumb lever and they all feel the same, like Soviet era tractor parts. Lots of people here seem to have the same problem
The OP has found it non-fixable so I would still recommend getting Tiagra or higher.
Regards
Alan0 -
If you do decide to upgrade, there is a pair of 9sp ultegra shifters for £65 here:
viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12830785
Not on commission or anything, just think everyone needs a little temptation once in a while :twisted:0 -
Did first ride today after upgrading from Sora to Tiagra, and amazed at the difference 8)
So much easier to operate up and down the gears, very precise and positive too.
Well worth upgrading IMOShare The Road Event http://www.sharetheroadride.co.uk
Lancashire Cycle Link Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/126682247491640/0 -
they must have gone backwards. my old by about 10 years sora shifters dont have that proboblem.they shift every time and never miss even with the now worn and slack derailer.0