From what folks say in the Mechanics forum even the cheaper groupo's work well, they just do not shift quite as "nice".

My Trek 7200 does not have an expensive groupo on it, but I have adjusted virtually nothing in 800 miles. I had it stashed in the shed for about 8 years, when I got it out I flushed the rear derailor with WD-40 pro, and blew it out with an airgun, and replaced the shift cable, then tuned everything.

I cannot see why a bike would need that much fiddling in 600 miles unless it is a brand new cable stretching or something :-).

From what I have seen of the sub $1k-$1.5k bikes the most important step up you get is better wheels sometimes....and at the upper end you start to get into the new 11 speed 105 group, or the old 10 speed 105 group in the 2014's.

Tiagra and the old 105 are said to be very very close, but the Tiagra has the gear position indicators (if you want those, personally I do not).



Bill