How Different Is Shimano 105 And Tiagra Really?

[@1RichieRich]

Tiagra is seriously underrated,it just works ,it's great value ,it offers a nice balanced gear range ,its affordable to replace parts ,you can't go wrong with it

[@Mindnbodyexp]

I ride Tiagra on my road bike. I’ve never felt the need to upgrade it. 2x10 just works.

[@christianb.1028]

Tiagra is really, really good. The best thing is: If you want more range, just upgrade the deraillieur to a GRX 400 and get a bigger cassette. Really not expensive and can make a huge difference! And IF you want to upgrade even further to 11-speed someday, you just have to change the shifters to 105 or so, since both, Tiagra and GRX 400, are fully compatible with 11 speed shifters.

[@owensnicholas]

I see so many people in online communities talking about upgrading their groupsets to Di2 or AXS. I have a sneaking suspicion that the vast majority could derive much more benefit from a great fitting pair of shoes and/or saddle. They're not as sexy, but I'll take equipment that lets me ride all day in comfort over electronic shifting.

[@tr4nnel752]

On my MTB I'm always carefully shifting, even when i need to gear quickly. I can see the appeal of electronic shifting. But I agree that saddle and shoes should be a bigger priority than electronic shifting. For most people, a great bike fit should be the highest priority actually.

[@falklevien]

Done three Everestings with my 3x10 Tiagra in the last two months. Absolutely brilliant. I went with the Tiagra a, for budget reasons, b, for the 30 front 34 rear combination and c, for the much smaller steps in gears from the 10 speed system. It's been amazing and I'm keeping it on my bike.

[@zedddddful]

You managed to find 3x tiagra that's like rocking horse poo that's what I wanted for my tourer.

[@falklevien]

@@zedddddful really? I had no idea it was that rare. I just went online to the first store that came to mind, found it and bought it. That was in late winter, though. Maybe that’s why I got lucky. I hope you can get yours mate

[@MaartendeJager]

Claris is nice, ive now raced 18k on a domane al2. Gravel and crits. Only upgraded wheels and tires, which makes a hughe difference. And a longer stem, narrow bar and forged cranks.

[@judycarlsen7707]

(Richard here). After several years of transitioning to 1X about a decade ago, I settled on a long cage Tiagra derailleur tagged to my 10 speed Ultegra right shifter. With this set-up, over 4 years I did everything (training & events) up to and including two 24-hour bike races. Today, I ride two Poseidons with 10 speed Advent X systems quite happily. No battery charging, no software, no internal cables. Just good, solid shifting that lets me focus on riding (and tire selection) and not on paying for electronic hardware.

[@fenbops]

My bike has Tiagra. No problems with it. I’ll probably upgrade bike and groupset in years to come but for now it’s great.

[@tr4nnel752]

Always fun to watch your podcast, one suggestion that would make my viewing experience even better is to more often put a short picture in of the thing that is currently talked about (for example the tourney shifters). I quite often need to look up what is actually talked about. Also regarding this question: Make sure you have hydraulic disk brakes (in stead of cable operatered disk brakes) when purchasing the bike. It's just that much better.

[@BogdanTimofte]

Stop focusing on the weight and number of gears of the groupset. They are not important and do not make a bike useless. Only the range of a groupset does.

[@SonnyDarvish]

Exactly. Range is the most important. I would be happy to carry 1 extra kilo with the right gear ratio than to suffer climbing under 40-50 rpm.

[@claudiofiero8523]

Exactly, my Claris groupset can handle a not so numerous number of gears, but I can range between the 50/11 and the 34/32 and just today it proved to be great, 17km climb with 900m of elevation (so 5,2% average) and most of the time I could use the 34/28, aka the second gear. Heavy bike? Of course, almost 12kg, but even a 6kg one, if equipped with inadequate gearing for my legs, would have been a bad choice

[@sepg5084]

​@@claudiofiero8523 12kg road bike? My rigid fork xc mtb is 9.8 kg, how can a road bike weigh 12kg 🤔

[@StayZero556]

@@sepg5084my “road” bike (a drop bar converted hybrid) is 30 lbs or 13.6 kg. It’s heckin heavy. Comfortable as all get out but heavy.

[@BogdanTimofte]

@@sepg5084 My mtb was 18kg in 2018, 15kg in 2020, and 13kg since 2022. In 2026 i hope to get under 10kg :)

[@TESTA-CC]

105 is For Road, Tiagra Can be used on a Road & Mountain Bike. That's it.

[@kadenlindsey358]

The biggest thing for having more gears is a smoother transition of cadence when keeping the same range… yes you don’t need more gears but it is nicer. When comparing the performance of the group-sets, 105 is where it gets really nice vs the pretty good of tiagra/sora/claris (which are all being phased out with cues maybe? If they ever put our road brifters) the only difference between sora/claris and older 105( the ones that don’t have the extra thing to attach the the RD hanger) is the shifters, the RD is basically the same thing with the same pull ratio with a slightly lighter material.

[@tr4nnel752]

Are you speaking from experience or is just this assumed common knowledge? I mean, I feel the same that 105 is the groupset to get, but is it really that much different than tiagra?

[@markjthomson]

I have 105 10 speed on my road bike and Tiagra 10 speed shifters running my 10 speed GRX groupset on my touring bike. I've previously run 3 x Tiagra on my touring bike as well. My Tiagra is newer, and feels so (the 105 having done >30 000km and the Tiagra about 10 000km) but other than that they are both reliable, work every time and easy to maintain. Would I buy one over the other based on performance? No, either works and works well and TBH the cost difference alone means Tiagra comes out in front most days. The only oddball thing about the Tiagra 10 speed is the cable pull is different to all other Shimano 10 speeds in the road groups - it's the same pull ratio as 11 speed. Not a problem when setting up from scratch, but caused me some issues when I got the new shifters, I had to change the rear derailleur to allow for the cable pull change - for me that just meant upgrading to GRX sooner rather than later.

[@john-tomlinson]

Great answers. Thanks.

[@daytch9485]

I've got both tiagra 10 and 105 10spd . Yes the tiagra works great and quality is excellent, except for the geometry of the front derailleur leaves something to be desired( it hangs up if it gets the slightest bit dirty or bottle juice on the cable . The 105 has been solid all the way and you get a stiffer, lighter crank. Which brings the question , did I do right by upgrading my heavy tiagra cranks to ultegra?

[@sylvaingarel4753]

When you know that the New acera 3020 IS able to handle 10 speeds with a 11-32 or 11-42 cassette it's Amazing ! So cheap and so much range

[@michaelviglianco6121]

Malaysia is small with a ton of bike shops. Not exactly a test of any equipment or gear. Being in a different country doesn't put more strain on anything

[@putrid.p]

Should bikes be available to buy without a saddle and tyres, in the same way they're normally supplied without pedals?

[@FT__Bicycling_____-sc7yv]

Yeah. Could go further: without stem and handlebar

[@maximiliandeisz2961]

Yeah at that point just build your own bike. And the saddles work for some people too. The canyon saddle works well for me and I like the conti all season that they use

[@FT__Bicycling_____-sc7yv]

@@maximiliandeisz2961 there is often a large groupset discount buying from s big bike company though. So, getting the frameset, seatpost, groupset, and maybe stem together from them would be better than buying everything separate

[@TheKizersoze13]

I was in this situation a month ago and went with Tiagra bike because I was using it to get back into shape / commuter bike. If I was to do it again I think I would have paid a little more and got that 1 extra gear because there are 2 large climbs in my area where that 1 extra easy gear would have made it so I could stay in the large ring. But it’s giving me the excuse to get a full time workout bike next summer, convert my synapse to a full time commuter with a rack and that’s easier for maintain.

[@claudiofiero8523]

You may find a cassette with an easier gear even with tiagra. 105 and tiagra have the same max teeth capacity, the long cage ones go up to 34t

[@timwong6818]

I do like hyperglide+ drivetrain, it makes a difference between 12speed 105 (mechanical and eletronic) and previous generation that uses hyperglide.

[@alexanderh2715]

I rode an allroad bike with claris and mechanical brakes and it was more than fine. Sure the brakes could have been the hydro mechanical ones or Paul Klamper but the shifting of claris and the ergonomics are so good. The replacement parts are also dirt cheap. I have rival 1by on my gravelbike and the shifting (for me) feels out of this world. When I started riding I had an old campagnolo super record vintage bike and a trekking bike with a very bad Shimano groupset. Compared to that a new deore also feels perfect. If you don't ride in competition I'd rather spend more on good bibshorts and cycling equipment like bike computer and enjoy riding rather than chasing the lightest bike.

[@buggen819]

Tiagra is great! I use tiagra on my gravel/commuter bike, ride it on single track and tarmac without any issues. My ultegra carbon racer is better of course but tiagra is great

[@abedfo88]

Also when chain reaction closed down i literally got a tiagra front derailleur for £5 😂😂

[@crazyjoedavola9002]

I've used old ultegra 6600, 105 5700 and new(ish) Tiagra in a matter of a month. 10s everyone. Even tho Ultegra was almost 20 years old it shifted perfectly, precisely and quickly. 105 does the job pretty much identicaly, but that new Tiagra felt like clapped out ultegra. That being said it's still a great groupset for everyday cyclist, it's not perfect but if you are not perfectionist it'll work great.

[@eduardoschneider2010]

Ive made a mix of 105 and Tiagra on an Aluminium Frame. its a great Bike

[@a1white]

My bike has a mix of 12 year old Tiagra and even older 10 speed Ultegra. It shifts flawlessly!

[@abedfo88]

I've got both. 105 is probably nicer as it just feels slightly less effortless to shift. Both shift just as crisply and efficiently as each other however.

[@paulzweers784]

Stil use my Ultegra 6400 tricolore 8 speed, 30+ years old with some new parts....Tiagra 10 speed hubs with 32h ambrosio wheelset, steel frame, what do you need more. Yes, I do have two high end carbon bikes with 105 and GRX 8000. The sbike rides smooth and is so quiet, absorbs the road total different than carbon bikes.

[@catshoemike]

My gravel bike has GRX400, so basically Tiagra. It generally works, but it is massively clunky and industrial compared to the (much older) 105 on my road bike. Particularly, the front mech shifting is just hard work. Yes I know the gravel bike has a much harder life but it seems like the GRX400 / Tiagra has just worn out really quickly

[@Bazza1968]

My Vitus Substance VRS came with GRX400, I thought there was something wrong with the front mech, it is pretty bad and stiff to move...."agricultural" and the rear shifting isn't that good either!

[@prlato1974]

Question, have you stopped posting the podcasts to youtube? I think the last one is from 3 weeks ago and I probably missed the memo. :)

[@markjthomson]

They explained at the end of their TDF coverage that they were having a break... on holiday maybe... they'll be back.

[@CyclingAlgarvePortugal]

I had an issue with my 105 front crank,and got it tiagra for the time my 105 is at service. There's only one difference,tiagra is almost 900grams heavier.

[@romanlf5620]

This is quite a difference

[@CyclingAlgarvePortugal]

@@romanlf5620 Big one!

[@Southerncyclist]

Cranks are the best Grams per dollar spent on a bikes weight.

[@KILLTHEREDDITOR]

@@Southerncyclist Crank arms yes, but chainrings are terrible value for weight savings. I used to have an RS510 crankset and crunched some numbers before deciding on what to upgrade to. Ultegra crank arms were actually cheaper than 105 in terms of $/grams saved, but the Ultegra big ring was almost double the cost of 105 per gram saved. Heck, even the 105 big ring was too expensive to be honest, but I had to get it because the RS510 crankset was built like a tank and had the weight to back it up.

[@CyclingAlgarvePortugal]

@@Southerncyclist Pedals aswell!

[@yukiko_5051]

Apparently the difference between tiagra and 105 for me is that 14t cog. Yet 105 cost me twice the amount of Tiagra 😂

[@JanKowalski-ux6nt]

Which video has been mentioned by Francis in the end of this one? Have it been published yet?

[@a1white]

Best thing about Tiagra is when you come to have it serviced. Cassettes are much cheaper.

[@erikk7643]

Tiagra is the "best of the streets" imo. Though Sora offers great value.

[@ArdGeal]

Don't forget 11 spd and above chain replacement is at 0.5%, under that supposedly 0.75%. And I built a shonky gravel bike (GT aggressor with DT swiss X1800 wheels-it's actually superb) with Sora R3000 shifters/FD that came off my Vitus Razor(upgraded that to 105, TRP Spyre mech brakes)...9 speed- put an Altus RD with an 11-36 cassette paired with a 30/46 Tourney crankset (heavy AF !) and it all works perfectly together- and at 9 speed when chains are getting filthy off road the quick link is reusable unlike (in theory !) 10 speed and up. Sora is the sweet spot for value, quality and not having silly gear jumps all the way down the cassette!

[@ryuujinusa]

Are they different, no not really, like you said. But I'll add the price difference isn't that big and 1 extra gear IS nice. Mech 105 is the way to go. $200 extra dollars well spent imo.

[@mag9792]

Tiagra is absolutely bombproof, literally every iteration of it seems to just be the workhorse of that era.

[@mikefj2004]

Weight

[@david-olivierpham3364]

Hydraulic disc brakes is the main difference for the groupsets though.

[@sepg5084]

There is a hydraulic Tiagra

[@david-olivierpham3364]

@@sepg5084 yes, but not hydraulic Claris or Sora.

[@abedfo88]

I've got hydraulic tiagra. Bought it all 2nd hand off ebay for ridiculously cheap.

[@franciss2529]

I don't see why when you're willing to consider tiagra, you wouldn't just go to 105. With the abundance, universality and variety of 11 speed parts, it just makes sense to me.

[@claudiofiero8523]

I guess that's because 105 bikes tend to cost sensibly more than tiagra ones. Better kit for sure in this case, but that's not necessarily what you need. I ride a Claris groupset, 135€ with free frame and wheels, and I feel like that's enough to spin my legs around

[@MacMasore]

That's a slippery slope tho, also there are a lot of 10 speed parts still available

[@franciss2529]

@@claudiofiero8523 totally get what you guys mean, but then tiagra seems to be the weird middle ground between performance and entry level, so you might as well go either way. Plus it's just ~£125 more, which is a few weeks worth of saving for most people. When you're already paying ~£375, you might as well save that little bit extra. I get that fully built bikes might not reflect this though! You can still get 10 speed parts for sure, but there is so much abundance and variation of 11 speed now that I think it just makes sense if you know you're going to want to have a massive cassette or chainrings, or want to upgrade parts gradually.

[@JayaKusuma-x4m]

Is 1 speed diff make a big change?