bdcheung

To those who have used both:

Does the "missing teeth" concept of SRAM cassettes affect the quality of the drivetrain at all? Does it affect shifting, noise, or anything else like that? Between SRAM and Shimano, which cassette would you recommend (based solely on technology and materials, e.g. ignore the available gear combinations)

cycle17

I have a SRAM 940 9spd rear cassette on my 5000. It's a 12-26 and has almost 4,000 miles on it now. The bike has always shifted nicely and I've never noticed a difference from my other bikes which have Shimano cassettes on them. In fact...I think the SRAM cassette has lasted longer than my Shimano ones. It's worth noting that I use SRAM chains on all my bikes as well.

Sometime before summer, I'm going to replace the chain and cassette on this bike and will likely go with a SRAM chain, but a Shimano 12-27 cassette simply to get the extra tooth for all the hills around where I live.

I recommend the SRAM if you don't need the 27t gear, simply because a SRAM cassette is generally less expensive than a comparable Ultegra one by Shimano.

Hope this helps.

superslomo

FWIW the SRAM 9 speed cassettes don't have the missing tooth... so the comparison would have to be between the 10 speed cassettes from SRAM and Shimano.

cycle17

What is this "missing tooth" thing you are talking about?? Like a cog is purposely missing one tooth on say the 26t cog? Or is it something else....?

80vette

Don't know about "missing tooth"
I find my sram cassette to be lighter and quiter than my shimano.
I also use scram chains.

Going forward I am going to use scram whenever possible. Price for performance is a better deal.

bdcheung

See the missing teeth on all but the 3 largest cogs?

TechJunkie

It's supposed to help shifting under power by giving the chain a channel to go through when it's under tension. Don't know if it does; I stick to 9 speed: SRAM chains on Shimano cassettes. Not to knock SRAM, but I have had bad eperiences every time I've used an off brand cog on either the front or rear.

Will G

For those with SRAM cassettes, are you running Shimano or SRAM derailleurs?

bdcheung

So nobody has used both SRAM and Shimano 10s cassettes? I'm just trying to compare HG and OG technology.

TechJunkie

Go to your LBS and ask them to try it out. All the guys at RBM in Richardson seem to be in love with the stuff. I almost picked up a cheap Record 10 group from a guy who switched over to Force, so it can't be crap.

cycle17

Shimano

JayC

They seem to be about the same to me. The SRAM cassette doesnt seem to play as nice with the Connex links as the Shimano's do but there isnt a huge difference.

Psydotek

SRAM 950/970 casette 12-26 with Shimano 105 rear derailuer on both of my bikes. Chain is Shimano (came with the bikes).

Everything works fine.

Starclimber

I have an 11-26 OG cassette combined with the Shimano 105 level chain CN-5600. Shifts fine, nice and quiet...BUT...when I ride in the rain and it gets gritty the chain tends to hop around a bit on those missing tooth cogs, like it wants to shift up or down. It isn't just the spacing, as it behaves normally on the larger cogs. Perhaps it's just highly sensitive to chainline under those conditions. Lubing the crap out of it helps somewhat, probably due to most of the filth sloughing off faster.

Dubbayoo

I debated this same thing and everyone convinced me to go with Shimano. I'm ordering both but I'll use the Shimano first til it wears out.

xlrogue

I'm running a SRAM 9 speed cassette with Dura Ace derailleurs and an Ultegra chain. No noticeable performance difference between SRAM and Shimano cassettes. My next cassette will probably be an SRAM, not only because they're cheaper than Shimano, but I also like the fact that it's all individual cogs, just in case I get the urge to do some gear tweaking.

bvfrompc

Hey, I think I will be the first to answer this, I went with the SRAM 11-26 to get the ups and downs ranges that I didn't have with my stock 12-25 Ultegra that came on my 10sp R1000. Living in Golden CO I am constantly going up or down.

I have only been on the SRAM for about three weeks now but I get the feeling the chain is slipping into gear as opposed to the more forceful chunk that I got with the Ultegra. The chunk semed quicker and more positive where this seems almost like a phantom shift.

Really liked the crisper shifting of the Ultegra better.

Hope that answers your question,

bdcheung

It does, and thanks. I know exactly what you mean by the "thunk" of the Ultegra shift. it's a very positive feeling. I may test-drive a bike with a SRAM set up just so I can get a sense of the phantom shift, but this data point helps. Thanks!

ElJamoquio

Dura-ace is lighter than Force, if I recall correctly. Don't know about Ultegra/Rival, or the prices of either SRAM component.

JayC

SRAM derailers are more positive (Read clunkier) than Shimano.

FWIW, I dont notice that about the cassettes. The only difference Ive seen is the Connex link tends to cause some issues if it catches the right spot when youre shifting.

ElJamoquio

Looked it up; Ultegra and Force weigh about the same amount.

merlinextraligh

they're not lighter at least at the top level.

One reason they're heavier than D/A, but also more durable is SRAM doesn't use Ti, wheras D/A does in the larger cogs.

richphoto

I just built SRAM force and used an Ultegra cassette. a bike builder told me that Shimano is simply a better cassette , they have several patents on their cassette design. he said the missing tooth was an attempt to try and make it shift better but all in all Shimano is the way to go.

SushiJoe

I was thinking about doing a DA cassette w/ my Force group - but they dont offer the 11-26 that i have and love now. Plus i'm not sure if that would affect the "exact actuation" or not.

JayC

It wouldnt