Just wanna know prior to the Tiagra, Sora, 105, Ultegra and DA there were such groups as RSX, 600, RX etc in the Shimano line.
What are its hierarchy and how does it compare to the current line-up in terms of quality levels?

1997 Shimano Road Group Heirarchy

Dura Ace
9-speed
Ultegra
105SC
RX-100
RSX

Via: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano.html

Cheers

I believe during the years it was offered there was no functional difference between RX100 and 105. If my research is correct they differed only in finish, 105 getting the painted champagne treatment and RX100 being clear anodized/coated.

I have RX100 on one bike and REALLY like it a lot.

There's already a thread on this, but I can't remember how extensive it got.
It's not exactly clear-cut, anyway.

Now there are lower end stuff than Sora, then Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, DA, I suppose.

I can take you to the mid-80's, I guess, and then others here will correct me; that's what BF is for...

Friction, I only know what I've seen, but top-down:
Dura Ace
600 "arabesque"
105 "arrow"
Altus/Tourney
and some others.
The Crane RD is up there somewhere around 600/DA, I think.

Indexed, downtube shifters:
Dura Ace (7400 6-speed, then 7, 8-sp, 7700 9-sp, 7800 10-sp).
600 (6400 7-sp, 8-sp) a.k.a. "tricolor"
600EX (6200) in 6-sp.
105 (1050 and 1055) 1050 may have come in 6-sp, I don't know, but 1050 was 7-sp and 1055 was 7, 8-sp.
RSX available in 7-sp DT shifters? I've seen an ad for a bike that way, but have never seen 'em.
RX100 in 7-sp.
LX100 in 6-sp and 7-sp.
500EX in 7-sp
Exage came in several levels, kind of matched up with LX100; I've never seen levers that said "Exage"
Shimano SiS-labeled 6-sp indexed. No model moniker, and the shifters were stem-mounted.

STI or "brifters:"
Dura Ace in 8,9,10, 11
Ultegra in 9,10
105 in 8,9,10
Tiagra in 9
600 in 8
RX100 in 8
RSX in 7, 8
Sora in 7,8,9

I haven't a clue how accurate this is, or what the mountain bike stuff even is.

I can't believe you are leaving Sante out of the mix Robbie.

Jake

If you want the Shimano hierarchy 1990-1999, look no further: https://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Herste...o/Gruppen.html

doh!

Very helplful thread.
I now know two things:
1-reading German charts gives me a headache.
2-I've paid good money for very low end stuff.

Thanks, JYB

Don't forget the "bottom of the line" all-steel ("bomb-proof") Eagle which graced many a department store 10-speed in the early-to-mid 1970s. Weighed a ton but shifted well-enough compared to the low-end Huret Alvit and Delrin-body Simplex derailleurs it was up against. IIRC, only the Suntour GT out-performed it in its price range.

I recall the epithet of the time was, derailleurs that were good for "banging in tent pegs with"...

Two additions. There was a Shimano 400 friction group that appeared on low end bikes, including 1970-80s Murray bikes.
I'm not sure where the "Light Action" derailers fit in. I've seen them on lower end index groups. I've got one now on a 6 speed, stem shifter index group.

For the Record RSX parts are nothing to be ashamed of. I have a set of RSX 8 speed Brifters and they work better then the 105's 9 speed I have on another bike.

+1
I find RSX to be good, solid stuff, and and excellent triple group if you find one, whether it's the 3x7 with the "compact" crankset or the larger 3x8.

...AND they index with Helicomatics!... ...actually was kind of surprised that they were that 'low on the totem pole'...

...btw, there's a pair of 3x7 RSX 'brifters' on eBay right now...they're up to 72 bux (!) with a bit over one day to go...that's considerably more than I paid for the NOS FD and RD combined...and since I'm not using a triple (yet...I'm looking into it), I don't need them THAT badly ...

They will be well over $100 before it is over. 7 speed brifters fetch a good price as they will work with most 5, 6and 7speed of the mid 70's through till the 8 speeds came out in most instances with a little bit of a sloppy jocky wheel. The exception is the Suntour acushifts.
https://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html Spacing chart about half way down.

Interesting thread, albeit missing the group I was curious about, Shimano 600. I've been noticing bikes coming up on CL frequently equipped with the 600.
Also fun to look at all the group sets.

Did you look at post #4?

600 is Ultegra.

Ah, Thanks.

Sure did, what the heck is 600 "arabesque" anyway?
No worries, The Golden Boy gave me the answer I was looking for. Thanks GB.

Way back in the early '80's, the "AX" and "EX" groups coexisted. "AX" was aero stuff, "EX" was more normal looking.

Link to the dealer catalog: Shimano 1982 Dealer Catalogue

that era Shimano 600 was decorated with a neat flourish and there fore called Arabesque

Definition of Arabesque; The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements.

The '77 Schwinn Volare with 1st generation DA everything else was equipped with a Crane RD.
So I think you thought right!

600 became Ultegra.

Just one more reason I tend to avoid Shimano stuff. There are 1400 numbers, okay actually only 1399, between 6400 and 7800. Why did they use just some of them? Why switch to numbers at all? Their word engineers run out of ideas?