Brake caliper clearance and mixing groupsets

BenTyndall
BenTyndall Posts: 3
edited October 2019 in Workshop
I've spent the last 5 years giving a Carrera TDF more abuse than a farmers Hilux and have finally decided the bike and I deserve and upgrade. It's currently fitted with a combination of shimano claris and tourney which are hard as nails and trektro calipers which fit my 32mm tyres comfortably. My research
has led me to shimano 105 seeming like the best groupset option but has a max tyre clearance of 28mm. I love my frame though it doesn't have disc mounts and I consider my 32mm gatorskin tyres essential for my kind of riding. Since I'm new to this and can't figure out which how much performance I'd be losing by simply using different calipers and which calipers would be tbe best choice.

Comments

  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    BenTyndall wrote:
    I've spent the last 5 years giving a Carrera TDF more abuse than a farmers Hilux and have finally decided the bike and I deserve and upgrade. It's currently fitted with a combination of shimano claris and tourney which are hard as nails and trektro calipers which fit my 32mm tyres comfortably. My research
    has led me to shimano 105 seeming like the best groupset option but has a max tyre clearance of 28mm. I love my frame though it doesn't have disc mounts and I consider my 32mm gatorskin tyres essential for my kind of riding. Since I'm new to this and can't figure out which how much performance I'd be losing by simply using different calipers and which calipers would be tbe best choice.

    As you've found the 105 series does not offer a "long drop" brake option which is what you'll need I guess. There are other non-series options like the Shimano R451
    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r451-5 ... 3wQAvD_BwE

    and the more expensive Ultegra 650

    https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-ult ... J4QAvD_BwE

    If you really want to push the boat out then TRP do some fairly expensive long drop brakes

    https://www.tredz.co.uk/.TRP-RG957-Dual ... VkQAvD_BwE

    All the above have a maximum of 57mm drop so you might want to check if that will be sufficient when you're running your 32mm tyres.

    Tektro do some extra long drop calipers that go up to 73mm drop if you need that much tho I doubt it

    https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/blac ... t-fitting/
  • arlowood wrote:
    BenTyndall wrote:
    I've spent the last 5 years giving a Carrera TDF more abuse than a farmers Hilux and have finally decided the bike and I deserve and upgrade. It's currently fitted with a combination of shimano claris and tourney which are hard as nails and trektro calipers which fit my 32mm tyres comfortably. My research
    has led me to shimano 105 seeming like the best groupset option but has a max tyre clearance of 28mm. I love my frame though it doesn't have disc mounts and I consider my 32mm gatorskin tyres essential for my kind of riding. Since I'm new to this and can't figure out which how much performance I'd be losing by simply using different calipers and which calipers would be tbe best choice.

    As you've found the 105 series does not offer a "long drop" brake option which is what you'll need I guess. There are other non-series options like the Shimano R451
    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r451-5 ... 3wQAvD_BwE

    and the more expensive Ultegra 650

    https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-ult ... J4QAvD_BwE

    If you really want to push the boat out then TRP do some fairly expensive long drop brakes

    https://www.tredz.co.uk/.TRP-RG957-Dual ... VkQAvD_BwE

    All the above have a maximum of 57mm drop so you might want to check if that will be sufficient when you're running your 32mm tyres.

    Tektro do some extra long drop calipers that go up to 73mm drop if you need that much tho I doubt it

    https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/blac ... t-fitting/

    Great thank you. I was unsure about mixing groupsets but I guess shimano to shimano makes sense and threw ultegra part looks good.
  • akh
    akh Posts: 206
    You don't mention mudguards in you post so I assume you're not using them and we're talking tyre clearance only. Unless your frame has a crazy long drop, you'll be fine with the Shimano brakes listed, at least from a tyre clearance perspective. Shimano's product page rates the R650s as able to accommodate a 28mm tyre max, but I think that's massively conservative. Mine are currently used with the famously oversized GP4000s II tyres in 28mm (measure more like a 30mm tyre) and there is tonnes of clearance, way over 5mm.

    Performance wise, I'd try the existing callipers with the new groupset and go from there if you find the combination lacking. Shimano seems to have given up on long drop brakes as they haven't released a new model ages. My experience of the Shimano R650 callipers is that they are OK, but nothing special when paired with current 11 speed levers. The cable pull for current levers is not ideal, resulting in slightly sub-par braking performance. Shimano's own compatibility chart states this, check out section C-456.

    https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com?c ... acid=C-456

    Having said that, my comparison was to regular 105 5800 brakes, which isn't really a fair comparison.

    I've heard good things about the TRPs online but have no experience of them.
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Have you considered just upgrading the brake pads? If your current calipers give you the clearance you need - try replacing the pads with Kool Stop pads.
    Cycling weakly