Should I migrate back to Shimano ???

Hi all,

I’ve had a SRAM 1×12 stuff since I bought it stock with my current bike. Since then, I’ve just added and replaced parts as they wore out. But, lately, I’m thinking of transferring my current set from my ‘main’ bike to build up a secondary bike I use when I’m home.

That leaves the question, if I’m buying a whole new set for my current ride, should I go over to Shimano? I’ve not had any serious issues with SRAM overall, but I’ve destroyed a derailleur and find it hard to torque the cranks so they stop coming loose every 2-3 weeks. The current SX derailleur is rubbish.

I guess the advantage of keeping the same system on both rides is cross compatibility, but I don’t think it matters to much. In the era of 2×10, I always had Shimano and never at problems with anything ever.

Cheers,

FM

I find the lower end SRAM stuff to be garbage. But the top spec stuff is v good. But you have to pay a lot for it. Whereas most Shimano stuff is OK. Top end I’d go SRAM . Entry level, Shimano.

Any preference on gear ratios? Big steps between the lower gears (bigger cogs) on SRAM, I hated it.

Mechanical – Shimano.  Electric – SRAM.  I have both (XTR/XX1 AXS) and would happily recommend either.  I also had GX mechanical and it wasn’t a patch on either.

I have both and happy using both. If I had to choose I think it would be Shimano, cheaper than the sram counterparts in my experience when comes to replacing parts.

I’ve got GX eagle mechanical on one bike and a xt 12 speed (with slx cassette and carbon sram cranks) on the other.

I think they both do the job. I’ve not destroyed a sram mech but have destroyed an xt mech – but I think they both hang down low and if you get a stick flick up both would be equally vulnerable.

I like the shift action on the GX Eagle more, but the ratios on the Shimano cassette are better at the lower end.

I particularly like sram x sync chain rings – they last well and I’ve never dropped a chain so I use them on both bikes.

Sram dub bbs were mixed for me so I got a wheels manufacturing one which is lasting much much better and has replaceable bearings.

Shimano 12 speed chains aren’t great in my experience – they get really noisy when muddy / wet etc – so I use Sram XX1 chains on the XT drivetrain and they last ages / never rust.

So I don’t think you can go wrong either way.

SRAM make lighter, more durable casssettes, if you have an XD driver, then stick with SRAM cassettes and chains. Past that, Id agree with the folls above, SRAM SX is to be avoided, GX mech with an X01 shifter is a lovely setup for wired, but Deore/SLX/XT just as good for probably less money.

torque the cranks so they stop coming loose every 2-3 weeks.

That’s broken. I bought a second hand set of cranks a few years ago and they never stayed tight but any that I’ve had from new have been faultless. I assumed that the original owner ran them loose at some point and damaged the splines which meant they would never tighten properly.

In my experience NX is “fine” and have found GX to be excellent and trouble free, never tried SX. Rival on the gravel bike is also spot on. My eeb came with Shimano, the mech only lasted 6 months BUT it could be because I smacked it on something, I never worked out what was actually up with it. It was pretty sloppy feeling already and wouldn’t index properly, so I stole the GX mech off my other bike and kept it on there & bought a new one for the other bike.

Hmm, okay, I might go for GX then, thanks!

I once went through 3 GX rear mechs in quick succession! I think it’s down to bad luck rather than brand.

My new bike came with SRAM sx which I thought I could live with for a bit. But having had to re-index after every ride I’ve gone back to Shimano XT. This was mainly because that is what my partner and daughter are running, and having them all the same is easier for stocking spares. Also, I’m still learning about spannering so a single system is simpler to master to start with.

I ran Shimano XT for years and years across multiple bikes and never thought to look elsewhere but my newest bike came with Eagle GX and it was an eye-opener for me. Both Shimano and SRAM have their pros and cons + little quirks you have to live with and it really is six and two threes but what has swung me towards SRAM in this newest generation is their lever feel (lighter than Shimano) and longevity (costs twice as much as Shimano but lasts four times as long).

12 speed Shimano lasts really well – rings seem to last indefinitely, and cassette life is way better than earlier stuff – especially if you use an XTR chain – they’re significantly more durable than the cheaper ones, and while not cheap, they’re way cheaper than most Sram 12spd chains.

My new bike came with SRAM sx which I thought I could live with for a bit. But having had to re-index after every ride I’ve gone back to Shimano XT.

I could never get my SX to index properly. Terrible stuff, cheap and nasty. Shimano has always been spot on for me.

I have a GX AXS derailleur which so far has been faultless. I had 2 GX cassettes which were both rubbish and bent from new out of the box (replaced by SRAM under warranty) and I recently borrowed a Tarmac SL8 with a Force group set and I noticed when spinning the cassette on that that it was also bent. I have two X01 and one XX1 cassette that are completely true and have no issues. My bike came with Rival brakes which are currently with SRAM for warranty assessment as both front and rear were awful. I swapped the Rival for REDs and the difference is night and day.

I’d go Shimano just to avoid dealing with nasty Dot 5.1 brake fluid.

Brake fluid isn’t that bad, I find the clean up is the same after bleeding with either, which is a quick rinse & wipe over with some alcohol.

This is about drivetrain. For brakes there are manufacturers other than the big S two that make better options.

Fair enough, I tend to stick with one system per bike as much as I can.

Phil5556 – it’s not so much the clean up, it’s the list of warnings you get with Dot 5.1 and the protective gear they suggest you wear. And mineral oil doesn’t absorb moisture.
I know there are advantages to Dot, but I’d rather avoid it if I can.

I use Shimano 11sp with a 10-46t sunrace cassette, but if I were buying new now I’d strongly consider going back to 10sp with something like the microshift 11-48t cassette.

Drivetrain is among the least important components, and there’s merit to keeping it simple (and cheap) IMO

I’m with the simple and cheap drivetrain people. Chainset might be worth a bigger spend… as the cranks can run and run if well made and a bit more spend can save a chunk of weight. Otherwise, get stuff that works and you won’t cry when it dies. SX is straight to bin garbage, where as Deore works well. XT (and SLX) are the equal of or better than mechanical GX. All 12 spd mechanical is less robust than 11 and 10 spd stuff. Can’t offer an opinion on electric stuff in terms of living with it, because I’ve never had the chance to have any on my own bikes… dangly jewellery is out of my budget.

Really happy with SLX 12. The rear mech is supposed to be fragile but I have failed to break it. Shift is brilliant. Might consider XTR chain if it improves longevity. But why would it? (I actually run a XT 12 cassette and chain).

A riding buddy has been running a NX groupset from new ove the past 3 years amd he is super pleased with it too. No adjustments, very little wear and no issues.

It’s possible that we are at a point where both brands make equally good groupset. They must be heavily benchmarked against each other.

Because the chain itself is more durable. Worn chains wear cassettes etc. If the chain lasts longer, so do other drivetrain parts.

It’s a mixed bag.

I find SRAM GX and above cassettes pretty long running and durable. GX mechs seem as robust as anything, but pivot slop in under a year means I’ve moved to shimano mechs which work well with the SRAM shifters. I got fed up with DUB BBs crapping themselves and wearing the alu axles of the cranks, and haved moved back to Shimano which run lovely by comparison.

The 12 speed XT shifter is shifting perfection to me. Bloody love it.

I use Shimano 11sp with a 10-46t sunrace cassette, but if I were buying new now I’d strongly consider going back to 10sp with something like the

+1

Old mtb was upgraded to 10spd with a Sunrace cassette. Was flawless. GF’s gravel bike runs 10spd Tiagra and it just works without any fettling whereas my 11spd 105 needs tweaking every few months.

More isn’t better.

The 12 speed XT shifter is shifting perfection to me. Bloody love it.

This, much prefer them to SRAM

Currently run SLX drivetrains on my two main bikes with XT shifters

Was running SRAM but got sick of GX mechs exploding