Modified at: Mar. 10, 2023
Posted at: Nov. 28, 2021
The following is a summary of the grades of Shimano components (road and MTB) used in hybrid bikes. There are also points to choose from when comparing hybrid bikes from a component perspective.
Table of contents
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The most common road components for hybrid bikes are the CLARIS and SORA grades, which are the second most common road bike components.
Some of the higher-end hybrid bikes are equipped with 105 components, but there are fewer types available as complete bikes. The price of a complete bike can easily exceed $1,000, and many users may decide to buy a road bike if they have to pay this price.
When it comes to Shimano’s racing grade components for road bikes, DURA-ACE and ULTEGRA, there are probably no hybrid bikes equipped with them.
Since hybrid bikes are similar to MTB bikes, MTB components have a high affinity with them and are often used.
Among MTB components, Tourney, ATLUS, and ACERA are the most commonly used in entry and middle grade hybrid bikes, and are all lower grade components.
There are some hybrid bikes equipped with DEORE grade components, but they are still DEORE 10s, which is the lowest grade of DEORE.
This is the same as the compo for road bikes, and it may mean that if you want to ride a higher grade sport bike with 11 or more speeds, you should choose a MTB.
Shimano has announced a new component brand “QUES” for March 2023. While conventional composites were composite grade with the number of shifting gears as it is, QUES will support 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed with one brand.
QUES is characterized by increased compatibility among QUES components, with 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed QUES components being compatible with each other. This means that instead of having to replace all components when increasing the number of gears, as has been the case in the past, the number of gears can be upgraded at a minimal cost.
Also, until now, most cross bikes have been equipped with up to 10-speed components, but with the introduction of QUES, 11-speed cross bikes may also be on the horizon.
Although no specific pricing information has been released for QUES, cross bikes are included in the target bicycles for QUES, so it is possible that QUES-equipped cross bikes will be introduced.
Note that QUES is not compatible with conventional road or MTB components, with the exception of the chain.
Here is a comparison of Shimano components used in hybrid bikes in terms of number of gears and for road and MTB bikes.
| Rear Shifting Gears | Road Bike Components | MTB Components | Complete Bike Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 speed | - | - | - |
| 11 speed | 105 | - | Over $2,000 |
| 10 speed | TIAGRA | DEORE 10s | Over $1,500 |
| 9 speed | SORA | ACERA | Over $1,000 |
| 8 speed | CLARIS | ALTUS | $800 |
| 7 speed | Tourney A070 | Tourney | $400 |
The most popular entry-level bikes are the CLARIS and ATLUS 8-speed bikes, which cost around $600 to $800. 8-speed bikes also have good cost performance for consumables such as chains and sprockets, so they are more compatible with hybrid bikes, which are often chosen for daily use.
Tourney is often used in cheap hybrid bikes under $400. In this area, it is more likely to be cheaper to buy a new bike than to convert a hybrid bike to road or MTB.
Most of the hybrid bikes in the $1,000 range are equipped with SORA or ACERA, which can be converted to road bikes if you have handlebars and STI levers.
The higher grades are usually 10-speed (2x10, 3x10) hybrid bikes equipped with DEORE, and the price is over $1,000.
The new QUES will be added here, but it is expected to replace cross bikes with MTB components rather than road components at present.
Depending on the price of QUES parts, it is said that it will not replace QUES at the same price or slightly higher than the current price.
CLARIS and ALTUS are the most common entry-level hybrid bikes, but even the entry-level road and MTB bikes are solid sport bikes compared to ordinary city bikes.
Therefore, CLARIS and ALTUS bikes and above are enough to give you the fun of a sport bike, and you can also upgrade to 9 or 10 speed bikes. Consumables such as chains and sprockets are also common for 6 to 8-speed bikes, which is also a big advantage.
On the other hand, the Tourney series, which is used in cheaper hybrid bikes, uses 7-speed parts that are not suitable for upgrading, so these hybrid bikes are designed to be used up rather than upgraded.
How to Upgrade the Wheels on a 7-Speed Bike
The 7-speed is used in cheap road bikes and cross bikes, and we have compiled a list of ways to upgrade from 7-speed to higher grade gears such as 8-speed, 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed.
When it comes to hybrid bikes with more than 10 speeds, the middle grade models of road bikes and MTBs are also considered in terms of the price of the complete bike, so make sure to compare complete bikes in the same price range of road bikes and MTBs.
It does not mean that road bikes and MTBs are better, but for the same price, road bikes and MTBs may have more options.
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