ultegra/tiagra/105

houndlegs

hi folks
Ok heres where i'm at in the search for a new bike. Further to my post a while back about geometry, I've come to the conclusion I cant make head nor tail of the geometry diagrams(al the bikes look the sameish, within a few mm or half a degree or so)so, I'm going to starrt going round a few shops and having a test ride.
Now heres the question, I'm going to go and have a look at the Mekk Poggio with tiagra on the front and 105 on the back
for £999,but.......the next model up comes out in june with ultegra front and back.
Is there much difference operation wise between the systems ? I'm not worried about weight difference.
Also,lets assume the new model is going to be discounted by the same amount as the tiagra/105 model, will it be better to hold out for June and spend £200/300 more on the ultegra ?
All this is based upon them actually being a good fit for me
Any advice please.

Cheers

flasher

All the group sets mentioned work the same, only real difference is weight, as usual with bike parts you pay more for less!

nickel

The ultegra will shift slightly more smoothly and will be a bit lighter. Question is do you think thats worth an extra 200 or 300 quid?

Swansea_Dave

I have one bike with 9 speed Tiagra and one with 10 speed 105. They are both great systems.

The Tiagra shifts way smoother than the 105. I REALLY don't want it to be that way, but thats how it is. I have recabled the 105 bike, lubed and fiddled, but to no avail.

The 105 brakes are a lot more powerful than Tiagra. Maybe its the pad compound, I dunno.

If i found a frame that I liked and it came with Tiagra, I wouldn't be at all put off by that.

houndlegs

I have tiagra and 105 on my bike at the moment and I find them both good, I just wondered if there would be a big noticeable difference with ultegra. But from what you say, it won't be that much better, so going on that and the fact I prefer the red colour scheme to the newer model colour scheme, as long as I'm happy with the bike I'll go with tiagra/105.
While we're on the subject, and more out of curiosity than anything else, is there much difference between SRAM,shimano and campagnolo ?

Many thanks.

nochekmate

houndlegs wrote:

I have tiagra and 105 on my bike at the moment and I find them both good, I just wondered if there would be a big noticeable difference with ultegra. But from what you say, it won't be that much better, so going on that and the fact I prefer the red colour scheme to the newer model colour scheme, as long as I'm happy with the bike I'll go with tiagra/105.
While we're on the subject, and more out of curiosity than anything else, is there much difference between SRAM,shimano and campagnolo ?
Many thanks.

Don't go down that road again please - if you are that curious be curious enough to use the search tool.

houndlegs

Dear me,I do apologise for daring to ask a question :roll:

flasher

houndlegs wrote:

While we're on the subject, and more out of curiosity than anything else, is there much difference between SRAM,shimano and campagnolo ?

Oh no!

Truth is they all work, some like one make and some like others, you'll hear how X is smoother than Y, but honestly cable routing and set up are more important!

MarksMintness

houndlegs wrote:

Dear me,I do apologise for daring to ask a question :roll:

Don't worry mate, nochekmate is just trying to avoid another 28 page long thread debating the same old chestnut!

houndlegs

MarksMintness wrote:

houndlegs wrote:

Dear me,I do apologise for daring to ask a question :roll:

Don't worry mate, nochekmate is just trying to avoid another 28 page long thread debating the same old chestnut!

Nah not worried at all mate and besides,if it got to 28 pages, surely it was worth debating :P

Hoopdriver

houndlegs wrote:

MarksMintness wrote:

houndlegs wrote:

Dear me,I do apologise for daring to ask a question :roll:

Don't worry mate, nochekmate is just trying to avoid another 28 page long thread debating the same old chestnut!

Nah not worried at all mate and besides,if it got to 28 pages, surely it was worth debating :P

Yes, it probably is worth debating - once

jordan_217

I have a Kona CX bike fitted with Tiagra, my new Enigma has Ultegra and my trusty Scott CR1 (sold recently) went through two 105 groupsets.

I would say go for 105, on a £:performance basis.

There's a *slightly* noticeable difference between Tiagra and 105 but no quantifiable (performance) difference between 105 and Ultegra.

Admittedly I do prefer the shape of the hoods on Ultegra and the hidden cables make the bike appear 'cleaner' but in terms of shifting the chain, 105 works just as well.

I would upgrade your wheels with the money you'll save. That will be more beneficial than a groupset upgrade.

Another thing to consider, I've had 3 Shimano chains fail in the past, the link pin just sheering off and causing damage (writing off) to the rear mech, a few spokes and hanger. It seems I'm not the only person this has happened to. I would advise getting a SRAM or KMC chain fitted. A shop should do this free of charge, or at minimal cost.

HTH.

keef66

I join my Shimano chains with KMC links; never had one fail.

Chris James

I've had two KMC chains where teh side plates cracked and split at the rivet.

Fortunately in both cases it was only on one side plate and the chain held together but kinked so I realised it was damaged. The first time I had just gone up a 1 in 5 hill out of the saddle, so if the chain had gone then it would have hurt!

Having said that, I still use KMC chians, but I listen for any strange clicking or dodgy ghost shifting.

houndlegs

Cheers guys,it would seem I can give ultegra a miss.

smidsy

The side plates have been a problem on my Ultegra chain in the past and i think another may be going now.

So Shimano chain will not be on my next list to buy.