Butch5

Hi guys and gals. I'm a newbie. I haven't ridden in many years. I used to ride all the time when I was a kid and teenager. I'm looking to start riding again for fun and exercise. I looking at getting a used bike to start. I've been looking at different bikes and components but I just don't have the experience to know what's best. I'm looking at two bikes at the moment. One is a 2000 Specialized Allez A1 Sport for $250. It has 24 or 27 speeds (I'm not certain) with a Shimano 105 group set. The other is a 2015 Specialized Allez 18 speed with the Shimano Sora groupset. Its $350. The area I ride in is hilly but not really too bad. Also, on the Allez A1 Sport I'll probably have to replace the right side shifter as the current owner is having issues with it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Butch

MarcusT

105 parts are much more expensive than Sora parts.

horatio 

The 105 shifter may just need a good cleaning. Use this as a price negotiation point. Be sure to check the frames for damage, and buy the bike that fits best. Good luck!

bruce19

Fit is important. If you buy a bike that doesn't fit, the rest won't matter. You will end up unhappy.

Butch5

Thanks guys. I think both bikes would fit me. The guy with the 2015 lowered the price from $350 to $280. Both bikes look to be in good shape. What I'm wondering is, are the older, better 105 components worth the older older bike as opposed to the Newer Sora and newer bike? Is it better to get the older bike with better parts or the newer bike with lower grade parts. I don't know how much better the 105's are compared to the Sora. I also have a 99 Bianchi Eros with Campagnolo Mirage components option for $395. I was going to add links to the bikes but I don't have enough posts.

mstateglfr 

Both bikes us 9sp cassettes in back(the 105 is 27sp since its a 3x crank).
2015 Sora shifting works perfectly fine. It is accurate and reliable. The Sora shifters used to be an inferior design, but 2015 Sora uses the same paddle design as other Shimano shifters.

If both fit well, I would lean towards the Sora Allez.
- Sora 3500 shifts well.
- The modern 2x9 compact drivetrain is easy to maintain and adjust compared to the near 20 year old 3x9 drivetrain.
- Components most likely are not worn out on the Sora bike.
- The 105 shifter may just need to be cleaned, but if it is legitimately broken, then what? You can search ebay for a used 9sp 105 shifter, buy a mismatched 9sp shifter(like a Sora 3500 since it is compatible), or buy an all new 9sp shifter set. Neither of those 3 sounds appealing when presented with a working bike as an alternative.

105 from the start of the century worked perfectly fine. I dont see 3x9 105 as better than newer 2x9 Sora though. It doesnt hold more appeal to me, at least.

Fit first, though.

KraneXL

If these were cars all you'd have to do is look at the mileage. Since you don't have that convenience, you have to look at wear and tear which is something only you can see.

Generally speaking, I'd definitely choose the higher grade components, but with a 15 year gap, I' chose the newer bike since you can always upgrade your components as they age. Just start saving now so you'll be ready when its needed.

Butch5

That's kind of what I was thinking. Even though the 105's are a better grade, they're almost 20 years old. How worn are they. One of the shifters has an issue. As someone here said, it may just need to be cleaned. I can't easily look at it as it's 3 hrs away. The other bike, the 2015 is about 1 1/2 hr away. I'm trying to be pretty certain which is the better deal before I travel that far to check them out.

Butch5

Thanks! I was wondering about the older parts and replacements.

mstateglfr 

For what its worth, Microshift shifters are available for under $50 per pair. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bike-Shifte...item5d80c831f1 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/7S-8S-9S-10...item2f211b1114
They shift perfectly fine and are significantly less expensive than new Shimano shifters(or used ones too).

Butch5

Thanks guys for the replies. I ended up getting the 2015 when Ochoa turned put to be a 2014. It turns out it was sport also. Had I known that I probably wouldn't have posted the question.