Shimano Tiagra

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came on bike

Favorite Ride:
Piketown to Blue Mtn Pkwy

Bike Setup:
2001 Lemond Tourmalet
Ultegra Pedals

Summary:
Maybe it takes 7 years for these componenets to break in, because mine work almost flawlessly. I got mostly Tiagra components on my new(old) 2001 LeMond Tourmalet. The rear shifting is dead on and smooth, and the front is good as well. Maybe people having problems have a triple? Also, do these people know that you can't shift to the small front ring while climbing/sprinting? Also, I clean the drivetrain often, so maybe that helps keep problems from happening. Even the Tiagra hubs on this 2001 bike are rolling along perfectly, and it seemed the last owner didn't take care of the bike either.

Strengths:
Not expensive. Easy to adjust. Cranks plenty stiff. Nice finish, even after 7 years.

Weaknesses:
A bit heavy. Not Dura Ace.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT, XTR

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
fast street and also mountain witth MTB

Summary:
105 is still a fine thing if you don´t wanna get to high in pricing. i bought a used KTM racing bike 2 years ago and the 105 still works very fine.I didnt have to sort my balls from streets. In china they have only Tiagra..but i didnt know it. now i heard some bad about it.. so i should bring in everything from my home..where my nice bikes are waiting for me

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Fast Ride

Summary:
You get what you pay for...

Strengths:
Not Many!

Weaknesses:
Too Many!

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Champaign Cycle Co.

Favorite Ride:
30MPH. Till I Can't pedal anymore. :)

Bike Setup:
Trek 1200, all 105, Bonty wherever it came stock, Matrix Aurora wheels, upgrades in random places

Summary:
I bought this as an upgrade from my Giant MTB with Alivio... surprise surprise this was alot faster. but jeez guys, dont get tiagra. i got it, started roadbiking, and soon biking wasnt a means of commuting - i got hooked. next thing you know i've chucked over money to go 105, and im cursing myself for the tiagra. It's horrid. Front derailleur doesnt even pretend to shift under stress... actually it doesnt shift even when you're pedaling with zero resistance; if i was shifting into the second chainring, it would go straight from the third to off the bottom, scraping against the bottom bracket and all. jeez. like, this doesnt happen at 30mph. this happens at 14. when im wearing blue jeans and a hoody (so you know i cant be going fast). DONT get Tiagra. Get 105.

Strengths:
Good enough to get you hooked. Contrary to what other people say, i've had zip problems with the shifters, ridden 105/Ultegra shifters, not ne different other than one minor difference that doesnt affect riding, (hard to explain), only noticed a diff w/ Campy or DA shifters.

Weaknesses:
Shifts like crap, flexes, heavy, slow, needs adjustment every 50 miles... or less (no joke)

Similar Products Used:
105 9, Ultegra 9, Ultegra 10, DA 9, DA 10, Campy Centaur, Veloce, Record (all 10), and Shimano/SRAM MTB stuff... oh and RSX

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Local Bike Ship

Favorite Ride:
Kentucky rolling hills

Bike Setup:
Trek 1200
Shimano R540 wheels
Ultegra group

Summary:
When I first bought my road bike, I was not sure how seriously I would get into the sport. Because of this, there was now way I could swallow 2000 plus for the Ultegra bike the LBS recommended. This being said, the cycling bug bite me, and now I train at levels for which the tiagra group is unsuited. I second others observations that shifting while appling much force, hill climbing or sprinting, is a no no. This shift will be hard and feels disconcerting.
Review by Component:
Rear Derailler
For all other situations other than the above hills and sprints, the rear derialler performed very well. This is the star of the group. Too bad that on many mixed group bikes in this price range, they upgrade the rear derailler to 105 and leave Tiagra every where else.
Front Derailler
The front derailler, was not so great, and from the start needed weekly adjustments in cable tension. This I believe is due to a very high strength spring. The cables simply could not maintain the tension needed to uses the large chain ring without chain rub. Not a terrible flaw, but somewhat of an annoyance to check on so often.
Crankset
The crankset seems also mediocre. It has a heavy sluggish feel when pedalling hard and under my weight, 170, it flexes noticably. For any speed over 25mph, I am applying sufficient force to create chain rub against the front derailler guides. I have tried my best to remove this by adjusting the angle of the front derailler to accomodate it, but have never been successful. Durability seems to be good as it has gone 3000 miles this year with only normail where. The steel chain rings are developing some rust spots even though the bike is kept well lubed and indoors.
Shifters:
Ahh, the shifters. So nice to get true STI shifting for cheap, but these are the limiters of the group. The rear shifter just when out on me. One years worth of use is simple not acceptable!

Strengths:
Rear Derailler! My local mechanic, who has seem me in his shop to adjust the front derailler too many times. The price. If I were just buying my first bike again, I would probably still buy a tiagra bike. I know that everyone else will tell you to fork out the money for a better system upfront, which is cheaper but only if you leave the recreational category. Everything that the LBS told me came true, it can't be raced, and it won't last as long. But how are you supposed to know that you will want to race or want to put 150 miles a week on your bike with your first bike. This is an excellent system for a first bike, much superior to sora, and unless you become an adrenaline junky your first year, should serve you long enough to decide what type of cyclist your are going to be. Having 600 dollars sitting in the closet is better than 2000. So unless you are so positive that you are going to be riding even day, in all conditions, dont be afraid a bike with this group.

Weaknesses:
Perhaps I was just an anomoly or taxed them to hard, but if my experience with the durability of the shifters is typical, that is a serious weakness. Paticularly since shifters make up such a large proportion a groups cost. The crank is only mediocre for fast riding.

Similar Products Used:
Only other Shimano MTB groups. This was my first road bike