Originally Posted by
Dirk de Chablis
Sante was the Sora of groupsets and RX was the Claris back in the day. Shimano was approached by bike companies to build a group set to a price (not much has changed these days) corners are cut on chains, cassettes, mechs and chainsets, the weight of OE product vs blue box products is what makes the price difference.
Respectfully, you are incorrect. It was slotted between 6400-era 600 and 7400-era Dura-Ace during its time. Heavy emphasis on fashion/aesthetics while retaining all the function and quality of a 600/DA groupset. Light Action was the Sora/Claris level offering at that time, If not the A550/unbranded stuff or multiple levels of Exage. Still plenty reliable and functional, decent-looking, too, IMO. But Sante was way up the line at the top. Shimano had a lower-level groupset offered with white-painted components--I forget which. Suntour had Ole (as a response, in a way).