XC Down Under

the working gear (cassette+chain) on my blur after 6 months is starting to look a little tired. rather than replace just the shimano XT chain and cassette i'm considering moving to sram. cables are replaced every month or two. hubs are onyx, truvativ cranks, xt derailleur and shifters. what components do i have to change to go to sram. i'm not adverse to using XT it's just i've ridden shimano for 2 years now and looking to test the competition. help appreciated.

OneTinSloth

rear derailleur and shifters. i reccommend X9 for a fair comparison.

XC Down Under

ur saying i should replace cassette, chain, shifters and derailleur with x9?

mrk

No, just the rear derailleur and shifters with X.9.

Brian

Mate, get the SRAM X9, you'll never look back. You need the levers and a rear derailleur. You'll want to replace the chain and cassette too, if they're that worn. You won't be disappointed.

freeranger

One place you do not want to use SRAM is the front derailleur. That is, unless SRAM has already done the "update" to it, which allows it to be used with full suspension bikes. The SRAM was not working well with full susp., something about the width or something-remember reading and hearing about it. The newest SRAM front der. are supposed to have been modified to solve that problem, but you may want to stay with Shimano for the front der.

Tequila Joe

Instead of simply replacing the chain & cassette, you will cough up 100's of dollars for a new rear derailer and shifters in addition to your chain & cassette just to "try" it? Maybe I can save you some time / money, I've know people that have done this, they hated it or broke it and have returned to Shimano.

Hands down, Shimano makes the best / toughest mountain bike group out there. Oh well, its your money and its your bike so its your choice. Cheers!

https://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-biking/154714-test-rode-sram-x0-group-vs-xt-xtr.html

T.J.

nav

I actually found my SRAM X-Gen front derailleur extremely easy to setup. At least, compared to other front derailleurs I've had to tweak before. That said, my front derailleur is staying on my curren bike, I'll buy another one for my next frame rather than needlessly do it again .

The SRAM X-Gen front derailleur doesn't work well on some frames because its clamp is above the derailleur mechanism (pretty high up the seat tube). Shimano front derailleurs clamp much lower, making them an easier fit on frames with interrupted or otherwise oddly shaped seat tubes. It's easy and not uncommon to use SRAM shifters with a Shimano front derailleur, it works fine.

I built my current bike with no Shimano components on purpose mostly just to "'try' it" . I've been very happy so far. Still saving up for my dream frame, but that's another matter. But, let's not get into this whole thing: it's personal experience and opinion and it's your money, you can only decide for yourself.

Brian

We've got SRAM X9 on our tandem, with an XTR front derailleur. Flawless shifting, even with a super long cable.

swifferman

Hmmm, seems like an unnecessary upgrade to me...

You're going to replace your componentry after 6 months/1 chain replacement of riding?

Seems wasteful

You shouldn't even have to replace your cassette after 6 months of riding should you?

Brian

It's only money.

OneTinSloth

i disagree with that. i've seen them actually break teeth. that said, i haven't had any problems so far with mine. but my next cassette will probably be an XT. as for chains, i like my KMC X-9 chain, strong and smooth.

XC Down Under

thank you all for your feedback

Jim311

I ride X9 rear derailler and XO shifters. So much better than Shimano! I run a SRAM cassette too, and a SRAM chain. It all works together VERY well, and I've run 4 SRAM cassettes now with no broken teeth or anything as suggested above. I say run it.

EJ123

I love sram cassettes! They work really well

Jim311

I think they're a better value than Shimano cassettes. Look at what a top of the line SRAM cassette will run you versus a Shimano XTR

Brian

XTR has titanium cogs at the big end...

Raiyn

Which the average jabrone totally needs to fart around with his buddies

Brian

Why bring the word "Need" into the discussion? I don't need any of the bikes or gear I have.

There are two key equations: want>afford and want=afford

It's all about priorities, and which category you fall into.

phantomcow2

I would look into the Sram x7, its a better deal in my opinion. I am pretty certain the difference between the 9 and 7 is marginal, and from pricepoint you can get a derailleur+shifter combo for a 90 i think

Raiyn

Extra beer money is always a good thing.

justsomeguy ..

And you'll have extra beer money through the savings you get when you don't have to replace your casette as frequently...

That's been my experience with XTR casettes over the years.

Raiyn

Let's see now $160 for an XTR cassette that might last perhaps twice as long as a $35 SRAM? Yeah that's GREAT value.

Drunken Chicken

Ouch, the way I see it 160 > 35*2. I don't know about you guys but for me there'd be no way in hell I'd pay that much just for a cassette which wears away and needs replacing.

Raiyn

There are people who pay more.