Never ever remember breaking a shimano rear mech.
Now have broken perhaps three in twelve months and its becoming frustratingly expensife.
Any thoughts?
Bike Forum
[closed]
Are Sram mechs more breaky than shimano ones?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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you'll get two answers. I say 'no'
Posted 2 years ago # -
I say yes.
I was going through SRAM mechs every couple of months (X7 and X9).
I swapped back to Shimano and now it's a bent one every year or so (Shadow was the last one)Posted 2 years ago # -
I broken loads of Shimano rear mechs ranging from LX to XTR
Posted 2 years ago # -
see!
I haven't broken a mech since I was 14. So I reckon they're both really good.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Without question - certainly the cheaper end of the range. SRAM made of cheese.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well - the last time I saw this question on here several bike shop mechanics came in and confirmed it. Much bigger sample than individual persons' experience.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't pretend to have an authoritative answer, but I'm a SRAM fan and still suspect they're a bit breakier than Shimano.
More seem to explode when they get caught in spokes anyway.
Posted 2 years ago # -
SRAM XO is the only mech I've ever broken
Posted 2 years ago # -
I definitely find SRAM mechs more reliable mainly because I used to kill shimano ones by breaking the spring in the pivot that SRAM ones don't have.
I think if you're killing them by rocks/sticking them into your wheel it makes little difference.
Posted 2 years ago # -
SRAM XO is the only mech I've ever broken
Same here, and it wasn't even mine.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Never broken a SRAM one and have had a few (on different bikes).
Not what you asked I know but the only Shimano mech I'm running is permanently falling out of index / getting stuck. Every blasted ride. Intend to swap it to SRAM when I can finally kill it!
Posted 2 years ago # -
A yes from me. Had a SRAM jockeywheel seize, a rear X9 mech get ripped off by a small branch and an X7 front mech spontaneously snap with no evidence of what might have caused this. I only use Shimano now now and have very few complaints. The LBSs around my way pretty much all agree that Shimano make tougher mechs.
Posted 2 years ago # -
BTW off topic I replaced an XT with a SLX shadow coz I couldn't get it indexed after I bent it. I had the same problem with the new mech. I had rebent the mech hanger but obviusly not quite straight. After replacing the hanger the SLX mech shifted perfectly - Check your hanger is not bent (needs only to be slight) before you ditch ya more expensive mech
Posted 2 years ago # -
general consensus from our mechanics is that SRAM is better, but tends to snap more readily, whereas shimano tend to bend a bit first.
shame as I actuaslly prefer the SRAM when they aren't broken!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I prefer sram. Shimano tend to flex to easily and skip shifting. Where as sram never seems to fail. Maybe it snaps as more stiffer!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
As a bike mechanic for quite a few years now I can say that I have seem plenty of broken rear mechs, both from Shimano & Sram in roughly equal amounts
Posted 2 years ago # -
All good with my SRAM... 3 bikes, no problems.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Never had any Sram mechs but have one to fit this weekend , the only mech I ever broke was an xtr one , talk about gutted.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Same here. I have a SRA mech and shifter to fit on a 1x9 setup. Never had SRAM before, 20 year of Shimano and never any real problems. I look foward to using the SRAM and it busting up then!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Had a few LX rears fall apart because they were worn out.
X9's on my current bike seems to have faired quite well, though there is a bit of play in the rear.Posted 2 years ago # -
IME X9 mechs are made out of cheese and gave up on them, never had a problem with X7 mechs. But I now just stick to Shimano as never have a problem with them unless I crash it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
My personal experience from my bike, guest bikes and hire bikes is "No, apart from X0". The SRAM ones are arguable cheese but because of that they tend to bend not snap and can be carefully bent back into shape. My X9 has outlived 4 hangers this year and has been totally twisted into the spokes 2 or 3 times but each time it just bends back into shape. I've found that X0 are very snappy, that's stopped a couple of rides last year.
Posted 2 years ago # -
XO mech 6 years old this march. Jockey wheels changed and the alloy bolt for fixing the mech to the bike. Its been on 3 bikes as have the X9 shifters of teh same age.
I may be lucky but I've not had any issues with Sram mechs so far. Death sentence for the mech now.
Posted 2 years ago # -
SRAM X0 here stood up to what appeared to be a stack with full impact on the mech body bit. Bent the hanger (big orange P7 slidy dropout) into wheel, but straightened up and runs as smooth as ever.
I think it is a great mech, but then the XTR may have taken this as well?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think Shimano is better built. Not only the mechs, but the shifters too, right down to the bottom end is decent build quality. As opposed to SRAMs shifters which are flimsy in the exteme until you get up to X7 level at least. I used SRAM for a few years, just to have some product experience, trashed one X9 rear mech on a small twig and have now stitched back to XT, which works for me. Last branch attack I had broke the mech hanger before the mech - much cheaper to fix!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd say no, broke both makes and horses for courses if you ask me
Posted 2 years ago # -
http://vimeo.com/4069821 flimsy sram mech jumping into spokes...
i think shimano's build quality is better. they shift better, too.
mate used to run X9 shifters and mech (see video above) but now runs an old XT mech with very old Deore shifters. he much prefers the new set up. i never used to like the feel of the shifters. too clunky and feels as though too much is going on. shimano gives you a similar set-up, but with the option of 2-way release.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Broken a few shimano mechs but not any sram ones, have just had a year old x9 stiffen up though!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mmmmmm, IGHs...
Posted 2 years ago # -
The only mech I've broken was a Sachs Plasma at Beastway in 98. I must be doing something wrong.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've had a SRAM x.0, two x.9 snap on me. (all roughly at the same place)&one X.7 twisted. I've went through quite a few shimano's in my time, but I seemed to be going through more SRAM so i switched back to shimano.
I prefer the ease of maintenance with SRAM though
Posted 2 years ago # -
The only real way to quantifiably answer the question would be to have a nice independent Lab test or 2 done…
Every mech breakage anecdote will be different and there are bound to be omissions and exaggerations’ so relying on interweb testimony is a flawed way to even try and figure it out…
Posted 2 years ago # -
I know people who break XOs on a regular basis.
I did for three XT rear mechs myself last year. One was a major trauma so I didn't blame it, the other two were piffling incidents with twigs and I did blame them.
I have an X7 on a steel 456 that is horribly uninspiring but has been clobbered several times and still keeps going after 3 years.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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