sora shifters r they any good.

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Whats wrong with these shifters. All i hear is dont buy them.Going to buy an avanti monza with these shifters. HOw long do these shifters last. Are they really that bad for the price. What are the common problems they have.
Or are they really a good shifter for the price.

These are not a very good design :eek: with the return (release) lever on the side of the shifter. Have a look at some 105 or Ultegra :cool: to see what I mean.

Whats wrong with these shifters. All i hear is dont buy them.Going to buy an avanti monza with these shifters. HOw long do these shifters last. Are they really that bad for the price. What are the common problems they have.
Or are they really a good shifter for the price.Yes, they do shift differently than everything else (Tiagra upwards) but they are sturdy, and will last a long time, I used them in the past for about three years and didn't have one problem with them at all. The price is good for them. Probably the only difference is they are eight speed where everything else is 9 or ten speed, but mostly that won't be a problem.

And the button shifting on the side is alright, you may not be able to shift from the drops, but do you think you'll be doing that. I know people who race at club level with them.

If you're looking to get into cycling and don't want to spend a lot, Sora will do just fine and should last a long time, at least until you get upgrade fever and want a new bike in a few years.

And they are a zillion times better than the old down tube shifters we all used to struggle with.

searched the internet on opinions on sora shifters and the main issue is the position of the thumb shifter. Which i would think wouldnt be much different to campy. They seem to be mechanically reliable and durable as i have found nothing stateing they have mechanically failed or worn out.

They'll be fine if you don't mind 8spd.

They are great for juniors and persons with small hands. They have an adjusting screw that allows the brake lever to be set closer to the handlebar for short fingers. What allows this is that they do not have a shift lever behind the brake lever - this function is accomplished by the small lever on the side of the housing.

I work with juniors racing and most of them use Sora shifters for this reason. They seem durable. Many crashes and they just get scratched. If they do need replacement they are inexpensive - new ones can be picked up off ebay readily.

They are also great for touring as you can shift without moving your hands off the tops of the bar.

Sora is okay (well better than Shimano 2200), if that is all you want.
As said, it is 8 speed.
You may want to look at 10 speed 105 gear (or better) if you are going to get serious. However Sora will be fine for recreational cycling.

105 was recommended to me by a mate, and I am glad I listened to him.
The LBS wanted to sell me a Sora equipped machine originally (yes strange I know), but glad I got my 105 equipped bike, as I intend (and already do) use it in a very serious manner.
Incidentally it is an Avanti Giro...
Another mate I ride with has a Monza, and keeps up fine though....
At the end of the day, it is more about the rider.

Mate I have had an Avanti Monza for the last 4 years and it is a real ripper. Great bike to start on or for a zippy commuter. Shifters are fine... have had no problems at all... :)

so you reckon a monza would be good enough for bunch rides 35 to 40 average.
or is it out of its league amongst all that carbon fibre.

so you reckon a monza would be good enough for bunch rides 35 to 40 average.
or is it out of its league amongst all that carbon fibre.
You supply the power so I guess it's up to you. If it's all you can afford at the moment go for it. You'll no doubt be caught up in the upgrade path or with a stable full of bikes somewhere down the track anyway. Happens to most; don't fight it...succumb and enjoy :p.

there's nothing wrong with 'em - I prefer the side switch to the lever fitted to the more expensive STI's. They'll last a long time, very sturdily built - Shimano don't sell inferior stuff in my experience.:p

Just bought monza, sora drive train smooth as silk. Shifting crisp and clean. faultless. Thumb shifter is ideal, doesnt require reaching to shift in the hoods.
Calling these shifters low end and cheap i dont know. Imagine if eddy merykx had these back in his day. Technology is flying along in leaps and bounds to quickly to appreciate the simpler things and what we have already.
New one day, superceded the next.

Good on you Bob, Glad you are happy.

You are right, the technology has moved along HEAPS!

It is hard to imagine what somebody asking is expecting, so it is safest to compair it to what is out there today.
Yes, compaired to the origional Dura-ace even, they are good.

True that Shimano don't make rubbish.

Happy cycling on the Monza.

I got soras, there fine, they shift fine, never had a problem with em, I like em

If you see the button shift as a disadvantage, you could look at changing the sora's for some shimano RX100 8sp shifters. Similar design to the 105, ultegra etc with the shifter lever behind the brake lever.

If you see the button shift as a disadvantage, you could look at changing the sora's for some shimano RX100 8sp shifters. Similar design to the 105, ultegra etc with the shifter lever behind the brake lever.
Can you still get RX100s? You can still get ST-R500, which are 105/Ultegra level 8sp shifters with the design you describe.

If you really don't like it, get Tiagra 9sp shifters (or maybe even the new Sora 9sp - not sure if they have lost the thumb shifter), and anchor the derailleur cable in the B position.

See:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html

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