Sram VS. Shimano

[Sirbikesalot]

Which do you like and why?

As I said in the M5 thread...

I'm personally hating my new Sram shifting. Always problematic and cheaply made. Limit screws eat at the surface they hit and always loosen themselves. The entire body bends really easy too, my shimano derailluer has been hit many o times with no change in shifting. I'm on my second x9 derailluer in 5 months and I'm already needing a third. I feel like SRAM has a big hype from all their advertising, which causes people to think its the best. It looks pretty but in my opinion it isn't all its talked up to be. I know a lot of people have had "flawless" shifting from SRAM (I know Tasso is gonna say something about that) but my experience has been all bad. Anyway, I agree the M5 should have a different suspension set up but Shimano is sturdy as **** and I would switch to new shimano stuff if I could afford it.


Navota Kid's response:

Originally Posted by navato kid

I beg to differ. 2 Years ago at northstar I had a shimano deralleur on my big hit, and every run it either snapped off completely or needed new housing. I now have switched to sram, never broken an xo(thankfully) and they are on both my bikes that have been ridden at practically every race in cali, a week in whistler, and very many shuttle runs. The only sram deralier(x7) I have fried was at bootleg canyon. And basically, if you dont fry at least one(deralluer) while you are there you must have walked down the hill.

[BIGHIT8989]

my vote - Sram

[East Bay Rich]

My initial response isn't related to equipment performance, but rather presence in the mt. bike community. It seems that SRAM is more willing to give back to our community with sponsorships to major events like Sea Otter. Shimano is a giant in the mtb world, but where's the corporate sponsorship?

Now, in terms of performance, I've been fortunate enough to get the most out of the XT, XTR, Saint and two generations of X7 with minimal failures. I don't think I ride or race as hard as some of you, but for me, I'm fine with both.
-Rich

[Nemesis Gnat]

shimano sponsors the world cups...

and i vote sram, cause as josef alluded to

something about that

no but really, its just plain dumb not to limit forward rotation of the main der pivot... make **** make hella noise... noise is lame, and means something is beating something else up... plus the cable routing... thats why whats his face needed a new housing all the time im willing to bet... cause shimano cant figure out that direct routing owns...

plus full thumb shifting is better... feels like i have more control over not only the bike but the shifts, they just feel crisper or something...

that being said, both work... id run whatever someone gave me, but my x9 is like 2 years old and running strong...

[Sirbikesalot]

I agree completely with the direct cable routing and the thumb shifter features of SRAM. However, the new XT allows for thumb or finger shifting on the release lever.

Originally Posted by declinemagazine

SL-M770 RapidFire Shift Lever
- separate shift levers best used with RD-M770 top normal rear derailleur
- 2-way release trigger allows thumb or finger actuation
- Instant release for instant cable response
- 2-position mountain bracket allows for inboard or outboard placement
- Removable Optical Gear Display with integrated cover plate
- Floating OGD provides clearance for remote suspension lockout

The 2-position mountain ( I think decline meant mounting?) bracket looks nifty as well to prevent brake lever interference.

Shimano still does have the wrap around routing which I fixed on my old shimano derailluer with a Rollamajig:


In addition, I prefer the 2:1 actuation ratio that Shimano uses compared to the 1:1 ratio that SRAM uses. With the 2:1 you get more derailluer movement with less finger movement. Makes for a quicker and in my opinion a more solid feeling downshift. This basiclly only matters for the puller lever (the one that moves the chain to an easier gear).

Heres a picture of the XT derailluer in case anyone is curious:


I agree with what Rich said about racer support at races. Sram has got it down, not only with their shifting components but with their other products as well.

[C.MAC]

Originally Posted by Sirbikesalot

Shimano still does have the wrap around routing which I fixed on my old shimano derailluer with a Rollamajig:

Put SRAM on your Shimano to make it work!!

When comparing the two drivetrains, they both work fine cuz they feed off of each other. You are comparing good versus good, they deraliers work nearly the same, and now, with 07 shimano, so do the shifters.

[novato kid]

Watch the video at the bottom of the page. Sram vs. Shimano
http://www.dhracers.com/videos.htm

[MTBTHIS]

Originally Posted by C.MAC

Put SRAM on your Shimano to make it work!!

I noticed that too...Ive ridden both, and im trying Sram x9 right now. So far the deraileur isnt too bad. My cranks are Shimano HT2=amazingly amazing! I havnt actually gotten to try the new shimano stuff(besides the cranks i have), but i wouldnt mind giving it a shot. Sram has some bomb proof stuff, and so does shimano. the problem with sram(when it comes to sponsorship) is that you kinda have to run Rockshox, and trufative(spelling?), and avid...which isnt always fun.

Phill

[Sirbikesalot]

Originally Posted by novato kid

Watch the video at the bottom of the page. Sram vs. Shimano
http://www.dhracers.com/videos.htm

Whoa sweet video, makes me lean towards Sram a little more.

[organizedrage]

sram for mountain, and shimano for road. that is my professional opinion, and i am around this stuff all the time because i work at a bike shop.

[organizedrage]

Originally Posted by novato kid

Watch the video at the bottom of the page. Sram vs. Shimano
http://www.dhracers.com/videos.htm

if that video doesnt do it for ya, then i dont know what will.

[Nemesis Gnat]

video illustrates me point...

and shimano sponsor the world cups, so they are involved in a higher level of racing than sram... sram only offers race support cause they can make mad cash... not to say that shimano isnt capitalist, but sram charges a lot to work on stuff at races, cept for some reason my boxxer, where they gave me new lowers and a maxle and some internal bits and seals and oil and a rebuild for 60 bucks at sea otter... i didnt even think it was that in need of work...

but i still run sram

cept my 5 dollar campy on my ht with a shimano road cassette and an xt shifter

o that bring up another point, shimano has a better deal on a decently good cassette... i run the xt and it was cheap as balls, but still pretty light, and its like 3 years old and running strong...

[Scoundrel]

I'm on the fence on this one. From making the switch from diehard Shimano to now having two of my three mountain bikes with Sram I could definately go either way. I love the thumb shifting of Sram, as well as the cable routing, however the shifting action does seem a bit sloppy. Shimano on the other hand has nice crisp shifting and what I thought was a great shifter until I rode on a Sram equipped bike. For longevity I say Shimano because every Shimano derailleur I've had has lasted several years (if not more) of abuse. The new Shimano stuff isn't quite as durable as it used to be though. Sram takes less adjusting to get it to work due to the 1:1, but it's still a bit sluggish compared to Shimano. In all honesty both are pretty nice. Does SRAM make high end 8 speed stuff? I know they'll do an 8 speed cassette and chain, but what is the quality on the cassette and shifter? Because the best system that I've ever run was 8 speed XT. Awesome shifting and thicker and therefore more durable chains. If you've never run 8 speed then you really are missing out on a superior system. Besides, who really needs a 34 tooth cog?

[Rye Bread]

sram for the win

[quietriot447]

this is a tough question to answer and i dont think there is one good answer.

in my opinion shimano shifts better than sram. (derailluer wise) and i think shimano's 2:1 actuation has a cleaner shift than sram's 1:1. Also having a barrel adjuster on the derailuer is def a better way to adjust cable tension.

But i have had to rebuild countless shimano shifters but these shifters are farily old but it happens a lot. (when you try to shift down, the tooth attached to the part of the shift lever that your finger controls doesn't catch on the rotating gear which adds tension to the cable)

However sram does have its good points, i like the full thumb shifting better, it feels like i am more in control, it took some time to get used to but worth it. but you can get the sram rocket shifters and make thing work.

Also the video does bring up a good point and have found that to be true as well.

But it all boils down to personal preference cause the both work well (except the sram sx 4...chances are that no one here has them but they are the worst design i have ever worked with not to mention they feel terrible)