Been wondering about this for a while. Anyway what are the inherent differences between Shimano & Sram mtb drivetrains? By that i mean in a like for like situation which is lighter, easier to index, crisper shifting, etc. Not & I'll repeat this again NOT which is better as that is as far as i'm concerned a peas or beans argument which has no real correct answer.
i think the 1:1 actuation ratio from SRAM is superb.
[i]By that i mean in a like for like situation which is lighter, easier to index, crisper shifting, etc.[/i]
It's tricky, depends what you like really. IME SRAM stuff tends to be "clicky" it shifts 'industrially' if you see what i mean, one dependable gear at a time, always the same. Shimano on the other hand "glides" it's smooth weightless, effortless. Setting up? easy for both, no real winners or losers.
both are good, was never happy with old SRAM kit, but the modern kit is outstanding, i have standardized all our bikes to SRAM for ease of spares and maintenance. SRAM is very positive shifting. but makes no difference, wouldn't take shimano off if a bike came with it.
SRAM - nein danke!
The more I see of it the more I dislike it. I did use it on my bike for a couple of years, just for some product knowledge, but glad to be back to full XT. It works fine, but the build quality leaves a lot to be desired, until you get to X9 and above. In comparison, Shimano's stuff works and is well built and durable from Alivio upwards. Any bike that specs SRAM as OE does so either to get around a Shimano parts supply problem, or as a cost cutting exercise.
SRAM convert for years.
Shifting wrks better for me than Shimano.
+1 for full XT 🙂
SRAM if it is the expensi ve stuff.]Agree it is abit industrial but it is precise - I likw the clunk personally but don tlike hope hubs- and the 1:1 is better fo MTB IMHO
SRAM = lighter, better shifting. Also better in mud, in my experience. And, you're not so tied into using Shimano stuff....more freedom!
Shimano = Cheaper, mainly.
SRAM FTW!
just cant get on with the sram shifter shape/action. and XTR shifters are awesome 🙂
I'm a SRAM convert but I've only experienced x9. but to be honest I cant see how such an extremely simple bit of engineering as shifters and derailleurs can have 'better shifting' unless they purposely engineer them to be a bit shitter than their x0 xtr sets.
"It works fine, but the build quality leaves a lot to be desired, until you get to X9 and above"
Don't agree with this tbh, I've had X5 and X7 and now X9, all work very well. X5 does feel a little cheaper but it's reliable and effective, so you could say it's lower build quality I suppose but it's the function that counts. I ended up with the X5 rear mech mated to a X9 shifter for a while and that worked very well, actually had me doubting the wisdom of buying any more expensive mech.
Both are good enough really so it comes down to personal taste, I prefer SRAM in action but I don't think it's better, I just like how it does the job.
I guess I'd say SRAM is positive and Shimano is vague, a Shimano fan would say SRAM is clunky and Shimano is smooth.
XT and SLX cassettes though and XTR and SLX cransk, I don't think SRAM compete there.
FFS man, don't start this off, ro'll be here soon telling us we're mugs for not using Suntour.
Shimano now, btw, once was SRAM for the top-end gripshifters but have now grown accustomed to flicky shifters. Still have some v.v.light 8speed grippies in the shed, iirc...
...it is interesting that Suntour is starting to appear again, as Shimano has priced itself out of the market. ( Dropped the ball there - 140% price increase 'we can't understand why our sales have fallen' )
I find SRAM much better in muddy conditions and easier to set up. I like its clunky solid shifting.
Grip shift means I no longer clobber my knees <see other thread> on shifters when I fall off.
The down side of grip shift is some brakes aren't compatatble with them. I couldn't fit Hope X2 levers on the bar in a way I was happy with and returned them.
I like both except for shimano chains naff and their cassettes heavy.
I have 2 roadbikes-one Shimnano and one Sram both great.
Sram has converted me but their front mech trim sucks.
Simplex is where it's at. Reaching back to the seat tube to change down into the granny gear is a faff though.
Love shimano gears/cranks/shifters
Love Sram cassettes and chains
Hate Sram mechs X9 seems to be made out of some sort of soft cheese
Though I do love the look of Sram road stuff.
Run sram on all my bikes (and Mrs Atlaz's bike too) and very happy with how it works. Got everything from SX4 to X9 and it's all been pretty good.
Kuco + 1
Shimano rear mechs flap around way more as seen here:
shimano doesnt need to be sent back for replacement every 4 weeks usage...
And neither does SRAM. So that's another 1-1 draw.
Shimano is a 7 letter word. So is quality.
Sram is a 4 letter word that begins with "s"
End of.
SRAM ... you're not so tied into using Shimano stuff....more freedom!
Just tied in to SRAM instead!
Was an SRAM fanboy, but after a Sticky X9 and a shocking Truvative firex setup I am converted 🙂 dont like the X7 shifters, either
suntour WERE good. iirc, they had as nice compact chainset way back when.
I just removed my Saint shifters and XTR rear mech (on Ebay now) in favour of a SRAM X7 rear mech and SRAM X7 shifters as I was sick of trimming / replacing the gear cable outer to the mech because of its routing - not a shadow mech.
On my first proper ride I was very impressed by the X7 stuff compared to the Saint and XTR enough to start looking at converting the DH bike next.
I just removed my Saint shifters and XTR rear mech (on Ebay now) in favour of a SRAM X7 rear mech and SRAM X7 shifters as I was sick of trimming / replacing the gear cable outer to the mech because of its routing - not a shadow mech.
On my first proper ride I was very impressed by the X7 stuff compared to the Saint and XTR enough to start looking at converting the DH bike next.
Rohloff. 😛 8)
I run Campag on my main mtb. Bit of re-jigging and bodging but it's just so much better and I reckon that I ride at least 2mph faster with it than my other SRAM and Shimano equipped bikes. And it's lighter.
1x11 rocks!
