advice please

in-rainbows

I'm about to buy my first road bike, but want some advice first. I've narrowed it down to 2 bikes, same model, different specs. One's got full shimano 105 groupset and retails for £1500 the other full ultegra and retails for £1800. Other than that the bikes are identical. Is the ultegra groupset £300 better than 105, or should I go for the cheaper option and replace parts as they ware out.

dnwhite88

If you can afford the extra £300, then I would say go for it.

mfin

If you can't afford the extra £300, then I would say don't.

Also, remember, chances are it comes with sh1t wheels anyway and £300 will get you a good set and the £1500 bike with these would be the better bike of the two for £1800. ...of course, it follows that putting the £300 wheels on the £1800 would be even better.

What bike is it? Perhaps there are better bikes for the money too?

Bozman

There's nothing wrong with 105 but you'll always want more.
Ultegra is only £200 more off the shelf

KonkyWonky

Personally I would go with the bike with 105, sell the stock wheels and pick up a nice set of Fulcrum 3's or similar.

There will be a far larger performance difference by doing that than going from 105 to Ultegra.

in-rainbows

Thanks for the advise guys.
The bike's a giant tcr advanced 1 or 2
Thats what I thought bozman, there isn't a £300 difference in the groupset, but I don't know whether there's much difference in performance between the two.

trooperk

There won’t be any difference in performance between the two, one will be a bit smoother that’s it, if I blind fold you I’ll be surprise if you can tell the different, go with the advice with the wheel upgrade.

unixnerd

I'd be tempted to get the 105 bike and spend the 300 on nice wheels, put the old ones on ebay.