Will going for 105/Ultegra over Tiagra make any difference for a beginner?

Aka Ishur

Hi, just back from the longest cycle i've done yet, about 65km. In lots of pain, probably due to the fact that I did it on a big 5 year old hybrid, with massive tyres, and a crap saddle. Looking at getting a road bike, and wanted to ask, will i actually notice a difference if i go for the 105/Ultegra drivetrains? I dont race and I'm not in any club, but I do enjoy cycling and do about 100km a week ad want to do a 200km cycle at the end of the summer.
Any and all advice is appreciated.
aka

RobFowl

IMO 105 is a big step up from Tiagra. It'll work better and last longer. The difference from 105 to Ultegra is more about weight.
If you can stretch go for 105 but most importantly get a good frame so you can upgrade in the future.

Zorba

I'd agree with Rob, if your doing 100km a week a Tiagra groupset won't last long, only a matter of time before it starts to rust if nothing else. Also brakes and gear changes will be a lot better on 105, if need be wait a few weeks to save for 105 or else be prepared to have to upgrade your Tiagra in a yr or so.

lukester

I'd say the same, if you can stretch to 105, go for it. Don't worry about Ultegra, unless you spot a good deal in your budget.
On the other hand, coming from a hybrid even Tiagra on a road bike will feel very sweet, a friend has Tiagra on his bike and is very happy with it. When I ride his bike I notice the difference though between it and mine with Ultegra.

penexpers

IMHO there isn't much difference between 105 and tiagra. Saying that it will start to rust after a while is misleading. I left a bike with a tiagra rear dérailleur out in the rain for a few weeks and it still works fine.

mloc123

Zorba wrote: »

I'd agree with Rob, if your doing 100km a week a Tiagra groupset won't last long, only a matter of time before it starts to rust if nothing else. Also brakes and gear changes will be a lot better on 105, if need be wait a few weeks to save for 105 or else be prepared to have to upgrade your Tiagra in a yr or so.

I dunno, I have put a couple of thousand miles on a Trek 1000 which is Sora/Tiagra mix and have never need to even adjust the rear derailer.

RobFowl

I've Dura Ace on 2 bikes and tiagra on my Xcross bike. I've has 105 and ultegra bikes in the recent past as well. I do notice the Tiarga feels alot flimsier and the gear changing is nowhere near as sweet as with 105. I'm in the process of upgrading it and it's not a bike that gets alot of use either.

lescol

I have a 10 year old bike with Tiagra, the STIs are still working fine, front derailleur no problems. Changed the rear 2 years ago as it had become "slack" and was shifting poorly, put on a 105 and the bike is still going strong. Can't say I've seen rust on it. Currently riding Planet X Dura Ace, there is a big difference in the feel and slickness of gear changes. The Tiagra bike is now my foul weather/winter trainer. I would have no problems recommending Tiagra.

niceonetom

I have Ultegra and love it but...

Frame first! I'd rather have sweet frame (that fits!) equipped with Tiagra rather than a poor frame with Ultegra.

My priorities when buying a bike would go something like this:
Frame
Wheels
Drive train
Finishing Kit.

Aka Ishur

Would I be right in saying the rear derailleur is the weak spot in the drivetrain?

Turbulent Bill

Are Tiagra and 105 compatible, i.e., could you buy a complete Tiagra group and then upgrade bits to 105 if you need to? Thinking along the same lines as the OP, looking at a basic road bike but don't want to shell out on a complete 105 group as it's probably overkill for me.

RobFowl

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

Are Tiagra and 105 compatible, i.e., could you buy a complete Tiagra group and then upgrade bits to 105 if you need to? Thinking along the same lines as the OP, looking at a basic road bike but don't want to shell out on a complete 105 group as it's probably overkill for me.

Yes as long as they are the same speed i.e. 9 or 10 (older ones are 9 speed newer 10)

stopped_clock

I've put a few thousand kms on a Tiagra group over the past couple of years. I even had to keep the bike outside for a while, and there's no rust. It needs a tune up now, but nothing more - certainly nothing *needs* to be replaced or upgraded. It's been my first road bike, and I've not knowingly been shortchanged by the groupset.

When I got it, the choice was between Sora (I think) and Tiagra, and I did go for the more expensive of those two. I suppose the usual advice is to get the best you can afford (and all else being equal the best FRAME you can afford).

I'm now considering upgrading because I'm doing enough cycling to justify it to myself, and I'm torn between trading in for a completely new bike or upgrading components as I go.

Zorba

Well on my Tiagra the bottom bracket rusted along with the brake calipers, maybe they fecked up the coating on mine or something

stopped_clock

Aka Ishur wrote: »

Would I be right in saying the rear derailleur is the weak spot in the drivetrain?

It's the part of the bike closest to the ground (you know what I mean - ignoring the wheels...) so most likely to get damaged and clogged up by road dirt.

stopped_clock

Zorba wrote: »

Well on my Tiagra the bottom bracket rusted along with the brake calipers, maybe they fecked up the coating on mine or something

Wow - how old was it?

horizon26

I have tiagra on my scr2 first road bike in a very very long time I thought it was pretty good to be honest.I then changed the front mech to 105 and wow big difference.Got a bit fed up of the scr2 and bought cayo expert with dura ace and the difference is vast from the tiagra.If you are planning to do a hell of a lot of cycling and i mean a hell of a lot,then tiagra might be under some pressure.I still thing it would be ok though,if you have the money than 105 or ultegra would be a better option.if you are stuck for cash i still think tiagra would not be than bad option.Cycling plus gave tiagra a good review and said it was ulmost as good as 105.I hope this helps but you should make up your own mind.

Aka Ishur

Thanks for all the advice guys. Kinda thinking of going for the Boardman Comp 09, with 105 on the rear, everything else tiagra.

Zorba

stopped_clock wrote: »

Wow - how old was it?

Only had the bike for a year, also had to get the rear wheel rebuilt, kept breaking spokes and no i'm not overweight

blorg

RobFowl wrote: »

Yes as long as they are the same speed i.e. 9 or 10 (older ones are 9 speed newer 10)

Tiagra is 9 speed while 105 has been 10 speed for some time, so effectively, no, they are not compatible.

Important to compare like generations too, 10 speed 105 is nicer than 9 speed 105 from my own experience. Today's Tiagra gets good reviews - far better than before - I suspect it might be similar to old (9 speed) 105.

I don't think there would be much point upgrading 9 speed Tiagra to 9 speed 105, I suspect there is not too much of a difference.

I would go for the 10 speed 105 if you can.

RobFowl

blorg wrote: »

I would go for the 10 speed 105 if you can.

Assumed 2010 tiagra was 10 speed

rottenhat

niceonetom wrote: »

Frame first! I'd rather have sweet frame (that fits!) equipped with Tiagra rather than a poor frame with Ultegra.

QFT. A bike is essentially a frame and bunch of other crap you hang on it that wears out after a while. The frame is the only thing you (hopefully) won't ever need to replace.

But if you're choosing between two equivalent frames, no reason not to get 105 if you can stretch to it - it's always been the best value Shimano has to offer.

blorg

rottenhat wrote: »

QFT. A bike is essentially a frame and bunch of other crap you hang on it that wears out after a while. The frame is the only thing you (hopefully) won't ever need to replace.

I don't buy that at all for a first road bike, you will almost certainly ditch/sell the entire package when you are upgrading.

rottenhat

blorg wrote: »

I don't buy that at all for a first road bike, you will almost certainly ditch/sell the entire package when you are upgrading.

That's a fair point, but not everyone has the same obsession with upgrading that pervades the more prolific posters on this board.

TinyExplosions

rottenhat wrote: »

That's a fair point, but not everyone has the same obsession with upgrading that pervades the more prolific posters on this board.

They should!

Having said that, I think I've got a keeper of a frame now -maybe I'll upgrade to Force some time

blorg

rottenhat wrote: »

That's a fair point, but not everyone has the same obsession with upgrading that pervades the more prolific posters on this board.

In my opinon, for your first road bike you are best off buying relatively cheaply, finding out what works for you, and dumping the lot when you come to upgrade. Certainly that is most cost-effective for the typical road bike user wanting to move up.

Aka Ishur

Things get complicated fast on this forum, dont they? :P

xz

I had Sora On my Giant SCR4, I changerd the shifters for Tiagra, left the original front mech, changed the rear for a 105 and a 105 cassette, absolutely no problems whatsoever, the 105, mech was a massive leap up from the Sora.

ednwireland

I run 2007 sora (7 speed) with a105 front lever evrything else sora calipers crankset mechs can't complain, but to the point, I am looking at new bikes and have seen bikes wieverything tiagra and 105 spec bikes where all they have is 105 brifters and a rear mech everything else was crap even the crankset had a square taper BB Ffs so complete tiagra over complete 105 yes but given the choice of a mix of unknown stuff over a full tiagra groupo think i'll take the full tiagra

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

They should!

Having said that, I think I've got a keeper of a frame now -maybe I'll upgrade to Force some time

Yeah, cos no one in their right mind would buy that thing from you.

I've had 105 (9spd) on my spesh for over three years now with Ultegra cranks. After quite intensive use, the cables and left shifter decided they needed to be replaced a few months ago.

IM0

I have Tiagra levers on one of my bikes (touring bike) and it works fine, especially for someone with your requirements/needs. If you've got the money by all means go to 105's but Tiagra will serve you fine Im sure.