How bad is Sora, really?

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Older 8sp Sora, without proper sti shifting...

 

Is it okay for a beginner to average guy starting road cycling, or is Tiagra that much better?

[IceCreamMan]

Sora was yesterdays Dura Ace. It’s more than good enough, only the marketers will tell you it aint

[CdT85]

Can't speak for Sora, but my 2 x 9 Tiagra is more than sufficient for me (also a beginner at road biking). Not sure if I would attempt riding a road bike without sti shifting though. Last thing you want to do is to fumble with gears while balancing on marie biscuit wheels.

[Patchelicious]

Older 8sp Sora, without proper sti shifting...

 

Is it okay for a beginner to average guy starting road cycling, or is Tiagra that much better?

Start on it, if they start moaning upgrade.

 

Dont make the mistake of over capitalising on a beginner, who could quit cycling in a week or two.

[Prince]

Nothing wrong with it. Still got one on an old bike and works perfectly.

[rufus]

I've got Sora on my bike and really can't complain.

 

I think a properly tuned and maintaned Sora groupset will perform better than a higer specced but poorly maintained groupset...

[popcorn_skollie]

I've got Sora on my bike and really can't complain.

 

Me too. Had it on for a couple months and still shifting perfectly.

[lechatnoir]

Some ride Sora faster than others ride Dura Ace and both are just as much fun with the right mindset

[droo]

Anything Shimano makes works. Except that 5 bob stuff you find on Makro specials, but Sora is way above that.

 

I raced on Exage and RSX for years, never a day's ***.

[Mr lee]

I know you are talking about the older generation of Sora but the new R3000 range is really neat and if you didn't look at the actual name you would easily mistake it for the higher end stuff    

[DJR]

I had an old Peugeot tandem a few year back that ran an old Sora groupset. Having always had only Campy stuff on my road bikes, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. I would trust it for any beginner.

[Patchelicious]

I had an old Peugeot tandem a few year back that ran an old Sora groupset. Having always had only Campy stuff on my road bikes, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. I would trust it for any beginner.

Good point, I trust Sora more than I trust a beginner.

[Malpiet]

Nothing wrong with sora, for someone that owns SR and Etap i also own a sora groupo for my indoor trainer bike

[Fat Boab]

Older 8sp Sora, without proper sti shifting...

 

Is it okay for a beginner to average guy starting road cycling, or is Tiagra that much better?

 

Out of interest, what is 'without proper STI shifting'? Downtube shifters?

 

As I understand STI - Shimano Total Integration - is combined brake and gear levers. Life is so much easier with them, but many of us used downtube, or bar end shifters, as kids, and still on occasion now too. A bit old-school for most beginners who might need to confidence of STIs, and could do without the 'stigma' of downtube shifters perhaps?

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Sora on my 2005 bike is still working flawlessly, it also has a triple crank and that made me into a high cadence rider, best beginner choice I made. Got a Tiagra 2005 bike, with massive mileage, using it still on the IDT and it is still on the same drivetrain.

 

Order of priority- Frame, wheelset and then groupset , I was told

[Shebeen]

Older 8sp Sora, without proper sti shifting...

 

Is it okay for a beginner to average guy starting road cycling, or is Tiagra that much better?

I borrowed my dad's 8spd Sora equipped Giant OCR3 in about 2001. I never gave it back and must have done 30 000km+ on it before selling ti last year.

 

I treated the bike like crap, it kept on going.

 

nothing wrong with that gruppo