Making the Switch

[Particle]

to SRAM! I just destroyed my brand spankin new XT rear derailleur on a log. Not that a SRAM der. would have survived that hit, but from what I hear they're more durable. Sooo it was a good excuse to go the 'other' way. Stokered to try it out, especially after seeing how pimp Phunk's setup is.

[Telephil]

pfft...come on dooooood, if you're gonna leave shimano, make the switch to campy.

On sale, only $240.

[phUnk]

pfft...come on dooooood, if you're gonna leave shimano, make the switch to campy.

On sale, only $240.

http://www.performancebike.com/produ...00/50_2271.jpg

Your gayness is quickly approaching jayfrizzo levels...

[mntlion]

change the shifter too? dont sram and shimano run differnt cable pull amounts?

[phUnk]

change the shifter too? dont sram and shimano run differnt cable pull amounts?

SRAM's 1:1 shifters (x7,x9,xO, etc.) all work with regular Shimano front derailleurs, but to run a SRAM (x7,x9,xO) rear derailleur, you need (x7,x9,xO) shifters.

[Particle]

I'm completely copying phunk: x.7 shifters, x.9 rear der., Shimano XT or LX front (haven't bought the front yet) der.

[phUnk]

I'm completely copying phunk: x.7 shifters, x.9 rear der., Shimano XT or LX front (haven't bought the front yet) der.

Hell, he even got an ASX like I did. Next thing you know, he'll be falling off stunts (when he doesn't ride around them) and bending derailleur hangers like me too!

Poser.

[Particle]

now that ^^ was just mean phunky.

anyway first rides on the new SRAM gear and I'm completely hooked. LOVE the thumb-only shifting. LOVE setting it up in the first place--setting the limit screws, cable tension, etc...was ridiculously easy. Usually I'm fiddling with my XT for an hour trying to get it right and it never quite gets to 100%...forever stuck at 98% shifting. And then first ride out it's hosed.

SRAM story: So all was going well with it on the ride on the Deer Valley Stunts, and I get up on this looong bridge (probably 100 yards) that ends in a drop or steep roll-off option and my chain is skipping the whole way. Which is terrifying when you're high on a 8"-wide ladder ride. I got all pissy and then checked out the derailleur, and the cable holder bolt on the rear der. had come loose. I pulled the cable taught BY HAND and retightened the bolt, and the thing was absolutely perfect again. Perfect. Couldn't believe it. So yah I'm stoked on the switch to SRAM.

[descender]

The SRAM thumb shifters rule. You can brake, shift, and hold onto the bars at the same time.

[truth]

The SRAM thumb shifters rule. You can brake, shift, and hold onto the bars at the same time.

Combine that with a camelback and a multi tool and you're really getting somewhere.

[funkendrenchman]

http://www.angryasian.com/images/Whi...r_ride_sm1.mov

Couldn't be more obvious which one is better.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Sram is really good but you are going to be drooling when you see my up coming Saint / Hadley rear set up on the AS-X. No more broken anything (I hope); I've had it too with three XT's down this year.

Anyone that still has an XT hub want to buy my tandem through-axle setup? It really has strengthened the rear on the flimsy XT hub. If AG doesn’t use it, I'll sell it for $5 once the Hadley is in

[fondigley]

Hadley's rule. I got one in the rear on my Dare. MR. AG will definitley like that. I know Hev was talking about building up some Hadley's for his ASX. But I too just destroyed a rear XT deraileur yesterday. Kabuki pointed it out, I thought the cable was just slipping, til he spotted the destruction. Should be repairable, but thinking of swapping my Ultegra from the old jump bike to the Dare and springing for a new one on the Moment.

[crashnburn'd]

I have an x.9 on my downhill/freeride bike and like it, but I'm still not convinced that SRAM is god... I've broken as many SRAM derailuers this year as I have broken Shimano. x.9/XT/Saint seem to work about the same for me. I have an easier time and am better at adjusting Shimano, but that's probably because I'd never owned anything with SRAM on it until this year.

SRAM gripes mainly have to do with their shifters

- When I'm riding, I have a tendency to hit the front shifter with my thumb (I run two chainrings). Not exactly a nice thing to do while you're pedalling like crazy in the big ring. I've had to move the shifter way in on the handlebar, to the point that it's hard for me to reach, to avoid this problem. I very rarely use it, so it's not that big of a deal, but if it was my XC bike, it would drive me nuts. I've never had this problem on any Shimano shifters.

- The bottom levers on both shifters (x.9) bend very easily and then stick while you shift, which sucks. Once they bend, even if you straighten them, they bend right back. In order to to make them not stick, I have to shift one click at a time.

[phUnk]

I don't remember anyone saying that SRAM ders. were somehow breakable. I love them because their shifting feels crisper and stays adjusted much better for me. Plus, I love the all-thumb shifting.

[Arty50]

I don't remember anyone saying that SRAM ders. were somehow unbreakable. I love them because their shifting feels crisper and stays adjusted much better for me. Plus, I love the all-thumb shifting.

Just had to fix that little typo. I agree with everything you said though. My old bike was XTR and my new bike is X.9. The SRAM setup is much, much crisper and their triggers kick ass over Shimanos. In fact, I've never had trouble with the flexing mentioned above. Very solid and very precise.

[crashnburn'd]

I don't remember anyone saying that SRAM ders. were somehow breakable. I love them because their shifting feels crisper and stays adjusted much better for me. Plus, I love the all-thumb shifting.

Not sure if that was directed at me, but...

...but from what I hear they're more durable.

Anyways, I was just sharing my personal experience with them. It hasn't been good enough to make me want to switch out my Shimano stuff. It hasn't been bad enough to want to throw the SRAM stuff in the garbage. To me, both Shimano and SRAM have good and bad coming along with them.

[phUnk]

Duh, sorry. I meant unbreakable and Particle hears voices that tell him all sorts of stuff.

[phUnk]

Sram is really good but you are going to be drooling when you see my up coming Saint / Hadley rear set up on the AS-X. No more broken anything (I hope); I've had it too with three XT's down this year.

Quoting for the inevitable Mr. Altagirl breakage. Don't deny your destiny, Mr. AG!

[bagtagley]

Though I don't tout SRAM as being less breakable, I went from 3 shimano rear mechs a season to having the same X.9 for almost 2 seasons. Quite possibly just a coincidence, but I'm sold as far as durability is concerned.

However, more than anything I like never having to readjust, and I can't imagine anything other than thumb-only shifting.

To each his own though. The more both companies need to compete against each other, the better our products get.

[InspectorGadget]

http://www.angryasian.com/images/Whi...r_ride_sm1.mov

Couldn't be more obvious which one is better.

Durability aside, this video makes the Shimano look like a suspension piece instead of a derailleur. Damn.

[Particle]

Well my X.9 is still running great despite a *few* crashes. I'm sure its destructible but like bag said...SRAM is easy to adjust, takes less fine-tuning, and I dig the thumb-shifting. I've still got XT on my Foes and like it just fine, and it still works just fine, so I'm not going to switch it out unless everything blows up on it for some reason. It's all good...more options and competition will only bring us a better product(s).

[flowtron]

I'm fired up to go all SRAM next year. I've been borrowing a Truth from the shop to do some XC rides, its full SRAM with the X gen f. der. The shifting is awesome. 1:1 makes a hell of a lot of sense. With Shimano I get one, maybe two rides with good shifting, then its tweaked again.
I have been suffering from the inadvertant shifts mentioned above. I naturally ride with my hands way in on the grips, and have bumped the paddles quite a few times, but the cool thing was that even while mashing on the pedals I can shift back to where I was....this was especially impressive with the X Gen Front Der. That thing shifts like XTR...CLACK! I wouldn't hesitate to throw one of those on either.
Sending my sponsorship crap to SRAM this week..I hope it works out.