Shimano 105 Specs

• The Shimano 105 groupset is a midrange line for road bikes. Sri Maiava Rusden/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Shimano is a Japanese manufacturer of cycling, fishing and rowing parts. The company's 2011 Shimano 105 line is a set of bicycle gears made for road bikes. The 105 line comes in standard stainless steel or special matte black finish. These sets feature identical performance, construction and feature specs and vary only in cosmetic appearance and model numbers. Because Shimano updates its products on a year-to-year basis, the specifications of the 105 line are subject to change over time.

Shifter and Brake Specs

• Shimano's 2011 105 line makes use of STI Dual Control shifters and Dual-Pivot brakes with a spring tension adjuster and adjustable brake shoes. The shifters utilize Shimano's Super SLR Design, which puts the brake lever pivot low on the shifter. The pivot works with the brake arch to route power to the top of the brake hoods. The shifters also feature internal cable routing, which can be customized to fit the user's preference. Two different shim sizes reduce reach by 5 mm or 10 mm. The 105 shifters work with Shimano's Ultegra 6700 and Dura-Ace 7900 brake arches.

Cassette Sprocket and Crankset Specs

• The Shimano 105 cassette sprockets feature a new design for the 2011 model year. They are made of lightweight aluminum materials. The sprockets offer Shimano's proprietary Hyperglide ramps while the 105 cranksets use the company's Hollowtech II design alongside Dual SIS front index shifting. As compared to the models of previous years, the 2011 105 cranksets have wider spacing between the inner and outer chainrings. Shimano manufactures 105 line cranksets in varying chainring configurations, including double, triple and compact options.

Derailleur Specs

• The front derailleurs of the 2011 Shimano 105 line make use of a wide inner link design similar to Shimano's Dura-Ace series of parts, as do the line's rear derailleurs. The rear derailleurs feature 10-speed SIS operation. Shimano manufactures 105 series rear derailleurs in short and medium cage lengths that gear toward double crank configurations as well as compact and triple crank configurations.

Chain Specs

• Shimano's 105 model chain introduces an asymmetrical design quality for the 2011 model year. This design choice gears toward inward shifts in the rear as well as outward shifts on the front. The chain features a reinforced connecting pin and a narrow design compatible with 10-speed bikes.

Pedal Specs

• For 2011, Shimano's 105 line offers pedals with stainless steel body covers. Extra-wide platforms focused on efficient power transfer define the appearance of the 105 pedals, as does a slightly upward curved shape with an empty midsection. These parts make use of a low-maintenance sealed cartridge axle unit.