older 105 components
 

I bought my first bike last year, a Trek 1000... it's served me well, but now that I've gotten more into the sport and started racing, I'm looking to upgrade; I've already acquired a nice Tifosi frame and Shimano wheelset second-hand, now I need the parts. A friend is offering me an older ('97/'98) used 8-speed 105 group that appears to be in very good shape, well maintained and all that. My question is how this group compares to todays 8-Speed Sora (which is on my Trek), as well as today's 105. My main reasons for upgrading are for cleaner and more reliable shifting, shifting in the drops, and durability. I'm worried that in 6 years, even the lowest level components (like the Sora on my Trek) have improved beyond the old 105 componets I'm being offered. At the same time, I'm a poor starving college student, I don't have the $2000 for a new racer. Will this old group hold up?

Also, is there a difference beteen S.T.I. and S.I.S.?

Thanks for your help!

I don't know if this is kosher or not to say this here, but I'm upgrading my bike from 2 year old 105 gear to ultegra/dura ace combo. I was going to put the 105 stuff on ebay. If you're interested let me know. 105, triple, sti shifters, everything including brake calipers and chain. Keeping my cables and BB. It's only got about ~1300 miles on it and well take care of (very clean, regularly lubed). I'm not a mechanic though and am not trying to overstate the condition. All I know is that everything works flawlessly. I doubt anyone would be dissappointed in the slightest. Hope I'm not breaking the rules by mentioning this.

I have an old school Bianchi Brava, ,eaning mid to late 80's
It has 105 groupo, but only 7 speed and it still works great, smooth shifting and rides sweet.
since you are looking at 105 8 speed, you could probably go with a 9 speed cassette and 9 speed sti shifters then you would have a 105 groupo thats pretty compatible to todays standards, or you could go online (ebay or somewhere0 or even get in touch with dgaddes your first replier and see what you can work out on his groupo...
Good luck to you
BTW the sti is shifters on the brake levers, sis is index or friction, I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong on the sis, but i have always known it to be friction or index...
again good luck on your new ride

S.I.S. - Shimano Index Shifting - the generation before STI and the shifters were on the downtubes.

55/Rad

...or on the bar ends.

Told you I would be corrected, in a sence I wasnt completely wrong, index shifting was correct

Thanks all for the info. Actually, I was looking closely at the group today, and am a bit confused... it's obviously an integrated and indexed system (not down-tube shifters), but all the components are labeled S.I.S. (including the integrated shifter/break levers). This seems to contradict what everyone said about S.I.S. being only down-tube and bar-end, since these are definately integrated. Could these perhaps be Shimano's first attempts at integrated systems, before S.T.I.?

Regardless, what I really want to know is will these shift as well as modern 105 S.T.I, or at least better than the Sora i'm using now. Since it sounds like even older 80's 105 is still running smoothly, I'm inclined to go with it.

One more question; how does the weight of these older components compare with what's being used today? Is it lighter than Sora? I know that it's the rider and not the bike that wins a race, but I would like to at least have comparable equipment to that of my competitors. Will this older groupo be a handicap?

Thanks again, I appreciate the advice.

The 8sp 105 shifters weigh a bit more than the sora 8sp shifters.

hello k6-3...

based on experience, the older 8sp 105s shift better than the new 8sp Sora's. I have tried both...

Assuming that the 105's you're looking to purchase is in great condition, it would be better than getting the SORA's..

Besides, the 105s look better than the Sora's. ;)

[QUOTE=afryska]Thanks all for the info. Actually, I was looking closely at the group today, and am a bit confused... it's obviously an integrated and indexed system (not down-tube shifters), but all the components are labeled S.I.S. (including the integrated shifter/break levers). This seems to contradict what everyone said about S.I.S. being only down-tube and bar-end, since these are definately integrated. Could these perhaps be Shimano's first attempts at integrated systems, before S.T.I.?

QUOTE]
You are correct, the sis is on the sti. In fact after I posted my reply to you I realized that I have my sti on the sis (index).
In other words the index "clicks" into each gear as you shift, where friction slides into each gear.
idex somewhat locks into each gear with each "click" as where friction when you shift gears you could over shift or under shift and you may not have your chain alligned correctly.
This is not a problem as you will hear the chain making a noise, and all you have to do is bump your shifter one way or the other.
SIS "index" is just easier and alligns the chain in the proper place as you shift.
again if I am incorrect I am sure I will be corrected, but this is how I understand the sis to work, its how its was explained to me a long time ago from my lbs when I got my first roadie.
Hope that clarifies this question for you.
about weight I dont have a clue, sorry...