Originally Posted by
Racing Dan
Sure, I get that. You can make it work. Im just claiming you are less likely to succeed compared to a full group that includes all the parts. At least my experience with mixed drive trains and brake setups have been less than stellar. From experience, "notchy" brake lever feel, poor braking, creaky crank and dropped chains. And that was a factory equipped Giant "shimano105" Defy, that had FSA cranks, JAG wire cables, KMC chain and noname brakes. This just doesn't happen with a full Shimano group if you include all the parts (cables too). YMMW, and all that :-)
That doesn’t have to do with mixing components. It has to do with quality of components and execution. For example Specialized often uses Axis brakes and Praxis cranks. The chain on my Roubaix is not Shimano and works flawlessly with the 105 drivetrain.