Giant vs. Specialized

[Cataboo]

The Specialized models have MTB brake/shift levers, MTB linear pull brakes, and MTB derailleurs front and rear.

The Giant has the following road components: flat bar shifters, brake calipers, and a Tiagra level front derailleur. The rear derailleur is listed as 2300 level, but the picture shows a Sora.

From the dash link that you posted, it says the dash has:
Shifters Shimano R221, EZ Fire
Front Derailleur Shimano R443
Rear Derailleur Shimano 2300

I don't see tiagra or sora listed as the derailleurs on that.


I'm really not sure why you would think mountain bike or road components at this level make any difference? It's a flat bar road bike. Trek went with mountain bike components on its equivalent bike (trek fx). http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...th/fx/73fxwsd/

I would trust a deore rear derailleur more than a sora rear derailleur to shift correctly, since on mountain bikes you put stronger springs because it's a lot more critical when you shift to make the shift. And because I'd use deore on a mountain bike, but I wouldn't use sora on my road bike.

It comes down to a gearing difference, basically. The only practical difference on these bikes with mountain bike or road components is that the ones with mountain bike componentry have more gears. Flat bar road bikes aren't quite as efficient in position as a road bike with drops, so smaller gears to compensate for that is perfectly fine, especially since most of the people who buy the bikes are new riders that likely will need them.

[laura*]

Front Derailleur Shimano R443
Rear Derailleur Shimano 2300

I don't see tiagra or sora listed as the derailleurs on that.

FD-R443 = Tiagra level, ie matching the previous generation 44xx Tiagra.