between the Tiagra, Sora, and 2300 models? new to the sport, and cant really find much difference between the functionality. the only difference would be the cost....bascially its about $150 more for the Tiagras. anywho, if anyone has used these different models in the past any input would be great.

Sora have the thumb shifter in a bad location so you can't shift it from the drops.

New tiagra is 10 speed.

Those are the basic differences, yup. Sora and 2300 both have the thumbshifter to shift to the smaller cog/chainring for right/left. As mentioned, this means you can't shift to a smaller cog/ring from the drops. If you only EVER stay on the hoods, then they're OK... but anybody serious about cycling wants to be in the drops for aerodynamic/performance reasons.

The Difference on the Tiagra is to shift to the smaller cog or chainring you use a lever tucked in with the brake lever that you can use either from the hoods OR from the drops. This follows the same design as Shimano's higher-end road groups.

Also, 2300 is eight speed, Sora is 9 speed. New Tiagra is 10 speed.

I absolutely hate my thumb shifters, if i were you I would get the index shifting so you can use it while in the drops. When I'm doing sprints I can't really shift down, and I hate it...

wow, good to know. seems like tiagra is worth the $170 upgrade from the low end shimanos. great success!

look at some images of each of them. I recall seeing a little gear indicator needle on one of these - tell what gear you're in without looking back at the sprocket. That could be of interest to some people. For all I know, they may all have this indicator. I do know that 105 and up (Ultegra, Dura Ace) do not have such an indicator. (But they are compatible with Flight Deck, whereas the 2300-Sora-Tiagra may not be.)

Tiagra has the dial indicator, which I think is pretty cool.

Look, a brifter is a brifter, some are very expensive and work better then others, but they all shift gears. The Sora and 2300 have thumb shifters instead of the paddles under the break levers. But its not going to make you any less "aero" or slower.

If you have the money, it will be worth it in the long run to buy the Tiagara and even better. If not, then dont worry and ride.

I can shift my Campy 10 speed from the drops.

I have never heard anyone bring up that argument. As others have stated, the thumb shifter is incredibly difficult to use when in the drops. I recently upgraded from a flat bar "road" bike to an actual road bike and the one thing I was completely against buying was thumb shifters because I didnt like that when test riding. Im glad I did too because I often find myself in my drops needing to shift.

Eh. Unless you're racing it's not going to make much of a difference. I honestly kind of liked the thumb shifters, on the hoods the motion was very natural and it keeps the up/down shifting well separated. But to each his own.

Yes the Tiagra has a gear indicator, but it's place on top of the hoods, & unless you have your hood placed high on your bars I find it hard to read. I still have to look @ my cassette.
Dura Ace comes with a gear indicator that's placed on the line/cable just a few inches away from the hoods. I love this feature, cause I don't need to take me eyes off the road.

Tiagra is worth the extra $$$, but if you can afford the 105, I think it's a better upgrade.
I've tried Sora, & it wasn't that hard for me, it was the 1st time I used index shifting too.
I have Tiagra, 105, & Dura Ace. I notice a little difference, but over all, I find 105 better than the Tiagra.
Absolutely love the Dura Ace, but it's isn't in the same class as the others you mentioned.

On the DA 7900, cable is coming under the handlebar tape, the indicator won't fly. It looks like for the 7800 that would have been an option.

Any other gear indicators? just curious now.
If I have a DA7900 (i don't) or an Ultegra 6700 (I do), I can either:
- ride in the small cog where no indicator is needed
- look back at the cogsets (or ignore them)
- use a Flight Deck

Yes, because Campy is well designed. That's what I use too.

I think the key words in his description was "bad location." You can shift Campy from the drops. Sora, not so much.

They are all indexed. Just on the lower end models, the lever that works the indexed mechanism is a thumb shifter.

Yep NOS 7800.
Not sure about the 7900 or 6700
If your cable, & derailers are setup properly you can ride on any gear without any indicator, & not have to look back.
The limit stops will do what they're intended to do.