Shimano Claris

maklabouhlel · 8 Sep 2015 at 18:38

Does anyone have any experience with Shimano Claris? Does it shift okay? I'm thinking of getting this bike.

FrenchTart · 8 Sep 2015 at 18:42

It's meant to be pretty reasonable. I've used old Sora which is quite similar (though has crappy thumb shifters so Claris is better in that respect) and shifting was fine when set up properly.

PermaBanned · 8 Sep 2015 at 18:47

Shifts fine, main downside is that it's only 8 speed but that's probably enough for an entry level bike. The Felt is a perfectly capable bike, think this this is worth considering too:

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html

Vonhelmet · 8 Sep 2015 at 19:14

I have it on my winter bike. It's perfectly serviceable. It changes gears and when you pull the levers the bike stops. It doesn't do either of those things as well as more expensive gear, but that's the deal.

maklabouhlel · 8 Sep 2015 at 22:02

PermaBanned said:
Shifts fine, main downside is that it's only 8 speed but that's probably enough for an entry level bike. The Felt is a perfectly capable bike, think this this is worth considering too:

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html

I did consider the merlin last year as a winter bike but the lack of front mudguard bosses put me off.

maklabouhlel · 8 Sep 2015 at 22:06

PermaBanned said:
Shifts fine, main downside is that it's only 8 speed but that's probably enough for an entry level bike. The Felt is a perfectly capable bike, think this this is worth considering too:

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html

What is the disadvantage of the 8-speed? Would I struggle uphill?

FrenchTart · 8 Sep 2015 at 22:11

8 speed is unlikely to make it harder to go uphill. That will be down to fitness and weight. If you're not super into biking just yet you won't notice any difference but eventually once you're used to better gearing you would notice that there is a large 'jump' from one gear to the next compared to 10/11 speed.

Roady · 9 Sep 2015 at 10:00

Have a mixture of Sora/Claris 2012 (no thumb shifters) on my old bike (now only a Turbo bike) and it's fine, good entry level solid stuff!