What is wrong with SRAM Red?

Gabbo

Not just in these forums, but even in my local bike shop the worker slated SRAM Red groupset. I've now witnessed many people slate it, but why? What exactly is wrong with it? Bad value for money? Bad shifting? What?

cougie

I think its a bit trickier to dial in than other groupsets. My mate had a lot of chain noise on his until he got it sorted - but it took a while. And also he keeps cocking up his changes on it - but thats probably just him still getting used to SRAM after decades of Shimano.

ShutUpLegs

It's usually the way when people swear by inferior products.

sandyballs

I think its great, i converted last year and would not go back. But everyones different, i can't say it was that difficult to dile in over shimano and i have built bikes with both. I like the single lever rather than using the entire brake and a downchange lever. Coming down the gears is a dream as well.

jameses

Can't be too bad if it's being used in the pro peleton, surely?

Captainlip

shifts like 105.

Joeblack

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Hahaha to say you work in a bike shop you don't know jack!! It shifts nothing like 105, and it's a very light groupset, I like it and one day might change from ultegra

danowat

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Nothing like 105, Shimano shifters can be feathered, and can accept a bit of mis-alignment in the indexing, SRAM doesn't, it needs to be bang-on.

That said, a properly adjusted SRAM system is a thing of beauty, so snappy and direct, I have bike with both, and I prefer SRAM.

kamil1891

I've got 105 and sram red on other bike. You cannot compare both really, it would be a disgrace. Shifting is brilliant and even the brakes which are Force and not Red, which I believe are superior, feel like they are 10 times as strong as 105 brakes (of course I'm using the same brake pads, wheels etc).

One thing that is annoying with the Red is front shifting. I've not used my bike for 3 weeks and today I took it on a turbo. It didn't want to shift up and I had to fiddle with the tension to get it sorted. But that's a 15 secs job.

I hope one day I will throw away, I mean sell, entire shimano stuff of my bike and replace it with the current Sram groupset and maybe one day I will be able to afford the new Red for my best bike

big_p

my missus uses the latest sram red group and other than 3/4 of a turn on the rear mech barrel adjuster, it's been totally faultless. i think she's done about a 600km on it since august, it run's totally silent and she loves it, although just not as much as the da di2 on her tt bike.

saprkzz

I love it.. I have only ever had Sram on my bikes so cant compare to other groupsets.

sungod

red works fine, so does shimano, i've got both, i'm sure campag is good too

sram/campag/shimano, there's the same fanboy waawaawaa that rages over apple/samsung/other phones

it's just stuff, it works, but some people need to validate their existence by proclaiming their x is the one true x and start a religious war

pah

Ginjafro

I have Ultegra on one Planet X and SRAM Red on my other Planet X. I prefer the SRAM Red because it looks great, works brilliantly and perfect even for small hands. Take the time to set it up correctly in the first place, which isn't hard, and it is easy to dial in perfectly.

Captainlip

red is light, and expensive, yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

the opinion of quite a few of our customers.

stueys

Nothing wrong with Red, it's light and shifts well. Previous model has an issue with front shifting where the deraileur wasn't rigid enough, that's now resolved.

My preference is DA but that's more to due with ergonomics and familiarity than anything else. I couldn't get on with double tap.

AndyPkr

Do yourselves a favour and get a middle of the road Campagnolo groupset. I have an 8 speed Veloce groupset from 1996 which still runs as sweetly as when I bought it. My 11 speed Athena is even better. (Bait cast, lets see who bites first.)

danowat

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Captainlip wrote:

yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

And you say you run a cycle shop?

racingcondor

SRAM shifting can be a little agricultural if it's poorly set up or too dirty but it's also very fast and very reliable if you set it up properly (hell of a lot faster than 6600 was certainly).

OP - The person in your LBS is probably thinking that if he can sell you DA instead he'll make £600 in markup rather than £300.

amaferanga

Captainlip wrote:

red is light, and expensive, yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

the opinion of quite a few of our customers.

That's nonsense.

cornerblock

danowat wrote:

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Captainlip wrote:

yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

And you say you run a cycle shop?

He reminds me of someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRPcssq- ... detailpage

t.m.h.n.e.t

Cornerblock wrote:

danowat wrote:

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Captainlip wrote:

yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

And you say you run a cycle shop?

He reminds me of someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRPcssq- ... detailpage

Good lord it's Trev The Rev!

Beatmaker

danowat wrote:

Captainlip wrote:

shifts like 105.

Captainlip wrote:

yet shifts more clunky than 105, tried, tested, used and removed.

And you say you run a cycle shop?

Nope, he just works in one. Red isn't as light in its shift as Shimano, but it works fine.

fevmeister

Despite dura ace being substantially heavier than red, I much prefer it. In my opinion it's miles ahead.

napoleond

I've just ditched my Sram Red, I've had it 4 years, it's been faultless. Just fancied a change.
I've used campag 10sp (Record/Chorus mix) and 6600, 6700 Ultegra and 7800 DA.
Currently building up with Super Record.

They are all really good.

I found the shifting on the Red lightning quick and reliable although the front mech wasn't best ever, a Force one was actually an upgrade so to speak. 7800 was the smoothest. I loved the 'positive' feeling of the campag and I think SR is the best looking and I'm an utter tart! I really like the new campag hood shapes too.

Bozman

Nothing wrong with the chainset, I use a Sram red/black chainset a kmc x10sl chain with Dura-ace 7800 and it's bloody faultless, if Carlsberg did......blah blah.

jouxplan

It is always amusing to read comments from people who swear something is rubbish, and that only their brand is any good!

Over the years, I have used campag veloce, shimano ultegra and dura ace, and since 2010, my No 1 bike has had SRAM Red. I just fancied seeing what it would be like. I'll admit that I did not get on with it at first, it does take a while to get the hang of shifting. But I would say I now like it a lot - a hell of a lot. It definately is more clunky and 'mechanical' then the ultegra and dura ace. When I jump onto No 2 (dura ace), I admit I always say to myself 'wow, that's silky smooth'.

I've not had any problems keeping the SRAM set up nicely. They are all great systems. No need to get overly worked up about it

jonomc4

I have used SRAM Red/Force/Rival and have loved them all. I found it very easy to setup and maintain - though like others the front mech does need the cable tightening slightly every 3 weeks or so (but you can do that whilst still pedaling so no biggy).

For me I love how fast and direct the gear change is I prefer it over the other groupsets I have used. I also think SRAM offers the best bang for the buck of the groupsets and is lighter. Downside - I don't think it is going to last me as long as a Campy groupset - but then again I have never tested either to destruction and I am just going by what I heard - maybe if you are the type of person who doesn't like to keep your bikes in top order and clean then Sram will give you more hassles - for me I wish sometimes it would break down so I can have a play with my tools (ooooeeer miss).

napoleond

jonomc4 wrote:

I don't think it is going to last me as long as a Campy groupset - but then again I have never tested either to destruction and I am just going by what I heard - maybe if you are the type of person who doesn't like to keep your bikes in top order and clean then Sram will give you more hassles - for me I wish sometimes it would break down so I can have a play with my tools (ooooeeer miss).

The Red I had for 4 years never missed a beat and the shifting when i sold it was as crisp and sharp as when it was new. That said I'm borrowing a mate's bike with much older alloy Chorus and that feels fantastic.