Earl Bollinger wrote:
I am curious as to know what a "better" Shimano STI shifter would do for me
over the cheaper ones.
As I see it at present, we have the Shimano Tiagra, 105's, Ultegra, and
DuraAce STI shifters.
For example, What would make the DuraAce shifter better than a Tiagra
shifter.

Define 'better'. All move the rder the same amount with the same amount
of lever force and precision. Is better more reliable or crisper or
what?


The price difference is pretty big, so what would a DuraAce shifter offer to
make it so much better than a cheaper Tiagra shifter?

Like all things 'bike' these days, less weight. Very little in bike
stuff has 'better' have anything to do with function.

Does it use special precision ball bearings versus bushings or something?
Maybe the indexing mechanisim is higher quality or something.
Can you get repair parts for the "good" STI shifters versus the cheaper
ones, are they rebuildable or something?


Nope, nope and nope....


I am trying to find out what justifies the huge price difference.
Now granted other components can make a big difference, I did notice that a
really nice rear Shimano cassette and a expensive Wipperman chain versus
stock OEM stuff can make a bike shift so much nicer. But I was trying to
determine what going to a "good" STI shifter might bring to the picture.
Obviously if you hop onto a bike at the LBS with all DuraAce components on
it, it is going to shift really well, but it has a good chain, rear cassette
and stuff already, so my\aybe that will mask out what a "good" shifter might
be doing or not doing.

My suggestion, spend your money to make the frame better, make it fit
better, then make sure the fork is 'better', then the wheels, to make
them reliable, the brakes cuz ya gotta stop, then a saddle that suits
yer bum.....generally components, that do the shifting, are far down
the list of what makes one bike 'better' than another. All shifters do
the same thing and if adjusted, using good inner wire and housing,
shift the ders....I wouldn't get to sweated up about components...get
concerned about the frame and bike fit and your fitness and overall
reliability....so you can ride.
Thanks for reading.