Groupset is not a cycling club, it’s a bicycle drivetrain. The drivetrain includes shifters, brakes, chain, cassette (the gears in back) and the crankset. The frame is about the only part that’s not part of a specific groupset. Some manufactures include wheels as part of a groupset, while others don’t.
The Competition
Bike manufacturers rely on three main suppliers for bike parts, Campagnolo, SRAM and Shimano. Shimano dominates the market for production bikes, so it’s no wonder the majority of the bikes are equipped with Shimano groupsets. Shimano is widespread, easiest to find and is recognized everywhere.
The Top Contenders
Graduating up in cost from low to high, Shimano 105, Ultegra, and Dura-Ace are three groupsets commonly found on road bikes. 105 is considered entry-level. Ultegra is mid-range, but race-ready. Dura-Ace is professional quality. The three sets are interchangeable, and consumers purchase them according to how much they can afford to spend. If you’re a recreational rider and can afford Dura-Ace, you should get it. On the other end of the scale, if you race on a budget, there’s no reason why you can’t compete using 105. The differences between them might seem subtle to the everyday cyclist, but the more you demand from a bike, the more the difference is noticeable.
Why They Differ
Groupsets graduate up in cost and performance, because of what they’re made out of, and how they’re made. Lighter, more expensive alloys, higher technology cost more to produce, and they pass it on to the customer. You get what you pay for.
Cost Versus Weight
Generally speaking, the more you spend the lighter the groupset gets. Road bike components are weighed and measured in grams, which is about how much a paper clip weighs. Is it worth spending more money to save a few grams? If you’re racing it may be. If you’re a recreational rider, you’ll not notice the difference in weight between Shimano 105 or Ultegra.
Performance Differences
The differences in performance between the three groupsets might not seem significant to the recreational rider. But the professional or cycling enthusiast will notice that Dura-Ace shifts cleaner, with more precision than Ultegra. The 105 groupset might seem to have a more robotic shift, as opposed to the Ultegra, which feels smoother, and crisper.
The Durability Issue
As far as durability is concerned, cheaper groupsets might actually be more durable than their expensive counterparts, simply because they are not as delicate and lightweight. Grit, dirt, grease and grime can cause problems with Dura-Ace’s close tolerances, whereas the 105 groupset, with its heavy duty construction, may continue to operate when dirty.
Full Groupset
You might have heard bike shop salesmen state that a given bike is “full 105,” “full Ultegra,” or “full Dura-Ace.” This means that all of the parts on the bike belong to the same groupset. When comparing bikes from different manufacturers, if they stay within a specific groupset, you should expect the cost of the bike to be comparable across the board with other manufacturers, if the frame material is the same.
Mixed Groupset
Bike prices are typically all over the place. It’s because bike manufacturers often combine groups as a cost cutting measure, or to boost performance in a specific area. For example, by placing a Dura-Ace rear derailleur on a bike equipped with an Ultegra groupset, the manufacturer upgrades shifting performance in the rear, while keeping the cost mid-range.
The Beauty of Consistency
That’s the beauty of Shimano groupsets. Virtually all of the parts are interchangeable. It’s possible to purchase a bike equipped with 105, and as parts wear out, or when you have more money, you can switch the derailleurs, shifters or brakes with Ultegra or even Dura-Ace to upgrade performance.
Affordable Alternatives
Expect to pay in excess of at least $1,000 — if you’re lucky — for any bike equipped with the entry-level 105 groupset. Cost continues to rise with any bike even partially equipped with Ultegra and or Dura-Ace. But what if you’re not sure you want to spend that much for your first road bike you don’t have to. Shimano has three other groupsets that will often lower the cost of a new bike below $1,000. Most of the cheaper groupsets don’t offer as many gears — typically only 8 or 9, but they shift clean and get you from point A to point B with Shimano reliability.
Shimano Claris
With more and more people buying bikes for commuting and recreational riding. Shimano has a highly affordable groupset known as Claris. The range includes everything from shifters to hubs and brake calipers.
The Sora
Moving up in cost, but still keeping it affordable, the Sora groupset has been around for years. It offers more adjustments than the Claris, with a few more options for gear ratios.
The Tiagra
The Tiagra weighs in just below the Shimano 105 groupset, and is the only sub $1,000 dollar bike to offer 10-gears. Designed for entry-level riders, the shifting differences between the Tiagra and 105 are few, it’s heavier than the 105, but also cheaper.
Box Store Bikes
You’ve probably seen them; bikes that sell for $100 or $200 dollars in big box stores. They’re shiny, have all the bells and whistles, decals and maybe even a water bottle included, you can bet that there’s not a single Shimano part on them. And even if there is, the frame is so heavy that it would kill your spirit just riding it a few miles. Avoid them. They are assembled with economy parts in haste. If you do get serious about cycling, you’ll get rid of it the first chance you get anyway.
The Option
A large majority of beginner cyclists get their bikes second-hand. Look online, or go to bike swaps. Use you’re knowledge of the Shimano groupsets to glean second-hand or used bikes. The groupset model is always marked on the rear derailleur. You might notice that the groupset has been combined, or by chance you’ll find a full Ultegra or 105 that someone just decided to get rid of, without knowing what they had in the first place. Nothing makes you feel better than getting a steal on a Shimano equipped bike.