Sram Rival - Equivalent to Ultegra?

Westerberg

what you think?

marin_maniac

Dunno, but after riding both I'm with Rival!

mattbass789

I always used to think that Red = Dura ace, Force = Ultegra, Rival = 105.

Though after more experience with both brands at all levels, ive been lucky enough to pinch mates bikes and test rides etc.

RED > Dura Ace (but less than Di2)
Force > ultegra (but less than dura ace)
Rival > 105 (but less than ultegra)

Obviously all brands are going to be different, but with the new sram apex coming in at tiagra 105 level somewhere round there i think it justifies the three flagship models being marginally better and more expensive than competitors products. I have very very little experience of campagnolo, other than seeing it in shops and it looks ridiculous, but the thumb shifters put me off ever getting a machine with it on.

olddgreg

I'd quite like to know what people think on this one, does anyone else have an opinion or experience of using both?

softlad

olddgreg wrote:

I'd quite like to know what people think on this one, does anyone else have an opinion or experience of using both?

I made the switch from Ultegra to a mix of Force/Rival a few months ago. In my opinion, Rival easily outperforms Ultegra in terms of both function and weight - and price.

Rival v Ultegra should be a no-brainer....but it does also depend on which particular shifting method you may prefer...

Gazzaputt

Another vote to say Rival is better than Ultegra.

I've used all the groupos and currently run Red and Rival.

Red is so sweet I love it. Nice crisp clean shifts.

Anonymous

Rival is very good value for money indeed and in my opinion is the best groupset out there taking that in to account...

pastey_boy

id say force was the equivalent of dura-ace before the intro of red and rival equals ultegra in the pecking order. red stands alone unless you throw campag into the mix

COVEC

I switched from 105 to Rival(pre 09 with alloy levers) around 2 years ago and the upgrade was very noticeable, it was far superior. Just recently I picked up a new bike with a 6700 Ultegra fit and the difference is similar, a huge upgrade. Most noteworthy is the FD shift to the big ring, it requires very little effort or indeed movement. The Ultegra levers are very comfortable when on the hoods with a nice wide platform as they join the bars.

To summarise;

6700 > Rival > 105 in my experience.

Westerberg

ok - interesting.

I currently use Shimano - would the change from Shimano to Sram be tricky? Or easier than Shimano - Campag?

pastey_boy

i also think the price of dura-ace has been hiked to keep it in line with red and super record. all 3 have identical rrp,s. dura-ace used to retail in line with force which has a retail of £999 as opposed to dura,s mental new retail of £1699

dennisn

Rival - shifts bike gears, front and rear
Ultegra - check

Rival - brings bike to a halt using 2 brakes and levers
Ultegra - check

Rival - provides a padded spot for resting your hands
Ultegra - check

Rival - made from aluminum, rubber, steel, and possibly a few other things
Ultegra - check

Rival - mounts on handlebars
Ultegra - check

Rival - move finger about 1/2 inch to shift
Ultegra - check

Rival - made by a reputable manufacturer
Ultegra - check

Rival - used by many people with no problems
Ultegra - check

Anonymous

dennisn wrote:

Rival - shifts bike gears, front and rear
Ultegra - check

Rival - brings bike to a halt using 2 brakes and levers
Ultegra - check

Rival - provides a padded spot for resting your hands
Ultegra - check

Rival - made from aluminum, rubber, steel, and possibly a few other things
Ultegra - check

Rival - mounts on handlebars
Ultegra - check

Rival - move finger about 1/2 inch to shift
Ultegra - check

Rival - made by a reputable manufacturer
Ultegra - check

Rival - used by many people with no problems
Ultegra - check

Rival - Cheaper than Ultegra
Ultegra - Ch... errr. Doh!

pastey_boy

dennisn wrote:

Rival - shifts bike gears, front and rear
Ultegra - check

Rival - brings bike to a halt using 2 brakes and levers
Ultegra - check

Rival - provides a padded spot for resting your hands
Ultegra - check

Rival - made from aluminum, rubber, steel, and possibly a few other things
Ultegra - check

Rival - mounts on handlebars
Ultegra - check

Rival - move finger about 1/2 inch to shift
Ultegra - check

Rival - made by a reputable manufacturer
Ultegra - check

Rival - used by many people with no problems
Ultegra - check

stating the ovious - check

softlad

dennisn wrote:

Rival - shifts bike gears, front and rear
Ultegra - check

Rival - brings bike to a halt using 2 brakes and levers
Ultegra - check

Rival - provides a padded spot for resting your hands
Ultegra - check

Rival - made from aluminum, rubber, steel, and possibly a few other things
Ultegra - check

Rival - mounts on handlebars
Ultegra - check

Rival - move finger about 1/2 inch to shift
Ultegra - check

Rival - made by a reputable manufacturer
Ultegra - check

Rival - used by many people with no problems
Ultegra - check

and your point is..?

Anonymous

What (I think) Dennis is saying is that it is all much of a muchness. Which it is...

dennisn

NapoleonD wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Rival - shifts bike gears, front and rear
Ultegra - check

Rival - brings bike to a halt using 2 brakes and levers
Ultegra - check

Rival - provides a padded spot for resting your hands
Ultegra - check

Rival - made from aluminum, rubber, steel, and possibly a few other things
Ultegra - check

Rival - mounts on handlebars
Ultegra - check

Rival - move finger about 1/2 inch to shift
Ultegra - check

Rival - made by a reputable manufacturer
Ultegra - check

Rival - used by many people with no problems
Ultegra - check

Rival - Cheaper than Ultegra
Ultegra - Ch... errr. Doh!

Not sure about that these days. Over here Shimano seems to have everything on sale. And I do mean on sale(almost half off on DA 7900 cranks. DA Electronic too. I'm almost ready to buy and put it on my steel Gios. Wouldn't that be ironic? Or maybe ridiculous, but what the h*ll.

Anonymous

Rival is about 100 UKP cheaper than Ultegra here...

MRadd

I've used a lot of groupsets over my time..

And went back to Rival after being with Ultegra over the winter. I prefer it.. my bike is lighter.. and It all seems to look nicer..