Originally Posted by
MRT2
I have to agree about current Claris, which appears to be an 8 speed upgrade over 2300, which is itself, as far as I can tell, rebadged old Sora. I say this because my wife has a 2013 Jamis with 2300 components. Her best friend has a 2009 or 2010 Jamis with Sora components. I compared the two side by side and they appear to be identical, but for the name.
I think what cale is referring to as road groups are the consumer grade hybrid/mountain groups. Altus, Acera, and Alivio.
No doubt I'll drown in my own incompetence but hey, that's what the
Peter Principle is all about. I was thinking 2300, 2200, Tourney (A070), and A050. Though little discussed on these forums, they sell so much of this lower end stuff that it would be a mistake to forget that they even exist. Trickle down just doesn't seem to hit "clay" at Shimano but instead seeps into every group.