Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Shimano and SRAM interchangeability

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Shimano and SRAM interchangeability

Old 01-12-11, 01:02 PM
  #1  
tazunemono
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Shimano and SRAM interchangeability

I'm building a bike, and so far I have installed the bottom bracket (GPX), crank (SRAM Rival series double crank) and the front derailleur (SRAM Rival). The cassette is a Shimano 9-speed one.

I plan to use SRAM TT 500 bar-end shifters. I understand one is friction (for the front der) and other is indexed (for the rear der). Can I convert the index shifter to work with the Shimano Sora rear der? Or, should I just buy an SRAm rear der?

I understand there is a 2:1 and a 1:1 ratio for Shimano and SRAM, respectively - I am not sure if this applies to ALL of their products, or just some. Do ALL SRAM products work on a 1:1 ratio?

If so, and I use an SRAM shifter, 'd have to move the rear der cable twice as far to get the same effect using Shimano components, correct? The SRAM front shifter/front der cable is friction only, so I assume that it's OK regardless of brand mix.

Thanks!
tazunemono is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 02:36 PM
  #2  
Alan@TreeFort
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 222

Bikes: 2010 Niner EMD, 2008 Surly Steamroller, 2007 Giant OCR.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
For rear deralleur, you must use the same manufacturer for both. If you are using SRAM shifters, you'll definitely need a Shimano derailleur, otherwise it won't work. Like you stated, the pulls are different.

The front derailleur is fine to use either Shimano or Sram.
Alan@TreeFort is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 02:37 PM
  #3  
ericm979
Senior Member
 
ericm979's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Posts: 6,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
All SRAM shifters pull more cable than Shimano. But unlike SRAM, the Shimano cable pull is different for each gear.
You can use 10sp SRAM shifters with shimano derailleurs (except 7900 front) and Shimano or SRAM 10sp cassette, but only with a Jtek Shiftmate.
I don't think they make one for matching 10sp SRAM shifters to a 9sp cassette, but you can check their web site.
ericm979 is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 08:15 PM
  #4  
Bezalel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: City of Brotherly Love
Posts: 1,562

Bikes: Raleigh Companion, Nashbar Touring, Novara DiVano, Trek FX 7.1, Giant Upland

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
All current SRAM rear derailleurs use a 1:1 cable pull. All current SRAM front derailleurs use the same cable pull as Shimano front derailleurs. Other than a few Twist Shifters All current SRAM shifters use a 1:1 cable pull.
Bezalel is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 09:49 PM
  #5  
Dave Mayer
Senior Member
 
Dave Mayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,365
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 394 Times in 232 Posts
Originally Posted by tazunemono
I'm building a bike, and so far I have installed the bottom bracket (GPX), crank (SRAM Rival series double crank) and the front derailleur (SRAM Rival). The cassette is a Shimano 9-speed one.

I understand there is a 2:1 and a 1:1 ratio for Shimano and SRAM, respectively - I am not sure if this applies to ALL of their products, or just some. Do ALL SRAM products work on a 1:1 ratio?

Thanks!
Not quite. The Shimano rear ratio is 1.67 to 1.

SRAM mountain is less than 1:1. By my measurements, it is somewhere between 0.8 and 0.9 to 1. So SRAM shifters have to pull somewhat more cable than the cog spacing.

And SRAM road is completely different than both Shimano and SRAM MTB. It is somewhere between SRAM MTB and Shimano.

And Shimano 10-speed MTB stuff is incompatible with everything else in their lineup - it pulls more cable. By design it will be incompatible with anything by SRAM, otherwise the entire design team would have been fired.
Dave Mayer is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 09:56 PM
  #6  
Shimagnolo
Senior Member
 
Shimagnolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,074
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3207 Post(s)
Liked 4,914 Times in 2,527 Posts
Originally Posted by Dave Mayer
And Shimano 10-speed MTB stuff is incompatible with everything else in their lineup - it pulls more cable.
Not quite.
You can use these together:
- 9s Shimano Shadow RD
- 10s mtn cassette
- 10s Shimano road shifters

I know this works because I have *two* bikes with this setup.

And the 10s mtn cable travel change affects only the RD/righthand-shifter.
Shimagnolo is offline  
Old 01-12-11, 10:04 PM
  #7  
Dave Mayer
Senior Member
 
Dave Mayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,365
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 394 Times in 232 Posts
OK. This makes sense, in that Shimano 10-speed road shifters work correctly with a 10-speed Shimano (or SRAM) cassette with a 9-SPEED SHIMANO REAR DERAILLEUR.
Dave Mayer is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Horochar
Bicycle Mechanics
10
04-16-20 11:14 AM
Lightfoot21
Bicycle Mechanics
3
03-26-14 09:58 AM
jeffhob
Mountain Biking
1
08-29-12 01:59 PM
1989Pre
Bicycle Mechanics
7
11-16-11 04:58 AM
dcombs
Bicycle Mechanics
9
03-01-10 08:56 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.