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Thinking about eTap? Think again

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Thinking about eTap? Think again

Old 11-03-18, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by BNB
That is exactly what my LBS in CA said. Di2 is reliable and they are recommending steering clear of sram for now. They are not happy about having to deal with the etap problems. That info was too late for me as I was an early adopter. And, ironically, my very first etap groupset is flawless so far..
I've worked a 2 different shops that feel the same way. Neither shop stocks SRAM equipped road bikes, and special orders pay full retail.
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Old 11-03-18, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by nycphotography

SRAM replaced mine no problem. But honestly, they have sold tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of units of eTap, and I have seen only a handful of issues like this on the forums. Not hundreds. Not even dozens. 5 or 6. And I was one of them. It just be like that sometimes.
SRAM usually is pretty easy to deal with, but it's a hassle to need warranty replacements. I wouldn't say that it's a huge problem, but it's a pain in the ass. When people spend $8000+ on a bike, they usually get pretty upset when it won't work right.

I have personally seen 6 eTap "sleeping derailleurs" issues, and none of the owners were on cycling forums. The framebuilder I work for bought 3 eTap groupsets for bikes going to NAHBS 2015, and all 3 have been replaced under warranty..
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Old 11-03-18, 02:41 PM
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When SRAM had their hydraulic brake recall, they gave cable units to everyone that bought brakes, fixed the problem and then gave those customers the new and improved units. That is pretty stand up.
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Old 11-03-18, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by nycphotography
That's pretty melodramatic and over the top really, and a little tin foil conspiracy in the blame the company automatically.
I would be pissed if I spent thousands on a bike and my luxury groupset didn't work. It's not unreasonable to be a little over the top given the circumstances. I'm not saying that to jump on the bash SRAM bandwagon, problems crop up and sometimes they get by QA, I'm saying it's a fair reaction.
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Old 11-03-18, 06:52 PM
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Thanks for the reality check. My LBS (in CA) wasn't happy about having to deal with this.

The internet is not science and we really have no idea what percentage of these derailleurs are failing. Most people are not on bike forums; or they don't post. The failure for me is now 2/3 (66%). 3 of 4 if you include my tandem buddy (75%) who is far too busy to be on a bicycle forum. I don't personally know anyone else with etap. It's a bummer because I really do like the shifting a lot and I don't want to go to Di2. Sram etap shifting makes more sense to me.

What I really want is for sram to come forward with what the issue is; they surely know but so far are not talking to the public as far as I know.

It's ridiculous to have to include a spare derailleur as part of my bike repair kit but that's exactly what I will be doing for my next cycling adventure (600 mile trip) along with the tools needed to make the swap. Too bad about our tandem - no derailleur for it.

Originally Posted by noodle soup
SRAM usually is pretty easy to deal with, but it's a hassle to need warranty replacements. I wouldn't say that it's a huge problem, but it's a pain in the ass. When people spend $8000+ on a bike, they usually get pretty upset when it won't work right.

I have personally seen 6 eTap "sleeping derailleurs" issues, and none of the owners were on cycling forums. The framebuilder I work for bought 3 eTap groupsets for bikes going to NAHBS 2015, and all 3 have been replaced under warranty..
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Old 11-03-18, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
I would be pissed if I spent thousands on a bike and my luxury groupset didn't work. It's not unreasonable to be a little over the top given the circumstances. I'm not saying that to jump on the bash SRAM bandwagon, problems crop up and sometimes they get by QA, I'm saying it's a fair reaction.

Especially given SRAM's pricing shenanigans. No one is getting eTap "cheap" or on "sale". You have to buy it in your regional price market and pay MAP=MSRP.
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Old 11-03-18, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
Especially given SRAM's pricing shenanigans. No one is getting eTap "cheap" or on "sale". You have to buy it in your regional price market and pay MAP=MSRP.
Yeah. Screw SRAM for trying to help shops turn a profit.
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Old 11-03-18, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
Yeah. Screw SRAM for trying to help shops turn a profit.

It is helping LBSes oh so much...selling maybe one SRAM groupset....a year? I'll give it to you--my LBS is very happy and in profit having sold and installed 1 eTap groupset in their entire...20 year history.
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Old 11-03-18, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
It is helping LBSes oh so much...selling maybe one SRAM groupset....a year? I'll give it to you--my LBS is very happy and in profit having sold and installed 1 eTap groupset in their entire...20 year history.
It isn't putting more money into SRAM's pockets. SRAM makes the same amount, no matter how much the shop charges.

How many groupsets were they selling, when SRAM let UK shops sell them dirt cheap?
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Old 11-05-18, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
No one is getting eTap "cheap" or on "sale". You have to buy it in your regional price market and pay MAP=MSRP.
Well... I bought eTap when my (not-so-)LBS had a special promo: Buy a complete eTap group and get the installation free.

Now maybe they really did just throw away the 2-4 hours (?) of labor they would have normally billed for this job just to make the sale...but from what I know of retail operations, it's way more likely that there was a limited-time DFI discount or a yearend VIR available from SRAM that allowed my shop to absorb that loss without actually becoming unprofitable.
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Old 11-06-18, 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Bob Ross
2-4 hours (?) of labor
More like an hour. Fifteen minutes to strip off the old gear, twenty-five to fit and tune the new, twenty for bar tape.

Wireless makes it a piece of piss.
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Old 11-06-18, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Kimmo
Wireless makes it a piece of piss.
Isn't that a pail of piss at most?

-Bandera
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Old 11-06-18, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Kimmo
More like an hour. Fifteen minutes to strip off the old gear, twenty-five to fit and tune the new, twenty for bar tape.

Wireless makes it a piece of piss.
I'm a mechanical idiot and I installed it in an evening and it worked flawlessly.
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Old 11-06-18, 10:01 PM
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Any chance that Shimano will introduce wireless electronic shifting in the near future, i.e., in the next couple of years? Off-road Di2 has never caught on, particularly since front derailleurs are becoming increasingly uncommon. It's hard to believe they'd stick with wired; I'd have to believe they're working very hard to introduce their own wireless electronic system in the near future.
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Old 11-06-18, 10:56 PM
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I doubt very much whether Shimano will go full wireless and uglify its derailers with batteries. They just might go the FSA route and use wireless shifters to the battery.

Originally Posted by Bandera
Isn't that a pail of piss at most?
You could have a nice doubly alliterative piece if you froze it.
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Old 11-07-18, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Kimmo
I doubt very much whether Shimano will go full wireless and uglify its derailers with batteries. They just might go the FSA route and use wireless shifters to the battery.
I’d be surprised if Shimano wasn’t working on something wireless, but i’d be shocked if they released something as glitchy as eTap.
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Old 11-07-18, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by BNB
you are correct and this LBS has a horrible reputation. I bought the group from them after a phone call to me from the owner who made a very hard sales pitch (the shop is my club's sponsor) and I caved because it is my go-to shop for stuff I need quickly. nothing else nearby.

thanks for contact - i had found that but saw the "for dealers only" and figured they wouldn't help me. worth a try.
If you've had this many problems with SRAM, it's time to call it a total loss. Request a refund outright and strip all of that junk off your bike. Get something that actually works, even if it requires a significantly larger time investment on the front end: Di2.

I never respond positively to hard sales pitches, ever. Respect yourself enough to say enough is enough.
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Old 11-07-18, 08:32 PM
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I had a mech bike I wanted to convert to electronic shifting after I built up a new bike with Di2. Etap was really the only choice because Shimano's solution if the bike isn't set up for internal routing isn't pretty. I was surprised to find out I really, really liked eTap even though I'd been a Di2 fanboy. Now, I'm looking for a reason to swap out the Di2 for eTap on that bike too. Zero problems, it shifts super smooth and since it's my travel bike, the lack of wires or cables makes packing it super easy.

J.
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Old 11-08-18, 05:49 AM
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Not so easy to do. My bike was not drilled for wiring or cables. And get my money back? Don't think I haven't tried. Not an option. Maybe small claims? But who do I take to court should I want to attempt that stressful option; the bike shop? Sram? It's not the bike shop's fault that etap is failing. They are now warning people to stay away from it and go with Di2.

The "high pressure" was not to buy etap but rather to buy from my LBS because they are my club's sponsor. I don't know that the result would have been any different with another shop regarding getting a refund.

Originally Posted by radroad
If you've had this many problems with SRAM, it's time to call it a total loss. Request a refund outright and strip all of that junk off your bike. Get something that actually works, even if it requires a significantly larger time investment on the front end: Di2.

I never respond positively to hard sales pitches, ever. Respect yourself enough to say enough is enough.
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Old 11-08-18, 05:55 AM
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Etap is a dream when it works. Hard to describe that sinking feeling you get when you press that lever and nothing happens. I hope you don't ever experience it. Good luck.

Originally Posted by JohnJ80
I had a mech bike I wanted to convert to electronic shifting after I built up a new bike with Di2. Etap was really the only choice because Shimano's solution if the bike isn't set up for internal routing isn't pretty. I was surprised to find out I really, really liked eTap even though I'd been a Di2 fanboy. Now, I'm looking for a reason to swap out the Di2 for eTap on that bike too. Zero problems, it shifts super smooth and since it's my travel bike, the lack of wires or cables makes packing it super easy.

J.
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Old 11-08-18, 07:21 AM
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Yikes, well I'm glad I couldn't afford the eTap and went with Di2 on the bike I just ordered.
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Old 11-08-18, 07:42 AM
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that's the choice I'd make today. my hubby loves his Di2 and he didn't want to learn a new shifting pattern (post stroke challenges).

Originally Posted by jadocs
Yikes, well I'm glad I couldn't afford the eTap and went with Di2 on the bike I just ordered.
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Old 11-08-18, 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by BNB
Etap is a dream when it works. Hard to describe that sinking feeling you get when you press that lever and nothing happens. I hope you don't ever experience it. Good luck.
two years, on two bikes, and thousands of miles, I’m pretty sure it’s fine. Everything product has some units that fail. I’m sure the failure rate is very low.

J.
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Old 11-08-18, 10:07 AM
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My rear eTap had the intermittent "sleeping" issue. LBS & SRAM warrantied the item easy peasy. They had my bike for about 2 hrs. while I went and did some errands. New RD works flawlessly so far.
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Old 11-08-18, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Kimmo
I doubt very much whether Shimano will go full wireless and uglify its derailers with batteries. They just might go the FSA route and use wireless shifters to the battery.


You could have a nice doubly alliterative piece if you froze it.
I will gladly take the wires over two extra batteries or is it four?
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