Help me! Road Bike Part Grades for Dummies

[Idealmuse]

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.

[VeloVT]

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.

[tulip]

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

[F8th637]

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

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

[Zen]

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

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

[F8th637]

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

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

[Idealmuse]

2200 = Matchbox?



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

[Fredwina]

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

let's try this (and I may get it wrong )
Dura-Ace XTR
Ultegra deore XT
105 deore LX
Tiarga Deore
Sora Alivo
2200 Acera
? altus
? Tourney(*mart level)

[Zen]

i like that, Fredwina.

I think I'll clip it out and carry it around for quick reference

[Meaux]

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.

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.

[KnottedYet]

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.

[Zen]

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

That's still not legal in some states

[tc1]

So, what's the component ranking based on the American car scale? Japanese cars say to me overrated, overpriced and too small.

[tulip]

So, what's the component ranking based on the American car scale? Japanese cars say to me overrated, overpriced and too small.

Overrated? Why are they the best selling cars in the country? Overpriced? I was at a car show today, and a Honda Accord is $25k and a an equivalent Buick is $33k. Too small? How about American cars being massive, gas-guzzling, hulks (except for the Ford Focus, which I actually like)?

Japanese cars say to me: well-designed, efficient, reliable, high-quality, same as Japanese (and Italian) bicycle components.

But I drive a German car, so what do I know?

[DirtDiva]

Too small? How about American cars being massive, gas-guzzling, hulks (except for the Ford Focus, which I actually like)?

The Focus is, of course, actually European...