Should I upgrade to 105?

daymobrew

The chain on my 5 year old LaPierre Francais de Jeuz replica road bike is skipping. I've done about 4k miles (I know, sod all) so I'm guessing the drivetrain is worn. It's Shimano Tiagra.

The cheap option is to replace the worn parts, but would it be an ideal time to upgrade the groupset to Shimano 105?

Yes.

abcdggs

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes.

yes

Sorry, I should probably elaborate. 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace are all very much similar mechancically, with the only real difference being weight. I have a bike with 105 and one with Ultegra SL. There is absolutley no difference in the shifting. 105 shifts pefectly, is hard wearing, reliable and as an added bonus is compatible with the higher up stuff so you can upgrade piecemeal in the future, if you want.

You could hang on to the tiagra stuff and use it to build up a commuter/ winter bike at some stage if the mood takes you. It should be possible to find some bargains on 5600 groupsets as shimano are replacing it soon with 5700. 5600 is fantastic stuff though IMHO, mine is on its 2nd frame having outlasted the first!

blorg

It is almost certainly not worthwhile. You probably just need a new cassette and chain, I replaced both of these myself recently on 9 speed for under £25.

If you want 105 everybody's favourite retailer is doing it attached to a full carbon bike for £899.

With cassette and chain replaced you could flog the current bike for 300-450 - or keep it as a winter bike.

daymobrew

blorg wrote: »

It is almost certainly not worthwhile. You probably just need a new cassette and chain, I replaced both of these myself recently on 9 speed for under £25.

I guessed it would be quite cheap to do the minimum.

blorg wrote: »

If you want 105 everybody's favourite retailer is doing it attached to a full carbon bike for £899.

My LaPierre is full carbon.

TinyExplosions

daymobrew wrote: »

My LaPierre is full carbon.

But it's the wrong make of Full Carbon

Raam

If you are going 105 and staying with 9-speed (assuming that is what you currently have) then I have a set of shifters that I am no longer using. I can let you have them for a fair nominal fee. If they don't do the job for you, you can have your money back.

ednwireland

do it - if you like ther frame ( ignore the px fan boys your probably getting a worse quality frame)

i have 2 bikes that i have spent more than i care to remember on (replaceing full groupsets wheels etc) but dont see the point of chucking good frames away.

but if you want to subscribe tio the waste culture generated by the cycling forums go ahead and buy a planet - x

blorg

daymobrew wrote: »

I guessed it would be quite cheap to do the minimum. My LaPierre is full carbon.

Right, I had been presuming this was an entry-level aluminium bike as that is what Tiagra tends to be put on.

In that case it could be worthwhile but to be honest I do not think moving to 9 speed 105 would make a big difference to what you have now. If you want to upgrade better moving to 10 speed and if doing that I would aim for Ultegra/SL, particularly if it can be picked up cheapish in the sales, it tends not to cost that much more than 10sp 105. Of course if you saw 10sp 105 going particularly cheap that would be a good option, it works just the same with a slight weight penalty.

At the end of the day the slipping is probably going to be fixed with a new chain and cassette at around £25 all in so you need to consider whether you just want to fix the slipping or do an all-over upgrade on your bike. The two are not particularly linked.

jdt101

Ultegra SL with 49% discount, this is excellent value. Just put it on the credit card...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44646

daymobrew

blorg wrote: »

Right, I had been presuming this was an entry-level aluminium bike as that is what Tiagra tends to be put on.

I think (hope) the groupset was the compromise on my bike. It was ~e1500 back in 2005.

blorg wrote: »

At the end of the day the slipping is probably going to be fixed with a new chain and cassette at around £25 all in so you need to consider whether you just want to fix the slipping or do an all-over upgrade on your bike. The two are not particularly linked.

I posted the question because I figured it would be an ideal time to upgrade.

As I don't get out on my bike much, I would really find it hard to justify the upgrade (even with a 49% discount).

blorg

Raam wrote: »

If you are going 105 and staying with 9-speed (assuming that is what you currently have) then I have a set of shifters that I am no longer using. I can let you have them for a fair nominal fee. If they don't do the job for you, you can have your money back.

I'll take those shifters if daymobrew doesn't want them- specifically I need a front 9 speed 105 shifter.

Raam

blorg wrote: »

I'll take those shifters if daymobrew doesn't want them- specifically I need a front 9 speed 105 shifter.

I think the price just went up

blorg

These are the cassette (£15) and chain (£12) I replaced recently on my own 9 speed bike. There are slightly cheaper 9 speed chains but this one is best value for the money IMO, it's a good one and costs as much as £18 elsewhere. I think I got it from Ribble rather than CRC, mine came boxed with a quick link included.

papac

I have a similar quandry atm and this is one option I am considering.

105 Shifters and Ultegra 6700 derailleur for about 220 delivered from crc.

Since you have to buy cassette and chain anyway you are totally upgraded for slightly over 200 notes. (chances are your 9 speed derailleur will give up before long anyway).


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13646

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40591

EDIT. You could go for 105 10 speed derailleur but difference is only 15 euros about and you can use 28 tooth sprocket with new ultegra.
EDIT EDIT. You can flog your tiagra shifters to offset another 30/40 quid.

blorg

You can actually use a 9 speed rear derailleur with 10 speed, the indexing is in the shifters.

papac

You can actually use a 9 speed rear derailleur with 10 speed, the indexing is in the shifters.

True Blorg. I was working on assumption that existing derailleur is probably well worn(as in my case)and its best to change the lot while postage is free.