SRAM VS Shimano

[bob_jane]

Hey guys, i was thinking of going from my Shimano XT to SRAM X9.

What would your advice be??? stay with shimano or go to SRAM???

Cheers

[FR Drew]

Keep with an XT Cassette and an XT (HG93) chain joined with a SRAM joining link.
Keep the XT front mech as well but change out the shifters and rear derailleur to X9.
Cable wise I use XTR on the inners and outers.

[DaGonz]

meh... 6 to one, half a dozen the other...

is there a reason you want to change? it'd be like a $300min change over cost...

I'm a dual control fan so am unlikely to switch soon. I didn't like the x9 shifters or grip shift either so the DC's stayed... SRAM stuff is reportedly better in the mud & crud...

*shrug*

oh yeah, if you do switch over, I had issues with shimano shifters on a sram cassette. The spacing proved to be ever so different or some such, mostly worked but just wasn't as crisp as with a shimano cassette. The opposite may not be such an issue (sram shifters) who knows... just something to think about if you mix and match...

Cheers
Gonz

[sprocket]

if your talking 2008 gear i'd stay with xt.. there stuff for 2008 is a great leap forward and i have switched back to xt (shadow derailleur ) after spending a few years with the sram corp.. plus they have gone back to a heavy spring too so the shifting is more responsive.

[AngoXC]

is there a reason you want to change? it'd be like a $300min change over cost...

Exactly. You need the shifters as well as they are not compatible with Shimano.

oh yeah, if you do switch over, I had issues with shimano shifters on a sram cassette. The spacing proved to be ever so different or some such, mostly worked but just wasn't as crisp as with a shimano cassette. The opposite may not be such an issue (sram shifters) who knows... just something to think about if you mix and match...


Really? I use XT Shifters/Mechs with SRAM cassette chain. Havent had an issue but I replaced my cassette with the same model so I cant say I know otherwise!

I personally prefer Shimano, namely XT. SRAM is great though. Used an X9 for a while and it was fantastic. A little more time consuming to tune without the use of the barrel adjuster but when riding over rocky trails, the SRAM gear will keep the tention in your chain better allowing better pedaling.
But in the event of an accident, Shimano will come off ontop. Their derailleurs move a little more freely allowing for those knocks etc.
I reckon if there is nothing wrong with what you have now, why fix it? If its just for a change, then by all means, have a go with SRAM but if not, stay with Shimano.


I'm a dual control fan so am unlikely to switch soon.

This is a little off topic but I find that interesting. I was considering DC a while ago now and the concensus seems to be that it isnt all that popular. Do you have any issues on decents when your riding the brakes...(ie accidently mis-shifting?)

[fishboy2807]

What would your advice be??? stay with shimano or go to SRAM???

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it's broke, you got options.

I'm currently running sram chain and cassette on a xtr DC setup, only because it was there and I didn't need to buy it. It's all running fine though was a little noisy initially, then bedded in well.

[DaGonz]

This is a little off topic but I find that interesting. I was considering DC a while ago now and the concensus seems to be that it isnt all that popular. Do you have any issues on decents when your riding the brakes...(ie accidently mis-shifting?)

nope... but I have XT DC's on the fun bike at the moment which are going to get replaced as a bad idea. I run XTR's on the race bikes and love 'em. I run them with a standard rear mech so you push down on the lever to change up which I think makes more sense in terms of shifting while braking.

I find the whole ease of ability to shift while braking thing is perhaps a bit over marketed by the big S as I even now, still find it a fairly definate action to do so *shrug*

Cheers
Gonz

[xc_machine]

Xt is really good quality. For me, there would have to be a bloody good reason to change full shifting components from one to another, Whether it be from Sram to Shimano or vise-versa.

A full Xt driveline will work perfectly when set up right and used properly.

I've always gone with shimano and always will, so my opinion might be a tad biased. Bottom line.. Stick with Shimano, unless you have a spare couple hundred bucks and a good, educated reason why you are changing to SRAM, or anything else for that matter.

[GravityGuru]

Bit of a Hijack... but i'm in need of a new drivetrain after smeshing my x7 derailer and the shifter being generally shagged.... I'm thinking XT Shadow rear derailleur, Saint Shifter, and ultegra cassette. All this is costing me $230 posted from CRC. Anyone have any opinions or better/cheaper suggestions?

[craign]

A little more time consuming to tune without the use of the barrel adjuster

I though there was a barrel adjuster at the shifters? If there's not then just used the one at the rear mech. I find SRAM a world easier to tune as the leverage is lower the tolerance to differing cable tensioner is higher, whereas shimano the cable tension needs to be spot on.

[alchemist]

I thought there was a barrel adjuster at the shifters?

There is indeed.

[ac_DHer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDRlkT5147Q
Check out this video it gives you a good insite into how much shimano moves compared to sram

[AngoXC]

I though there was a barrel adjuster at the shifters?

Really? Mine certainly didnt have one...Mind you, it was second hand. I stand corrected.

[sprocket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDRlkT5147Q
Check out this video it gives you a good insite into how much shimano moves compared to sram


the new shadow xt is different than the old one as it has the same basic setup as the sram. so its only the old ones that jump around like that, but the new stuff is no worse than the sram..

[DeeMax]

If you've ridden with Shimano ever since you started riding, i'd say go SRAM, you'll be suprised.

[Ham]

ride a bike with shimano then ride a bike with sram see which you prefer.

im going back to shimano from sram because i like the feel of the new stuff plus run dura-ace on the roadie and want to keep it all in the family.

[shiznik]

I had 2006 XTR and 2006 X-9, and I just purchased a bike with 2007 x-0.
As some have mentioned, sram feels alot "crisper" than shimano.
Sram never skipped gears, but on a rare occasion I found that Shimano did, this is probalbly due to something else however.
Sram was slightly quicker at changing gears.
If I were you id stick with Shimano and spend the money on something else.

[leftieant]

I've got SRAM X9 on my bike, I put XT on my girlfriends bike. I like the XT better. Dunno why, just do.

Ant

[goldman]

Hi, I used to have XT and when I changed bikes I went to X9 and preferred it.
(more reliable shifting, less adjusting, one thumb up and down) and I wouldn't change back. Having said that Shimano has changed to a system that is similar to SRAM so it is probably much of a muchness.

[rockydog]

Keep with an XT Cassette and an XT (HG93) chain joined with a SRAM joining link.
Keep the XT front mech as well but change out the shifters and rear derailleur to X9.
Cable wise I use XTR on the inners and outers.

what he said..
except go for Jagwire cable outers (stiffer).
And the SRAM PG990 cassette is much better value.

[scblack]

what he said..
except go for Jagwire cable outers (stiffer).
And the SRAM PG990 cassette is much better value.
Sorry off topic a bit.

I am about to replace a cassette on my STP - is the SRAM PG990 much better than SRAM PG980?

Bike Shed has 980 posted for $85, 990 for $115. Is the 990 worth the extra? I would guess not being an STP used for street bashing and MTNX racing?

[rockydog]

Sorry off topic a bit.

I am about to replace a cassette on my STP - is the SRAM PG990 much better than SRAM PG980?

Bike Shed has 980 posted for $85, 990 for $115. Is the 990 worth the extra? I would guess not being an STP used for street bashing and MTNX racing?

Phantom has the 990 for $100-
It's quite a bit lighter, and quite a bit blingier.

[scblack]

Phantom has the 990 for $100-
It's quite a bit lighter, and quite a bit blingier.
I just checked weight weenies -

980 11-32 273gm.

990 11-32 271gm.

Reckon I'll stick with the 980.:)

[rockydog]

980 11-32 273gm.

990 11-32 271gm.


HAWHAW 2 grams. That is precious.
I must have been thinking of the 970.

Who names these things anyway?

[GrubNut]

I just checked weight weenies -

980 11-32 273gm.

990 11-32 271gm.

Reckon I'll stick with the 980.:)

You can get 990s for around $80 delivered from reputable hong kong ebay sellers.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/07-SRAM-PG-990-Cassette-11-32T-9-Speed-RED-990_W0QQitemZ330166447846QQihZ014QQcategoryZ42328Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[scblack]

You can get 990s for around $80 delivered from reputable hong kong ebay sellers.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/07-SRAM-PG-990-Cassette-11-32T-9-Speed-RED-990_W0QQitemZ330166447846QQihZ014QQcategoryZ42328Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
My young nephew Cletus has told me much the same - I'll investigate further.

Cheers.:)

[DaGonz]

... from reputable hong kong ebay sellers


is that an Oxymoron?

:)

Cheers
Gonz

[FR Drew]

scblack, if it were me I'd go for an XT cassette in preference ot the PG990 or 980.

Or, if it's purely street and MTNX then an Ultegra 12-27 9 speed. (How often are you using those teeth at 28 and above?)

I prefer the shifting and lifespan on the Shimano cassettes to that of the SRAM.

[alchemist]

Phantom has the 990 for $100-
It's quite a bit lighter, and quite a bit blingier.

It's got red anno - do you need any other reason?

[GrubNut]

is that an Oxymoron?

:)

Cheers
Gonz

:)
I hope not, since I suggested it. As always it's caveat emptor, but personally I found 999 out 1000 positive feedbacks on a volume of over 10,000 transactions resasurring enough to pull the trigger, and was pleased with the result.

Back on topic. SRAM forever, shimano never! ;) XT front derailleurs are pretty good though.

Pretty-good-front-derailleur. Now THAT is an oxymoron.

[alchemist]

:)Pretty-good-front-derailleur. Now THAT is an oxymoron.

And by including "front" in there you've made it a tautology also. :p

[McBain]

I've been running SRAM on the MTB for 5 years or so and don't see any reason to change. I rode a '07 XTR equipped bike for a few weeks this year (not that stupid DC stuff tho), and it was nice, but I'll stick to my Gripshift thanks.

That said, I use Shimano cassettes and Wipperman or Shimano chains (and an XT front mech). Hopefully SRAM cassettes have improved, but the last SRAM cassette I had chewed up the freewheel body pretty badly - the plastic sprocket carrier didn't hold things in place very well, allowing the sprockets to chomp away.

[scblack]

scblack, if it were me I'd go for an XT cassette in preference ot the PG990 or 980.

Or, if it's purely street and MTNX then an Ultegra 12-27 9 speed. (How often are you using those teeth at 28 and above?)

I prefer the shifting and lifespan on the Shimano cassettes to that of the SRAM.
Thanks FRDrew, I prefer SRAM in general to Shimano - shifting is FAR more precise. I have an XT cassette on my Bullit (X-0 derailleur) which works perfectly and have had no problems at all. I have never had a SRAM cassette but I thought I'd give it the go. Now I'm not sure(should listen to you guys and go with Shimano XT cassette me thinks;)).

I do use big cogs grinding the hills around Sydney CBD a fair bit, but ultegra is one I had not thought of.

[n plus one]

As embarassed as I am to say this I'd probably suggest the Shimano cassette too - I still feel the big S has the better cassettes, although PG990 does seem to get better as it wears in.

As for the OP question I say give the SRAM a go, you don't like you replace it when it flogs out. Either way you'll know more than you do now, so there's no real loss.

For the record I'm an XO gripshift man myself (when forced to use gears), although perversly enough I quite liked DC....:confused:

[Turner_rider]

oh yeah, if you do switch over, I had issues with shimano shifters on a sram cassette. The spacing proved to be ever so different or some such, mostly worked but just wasn't as crisp as with a shimano cassette. The opposite may not be such an issue (sram shifters) who knows... just something to think about if you mix and match...

For what its worth, I had the same slight spacing issue as well with a SRAM cassette on an otherwise full XTR setup, where it was impossible to make it smooth in all gears (ie adjust for lower gears induced skipping in higher gears and adjusting for higher gears induced skipping in lower gears).

The tolerances of the SRAM cassettes I looked at was also questionable as identical cassettes were visually different in the spacing between the smallest and largest gears when compared side by side.

[miko]

Another vote for Shimano on the Cassette front, and also for chains. SRAM lasted 10% as long as the big S for that stuff. Shifting was much the same.

[bazza]

hopefully should have a fully equiped 08 xt bike soon. hopefully. should be awesome. i do agree with the six to some a half a dozen to others. i highly doubt there is a clear advantage of one to the other. i personally prefer shimano though just because i am used to it and can generally tune it faster.

[Bodin]

I've been using SRAM shifters, rear Mechs, chains and cassettes for about 3 years, after getting the sh!ts with 2004-generation (and earlier) XT gear. SRAM stuff just seemed to hold its adjustments so much better.

However, I've always felt the X9 stuff had a slightly "cheap" feel about it. I like the looks of the 2008 XT stuff and most people give it rave reviews, so if I didn't have so much spare X9 stuff around, I'd be looking asap at buying new XT shifters and a shadow mech (have you seen the XTR shadow with the carbon cage?).

Chains and cassettes? I dunno. I look after my gear and, apart from one generation of Dura-Ace chains that everyone was breaking for a while, I've never really found Shimano or SRAM to be any better or worse than each other. IMO - it's all about the maintenance with those particular items.

[santonelli]

Hmmm well I have ridden a lot of SRAM and Big S stuff and I must say that the SRAM gear is just crisper and the shifters are nicer/more natural to use. In fact I just bought new XO shifters and Rear Mech to replace my 2 year old XTR Rear Mech and XT Shifter (sticking with the XT front Mech). Cluster wise I have been using the 990's for about a year and agree they shift better with SRAM shifters rather than Shimano but I must say Wippermann chains are the way to go.

[alexb618]

which model wippermann? i am due for a new chain/cluster soon... will either go the 990 or XT (leaning toward XT as i use shimano shifters/der) but undecided on chain. never had any issues with dura ace chains but im up for a change.