Bicycle Mechanics - Want to upgrade Sora shifters...

I own a 2005 Specialized Allez Triple with Sora shifters/brakes, Sora front derailleur, Tiagra RD, and 8sp Sora cassette but I want to upgrade the shifters to something better. What could I upgrade that to and what all would I have to replace (the less I can the better)? 105, Tiagra?

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2005&spid=21281&menuItemId=0

You'd only need to replace the brifters, and you can upgrade any line higher. 105 would probably be sufficient.

2005 Sora is 8 speed. To switch to Tiagra (9 speed) or 105 (10 speed), you'll need at least a new chain and cassette along with the shifters. Ideally, you'd also replace the front derailler. Shimano used to offer Ultegra-level 8 speed brifters styled like the newer shifters but they don't seem to be available any more.

2005 Sora is 8 speed. To switch to Tiagra (9 speed) or 105 (10 speed), you'll need at least a new chain and cassette along with the shifters. Ideally, you'd also replace the front derailler. Shimano used to offer Ultegra-level 8 speed brifters styled like the newer shifters but they don't seem to be available any more.

Don't bother with 9 speed. It's at the point where it's deprecated. 10 speed will be much more widely available and will be even more so in the future.

what are you looking to gain from this upgrade? If your current brifters work fine, I'd just leave them be. Even if they're a bit slow on the upshift, there's a good chance it's an adjustment issue rather than the brifters themselves.

nothing wrong with 9 speed at all. It is still the norm for mountain biking.

I had a 2006 Allez, and the sora brifters SUCK. its almost impossible to reach the thumb lever if your in the drops, and I guarantee that is why the OP wants to replace them!

Search ebay for some gently used Tiagra, 105 or higher 8 speed brifters, or make the upgrade to 9 speed, which you will still have to search for for road bike. 10 speed would be great, but all the components are $$$ you would be better off buying a whole new bike.

"I had a 2006 Allez, and the sora brifters SUCK. its almost impossible to reach the thumb lever if your in the drops, and I guarantee that is why the OP wants to replace them!"

Exactly... The shift ok... but the placement is what is awful about them

nothing wrong with 9 speed at all.

And wrong.

nothing wrong with 9 speed at all. It is still the norm for mountain biking.



Which is fine if you're working with a MTB. He isn't.

I'm going to upgrade handle bars on my commuter bike from flat to road.

What I have:
- Scattante R-330 2006
- RD Sora 8 speed
- FD triple 8 speed
- "new" road handle bars + stem + 105 levers 10 speed.

The Shimano compatibility chart says 105 10 speed levers aren't compatible down.
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/tech_support/tech_tips.download.-Par50lparsys-0025-downloadFile.html/01)%20Drivetrain%20Compatability%20Chart.pdf

Q1: Why?
Q2: What to upgrade to make it compatible?

10 speed levers shift different spacing than 8 speed. Along with the bars, you'll need brifters, chain & cassette and should also replace FD, RD and chainrings if you want everything to be smooth.

Thanks for reply.

Other question: Why the 8 speed levers compatible with 9 speed derailer but not vise versa?

I missed that you had a Tiagra RD. Sora FD / Tiagra RD should fine.

When I suggested upgrading derailers, it wasn't because of incompatibility. With all the other things you'd be upgrading, it would just make sense, in my opinion, to spend a bit more and get away from Sora derailers (especiaslly the RD).

Other question: Why the 8 speed levers compatible with 9 speed derailer but not vise versa?

Because the rear shifter has a certain number of "speeds," with each click of the shifter pulling/releasing a certain amount of cable. When combined with a modern Shimano rear derailleur and Shimano-compatible cassette with the same number of cogs as the shifter has "speeds," the derailleur will move the precise distance per click to shift the chain from one cog to another on the x speed cassette.

All the modern Shimano rear derailleurs (including mountain bike rear derailleurs) have the same cable pull ratio, meaning they all move the chain the same distance when the shifter pulls/releases a certain amount of cable. So modern Shimano rear derailleurs really don't have "speeds," although they may be marketed as such. The number of "speeds" is in the shifter and cassette.

The only exception to this is 8 speed and earlier Shimano Dura Ace, it had its own cable pull ratio.

Do I understand right following?

The 10 speed shifters should be used with 10 speed cassette; and double shifters should be used with double chain rings. The derailers will work well with 8-9-10 speed shifters.

Do I understand right following?

The 10 speed shifters should be used with 10 speed cassette; and double shifters should be used with double chain rings. The derailers will work well with 8-9-10 speed shifters.

Correct.