Should You Upgrade Your Road Bike or Buy a New One?

When a Brand-New Bike Is the Better Deal

Surprisingly Cost-Effective: Complete New Bikes

At first glance, buying a brand-new road bike — typically priced at over ¥100,000 — might seem less cost-effective compared to upgrading individual parts. However, when you break down the cost of each component, complete bikes often turn out to offer excellent value.

If you want to upgrade components like the groupset, you’ll usually need to replace the entire set (except for minor cases below Shimano 105), which drives up the cost. If you don’t handle the installation yourself and rely on a bike shop, you’ll also need to pay for labor, bringing the total cost closer and closer to the price of a new bike.

For example, a new Shimano 105 (R7000 series) groupset typically costs over $500. Once you add labor costs, the total often comes to around $800. On the other hand, a brand-new complete bike equipped with 105 from a budget-friendly manufacturer can cost just over $1,000 — meaning you only need to pay $200 more for a full new bike.

Of course, this depends on which part(s) you’re upgrading, so it’s essential to get a sense of the cost range for each individual component.

Road Bike Component Prices by Parts

When upgrading your road bike, you may be wondering which parts to upgrade from. In this article, we will compare the prices of different parts based on the list price of Shimano's components for road bikes.

If You Only Own One Bike, a New One Makes Sense

On many new bikes, the components (like drivetrain and brakes) account for 40–50% of the price. That means the rest of the cost effectively covers the frame, tires, wheels, and other high-priced items — giving you a set of quality spare parts at a reasonable price.

Especially if you only own one road bike, a new complete bike can serve as a smart investment: you can treat everything except the frame as backup parts. Having extra consumables like tires and wheels on hand adds peace of mind.

If you don’t have space at home for a second fully assembled bike, you can disassemble parts like the wheels, handlebars, and pedals to store it in a compact 80%-assembled form — which fits easily into a closet or other small storage space.

When Upgrading Is the Better Option

Upgrading Is Ideal for Higher-End Models

When it comes to Shimano component tiers, road bikes equipped with 105 or higher usually come with high-quality frames and wheels. This makes upgrading to even better components quite expensive.

In such cases, rather than buying a new high-end complete bike, upgrading select parts is often more cost-effective and delivers better performance for less money.

Especially since all Shimano components from 105 and up are 11-speed and compatible with each other, you don’t need to upgrade everything at once. You can upgrade individual parts — such as just the STI levers or crankset — allowing you to experiment and gradually improve your setup.

If You Can Build It Yourself, a Custom Build Offers Greater Satisfaction

If you can source parts affordably and assemble the road bike yourself, a custom build can be significantly cheaper than buying a new complete bike.

For example, even if you keep your current frame and upgrade all the other components, you can build a bike that matches or undercuts the price of a new one — and you get the satisfaction of using all the components you really want.

Complete bikes often cut costs by including lower-end parts for expensive components like wheels, cranks, or brakes. If you’re particular about your setup, a custom build is likely the best option.

So which is more cost-effective — buying a new bike or upgrading your current one?

The answer depends on what you want to upgrade, how you plan to do it, and your available budget.

Take the time to think through the parts you truly want to improve, and choose the more economical path that fits your goals.