Two bikes, one with Sram XO kit – one with Shimano XT – who wins?

X.0 is significantly lighter and more expensive, it’s more of a comparator to XTR frankly. So in that respect, X.0, and I’d probably choose X.0.

However, in a SRAM/Shimano debate given two equivalent spec bikes, I’d go Shimano.

XT for me.

X0 would be my choice.Prefer the feel of X0 shifters

Surely the frame>forks>wheels>controls in that order should be the deciding factor?

XO was a cassette and it was made of cheese. XT ones are a lot harder wearing

Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t X0 component more race orientated and therefore much lighter and less durable? XT would be more equivalent to SRAM X9 I think.

Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t X0 component more race orientated and therefore much lighter and less durable? XT would be more equivalent to SRAM X9 I think.

Fair comment, The XO was lighter (and had a pretty red spider-why I brought it), but I was still left feeling it should have a lasted a fair bit longer.

Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t X0 component more race orientated and therefore much lighter and less durable?

Not really no. It’s far more expensive, but they do DH orientated chain devices and what not.

The XO was lighter (and had a pretty red spider-why I brought it), but I was still left feeling it should have a lasted a fair bit longer.

That be the PG990 cassette which isn’t really any lighter than XT, and there’s no reason for it not to last as long, suggest you were unlucky. There is now an X.0 level cassette (XG1080), which is far lighter than XT (and indeed XTR), but is also more expensive than both.