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Upgrade groupset or not worth it???

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  • March 7, 2020 at 8:45 am #30533
    rb982

    Hi Everyone,

    Newbie here. I have a Giant Defy 2 that is about 8 years old. Nothing wrong with the frame and I have recently upgraded the wheels to feel a bit zippier. I just changed the cassette and chain but the gears still feel very clunky. The bike shop has told me that to get the cleaner, faster gear changes I am looking for I would need to upgrade my standard groupset to something like Shimano 105’s. Happy to do this but at £300-400 I wonder whether it is more economical to pick up a new bike, say something a couple of years old for around £1000. It seems a shame as I love the bike and there’s nothing wrong with the frame but what I fear is the upgrade not giving enough of an improvement in the ride.

    Any thoughts and advice on this welcome please.

    Thanks!

    Ross

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  • March 10, 2020 at 9:15 pm #956555
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    Simon E

    Shimano 9 speed groupsets

    Shimano 9 speed groupsets have had the second lever instead of the thumb button for a good number of years now and even the current 8 speed Claris shifters have the same setup.

    Shimano SP41 outer casing and Fibrax stainless slick inner wires would be my recommendation. Avoid teflon coated cables, it comes off the wire and slowly gums up the casing. And check there are no places where the cable might be dragging.

    If you’re looking at replacement shifters you might find lots of perfectly good Sora 3500 sold secondhand as many people don’t like having ‘merely’ 9 cogs when their mates use 10 or 11.

    105 (5700 10sp and 5800 11ps) and Tiagra (4600 & 4700 10sp), Ultegra and Dura Ace all have the cables routed under the handlebar tape.

    Like current 105 and upwards, 10sp Tiagra 4700 has a different amount of cable pull per shift to 4600 and lower groupsets so you would need to replace your rear derailleur. With 9sp 3500 & 4500, 10sp 4600, 5600 & 5700 it should work fine.

    March 10, 2020 at 11:21 am #956553
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    kil0ran

    rb982 wrote:

    rb982 wrote:
    Great advice thank you! I have Mavic Ksyriums – not sure if they are 11 speed compatible? I will consider the Tiagras aswell and see what pops up on ebay. Yes, I do have the thumb shifters to gear down – what do you mean by useful or not these are to me? Excuse my lack of knowledge – do the Tiagras and 105’s not have thumb down shifters? Thanks again for your help

    Ksyriums will be 11 speed so all good there.

    For Tiagra and 105 (and possibly the current versions of the lower level groups) the thumb shifter is replaced with a second lever behind the brake lever. Makes it easier to shift down from the drops but slightly harder than a thumb shift if you’re wearing thick gloves. 

    March 10, 2020 at 6:54 am #956551
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    TheBillder

    +1 for Tiagra. I have one
    +1 for Tiagra. I have one bike with Tiagra 4700 and one with 105 5800 (which was superseded by 7000 in 2018); neither is the full set but both have the levers and front & rear mech. I can tell the difference, though can’t really say that the on the road the 105 is better – it’s slightly less of a push on the lever to change, plus the extra gear on the cassette.

    Tiagra parts are cheaper, sometimes significantly so, and to me seems in the bang for buck sweet spot. It’s a bit like getting a Skoda instead of a VW – a bit less image, almost the same real world performance, for usefully less money.

    And definitely new cables, whatever you decide. No point in re-taping the bars with aged cables, and while at it, lovely new tape will reinforce the “whoo, new stuff” feeling!

    March 10, 2020 at 5:40 am #956549
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    rb982

    Great advice thank you!
    Great advice thank you!

    I have Mavic Ksyriums – not sure if they are 11 speed compatible?

    I will consider the Tiagras aswell and see what pops up on ebay.

    Yes, I do have the thumb shifters to gear down – what do you mean by useful or not these are to me? Excuse my lack of knowledge – do the Tiagras and 105’s not have thumb down shifters?

    Thanks again for your help

    March 9, 2020 at 7:39 pm #956547
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    kil0ran

    Just check your new wheels

    Just check your new wheels are 11-speed compatible – I’m sure they are but if they’re not then you can’t run 105.

    It will be cheaper to buy a new bike, but you will notice a difference between 8 year old Sora and modern Tiagra/105 if you choose to upgrade the components. Much lighter shift, less lever throw, and better braking. Overall much more responsive and comfortable. And on the subject of comfort, if you’re happy with your frame and position, try and stick with it. There can be a lot of faff and expense getting your position dialled in to a new frame. 

    Personally I’d look for nearly-new Tiagra on eBay as it’s the time of year people are buying whole bikes as donor frames and selling off the groups. Then it’s just a question of time. Set aside a day and a half if you’ve never fitted a group before and follow the Shimano Dealer Manual instructions. Trickiest bit will be re-taping your bars, all you need for the group is a set of allen keys and maybe a BB wrench if you’re changing the bottom bracket

    March 9, 2020 at 3:47 am #956545
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    werics

    Strongly second trying the
    Strongly second trying the cables first. Also want to throw in that if you’ve found you like the frame, keeping it and not jumping horses is worth more than you’d think. Last point, if that’s the Sora with the thumb buttons to shift smaller, how convenient those are/aren’t to you might be a factor to consider. If I’m off by a year well ignore me.

    March 8, 2020 at 2:36 pm #956543
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    rb982

    My mistake/typo, sorry. I
    My mistake/typo, sorry. I have a Defy 3, not 2, so Sora not Tiagra.

    Thanks for the comments so far!

    March 7, 2020 at 5:50 pm #956541
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    Anonymous

    Agreed no need to upgrade
    Agreed no need to upgrade from the Tiagra, make sure the pivot points are all clean and lightly lubed, then fit new cables and outers, if you’ve got cash to splash try Jagwire pro gear set, make sure you’ve got a decent pair of cable cutters too.

    March 7, 2020 at 11:36 am #956539
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    ktache

    New cables is never a bad

    New cables is never a bad idea.  Good ones too.

     

    March 7, 2020 at 9:25 am #956537
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    AfterPeak

    If you hadn’t just brought a
    If you hadn’t just brought a new chain and cassette I would have said buy a new groupset. They come with them so the cost isn’t too bad for say 105. I would replace the cables (and outers) and ride the bike into the ground and save your money for a new bike

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