[Closed] Simano/Sram/Both.. what's your flavour and why?

Shimano on the mtb after a run of sram kit just falling apart. Sram on the road bike as i like the double tap shifters.

Always liked SRAM positive feel over horrible Shimano vagueness... But the parts were always obviously less good, I think even SRAM fans admitted that. Better ideas, but worse execution.

But then along came 10 speed and Shimano finally losing any shyness about copying SRAM, and now I've ended up more or less a Shimano guy- current Saint or Saint/XT mix is just fantastic IMO. XTR shifter is still awful mind.

Cranks- Shimano, rude not to. Brakes? Neither, Formula. Forks, Rockshox pls.

Shimano everything over SRAM. SRAM designed for dry dusty California trails. Shimano designed in Japan with a very similar climate to ours. Mud.

The only bit I like of the SRAM house stuff is Rockshox. It used to be Fox only for me but with the delicate nature of Fox these days I prefer the more robustness of Rockshox. And the price.

Only ever had shimano on Mtb .. so can't really comment.
But ..

Road bike. SRAM force on summer bike. Good shifting/good weight/good looking.
Winter road bike has shimano 105. Cheap/reliable.

SRAM drivetrain, Shimano brakes. I prefer the way they feel over the alternatives I've tried. Love the clunkiness of SRAM shifters and mechs and Shimano brakes are so much easier (for me at least) than the Avids I've tried to set up and tinker with.

All SRAM on the mtb - setting up mechs is just so easy.

Road bike - all Shimano. It all works fine, no issues.

🙂

Shimano everything

SRAM drivetrains are just too fragile. And 10s Shimano is as clunky as 9s SRAM so they're even on that front too. The only thing I miss is the shifter release being on the other axis with SRAM so you could shift with a knuckle rather than a finger.

I actually quite like the feel of avid brakes, just a shame theyre not reliable.

Low end sram x5, x7 is just shite! Shimano deore feels nearly as good as xt! Justs a bit heavier!

Shimano, mech, shifter and brakes on mtb. Cassettes and chains from either depending on stock and offers where I happen to be shopping.
Cranks are race face or shimano no particular reason.

Road bike is Campagnolo because that's what it came with.

Never tried sram. Mtb stuff looks fragile to me and not convinced on vim/pricing.

Maybe I will give it a go sometime. @

Currently shimano on mtb but about to switch back to SRAM as I want grip shift
It will stay 1-10 so only one mech and shifter to swap.

Cassette wise mostly xt for no real reason other than I have always used them

Road bikes always campy again because I prefer the shifter and it works very well

Sram drivetrain for all the positive reasons above and the neg's for Shimano - feel, ease of set up and reliability foremost for me. Except for chainsets, where the SLX shifts well and is brilliant VFM.

Loving the 2013 Shimano brakes, I've found their feel and power works for me better than my Previous Hope Mini and Mono Mini's using the same diameter disc's.

Not fussed about either drivetrain - both good. Only meaningful distinction for me is the brakes - shimano definitely superior IME. Had a lot of experience with elixirs, and they're nowhere near as bad as reputed, in fact they work fine. But keeping them working fine is way more work than it should be.

Shimano cranks, shifters, mechs (on MTB and road bikes)
SRAM Chains, cassettes (again on all bikes)
Formula brakes

Only reason I'd change that is if I buy a complete bike that comes with something different.

Sram here, had it on the mtb's for over 20 years and have just sold the shimano off the road bike after sticking with it a few years, I prefer the shifting action of Sram,so going to stick that on it instead. Sram action is a bit more positive feeling IMHO. No issues with longevity of components from any of them.

SRAM
shifts better
grip shift
shifts better
Running XO Shifters with X9 Gear, SRAM x9 cranks. The missus is on XX1 and XX/XO mixed with Race Face Next's on the other bike. Hope BB's.

End up trying Shimano on demo bikes, last SLX felt awful cheap and sluggish to change (well set up too just in comparison)
XT not that much better

I can cope with changing jockey wheels

Always Shimano cranks. I was SRAM drivetrain till last weekend when I went 1x10, Shimano stuff was way cheaper and now feels less vague than it use to.

And I'm one of the only people to like Avid brakes! Although I demoed a few bikes the other weekend and one had SLX brakes, didn't feel as wooden as I thought they would.

Up to 9spd, it was always SRAM, the 9spd stuff just worked on my DH bike.

10spd SRAM stuff was hilarious - it just fell apart, all the time. The Shimano high end stuff was so much better.

I've got X01 on a bike now, that came with it. I miss Shimano shifters. Shifts well for now, i'm not expecting any great reliability from it, on SRAM's record in the UK weather.

Never SRAM chainsets, GXP is awful and self extracting bolts are a pain in the arse.

Never, ever SRAM brakes. I like my brakes to work properly.

Shimano brakes and cranks on all bikes, mix of SRAM and Shimano drivetrains.
Never had any issues with SRAM, been running it in various iterations since the days of x ray shifters in the mid 90s. My 9 speed XO setup lasted form the day it was launched (I pre ordered it because I'm a tart) to last year with just a few sets of jockey wheels and a replacement set of grips for the twist shifters. Mind you, I've never had any issues with Shimano stuff either, just tend to find both setups work. I do prefer the SRAM ' a bit clunkier from the word go but stays the same for longer' over Shimano 'smooth as silk but needs a bit more adjustment now and again'.

Shimano shifting and cranks on both bikes for me. I've used SRAM drivetrain gear in the past and although the shifting action feels superior, the maintenance needed to keep it running through the winter round here just isn't worth it. I've settled on SLX as being a reliable and durable workhorse at a good price. Both systems have their merits though. An essential for me now is a narrow-wide chainring on both bikes, run 1x10 with a clutch rear mech. This is a genuine move forward in bike technology I think, rather than many "innovations" which offer little advantage over the existing gear.

I personally like Hope brakes which have never let me down. Performance and feel are spot on, and their robustness and ease of maintenance makes them a no-brainer. Saying that, the Shimano brakes on my missus bike are also very good and I'd have no problems using them in the future. Like others have said, SRAM's Avid brakes perform and feel good out on the trail but I found the maintenance needed to keep them working well just isn't worth it IMO.

Rockshox are the best brand SRAM offer, I really like my Reverb and the forks are as good or better in most cases than the competition from Fox which is overpriced and currently rated on reputation rather than performance by many riders IMO. The next season will be very important for them if they want to gain ground back on Rockshox.

Shimano on everything here including pedals. Just does the job, it may not be the most pretty of kit but it all just works.

Shimano = reliable+sexy+longevity

Sram = flimsy+awkward+short life span

Now then... this isn't intended to discuss which is better as there has to be merits to both or all of us would have the same manufacturer.

some people still can't read the question

plus one - Member
Shimano = reliable+sexy+longevity

Sram = flimsy+awkward+short life span

Maybe that's his reason why?

Sram X9 mech and X0 shifter on my Rune. I've run Sram mechs and shifters since 2005 and won't go back to Shimano. I much prefer the clunky shifting feel (I've ridden 2013 10 speed XT on a demo bike and the shifts were too vague for me). The Sram stuff that I've had has generally lasted well too; I've still got my original X9 mech from 05. It's a bit floppy but still shifts fine. The X0 mech and X9 shifter on my Stanton is still going strong although I do notice the noise of a none clutch mech. The only issues that I've had is 2013 X9 shifters not lasting very well. My current X0 one seems yo be holding up well though.

I always run Sram chains and have done since before they bought Sachs. Shimano chains are rubbish. I do prefer Shimano cassettes though.

Brake wise, I love the current Shimano ones and have them on both of my bikes. I never had Avid so can't really comment on them, but I do think that the current Avid levers are massive and ugly.

Cranks...wouldn't run either. Always Race Face. The Sram cranks are just ugly and the Shimano ones too expensive.ni can't get my head round a pair of XT cranks costing the same as some nice Race Face ones. I think it's because when I started riding Race Face cranks were super expensive compared to Shimano so seemed more special.

Sram RRP is mental but I've never paid that for it so I'm not fussed.

Campag

Shimano on everything. It just works & if you have issues whilst out & about you're more likely to find spares available.

Bits of kit I have are 10-12 years old, have minimal/zero maintenance & still work well.

Only ever had 1 bike fitted with SRAM - it nearly all needed replacing inside the first year.

MTB - SRAM shifters, rear mech and (RS) fork, Shim front mech, hubs and brakes.

Why - I prefer the clunky shifting, plus X0 mechs/shifters look cool

It was more SRAM'd until recently, but I needed a new front mech after the SRAM one died of very old age and I had an XT one in the bits box. Plus, I decided to try out hydro brakes after years on BB7s (jury is possibly still out)

Road/CX - Shimano evryfink bar front brake (BB7 front, Avid canti rear)

Why - It's what it came with (apart from the disc, that's my upgrade)

I've always had Shimano so I just stick to what I know. Considered trying out sram as I always seem to have some kind of gearing issue, but can't be bothered to spend all that money switching only to find out it's the same or worse.

I do use Avid brakes though.

Defo Shimano here. Reasonable costs for SLX / 105 level stuff and it just works. The 105 stuff on my cross bike has impressed me the most - a year of muddy rides and cross races and still works flawlessly. Same on the mountain bike, it just works.

SRAM on the mtbs. Shimano on the road bikes. Has always been this way.

My experience of SRAM is that the shifters jam, the cassettes wear out quickly, and rear mechs are fragile. Chains however are excellent.

Hmm I do have a box of broken X0 rear mechs! Use the new x9 now and they seem a lot less fragile.

I'm a bit like the OP. Shimano crankset / pedals, whatever cassette seems the best value, SRAM chain, SRAM shifters and mechs. I don't get on with Shimano shifters / mechs, mostly as they don't seem to stay in "tune" for more than 5 seconds and I am lousy at indexing, plus the feel of SRAM as some have mentioned. Plus I never got over the horrors of the combined brake / shifter thing and said never again.

Refused to touch Shimano brakes at all until last year bought an ex-demo bike with SLX brakes on; I was just going to take them off and sell them and replace with Hope but never got round to it somehow, and have ended up surprising myself by really liking the feel. They are still on but I await them going wrong and being unable to fix them (the reason I didn't want to touch Shimano brakes).

[i]some people still can't read the question[/i]

[i]SRAM
shifts better
grip shift
shifts better[/i]

Ahem.... 😀

Personally Shimano for shifters cassettes and mechs, prefer the soft action, SRAM chains they've never let me down, although I'm using a Shimano 10sp and it seems fine. Brakes Hope at the minute, just thought I'd give them a go, normally used Shimano in the part and liked them. Chain set at the minute is Raceface ( just because) it's ok, might change back to Shimano

The only long term SRAM I had was gripshift XO when it first came out, and it was cool worked well looked great, sold the bike as complete, and went back to the big s. Never had an issue with either manufacturer, would happily swap if I needed to , just currently prefer the look and fell of Shim.

I've always had Shimano so I just stick to what I know. Considered trying out sram as I always seem to have some kind of gearing issue, but can't be bothered to spend all that money switching only to find out it's the same or worse.

Same. Shimano on first MTB, so just continued using it as it never let me down. Since gone > Road > CX, and same still applies.

I did have a Boardman CX briefly which had SRAM Apex. Lovely shifting action, doubletap was nice....the front mech was a bollix, and lack of trim got me surprisingly annoyed.

chains, cassette - never noticed a difference
cranks always been shimano: saint slx, deore, recently got an s1000 sram crankset and its a bit flexy compared even to deore, but it is their budget one(still pricey though!)

shifters, dreailiers- performance wise, i dont think theres much in it these days but ime sram stuff just doesnt last very long

I prefer the Sram thumb shifter to Shimano so run Sram rear mech and shifter, but get whatever chain and cassette is on offer at the time of needing a replacement, I only run 1x9 and have RaceFace cranks with RaceFace or Hope BB and Hope Brakes on both bikes!

Brakes: always been Shimano, ever since my first discs (XT 4-pots - still got them and they're still working 🙂 )

MTB gears have been SRAM 9-speed for the last 7 years, felt more 'positive' than Shimano at the time I tried each of them out. Quite fancy trying some newer Shimano but SRAM XX1 is lovely...

Roadie was SRAM, but they don't do electronic shifting yet. So it's all been swapped out for Dura-Ace Di2 - absolutely fantastic groupset!

Shimano, without a doubt, just works.

What attracted me initally to SRAM was that it was different (and is realise that's a bit pathetic). However, these days, Shimano MTB stuff is also uggg-leee, so that would put me off going full Shimano again.

Just remembered the only thing that bugged me about the XO was the sound if the shifting, it was like a gun going off! In a quiet forest, you could literally startle birds into flight with it 😆

Shimano has been a reliable constant throughout my love affair with cycling. I'm a huge fan of XT for it's reliability, build quality and performance, a brief dalliance with SRAM X9 purely out of inquisitiveness left me very disappointed indeed. Shift quality was atrocious, adjustibility was compromised by the lack of barrel adjuster on the mech and the shifters felt like they had come out of a christmas cracker.

ShimRAM 9 speed frankengears 🙂

SRAM drivetrain - prefer the shifting, and I now run X01 🙂

Shimano brakes - not found anything that does it as well as Zee or Saint.

I have the previous incarnation of 105 on my road bike and I really can't fault it, nice shifting, good brakes good chainset - I remember the rear taking longer to set up than the front mech which was pretty much instant

9sp X5 on the mountain bike is ok, works despite my barely adequate maintenance, juicy3s are a bit shite but I can't justify replacing them if they aren't actually broke (pad changes are a nightmare and they have a lot of throw in the lever for not much clearance at the calliper)

would probably get 1x10sp shimano gears next time, dunno what brakes, maybe the current deores cos everyone on here rates them

I was SRAM on mtb but have gone back to Shimano lately and much prefer it.

Shimano everything over SRAM. [s]SRAM designed for dry dusty California trails.[/s] Shimano designed in Japan with a very similar climate to ours. Mud.

The only bit I like of the SRAM house stuff is Rockshox. It used to be Fox only for me but with the delicate nature of Fox these days I prefer the more robustness of Rockshox. And the price.

+1 (apart from the dusty bit. IIRC SRAM started in Chicago and now has a base in Colorado - both get rain. Happy to be proven wrong on this.)

^ What hob nob says ^

SRAM's cable actuation always made them better in bad conditions than Shimano IMO- even a tiny amount of sticky cable knackered Shimano shifting. But luckily Shimano [s]blatantly copied[/s] innovatively changed theirs to be basically the same as SRAM's.

Shimano. It's what it came with.

Sram mechs and shifters, but to mind no one has bettered Shimano's chainsets yet for value and ease of fitting.

Are the folks out there who don't really care?

Gearing for me is a distant fifth or sixth behind stuff like suspension, brakes, wheels and the like. Think I even reach for my dropper these days before a gear. Really don't give the smoothness of shifitng much thought.

Sram all round (cross, road and mtb) as it makes my kit interchangeable so if I brake a mech, no problem, just use another one from the other bike. I prefer the agricultural feel as well, shimano always felt a bit light to me.

Campy on my campus bike because its an 80's raleigh and thats what it came with