Current SRAM X7/X9 parts

peat

Hi All,

I was looking at getting a new bike which runs this transmission. When I said to a shop clerk which one I had been looking at, I was asked "Is that the one with the SRAM? If so I would consider going a level up, or even down, to get Shimano. We've had nothing but trouble with the new SRAM stuff."

So, in any of your experience, is this the case? Or are the shop just trying to get me to spend a bit more money?

Cheers

97th choice

Personally I prefer shimano, but SRAM is OK, Ive had X7/X9 and had to get shifters and rear mech fixed once under warranty.

Chunkers1980

They said down too - so one can conlude they are not trying to do you over.

Will just be the opinion of the sales person and their experience of the stuff.

Personally - Shimano is very high quality. Like above you do seem to hear more stories about SRAM stuff going wrong - if this extrapolates to it being less good in terms of quality it is very hard to tell.

97th choice

SRAM vs Shimano transmission were certainly be down my list of worries when choosing a bike, they both work and can be relatively inexpensive to replace. your chain, chainrings and casette are essentially consumables anyway.

The Rookie

I don't think X7/X9 are as good as the nominal Shimano quivalent (nominally SLX=X7 and XT=X9, X5 is pretty similar to Deore so I'd put the X7 at Deore+ and the X9 at SLX (ish)) so it depends on which parts the bike has versus which Shimano parts and what else changes on the bike spec.

coulddobetter

Run x9 and no trouble at all . Had xt on an older bike , no trouble at all. Shifters have the greatest difference in terms of feel in my opinion.

jayson

Ive had both and i actually prefer sram. Both are super slick in operation and perform flawlessly but the feel of the shifter and changing action is better with sram i think, it just feels more solid, not clunky and unengineered just solid and really positive, something i never got with shimano kit.

Shimano is good but i got tired of having to look down at the cassette just to make sure the gears had actually changed, with sram you get a positive reassuring click each and everytime and you know you've changed gear which i much prefer.

Cqc

jayson wrote:

Ive had both and i actually prefer sram. Both are super slick in operation and perform flawlessly but the feel of the shifter and changing action is better with sram i think, it just feels more solid, not clunky and unengineered just solid and really positive, something i never got with shimano kit.

Shimano is good but i got tired of having to look down at the cassette just to make sure the gears had actually changed, with sram you get a positive reassuring click each and everytime and you know you've changed gear which i much prefer.

That's true, and SRAM don't have the stupid index finger downshift button

The Rookie

Cqc wrote:

jayson wrote:

Ive had both and i actually prefer sram. Both are super slick in operation and perform flawlessly but the feel of the shifter and changing action is better with sram i think, it just feels more solid, not clunky and unengineered just solid and really positive, something i never got with shimano kit.

Shimano is good but i got tired of having to look down at the cassette just to make sure the gears had actually changed, with sram you get a positive reassuring click each and everytime and you know you've changed gear which i much prefer.

That's true, and SRAM don't have the stupid index finger downshift button

Neither does my Shimano......

Chunkers1980

Depends on the age and version of your Shimano shifter, and your definition of down.

The Rookie

There is only one downshift, their are numpties that call an upshift a downshift but that doesn't make it one.

Chunkers1980

I don't think 'there are' numpties when it come to bike gears, down the block from big to small given its conical shape.

cooldad

Chunkers1980 wrote:

I don't think 'there are' numpties when it come to bike gears, down the block from big to small given its conical shape.

Don't add to the numptiness. Down is a lower gear, always. End of.

The Rookie

Damn and buggery, now I have to admit CD was right about something......actually he always is when he agrees with me!

Chunkers, I am truly surprised at you!

Thumb push is a downshift unless using a rapid rise mech.

Chunkers1980

It's not what I think, I can just see the logic in thinking that way when it comes to bikes if you know nothing of other gearing systems.

cooldad

Chunkers1980 wrote:

It's not what I think, I can just see the logic in thinking that way when it comes to bikes if you know nothing of other gearing systems.

Just accept your numptiness and move on.

FishFish

SRAM is easier to spell. But I have just completed a build with X7 / X9 and I'm happy. Not too happy with all the faff with Elixr but it is the first brake set I've fitted. Incidentally I was travelling over the past 10 days and went in a train in Taiwan which went past the SRAM factory!

yeah ok.

The Rookie

Chunkers1980 wrote:

It's not what I think, I can just see the logic in thinking that way when it comes to bikes if you know nothing of other gearing systems.

So 1st gear isn't down from 9th?

Or do you fly in the face of logic and pull away in 9th and then shift through to first?

peat

Thanks for the opinions guys.

And the mind-opening/altering debate.