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I have just bought a 2020 Specialized Allez Sport. It’s in completely standard and unused condition. Specialized fit the Shimano Sora 9spd groupset but then use SunRace 11-32t cassette, KMC chain and Praxis crankset. Other than reducing cost, is there any other reason they do this, to put it another way, is there any reason for me not to put a Shimano cassette and chain on it?
You only have to match shifters to mechs because of pull ratios.
So cost and quite probably what they could get hold of currently.
As you say, they do it to cut cost. Nothing to stop you fitting Shimano chain and cassette other than potential availability issues.
Thanks both. I’ll look into it. A new cassette looks to be really cheap at £20. Might go for it. Thanks.
A new cassette looks to be really cheap at £20. Might go for it. Thanks.
Absolutely no point whatsoever unless your current one is worn out. Sunrace cassettes shift just as well as Shimano with a KMC chain I'd say.
You only have to match shifters to mechs because of pull ratios.
So cost and quite probably what they could get hold of currently.
It's purely what the OEM manufacturer can get a deal on at the time... Shimano famously don't discount heavily to OEM's, even ones as big as Spesh. Spesh like making money, so when they can spec a Praxis crankset (which has a higher RRP than the Sora equivalent by a fair bit!) that they have paid less than the Sora for because Praxis have been much keener to do a deal, some will see it as potentially added value. By contrast, nobody really notices the cassette unless you are a total bike geek, but that said, not much wrong with a Sunrace cassette other than they do wear a bit faster than Shimano (but not much) in my experience, but that only matters when it comes time to replace.
KMC chains are arguably preferential to Shimano anyway. Yes, when a Shimano chain is brand new it might shift the tiniest bit more sweetly on a full Shimano setup than a KMC chain will. But Shimano chains wear a lot faster, and they don't like working with mix'n'match setups, whereas KMC chains are incredibly forgiving of other components (I've mixed components from all sorts of manufacturers with a KMC chain on in a setup, always successfully) and they tend to last longer.
May also be down to availability issues... Shimano and SRAM have suffered from this much more than the fringe drivetrain brands.
It’s not a new thing, my ‘16 sequoia had a sunrace cassette, KMC chain (now SRAM), 105 mech and shifters, and an FSA chain set with a particularly tricky to get hold of bolt pattern.
You could just save £20 by running it as it is until it wears out. Unless you want a change of ratios or there is a big weight change you probably won't notice the difference.
Thanks for replies. I just need a cassette for my Kickr. Shimano will go on the Kickr and SunRace will remain once back wheel. Will stick with KMC chain.
I've been running Praxis/KMC/Sunrace on my Diverge since late 2019 & still going. I'll replace the chainset with a Shimano one when the time comes because the Praxis chainrings are very expensive, but there's no reason to swap it out from new, it works fine.
Oh my, how common.
It will be mix 'n' match anodizing next 😯