deepakvrao

And if someone could go thru the specs of the following bikes and see which is worth the price I would be grateful.

I have a choice between this:

Merida 901-18

https://wheelsports.in/catalog/produc...products_id=28

SIZES:XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
SPEEDS:18
FRAME:Road Lite Race
COLOR: 1. red/black /// 2. blue/black
FORK: Carbon Road UD30
DERAILLEURS F/R: Shimano Sora, 31.8 mm Double
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Sora, 31.8 mm Double
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Sora SS
SHIFTER F/R: Shimano Sora Dual Control
BRAKE LEVERS: attached
BRAKES F/R: Shimano Sora
CHAINWHEEL: Shimano R450, 52/39
HUBS F/R: Shimano Sora
SPOKES: Stainless silver
RIMS: Alex DA-22 CNC, black
FREEWHEEL: Shimano CS-HG50-9, 11-25T
TIRE F/R: Maxxis Xenith 23-60
STEM: X-Mission Comp OS, -8�
SADDLE: Road Race Comp
SEATPOST: X-Mission Speed SB20, �27.2

And this:

Trek 1.5

https://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/

Frameset
Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64cm
Frame Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork Bontrager Race, carbon; SpeedTrap compatible
Wheels
Wheels Bontrager SSR
Tires Bontrager Select, 700x25c
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra GS
Crank FSA Vero 50/34 or 50/39/30
Cassette SRAM PG950 11-26, 9 speed
Pedals Nylon body w/alloy cage
Components
Saddle Bontrager Race Basic
Seat Post Bontrager Carbon, Infinite Angle Adjustability
Handlebars Bontrager SSR VR Bend OS, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager Race Lite OS, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset Aheadset w/semi-cartridge bearings, integrated, sealed, alloy
Brakeset Alloy dual pivot w/Shimano Sora STI levers

I think the price difference will be about 250$ more for the Trek. Is it worth that much more? I am buying one for myself and one for wifey so it will be a total of 500USD less fore the Merida. Is the Tiagra rear derailleur the only 'better' component in the Trek?

Thanks for any help.

Sprocket Man

SORA probably isn't a good choice if you plan to race, but there are plenty of people in this forum who have used it and like it.

By the way, besides the issue of quality, I believe that the Sora shifting mechanism has a lever by your thumb. Some people think it's fine while others really hate it.

I don't know what kind of warranty policy Merida has, but Trek has historically been very good about warranty issues.

weavers

i bought an alum sora bike with a cf fork for 400 dollars, new. sora is fine. i can't down shift in drops with the egro bar, my understanding is that thumb shifters work in drops with classic bend bars. i recently made the choice to upgrade to a 10speed compact, nothing wrong with 8 speed i can effectively use 14 gears(more chain rub on FD when in low gears on small ring than i like).

imo sora is great for training and weekend warriors that do 100miles a week, but aim for 105 under one grand, its money saved down the line.

HastyDeparture

My bike came with a handful of Sora parts, and, with the exception of the bit about the shifters, they're perfectly fine components. If you don't plan on riding in the drops much, don't worry about the thumb shifter. Although I really despised trying to shift with it in the drops, I actually liked it very much while riding on the hoods. Maybe I should go with Campy on my next bike...

No, that's un-American. SRAM it is.

lbear

The trek will give you better hill climbing ability. The compact double 50/34 or triple 50/39/30 with the
11-26 cassette will give you more low gears.

Basil Moss

Sora is fine. I've been racing with it all year due in no small part to financial deficiency, and have beaten at least as many people on better bikes than I've been beaten by. The thumb shifter is annoying when you are in the drops, admittedly- but I've got big hands, so it's not a problem. The groupset must be fairly robust- I've chucked myself off the road a few times, it all still works. The worst thing about sora kitted bikes is that they tend to come with tektro brakes, which might make you slow down if you just cleaned the pads and rims, it's dry, and you have really strong hands. So replace them with shimano 105 ASAP.

rollin

Sora is functionally fine. I personally don't like thumb shifters.

I would buy the Trek.

Main reason being brand recognition. If you decide to upgrade in a year or two then you'll have a bigger market.

stapfam

First bike was 8 speed Sora and after 15 years of Mountain biking- I adapted very quickly.

Nothing wrong with Sora- It works- is cheap and reliable. Mind you Ultegra does feel nice.

Flak

Sora does the job just fine, and i raced on it my first season. It's not on my bike anymore, but i am planning on putting it on a winter/rain build.

the beef

It's hard to hit the thumb button from the drops on Sora. Unless your thumbs are like monstrosities.

Also, 8-spd (and I think 9-spd as well) Sora has no trim feature in the left shifter. Which sucks.

But if you're getting a good deal on it and you plan on just riding recreationally now and then there's really nothing too wrong with it.

HillMut

If you plan on riding a lot you will get sick of SORA very fast. My dad owns a bike with sora and even though he rarely rides the shifters have worn much faster than 105-->DA. and its a PITA to tune compared to 105 and up.
I would look @ used bikes in your price range.

keisatsu

I rode a complete Sora 8 speed drivetrain for sometime, in the last month I upgraded to 10 spd Ultegra shifters, Dura-Ace rear derailleur, man oh man is this nice now (still have the Sora front der).

What I'm trying to say is that while Sora is certainly rideable, the higher grade stuff is MUCH nicer (shifting feel, and speed).

Though if you've never ridden Sora one probably would not be as impressed with Ultegra.

markwebb

My sister had a bike with Sora shifters and brakes and derailleurs. They worked OK, but after about 500 miles she started having problems. Shifters got noisy and so did derailleurs. LBS could not tune them any better. They work OK - but not at same level as 105.

They also work differently than all the other Shimano. Tiagra on up the shifter is totally different.

Based on her experience, I'd never buy nor recommend any Sora parts. Period. Tiagra and 105 are worlds better, and operate just like the more expensive parts.

kudude

sora works. if you don't need to shift from the drops (mostly crits, hard pacelines, etc) then there is no problem. If it's what you can afford, be excited about having a cool modern bike

PlatyPius

I had Sora on my Masi Alare, and I liked it a lot. I upgraded to Ultegra because a shop guy can't ride around on Sora....bad for the image. I liked it though. Probably because I like Campy and I'm used to the thumb levers.

I'd go with the Merida. The difference between a Sora and a Tiagra rear derailleur is about $15. There is nothing else about the Trek that warrants the extra cost. The frames are possibly even made in the same factory. There are ALWAYS people looking for inexpensive road bikes. So, if you decide to upgrade in a few years, you can probably sell those for a decent amount.

whitemax

You mean how GOOD is Sora? Not very.

tim00gle

I've been riding a sora equipped cross bike and it's given me no trouble. Adjusted the shifting once and never had to touch it since. Had a couple crashes where the shifters got banged up, but it still shifts perfectly fine. The thumb shifters are a bit annoying when you are shifting from the drops.

Btw, my left shifter does have a trim feature, and it's a 2x8.

the beef

By trim do you just mean the third click normally reserved for the granny gear? I guess that would do it.

neospazzy

You'll be sora ... j/k

I'd invest more and get at least a 105.

Flak

Mine never had a trim, but it shifted fine. Maybe my mech is just better than some other peoples on this board, but he had it shifting smooth as silk.

arterture

Once you get it tuned in (learn how to do it yourself) it works just fine. I've been riding with sora for a couple years now, and it's going to stay that way until I get out of school and can afford a better bike. No problems any of the components so far though.

Little Darwin

Since you are in India, I don't think Trek is going to be as big a factor on resale value as in the US...

Also the RD being Tiagra is worth about $15 difference in price, so I say save the $250 and get the other bike, as long as you are comfortable with the vendor providing a reasonable quality of frame.

Velomancer

Sora is not bad. I got a new Sora Group really cheap and built my wife a bike with it. I was quite impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's not DA or Ultegra... but it does the job. Thumb shifters.. I don't like 'em but thousands of Campy users do.

I'd go for the Trek... 'coz I like the look (and I'm not a great Trek fan).

Nachoman

This year I bought my son a new bike so I had the opportunity to ride a bunch of Sora, Tiagra and 105 bikes. It's just my opinion, and apparently not held by many others here at BF, but Sora and Tiagra suck compared to 105.

K&K_Dad

sure beats 2200. Sora is a decent group.