enjoi07

I am putting SRAM Force on my bike. I have everything but the cassette and chain, then I happen to come across this article that states "A quick note on component selection; in these images I'm running a SRAM Red cassette and chain. They wore out very quickly--in just over 1,000 miles. In fact the chain was so worn that the cassette was useless. I switched to a Dura-Ace cassette and a Campagnolo 10spd chain and the shifting improved hugely. The Campagnolo chain is much more durable and I'm now getting over 2,000 miles out of one and after changing chains, the cassette is still fine. This is by far the way to go if you run Red, or Force for that matter."

any one have experience with this?

thanks
-randal

CrossCountry2k7

I haven't heard anything bad about the SRAM cassettes force or Red, but their chains have left something to be desired for some time now. Most of the protour riders were running DA chains on full SRAM Red setups with Force front ders last time I checked. I'd stick with the force cassette and run a DA or similar chain.

roy5000x2

My friend has well over 2000 miles on his red cassette, and he just swapped out his 1090-R chain for the first time. There's barely any wear on the cassette.

umd

The Red cassettes are very durable, last much longer than any other cassette I've used. The chains aren't so hot, I've found that the KMC chains work very well.

sstorkel

I finally had to replace my SRAM OG-1090R chain last week. I think it's had 4000-5000 miles on it. 1070 cassette looks fine. Red chainrings seemed to wear pretty quickly, though. I think I ended up replacing them around the 3500mi mark, though they probably could have gone a bit longer.

FWIW, the cheap KMC DX10SC chain I put on my touring bike stretched to the point of being useless after about 750-1000 miles, then snapped at the aptly named "MissingLink" during the first day of my SF->LA tour. Maybe their more expensive chains suck less...

14max

Run an Ultegra 6600 cassette and chain. Everything will be fine...

Fat Boy

This.

Psimet2001 

The SRAM Red (1090) cassette is machined from a single piece of steel. It is extremely durable and long lasting. The person wo wrtoe the article you quoted is incorrect.

KMC DX10 chains run much better on SRAM drivetrains than SRAM chains.

The only issue I have known of with Red cassettes is that some of the earlier ones have 1 cog that's position is a little off. I have run across 3 cassettes where this was the issue. IIRC I read about quite a few others with the same issue. From a machining standpoint it was easy to understand how it happened - it's what happens sometimes when you put kids with big computers, modeling packages, CAM software in charge of modern machine tools....., "Oooops...yeah....uh..."

EDIT: Let me go on record too as saying I kind of hope Scott M. had something to do with it. He has been getting a lot of credit locally for XX and then he just destroyed everyone in cross - so much we started heckling him for not lapping everyone 3 times. I'd like to think he's got 1 blemish on his engineering career.

asv

I really love the design of the Sram red cassette. IMO, its the best design on the market today. The chain is definitely a weakness, and easily corrected.

Jynx

like stated switch to a KMC or Shimano chain and leave the cassette.

roadiejorge 

I have Rival and have no issue with the cassette but the chain decided to retire at a little over 1,500 miles so I replaced it with an Ultegra chain and so far so good.

kimconyc

I have the Red cassette on two of my bikes and it's way more durable than a normal cassette.

The only downsides are that 1) It's more expensive 2) It's more noisy since it's hollow and the main body is machined out of a single piece.

I did not like the PC1090-R chain paired with the Red cassette. I have since switched to a KMC X10SL gold on one bike and a Wipperman Connex 10S1 on another.

1,000 miles seems like a total exaggeration and very hard to believe.

Shayne

I'm running a Force crank w/ red rings on an otherwise Campy Chorus drivetrain. Right now I have a campy chain and it works fine, although it is a little louder on the red rings vs the chorus rings. I might try a different chain when this one is done, not sure yet. Shifting is fine.

enjoi07

ok..thanks for the reply guys!

Nachoman

I have no input, but make sure to post pics when the final build is complete!

RoboChrist

I would be somewhat hesitant to switch to a different brand chain, aren't OEM chains supposed to work with the rest of the drivetrain? It's weird that SRAM chains have got this reputation.

I'll admit I'm a total noob when it comes to this stuff.

kensuf

I've put a little over 2000 miles on a SRAM 1070 chain since October 24th. I think I'm going to have to replace it in a couple of weeks.

umd

Chains are pretty much interchangeable, as long as they are the right width. Some work better than others.

enjoi07

just picked up dura ace chain, wipperman link, ultegra 11-28 cassette.

mazdatech10

i have sram red cassettes on all 6 wheelsets i have and have 2800 miles on 1 cassette and it still looks new. yes chain is alittle less noisey with a kmc chain , but its all about the adjustment of the b-tension screw.i get less miles on kmc 10sl chains then sram chains so go figure sounds like the guy road in the rain and never lubed his chain

veloboy971

maybe I'm just cheap, but I usually only change my chain once a year at max, which for me is 12000+ miles...2000 seems like excess to me as that'd be like every 10 weeks.

Nachoman

Do you have confirmable proof of that? Ha!

Crash716

i got 6500 miles out of my last cassette (the rival sram cassette) changing out my chains every 2k.

I just put a red cassette on my training wheels....i wish it was a 11-23 or 25..i hate the 11-26...it's so hard to find a good gear.

veloboy971

Of course, it'd be a lot of screenshot attachments though

Fat Boy

We'll blame him for the bad master link.