Fed up with Shimano, talk to me about sram

jds_1981

So,
My right Shimano shifter stopped shifting yesterday. I've not had a chance for a proper look at it yet, but I think the whole cable end has somehow pulled through what it would normally be held in.
In addition to this the cable appears to have started to bury itself quite deeply into the plastic track where it enters the shifter which may account for it's increasing stiffness. This isn't the first one I've broken either.
Finally, as I've complained about before my rear derailleur has developed quite a bit of lateral play, in a similar manner to all the other Shimano ones I've had before.

So I'm considering SRAM.
If like to stay 10 speed. I believe I can keep my cassette and chain that way and my bikes are standardised on 10.
Can I just go right shifter and rear derailleur?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod125407
This is for my CX bike, is something like a MTB derailleur an option?

Am I as likely to knacker my SRAM stuff as my Shimano stuff?

Thanks.

jds_1981

Ah, the other thing is I have just bought a cable to hydraulic converter, are SRAM hydraulics cheap anywhere so I could send that back? I can see I missed some s700s in the bargains thread

phil485

The only rh shifter i have ever broken was sram

andcp

If you need any spares for the SRAM RH shifter when it breaks, pm me as I've got a few broken ones in my scrap pile. I have no faith in SRAM road shifters, I've had two fail on me - I emailed SRAM to see if they supply spares and for the part that broke on mine and they did not. I only run Shimano and Campag on my road bikes now.

Hinaultscrapcousin

What level of Shimano stuff are we talking here?

If you break Shimano you will most likely break Sram stuff, they have a much worse reputation in terms of reliability (among other things).

It's possible you could use a Sram MTB derailleur, you'd have to check cable pull. I know you can't mix and match Shimano MTB and Road stuff without using something like a Wolftooth Tanpan.

If you want something that's rebuildable then change to Campag. Otherwise I'd just stick with Shimano.

keyser__soze

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

vimfuego

I've had cables fray & break in a 105 shifter too. Nothing too bad though, just a case of replacing the cable & all was good.

Have has some SRAM stuff on previous bikes & I agree with most of the above - it's a moody as f*ck

jds_1981

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Interesting, how hard are they to replace?

mudcovered

vimfuego wrote:

I've had cables fray & break in a 105 shifter too. Nothing too bad though, just a case of replacing the cable & all was good.

This seems to be how cables die in right hand 105 shifters. Had the same thing with 5600 and 5700. Replacing the cable sorted it the only pain with 5700 is that because of the under tape routing it was a little harder to make sure that all the fragments of frayed cable had been cleared from the channel.

I did break a 5600 left shifter but that was the one that shimano made double and triple compatible that broke if you overshifted it. I think it was a warranty issue but mine broke long after the warranty period expired. I know that for the warranty replacement you had to specify double or triple as they stopped supporting double on triple shifter setups after that.

Mike

mroli

vimfuego wrote:

Have has some SRAM stuff on previous bikes & I agree with most of the above - it's a moody as f*ck

Although I've got SRAM on everything (apart from the wife's bikes) and it has never missed a beat. I did build a bike for a mate once and the shifter went - apparently there was a plastic bit in there that snapped and that was a common problem, but I would guess they may have sorted that out now?

Like Shimano - the only 10 speed stuff you can get now is Apex (Tiagra on Shimano?) although there are quite often old shifters floating round.

keef66

mudcovered wrote:

vimfuego wrote:

I've had cables fray & break in a 105 shifter too. Nothing too bad though, just a case of replacing the cable & all was good.

This seems to be how cables die in right hand 105 shifters. Had the same thing with 5600 and 5700. Replacing the cable sorted it the only pain with 5700 is that because of the under tape routing it was a little harder to make sure that all the fragments of frayed cable had been cleared from the channel.

I did break a 5600 left shifter but that was the one that shimano made double and triple compatible that broke if you overshifted it. I think it was a warranty issue but mine broke long after the warranty period expired. I know that for the warranty replacement you had to specify double or triple as they stopped supporting double on triple shifter setups after that.

Mike

Crikey, I could have written that! Several RH shifter cables fraying, one of them snapped in my 5600. Fortunately easy to replace with the side entry cables. Also bust the LH shifter but way beyond warranty (that was being used as a triple and I may have over-tensioned the cable). Luckily bagged a used but perfect one on Ebay for £25. The RH shifter is still going strong after 9 years.

jds_1981

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Actually I chucked one of my previous RH shifters due to this, I read they were unserviceable. Do you have a link for the part, my googlefu is failing.

hopkinb

I've been running sram rival for a year - 8500km and counting - in all weathers, with very little maintenance. Bomb proof for me so far. Simple to index - nice positive gear changes. Just starting to feel like it might need new cables mind you. That's the 11 speed rival though.

hopkinb

No doubt the rh shifter will explode into a million shiny pieces on the way home now.

BobMcbob

I have a Shimano setup but always use S-RAM chains, they last me longer and don't have the habit of snapping.

secretsam

Ever thought about Campag?

<<snigger>>

timothyw

This is pretty much the known issue of 5700 shifters being crap isn't it?

It's why for the new Tiagra 4700 they've completely changed the design so it uses a new pull ratio etc, taken from the 11 speed systems.

My winter bike has been downgraded from 5700 shifters to 4600. They're ugly, what with the side cable entry and gear indicator dial, but they shift sweetly and don't eat cables.

keef66

TimothyW wrote:

This is pretty much the known issue of 5700 shifters being crap isn't it?

It's why for the new Tiagra 4700 they've completely changed the design so it uses a new pull ratio etc, taken from the 11 speed systems.

My winter bike has been downgraded from 5700 shifters to 4600. They're ugly, what with the side cable entry and gear indicator dial, but they shift sweetly and don't eat cables.

That was why I was happy to go for used 9 speed Tiagra for the winter build. The shifting is lovely and cable checking / replacement's a doddle. The only annoyance was they got in the way of the front light, but that's now on a fork crown mount so all sorted.

CRAIGO5000

I can vouch for Sram. I run Force on my race bike and Apex/Rival on all weather commute bike.

Both bikes have just over 10,000 miles on them now. I replaced cables twice as maintenance, brake pads every year.
On the commuter, I've had the RD jockey wheels seize at around the 4000 mile point which locks up the chain! Best to keep an eye on those, but the UK wet and salty roads are to blame here. I've also worn out the outer chain ring and put a nice Sram Red one on the race bike and donated the Apex one to the commuter until that wears out. I replaced both Sram chains for Ultegra chains when they wear out as Ultegra chains are £15 instead of £40 off for a high grade Sram equivalent.

On the race bike, the jockey wheels didn't need replacing, but I changed them out at around 9000 miles as a precaution. Jockey wheels are around £15 a set for ceramic.

itboffin

Sounds like a bit more regular TLC required regardless of which manufacturer of groupset you opt for, if the shifting is getting stiff don't ignore it have a look why, it'll save you £££ in the long run.

You're not alone though the majority of people seem to ride on until it breaks, I'm also guilty of this with cars.

keyser__soze

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Actually I chucked one of my previous RH shifters due to this, I read they were unserviceable. Do you have a link for the part, my googlefu is failing.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares ... -6th-1400/
That's the part that got totally chewed up in mine due to frayed cable. Needle nose pliers and the old one came right out, simply pushed in the new one then recabled.

jds_1981

Keyser__Soze wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Actually I chucked one of my previous RH shifters due to this, I read they were unserviceable. Do you have a link for the part, my googlefu is failing.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares ... -6th-1400/
That's the part that got totally chewed up in mine due to frayed cable. Needle nose pliers and the old one came right out, simply pushed in the new one then recabled.

Perfect, thanks. Depending on whether it was a fatal issue that caused the cable to pull through that might sort my problem.

mudcovered

TimothyW wrote:

This is pretty much the known issue of 5700 shifters being crap isn't it?

It's why for the new Tiagra 4700 they've completely changed the design so it uses a new pull ratio etc, taken from the 11 speed systems.

Could well be although if it is its a definite inherit from 5600. I've had it happen once and it just means I've added a visual inspection of the cable under the hood occasionally. The cables seem to last a perfectly decent amount of time so I'm not really complaining and the shifting is totally reliable.

If the pull ratio is different for 4700 that must play havoc with interop between those parts and the older mechs.

Mike

jds_1981

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Actually I chucked one of my previous RH shifters due to this, I read they were unserviceable. Do you have a link for the part, my googlefu is failing.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares ... -6th-1400/
That's the part that got totally chewed up in mine due to frayed cable. Needle nose pliers and the old one came right out, simply pushed in the new one then recabled.

Perfect, thanks. Depending on whether it was a fatal issue that caused the cable to pull through that might sort my problem.

Unfortunately upon inspection I found the shifter is knackered, pulled an important looking broken bit of metal out so on to SRAM it is..

Hinaultscrapcousin

jds_1981 wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

Keyser__Soze wrote:

Had the same issue with cable channel with my RH 105 shifter, you can buy spares for the part. My problem was exacerbated by the cable outer fraying and strands pulling through the plastic ferrule. Mind you that's the only issue I've had with it, whereas we've had three different SRAM shifters break with the same cracked lever problem (tho they did get replaced under warranty)

Actually I chucked one of my previous RH shifters due to this, I read they were unserviceable. Do you have a link for the part, my googlefu is failing.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares ... -6th-1400/
That's the part that got totally chewed up in mine due to frayed cable. Needle nose pliers and the old one came right out, simply pushed in the new one then recabled.

Perfect, thanks. Depending on whether it was a fatal issue that caused the cable to pull through that might sort my problem.

Unfortunately upon inspection I found the shifter is knackered, pulled an important looking broken bit of metal out so on to SRAM it is..

Well at least you've had some practice for what you're going to have to deal with

keef66

mudcovered wrote:

If the pull ratio is different for 4700 that must play havoc with interop between those parts and the older mechs.

Mike

Indeed it does. Lots of us hoped the new Tiagra would be a cheap way of keeping older 10 speed systems going, but as I understand it 4700 mechs only really work with 4700 shifters

itboffin

the best way to 10 speed is campag if you ask me, I'm still rocking xenon shifters on the London commuter, centaur on the winter bike and a mix of chorus with the old UT centaur 10 speed shifters in the cervelo R5, if only they still made that 10 speed UT centaur groupset i'd snap them up.

itboffin

you could also just buy a set of 5600 series shifters and a new cassette/chain the rest of a shimano or sram <11 speed will work fine

the_hundredth_idiot

SecretSam wrote:

Ever thought about Campag?

<<snigger>>

I broke my Campag lh shifter. In theory it could be fixed (I think); in practice, it was cheaper to buy a new one.

essex-commuter

itboffin wrote:

the best way to 10 speed is campag if you ask me, I'm still rocking xenon shifters on the London commuter, centaur on the winter bike and a mix of chorus with the old UT centaur 10 speed shifters in the cervelo R5, if only they still made that 10 speed UT centaur groupset i'd snap them up.

Yep, Campag for me too. Xenon on the commuter, Record on the race bike.

itboffin

in fact here you go a set of Xenon 10 speed with cables for £48
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/campagnol ... #pid=26373

or the newer Veloce for £60
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/campagnol ... #pid=24127