# New Road Bike Trek 1.5 vs. 1.2?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 13, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601 "2015-04-13T22:57:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601/1 "2015-04-13T22:57:36Z")

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Well… my Trek 1000 is just about dead. Anyone have experience with either:

Trek 1.5 vs. 1.2  
AND/OR  
Shimano Tiagra vs. Sora drive train

The drive train seems to be the biggest difference between the two models. The 1.5 is about $150 more than the 1.2 and I’m wondering if it is worth it. I’m mostly a commuter with recreational miles. Not a racer and while I will do the occasional 50+ mile ride, it isn’t more than about once or twice a month, on average.

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**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601/2 "2015-04-14T00:52:30Z")

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My 1.1 has eyelets for a rack which is very handy. Do either of these bikes have that option?

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601/3 "2015-04-14T16:10:12Z")

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Looks like the same frame and from what I’ve seen Sora isn’t a bad group set. I’d save the $150 and put that towards farkles like new panniers, a rack, clipless pedals or save it for whatever wears out first.

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**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601/4 "2015-04-14T22:56:22Z")

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Here is an interesting video I recently saw. I just like listening to the guy talk, but I agree with him (not that I could keep up with those guys…they are hookin’ 😃

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BHOJ2814J9Q/hqdefault.jpg "Budget Road Bike Review & The Brutal Truth") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHOJ2814J9Q)

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**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-road-bike-trek-1-5-vs-1-2/717601/5 "2015-04-15T18:26:59Z")

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I’d go with the 1.5. It has not only the 10-speed cassette but a lower granny gear. Do you ride on any steep hills? That extra gear might help.

Tiagra is a marked improvement over Sora.

Also the tires on the 1.5 are more puncture resistant. If your commute is on bad roads, that might make up part of the $150 price difference real quick.