What compares to deore/slx/xt/xtr?

Shimano Sora/Tiagra/105/Ultegra/Dura Ace

SRAM Apex/Rival/Force/Red

so sora = deore
tiagra = slx
105 = xt
what parts make the most difference? shifters and then mechs like mtb?

The thumb shift on the Sora is difficult to reach from the hoods IIRC.

I have 105 shifters with Ultegra rear derailleur – buttery smooth, more than adequate for my needs.

Rear mechs make little difference above the cheap ones. Ditto re. sti imo.the benefits are gradual- lower weight, better sealing in bearings etc.

Sora = acera, Tiagra = Deore, 105 = SLX, Ultegra = XT, Dura Ace = XTR
Tiagra just works, good for anyone just commuting and occasional riding IMO. You’re in the Peaks aren’t you? If you’re near Whaley Bridge before next wednesday, you’d probably be welcome to try my dad’s Tiagra shitfters/Ultegra/SLX mech Scott CX.
EDIT: Sora shifters are awful, Not possible to reach the thumb shifter in the drops and they jam if you overshift. Tiagra have been fine for me.

The thumb shift on the Sora is difficult to reach from the hoods IIRC.

I found it easy to reach on the hoods, not so easy on the drops. I don’t really use the drops much anyway so it didn’t bother me that much.

essentially i have a road bike to use for 6 months before a 60 mile leg in a triathlon (as a team of 3 so no great shakes)
Just want to get my head around stuff if i enjoy road riding tbh

If you can afford it then go for the Campagnolo, even the lower end stuff like centaur etc are really good. Take a look at the Ergos....They are more compact than the Shimanos (shorter length in the body) and the brake lever doesnt move sideways at all, and you dont get that hideous cable coming out of the side!!!!!! 👿 The inner lever for the down and the inner thumb button for the up. Also you can drop all cogs in 1 go by holding the button, and a full push of the lever will bring 3/4 sprockets up on the down shift. 🙂

Ive used them for 10 years and find them the best. Ive also tried using the Ergos on Sram cassettes and it works, this was after reading this………

http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/03/bikes-and-tech/can-you-run-campy-shifters-with-a-sram-drivetrain-sure-why-not_73404

Hope this helps!!!!!!!! 😉

EDIT….

Im currently on Sram Force (cos it was on the Trek when i ordered it) and could`nt stretch to the Campag,the Sram shifters are good but not the same as Campag!

there is also the shimano 2300 groupset,
which is 8sp and is groupset one below sora.

thats what i currently have

I would say, if your going for Shimano, you do not want anything below Tiagra for the shifters.

Tiagra is great IMO. Average group set for a very average rider. Legs and fitness make the biggest difference. There’s an old boy in our club who wipes the floor of most of the riders and he has got sora all round.

Campagnolo

11 speed – Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record (record and s.record now available in EPS electronic for silly money)
10 speed – Veloce, Centaur

I think they’ve stopped doing the lower end 10 spd stuff like Mirage (which i’ve got on my cx bike and is ok).

I’ve got carbon chorus 11 on my main bike and it’s very nice indeed. Brakes are excellent and shifting v.crisp. No problems using the thumb shifter from the drops and you can shift multiple gears in both directions easily.

Had shimano sora shifters on my old trek and they were pretty awful, as were the non-branded brakes supplied and the bonty chainset (08 trek 1.5)

Campag v shimano is very subjective, neither is demonstrably better overall.

That makes 2 thumbs up for Campag! 😛

I found it easy to reach on the hoods, not so easy on the drops. I don’t really use the drops much anyway so it didn’t bother me that much.

Ah yes – just checked my other half’s bike – I got it the wrong way round.

If you have the choice, try Sram, Shimano and Campag, and see which you prefer. To be honest they are all much of a muchness. I would say Sram is overpriced though.

My choice is Campag, partly i prefer its action and partly it looks much more appropriate on a Steel frame.

To answer the OP,

Veloce, Centaur, Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record and then there are the two electronic sets, one based on Record the other on Super Record. You do sometimes find old stock of Xenon and Mirage, which slot in below Veloce. Campag don’t make a cheap groupset anymore, cheaper yes, just not cheap.

Come on you Campag lovers……Keep posting 🙂

I like sram rival cos its black and loads lighter than the equivalent others

Worth popping into a shop and having a feel of different brands STI’s. I have trouble with the new flatter Shimano design and like the older (5600 for example) shape of lever and grip.

Use Campagnolo now as my lady hands fit it beautifully and the levers feel right nice.

Other than that they all shift as well as each other like Al points out. You really just get lighter action and weight as you spend more. It’s not like anyone makes stuff that doesn’t work – it tends to break down into what you like the look of and can afford.

Also, you may not like the way SRAM shifts so try that as well.

I’ve got SRAM Rival on one bike and Tiagra on the other. The Rival is ok, rather agricultural shifting and the doubleshift thing isn’t the most intuitive. I find the Tiagra nicer to us.

I’ve had Sora before and never had any trouble with it.