Claris/Sora durability
#1
we be rollin'
Thread Starter
Claris/Sora durability
I read a stunning message from saying that anything under Deore (including Alivio) won't last nearly as long as Deore. Like there was no comparison. Does anyone know how Claris and Sora compares to Tiagra in durability?
#2
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times
in
346 Posts
I can't comment on them all But I have 105 on two bikes, Sora on one.
The Sora is on my Cannondale gravel bike and it has been excellent. It was my first drop bar bike and knowing what I now know I would have went for Tiagra on it so I could go 1X with it but the Sora really has been flawless. No issues and lots of hard riding.
My go to now is 105, its like the perfect place for value and performance for an average enthusiast. But if I found I bike I really liked and it was fitted with Sora I wouldn't walk away from it because of that. AND the 9 speed chains are cheap too!
I have no experience with Claris though, sorry.
The Sora is on my Cannondale gravel bike and it has been excellent. It was my first drop bar bike and knowing what I now know I would have went for Tiagra on it so I could go 1X with it but the Sora really has been flawless. No issues and lots of hard riding.
My go to now is 105, its like the perfect place for value and performance for an average enthusiast. But if I found I bike I really liked and it was fitted with Sora I wouldn't walk away from it because of that. AND the 9 speed chains are cheap too!
I have no experience with Claris though, sorry.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
108 Posts
Everything I have read points to there being zero difference in durability. The only thing you gain is weight savings.
I read one long-time expedition rider who has done 2 total custom builds (can't remember the name right now)... anyway he said next time he would go with the lower level as he feels it may even be more durable, and the weight savings doesn't matter.
I'll try to find that link.
I read one long-time expedition rider who has done 2 total custom builds (can't remember the name right now)... anyway he said next time he would go with the lower level as he feels it may even be more durable, and the weight savings doesn't matter.
I'll try to find that link.
Last edited by riverdrifter; 06-30-19 at 08:09 PM.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
108 Posts
https://tomsbiketrip.com/how-to-buil...-touring-bike/
Here's that link. He says that he would have no problem using any level of Shimano.
Here's that link. He says that he would have no problem using any level of Shimano.
#5
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,605
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,474 Times
in
4,181 Posts
Lower than deore components can last decades...I come upon them frequently on bikes I refurbish.
Claris and sora can last for years and years- I've worked on plenty of bikes with old 8sp thumb button sora drivetrains.
Don't listen to morons. Instead, listen to some rando on the internet.
Likes For seau grateau:
Likes For sdmc530:
#9
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,953
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6178 Post(s)
Liked 4,795 Times
in
3,307 Posts
I'm certain the Walmart and Target bikes I bought my kids growing up had the cheapest shimano on them possible. However despite the abuse from my kids riding, wrecking and leaving them in the rain, I only had to clean lube and adjust them.
Did they shift great? No! But they did last.
Would Dura Ace survive the wrecks and other abuse? I doubt it, but it sure does shift a whole lot better.
Did they shift great? No! But they did last.
Would Dura Ace survive the wrecks and other abuse? I doubt it, but it sure does shift a whole lot better.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
I doubt anyone not having done an actual unbiased scientific study claiming any "stunning message". Having said that, I have a Sora equipped bike that is used regularly since 2009. Aside from a cable change, it still works well.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 249
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 87 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times
in
9 Posts
I'm kind of in that boat. I bought a bike with a 10sp mirage group. I was told how cheap and terrible it is. Been riding the piss out of it with no issues. Best running drivetrain I've ever owned.
Likes For zowie:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Alabama
Posts: 519
Bikes: Konas: Jake the Snake-Fire Mountain-Zing Supreme, Dew Deluxe,Zone Ltd. (frame, needs parts), Surly Long Haul Trucker, Santana Arriva tandem, Montagues: Paratrooper-Fit, Trek 1200, Bianchi Ocelot, Fantom Cross Uno, Bridgestone 200
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 108 Post(s)
Liked 227 Times
in
122 Posts
I've ridden my 105/XT Kona JtS nearly 40,000 miles... and the problem that eventually cropped up was when I left it in the basement for a decade. Brifter grease gunked up.
My wife's Trek 1000 is a Sora bike, though with fewer miles, and though it sat for about the same period, works fine.
I wouldn't hesitate to go 105 again, but I bought a set of 9 speed Sora brifters for now, to get Jake back up and running well. I'll play with the 105s, and if another flush/lube works well enough, I may use those on my old B'stone 200.
I'm fairly easy on hardware, so take it with a grain of salt, but I've never had any Shimano gear break on me. Then again, I've had some limited experience with Campy and Sram stuff, and can say the same for those.
My wife's Trek 1000 is a Sora bike, though with fewer miles, and though it sat for about the same period, works fine.
I wouldn't hesitate to go 105 again, but I bought a set of 9 speed Sora brifters for now, to get Jake back up and running well. I'll play with the 105s, and if another flush/lube works well enough, I may use those on my old B'stone 200.
I'm fairly easy on hardware, so take it with a grain of salt, but I've never had any Shimano gear break on me. Then again, I've had some limited experience with Campy and Sram stuff, and can say the same for those.
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Newport News, Va
Posts: 155
Bikes: 1999 Klein Quantum Race
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I put thousands of trouble free miles on a sora group that came on my first bike. The only thing that didn't work for me was the front derailleur up shift throw. I have fairly small hands and I could never get it dialed in so I didn't have to rotate my hand around the brake hood to shift. Other than that, it lasted a really long time.
#17
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
IMHO no generalization about different level names should be made. Actually, there may be some members here who remember 9 speed Dura Ace brifters. The right brake/shifter was notorious for failing to shift after several years of use while 9 speed 105, Ultegra and now Sora go on for many more years of service. I had two of the failed DA brifters and a 105 that never died, sold it with the bike. Meanwhile, Dura Ace 10 speed, 7800 is well known for its reliability so no general comments about DA should be made.
If any Shimano shifter failures could be generalized, it's a specific design. My one car garage bike shop has many 7 speed and 8 speed donation bikes pass through it for repairs before we give them to new owners. There are some older Shimano 7 speed designs that I don't even bother to try to repair, I know they need to be replaced while other seven speed designs that aren't working just need a little Tri-Flow sprayed into them to recover.
If any Shimano shifter failures could be generalized, it's a specific design. My one car garage bike shop has many 7 speed and 8 speed donation bikes pass through it for repairs before we give them to new owners. There are some older Shimano 7 speed designs that I don't even bother to try to repair, I know they need to be replaced while other seven speed designs that aren't working just need a little Tri-Flow sprayed into them to recover.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator