Do the following 2005 Shimano 105 components differ very much from the current Shimano 105 components?

1) BRAKE LEVERS - Shimano 105, STI
2) FRONT DERAILLEUR - Shimano 105, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull
3) REAR DERAILLEUR - Shimano 105, long cage (triple)
4) SHIFT LEVERS - Shimano 105, STI, flight deck compatible
5) CASSETTE - Shimano 105, 9-speed, 12x25t

Thanks

Yes, they are all 9 speed components, current 105 (5700) is 10 speed, so non of the above will be compatible (although the FD should work on 9 or 10 speed setups)

RD is compatible with current 105 too. And brake levers are brake levers, there's nothing special about brake levers. So only the shift levers and the cassette are 9-speed specific.

The RD may work, but may not. For the STI's these won't work for 2 reason, 5500 (the last 9 speed 105) is 9 speed, and won't have enough clicks to shift a 10 speed cassette, and the ratio on the brakes pull has changed, they will still work, but using older and current Shimano STI's/brake calipers together gives less than optimal performance.

where is this thread going? OP are you asking simply for the sake of knowledge or is there a 9 speed group you're looking to buy?
My bike is a 2005 and still has the 105 5500 group minus the Ultegra 6500 RD. I keep it clean and tuned and it works just fine but I wouldn't say it is as nice as 5700 and 6700.

Not all threads have to go somewhere... enjoy the journey.

Touche`

Totally false.

I have 2 bikes setup with 5700 and 6700 shifters and derailleurs respectively, both with 5500 brakes. The "less than optimal" argument is BF fluff from back when Shimano said the pull ratio was different. There is no mushiness or any other "problems."

yeah I have 5510 levers and 6500 brake calipers, bike stops just fine.

I don't know how big an issue the whole pull ratio thing is...but that ^ is not an example of mismatched ratios. It's the newer levers (5700/6700) with older or generic calipers (like kv501's example).

Having used 6700 STI's with 6600 brakes, then going to 5700 brakes, which have the correct pull ratio, there is a small but perceptible difference. Lots of things which aren't officially compatible will work, if you want to try, great, but performance will not be as the manufacture intended.