SRAM or Shimano?

I voted Shimano simpley because I like the low-normal rear mechs. They just work better for my shifting style.

Hard to do a meaningful poll on this. I have both SRAM and Shimano on both of my bikes. I prefer SRAM for some components and Shimano for others. I suspect that this is true for many other riders as well.

The only thing Sram on my bike is the chain. Mainly cause I can get them cheaper at the store then a shimano of the same level. Everything else I prefer Shimano.

I'd have to agree, I really like the new low-normal Shimano stuff - makes perfect sense to me when shifting. Wouldn't mind trying some SRAM stuff but it's too expensive to have to switch shifters etc and then loose the low-normal shifting ontop of all that.

jpick915 said:

I voted Shimano simpley because I like the low-normal rear mechs. They just work better for my shifting style.

Click to expand...

How About Neither As A Choice?

I don't own anything SRAM (well some sachs stuff and a RS fork if you want to count stuff thats part of SRAM now), and only have a handful of Shimano parts between a half dozen bikes.

sram x.0 here. not even in the same ballpark as my old xt stuff. can't believe i put up with the way shimano shifted for so long.

sram = butter!

full XTR here on a Seven

I went from a Deore/LX set up to almost a full X9 (I have an e-type front derailler). Granted, X9 is a higher level then what I came from, but the performance difference is HUGE. Shifting is much more pronounced, I cam dump 4 cogs in one shot, and I have only had to adjust the cables once this year compared to once a month with the Shimano. I also really like the thumb/thumb set up better than the thumb/finger.

As always, this is just MHO.

mostly SRAM now

the only thing on the bike from the big S right now is the front derrailleur. my XTR shifters crapped out last year (they were old so I'm not holding that against the might S) and I went with SRAM X-9 triggers and an X-0 rear derrailleur.

They performed better than my Shimano stuff ever did. Like I said, the XTR was old so it wasn't in current form but the SRAM shifting and rear derrailleur worked like a dream the minute I put it on. Part of the reason I went with SRAM is becuase I didn't want the arse backwards rear derrailleur and at the time, Shimano was pushing the dual control and not really indicating whether individual shifters would be available. the new XTR does look cool though so I"m not necessarily anti Shimano I just think SRAM works very, very well too.

The shifting on the SRAM is very natural and it only took half a ride to get used to the differnt paddle operation.

YR

Cassette-XTR, cuz it shifts well and relatively strong
Chain-SRAM cuz the powerlink is oh so handy
Rear derailleur-SRAM XO cuz it shifts so crisply
Shifters-SRAM all thumbs is better for me, brake/shift at the sme time if I want.
Front Der.-XTR cuz there is nothing better out right now.

I want to convert all my bike to SRAM if I had the cash

-The X.0 triggers and rear derailleur are amazing. Crisp doesn't even begin to describe how clean and fast these things shift. If you can afford them, get them. Shimano's got nothing on them right now.

-SRAM doesn't even try to compete in the front derailleur market, and the XT and XTR are slick. Shimano all the way, baby.

-The cassettes are kind of a toss-up, but I like the XT since it's lighter than SRAM's best cassette and it's practically bulletproof.

-I broke a Shimano chain out on the trail last week and I remembered how much of a PITA it is to change them. The SRAM chains take less than two minutes to put on and SRAM chains are also lighter. I gave away my spare XTR chains and replaced them with SRAM.

TLud said:

The SRAM chains take less than two minutes to put on and SRAM chains are also lighter.

Click to expand...

Yeah right. Removing links from either chain takes about the same amount of time.

You should have given me your spare XTR chains.

i like shimano except for chains i like sram. however both my current bikes have shimano chains--when i replace it will be sram.

I have a complete SRAM XO drivetrain except the front mech and it has worked better than the XTR setup it replaced.

SRAM X.0 triggers & RD, XTR FD, SRAM cassette. Blows AWAY my previous all XT setup. Couldn't be happier!:thumbsup:

TLud said:

Hard to do a meaningful poll on this. I have both SRAM and Shimano on both of my bikes. I prefer SRAM for some components and Shimano for others. I suspect that this is true for many other riders as well.

Click to expand...

:thumbsup: The only Shimano stuff I absolutely hate are rear hubs,,, Everything else is kind of a toss-up. XO is clearly the best shifting setup, but the price is :madman:

I prefer SRAM but only just. The differences are so minor it's about 52% to 48%.

I can understand why people buy the high end RD's 'cause you use them so much throughout a ride, but don't understand why they spend that sort of cash for a FD when it's used so very little during a ride - I mean any properly adjusted FD will shift down smoothly in a pinch, it's nothing like a RD's workload. Maybe I just am cheap, watch where I'm going and pick my gears before I need them and watch my shifting - I don't shift under load unless absolutely neccessary and then I "soft pedal" a 1/2 stroke to make the change.

Magick Mountain said:

SRAM X.0 triggers & RD, XTR FD, SRAM cassette. Blows AWAY my previous all XT setup. Couldn't be happier!:thumbsup:

Click to expand...

LyNx said:

I can understand why people buy the high end RD's 'cause you use them so much throughout a ride, but don't understand why they spend that sort of cash for a FD when it's used so very little during a ride - I mean any properly adjusted FD will shift down smoothly in a pinch, it's nothing like a RD's workload. Maybe I just am cheap, watch where I'm going and pick my gears before I need them and watch my shifting - I don't shift under load unless absolutely neccessary and then I "soft pedal" a 1/2 stroke to make the change.

Click to expand...

Yeah. Deore FDs are great, cost about $15, and are about the same weight as the XTRs.