I was looking at upgrade for my components and/or bike.

I am currently riding MASI PC1 - Carbon with Sora 9 speed. It was OK, but after a while shifting is not crisp. I am riding daily commute of 17 miles around 19 mph average on mainly flat.
I live in hilly area and my main area of improvement.

I would like to improve my shifting and get a better carbon bike with better components without spending much money.

I found a good deal for Diamondback Podium 5 2013 Model and put it on hold for around $1300

Diamondback Podium 5 - Bicycles and gear for every type of riding - Giant, Lapierre, Santa Cruz, Diamondback, Raleigh, Felt, Fox & more

I need an opinion about it is it a good deal and a good bike? My first concern is a crank (53/39) because it is different from what I have on my compact on MASI, would that affect my riding a lot ?

Also what you guys think about the other components, wheels, frame ?

Thanks.

At that price point it's going to be hard to beat Bikes Direct.

Here's a 2015 carbon frame with 5800 105 (11 speed) for $1399.

You'll hear some people say it's not necessary, but if I were buying a new bike today it would be 11 speed. Wheel compatibility into the future is huge if you ever want to add bikes down the road or upgrade.

You can buy a 105 complete group for $435 at Merlin. But I've seen the Podiums and they're one of the few carbon bikes I liked. Only you know is a 53/39 is too much for you. I hate compacts, a 34 is too small for anything for me but I don't have any cat 1 climbs here.

So you think that I will be fine on hills that are cat 3 and 4 with 53/39, I know that I can climb a hill comfortably at 34/27 on 70 rpms ?

How about quality of wheels ? Easton wheels seem better quality?

Try riding that hill with your 34 ring and the 23 rear cog, that is nearly the same as 39-27.

Well, only you really know. The Podium comes with an 11-25 cassette. A 39x25 is about the same ratio as a 34x23.

My opinion on this thread:

The DB is not a huge upgrade framewise over the Masi and it has old 10 speed 105.

I got 10 speed 105 from Ribble for about $400 a couple of months ago. You still may be able to find a group on Ribble or Merlin for that cost. 11 speed is not much more expensive and more readily available but then you need new wheels which is probably $500 for 11 speed wheels at which point you might as well buy a new bike.

That Motobecane is one of the ugliest frames I've ever seen

I bought a new bike that had a standard crankset and yes it made a noticeable difference on my rides that involve a lot of climbing and it's mostly Cat 3 & 4. I immediately bought a compact crankset to replace it and I've been much happier. But you are not me so maybe you are much stronger. The 105 group I bought for my second bike is standard crank with 12-27 cassette and I'm able to get up the same hills with it but when it comes to 30-40 mile rides with lots of climbs I leave that bike at home

Oh, I know this is very hard for me at the moment. How about 39/30 - is that similar to 34/27?

BikeCalc.com - Bicycle Gear Inches Chart

I think race crank is just too much for me at the moment. Is the 105 cassette 12-30 an option to help with climbing?
Agree for Motobecane bikes - they are not really an option.

Thanks.

I would suggest you spend some more time on the bike you have. If the shifting is not as crisp as it was, change the cables and adjust it. Have you measured your chain to see if it is worn out? If not, do so. If it is really worn, you might need a cassette as well. I doubt you have worn out your derailleurs.
As far as climbing, only you can know what you need. You will see many threads on this and other forums where people say nobody should need lower than 39/25, just HTFU. I just swapped my compact for a triple, for the 2 or 3 hills where I would really like a lower gear, as I think I am about as hard as I am likely to get.

#1 - lost in all this other nonsense I was also going to say that you should get your bike tuned up. If the bike is no longer shifting as crisply as it was than it may be time for a tune up. Have you ever had it tuned up? Generally a new bike needs to be retuned after a month or so depending on your riding because new cables stretch and then you need to readjust the deraileurs. If you've had it a few years you probably need new cables and housing and maybe chain/cassette.

#2 - when I bought a new bike that happened to have a standard crank and posed the same eternal compact vs standard question on this forum 99% of the answers I got was there is no reason for most people to own a standard crankset. If you are a strong racer and/or live in a very flat area maybe. But the average rider (even very strong club rider) will never really need a higher gear than 50/11 and most can use the lower gears that compact gives you.

To answer the question about adding 30 t cassette, it's not a simple answer because it depends on the crankset and rear deraileur. You may need a long cage rear deraileur and a longer chain so if you are going to buy a new bike and then make changes realize you may be adding another $100-200 right off the bat