Worth the extra for Shimano 105 over Shimano Tiagra??

Aggerdoo

I'm looking at getting a new road bike and after much deliberation I have decided I want to get the Trek Domane 2.3C or 2.0 (triple or Compact)

The only main difference I can is the difference between the 2.3 having shimano 105 and the 2.0 has Tiagra. This is going to be my first road bike so
1) will it make a noticable difference between the 2?
2) is the 105 £200 worth of a benefit?
3) Am I missing something on the specs that makes one noticably better/worse?

The links to the different specs are below:

Domane 2.3
http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/ro ... _compact/#

Domane 2.0
http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/ro ... mane_2_0/#


I also add that this is NOT as a part of the cycle to work scheme so it doesn't matter its over £1000 (just means i'll have to do a bit of overtime).

Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated as i'm looking to buy the bike at the beginning of Jan.

Cheers

Aggerdoo

petemadoc

Seems expensive to me

105 carbon Ridley for £932

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-orion-1105b-105/

There are others

Ultegra and carbon for £1155

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/prorace-deamon-titan-ultegra/

zx6man

This won't help in the slightest, but I don't like the 2.0 colour so would be the 2.3 for me.

Aggerdoo

zx6man wrote:

This won't help in the slightest, but I don't like the 2.0 colour so would be the 2.3 for me.

That is my reasoning as aswell at the moment for getting the 2.3. I don't dislike the 2.0 paint job but i do prefer the 2.3 haha really technical stuff!!

zx6man

And new Tiagra chainset look naff.

2.3 it is mate......

danowat

£200?, I'd have the Tiagra, 105 isn't worth me spending £200 extra (I have both Tiagra and 105 (also SRAM rival too)

sturmey

£200?, I'd have the Tiagra, 105 isn't worth me spending £200 extra (I have both Tiagra and 105 (also SRAM rival too)

Tend to agree.

BUT... lose those Tiagra brake calipers asap. They are not anywhere near as good stoppers as the 105's.

CarlosDSanchez

Just change the brake pads, the calipers are fine.

chrisaonabike

I'm pretty new to it all, but I couldn't really tell the difference between the shifting on two Giant Defys that I test rode - one Tiagra and one 105.

on-yer-bike

buy the one you like the like of the most. This IS important. Imagine having to live with a woman you didnt fancy?

sturmey

Just change the brake pads, the calipers are fine.

I have tried every aftermarket pad available in Tiagra calipers- they are still nowhere near 105's for braking performance.

Tiagra calipers are £25 a pair. That should tell you enough about their quality and performance.

Raffles

part of the deal is "knowing" you have 105.

my caad8 was the sora model but i yanked everything off it and replaced them to 105 in entirety......everything !

im just superchuffed knowing my caad8 has full 105 and that makes it well worth it to me.

night_porter

You will not notice any difference between Tiagra and 105 apart from the looks. 105 has cabling under the bar tape whereas Tiagra doesn't.

Between the 2 Treks the 2.3 does have a carbon seat post as well so if that is important to you then is it £200 worth? You could buy a carbon seat post for much cheaper if that floated your boat, I have both types on different bikes and fail to see (feel) the difference.

If the colour makes no difference then ride them both and buy the one that feels the best and if they are no different then buy the cheapest one.

chanjy

^^ just like shagging an ugly bird is the same as a fit bird once the lights are out. Still wouldn't though.

If you're spending £2k or £2.2k on a bike then you clearly aren't after the cheapest thing around. Get the one that you want, forget about whether it's "worth" the money. After all you'll not be noticeably faster with either compared to a £300 one from Decathlon...

hulla the hulla

on-yer-bike wrote:

Imagine having to live with a woman you didnt fancy?

I don't have to imagine.....

prawny

You wouldn't notice, tiagra is fine. 105 just looks better. I actually prefer the shape of the hoods on the tiagras and the cable adjusters are loads eaier to fit/adjust on the fly.

andreashicks

sturmey wrote:

Just change the brake pads, the calipers are fine.

I have tried every aftermarket pad available in Tiagra calipers- they are still nowhere near 105's for braking performance.

Tiagra calipers are £25 a pair. That should tell you enough about their quality and performance.

£25 each i'll have you know.

stu-bim

How about this?




http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT2/planet_x_pro_carbon_shimano_ultegra_road_bike

Camcycle1974

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?! Looks are important. £200 extra on the bike he's looking at isn't much more for 105 and a carbon post. Why bother though when you can have a Pro carbon for £999 with Ultegra? Ok, not full Ultegra but mechs and shifters is still a good spec. brakes and cranks can be upgraded later on. I would have Tiagra if it wasn't so Ugly. Part of Shimano's marketing strategy perhaps?

markos1963

There is little point now as Tiagra has moved to 10 speed. You can upgrade parts as they wear out. Tiagra is very similar to the 5600 in terms of performance. I would go with Tiagra and swap to Ultegra as you upgrade, you will notice this more than going to 105.

Camcycle1974

markos1963 wrote:

There is little point now as Tiagra has moved to 10 speed. You can upgrade parts as they wear out. Tiagra is very similar to the 5600 in terms of performance. I would go with Tiagra and swap to Ultegra as you upgrade, you will notice this more than going to 105.

Markos, you are right of course. I just find the Tiagra chainset so damn ugly. Silver mechs etc I can cope with but a silver chainset on a black bike just looks wrong.

markhewitt1978

Neither I'd get the Domane 4.0, Tiagra but a good quality carbon frame, which will make more difference than any components.

d10brp

I have one bike with 2012 Tiagra and one with 2013 105. For me the 105 shifters are a huge improvement. The Tiagra shifters did the job fine but with the 105's it just feels smoother. I can't really explain the feeling but its like I can feel the gears shifting with the 105s but the Tiagra's felt more like I was pressing a button on a machine. I'd suggest trying them both if you can, even if not on the Trek.

I do like the gear indicator dial on the hoods of the Tiagra shifters but you don't really need it.

I don't have Tiagra brakes but I've been impressed with the 105 brakes so far.

stu-bim

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Camcycle1974

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Cool, you will be the only one with it in Barbados, that's for sure! If and when you do get one be sure to post some pics up against a palm tree. Just have to finalise the sale of my Giant and I will be getting one too.

stu-bim

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Cool, you will be the only one with it in Barbados, that's for sure! If and when you do get one be sure to post some pics up against a palm tree. Just have to finalise the sale of my Giant and I will be getting one too.

Ordered and being made up now. Could be a couple of weeks for delivery and then out on it

Camcycle1974

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Cool, you will be the only one with it in Barbados, that's for sure! If and when you do get one be sure to post some pics up against a palm tree. Just have to finalise the sale of my Giant and I will be getting one too.

Ordered and being made up now. Could be a couple of weeks for delivery and then out on it

Mine came yesterday. Problem is my wife was out at the time so a neighbor took it in. I expected a knock on the door at some point last night but he never came home. My bike is currently residing in his hallway until he comes back!

Avit5

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Cool, you will be the only one with it in Barbados, that's for sure! If and when you do get one be sure to post some pics up against a palm tree. Just have to finalise the sale of my Giant and I will be getting one too.

Ordered and being made up now. Could be a couple of weeks for delivery and then out on it

Mine came yesterday. Problem is my wife was out at the time so a neighbor took it in. I expected a knock on the door at some point last night but he never came home. My bike is currently residing in his hallway until he comes back!

Or rather you hope your bike is sitting in his hallway ! Maybe he has took it for a test ride and just kept on riding !

rubertoe

I'm "downgrading" from 5600 to 4600 (albeit with an FSA chainset).

I cant see any difference.

Camcycle1974

Avit5 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

stu-bim wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

My sentiments exactly. Do they ship them to Barbados?

Website has a price for it and with exchange rates and VAT reduction it works out cheaper than straight UK purchase. Just need to check this end for what duties or VAT will be imposed and I could hit the trigger.

Cool, you will be the only one with it in Barbados, that's for sure! If and when you do get one be sure to post some pics up against a palm tree. Just have to finalise the sale of my Giant and I will be getting one too.

Ordered and being made up now. Could be a couple of weeks for delivery and then out on it

Mine came yesterday. Problem is my wife was out at the time so a neighbor took it in. I expected a knock on the door at some point last night but he never came home. My bike is currently residing in his hallway until he comes back!

Or rather you hope your bike is sitting in his hallway ! Maybe he has took it for a test ride and just kept on riding !

Lets hope not. I think I can see the big brown box sitting there. So near yet so far. Might get it at some point over the weekend if I'm lucky.

chris_bass

Get the Tiagra one and get this
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/r ... black.html
Sell the Tiagra parts and you are quids in!