MTB : Shimano vs Sram
Discussion
I am looking at a new mountain bike on the Cycle to Work Scheme, but this has Sram X7 and X9 equioment fitted, rather than the Shimano I am more familiar with.
Not having had dealings with Sram in the past, I'm not familiar with them or their spec levels. I have been told that these are comparible with XT level, can anyone confirm if this is correct and are they a worthwhile alternative?
Not having had dealings with Sram in the past, I'm not familiar with them or their spec levels. I have been told that these are comparible with XT level, can anyone confirm if this is correct and are they a worthwhile alternative?
I have had bikes with both shimano XT and sram X7/9. I personally prefer the Sram. It is a matter of personal taste. They are both very good and offer quick shifting. The Sram shifters take a little bit of getting used to though as they are both push, instead of shimanos push pull system. The Sram definateley have a solid click to them wheres the shimano are very smooth and silent. It's all a matter of preference. I have also found the Sram to be very reliable with very little maintenance, whereas the shimano ones needed a little more looking after.
Someone will now come along and say that shimanos are the best by a long way, but at the end of the day, it's your bike and you need to have a go on both to see which you prefer.
Someone will now come along and say that shimanos are the best by a long way, but at the end of the day, it's your bike and you need to have a go on both to see which you prefer.
slomax said:
I have had bikes with both shimano XT and sram X7/9. I personally prefer the Sram. It is a matter of personal taste. They are both very good and offer quick shifting. The Sram shifters take a little bit of getting used to though as they are both push, instead of shimanos push pull system. The Sram definateley have a solid click to them wheres the shimano are very smooth and silent. It's all a matter of preference. I have also found the Sram to be very reliable with very little maintenance, whereas the shimano ones needed a little more looking after.
Someone will now come along and say that shimanos are the best by a long way, but at the end of the day, it's your bike and you need to have a go on both to see which you prefer.
SRAM gear is utter crap Someone will now come along and say that shimanos are the best by a long way, but at the end of the day, it's your bike and you need to have a go on both to see which you prefer.
Both excellent brands - TBH you struggle to buy poorly designed and made stuff these days. Whatever you get you'll like.
I have SRAM on my road bike and Shimano on my MTBs. My only advice re shifters etc is that top end stuff isn't really worth the money unless you really are looking at weight saving. IME mid range stuff fitted with top end cables is the best combination - unless money is no object.
XTR > XT/Saint> SLX > Deore
X0 > X9 > X7 > X5
So yes, roughly XT level. Or 'not the silly expensive top level, but really rather good anyway'.
Sram tends to feel mechanical -stiffly sprung - it 'slams' into gear quickly. Shimano is silky smooth in comparison - personal preference really.
X0 > X9 > X7 > X5
So yes, roughly XT level. Or 'not the silly expensive top level, but really rather good anyway'.
Sram tends to feel mechanical -stiffly sprung - it 'slams' into gear quickly. Shimano is silky smooth in comparison - personal preference really.
Go on then, I'll give my opinion as well.
My last bike had XT and my new bike has X9, I much prefer the X9. It has a much more solid feeling action, with a definite click/clunk into gear. However, it is very sensitive, so I have once or twice accidentally changed gear when moving my hands on the bars. Thats probably more due to the position of the levers though....
My last bike had XT and my new bike has X9, I much prefer the X9. It has a much more solid feeling action, with a definite click/clunk into gear. However, it is very sensitive, so I have once or twice accidentally changed gear when moving my hands on the bars. Thats probably more due to the position of the levers though....
Go on then, I'll give my opinion as well.
My last bike had XT and my new bike has X9, I much prefer the X9. It has a much more solid feeling action, with a definite click/clunk into gear. However, it is very sensitive, so I have once or twice accidentally changed gear when moving my hands on the bars. Thats probably more due to the position of the levers though....
My last bike had XT and my new bike has X9, I much prefer the X9. It has a much more solid feeling action, with a definite click/clunk into gear. However, it is very sensitive, so I have once or twice accidentally changed gear when moving my hands on the bars. Thats probably more due to the position of the levers though....
from experience, SRAM road = 
whereas SRAM mtb = 
my mtb has an X9 rear mech which is just awful, it always fails to pull the cable through after a few minutes riding and this despite being bathed in every bike lubricant known to man... the shifters are X7 and not the best either. although they work well enough the shifters are very "plasticy" and have no positive feel to them at all...
I would not base a decision on the shifters and mechs though, frame, wheels, forks, then start looking at components, there is always shimano stuff for sale and SLX/XT isnt that expensive to buy new. it sucks having to consider replacing new parts soon after buying the bike but as i said, the mechs and shifters shouldnt be the deciding factor unless framer material, wheels and forks are the same.
whereas SRAM mtb = my mtb has an X9 rear mech which is just awful, it always fails to pull the cable through after a few minutes riding and this despite being bathed in every bike lubricant known to man... the shifters are X7 and not the best either. although they work well enough the shifters are very "plasticy" and have no positive feel to them at all...
I would not base a decision on the shifters and mechs though, frame, wheels, forks, then start looking at components, there is always shimano stuff for sale and SLX/XT isnt that expensive to buy new. it sucks having to consider replacing new parts soon after buying the bike but as i said, the mechs and shifters shouldnt be the deciding factor unless framer material, wheels and forks are the same.
I changed about 2 years ago over to SRAM and at the time it was a million miles ahead of the big S, if this wasn't the case then Sram wouldn't of taken such a massive chunk of the market like they did. I have full X9 and the shifting and feel was much, much better than the previous XT set up I had. Shifters don't really take anytime to adjust to as they are only marginally different in use. X9 is more XTR level and X7 is XT. X0 wasm't in the first Mech line up but now it is, it is fairly safe to say it is above XTR. Now I know Shimano have raised their game in the last few years with all their Shadow stuff so I can't compare how good it is now but I would take some pretty good stuff to make me change back. Also I have had to do very little adjusting over the past few years, it's a lot less labour intensive as it stays in check pretty well.
A final note really sould be the tightness of the whole Sram set up. Again Shimano may have now caught up but at the time I changed Sram mechs didn'tmove forward under pressure and hit the chainstay, they are rock solid so my standard cage X9 mech kept everything much more taught than the 105 super short cage I briefly had trying to address my chain slap issues.
John
A final note really sould be the tightness of the whole Sram set up. Again Shimano may have now caught up but at the time I changed Sram mechs didn'tmove forward under pressure and hit the chainstay, they are rock solid so my standard cage X9 mech kept everything much more taught than the 105 super short cage I briefly had trying to address my chain slap issues.
John
I had an old Specialized MTB with Shimano Deore gears & found the Push/Pull so easy to use I didn't even think about it.
Now have SRAM X4 /X5 on my new bike, and although the gear selection seems more positive, it is a bit more clunky, and I hate the 2 push buttons, I always have to think about which one I need to press, it is not what I'd call 'instinctive'
Now have SRAM X4 /X5 on my new bike, and although the gear selection seems more positive, it is a bit more clunky, and I hate the 2 push buttons, I always have to think about which one I need to press, it is not what I'd call 'instinctive'
Yep - its personal taste.
I run SRAM shifters on all my bikes now, with various mechs.
Commuter hack: SX5 shifter, X5 rear mech. No front mech
Old MTB: Attack shifters, XT mechs (the Attacks are X5 level shifters with Shimano-style pull ratio for the rear)
New MTB: X9 shifters, X9 rear, SLX front mech
Personally I prefer the push/push setup to push/pull and can't really get my head around shifting with brake levers
I run SRAM shifters on all my bikes now, with various mechs.
Commuter hack: SX5 shifter, X5 rear mech. No front mech
Old MTB: Attack shifters, XT mechs (the Attacks are X5 level shifters with Shimano-style pull ratio for the rear)
New MTB: X9 shifters, X9 rear, SLX front mech
Personally I prefer the push/push setup to push/pull and can't really get my head around shifting with brake levers
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