Fifty Plus (50+) - What is your Favorite Grouppo?

I was going to make this a poll and thought better of it. I figure that I would miss someones favorite so I nixed that thought.

I'll start out.

Obviously I like the Shimano 105 Group for Road bikes. Strong, durable, and at a fair price. I LOVE the higher end stuff, but stick around a year or two and you'll have it in the 105 Group.

For MTB and such, I am split. To be sure, the Shimano LX group gives almost the same as the 105 group in the value arena. But, I really like some of the stuff I am seeing in the SRAM "X" series, so much so that my MTB frame will have a X.7 long cage rear derailluer and Shifters put on it.

Chris

Beatleso

Because of budget constraints my favorite groups are those that have just been replaced by the newest latest greatest must have advanced stuff. Mostly 9 speed road stuff and 2005 SRAM MTB equipment. Mechanical disk brakes are an excellent bargan now that hydraulics are taking off. Any group is fine as long as it is on closeout. Newer wheel hubs however trump price with technology.

Like last years camera, this equipment was the cats meow just a while ago and when properly assembled and tuned works great.

Grouppo... Wasn't he the fifth Marx brother? :D

Oh topic: My favorite grouppo is whatever one is on the bike I'm riding--if it's working properly.

Grouppo... Wasn't he the fifth Marx brother? :D

Oh topic: My favorite grouppo is whatever one is on the bike I'm riding--if it's working properly.

+1 Whatever came on the bike is okay with me. Both roads have ultegra and I have no idea what the mountain bike has.....

Campo

Ultegra (also have 105). They both work fine; the Ultegra seems a tiny bit snappier, but that may be my imagination (i.e., cognitive dissonance for having paid more for it).

Some day I'll try Dura-Ace or Campy...

On MTB's- Although LX is not bad- There is plenty of scope to Custom your Groupset.

I would recommend XT for the gear changers The Wheel hubs and the deraillers. In fact front derailler does not matter what it is and I still run Acera on two of my bikes with absolutely no problems whatsoever. Crankset- For economy and the speed that I damage them- Then LX is good enough

But on the brakes---So much scope and if running "V" brakes then XT brakes but another downgrade to LX levers. These are the best levers I have ever used and I reckon that 8 years use out of them and still going strong is testament to that. The XT brake units are just about coming to the end of their llife though so time to look at Hydraulics for my next build. But then as I mainly do XC riding- --Are Discs worth the extra weight and cost. I am fine with "V"'s and the only downside is rim wear. I have to change rims every 2 years or so but by that time the wheel is getting past it in any case So I just buy new wheels from a specialist. He can sell me a new set of wheels for cheaper than rerimming and spoking a 2 year old hub that has been abused so I do not bother rebuilding them.

If you want quality then go Hope Hydraulic Brakes. I hate to say it but these are the DGS BLX. Well worth the extra and there is such a variety of them made for all types of riding. Only problem I can see with Hydraulics on an MTB is that you have to think about a Bolt through axle for the front wheel. I will not go into it but with a quick release and Hydraulics- There is a possibility of pulling the wheel out from the forks. Bolt through axles will require a new set of forks so they are for major rebuild time.

Now if you are buying a new bike with the Drive train already on the Bike- Then LX is the minimum that I could recommend. Preferably I would like to see XT and if you are a serious offroader - then you will already be using XT parts as the upgrade for replacement parts. There is the next grade up. The costa fortune XTR and I have to admit that I have several XTR parts on the Tandem. They do work better than XT but the life of those parts is well worth the extra.

I think 105 makes the most sense for me in Shimano's line up. I have Ultegra (600) on one bike, but I can't really see or feel any difference than on the 105 bike.

The Campagnolo Veloce on my Bianchi is also very nice.

The higher priced stuff from both Campy and Shimano is wonderful but more $ than I need to spend.

Beatleso

Stoneso

I love the SRAM X.9 group on my recumbent. This is a mountain bike group. Shifts are so quick and precise.

The Deore LX on my hybrid is nice too, but just a tad slower and noisier than the X.9, I'd rather have XT, but I don't need it and so have no plans to upgrade.

I was going to make this a poll and thought better of it. I figure that I would miss someones favorite so I nixed that thought.

I'll start out.

Obviously I like the Shimano 105 Group for Road bikes. Strong, durable, and at a fair price. I LOVE the higher end stuff, but stick around a year or two and you'll have it in the 105 Group.

For MTB and such, I am split. To be sure, the Shimano LX group gives almost the same as the 105 group in the value arena. But, I really like some of the stuff I am seeing in the SRAM "X" series, so much so that my MTB frame will have a X.7 long cage rear derailluer and Shifters put on it.

Chris

I'm running XT, Deore, and an old M4 on my MTB's, LX, X7, X5, and others on my hybrids, Exage on my old tribike...I suspect that 50% of riders couldn't tell the difference between a high end and midrange component...99% wouldn't appreciate the difference between XT and XTR

I vote for SRAM Force! I have it on my road bike (w/compact crank) and love it! Reasonable price, works absolutely perfectly. Is it easier to shift than Shimano (Ultegra)? No, just different.

My mountain bike (GT Zaskar) is such a mix of parts, no group continuity going on there at all!

I have the same birthday as Tulio Campagnolo, so I really think I ought to have an all Campy bike some day. Maybe The Weak Link will send his wife over this way to buy one for me.

Ultegra (also have 105). They both work fine; the Ultegra seems a tiny bit snappier, but that may be my imagination (i.e., cognitive dissonance for having paid more for it).

Some day I'll try Dura-Ace or Campy...
That's my take on it.105s work really well.I've had DuraAce on my primary bike for many years.It's not fair to compare but the 105s feel close,not as "snappy" as you say.My new bike,yet to arrive will have Veloce.I reasoned that I'd try Campy,I've only tried it on friends bikes.DuraAce seemed sharper but the Campy is a decision I made due to the theme of my new bike and deciding I may like the shiffters better.
I didn't want too much carbon as with the new Chorus or Record either.

Dura Ace 10

"Grouppo." Isn't that an Italian word?

How can a collection of parts that are manufactured in Malasia for a Japanese company be called a "grouppo"?

sram force, much better than dura ace, (never tried campy)
Jeff

"Grouppo." Isn't that an Italian word?

How can a collection of parts that are manufactured in Malasia for a Japanese company be called a "grouppo"?

BINGGO!

I'm a Dura Ace convert, either 9 or 10 speed.

On MTB's- Although LX is not bad- There is plenty of scope to Custom your Groupset.

I would recommend XT .....................
.

I don't have the road experience of many of you guys. And I'm no great mechanic. So the Dura-Ace or Ultegra may be better than my knowledge of the mountain groups.

I was 21 and a college graduate before I knew you could buy a car that worked. I was amazed that you could just turn the key and mash the gas and drive off the lot. I thought you had a put a transmission or a rear end in'em before it worked.

However, I have recently upgraded two bikes, a 7 speed 90's model cro-moly MTB to 9 speed LX, and an 05 8 speed Deore grouppo flat bar road bike to 9 speed XT.

I was amazed that both the LX or XT will change gears up or down with hardly a sound and barely a click......one minute you're pedaling to beat h**l and the next minute you're lined out.

The old 80/20 rule works for most things when considering cost versus efficiency. So XTR and DuraAce may be a little better, the top of the line, the best, but the best bang for the buck is probably 105/Ultegra, or LX/XT.

Just my opinion of course.

This is the "group" (no po) on my best bike and I like it a lot:

Campy Racing Triple crank, bottom bracket, f & r derailleurs
Campy Chorus headset
Suntour friction barcon shifters
Shimano Ultegra brake levers (not brifters)
Dia Compe BRS 300 brakes (Kool Stop Continental salmon pads)
Phil Wood hubs
Sunrace 7 speed freewheel
KMC chain

I'm looking at my 1983 Trek which I keep set up on a trainer in my office. It's a true world bike with parts from:

USA
Italy
France
Great Britain
Japan
Germany

Between 105, ultegra and campy chorus:

Most value for $ spent: 105

Campy chorus wins for elegant (albeit, pricey) functionality, when fine tuned with an ultra narrow chain.

For MTB components, I'd go for Shimano XT from the last year before they went to 9 speed.

Beatleso
That's what I was going to sayo

"Grouppo." Isn't that an Italian word?

How can a collection of parts that are manufactured in Malasia for a Japanese company be called a "grouppo"?

The same way an engine in an automobile gets called a motor, or people say they are anxious for something "X" to happen, when they really mean eager. The same way a missile can be called a peace keeper, or a music CD gets called and album. It happens.