SLX or X7

ste_t

I'm in the process of buying all the parts for a build and was set on sram shifters and rear mech as thats what I'm used to. I've ordered a slx double & bash and wonder whether the considerably cheaper slx rear mech and shifters would be a better choice than going for x7. Plus it would be nice to have everything match! :oops:

Any opinions on what I should go for?

peter413

I would go for Sram everytime, except for front mechs

Noclue

It's personal preferance really, i prefer sram for rear mechs and shifters but always stick to shimano cranks and front mechs, shimano cranks are hard to beat for value and so are the front mechs and there is no compatability issues with front mechs, but i just dont get on with shimano rear mechs and shifters.

thel33ter

I like Shimano but have never really had a Sram rear mech set-up, but I do have a Sram left hand shifter and really like it, especially cause of the metal thumb lever nd overall nicer build quality.

Personally I would go for the cheaper option and spend more on blingy bits, which I am in short supply of cause of my bike's colours, which nothing matches well

Barteos

SRAM for much more reliable rear mech shifting.

Torres

Go and have a play with some different shifters in your LBS, it's a very personal thing.
Regardless of what everyone else says, it's all down to how much you like the action of the shifters; both are different.

ste_t

Hmmm.... :?

Doesn't seem like there's much love for shimano! Gonna cost me an extra £13 quid for X7 over SLX, but looks the popular choice. Cheers for the input guys

EDIT: Torres - I've been using sram for 3 years (X7 and X9) and always been happy with the feel so think thats the way to go

supersonic

Shimano for much more reliable shifting.

ste_t

supersonic wrote:

Shimano for much more reliable shifting.

A difference of opinion with Barteos - is that just down to personal preference? How would explain the difference in reliability?

supersonic

It was more of a joke lol.

The truth is both are good systems, and both equally relibale with good cables. I prefer Shimano as I find the shifting is smoother.

ste_t

And there was me thinking you were being controversial!

I'm tempted to give the SLX a go just to see how it feels then if I don't like it I can take the hit selling them in the knowledge that at least I tried....

Though in reality, I will most likely make a snap decision based on which I think will look the best!

Anonymous

Another fan of Shimano here. Looking forward to when my SRAM stuff needs replacing on the new bike, it will be going XT all the way.

lesz42

shimano, seems smoother to me, have used sram before, but only X0 on a remedy 9 tho

seemed a bit clunky, not worse but different

mrfmilo

Shimano dual release. Hate that clunky feel with SRAM.

nickfrog

SLX shifting is hard to beat and IME, SRAM may be as good but not measurably better.

The Northern Monkey

i've recently converted to sram to try it out (plus i wanted a red derilleur!).

The sram shifters aren't as ergonomic as shimano, its hard to get them in a perfect position unlike shimano.

Not convinced by the shifting either... think I may switch back to shimano eventually!

stubs

Used XT and Sram X9 on the same bike at different times and I personally reckon they both worked just as well the other. SLX and X7 will be similar just a little heavier than the XT/X9.

All this bollocks about SRAM shift better because of a different pull ratio is just that bollocks. The rear mech moves exactly the same amount no matter how far the cable moves its all about the lever ratio on the mech. When you have set them both up properly they both work just as well whatever the conditions.

richg1979

Had both (xt,xtr,slx,x7,x9) and now if im buying gears i always buy shimano.

Not had much luck with sram, snapped 2 rear mechs off at plastic nuckel and replaced 3 shifters due to the thumb shifter sticking down and wont return, you can faf about with the shifters to get them sort of working but there never 100%.

Where as the shimano mech just bend back if you strike them and never had any probs with shimano shifters.

Northwind

Shimano is definately better value IMO, for a particular price they tend to be made better. But I still choose SRAM just because I like how it feels, clunk clunk. I genuinely thought my mate's LX shifter was broken because it didn't feel like it was doing anything But then I'm sure Shimano owners could say "I thought this SRAM was broken because of the horrible clunking".

stubs wrote:

All this bollocks about SRAM shift better because of a different pull ratio is just that bollocks. The rear mech moves exactly the same amount no matter how far the cable moves

The reason it makes a difference is that if you double the amount of cable that gets pulled, you half the effect of stretch or of resistance. If you pull a cable 10mm and it's 1mm out, then that's 10% right? Whereas if you pull it 5mm and it's 1mm out that's 20%.

Which doesn't matter at all when everything's working perfect of course but by lap 4 of a 10km race in the wet, or day 3 of a long riding weekend, or frankly by 5 miles into a claggy winter ride, that can all make a difference. It also makes finetuning easier, for the exact same reason, 1 turn of the cable adjuster has half as much effect.

Anonymous

Northwind, i have to say, neither my SRAM nor my Shimano setups have had any issues with needing any adjustment. It really does strike me like marketing bull.

Northwind

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Northwind, i have to say, neither my SRAM nor my Shimano setups have had any issues with needing any adjustment. It really does strike me like marketing bull.

So your cables don't stretch, and your mechs don't need set up in the first place? By the end of lap 3 at 10UTB I was making constant adjustments because my rear mech was a block of mud. This isn't marketing, it's stuff I've done myself.

supersonic

It does beg the question... why stop at these ratios? If as SRAM say, theirs is superior, why not go to 1:2 and so on?

Pudseyp

I have had both...the X9 is excellent and and on a par with XT though I would have SLX over X7 to me the quality of shiffting is a tad better...have them on my FGiant and no problems in the 8 months of owning it...sweet seemless shifting

Chunkers1980

supersonic wrote:

It does beg the question... why stop at these ratios? If as SRAM say, theirs is superior, why not go to 1:2 and so on?

I know you're just putting the question out there....

Changing the ratio means more cable has to be moved by the shifter with optimal being between 1:1 and 2(mech):1(shifter) I'd think.

Shimano shifters deal with less cable (1/2 as much) than SRAMs this would make them for the same speed of release twice as quick... It's all a pay off...

stubs

Just been out to the shed with a tape measure

A SRAM shifter moves the cable about 4.5mm per gear shift

A Shimano shifter moves it about 3mm per gear shift.

So that whole 1.5mm makes it better or at least thats what the men from advertising say and they wouldnt lie would they.

edited to make more sense

Chunkers1980

That's interesting.

When you say SRAM mech - take it you mean the amount of cable released/taken back by the rear shifter?

If it is and all's correct the SRAM shifer on a 9/10 setup has got to pull and release ~15mm MORE of cable or ~50% more... That's the trade off...

stubs

Chunkers1980 wrote:

That's interesting.

When you say SRAM mech - take it you mean the amount of cable released/taken back by the rear shifter?

If it is and all's correct the SRAM shifer on a 9/10 setup has got to pull and release ~15mm MORE of cable or ~50% more... That's the trade off...

Oops got that a bit wrong I meant when you move the shift lever to change a gear the cable moves 4.5 mm on a SRAM and 3 mm on a Shimano. I will edit it to make more sense

DVV

I think SLX is a fantastic value groupset - strong, functional, light(ish). It just works. Not ridden X7 but check out these reviews of the latest groupsets:

X7:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... n-10-39415

SLX:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... n-10-39468

Anonymous

Northwind wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Northwind, i have to say, neither my SRAM nor my Shimano setups have had any issues with needing any adjustment. It really does strike me like marketing bull.

So your cables don't stretch, and your mechs don't need set up in the first place? By the end of lap 3 at 10UTB I was making constant adjustments because my rear mech was a block of mud. This isn't marketing, it's stuff I've done myself.

We must have very different experiences.
After the initial bedding in, which both systems require, I've not had to adjust either, even through some very claggy winters. Granted I've had the SRAM for much less time than Shimano, but they've both proven to work just fine for me.

Northwind

yeehaamcgee wrote:

After the initial bedding in, which both systems require

...and which is easier with SRAM. This is one of the benefits I'm talking about.

Anonymous

I honestly have not found it any easier with SRAM or Shimano though. They are both set up the same way, and both need the same adjustments after a ride or two.
Once that's done, they've both been pretty much trouble free.

Like I said, our experiences must differ somewhat.