Shimano vs. SRAM

[Shkenblke]

So I have always had Shimano on any bike I have ever owned. Whats the main differences between the two? What does everyone prefer?

[davkatreb]

Singlespeed on dirt. Fixed on pavement.

That is all.

[rockyrider]

On a full suspension bike the SRAM X-9 or X-0 rear derailleur with the 1:1 actuation ratio tends to be less prone to mis-shifts caused by cable gunk, cable movement through the suspension travel and general shaking and thrashing caused by the rear end of the bike bounding around.

The Shimano Rapid-Rise (low normal) rear derailleurs seem to be more prone to the suspension related thrashing issues than their normal rise derailleurs.

Shimano makes a better front derailleur, at least so far.

The new XTR shifters might finally be a match to the SRAM X-0 triggers. The big pain with Shimano for me has been the inability to shift a bunch of gears in one push, which I could do with my old 7 spd thumb shifters and can do with the SRAM trigger shifters (on downshifts where it really counts).

Still nothing beats a bar top thumbshifter for me for being able to decide how many gears to go up or down in one shot, and to glance at it to know where you are in the range.

Or that's how I see it anyway.... :D

[mimbresman]

My early bikes had/have Suntour friction deraillers. They were the standard Japanese derailler for a long time. Then came Shimano with their index shifting. Friction worked fine when things were only 5-speed or 6. Then the gaps between gears got to be more narrow, necessitating more precision in shifting, hence indexing.
My point is, whatever works. I haven't tried Sram, because the Shimano stuff has been bomber with me. I adapt to what ever I have.
BTW I use my thumb for both up shifting and down shifting on the Shimano shifter. I always like the old top mount shifters the best. Low maintance for sure. Sometimes I would have to use my whole palm to shift bacause the cables would be so gunked, but at least you had that option.

[plume_mtb]

I was impressed by sram's x0 level components but that's about it. Shimano has a much better all around component group.

[LeeMcGough]

I prefer the SRAM shifter ( up and down shifting with just a thumb is cool, and also mitt friendly when it is cold out ), but a SRAM rear derailleur has nowhere to go but into the trash if it gets hit. At least the shimano rear derailleurs have a chance of survival when struck, because they can swing back. The path of the SRAM doesn't permit it to do that. At least the x7 stuff doesn't. I don't think the others are any different.

[Ripp]

I won't say anything bad about the SRAM stuff since I've never ridden with any of it. But he shimano on all threee of my bikes works great. My bike cover the gamut from Deore to XTR and it all works great! I had a couple ghost shifting issues with my FS bike when it was new and the cables were stretching but nothing since. Even with the front deraileur on my Bianchi Volpe that has risers bars on it and the deraileur was made to work with the drop bars that come on it, thats probably a testament to the ability of the LBS mechanic who made it not only work with the V-brake levers, but set it up well enough that it would stay working! All in all really good product line in my eyes!

[brunop]

rohloff.:eek:

2 fixed street.:D

1 campy touring.:cool:

[real_ss_budgie]

yeah still a shimano fan...as long as you dont get caught up in getting the latest and greatest bits to match your older stuff. the 93 XT hub is still going strong as with the old 737 pedals...and all my shifty bits are in top nick..in a box. SS.

but hey i aint tried the SRAM system so...????

[Jay13]

I run a Shimano Saint drivetrain. It works great and is burly as hell. Light it's not, but then again I don't count grams...

I ran an Sram X0 drive train up till about a year and a half ago. The shifting was the best I've ever had, zero problems and smooth as butter. The only problem was I kept messing up the rear deraileur, it wasn't very sturdy. I ended up destroying it and decided Sram wasn't for me.

The Saint stuff isn't quite as responsive with shifting but it is bombproof which to me is more important...

[longhaultruker2]

Singlespeed on dirt. Fixed on pavement.

That is all.

you got cranksets on those bikes?if they ain't shimano,they're "other",which wuz one of the choices;)

[Phillium]

Personally, I almost like SRAM better just because its less common. Shimano is on everything. Thats boring.
I can't say i've recognised any real differences other than personal preference between them, but I havent run much of SRAM.

[rockhound]

I have run both Shimano and Sram and like them both, although the Sram stuff is kinda new to me.

Having no shifty bits is nice to, when you aren't in the mood for shifting or nothing else is in tune...:)

[tryandgetme]

you got cranksets on those bikes?if they ain't shimano,they're "other",which wuz one of the choices;)

http://www.footprintpress.com/images/CelerifereBike.gif

I bet dave's got one of these ;)

[davkatreb]

you got cranksets on those bikes?if they ain't shimano,they're "other",which wuz one of the choices;)
Suntour, Suntour, generic Redline BMX, Ashtabula. So I voted "other".

Cool?

[davkatreb]

http://www.footprintpress.com/images/CelerifereBike.gif

I bet dave's got one of these ;)
You lose, eh.

[brown group]

I'd run Shimano for years, found the rear derailleurs always a bit fussy. Switched over to the x.9 SRAM group two years ago and haven't looked back. I'm also one of those who prefer the shorty grip shifts. (which I still think are the fastest way to move through a lot of gears in a hurry.)

Th x.9 rear derailleur is pretty durable, I've bashed mine a few times and it's still true and shifts crisply.

Also using Raceface Atlas cranks for the past two years. Quite happy with them, too. Smooth, no creaks, no wobbles (I'm 215# and not too gentle on my stuff).

[adam12]

Ran old shimano eight speed XT forever. Thought I'd try the nine speed junk, and was disapointed enough to consider single speed. Call Noggs!

[LeeMcGough]

More and more people in my area are going back to eight speed. Less fussy/more reliable. I am considering it for my Epic, but on my other bike I need all 9 gears, I use them all (single ring up front).

[longhaultruker2]

Suntour, Suntour, generic Redline BMX, Ashtabula. So I voted "other".

Cool?

yep,way.:cool:

[rockyrider]

More and more people in my area are going back to eight speed. Less fussy/more reliable. I am considering it for my Epic, but on my other bike I need all 9 gears, I use them all (single ring up front).I bet you only need the min/max range, not the extra gears in between at the top end. It's crazy that they have a stack of 11, 12, 14, 16 with a top count of 32T, or 11, 13, 15, 17 etc up to 34T. I usually shift through the top half of the cassette 2 gears at a time up or down.

As long as you have the low gear you need (32 or 34) then you'll likely never notice whether you have a 11T or 12T on the top end.

I just switched by 2006 Slayer over to an 8spd 12-32T XTR cog and the front derailleur to an 8 speed and switched to an 8 speed X-7 SRAM derailleur and SRAM X-9 rear derailleur. The chain is less prone to gunk suck and can run wider chain angles from the middle ring with the 9 speed front rings.

[fokof]

Two single speed and a Rohloff equiped bike , so I voted "other"

[Jay13]

More and more people in my area are going back to eight speed. Less fussy/more reliable. I am considering it for my Epic, but on my other bike I need all 9 gears, I use them all (single ring up front).

I went to 8 speed in back and single 34 tooth in the front about two years ago, I'm very happy with the set up.

[mimbresman]

I remember having so much fun on my Trek 850. It had a triple up front and a 5-speed Suntour freewheel on the back with friction shifting. I climbed Pearl Pass on that bike!

My old touring bike still has 5 speed Suntour friction shifting (with a triple Ofmega crank). My Bridgestone RB-2 has indexed downtube shifters, but only 6 speeds. Plenty for my kind of road biking. Don't recall the deraillers. Shimano something...

[bitchslapmadman]

i have never had a ghost shift my drivetrain. I have in the past experienced miss-shifts due to pilot error.
In my 4 years of using duallies I have yet to miss fire. I have had issues due to a bad cassette chain line but replacing the cassette cured that.
The only "ghosting" i have encountered in ANY rig I have examined is due to bad or poor drivetrain tuning and set up or worn out parts/cogs

[Shkenblke]

anyone notice that when it comes to SRAM people either love or hate it? I was reading a bunch of reviews on SRAM rear derauliers and noticed how some people feel they are incredibly cheap and break within 30 min of taking them on the trail, or others feel they are indestructible and the greatest things in the world? Kinda funny.

[Jay13]

anyone notice that when it comes to SRAM people either love or hate it? I was reading a bunch of reviews on SRAM rear derauliers and noticed how some people feel they are incredibly cheap and break within 30 min of taking them on the trail, or others feel they are indestructible and the greatest things in the world? Kinda funny.

The XO rear deraileur is far from indestructable. I haven't ridden the new Black Box one with the carbon cage, but I ran one of the first ones that had carbon parts. It was easily destroyed by a small stick.
(Until that point it shifted like butter...)
If you want an indestructable rear deraileur, go with a Saint. They are completely bombproof, and shift well.