Road Cycling - Can you switch sora to 105?

Somewhere down the line, if I really like my bike (frame, look, etc.), is it possible to change to the different shifters and other components? I doubt it would be cost effective, but what would you need to do and how would you do it? I would mainly be looking for better shifting and the different style of shifting. Im not very educated in this and wonder if anyone could help me. Thanks.

I have a OCR3 which has sora components...i am wondering about the same thing

thanks

The frame will fit any of the Shimano groups, so you can switch them but, because Sora is 8 spd, not much Sora stuff is interchangeable with other Shimano groups. If you replace the brifters, you'll also need other new drivetrain components that are 9 spd compatible. Once you're in the 9-spd groups (Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, old Dura-Ace) everything is compatible and you can mix and match. The shifting system on the 9 speed groups is, IMHO, much nicer than Sora.

If you upgraded you'd go to at least 105 or maybe Ultegra. Since a Sora equiped bike will typically have a low-end fork, headset, bars, wheelset, seatpost etc (and with a shiny new groupset you'd likely want to replace them!) it would be much better value to replace the bike. Manufacturers get such a good deal on components that often the frame and fork are virtually free when compared with buying either individual components or a build kit for an existing frame. Not sure what your bike is, but for a mass produced frame such as an OCR3, you'd want to have one heck of an emotional attachment to it to make the upgrading worthwhile.

After all, owning two bikes has to be better than one! :)

[QUOTE=Stubacca]
If you upgraded you'd go to at least 105 or maybe Ultegra. Since a Sora equiped bike will typically have a low-end fork, headset, bars, wheelset, seatpost etc (and with a shiny new groupset you'd likely want to replace them!) it would be much better value to replace the bike. QUOTE]

I agree and I've considered the same for my Sora equipped bike. Even if you consider 105s you're probably talking somewhere around $400-$500 for the hardware (crank, derailleurs, shifters, cassette, and chain). Add to that if you're not mechanically inclined probably $100+ from your LBS to install. By then you've got half the price of a new 105 equipped bike with some other improved features (fork/wheels and such). So unless you're absolutely in love with the Sora equipped frame try to get $250 - $350 for it and invest it in a new ride.

sorry to thread-jack, but thanks guys for valued opinions....

groupset are quite $$$...