View Poll Results: What component manufacturer do you prefere? Shimano or SRAM?
Shimano
86
66.15%
SRAM
19
14.62%
I like fluffy clouds
25
19.23%
Voters: 130. You may not vote on this poll
Are you a Shimano or a SRAM person?
07-07-19, 08:02 AM
#101
Mostly Harmless
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That's besides the point; it's a mismatch to the rest of the groupset that was engineered by another company.
I'll take a full Shimano groupset vs a nearly full Shimano groupset mated to a crank by someone else. There's a lot to be said for the engineering synergy between components that come from one manufacturer that are truly engineered to work together in harmony.
I also am not sure where you got the idea I was saying Specialized was "cheaping out" using Praxis cranks, because I never said nor insinuated that was the case; I simply said they are the biggest offender when it comes to being hard to find a full groupset bike in their lineup. Virtually anything under $3-$4k from them is not going to be a full, matching groupset.
I'll take a full Shimano groupset vs a nearly full Shimano groupset mated to a crank by someone else. There's a lot to be said for the engineering synergy between components that come from one manufacturer that are truly engineered to work together in harmony.
I also am not sure where you got the idea I was saying Specialized was "cheaping out" using Praxis cranks, because I never said nor insinuated that was the case; I simply said they are the biggest offender when it comes to being hard to find a full groupset bike in their lineup. Virtually anything under $3-$4k from them is not going to be a full, matching groupset.
07-07-19, 08:15 AM
#102
Senior Member
Possibly, but even the pedestrian Tiagra group is very good, only its a little heavy. Mixing and matching may or may not work to satiscaftion and often the "replacement" parts are there to cut cost, not to make the bike better. Then again, obviously there are many good 3rd party products out there, but for the most part I see no reason to buy them, except for functionality not offered by the big guys.
07-07-19, 08:33 AM
#103
Senior Member
You think so? Imo the depends on your perceived point of reference. A quick google search seem to indicate that an Alba crank is more expensive and heavier than a R7000 crank. Fresh rings are more expensive too. Im sure that holds true for Zynate vs R8000 as well, even if I didnt look.
07-07-19, 11:19 AM
#104
Senior Member
I don't know if they are or not, but that's besides the point; it's a mismatch to the rest of the groupset that was engineered by another company.
I'll take a full Shimano groupset vs a nearly full Shimano groupset mated to a crank by someone else. There's a lot to be said for the engineering synergy between components that come from one manufacturer that are truly engineered to work together in harmony.
I also am not sure where you got the idea I was saying Specialized was "cheaping out" (your quotes, not mine) using Praxis cranks, because I never said nor insinuated that was the case; I simply said they are the biggest offender when it comes to being hard to find a full groupset bike in their lineup. Virtually anything under $3-$4k from them is not going to be a full, matching groupset.
I'll take a full Shimano groupset vs a nearly full Shimano groupset mated to a crank by someone else. There's a lot to be said for the engineering synergy between components that come from one manufacturer that are truly engineered to work together in harmony.
I also am not sure where you got the idea I was saying Specialized was "cheaping out" (your quotes, not mine) using Praxis cranks, because I never said nor insinuated that was the case; I simply said they are the biggest offender when it comes to being hard to find a full groupset bike in their lineup. Virtually anything under $3-$4k from them is not going to be a full, matching groupset.
07-08-19, 12:09 PM
#105
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Shimano vs Sram
Sram stuff is AWESOME. I have had most groupset, except Campy. DI2 is great also, but I love having no wires, and in general Sram stuff is lighter. I am a novice when it comes to working on bikes, but etap is so simple , a caveman could do it.
I have red etap on my road bike, and I love everything about it, except the fact that shifts are not super fast. If lightning fast shifting is important to you, go with Sram Red mechanical, nothing faster or lighter out there.
My favorite groupset of all time so far is Sram Force 1x. Super quick, reliable, snappy shifts, and I have never had a single issue with it, over thousands of miles. No charging, no adjustment, Force just works, and shifts are instantaneous.
I have red etap on my road bike, and I love everything about it, except the fact that shifts are not super fast. If lightning fast shifting is important to you, go with Sram Red mechanical, nothing faster or lighter out there.
My favorite groupset of all time so far is Sram Force 1x. Super quick, reliable, snappy shifts, and I have never had a single issue with it, over thousands of miles. No charging, no adjustment, Force just works, and shifts are instantaneous.
07-08-19, 12:30 PM
#106
Senior Member
All else equal, I’d go with Shimano in a heartbeat. The SRAM road hydraulic brake recall left a bitter taste: weeks to get to get a cabled brake groupset replacement and then months for the updated hydraulic version. In hindsight, it was probably the best they could do, but it really sucked having a brand new bike I could neither ride nor sell, that the shop wouldn’t take back.
Now that Shimano has MTB 12-speed 1x 10-45 and 10-51 and GRX for gravel with wider rear wheel clearance, I don’t know what SRAM offers that Shimano doesn’t do one better.
Now that Shimano has MTB 12-speed 1x 10-45 and 10-51 and GRX for gravel with wider rear wheel clearance, I don’t know what SRAM offers that Shimano doesn’t do one better.
Last edited by john.b; 07-08-19 at 12:33 PM.
07-08-19, 12:38 PM
#107
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Possibly, but even the pedestrian Tiagra group is very good, only its a little heavy. Mixing and matching may or may not work to satiscaftion and often the "replacement" parts are there to cut cost, not to make the bike better. Then again, obviously there are many good 3rd party products out there, but for the most part I see no reason to buy them, except for functionality not offered by the big guys.
07-08-19, 03:35 PM
#108
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Your choice of two bikes. The bikes are identical in every way EXCEPT the groupset. One comes with SRAM, the other Shimano. What's your pick and why?
For me, I'd go for Shimano only because it's what I've always been riding with. Every bike I've ever owned has had Shimano components. It's what I know and what I'm comfortable with.
For me, I'd go for Shimano only because it's what I've always been riding with. Every bike I've ever owned has had Shimano components. It's what I know and what I'm comfortable with.
07-08-19, 04:42 PM
#109
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Gawd. Who cares? Whatever gets you thru the night. FWIW, IME it’s generally easier to find Shimano spares & parts when travelling thru Asia, Oceania, and Europe. I don’t know about the Americas.
08-07-19, 01:00 PM
#110
Junior Member
Your choice of two bikes. The bikes are identical in every way EXCEPT the groupset. One comes with SRAM, the other Shimano. What's your pick and why?
For me, I'd go for Shimano only because it's what I've always been riding with. Every bike I've ever owned has had Shimano components. It's what I know and what I'm comfortable with.
For me, I'd go for Shimano only because it's what I've always been riding with. Every bike I've ever owned has had Shimano components. It's what I know and what I'm comfortable with.
08-07-19, 02:53 PM
#112
Senior Member
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I've had many bikes over the years and most have had Shimano components. But I've always sought out the other guys stuff. I really wanted Suntour Superbe when I first started out and finally got it several years later. It was beautiful and worked great. Then Shimano came out with this indexing thing and Suntour couldn't quite cut it when it came to the switch to the combo shifters. Back to Shimano for a while. Then a new company SRAM came out and I really liked the way the shift levers felt. So right now I would pick a SRAM bike over a Shimano bike. They all have worked just like they are supposed to. I've never had any issues with any groupset that couldn't be worked out. Shimano will always be there if I choose to go back.
08-08-19, 10:01 AM
#113
Zip tie Karen
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I'm not really qualified...
because my use of STIs has been limited to the last decade, and only Shimano.
In my alternate universe, SunTour responded rapidly to the indexing threat of Shimano, mastered Accushift and continues to produce beautiful and functional derailleurs and shifters to this day.
For STIs, I only have experience with Shimano, so... I have the R8000 mechanical group on my carbon bike. It's really very nice, especially the front shifting (as others have noted).
I enjoy the discussion in this sub-forum.
In my alternate universe, SunTour responded rapidly to the indexing threat of Shimano, mastered Accushift and continues to produce beautiful and functional derailleurs and shifters to this day.
For STIs, I only have experience with Shimano, so... I have the R8000 mechanical group on my carbon bike. It's really very nice, especially the front shifting (as others have noted).
I enjoy the discussion in this sub-forum.
