It’s really hard to tell the difference in quality between different bikes, but looking at the components on them can help. Each component manufacturer has variety of models of different cost and quality.

What’s bellow is a really rough ordering of the quality of each brands’ models, from best to worst. Be aware, the order can change significantly based on things like the a component’s material (e.g. carbon), and slightly between the type of component you’re looking at. Do your research!

In this post:

Road

Campagnolo

  • Super Record EPS
  • Super Record
  • Record
  • Chorus
  • Centaur

Shimano

  • Dura-ace
  • Ultegra
  • 105
  • Tiagra
  • Sora
  • Claris

SRAM

  • Red
  • Force
  • Rival
  • Apex

Mountain Bike (MTB)

FOX

  • Factory
  • Performance Elite
  • Performance

FSA (Full Speed Ahead)

  • Powerbox
  • K-Force
  • Gradient
  • SL-K
  • KFX
  • Afterburner
  • Grid
  • Comet

Raceface

  • Next SL
  • Next R
  • Six C
  • Turbine
  • Atlas
  • Chester
  • Aeffect
  • Ride

Rockshox

Owned by SRAM. Ultimate and Select submodels can change ordering

Forks:

  • BoXXer
  • ZEB
  • SID
  • Lyrik
  • Pike
  • Domain
  • Yari
  • Revelation
  • Reba
  • Recon
  • Judy

Rear shocks:

  • Vivid Air
  • Super Deluxe
  • Monarch Plus
  • Vivid
  • SIDLuxe
  • Monarch RL
  • Deluxe

Shimano

  • XTR
  • GRX [Gravel]
  • XT (Deore)
  • SLX
  • Deore
  • Saint
  • Zee
  • Alivo
  • Acera
  • Altus

SRAM

  • Red
  • XX1
  • X01
  • X0
  • X1
  • EX
  • GX
  • NX
  • SX