Hummeth

Ok. I have nothing to complain about being that i bought a cheap road bike ('06 Fuji Newest 2.0) for $500, but I'd really like to get some better shifters, just for the duel shift levers. I'm pretty frugal and I was wondering what the best way to find some not super expensive shifters for my bike. Any websites you can suggest? or anyone just looking to sell some Tiagras or something? Thanks

shakeNbake

Me too.
They work flawlessly, don't get me wrong. But I wish the shifting was dual lever.

Just make sure you get a shifter for 8 speed. Or upgrade your cassete (if you have a Tiagra or higher RD).

Best bet will be eBay prepare to pay anywhere between $80 to $200

alanbikehouston

Sora shifters are the best shifters Shimano makes for people who do most of their shifting from the top of the brake hoods. Some racers claim they do a lot of shifting while riding in the drops, but do you?

If you want a REAL upgrade for $80, replace the factory tires with some lightweight racing tires...that is a place where $80 will make an astounding difference in how your bike performs.

jschen

Depends on your hands and where exactly you mount your shifters, I guess. I have no trouble shifting from the hoods with the STI levers. In fact, I find it easier from there, especially when upshifting the front.

I had no trouble shifting my sister's Sora-equipped bike, but I do prefer the STI's, mostly because I can't reach the thumb button from the drops. My sister, on the other hand, insisted on Sora shifters when she bought her bike. Perhaps she should try Campy.

the beef

Ninety-five percent of the time, Sora is fine for riders who mostly ride on the hoods. But ultimately the whole experienced is defined by that frustrating five percent of the time when you can't reach the damn thumb shifter during that sprint into the wind. In my case, that was the dealbreaker. I've since switched to Campy, and am loving it.

NottPhast_Phred

Found these Sora 8 speed 2 lever shifters on Amazon.com:

Shimano Sora ST-R500 STI Flight Deck 8 spd. Very nice but very expensive at $200+!

InVisib0L

Just get used to it. But those ^ up there do look nice...

pelotonracer

those aren't Sora, those are 105/Ultegra 8-speeds. It would be cheaper to get Tiagra STI, cassette & rear derailleur, about $150.

Hummeth

I have a Tiagra rear derailleur. I just need the shifters and know where to get them for not too much.

pelotonracer

No, you need the cassette too- do you have it?

Shifters can be found at best price that I know of: www.probikekit.com

Grasschopper

You will also need a chain. If you are going to drop the money on this conversion the best time to do it would be once you have worn out your original chain and cassette, otherwise you will be sitting on them because no one else wants Sora either so selling the stuff off your bike is going to be next to impossible.

iamtim

Yeah, if yer gonna swap up to Tiagra shifters, be prepared for a little bit more than just replacing the shifters. Sora is 8 speed and Tiagra is 9 speed, so at minimum you'd need shifters, cassette, and chain. That's assuming your front and rear derailleurs are 9 speed; if not, you'll need those too (9s derailleurs will handle 8s, but the reverse is not true).

If you aren't willing to do a 9 speed upgrade, you can find Shimano line-less 8 speed shifters if you look hard enough, but they're fairly expensive; as are all shifter/brake units.

I did the Sora to Tiagra upgrade on my Trek 1000; I had to get Tiagra shifters, front derailleur, and a new cassette and chain. I already had a 9 speed Tiagra rear derailleur. It was the best upgrade I've ever done, but not everyone wants to go that far.

dutret

Why not? If the pull ratio was different then it wouldn't work in reverse and even 15yo shimano six speed rears have the range to reach a new nine. What makes them imcompatible other then the name?

iamtim

*blink, blink*

Hmm.

Now that you mention it, yeah, it is the shifter that controls the derailleur and not the other way around. Theoretically, then, I guess an 8 speed derailleur would work on a 9 speed cassette with 9 speed shifters.

Theoretically.

Ok, I retract my earlier statement. I'm going to have to set this up and test it for myself, though. Just so I know for sure.

Kenal0

8 speed or 9 speed, the derailleur will work fine. As long as the cassettes are interchangeble, the derailleur distance travelled is controlled by the indexed shifter.
I am currently using an Ultegra 10 speed rear derailleur with an 8 speed 11-28 SRAM cassette without any problems whatsoever.
You can also use a 9 speed shifter. Just set the high limit and the derailleur will not move past that point. When you go to make the 9th shift it will just not happen. 1-8 will be the same and 9 will not acuate since the high limit will stop it.


Kenal0

Hummeth

This is what I have. I don't know if this helps or not. I've never done this before and I don't know what all I'll need to change.

Crankset-------------Fuji Forged Aluminum Road 30/42/52T Chainring
Bottom bracket-----Fuji Square Taper w/Sealed cartridge bearing
Front derailleur----Shimano Sora, 31.8mm for triple
Rear derailleur-----Shimano Tiagra GS
Shifters--------------Shimano Sora shifter/brake, 24-speed Flight Deck compatible
Cassette-------------SRAM PG-850, 12-26T 8-speed
Chain-----------------KMC Z-72

Kenal0

Cheapest is to upgrade the shifters to Tiagra however they are not that easy to find. If you want to upgrade to 9 speed then you will need 9 speed shifter, 9 speed cassette and new chain. You also have to make sure they are for triple front.
That should be it.
Kenal0

Hummeth

But if i'm happy with the 8 speed then do I need to change the chain and cassette?

spiderbike

ultegra 10speed 6600 on probikekit.com you'll thank yourself latter...if you want to upgrade go for the gold...

iamtim

That's very true, and when you can find them they're just as expensive as the corresponding 105 shifters.

I got my Tiagras for nuttin', thanks to an AWESOME forum member.

Kenal0

There is a pair on Ebay right now at 39.95.
I have a pair that is vitrually new, I upgraded a few weeks after I got my bike so PM me if you are interested.
They are Tiagra 9 speed for a triple.
Kenal0

Hummeth

Can I have you Tiagras for nuttin'? You'd be an awesome forum member in my book.

Kenal0

I cannot match that awesomeness.
Kenal0

Kenal0

No, but you will have a hard time finding 8 speed upgraded shifters.
Kenal0

the beef

Teehee. Silly people asking for high-end components for free. I was quoted $250 for a pair of Tiagras at my LBS.. needless to say I haven't gone back there again.

My advice is to look for older, used STI levers on Craigslist. My very first posting in the Seattle Craigslist was a wanted ad for non-Sora STI shifters for $100. I was pleasantly surprised when I received multiple offers from people; three people said they could sell me a pair of 105 9-speeds for $100 and one lady even said she'd part with hers for $75.

I actually never went ahead and bought any of them though; after a little re-evaluating I decided to not invest too much into the Sora bike. Ended up selling it for $675 with an upgraded wheelset and bought my Veloce for $700 a week later. Couldn't be happier with my decision.