Shimano 105

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Felt

Bike Setup:
Felt Z35 full carbon. Stock.

Summary:
Shimano 105's are total lemons!! I purchased 2009 Felt Z35 with 105's and I've ridden the bike 5x and my front left shifter broke on me. What kind of BS is that? I spend $2K on a bike and Shimano ruins it. I read that Shimano's quality has really come down, but didn't want to believe it. I'm shocked. If you're in the market for a bike DO NOT BUY BIKE WITH SHIMANO 105 's.

Strengths:
NONE

Weaknesses:
ITSELF - PRODUCT BROKE

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've now owned my Cannondale with Shimano 105 for two years and thousands of miles and it has been absolutely reliable. Front shifting is a little sloppy at times, but that could be on account of the Truvativ triple crankset I'm using. Aside from that, rear shifting is quick and precise, and the system operates with very little noise. I've now also own a Campy Chorus 11-spd bike, and although it's certainly an upgrade over the 105, the Shimano groupset certainly holds its own. When you factor in price, Shimano 105 is a good bet.

Strengths:
Reliable, quick shifting. Bang for the buck.

Weaknesses:
Front shifting is a little coarse. Weight.

Similar Products Used:
SRAM Red. Campagnolo Chorus.

Price Paid:  $2000.00

Favorite Ride:
Giant TCR Alliance

Summary:
Giant TCR Alliance is a great bike. However Shimano 105 left shifter has broken twice within 6 months. I am now seriously considering placing new group set on my bike. My experience has been very disapointing. I purchased the bike in November of 2008. I now sit in mid July 2009 starring at a non functioning bike. I wish the bike shop I purchased the bike from would swap out the left shifter part so I can get back on my bike. Oh well buyer be ware!!

Strengths:
Giant TCR Alliance....great bike

Weaknesses:
Shimano crap 105 group set. Buyer be ware!!

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Erik's - Maple Grove

Favorite Ride:
Specialized Tarmac Elite - 2008

Summary:
Shimano 105 Front Shifter has been a real issue since I purchased the bike new in March, 2008. Very difficult to shift from large to small chainring. My shop replaced it after a few hundred miles and it worked well for a few days, then became hard to shift again. Now I find out from my mechanic that Shimano has recalled this shifter. Apparently they made a single unit that was suppossed to work on both double and triples.
Problem is with Shimano's warranty program - the bad shifter needs to be returned to Shimano for review. My shop was good enough to put a replacement on my bike as it has taken almost 2 weeks now to get this resolved. If they had not done this, I would have been without my bike for at least 2 weeks.
If Shimano has issued a recall, they should not require the bad part to be returned and inspected before issuing a replacement.

Strengths:
Rear shifts great.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Ultegra on a road tandem with a triple chainring with no issues.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS, Littleton, NH

Bike Setup:
Stock Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5. 105 drive train. Tech-Something no name brakes, Shimano wheels. Nice bike, but it is feeling a little tarnished now that I am finding out that Shimano quality is less than expected.

Summary:
Recently purchased Cannondale Synapse with Shimano 105. Left Shifter failed at 85 miles. Will not shift down from large chain ring.

Strengths:
None. Speaking specifically about the 105 Brifters. Thus the reason for this review.

Weaknesses:
2009 105 left shifter failed in first 100 miles. I will surmise the weakness is poor design from Shimano engineers, lack of quality control at Shimano manufacturing, poor parts support at Shimano USA.

Similar Products Used:
1998 Campy Chorus, 2002 Tiagra, 2000 Ultegra Brifters. All work without incident or problems. The Chorus Brifters are still shifting crisp after 11 years and countless thousands of miles.