Help with SRAM

flyer
flyer Posts: 608
edited June 2011 in Road beginners
I am looking at a bike that has a SRAM APEX group set, is this similar to shamano 105's?

Any advise on how good it is much appreciated.

I am used to Ultegra but I am down grading, just wonder how much

Thanks

Flyer :?:

Comments

  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    Rival is the same (similar) level to 105
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Little lower on the price front to 105 but probably no worse quality, main reason for SRAM introducing the Apex group was to accommodate a larger rear cassette, 11-32 available!

    If you don't need the range of gears I'd stick with Rival or try for Force
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    For me the SRAM double tap is excellent and the hood position is the most comfortable.of all the manufacturers. The added advantage of the double tap is that even with small hands I can change gear from the drops. Apex is the entry level groupset but that doesn't mean it's quality is flawed. There are only the four groupsets in SRAM; Apex, Rival, Force and Red with variations of the Red groupset. i.e. Red Yellow and black but as far as I'm aware they're just marketing gimmicks. For something in comparrison to Ultegra, you really need to be looking at Rival. You can have larger rear cassettes with the other groupsets but it often means using the Apex rear Derailleur.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • tom22
    tom22 Posts: 59
    cycling plus did a feature of mid-ranged groupsets a couple of months ago (105, apex and a campag one which i forget) and sram apex won.
  • mask of sanity
    mask of sanity Posts: 610
    I could be wrong but I think the only difference between Apex and Rival is that Apex doesn't have carbon brake levers and can be used to get gearing similar to that of a triple.
  • mask of sanity
    mask of sanity Posts: 610
    I could be wrong but I think the only difference between Apex and Rival is that Apex doesn't have carbon brake levers and can be used to get gearing similar to that of a triple.
  • tom22
    tom22 Posts: 59
    mask of sanity wrote:
    I could be wrong but I think the only difference between Apex and Rival is that Apex doesn't have carbon brake levers and can be used to get gearing similar to that of a triple.

    +1
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    tom22 wrote:
    mask of sanity wrote:
    I could be wrong but I think the only difference between Apex and Rival is that Apex doesn't have carbon brake levers and can be used to get gearing similar to that of a triple.

    +1

    Wow, really? I find that hard to believe given the price difference. Not saying your wrong as I don't know, but if your right it makes Apex a bit of a bargain.
  • mask of sanity
    mask of sanity Posts: 610
    Ok, a few more differences then I realised. But I think the mechanical aspect remains the same.

    'Though Apex is cosmetically very close to Rival, and incorporates many of the same features, there are differences. The most significant are a forged aluminum brake lever (Rival has a carbon brake lever) and solid aluminum crank arms (Rival has hollow aluminum crank arms). There are also differences in some of the materials in the rear derailleur and design of the brakes.'

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