Upgrading bike - which one to buy?

[TomH]

gave the impression of being a Shimano-equipped
counterfeiting is rife, and usually found online.

Come on - the question is easy - just answer the question
do you know of any shoddy shimano parts that have been sold via AliExpress?

Sorry - bit delayed response here. But yes, I do. I would be very cautious about buying Shimano from Aliexpress. I did all the research. Looked at the ratings. Got a seller with lots of positive reviews. Bought a set of Shimano 105 SPD pedals. If you look at YouTube there's a few videos about these where the weight of the pedal is less than the weight on the box - mine matched the lighter ones. The packaging was immaculate. The pedals looked good. But after 1000k my shoe started coming loose. The pin which holds the front pivot in place had come loose. I pushed it back in and it came loose again. Shouldn't happen on a set of Shimano pedals. They were outside the return period, so the seller responded to my emails but told me this was fair wear and tear and obviously I was too aggressive on the bike (I am 82kg). Offered me $10 off or I could sent the pedals back at my cost. I ended up accepting a KMC chain as was taking too much time to resolve after many many emails. So my question is that why would Shimano produce 105 pedals at almost an Ultegra weight, and have a different weight on the box? That doesn't compute for a precision company. Then they fail after less than 1000k?

Maybe they weren't faked - they were just QA rejected from Shimano. So I saved 30-40% of the Australian price but ended up with pedals I've super glued to keep the pin in. An even if they were just a chance defective pair then the hassle of return is way more than the saving I got.

On my new bike I bought Ultegra pedals from Bikebug. This confirmed my thoughts - everything about them is better - the click, the feel, the way they rotate. All the reviews on 105 vs Ultegra pedals suggest that I shouldn't be able to pick the difference.

So based on my own experience I would be very cautious about what I buy on Aliexpress. I wouldn't buy Shimano. I've had great experience buying branded gear like Sofirn & Gaciron lights, Rockbros glasses, Spexcel knicks as these brands have their own shops.

[MichaelB]

..... So my question is that why would Shimano produce 105 pedals at almost an Ultegra weight, and have a different weight on the box? That doesn't compute for a precision company. Then they fail after less than 1000k?

.....

Nailed the Aliexpress scenario in one.

[warthog1]

Looks like it pays to be careful.
I have r7000 levers and r7000 chainset from them which are genuine and have been fine.

[baabaa]

..... So my question is that why would Shimano produce 105 pedals at almost an Ultegra weight, and have a different weight on the box? That doesn't compute for a precision company. Then they fail after less than 1000k?

.....

Nailed the Aliexpress scenario in one.

Not at you MB, but since when have Shimano put the weights of parts on the box? – Looked at my ultegra SPD – SL pedals (pb-6620) and no weight is printed on the box.
Then checked some other and much more recent boxes of bottom brackets, front cx70 and 105 and rear 105 and ultegra derailleurs, 10 and 11 speed dura ace bar end shifters, rear clusters/ cassettes, chains, cx50, 105 and ultegra cranksets and even two BMX SS freewheels – not one had any weight(s) on the boxes.
Unless this has changed recently - and others here who have also bought new Shimano branded parts (in Shimano boxes) may know more, but I think this is a bit of fake info on fake parts – need a real source like an official comment from Shimano?

The whole point of this thread was – can you buy shimano parts (including from ali) to build a bike with parts at a good price vs an off the rack bike, not the mistakes people can make when buying goods online at a much lower price and then saying they are shocked to mistreated by the mean Chinese.

If you buy cheap on ebay or gumtree or anywhere really from other online prices YOU take the risk of any brand or part being grey.
If I wanted a full groupset or some expensive parts soonish that I could not find, I would happily buy from Ali if the prices are on par with the real market price – 30-40% off current price for current models is asking for trouble from anyone unless they are listed with the original price then the discount(s). Buyers and sellers both know this – sorry but no one is that dumb anymore.

Oh and claims on weight – as a commodity trader the first question from the seller in any claim, will always be - the weight on which scales? Yours or the sellers – The CCIB (China Commodity Inspection Bureau) would just laugh and ask for the weight to be done on a set of scales they have inspected and tested as being correct.

[g-boaf]

gave the impression of being a Shimano-equipped
counterfeiting is rife, and usually found online.

Come on - the question is easy - just answer the question
do you know of any shoddy shimano parts that have been sold via AliExpress?

Sorry - bit delayed response here. But yes, I do. I would be very cautious about buying Shimano from Aliexpress. I did all the research. Looked at the ratings. Got a seller with lots of positive reviews. Bought a set of Shimano 105 SPD pedals. If you look at YouTube there's a few videos about these where the weight of the pedal is less than the weight on the box - mine matched the lighter ones. The packaging was immaculate. The pedals looked good. But after 1000k my shoe started coming loose. The pin which holds the front pivot in place had come loose. I pushed it back in and it came loose again. Shouldn't happen on a set of Shimano pedals. They were outside the return period, so the seller responded to my emails but told me this was fair wear and tear and obviously I was too aggressive on the bike (I am 82kg). Offered me $10 off or I could sent the pedals back at my cost. I ended up accepting a KMC chain as was taking too much time to resolve after many many emails. So my question is that why would Shimano produce 105 pedals at almost an Ultegra weight, and have a different weight on the box? That doesn't compute for a precision company. Then they fail after less than 1000k?

Maybe they weren't faked - they were just QA rejected from Shimano. So I saved 30-40% of the Australian price but ended up with pedals I've super glued to keep the pin in. An even if they were just a chance defective pair then the hassle of return is way more than the saving I got.

On my new bike I bought Ultegra pedals from Bikebug. This confirmed my thoughts - everything about them is better - the click, the feel, the way they rotate. All the reviews on 105 vs Ultegra pedals suggest that I shouldn't be able to pick the difference.

So based on my own experience I would be very cautious about what I buy on Aliexpress. I wouldn't buy Shimano. I've had great experience buying branded gear like Sofirn & Gaciron lights, Rockbros glasses, Spexcel knicks as these brands have their own shops.

With all the Shimano pedals I've used, none of them have been lighter than the claimed weight, they've all matched the claimed weight - either Dura Ace pedals (9000 and 9100) or various carbon Ultegra pedals.

Being told you are "too agressive on the bike" is nonsense. Genuine parts should stand up to that. I have lightweight Dura Ace pedals on three bikes, two road bikes and the older carbon Dura Ace pedals on the trainer bike (Wahoo Kickr Bike) and they all keep going for a very long time. Yes I'm lighter than you, but I also can put out quite a lot of power. 105 should be pretty dependable.