Help me! Road Bike Part Grades for Dummies

I was wondering if someone could either give me a quick run down or point me in the direction of a web-page that gives a run down of the grades of bike components for road bikes. (Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, & Dura-Ace)

What makes one so much better then another making one bike cost $300 and another cost $1000? Which parts are just worth the upgrade if you can afford it and which are just icing on the cake? I know it's all opinion or relative and there is not one right answer, but I was just looking for opinions. Its a bit overwhelming to someone who's just ridden a MTB tank. (Specialized HardRock)

I need to invest in a road bike and while I don't need a top of the line one I am doing Triathalon training so I need something halfway decent. I rather invest in a road bike that is more multi-purpose then a Tri bike given I'm only starting out in Tri's this year.

It's a loaded question I know so even if you could just point me in the right direction where to do some research I'd be ever so thankful. :)

If you are trying to keep to a budget **BUT** you are hoping to keep the bike you buy for a while, I'd say 105 would be a good balance of value and quality. There is some difference in shift quality between the groups (I've never ridden anything below 105 -- I have a 105 bike and an Ultegra bike, and I've test-ridden, but never owned, Dura Ace bikes), and I've read anecdotal reports that the lower groups (below 105) are less durable and reliable, though I have no personal experience to verify that. There are significant weight differences and that's a lot of what you pay for honestly.

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

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Originally Posted by tulip

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

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Where does Deore fit into this? Putting it like this is very helpful, tulip. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by F8th637

Where does Deore fit into this? Putting it like this is very helpful, tulip. Thanks!

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it doesn't. That list is road bike .
Deore is MTB (Toyota Truck;).

2200 = Matchbox?

:)

Thanks both of you. That was helpful. Going to try and find a good book and read read read.

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Originally Posted by zencentury

it doesn't. That list is road bike .
Deore is MTB (Toyota Truck;).

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Oh, very interesting! Had no idea! Thanks, Zen!

Don't forget about SRAM! SRAM Website

Rival
Force
Red

The main difference is weight/material that the parts are constructed out of. As with Shimano, there will be some difference in durability and shift quality as well. Personally, I think that for a person looking for the best quality at the lowest price, it doesn't get much better than Rival! I am building an all-out race machine, so I've got Red ordered, but before that came out, Force was the top of the line choice for SRAM.

Now, any Campy lovers want to speak up?

I was thinking of speaking up but didn't know how to grade my sports cars... :)
maybe later

I only focused on Shimano because that's what Idealmuse asked about. I agree with Zen that Deore XT is a Tundra and Deore is a Tacoma PreRunner.

I'm not up on my Maserti models, otherwise I'd give Campy a try.

EDIT: but I am up on my Audi/VW models for Campy comparison (from high to low)

Record = Audi RS4 Cabriolet/S8
Chorus = Audi S4 Cabriolet/S6
Centaur = Audi A4
Veloce = VW Passat
Mirage = VW Jetta
Zenon = VW Polo

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Originally Posted by liza

I've read anecdotal reports that the lower groups (below 105) are less durable and reliable, though I have no personal experience to verify that. There are significant weight differences and that's a lot of what you pay for honestly.

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My Giant is Sora-equipped. I love the bike but Sora is no good. The shifting was, to put it nicely, less than fun. I have an all 105-equipped bike and the difference is like night and day. It shifts like buttah, baby, buttah. Spend the extra money if you can.

Love my Campy Athena (old stuff, equivalent pretty much to Centaur) Campy just keeps going and going and going...

Not that I'm a Campy-only kind of gal, oh no! I've got mixed Shimano and Campy on both my road bikes.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I've got mixed Shimano and Campy on both my road bikes.

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That's still not legal in some states ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tulip

I only focused on Shimano because that's what Idealmuse asked about. I agree with Zen that Deore XT is a Tundra and Deore is a Tacoma PreRunner.

I'm not up on my Maserti models, otherwise I'd give Campy a try.

EDIT: but I am up on my Audi/VW models for Campy comparison (from high to low)

Record = Audi RS4 Cabriolet/S8
Chorus = Audi S4 Cabriolet/S6
Centaur = Audi A4
Veloce = VW Passat
Mirage = VW Jetta
Zenon = VW Polo

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my bike components (centaur) are relatively better than my car (Jetta)... :)

Wait...

So my bike is a Toyota Tundra in the back and a Toyota Camry in the front!?!

OH NO!!! My bike has a mullet!!!:eek::eek::eek: