Mountain Biking - Shimano vs. SRAM which parts should I choose?

I'm going to do a conversion from 8-speed to 9-speed on my bike. I've already got a LX rear derailleur and an XT front derailleur on the bike, so I need to get shifters, a cassette, and a chain. I have the option of either LX shifters, or SRAM Rocket trigger shifters. I can get them both for about the same price... which is the better shifter? Also, I can get the SRAM PG-990 cassette for about the same price as the LX cassette. The SRAM is a lighter cassette, but will it shift as well with the shimano derailleur? I'm more concerned about things functioning properly than weight.

Any thoughts you have on this subject are welcome :)

Shifters are a matter of personal preference. Just know that the LX shifters for 2005 are going to be those stupid STI style levers as opposed to triggers. I run SRAM cassettes and chains with otherwise Shi*No componentry on a regular basis with no ill effect.

Those sound good. Stay away from anything Deore.

I have SRAM X.7 shifters and rear derailluer and love em. Very precise, way better than the Deore bike I tested.

At the other extreme I opted for SRAM XO shifters and rear mech. Simply beautiful to look at, and a joy to shift. I screwed up my XTR front mech (getting a top pull when it should be a bottom pull) so I'm running on my original crappy LX. Once I get the XTR rig up front I'm happy.

Just make sure whatever you get the actuation ratios are compatible. I think Shimano standardise on 2:1 where some SRAM components (XO for example, are 1:1). Check before you buy.

I personally think SRAM cassettes are better but maybe I'm voicing an SRAM prejudice! Same for the chain. Buy the best chain you can get. Some folks prefer the link you break with the tool, others (like me) prefer the power link chains you can break by hand (never had one break on me yet on the trail!).

I don't yet own sram (I do love how shimano is pretty durable) but have done a lot of riding on my buddies sram parted bike as well as roholff. Sram is a thing of beauty. The shifting can't be beat. :)

Although me in my cheapskate ways would buy x/7 and suffer with the extra 3 g ;)

Ok, so I've priced things out and I can go with all LX stuff for $105. That's for shifters, casette, and chain.

Or, I can go with all X.9 stuff for $190. That's the same parts as above, but also requires me to buy an X.9 derailluer, because the X.9 shifters don't work with Shimano rear derailleurs. The derailleur alone is $65, so the difference in price between the X.9 stuff and LX stuff is really only $20, plus the new derailleur.

Think it's worth the extra money for X.9 over LX?

I thought that X7 and X9 were respectivly equal to LX and XT?

I would choose SRAM because you've been running shimano. Isn't it time for change? Trying new products is a great thing to do.

Ive been running my deore for the last 2 years on my two different bikes. Its been very reliable and only damage done to it, is a bit of play in the rear derilleur. I know for a fact that when it breaks down, I am going for a full X7 swap (shifters, rear derilleur and hopefully front derilleur if they finally create one).

my current setup's got deore shifters, front & rear derailleurs with sram cassette & chain (i forget which ones). when the deore stuff starts to go, it's gonna be replaced with xt stuff. and when the sram stuff starts to go, i'll probably be replacing it with more sram stuff. after that though, i'll probably go full sram.

Just went out a bought a Sram PC59 chain. Damn it is a sweet chain. The guys at Sram are geniuses. The gold link is the best way to put a chain on. Good by chain breaks.

Ok, so I've priced things out and I can go with all LX stuff for $105. That's for shifters, casette, and chain.

Or, I can go with all X.9 stuff for $190. That's the same parts as above, but also requires me to buy an X.9 derailluer, because the X.9 shifters don't work with Shimano rear derailleurs. The derailleur alone is $65, so the difference in price between the X.9 stuff and LX stuff is really only $20, plus the new derailleur.

Think it's worth the extra money for X.9 over LX?

YES!!!

For what its worth I really like my XT STI levers on my Stumpjumper. I don't shift much anyways and after a few weeks the benefits of the integrated shifting became apparent as shifting seemed much more fluid and natural. This is coming from someone who HATED the idea of STI on mountainbikes, and swore I was going to convert my Stumpjumper into a singlespeed because I hated the STI's so much at first. SRAM's got some nice stuff though too, but I can't say I've ever had a problem with Shimano, other than shearing off a B-tension collar in a crash last year. I definately still do not like Rapidrise however, and was very careful to order a Stumpjumper with the old XTR... not sure what the new XT/LX stuff is like... if its Rapidrise or not.