Shitmano makes me wanna sing SRAM-a-lamma ding dong

[bagtagley]

Tired, tired and tired. I'm sick and tired of my shitmano drivetrain taking a dump part way through a ride. I'm not an abusive rider, I shift normally. Regardless, on both of my bikes, I ended up losing the bottom gear on the rear after 1 maybe 2 rides. After that it's a slow decline.

I figured this was probably a me issue, but decided to give SRAM a shot on the Bullit after my 3rd shimano rear mech took a dump this season. Since that fatefule decision, I've yet to even adjust the thing...not even for cable stretch. Since this upgrade, I've been to Snowshoe a number of times and done plenty of freeride and urban locally. I know its taking hits, cause its visibly scarred. Yet it's still as positive as the first day I bought it (Shimano's turn to slop after a good shot).

So, here's the thing that gets me the most. I can understand that DH is detrimental to derailleurs. I'll even accept that my SRAM revelation might just be a matter of luck. But, while my Bullit (for which the SRAM is probably my 9th mech, and which is notorious for quirky shifting) continues to shift like it just came off the shop floor, my Chameleon's rear mech continues to dissappoint. Let me rephrase that. The bike I DH, drop, huck, crash, beat, batter and generally abuse has shifted flawlessly for months, while my XC (lately at least) bike that gets ridden primarily on the smooth and tame trails that I've been frequenting, has had continuous problems.

I thought adjusting the rear mech was just a part of riding mountain bikes. But now I'm learning that it's a part of owning a Shimano drivetrain.

Rant over...go SRAM.

[homerjay]

Shitmano sucks! I think I ranted about this earlier in the summer.

So far this season:

New XT/Ultegra level chain - crap, kept breaking
XTR rear der. - pulley bearing gone, $25 to replace
XT shifter - sometimes won't catch, happened 2x this year
XT level clipless pedals - one side of right pedal not working

[Tap]

sometimes we all need to be held

[Arty50]

I went with SRAM triggers and an X.9 rear derailleur on my 5 Spot. The front derailleur and gears are XT though. I couldn't be happier. The SRAM triggers whoop ass all over the new Shimano pod crap, and I even like them better than the now defunct Shimano triggers. All thumb is really nice. If you align them right, you can still use thumb and forefinger too.

I used to have tons of shifting problems with my Shimano drivertrain. It seemed like it was in constant need of adjustment. The SRAM stuff has been bomber. It's been shifting crisply since day 1. With the exception of the front derailleur (SRAM doesn't make one, their shifters work with Shimano though) I can't imagine buying Shimano shifting componentry right now. The SRAM stuff is tight.

[cumerritt]

i have shimano stuff on my road mtb. i havent broken anything yet, 4000 miles on the road gears, replaced the drive train on the mtb. other than normal wear and tear i would say its ok stuff, however, after looking into prices on other parts, i would have to say that i wouldnt build a bike up with shimano parts. they cost too much.

[bagtagley]

Originally posted by cumerritt
my road mtb

que?

[Jiehkevarri]

I've had similar exprience with SRAM.

I have the cheaper (cheapest?) x.5 system, all thumb trigger, 9 gear...whole summer of urban, freeride, trail riding and some dirt jumps on my hard tail. Haven't even adjusted it once, and it still works like the first day.

[L8APX]

running sram x9 xo set ups on two bikes with zero problems for awhile now. Shimano is only getting love on cranks and front derailers lately.

[Oarhead]

My next bike is defintely going to haveSRAM. I have been nothing but disappointed in Shimano in the last 3 years, ever since they started to reintroduce the all in one pod. Didn't they learn from the first time that they did this? Everybody hated the integrated shifter/brake pod. They eventually stopped because everybody was trading them out on the shop floor before the bike even left for it's new home. Shimano ended up with piles of these things and ended up putting them onto other lower end bikes.

SRAM has been doing good things and I was super happy that they won that lawsuit in europe a few years ago against shimano. I seriouly think shimano is shooting themselves int he foot with their attidue of non-compatibility. Look at the ISIS system, buttloads of companies use it because it is free and shimano refuses to change or release their standard for tohher companies to build compatible parts. In the last 5 years shiimano has used 3 different bottom bracket standards. What garbage.

FSA, Race face, axiom, and countless other companies are making interchangable, quality parts but shimano always as to reintroduce some new "international standard" that has no justification (see the whole splined rotor for their brakes) other than to make the bike owner use other shimano parts that are only compatible with...other shimano parts.

Rant on against them I say.

[cumerritt]

Originally posted by bagtagley
que?

Sorry I was trying to study while posting. Meant to say road bike and mtb.

[gravitylover]

From what I've seen so far you guys may get all the SRAM you want for the new bikes next season. A lot of the high end stuff will be coming with X7 and X9 shifters and rear der.'s

I'll be in Vegas for the bike show for a few days this week and you can bet I'll take a good look and I'll let you know what the result is next weekend.

[bagtagley]

I'll be in Vegas for the bike show for a few days this week and you can bet I'll take a good look and I'll let you know what the result is next weekend.

Bastard. You need a professional bike whore to tag along? I've got extensive training in conjecture and speculation, and I can spend hours drooling over bikes I'll never own.

[gravitylover]

I'll put up a few pics next week for you. Unless that would be too frustrating

You mention the basic training in your resume there but say nothing of your abilities to consume large quantities of beer while performing said duties. Hopefully there won't be too much drooling but it is Vegas so .....