Originally Posted by
GeorgeBMac
I have no disagreement here: But, after buying a Trek DS 8.5 a couple months ago I have a slightly different perspective: Reading the specs on the bike and looking at it prior to my purchase, I believed the bike was a Deore groupset with an SLX RD... But, after buying it, I was able to get actual part numbers of the components and check them on Shimano's site and found that the bike was actually a mixture of: Alivio, Deore and SLX. But Trek somehow neglected to mention anything related to Alivio in their specs. Specifically the: hubs, brakes and crankset are all Alivio but not listed that way in the specs. Instead, they used vague descriptions or Shimano part numbers in the advertising... So, essentially, Trek led one to believe that they were selling a Deore groupset (or better) but instead, it was an equal mixture of Deore and Alivio with a token SLX derailer.... Buyer beware!
My MTB is a Bianchi Grizzly from 2000. Not a bad bike and for the time the spec was quite high without the goldplated price tag. Over the years many parts have been replaced as they wore out but I still have the wheels although they are not used now as they are in need of a few spokes and bearings need rebuilding. The other part I have not yet replaced is the front mech. That is Alivio and even I could not believe it was on this quality of bike. It even had the Alivio sticker on it till I scraped it off.
My other MTB is a 92 Kona Explosif. XT throughout and parts have been replaced on it but a couple of years ago I looked at a Kona again and too many "Spurious parts fitted and a lot of downgrades.
Quality of parts do change and this year I bought a Pinarello Uno FP. Cheapest bike in the range but advertised with Tiagra throughout. The wheels are Shimano 501's and the brifters are not Tiagra. They are 105
So far I have found no problems with the Tiagra and I would say it is up to the standard of my 6 year old mix of 105/Ultegra that I have on the other bikes.
But you get what you pay for. On the face of it an aluminium bike with Tiagra is not worth what I paid for it but the proof is in the riding. The cost of this bike has gone into the frame with cost efficient but effective parts fitted to it.