I like Sora shifters because they shift quickly and precisely, just like shifters did BEFORE STI came along. My older Ultegra STI shifters and 105 STI shifters are not as quick, and not as precise as my Sora shifters.

At least one person, other than me, was unhappy with the nine-speed Ultegra shifters...Mr. Shimano. The UK's Cycling Plus reports that the new 2005 Ultegra shifters are NOT the old nine speed shifters, upgraded with one additional speed. They are a complete re-design, targeted directly on the flaws in the old design that I have mentioned.

CP's editors noted that the 2005 Ultegra shifters "represent the greatest advance in the component range and have been completely redesigned with the emphasis on improving the ease with which gear changing is made...the new version...reduces the distance between the lever blade and the handle bars by 10mm at the point at which the shift is performed...the 'click' action of the lever has been improved making it easier to define the point at which gear shifts take place...shifts to a smaller size cog (are) an improvement on the old 9-speed lever..."

Each of these three improvements are targeted directly at the flaws in the 1998 to 2004 Ultegra shifters that I have criticized. Yet, some of the folks at the LBS who SOLD the flawed Ultegra shifters will deny to the end of time that any of these design changes were necessary.

Here are some of the comments from CP editors about Sora shifters: "...You won't get better gearing than this on a (low cost) road bike. Shifting is easy and obvious. A thumb operated button-lever on the brake hoods moves the chain to the smaller chainrigns/smaller sprockets. A sideswipe of the brake lever shifts the chain the other way..."

When readers asked for help upgrading both Shimano equipped and Campy equipped eight cog bikes, CP said "we recommend Shimano's budget priced but user-friendly Sora 8-speed..." and "we have found Sora's 8-speed shifters work with Compag 8-speed gears..."

In a test of shifters that included Dura Ace shifters, CP editors said Sora shifters "have already won acclaim as a great touring and cyclo-cross lever (because) as with (Campy) Ergopower levers, you use your thumbs to shift the chain to a smaller cog". Their conclusion: "These have wonderfully light action and excellent ergonomics, making it a great lever...The Campag-like levers work a treat..."

CP editors can be brutal when unhappy with a bike or equipment. And they are nit-pickers. So, their praise of the Sora shifters is from folks very willing to say what is on their minds.