Does an Older NOS Groupset = Good Build?
#1
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Does an Older NOS Groupset = Good Build?
Currently, I have a cheap, stock 2200/Sora equipped bike with a Shimano 105 hub/Mavic Open Sport wheelset. I bought the bike sans the wheelset and bought the wheelset knowing I would be upgrading frames and other components in the future. I am looking to build a Soma Smoothie with the end goal of having a very solid, comfortable road bike that doesn't break the bank. I will be using this for recreational riding only.
In starting to compile the pieces, I am finding quite a bit of older NOS Shimano 105 9 speed parts available.
My questions are:
Would it be crazy to build up a bike using these older, but never used, components to complete the build?
Is the older Shimano 5500 series 105 stuff worth buying and using?
In starting to compile the pieces, I am finding quite a bit of older NOS Shimano 105 9 speed parts available.
My questions are:
Would it be crazy to build up a bike using these older, but never used, components to complete the build?
Is the older Shimano 5500 series 105 stuff worth buying and using?
#2
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
105 stuff is great and the 9 speed parts are not that old either.
I built up my Proctor road bike with 8 speed Ultegra / 600 Tri Colour and could not be happier with how it works.
I built up my Proctor road bike with 8 speed Ultegra / 600 Tri Colour and could not be happier with how it works.
#3
S'Cruzer
shimano 5500 9 speed was new in 2001. thats not that old.
and yes, good stuff. significant upgrade from 2000 and Sora (3000).
and yes, good stuff. significant upgrade from 2000 and Sora (3000).
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If you're actually going to ride it that way, go for it and enjoy a great ride. What would be dumb is to build it 9s 105, then make yourself trying to upgrade to 10s or in some other way. If the 105 9s is just a patch towards a different desired end, you're probably selling it new rather than slightly used.
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Simple answer is no you are starting to get smart to parts value nice nos 105 9speed stuff is as good as it gets on a budget and basically better than any of the Sora stuff. High end NOS Shimano parts from within the last 10-15 years highly compatiable with monor effort they will play togoether.
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105 stuff is indeed solid, reliable and performs well and IMO 9-speed is the highest number of 'speeds' worth having in terms of durability and economical cost of consumables like chains and cassettes.
Moving to 10-speed is a waste of time I think as the chains and cassettes seem to hardly last at all, cost a relative fortune, and provide no benefit in riding over having 8 or 9-speed.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
Moving to 10-speed is a waste of time I think as the chains and cassettes seem to hardly last at all, cost a relative fortune, and provide no benefit in riding over having 8 or 9-speed.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
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Moving to 10-speed is a waste of time I think as the chains and cassettes seem to hardly last at all, cost a relative fortune, and provide no benefit in riding over having 8 or 9-speed.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
Really, I've found 10-speed parts to last as well as 9 or even 8-speed stuff and the benefits are not insignificant. The most important benefit is the wider range road cassettes (12x27 for Shimano and 13x29 for Campy) include a 16T cog which is extremely useful and missing from 9 and 8-speed cassettes.
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105 stuff is indeed solid, reliable and performs well and IMO 9-speed is the highest number of 'speeds' worth having in terms of durability and economical cost of consumables like chains and cassettes.
Moving to 10-speed is a waste of time I think as the chains and cassettes seem to hardly last at all, cost a relative fortune, and provide no benefit in riding over having 8 or 9-speed.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
Moving to 10-speed is a waste of time I think as the chains and cassettes seem to hardly last at all, cost a relative fortune, and provide no benefit in riding over having 8 or 9-speed.
10-speed (and presumably 11 - I haven't tried it yet) is also more finicky to setup and tune.
Interesting that SRAM never even bothered with 9 speed, and Campag only has 10 speed in it's lower ranges now
For ease of setup, 10 speed is no different to 9 speed
For 11 speed, this should be even better than 10 speed, as you should be able to eliminate the compact crank, by using a wider range cassette, and a 52/36T crank, I'm looking forward to this trickling down to the Ultegra / 105 price point.
#12
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Thank you all for your responses. As far as 8, 9, or 10 speeds…I will be happywith 9 out back. I picked 9 because Iwill be able to transition from 3x8 to 3x9 using the 105 derailleurs on my 8until I get the 3x9 shifters, 9 speed cassette, chain, and crankset. That being said, I found a 5500 series 105triple front derailleur on ebay and bought it and also bought a set of 6500series Ultegra brakes off of craigslist.
I’m not sure where you’re reading those numbers. Soma lists the 54cm weighing in at 4.0 lbs. In the Soma Smoothie builds I have seenonline, many are 20 lbs +/- a few ounces. Not bad considering my current bike is 24 lbs.
I’m not sure where you’re reading those numbers. Soma lists the 54cm weighing in at 4.0 lbs. In the Soma Smoothie builds I have seenonline, many are 20 lbs +/- a few ounces. Not bad considering my current bike is 24 lbs.
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10 speed chains are only slightly more than 9 speed chains? Really? I didn't know that. I can get decent new 9 speed chains at Fred Meyer for 16.99 a piece retail or even cheaper wholesale but not everyone has access to wholesale cost.
I always thought most 10 speed chains started at around 30 dollars and went up from there.
I LOVE 9 speed stuff. All of my main riding bikes have mostly 105 with a smattering of Ultegra thrown in there. And I find 105 stuff pretty cheap if you hunt around.
And it holds up great even to my 350+ pound body.
I always thought most 10 speed chains started at around 30 dollars and went up from there.
I LOVE 9 speed stuff. All of my main riding bikes have mostly 105 with a smattering of Ultegra thrown in there. And I find 105 stuff pretty cheap if you hunt around.
And it holds up great even to my 350+ pound body.
#15
S'Cruzer
10 gives you one more close spaced gear, depending on the cassette range (assuming your 9 and 10s have the same high and low, of course).
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I must admit in having a lot more experience of MTB than road stuff, but I have noticed that the older 7/8 speed stuff on MTBs seems a *lot* more durable than the 10-speed 105/Ultegra stuff that came stock on my Kona PHD hybrid. The 7/8 speed chains/cassettes seem to last a *lot* longer before needing replacement - I got 2/3x the life out of those parts than I have been getting with the 10-speed road gear.
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I considered going to Campy 11 to get an 18t in my 12-25 cassette, but decided to hold off.
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Not as crazy as it is for me to build 7-speed bikes from scratch.
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The benefit really depends on the gear range. With a narrow cassette, ie an 11-21 or 11-23 you'll have one extra place with a 1 tooth jump, but it may not matter to you. OTOH on a wider cassette where it moves to 2 tooth jumps sooner it can be the difference between a 15% and 8% jump at a place you do lots or riding.
The only way you can determine what it means to you is look at the gears where you do most of your riding, then compare the 9s and 10s cassettes of the range you'd buy, and see if the extra sprocket is in a place that it'll make a difference to you.
The only way you can determine what it means to you is look at the gears where you do most of your riding, then compare the 9s and 10s cassettes of the range you'd buy, and see if the extra sprocket is in a place that it'll make a difference to you.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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#24
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If your shop tells you nonsense like "9-speed stuff is hard to find", then get another shop. They are just prodding at you to get a new bike.
As far as a new frame, check out Bike Nashbar. They sell road, cross and MTB frames in the $100 to $200 price range that are light, strong and perfectly well finished.
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I agree that 11T cogs are useless for the large majority of road riders but not all 9 and 10-speed cassettes have one. Shimano makes 12x25 and 12x27 in both 9 and 10-speed form and Campy makes 13x26 and 13x27 cassettes in 10-speed form. The 12T is even a bit suspect with a 52 or 53T big chainring but can be worthwhile if paired with a compact crank.