Hi!

I want to upgrade to STI's on my old steel roadbike. Can your recommened some good 2x8 STI's? Should I buy an older higher end STI, or a newer but lower end like Shimano Claris?

Just my opinion and experience, which hold less water than an old Campy aero bottle:

-Best price, generally 2x8 RSX STI, because they're a bit lower grade and generally were sold as part of a "package" bike by big-box-bike shops.
(Do not confuse them with the much nicer 2x7 RSX STI)

-Best value, generally, 2x8 Shimano 1056 (105 in the greenish-gray), because they work well, can be rebuilt, hoods are out there, and can be cheaply found.
-My preference, generally, 2x8 Shimano 600/Ultegra. Nicely done, smooth as silk, but come at a higher price.
-Often overlooked are RX100 STI's, which I've never seen but have heard of, similar to the 1056 but polished, not anodized.
I think all of these share the same hoods, which explains availability, and they work with each other's RD's.

There there is 8-sp DA, which you are supposed to pair with a matching RD. Neither the RD nor the shifters play nice with the non-DA stuff.
Hoods are close to non-existent, or very expensive from the hoarding speculators.

Then, there are the new Sora and Claris. Depending on the type of riding you do, these can be the best situation. The Claris tend to break a bit.
The Sora take advantage of trickle-down technology, and are generally for riding the hoods due to a poorly placed thumb button.

Also, you may want to look into Microshift's 8-sp models. In my opinion, superior to Sora and Claris, and compatible with Shimano.

Depending on the quality of the bike, the availability of an RD, your budget and riding habits, I'd go with used 105's, used 600/Ultegra's,
and if not, Microshift. Bear in mind many Shimano 7-sp RD's will work with the 8-sp STI shifters. Some will not.

Much luck to you, ask any question you want, and Welcome to our own little den of iniquity.

From an aesthetics standpoint, I have standardized on either the 6400 (tricolor) or 7400 (Dura Ace) eight speed STI. The Dura Ace requires a DA 7400 RD, which is a bit of a PITA. Aesthetically, the 105 or lower 8 speed units are fuggly.

The older 8 speed STI are repairable (other than SORA), big advantage to someone with a box full of broken 9 speed STI.

Most of my 6400 and 7400 parts have come in the form of a complete bike (donor).

From a $$ standpoint, the new Claris units would be my choice.

Realize on the older units, hoods are out of production.

If you are VERY patient, I have seen both the 6400 and 7400 series STI on eBay at reasonable prices. The variance on eBay prices can drive you nuts.

The 7400 DA shifters also work with 7700 series rear derailleur. I have that setup on my Colnago and it shifts the best of any bike I own.

I'll say Claris is surprisingly nice. Doesn't look or feel crappy the way Sora has for so many years now.

I put 8 speed Sora shifters on my wife's bike, they came from a donor bike. They work fine but she is not all that hard on gear and rides less than I do. I say 600/Ultegra FTW.

Difficult to look beyond the new Claris STI units.

cheap, guarantee, function great, look good, reliable.

If you are running a shimano rear derailleur I would recommend Campy veloce brifters with a "shimergo" setup. Campy 10 speed cable pull is an almost exact match to the Shimano 8 cable pull.

I think the Campy brifter has better ergo's and you can shift it from the drops no problem (unlike some of the shimano brifters). Also, the cable routing is below the bar tape, and they come in either black or silver levers. I have multiple bikes with this setup, and compared to the comparatively priced sora shifters I once had the performance is night and day. I don't like the Shimano shift with the brake lever setup, especially on descents where you have to shift while braking.

$100 or so from Ribble, including fresh cables.

You beat me too it. Under a hundred now, Euro is tanking. Campagnolo Power Shift Ergos Double Veloce Silver 10Spd with cables, GEARSHIFT STI / ERGO That's with Campy shift -brake cables, around $50.00 thrown in for good measure! While you are at buy a nine speed cassette and chain and use the alt hookup and get some useful flatland gears. I like the 25-14 ; 14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-25

+ 1. Running Claris on my XO-2; works fine on a non-Shimano triple crankset.

You must be talking british pound, as its $117 usd. i was darned excited there for a moment.

Update your destination to the US and currency to the USD and the GST will be excluded from the displayed price (should be $97.52), then use their 11% off code at checkout. Add another goodie or two to get the order over $99 and you'll get free delivery.

I was able to find a good deal on a Dura Ace 7400 group on eBay. If you can find something like that, or Ultegra, then that's the way I'd go for an older steel road bike. Part of that, for me, is the aesthetics of them, but another part of it is that I think Claris is crap in comparison, and I dislike the thumb-lever thing on the older 8-speed Sora (new Sora is 9-spd).

With the US dollar sky high right now, Ribble deal above is compelling.

I forgot about the Campy 10 shifters for 8-sp Shimano situation. Price-wise, hard to beat.
I just bought a set of black Veloce's for my BMC, $97 and change, added tires to beat shipping.
I had Campy wheels, so I bought NIB FD/RD for $60, which is hard to beat for shifters/FD/RD, all new.
The range of Campy 10 is fairly compelling, as the earliest 10-sp stuff plays fine with the most recent.
The ironic thing is that the earliest 10-sp Ergos, while much older, generally sell higher than the new stuff.

One note:
Campy changed the thumb shifter recently on the new Ergos.
While they were fine in the drops before, now you don't even have to change your grip.