Replacing parts: ultegra or 105/tiagra?

notnot

Hope this is the right forum to post in. I bought a secondhand Merida Scultura bike. Enjoyed riding it, but took it for servicing and it needs more work than I expected Cassette, chain, chain rings and bottom bracket need replacing, as do the wheel bearings. It currently has ultegra kit, and suggested options are:
- Replace with more ultegra. Shop quoted £300 inclusive.
- Replace using tiagra and 105. Quoted at £250 inclusive, but that would get me a new chainset rather than just replacing the rings.

What would you do? My head's telling me that I'm not ultrafit or using the bike for racing, so I probably won't really notice the difference with cheaper parts. The shop seem to agree On the other hand, £50 isn't *that* much if I'm spending a couple of hundred anyway...

And does the amount quoted sound about right? I would need to get a shop to do the work rather than DIY - too cackhanded with that type of work.

Gladiator

Depends how long you plan to use and keep the bike, that would be my first question to myself. if you plan on keeping it for a few years then go for Ultegra as the extra £50 wont matter and you are far better off getting the best kit you can.
But if you are only planning on using it for a year and then moving on then just replace with 105. If Tiagra and 105 are the same price then go with 105.

If it starts going beyond £450 though youre better off looking at a new bike in the sales next month!

stoneb09

For £50 its indifferent really. Personally I would go Ultegra.

notnot

I don't think I'll need to upgrade any time in the foreseeable future - with my level of fitness, it's not the bike holding me back (hence my considering downgrading some parts) I can only see myself getting a different road bike if I find it uncomfortable to use (not ridden it that much yet, but first impression is it seems really comfortable and fun to ride), manage to damage the frame, or the bike gets nicked.

Thinking about it, even if I sell it after a year (no plans to do so) £50 is under a fiver a month. And, if I do sell, would the ultegra parts add a few quid to the value?

I don't know if getting a new chainset would be important - how long do they tend to last? If not, ultegra parts are looking increasingly tempting...

Gladiator wrote:

If it starts going beyond £450 though youre better off looking at a new bike in the sales next month!

The shop have seen the bike and seem thorough - don't think they'll give me any surprises. Pedals may need changing at some point, but even with new pedals + price paid for bike + repair costs, that's still a nice road bike for around the £700 mark. I had considered selling the bike frame and parts or selling it as a fixer-upper - think I could get back what I paid for it - but I do like the bike

yaya

Maybe see if it is really necessary to change the chainrings...Ultegra ones last a very long time and even when they are really worn they still work fine...this might save you a few quid on parts and labour...probably not much though...

notnot

Thanks. The rear definitely needs changing - pretty warn, and refuses to shift gears most of the time. There's visible wear on the front chainring, and - while it does shift - it wasn't smooth. I could see if things improve with a new rear, but it doesn't seem implausible that both need changing

Are the ultegra chainsets themselves durable, too?

ugo.santalucia

I would seek a second opinion... shops seem to think everything is disposable... chainrings should last 15K miles at least, more if ridden in the dry on clean chains. With the exception of the bottom bracket and the chain, the rest can be ridden to death without any danger.
Smooth shifting might be elusive anyway, as derailleurs springs lose strength... I am suprised you weren't quoted new cables... too much of a job for too little profit?

keef66

+ 2. I'm always suspicious when a bike shop claims every part of the drivetrain needs replacing at once.

If I was doing it myself I'd replace the cassette (Tiagra) and chain (KMC), and the BB if required, and the gear cables (inners and outers) and see what it's like then.

notnot

Thanks - lots of decisions with these things... There's a limited number of bike shops round here (the one I used previously closed recently ) but I could take it off for a 2nd opinion. There's one not *that* far away - an easy (actually, quite nice) ride if the bike's roadworthy, though a bit further than I'd want to push it... - so that may be an option.

Starting to see the benefits of my old steel clunker - idiot-proof enough to have been dropped down a flight of stairs without any apparent problems

notnot

Right - I can get a 2nd opinion easy enough, but it will add about 1wk delay on me getting my new toy back. Probably getting the second opinion is sensible, but a big part of me wants to get out on the bike *now*

notnot

Got second opinion. Looks like they're suggesting similar work, though possibly changing the cables as well (whilst leaving the wheel bearings).

Anyway, they're going to cost things up - will see how prices (and what's suggested) compare...

notnot

Right - 2nd quote (for replacement ultegra chainset - albeit old model - and chain and cables) ran to just over £300. So similar money, and still not cheap Now a case of deciding what/where to get done...