I agree and stick up to high. I attribute that to the window on top that let's you tell what gear you are in. At first I hated the idea but it has grown on me somewhat even though I still think its pointless.

Well, that's 1 for Tiagra sucking versus...?

ITs all about the tuning. If your lbs has a good wrench, then Tiagra can shift smooth as butter. Maybe not as crisp or light as Sram or DA, but for the price, and the prices for replacement parts, Tiagra is hard to beat.


BTW, the '09 CAAD 9 came with a sora FD on my Tiagra group. I think they were all like that.

I totally acknowledge that there could be more factors affecting a well performing group, but I have to believe that its partly because you get what you pay for.

I am glad other have enjoyed theirs, but there seems to be an issue with mine. What the issue is I can't say.

Would I buy it again? I hope I never have too, but its better than running.

My 2009 CAAD9 6 came with Tiagra, and shifted as well as the 6600 Ultegra I replaced it with. Had I not gotten an excellent deal on the Ultegra (used, from a riding buddy), I'd still be on the Tiagra. And good quality nine speed stuff (chains, cassettes, etc.) is half the price of equivalent ten speed stuff. If I could find the frame I want, I'd transfer the ten speed drivetrain to the new frame and put the Tiagra back on the CAAD9, and be happy riding either.

Reread your OP and get back to me.

There are such things as "lemons" where not each and every piece produced is perfect.

Just me and others? I think of the dozens of posts here, there is only one complaint.
That's an overwhelming + for the Tiagra's rep IMO.

Totally!



OT, but not;

I bought a DeWalt compressor.
It broke on me 3 times.
I lost a ton of time and money on it.
I paid extra because I wanted the best.
Besides it sucking, the customer service was horrible.

Would I say that all DeWalt compressors suck?
No. I'd say that I got a lemon.

But I won't dare take away from your personal experiences with Tiagra.
Honestly, your's is like a 1 in a million experience.

Did you do your own wrenching or did you have someone else do it for you?
I was joking when I made the comment about the wrencher, but it could be true.
Maybe it wasn't tuned properly. I know that in the first 100 miles or so,
the cables stretch and the derailleurs/brakes/shifters need to be dialed-in.

I'd say it took me about 200 miles before I got my Tiagra bike working right.
But after that, it gave me hundreds of trouble free miles and was working
perfectly when I sold them off to upgrade to Dura Ace.

You mean...this?
Which part of the original post confused you into believing that
I owned Tiagra shifters "after" I clearly stated that I didn't?


"Tiagra users...
I've read this (or something to this effect) more than one time;

"...my Tiagra group was smoother shifting than my (105, Ultegra, etc...)..."

I too noticed that Tiagra set-up with
a good crankset (for me) was smooth.
Am I the only one that thinks that Tiagra
just might be the best group for the money?"

This is getting ridiculous. You praised the GROUP and the only reference to anything non-Tiagra was the crank. You didn't say that you HAD the shifters but you didn't say that you did NOT have it either.

They were all spec'd with Sora FD.
I got lucky. I got a Tiagra FD on my 9-7. Total gift.
I did a double-take when I pulled the frame out of the box.

I totally agree.

Yeah...based upon what "others" said about their groups.


I also didn't say that I didn't scratch my arse that day.
What do you think? Did I or didn't I?



Yeah...I know what you mean.
Put the mouse down and walk away for a while.
You'll feel better in 15 minutes or so.



(and now, back to the thread...)

I'm just saying, your smooth shifting is because of your Ultegra crank, not anything Tiagra on your bike.

Too late VG...I diffused the situation already.

(But not for nuthin', popcorn is a good idea right now! BRB!)

I feel my IQ draining out of the drip hole.

It's the 41 version of IMFLPG.

I had to google that. Didn't help.

I am still confused, but happy that it did not take me to any poop pics.

I didn't enjoy my Tiagra experience. (mostly Tiagra group with an FSA crank) They certainly needed some fine tuning, but my biggest issue was with the shifter throw (not the reach, the throw) being too much for my hands which no amount of tweaking was going to fix.

I have Force now, and am super happy with it.

I agree with you there (again).



But I noticed a HUGE jump from Sora to Tiagra front shifting (with the same crankset).
Not "as much" more from Tiagra to Dura-Ace 7800 with the same crankset.
And, the Tiagra Rear Derailleur was smoother than anything else I rode
including 105--->Ultegra--->Ultegra SL--->SRAM RED
(except my DA7800 RD which is awesome).

See, I've read that some riders who've had experience with all of those groups
found their Tiagra groups to ride smoother than their "better" groups.
Some have found them to be smoother than their Ultegra 6600 groups.
When you see something more than once from unrelated sources,
(for me) it makes one have to wonder, is there something special about this group?

Some have even said that because they are heavier and less delicate,
that a group like Tiagra lasts longer or can take a beating more.

I think that Tiagra is a sleeper group. Not just for the money. But period.

By the time my Sora/Tiagra group was dialed in, it still wasn't adequate for how I ride.
That's why I upgraded, but for just recreational riding, it was fine.



Let's smokem' peace pipe!

Stop reading.

Apples to oranges!

I actually had Tiagra on my Allez, and 105 on my TCR. Both 9 speed IIRC. I didn't really notice any difference in shifting between them, except that the 105 was a compact double and the Tiagra was a triple. I only used the Tiagra for a few thousand miles, so I can't attest to it's long-term durability. The 105 shifters on the other hand, were pieces of crap. I killed the rear lever, replaced it, then killed the new one. F-that, I switched to SRAM and never looked back.

I almost feel compelled to own a SRAM equipped bike. Really.
Again, like I posted in my "Double Tap:* thread weeks ago, when so many
people are so passionate about something, it warrants investigation.
I'm pretty sure I'll own a SRAM bike one day.


* https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...962-Double-Tap...

I remember that thread. It was while I was banned and there was so much fail in it, I just wanted to throw something at the screen since I couldn't post. Not saying it was you, I don't remember who said what. I just had to stop looking at it. When I got back I didn't want to bump it.

It's possible, but I suspect there are other variables.

My bike came with:
Tiagra shifters, Tiagra FD, 105 RD, FSA Crank, Sunrace Cassette, KMC? chain.

Upgraded it to:
105 5700 shifters with new Shimano cables, 105 5700 RD, 6700 Cassette, 6700 Chain, left the FSA crank and Tiagra FD.

The old stock tiagra setup shifted way better. I actually just got through posting about this over here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post11806322