therh

What do you like better and why, SRAM or Shimano drivetrains?

YOJiMBO20

SRAM. I like the positive feel of each shift (as opposed to not knowing if you actually engaged the shift) and the ergonomics work for my hands.

ls01

another vote for Sram. Love it.

caloso

Me too.

Nagrom_

another +1.

dooodstevenn

someone has to step in and like shimano! I would, but i've never tried SRAM.

Yangster

I had doubts with sram before I am using it.. Was a campy fan, doesn't like shimano. After I change to sram, I dont want to look back anymore.. its simply great.

BrainInAJar

Religion: Which god is the true god

Muffin Man

youcoming

Currently riding Sram Force on my main bike, until the DA 9000 comes in. I do like the double tap but that's it, it's a prefernce thing, I don't like the loud clunky feel. If you like smooth feeling shifts go Shimano.

Kojie

I was supposed to build one with SRAM Red but managed to find some DA9000 for $1700 so went with that bec. It was cheaper.

I have another bike with ultegra and DA9000 totally feels much better in both ergo and shifting, specially in the front.

Smokinbbl

I have the new Shimano 105 , and now I also have SRAM Rival. I love Rival, so I would be another vote for SRAM.

ericm979

I have 7800, supposedly the best shifting Shimano until 9000, and Sram Red 2012, the best Sram, on two bikes.

Between the two I prefer Shimano. The shift action is lighter and it is more predictable. Even after 4000 miles on it I still miss shifts with Sram, because one lever does both up shift and down shift, and the detents on the lever motion are not distinct enough. If I'm going for a rear down shift and don't push the lever quite far enough, then I get an up shift. With Shimano if I don't push the down shift lever far enough, nothing happens. Front shifting with Sram works well, it just takes much more effort than Shimano. Sram upshifts on the rear are reliable and I like the short lever travel, but it is again higher effort than the Shimano. I think Sram wins over all on rear derailleur up shifts and front shifting, Shimano wins big on rear derailleur down shifts, enough to give it the over all on shift quality.

OTOH, even though its on my race bike it's not annoying enough to take the Sram off, and I am very picky about how my bike works. I only miss a couple shifts in a ride/race.

Both lever body shapes work for me but the Sram is a little better. The brake lever shape is even better than Shimanos which is also good. Shimano's upshift lever can be difficult to find with winter gloves on; Srams is larger and better placed.

As far as the drivetrain, they both work well. Sram cassettes can be noisy, even the new 2012 Red one, compared to Shimano. Shimano cassettes shift slightly better than Sram (using KMC chains on both). Srams' Red Yaw front derailleur shifts well but is tricky to set up.

Andy Somnifac 

I have 105 (5700), Ultegra (6600), and Red, each on different bikes. The Shimano groups feel a bit more "refined", but the Red has a more "get it done" sort of feel. Thus, I have Red on my race bike. The shape, size, and operation of the shifter are great for it. I'll most likely be moving over to a SRAM setup for my cx bike, from the 105 that's currently on it for the same reason.

But having said that, I like the ergonomics of the Shimano stuff better. If someone made a shifter with Shimano like ergonomics, but with SRAM controls, I'd be all over it.

Snapperhead

Have used both Shimano and SRAM. I prefer the shifting and feel of the SRAM.

PRus

Shimano 600 six speed , down tub shifters ,no friction! Hands down!

caloso

I should say that one of the main reasons I prefer SRAM is that the hoods fit my hands better, but that was compared to the DA 7700/7800 design which I could never get in a comfortable place on my drops. I suppose to be fair, I ought to try the new Shimano design.

Elduderino2412

I started w/Shimano. Switched to SRAM, and am glad i did. Like how the shifting feels better w/my force groupo. Some people say SRAM isn't as durable, but even if that's true the feel is worth a few less miles of durability to me.

bonz50

double tap FTW!

grolby

The newest (DA 9000) hood design looks pretty good. The previous generation (7900) is nicer than 7800 in the flatter hood shape, but they're really big and chunky and kind of squared-off. I like the SRAM shape better, myself. But I'm riding Shimano now, Ultegra 6700. I have complaints, but I'm convinced enough that I will probably switch to the new generation of Shimano to correct the problems, rather than go back to SRAM.

Andy_K 

I've never tried SRAM, so maybe I just don't know, but I'm very happy with Shimano. The main reason that I haven't tried SRAM is that I like triple cranksets. I like hills, but I'm not strong enough to drag myself up anything steeper than about 7% with a 39T ring, and I'm of the opinion that compact cranksets were designed to punish people for being weight weenies.

I might make the leap someday on my CX bike, because compact cranksets actually make sense for CX. Or I might just go straight to Retroshift.

jsutkeepspining

i like sram, it fits better, the top end is cheaper, and it also looks a lot nicer (personal, but just my opinion)

SteveFromNY

rode only shimano, currently have dura ace gruppo with internal cable and I seriously think my older Ultegra with external routing felt way more engaged. Still not a deal breaker though. I rode Sram for a bit and it feels more intuitive. Alas, I bought the bike with DA so I'm sticking with it.

m.rivas

SRAM

Rode Shimano(105 and Ultegra) since I started cycling about five years ago. This past summer a friend sold me an Apex group(shifters, derailleurs, brakes) for $150. Once I adjusted to them, which was all in a one ride, I never looked back.

My road bike now has a Rival group set.

tagaproject6

SRAM...or just Eff it all and go Campagnolo.