Upgrade to Shimano 105?

Mac9

Dear all,

My friend has just bought a new groupset for his bike and is therefore selling his old groupset; a complete Shimano 105. He has offered to sell it to me for £200. All the parts are used but in good condition.

I've been looking to upgrade my current bike for a while now, and a 105 gruppo would certainly be a big improvement. However, I'm worried it might be too much of an improvement for my bike and therefore a bit of a waste.

I have a 2009 Carrera Virtuoso...... Very much a beginner road bike although it has done me proud for about 1000km so far this summer.

Would I be better off just saving and buying a whole new bike with better components and frame etc.. or would it be worth buying the 105 set off my friend and upgrading what I currently have?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

declan1

What version is the 105 groupset?

If it's 5700, definitely go for it.

Mac9

It's a 1055 version he said.

Mac9

Also out out interest, how much do you think my LBS will charge to fit a new groupset?

declan1

Don't go for that. It hasn't even got STI levers - it's an old vintage groupset.

I presume you've got 2300 or Sora on your bike currently? I would save your money and either get 105 5700 or a new wheelset

They shouldn't really charge any more than £30-40. Installing a new groupset takes a little while and bike shops always charge too much.

Mac9

Thanks very much for the advice! I'll give it a miss and get on the lookout for a 5700 version.

Yes I currently have a 2300 which was fine for a while, but since I've been going on longer rides and doing more climbing I'm finding them a little slow and they're becoming unreliable.

A new wheel set is a good idea, do you have and recommendations?

declan1

If you can give me a budget for a wheelset (something that you could save for) I would be happy to recommend some!

Mac9

Thanks! Probably around the £200-250 mark I think.

declan1

For that kind of price the Ultegra 6700 wheelset is a good option. It's fairly understated and a good performer however they are made to last! On-One have them at a really good price at the moment!

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/WPSHUL6700/ ... s_wheelset

mattv

Fitting a groupset for £30? Thats very cheap.... My LBS charges 60-80. You have to set up the brakes and gears with new cables, re wrap the bar tape, swap cassettes, for your bike even swap BB types and face the frame. Thats a big job.

declan1

I personally do it all myself so I don't know how much an LBS would charge. Maybe ask a friend who is mechanically good with bikes to install it for a smaller charge (if you get a new groupset)?

Mac9

Looks a great value wheelset that, thanks very much for that.

I probably won't be able to buy a new wheelset as well as a new groupset, what one do you think I will be better off buying first?

Could I just upgrade a few parts of the gruppo at a time and slowly build it up? If so what order should I buy the parts or isthere no standard way of doing it?

Sorry for all the questions! I'm very much new to the mechanics of bikes!

declan1

The 2300 groupset is probably fine, but just needs a bit of TLC. It could do with re-indexing and a nice clean up. Ask a friend or your LBS to re-index the gears and see how they work then. If they're still really bad, I would probably upgrade the groupset first. It's usually cheaper to buy it as a whole groupset rather than individual parts. A new 5700 groupset is 10 speed however 2300 is 8-speed. No components apart from maybe the front mech would be compatible so you couldn't upgrade bit by bit.

Don't worry about the questions - that's what the forum's for (not for starting WW3 as it's usually used for)

Also a good idea would be to buy a good book about maintaining bikes - it's considerably cheaper doing work to a bike yourself - try this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinn-Art-Road-B ... 1934030988