Shimano introduced a new revamped 10 speed Tiagra groupset today bringing their road tech down to a more affordable pricing level. One of the most major updates is bringing internal cable routing to the shifters. The cranks also adopt the new 4-bolt pattern that, while high-performing, has be divisive especially as it has limited replacement availability at the entry-level. The new 4700 group comes in this new Meteor Grey finish and should be available in shops in June.
Come across the break for details and pics of the new components…
New STI shifters get the look and feel of the higher end 105 and up groups, while sticking with 10 speed internals. With 3×10 function they may make for a good set of replacement levers for those with 10 speed groups, or may combine with other high-end groups to give triple range to those who need it for touring or the like.
The double front derailleur gets the updated extended geometry with a longer lever arm for faster shifting that is now across the 11 speed groups. While we’ve been a bit frustrated with how it tends to collect debris in cyclocross racing, the improvement in front shifting is impossible to overlook. The triple front derailleur doesn’t get the long lever arm, but the linkage is redesigned and hollowed out for theoretically more stiffness and a bit less weight.
Rear derailleurs get smoothed over a little bit and again add the longer lever of the more expensive groups with the cable bolt moved past the P-knuckle pivot. This should yield better shifting (and maybe 11speed compatibility?) and supports up to a 34 toothed cassette. It also puts the aesthetic a bit closer inline with 105, and less angular than the previous Tiagra 4600.
The crankset gets the same new 4-bolt 110mm BCD that allows anything from compact to standard road gearing. Shimano will be offering compact 50-34 and mid-compact 52-36 gearing from the start. This will also mean some cheaper chainring sets down the road that should be compatible with the more pricey race groups. It also suggests that Shimano is going all-in with this BCD, which will probably push more after market companies to continue to expand their offerings, hopefully both in more options and a wide price range. It’s also interesting to see that the triple crankset (50/39/30T) looks to keep the same BCD, but to add a third ring that bolts inside to a smaller diameter set of holes on the crank’s spider. We can’t see much from the only image we were given, but it looks like the small ring has an inner ring itself to allow it to connect to a very small bolt circle diameter.
The dual-pivot brakes look the same, but claim a 30% boost in power with better modulation. The flat bar shift and brake levers look to carry over from 4600 with just updated finishes to match. Hubs carry over too, in black or silver, hopefully with 11 speed compatibility.
