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A friend wants a (fairly basic) bike building up - I'm sure you used to be able to buy a Sora groupset (triple pref) but can't seem to find it anywhere, any ideas? ps - yes I've googled it.
Or has Claris replaced it?
Claris is 8sp
Sora 9sp
Tiagra 10sp
Finding a compelete Sora group is always a challenge, a lot of places don't bother stocking it as it's not often used by people building their own bikes. You might find some with OEM bundles on offer, worth looking at the Tiagra options, especially deals on the 4600 model group now it's been replaced by 4700 it can be had for ~£200 which is going to be about the same price as a 3500 Sora group anyway.
A quick Google for 'Sora groupset' gets me a couple of non-ebay links, for a compact not triple...and all within pennies of the Tiagra price
Tiagra 4700 triple for < £250 here, good deal as Sora when you can find it is normally about £200 anyway
[url= http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/shimano-tiagra-4703-10-speed-triple-groupset/ ]http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/shimano-tiagra-4703-10-speed-triple-groupset/[/url]
Worth looking on eBay as there are few commercial sellers on there that do full groupsets for good prices. Or, go to your LBS and see what they can do for you, you might be surprised!
They are quite weirdly hard to find! Looks like CRC are doing tiagra for about the same place though...
Can't find a triple though! Weird...
<£250 takes me over budget I'm afraid.
If I can get it from CRC all the better with my BC 10% discount...
Seems it's not just me then, thanks for thoughts.
Tiagra triple for £240 from Ribble:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/shimano-tiagra-4703-10-speed-triple-groupset/
<£250 takes me over budget I'm afraid.
what is the budget? the cheapest I've ever seen a full Sora groupset is about £190.
have you tried pricing things up individually and going out-out-group for some parts to save a few £ ?
Sjs were knocking out the sora triple shifters for £60 which must be a good starting point?
I got a Sora triple groupset from Ribble last year for £199, but wish i'd gone for the Tiagra as you can't run the gear cables down the bars on the Sora shifters.
Not a major problem I know but it looks better and if you want to carry a bar bag they get in the way a bit.
what is the budget? the cheapest I've ever seen a full Sora groupset is about £190.
That's as may be, but £190 up to £240 is quite a hike. It's more about how much the overall cost comes in.
I have been looking at individual parts yes, just adds a layer of complexity I could do without but may have to do so!
Anyway, as I say, thanks all, I shall ponder. It may be that the budget does get pushed out a bit, I'd forgotten about the 9/10 spd Sora/Tiagra thing, not to mention the niceness of the cables under the tape on new Tiagra.
Plenty of Sora double/compact groupsets on eBay, around the 195-220 mark depending on seller...
There is a triple but £248 makes it out of budget and comparable with Tiagra again.
I do love a good bargain hunt but I think you're going to struggle to find a new triple for <£200 unless you go hunting individual components and look out of group to save some money on chainsets etc.
It gets really silly when you can get a Claris/series BIKE from merlin with decent Alu frame and carbon fork for £350, other shop-own brands are around the same price too, not to mention close out deals at Pauls on Giant, Scott, 'Dale etc.
[url= https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html ]https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html[/url]
The Sora one's are only ~£400 😯 , I'm assuming your friend already has a frame, wheels, finishing kit etc?
worth a look?
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/cheap-road-tiagra-3x10-full-group-set-open-to-offers ]http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/cheap-road-tiagra-3x10-full-group-set-open-to-offers[/url]
(not affiliated BTW, just spotted while browsing)
I might have a brand new sora group set available later today as I'm looking at buying a bike with it and upgrading straight away. Don't ask 🙄
Anyway, if I do it will be available for less than the quotes so far so contact me if interested.
Hehe - I was gonna offer a slightly used one at low prices as well
No brakes tho - unless you want the TRP spyres