General Cycling Discussion - Shimano to SRAM Transition

I finally switched from Shimano to SRAM. So I took off all my old components and changed the following:

Shimano XT to SRAM x.7 R/D
Shimano LX to SRAM Gen X F/D
Kona Jack**** Grips to Odi Lock on Intense grips w/ Cane Creek Ergo Bar Ends
Shimano chain to SRAM PC-69

haha anyways :D pix...

http://s117405441.onlinehome.us/gallery/albums/wpw-20050427/normal_DSCF2973.JPG
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Oooooo...:D I was thinking of doing the same, how do you like the X.7 compaired to the XT RD? How do you like SRAM's levers compaired to shimano's?

After my XT group passes I will make the transition as well. My wife is about to make the swap. Let us know how you like them.

well done! All those looking into the same check out
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12862-135_SRASD3_KIT-3-Parts-57-Derailleurs/SRAM--X.7-Trigger-Shifter--w_-X.7-Rear-Derailleur-COMBO.htm
best deal I can find. What i like a lot about the sram derailleur in the rear is the cable routing, instead of this big loop going into the barrel adjuster and all. Its a much more direct route from the final cable stop to the derailleur

What is the difference between X.7 and X.9? Is it bushings vs. bearings.

notice any difference on the FD?

the front derailleur is amazingly snappy I'm talking about SPRING loaded, you drop a cog and it's going. I love the 1:1 actuation ratio, makes shifting easier, and I actually am getting used to the dual thumb shifters. The rear derailleur jumps gears a bit quicker and I love the derailleur adjustments at your fingertips, so I can adjust while riding...I'm going to put some miles on it this weekend and see how it goes. Right now all I have is a brief outting. As far as setting the stuff up it's easy. The only bad thing about the front derailleur is, with the location of my water bottle cage I had to remove the cage to add the derailleur, a bushing might fix this problem...I was really drunk when I took those pix so I'm going to post some in focus ones if anyone is interested

did the same few years ago...save lotsa weight, can buy sram anything much cheaper especially on ebay and it prevents shimano from being the monopoly they were...well, sort of...plus, MUCH easier to service!....what's there not to like?

++++can you start fires on them there magnesium frames?????

all of this pointless upgrading kinda makes me giggle.

me too but it's liqour, computer parts, or bike parts...so yeah...I don't have any real bills other than some credit card bills I rang up :D cheap cheap rent now...parents insist, still cheaper than moving out, and no car :D
all of this pointless upgrading kinda makes me giggle.

me too but it's liqour, computer parts, or bike parts...so yeah...I don't have any real bills other than some credit card bills I rang up :D cheap cheap rent now...parents insist, still cheaper than moving out, and no car :D
That plus if he wanted to he could eBay his old parts to help pay for his new ones...

That plus if he wanted to he could eBay his old parts to help pay for his new ones...
I'm getting 50 bucks off a guy I know for the shifters and r/d they're pretty roughed up, but still work...so I figure what the heck, I'm going to try this Gen X f/d for a while and see how i like it though the Deore might come back.

better, in focus pix :D
http://s117405441.onlinehome.us/gallery/albums/wpw-20050427/DSCF2989.JPG
http://s117405441.onlinehome.us/gallery/albums/wpw-20050427/DSCF2990.JPG

the front derailleur is amazingly snappy I'm talking about SPRING loaded, you drop a cog and it's going. I love the 1:1 actuation ratio, makes shifting easier, and I actually am getting used to the dual thumb shifters. The rear derailleur jumps gears a bit quicker and I love the derailleur adjustments at your fingertips, so I can adjust while riding...I'm going to put some miles on it this weekend and see how it goes. Right now all I have is a brief outting. As far as setting the stuff up it's easy. The only bad thing about the front derailleur is, with the location of my water bottle cage I had to remove the cage to add the derailleur, a bushing might fix this problem...I was really drunk when I took those pix so I'm going to post some in focus ones if anyone is interested

I guess I I would want to know how the old fd worked with the same shifters and the new sram but you did not try that.
so I am debating on if it would be an improvement changing my deore fr for a sram with the sram shfters?

... The rear derailleur jumps gears a bit quicker and I love the derailleur adjustments at your fingertips, so I can adjust while riding...

My '98 LX shifter pods have cable adjustors right there at my finger tips, don't all modern shifters?

I'm really not digging the indexed front shifting on the SRAM pods. I think tomorrow I'll be throwing my old XC friction thumbshifter up for the front derailleur.

I'm really not digging the indexed front shifting on the SRAM pods. I think tomorrow I'll be throwing my old XC friction thumbshifter up for the front derailleur.
Why's that? Just not used to having to dial that in?

Why's that? Just not used to having to dial that in?

Yeah, I'm used to having some kind of on-the-fly adjustment. If I dial out the rub in the middle of the cassette, I still get some on the ends. I like being able to trim the derailleur a bit.

Well, honestly, I like singlespeeds. Me simple like caveman.

Nine speed right? They tend to be a lot more sensitive to gear combos that approach crosschaining.

all of this pointless upgrading kinda makes me giggle.

people upgrade their cars all the time and no one bats an eyelid- yet you are expected to wait till your bike disintigrates? :rolleyes:

people upgrade their cars all the time and no one bats an eyelid- yet you are expected to wait till your bike disintigrates? :rolleyes:
He's been a member sonce 02. I'm pretty sure he's making a funny

Nine speed right? They tend to be a lot more sensitive to gear combos that approach crosschaining.

Screw nine and ten speed, who the crap needs 11 or even 12 tooth cogs other than road racers, and don't give me that compact drive hogwash, compact drives just puts that much more stress on already overly thin chains and cogs so they need replacing more often and reduces flexibility in gearing combos (10 teeth to 11 is a 10% jump, 20 to 21 is a 5% jump)

Nine speed right? They tend to be a lot more sensitive to gear combos that approach crosschaining.

Yeah, I figured. It'd be nice to have the full range while I'm in the middle ring, though.

Screw nine and ten speed, who the crap needs 11 or even 12 tooth cogs other than road racers, and don't give me that compact drive hogwash, compact drives just puts that much more stress on already overly thin chains and cogs so they need replacing more often and reduces flexibility in gearing combos (10 teeth to 11 is a 10% jump, 20 to 21 is a 5% jump) Uhh I don't know about you, but I live on my 11 and 12t cogs. I actually opted for the 11-21 versus the 12-26...I love how nice it is to have a compact cluster, so sue me.

I guess I I would want to know how the old fd worked with the same shifters and the new sram but you did not try that.
so I am debating on if it would be an improvement changing my deore fr for a sram with the sram shfters?
the SRAM front der. has a stiffer spring, and seems to move the chain quicker than the shimano derailleur did.

Maybe shorten the rear derailleur housing?

TRD, how are those new wheels holding up?

Maybe shorten the rear derailleur housing?

TRD, how are those new wheels holding up?
I'm going to shorten it, I just was too lazy to get the bolt cutters, it's like laced with wire, not an easy clip...for sure. As far as the wheels, so far so good. I think I need to true my rear wheel it's gotten a tad bit out of true, but I've been bumping curbs on 1.5" slicks, so it's no surprise. Otherwise they're holding up great!

Uhh I don't know about you, but I live on my 11 and 12t cogs. I actually opted for the 11-21 versus the 12-26...I love how nice it is to have a compact cluster, so sue me.
What rings you runnin', if I may ask?

What rings you runnin', if I may ask?

Triple upfront (24,32,44)

Cassette (11-21 Road) (11-32 Mountain)

It's fortunate you brought the subject up. My old Ultegra cassette is shot and I'm replacing with a Sram 12/23 one. Anyone have experience with the Sram casette?

Thanks.

It's fortunate you brought the subject up. My old Ultegra cassette is shot and I'm replacing with a Sram 12/23 one. Anyone have experience with the Sram casette?

Thanks.
my friend and I both use this cassette: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=12910&detailName=SRAM%20Powerglide%20II%20PG970%20Road%20Cassette%209%20Speed&style_id=065%20SRA7R4&dept_id=&deptName=&sub_id=&subName=&lprice=31.98&hprice=39.98

He uses the 12-26, and I use the 11-21, my friend is ordering the 12-23 for his road bike. Great reviews on this cassette.

It's fortunate you brought the subject up. My old Ultegra cassette is shot and I'm replacing with a Sram 12/23 one. Anyone have experience with the Sram casette?

Thanks.
I've been running a 11-23 SRAM R-9 for better than a year now. It's the only one that's lasted this long for me.

people upgrade their cars all the time and no one bats an eyelid- yet you are expected to wait till your bike disintigrates? :rolleyes:
'I was making a joke...but since you said it, I make fun of people that upgrade their cars too...:D

Triple upfront (24,32,44)

Cassette (11-21 Road) (11-32 Mountain)
Maybe you should try bigger rings if you spend all that time on 12 and 11 tooth sprockets. It would be easier on the chain, cassette, and chainwheels. I use 24, 34, 46 sometimes 26, 36, 46 or 48 but I only occationally use less than a 14 tooth sprocket. On my MTB that is. With a 30 tooth low gear.

Maybe you should try bigger rings if you spend all that time on 12 and 11 tooth sprockets. It would be easier on the chain, cassette, and chainwheels. I use 24, 34, 46 sometimes 26, 36, 46 or 48 but I only occationally use less than a 14 tooth sprocket. On my MTB that is. With a 30 tooth low gear.
Not really. Your theory only addresses one aspect of the problem which would in fact give him a similar ratio to what he has now, however like most mashers he will revert back to using the 11 and 12 when he feels he has gained enough strength. A larger chain ring then will increase the entry and departure angles to his cassette causing more of the load to be borne by fewer teeth increasing wear on the cassette and potentially increasing chain stretch.

Then, yet bigger rings!!http://www.cripplefight.com/smileys/signmuahaha.gif

Then, yet bigger rings!!http://www.cripplefight.com/smileys/signmuahaha.gif
Frame clearance issues

Wider BB! The big ring rarely has clearence issues though.

Wider BB! The big ring rarely has clearence issues though.
Then you screw the chain line causing an effect similar to cross chaining. I agree if it's a triple that you can often get away with a lot, but it's still not often you'll see a 52 on a MTB

I was running 26/36/50 for a while with a 32/14 7-speed cassette.
I had a 2 1/2 mile 5% grade hill on my commute to highschool. 40mph every day.

The big 50 had no ramps or pins but with a little finess it shifted well enough, despite a well used exgage300 front derailer and shifter.(At the time, it went: several layers of crappy xmart shimano stuff, exgage300, deore, deoreLX, deoreXT, XTR)