Originally Posted by
martinus
Claris/2400 8 speed
Sora/3500 9 speed
Tiagra/4600 10 speed
None have thumb shifters, and all have "paddle" levers with external shift cable/housing ...
Oddly enough, it's much cheaper for me to upgrade to a 3x9 Sora than to upgrade to a 2x8 Claris (haven't seen a 3x8 yet.) New shifters, cassette, and chain, about 200$, whereas the 2x8 I'd need to spent 160$ on the shifters and another 100$ on the same quality of crank.
I like my triple for my rides up into the mountains.