plx

I need to replace my current shifters which are crap(microshift)
Shimano 105 shifters seem to be a good choise.
A guy want to sell the old ones for $100. Is it a good deal?
What's the difference betwen the old ones to the new ones? I know that the news have invisible cable routing is there any other improvment?
How are the olds ones in terms of durability?

Thanks

SkyDog75

Which old ones? Over the years, there have been a lot of different 105 shifter models. Different numbers of gears, too.

plx

I dont know :|
Here's some photos, i hope they help:

HillRider

105 STI's have been available in 8, 9 and 10-speed versions and the 10-speed in two different cable routings. Personally, I'm very leery of ANY used brifter, particularly Shimanos, and I consider $100 way to much for them.

GeorgeBMac

[QUOTE=plx;15934624]I dont know :|
Here's some photos, i hope they help:



And, be aware that shifters work as part of a system that includes the derailleur and the crank or cassette. Shimano tends to have pretty strict guidelines as to what will work together and what won't -- and most experienced mechanics are able to stretch those guidelines to make things work together. But some pieces simply will not play well together regardless of the expertise of the mechanic.

There is an immense amount of mechanical knowledge on this forum. If you give these guys specifics on all the related parts, you will stand a much better chance of getting an answer you can use.

Spld cyclist

What is the issue with your present shifters? Maybe someone can help you make them work right.

plx

I don't know why the images didn't show.
Here's the links:
https://puu.sh/3W10f.jpg
https://puu.sh/3W0ZC.jpg
https://puu.sh/3W0YF.jpg
https://puu.sh/3W0Y2.jpg

Can you tell what model is it by the pictures?
The main thing for me in the shifters is that they are durable, they dont need to have superb shifting.
Anyways coming from a microshift i think any other shifter will be a whole new level

plx

They only have 1000miles surely they will last a lot more, no?
How do you think they're worth?

Retro Grouch 

I don't think that you are asking the right question.

You want to know if those shifters will work on your bike. We don't know what kind of bike you're wanting to put them on. A bicycle is a simple machine but the devil is in the details. We need to know more details. How many rear cogs does your bike have. What brand of derailleurs does your bike have? Did your bike ever work right?

plx

Bike has tiagra RD and is 9 speed
Everything worked perfectly until yesterday when while shifting i heard a weird noise from the inside of the shifter.
It still shifts but it doesn't work the same, it feels wrong, feels like it's about to break for good
I was already thinking of replacing the shifter long ago but now i surely have will replace it, i don't want to have no shifter 50miles away from home.
I don't see how the shimano 105 won't work really. What i really want to know is if the shifter i mentioned above has any historial of problems and if it is durable.

Retro Grouch 

9-speed 105 shifters should work. As a bonus, you don't have to worry about the front shifter because 9-speed 105 uses the same shifter for double and triple fronts.

Al1943

If the 105 shifters are 10-speed they won't work with your 9-speed cassette. Although if they are 10-speed shifters you could replace the cassette with a 10-speed Shimano cassette and new 10-speed chain.
Some 10-speed 105 shifters are double/triple compatible some are double only. Do you have a double crankset or a triple crankset?

If you do not want to change the cassette and chain to 10-speed then you will need 9-speed Shimano shifters. And they will work with either a double crankset or triple crankset.

Andy_K 

Those are 5600-series shifters. If they currently work and they really only have 100-miles on them (who can tell?) and they haven't been crashed, then they are definitely worth $100.

The one picture that is blurry is the key to the future durability. There were some early 5600-series shifters which were supposed to work with either triple or double gearing. They were usually used with doubles and very often would break if you tried to force a shift into the "missing" gear. This led to the production of 5601 and 5603 shifters, which are labeled "double" and "triple" respectively on the left shifter. Either way, it's a great set of shifters if you treat them right. I've seen some debate as to whether the new 5700-series is even an upgrade over 5600.

As mentioned above, you'd need to switch your chain and cassette over to 10-speed. You can get Tiagra cassettes pretty cheap and they'll work with those shifters.

plx

Thanks a lot guys

cycle_maven

First check if your cable is about to break- it sounds like a fraying cable, and if it breaks, it's a mofo to remove. If you just have a fraying cable, then no need to buy the new-to-you 105 shifters. Frankly, I have trouble telling 9-speed 105 from 9-speed Tiagra.

If the 105's are 10-speed, then you can use the rest of your existing 9-speed system complete by using the "alternate cable routing" on the rear derailleur- basically changes the amount of cable pulled for each shift just enough to make a 9-speed drivetrain use 10-speed shifters. Then you can upgrade the cassette and chain to 10-speed when the cassette and chain wear out.