As a rider with the same component set-ups on separate bikes that you just reviewed here Clint, your assessment is SPOT ON with my opinion as well. Shimano brakes "bite" more, and the shifting is much stiffer. I do like that Shimano shifters allow the use of your fore-finger or thumb to down shift, while SRAM only allows thumb, and offer no gear indicator (I am running an X1 drive train with Guide brakes). Shifting and braking are much smoother/easier with SRAM, but I love my Shimano XT components just the same. You really cannot loose with either component system. Both companies are offering tremendous products. Excellent points on the bleeding of the brakes as well. GREAT REVIEW C.G.!
Having the larger 50t sprocket isn't just for more climbing ability. It allows you to acquire a higher top speed with a larger front chainring without sacrificing your existing climbing gear ratio.
Larger chainring gives lower chainwrap and saves a few watts, the SRAM 50t makes this possible, also puts you in middle of cassette with better chain line more of the time. This saves a few more watts. What kind of rider likes to lock the rear wheel??? A poor one? Modulation is everything!
depends on brake model and the kind if biking u do. for me a 4 piston brake is kind of mandatory, that's why i have Elixir 7 TRAIL (when it was still avid). i went on some of my friends bikes and they all have XT. well, most situations is just fine but when the speeds pick up, sometimes i have to pray to stop FAST. 110kg at 45+ km/h not that easy to stop...
no experience with either, but I have a riding buddy that if I merely mention the word Campagnolo it will start him into a full discourse of why they should not be in business and even the one riding buddy I know that still has Campagnolo on one of his bikes admits that they are an "acquired taste"
Agree with others. sram gears (although I love the XT shifters) , Shimano brakes. sram guide R's on my Fuel are coming off as soon as I get the XT's off my other bike.
I'm having XT brakes and they are awesome I have a 2x10 drievtrain In shifters ive got an microshift XCD with xtr 11s rear derailleur, xtr cassette 11-36 with 40-28 fsa crankset, KMC goldchain and XT 11s front derailleur With that set up i'm pretty happy, no complains and very useful, very smooth and precise
They are both in a really good place now as you said. I went from an older Shimano XT/XTR system to a normal SRAM GX system on my newest bike and just the technology improvements alone make the "Lower quality" SRAM GX system much better. I'd imaging stepping up to GX Eagle would be yet another leap in quality and performance. But as you said, I don't think you can go wrong with either these days and I'm glad to see Shimano rumored to be challenging SRAM for gear range on their next drivetrain update.
My thoughts: the degree of modulation I can get with SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes is much more than you indicate in your review. Very hard to go back to XT's (I did on a hi-end demo bike for 4 days and never got close to the same level of control). *But* I had to have one replaced after two years due them becoming squishy (and no bleed would fix) - a known problem. SRAM replaced them out of warranty with no issue. The Ultimates are just as easy to bleed as Shimano's (don't know about the lower-end Guides) - people complain about the DOT fluid, but I do this max once per year, and it is no hassle. I plan to stay with the Guides, unless they gum up often (the rear brake has been flawless). For me, I have no need for more than 11 gears on my SRAM shifter since I installed a WolfTooth 44 big cog and a smallish chainring to get the low I need (very steep (and old) here), and I don't need a high end to go 35 mph (do XC people need this??) I find the SRAM rear gears a little sluggish going low to high, but this could be because I'm trying a throttle shifter, which I like more than I expected. The SRAM shifters also seem sensitive to slack in the cable. Not sure why, but adjusting the barrel doesn't give the top-to-bottm perfect alignment - have to get out the Torx and and take out any slack.
SRAM for drivetrains , Road and MTN. I do prefer Shimano brakes still, but I really haven't had a chance to try the new Guide brakes or the Rival/Force. For gravel/cross, SRAM all the way. Because the brake lever does not move, you can use the lever itself as a brace while the hoods rather than it fold in on you like Shimano. Double-Tap can introduce some miss-shifts but the positive feedback while on rough terrain is better IMO. As far as Eagle....if I'm not mistaken, Clint Gibbs lives in Florida, so yeah not much use for it here. Where I find Eagle excels is obviously in the mountains but even places like Sedona where its really rocky and lots of technical sections where that extra torque comes in handy....not just for steeps.
Hi, Clint! I bought a Giant Anthem Advance Pro 1. Delivered February 15th. It’s a blast with the Eagle drivetrain. SRAM Level brakes were good. While dry. I raced it on the last 4 GoneRiding FLE series (6 hours solo), 2 Epics (50+ miles) and a Mulberry Gap 30 miler/6’k+ elevation. During the last race (6 hours of Hailes) in which it rain and made a soupy clay mud fest for the last 3+ hours I lost almost all brake use as soon they got muddy water, dropping me from a 3rd to a 5th. Almost crashed several times. I cleaned the bike really good and took it to my lbs/dealer. The rear pads were 105% GONE! And the front ones had about 15% left. So disappointed. I only used Shimano SLX on a 2015 27.5 Anthem SX, which I raced and rode A LOT. Dry, or wet, or muddy, they never let me down and only replaced pads twice. That’s an entire FSC and FLE series, plus out of state trips and several epics. I think I’ll switch to XT brakes first $$ chance I get. Ride On! 🚵♀️✌️
I would imagine you had a resin pads. You can get metallic pads, both for SRAM and Shimano, which last much longer in the mud. I too have lost brakes and wet conditions. I believe they were Shimano. Metallic pads are the key for wet conditions.
Recently I installed the new XT M8020 brakes with quad piston calipers .....the difference is huge. I bought the full kit from aliexpress for usd $250. I also fit the new Michelin Wild Enduro tires. Both relatively cheap upgrades really boost my bike’s performance.
If you keep the upshift lever pressed with tension on the chain you can shift up multiple gears at once. I dont think its intentional and it doesnt work 100% of the time, but it does quite often. You just have to find the right point on the lever.
I thought I would like it but Im finding too many unintended extra shifts(2 gears when I only wanted one). Then I have to shift back kind of defeating purpose. Im not inexperienced. Mtb since 1991.
Shifting Sram for sure. It shifts perfectly even under load. Braking I currently have a Magura MT Trail. But people complain about the levers. Since both Shimano and Magura use mineral oil, some people like to switch their levers to Shimano. So that they now have then Shigura 😅 Nice video! 👍🏼 I've been following you now for quite some time. Keep up the good work.
I'm currently on SRAM 11 speed with a 49 tooth wolftooth expander cog .... I also use the guide ultimate brakes with 203 front and 180 rear rotors. Absolutely not lacking in power but can modulate like no ones business .... I mean seriously, what good is a brake if it is simply on or off? Skidding does not do much for control and a grabby front brake is simply going to make people shy away from using it for fear of flying over the bars when in fact it is the front brake that is the most important brake to use.
Note also that dot fluids are much more corrosive. Consequently longevity of the seals is much shorter than shimano's. At least this has been my experience after a 2 year ride and many years of using dot fluids on motorcycles
No love for 2x anymore. I run XT M8000 series 2x. Front shifting is as good as the rear. It is that good. I hope the 1x hype dies down. 14 spd rear..... really?! Again, the good thing with 2x is the quick shift from a high to low gear. Superbly useful on trails with transitions from a fast section to a short steep section and back again. No need to shift 4-5 steps in the rear. One click and you're good to go. Let the flaming begin (I brought the dead horse too).
They just geared them wrong. My sram had a 39 large ring. And the bcd prevented buying a proper size one. Too big. They should have gone 34-22 or 32-22
2x is suppost to be better but i personally cant be bothered with the bs that comes with a front mech and a left hand shifter. Id rather just bin them and have simplicity.
I love my Shimano all day long on my Giant xtc. I run xt brakes and shifters with a xtr rear and front derailleur, that's right 3x10 set up. I still like this set up, my son runs a single chain ring set, but I find it lacking for some steeper hills and longer distance high speed rides. He finds he even runs out of gear on the top end and steals my bike. Sorry little of topic, Shimano all the way for us though! Great video's sir!
Great video Clint I’m using sram components on my enduro bike drive train is a mix of XO1 XX1 and X1 my brakes are the sram code rsc brakes bleeding edge technology I had been a problem with the sram guide brakes heat issue but now since changing to the codes all good 👍
Whether or not you need or can use a 10-50 cassette is personal. Just because you don't need it doesn't mean that someone else doesn't. It's obvious that many people like the 50-tooth low gear because these things took a considerable amount of market share from Shimano. Just look how most bikes are specked with SRAM now. Shimano just conceded that you have to have a very low gear to appeal to the majority of mountain bikers and is offering a 10-51 cassette (just so they can be 1 lower than SRAM). I've been battling knee problems since 2002, surgeries in both, and cortisone injections every 3 months. I want and need the low gear. Others can't get on their bikes every day and may not have the conditioning to turn corn cob cassettes. I get it that you have exceptional conditioning. However, many don’t. Otherwise, really good video.
For sure. I won't even try eagle on my 142 frame because my current XT 11 speed chainline is already at its limit. On my RIP 9 a 30/10-42 is all the gearing I personally need here in SoCal..... 14 speed lol
ThunderStruckCoach - aye it’s getting silly now, I think it may be more to tie up patents just in case things go that way. Next they will be back to double rings up front lol.......wireless
One thing in regards to bleeding, I think the Shimano is easier but only if you are doing a very basic lever bleed, I find that the thread in system that sram uses to be much better than the push on system of Shimano if you need to do a full brake flush on the system. If you really want good brakes take a look at Magura, more stopping power than Shimano but with the modulation of SRAM.
Sram drivetrain, Shimano XT or Zee brakes with icetech rotors on all 4 of my bikes. I can swap wheelsets and keeping spare pads is simplified. Mineral oil and maintenance outweighs any performance advantage.
mike darling maintenance is easy on both. sram has 2 seringes, shimano 1 + a bottle or whateva... same crap. dot is corosive ONLY if u let it there but i don't think you will leave mineral oil all over your bike just because it doesn't corode right? and besides. dot you can wash away with water. what can be more simple than that?
I'm working in a bike shop (mechanic) and I was talking to a sram guy the other day and asked if he knew about the problems with sram brakes and DOT fluid. He replied: Sram is producing brakes for professional athletes (complete bs) and they are bleeding their brakes every week or two so they don't have any problems! So Sram brakes are not “normal rider“ friendly i guess.
I have a set of the SRAM Level TLM. Both completely seized during a ride a month ago, unfortunately. I really like the feel of the level brakes. Went back to the XT brakes for the ease, for me, of bleeding and the use of mineral oil.
I love sram eagle but love shimano brakes, I dont want to mix match so ive just got all sram. I found the sram brakes dont dissipate heat much with the full steel rotors, I have this steep fire road I rode down and the brakes glased over and had no power, so I got a new set and about 6 months later went down the same fire road and it done the same thing to the brakes and they actually started smoking, its only about 500m distance but it is 40% gradient, it was a 200mm rotor though and you would think it would be enough surface area. I sanded down the pads and it took about a month before the pads come good again. My old bike had shimano with the fins on the pads and ice tec rotor with the alloy core and they dont hold much heat at all. Its a shame because the sram brakes hold up on downhill tracks but I have to avoid this fire road, where shimano wouldnt flinch down it...
I love the ergonomics of the lever the shape is perfect. I prefer Shimano due to mineral oil, I refuse to use Toxic fluid. I like the feel of Shimano brakes, almost zero friction in the lever, so light and smooth. But I haven't tried Sram long-term testing them in a shop.
It is not about if theyre 12 or 14 disks , it is always about difference between the lowest and highest gear. There are 14 disk versions out, but they do not reach the 500% or simply 1:5
A very good comparison, that sticks for the most part to objectivity, but allows for some personal preference in subjective feel. One thing that stands out is the appearance; the Guide lever and housing looks like a low-end cast ( 6:01 ), while the Shimano looks machined. Also, the clamp on the Shimano lever looks high end, while the Sram's remind me of brake clamps I saw when I was a kid. From a strict appearance factor, the Shimano looks better.
over time I have ended up with SunRace parts and have had good luck with their derailleurs, shifters, and freewheels/cassettes on multiple bikes of mine they do not at the moment have parts specifically made for mountain biking I have also been using some Bolany cassettes that work well
I picked up a bike a month ago and the lever at 2:10 was turned off all the time and i didnt notice haha. Thanks for telling me ab it even tho that wasn’t even the intention of the video
for disc brakes I have ditched factory calipers and replaced them with TRP and JUIN cable operated hydraulic calipers this is a easy 5 minute swap I have never had to live with hydraulic hose going up to my bars, not really sure how problematic that could be
I had just built what I thought was a thoroughly rugged MTB for a multi-day ride through remote country in winter. I was horrified when my SRAM GX 1x11 shifter broke just a few blocks from my house. After that I converted to Shimano and have had no problems. I'll accept it as what it was . . . a rare manufacturing defect (I never bothered contacting SRAM). But how rare? Do such defects always reveal themselves quickly? Now I take a thumb friction shifter along in remote country as a spare just in case.
On my eagle, i also rarely use the 50t. But been happy a few times it was there. After 1000m+ off climbing with some more to go. Maybe do some experimenting in the future with a bigger ring.
I ride both. I'm really not leaning towards one side or the other. However, the 11-46 cassette by shimano is a foul ball. I prefer a suntour cassette, where the jump to the 46 isn't so steep. Never understand how shimano thought that was a good idea.
I have sram 12 speed eagle xo1 and I like it. It’s really smooth but 12 gears is not necessary even in the mountains where I live as long as you have the top and low end and a few gears in between. My sram level brakes have given me fits with bleeding and adjustments. The levers were found to be defective and were replaced. Next time I’ll go back to shimano brakes. Good video thanks.
TRP breakes, and in the rest X0. I highley reccomand thi combo, I use it on my 710 Gambler and I love it. And yes I use Sram X0 because they are made out of carbon.
Recently I have purchased a Salsa Rangefinder, which just came out this year (2020 when I made this comment), and I used to have a specialized with SRAM Level brakes, I just got shimano brakes and honestly, I like the shimano brakes a lot, but the feel of the levels and responsiveness was much better, but shimano is so much more powerful. However, I used to have a shimano drivetrain, but on my salsa I have SRAM SX eagle, and it is 110% better. So I think sram is best for going ig, and shimano for stopping
You’re correct, but I’m not (personally) satisfied and convinced by the SRAM Level brakes. Rear pads completely gone after just 3 months of not really long distances. I like your informational videos, but in this particular case I’ll have to respectfully disagree on the brakes. I’m definitely going with either XT, or XTR. Thanks for your video reviews and tips. Ride On! 👍✌️
Love Shimano brakes. Works so well for me. Shifting is a mixed bag. I've had a handful of bikes with sram shifting and I do really like the feel of the shifters. My SLX equipped mountain bike shifters feel a little cheap, but they have been bulletproof. So I guess not as important for me there. For road and cross stuff though, Shimano all day, every day. That double tap stuff drives me crazy.
Since February rumors of XTR 12 speeds are growing. It would be 10-51 (lol yup 51...not 50) with a specific freehub and would feature a 4 piston caliper (which i find weird with XT Zee and Saint already being around). I even saw a picture but low quality so not worth very much
The XT caliper is probably just a rebranded Saint caliper. you can buy the calliper separately, or in a brake set, Saint & ZEE hasn't been updated to the new design.
Facebook ruined news feed so I can't keep up with their page, but I got other ways to do so. they even messed up even more, clicking on shimano mtb gets me to shimano mtb Norway. I checked on twitter, there is definitely something going on.
I checked on twitter, new rear Derailleur for sure, new cage design, it's offset similar to Sram. twitter.com/ShimanoMTB/status/998911170986889216 I hope they make it with reparable parts, similar to Box component's.
The 14 speed Shimano patent is from the late 90’s, and uses outdated tech that no longer exists in derailleurs. I only say this because I’ve heard many people reference this as something they are developing, when in fact it’s just an old US patent.
I’ve just got a 2017 specialized enduro comp and it has sram 11speed and guide r brakes and used to have shimano brakes and gears and I absolutely prefer sram completely
Sram chain rings are heavier than aftermarket options. Shimano does nto make Oval chain rings, but there are several options, I use Absoluteblack oval with RaceFace Atlas cranks. but htere are titanium & steel options, so far I know of kaeng.pro, but I haven't tried them.
I test rode a bike that could be upshifted by pushing or pulling the same lever, multiple shifts too I think. Shimano I believe, but is that all Shimano?
I've passed a ton of people trying to clear their sram eagle at muddy races, xt di2 just works in every condition. I wonder it the new electric sram will be similar?
with current day, 2020, shimano drivetrains, they are much closer to sram in terms of responsiveness and in my opinion i'm with shimano all the way around the bike. brakes and drivetrain. the great thing about shimano's newer stuff is that for one, their brakes are more reliable and more powerful. Their drivetrain too has hyperglide+ which routes the chain up and down the cassette way faster and smoother. ANOTHER benefit of hyperglide+ is that you can REALLY crunch through the gears with shimanos stuff because hyperglide actually works better with more tension and torque going thru the drivetrain. thats why ebikes are starting to be speccd with almost only shimano drivetrains nowadays.
By modulation do you mean spongy and weak? Shop wrench here. Worked on quite a few of both. Not a fan of Sram brakes at all. Love Sram drivetrains. Great shifting, reliable gear systems. Poorly executed manufacturing of brakes. Just terrible really. We had a run last year were we had to warranty up to 50% of all new SRAM brakes coming through the shop. Sucks for the customer. “Ok so that $5000, 6000 or whatever priced MTB you ordered.. well the brakes don’t work. Yea, we should have a replacement in a week or so..” later on, “Oh, that second one is sticking too, ok bring it in. We will warranty another one, or if you want you could drop another $300 dollars for some Shimano XT’s and just forget about it.” Very very few problems with the shimano’s. A leaking piston once in a while. 2-3% of their brakes. Much stronger, way more reliable, easy to work on. My personal bikes ONLY get Shimano brakes. Just one mans opinion, every ones got one..
bryan rut same here! I was talking to a sram guy the other day and asked if he knew about the problems with sram brakes and DOT fluid. He replied: Sram is producing brakes for professional athletes and they are bleeding their brakes every week or two so they don't have any problems! So Sram brakes are not “normal rider“ friendly i guess.
@@moritzseiboth uk shop wrench here, i use mt5's on my enduro bike and shimano zee on my hardtail, the shimanos have a little more grab to them but the maguras have more power overall, levers are shorter so better for single digit braking without having to move them in too far, the maguras where a little bit of a faff to bleed but once done right they feel like a shimano brake but with a tad bit more "sponge" or modulation however because they have 2 finger levers you barely notice it unless you bring them in and only use one finger to brake, hole that helps
Also as a machanic i completely agree with brian. The problems with sram brakes vastly outweigh any posetives you get which in my eyes is only modulation. Sticky pistons, seized levers, broken down seals because of dot fluid and a shit bleed procesure that is more luck based then anything just makes me tell people to avoid them. Shimano zee/magura mt5 all the way
The main difference between Shimano brakes and Sram brakes is.......... Shimano brakes work!!! the last 3 bike I've bought had Sram Guide RS brakes and all 3 sets had to be replaced with Shimano cause I know I won't have any problems with them and they are awesome brakes. What I can't under stand is why the Hell would ANY bike company put these crap brakes on $5000.00 bikes that people are going to ride down steep mountains knowing they have a problem with them, I can't believe Sram hasn't been sued over these getting people hurt.
I like sram for shifting, and shimano for braking. That is what i use xx1 and x0 shifting and xt brakets. Also I have the same bike of the video rkt jet 9 #ninerlover
SRAM for going, Shimano for stopping. Have you had any luck with the bite point adjustment on the XTs? I heard that backing the screw out and doing a quick burp is supposed to make the adjustment more effective.
Shimano components are generally higher quality - when they get damaged, they bend, Sram on the other hand, especially derailleurs, tend to self destruct. That being said, when Sram came out with their 1:1 cable/actuation ratio, that changed the game - don't think i could go back to Shimano for drivetrain, unless i was doing a "around the world" sort of trip and needed ultimate reliability. Sram drivetrains simply stay in adjustment and work better. Was a mechanic for 10 years and fixed thousands of bikes. Older Sram (Avid) brakes are notorious for being terrible, lol. Definitely was a shimano brake fan. However, in the last few years, Sram has really stepped up their game, and at the same time Shimano seems to be losing some ground with inconsistent bite points and such. I still prefer mineral over dot, but with lines like the code rsc, it's pretty hard not to go Sram these days, interesting how things change.
I have got Shimano SLX brakes from the last generation (SLX written in white) and I have absolutely no complaints so far. Will you please explain what's the function of the clutch on rear derailleur on Shimano XT system? And putting it in which direction does what? Mine is pressed towards the right side.
Engaging the clutch, which means flipping it towards the up position, increases tension on the derailleur cage. That will reduce chain slap which will be a quieter ride and reduce the chain hitting the chain stay and causing damage. it will make it slightly harder to shift into a bigger cog.
@@ClintGibbs Thank you for the prompt response. Will engaging the clutch have any other affect on the shifting? I have a 10-42, 11-speed Shimano cassette. Will it make it harder to shift only in the largest cog or all the larger cogs?
@@ClintGibbs OK, I engaged the clutch and went on a ride this evening. It didn't shift properly even to the lower gears. And I was wondering why that was happening until I remembered what I had done differently this evening. So I immediately stopped and turned it off. I might have to realign the derailleur with the clutch engaged before it to work properly.
@@reclusepilgrim it should shift very well with the clutch on. Sounds like you need to turn the clutch on and tune your shifting when you get back home. I know a good TH-cam video for that 😉
I ride a mountain bike to enjoy where I can go with it (not a racer). I prefer my xt 8000 2x 11-42. broader range/ smaller increments, frequently use my 42 on long climbs. my rides are mostly 2 1/2 to 5 hours so finding a balance between heart rate and lactic (at 63) is important.
I have 2013 x9 10speed shifters and I try to mount them on an older 1990s 8sp bike with original brake levers and the position is just really weird. Do sram modern mtb shifters designed to go with their own proprietary brake levers? what are they called? thanks
Shimano all the way for me. Some people like the "clunky feel" of SRAM but just can't ignore that clunkyness is generally associated with a less refined mechanism, it's simply too suspicious for me. Also, if you are going top tiers (which I am not) those SRAM cassettes get very expensive; for the budget conscious rider, a consumable part such a cassette, seems quite a poor choise where to put your budget.
@@TheHeldgaard I've been through 2 XT derailleurs in less than 2 years. They just wear out and get loose and sloppy, ghost shifting on bumps. I'm switching back to sram ASAP. Probably my Xmas present to myself will be a new X0 11speed Drivetrain
I've run XT on everything I've ever owned.. I'm buying the new Bronson in a couple of weeks. I'm exited to try the X01, but I'm so leery about Sram Code brakes, (which is the only option) XTR isn't available until fall for the Bronson lineup. I can modulate XT brakes just fine, and I've just heard so many horror stories about Sram brakes, and I don't think I'm going to like those longer levers either. I'm tempted to just talk my bike shop into swapping to Shimano for me. Even if it's for a lower priced XT.. IDK
I used to hate SRAM brakes but the newer ones have come a long way. I would say give them a try. I think after a few rides you'll be totally used to them. Let me know what you decide.
MAGURA MT2 NEXT and MT6 before Next also GOOD !!! Shimano Lower line, M445, M425 ,M415, BR-M-505 Radial brake ALSO very Good !!! coming from Chrome XT brakes
I run both as well. AM HT has M615 brakes & SLX shifter/rear der. (Sram NX 11 - 42 cassette + Blackspire 30t Oval CR). Enduro rig has Guide R brakes w/ Sram NX shifter & rear der. (Sunrace 11 - 46 cassette + Abs Black 30t Oval CR). I prefer oval chain rings, so won't run either Sram or Shimano there (spider cranks). I'm the same with brakes either, or... I prefer Sram shifter & rear der. Don't really like either brands cassettes. Too big of jumps on Shimano 11 - 46. Sram are too pricey. Love Sunrace cassettes. Plus, you've got the likes of E13 as well.
Hi Clint, how have you found the durability of the BB on the SRAM? I have always used Shimano but I recently upgaded my group set to GX eagle. the BB lasted 3 months where as my XT bb lasted 3 years! same riding conditions etc.
I wasnt able to finish the video.. But i owned sram brakes and now using xt brakes. Base on my exp, if u want modulation go for sram, the thing i dont like about it tho is the spongy feeling of the lever where it almost touches ur finger when u squeeze it. Thats the reason i switch to xt. Xt have more breaking power i think and i like the "tug" feel when u squeeze the brake and its easy to maintane..
Sram all around for mtb and road biking, it does have its downside when working on sram, but i enjoy how it feels and i know how to bleed sram brakes so its fine
my xc bike has Shimano components and trail bike SRAM. I prefer SRAM in general when riding. Overall points goes to Shimano however, just because of the easier brake maintenance and you can find the spare parts and components to Shimano from every bikeshop in Finland, even from the tiniest village up north. I had to order guide parts from Germany to get my front brake fixed and it took about week and a half to get the parts -__-
Both are pretty close these days let's face it. Even sunrace cassettes are hard to fault.next to the big guys now. I've got a Sram.cassette with ultegra on my training bike and it Shifts flawlessly.
Let me just help people buying new bikes out, if you are buying a bike for light trail riding, you do not need SRAM guide/X1 and up or shimano SLX or XT. They're just unnessecary. They are moto level quality stuff, you seriously only need deore group (I have no knowledge of cheaper sram group quality, but I assume NX is solid) it's solid and cheap to replace.
totally lost on the brakes comments . shimano XTR RACE are different from all the others they use the non servo mechanism and the best brakes i have ever used also made from magnesium
As a rider with the same component set-ups on separate bikes that you just reviewed here Clint, your assessment is SPOT ON with my opinion as well. Shimano brakes "bite" more, and the shifting is much stiffer. I do like that Shimano shifters allow the use of your fore-finger or thumb to down shift, while SRAM only allows thumb, and offer no gear indicator (I am running an X1 drive train with Guide brakes). Shifting and braking are much smoother/easier with SRAM, but I love my Shimano XT components just the same. You really cannot loose with either component system. Both companies are offering tremendous products. Excellent points on the bleeding of the brakes as well. GREAT REVIEW C.G.!
Having the larger 50t sprocket isn't just for more climbing ability. It allows you to acquire a higher top speed with a larger front chainring without sacrificing your existing climbing gear ratio.
On some bikes, the front chain ring can only be so big until it scrapes against the chain stay.
I like simple 1x setup myself.
REALLY BRO? Youre living in the 90s bro
More chain rub, more maintenence, more weight and more dropped chains. 1by is the way my dude.
Larger chainring gives lower chainwrap and saves a few watts, the SRAM 50t makes this possible, also puts you in middle of cassette with better chain line more of the time. This saves a few more watts.
What kind of rider likes to lock the rear wheel??? A poor one? Modulation is everything!
Sram for going... Shimano for stopping 🤷♂️
The Crashing Dad
Agreed!!
Perfect summation
100% agree
depends on brake model and the kind if biking u do. for me a 4 piston brake is kind of mandatory, that's why i have Elixir 7 TRAIL (when it was still avid). i went on some of my friends bikes and they all have XT. well, most situations is just fine but when the speeds pick up, sometimes i have to pray to stop FAST. 110kg at 45+ km/h not that easy to stop...
you cannot blame the brakes, you're heavy, you need more stopping power like zee or saint
Bro...one of the most honest comparison vids I have seen on YT in a long time!! nice 😎
prefer SRAM for shifting and Shimano for braking, at least as far as MTB goes, for road my only real experience is with Shimano
BOX components for mtb campagnolo for road
no experience with either, but I have a riding buddy that if I merely mention the word Campagnolo it will start him into a full discourse of why they should not be in business and even the one riding buddy I know that still has Campagnolo on one of his bikes admits that they are an "acquired taste"
Agree with others. sram gears (although I love the XT shifters) , Shimano brakes. sram guide R's on my Fuel are coming off as soon as I get the XT's off my other bike.
Sram GX Drivetrain and Shimano XT Brakes for me- for the reasons mentioned: Positive gear engagement and stopping power. Thanks again Clint.
I'm having XT brakes and they are awesome
I have a 2x10 drievtrain
In shifters ive got an microshift XCD with xtr 11s rear derailleur, xtr cassette 11-36 with 40-28 fsa crankset, KMC goldchain and XT 11s front derailleur
With that set up i'm pretty happy, no complains and very useful, very smooth and precise
They are both in a really good place now as you said. I went from an older Shimano XT/XTR system to a normal SRAM GX system on my newest bike and just the technology improvements alone make the "Lower quality" SRAM GX system much better. I'd imaging stepping up to GX Eagle would be yet another leap in quality and performance. But as you said, I don't think you can go wrong with either these days and I'm glad to see Shimano rumored to be challenging SRAM for gear range on their next drivetrain update.
My thoughts: the degree of modulation I can get with SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes is much more than you indicate in your review. Very hard to go back to XT's (I did on a hi-end demo bike for 4 days and never got close to the same level of control). *But* I had to have one replaced after two years due them becoming squishy (and no bleed would fix) - a known problem. SRAM replaced them out of warranty with no issue. The Ultimates are just as easy to bleed as Shimano's (don't know about the lower-end Guides) - people complain about the DOT fluid, but I do this max once per year, and it is no hassle. I plan to stay with the Guides, unless they gum up often (the rear brake has been flawless). For me, I have no need for more than 11 gears on my SRAM shifter since I installed a WolfTooth 44 big cog and a smallish chainring to get the low I need (very steep (and old) here), and I don't need a high end to go 35 mph (do XC people need this??) I find the SRAM rear gears a little sluggish going low to high, but this could be because I'm trying a throttle shifter, which I like more than I expected. The SRAM shifters also seem sensitive to slack in the cable. Not sure why, but adjusting the barrel doesn't give the top-to-bottm perfect alignment - have to get out the Torx and and take out any slack.
SRAM for drivetrains , Road and MTN. I do prefer Shimano brakes still, but I really haven't had a chance to try the new Guide brakes or the Rival/Force.
For gravel/cross, SRAM all the way. Because the brake lever does not move, you can use the lever itself as a brace while the hoods rather than it fold in on you like Shimano. Double-Tap can introduce some miss-shifts but the positive feedback while on rough terrain is better IMO.
As far as Eagle....if I'm not mistaken, Clint Gibbs lives in Florida, so yeah not much use for it here. Where I find Eagle excels is obviously in the mountains but even places like Sedona where its really rocky and lots of technical sections where that extra torque comes in handy....not just for steeps.
Hi, Clint!
I bought a Giant Anthem Advance Pro 1. Delivered February 15th. It’s a blast with the Eagle drivetrain. SRAM Level brakes were good. While dry. I raced it on the last 4 GoneRiding FLE series (6 hours solo), 2 Epics (50+ miles) and a Mulberry Gap 30 miler/6’k+ elevation. During the last race (6 hours of Hailes) in which it rain and made a soupy clay mud fest for the last 3+ hours I lost almost all brake use as soon they got muddy water, dropping me from a 3rd to a 5th. Almost crashed several times. I cleaned the bike really good and took it to my lbs/dealer. The rear pads were 105% GONE! And the front ones had about 15% left. So disappointed. I only used Shimano SLX on a 2015 27.5 Anthem SX, which I raced and rode A LOT. Dry, or wet, or muddy, they never let me down and only replaced pads twice. That’s an entire FSC and FLE series, plus out of state trips and several epics. I think I’ll switch to XT brakes first $$ chance I get. Ride On! 🚵♀️✌️
I would imagine you had a resin pads. You can get metallic pads, both for SRAM and Shimano, which last much longer in the mud. I too have lost brakes and wet conditions. I believe they were Shimano. Metallic pads are the key for wet conditions.
Recently I installed the new XT M8020 brakes with quad piston calipers .....the difference is huge. I bought the full kit from aliexpress for usd $250. I also fit the new Michelin Wild Enduro tires. Both relatively cheap upgrades really boost my bike’s performance.
Thank you for the insightful review - much appreciated as my last bike had XT V-brakes ( catching up )...
If you keep the upshift lever pressed with tension on the chain you can shift up multiple gears at once. I dont think its intentional and it doesnt work 100% of the time, but it does quite often. You just have to find the right point on the lever.
I have one of each. I'm pretty neutral, so I'll just take what comes with the bike. But I do like the ability to upshift 2 gears on the Shimano.
mtb_rene so you have a deore derallieur right? With slx and better you can shift 3 down
Flio Razor I’ve got an XT. I can shift 2 up and 3 down. I’m not sure how the rest of the Shimano lineup works.
mtb_rene ah ok i have slx -> 3 downshifts and 1 upshift
My brother has deore -> 2 downshifts and 1 upshift
I thought I would like it but Im finding too many unintended extra shifts(2 gears when I only wanted one). Then I have to shift back kind of defeating purpose. Im not inexperienced. Mtb since 1991.
I was just trying to figure this out when I got my new Mtb. Thanks for the great info
Shifting
Sram for sure.
It shifts perfectly even under load.
Braking
I currently have a Magura MT Trail.
But people complain about the levers. Since both Shimano and Magura use mineral oil, some people like to switch their levers to Shimano. So that they now have then Shigura 😅
Nice video! 👍🏼
I've been following you now for quite some time.
Keep up the good work.
I'm currently on SRAM 11 speed with a 49 tooth wolftooth expander cog .... I also use the guide ultimate brakes with 203 front and 180 rear rotors. Absolutely not lacking in power but can modulate like no ones business .... I mean seriously, what good is a brake if it is simply on or off? Skidding does not do much for control and a grabby front brake is simply going to make people shy away from using it for fear of flying over the bars when in fact it is the front brake that is the most important brake to use.
Note also that dot fluids are much more corrosive. Consequently longevity of the seals is much shorter than shimano's. At least this has been my experience after a 2 year ride and many years of using dot fluids on motorcycles
No love for 2x anymore.
I run XT M8000 series 2x. Front shifting is as good as the rear. It is that good. I hope the 1x hype dies down.
14 spd rear..... really?! Again, the good thing with 2x is the quick shift from a high to low gear. Superbly useful on trails with transitions from a fast section to a short steep section and back again. No need to shift 4-5 steps in the rear. One click and you're good to go.
Let the flaming begin (I brought the dead horse too).
If you dont need the small gearing steps or insane range 1x is simply the better system. Thats everything.
Yeah I’m running the same XT 2x setup, tried the 12 sram and I can’t stand it, the shifts just are not nearly as crisp
They just geared them wrong. My sram had a 39 large ring. And the bcd prevented buying a proper size one. Too big. They should have gone 34-22 or 32-22
2x is suppost to be better but i personally cant be bothered with the bs that comes with a front mech and a left hand shifter. Id rather just bin them and have simplicity.
Toss em. Put a nice dropper remote where the shifter used to be. Put a big meaty chainguide and bashguard on there.
The new 2020 Roscoe 7 switched to a Sram drivetrain and a Shimano Brakeset and that was a great move.
I really like the SRAM drivetrain on my epic. The brakes, well they were taken off and replaced with XTR's almost immediately.
I love my Shimano all day long on my Giant xtc. I run xt brakes and shifters with a xtr rear and front derailleur, that's right 3x10 set up. I still like this set up, my son runs a single chain ring set, but I find it lacking for some steeper hills and longer distance high speed rides. He finds he even runs out of gear on the top end and steals my bike. Sorry little of topic, Shimano all the way for us though!
Great video's sir!
Great video Clint I’m using sram components on my enduro bike drive train is a mix of XO1 XX1 and X1 my brakes are the sram code rsc brakes bleeding edge technology I had been a problem with the sram guide brakes heat issue but now since changing to the codes all good 👍
I have shimano slx brakes never used sram but I love the slx braking they work amazing even in the rain and mud
Whether or not you need or can use a 10-50 cassette is personal. Just because you don't need it doesn't mean that someone else doesn't. It's obvious that many people like the 50-tooth low gear because these things took a considerable amount of market share from Shimano. Just look how most bikes are specked with SRAM now. Shimano just conceded that you have to have a very low gear to appeal to the majority of mountain bikers and is offering a 10-51 cassette (just so they can be 1 lower than SRAM). I've been battling knee problems since 2002, surgeries in both, and cortisone injections every 3 months. I want and need the low gear. Others can't get on their bikes every day and may not have the conditioning to turn corn cob cassettes. I get it that you have exceptional conditioning. However, many don’t. Otherwise, really good video.
Holy shit I had to rewind to the part where he was bashing big cassettes, but I couldn't find it.
Shimano for both here..... but 14 speeds?? Come on man, this would just be ridiculous.
Yup, Shimano has had the patent for a while but we’ll see. I think 14 would just be too finicky.
For sure. I won't even try eagle on my 142 frame because my current XT 11 speed chainline is already at its limit. On my RIP 9 a 30/10-42 is all the gearing I personally need here in SoCal..... 14 speed lol
Those rumors have been circulating since the 2000s
ummm 3 x 7 = 21.....
ThunderStruckCoach - aye it’s getting silly now, I think it may be more to tie up patents just in case things go that way. Next they will be back to double rings up front lol.......wireless
One thing in regards to bleeding, I think the Shimano is easier but only if you are doing a very basic lever bleed, I find that the thread in system that sram uses to be much better than the push on system of Shimano if you need to do a full brake flush on the system. If you really want good brakes take a look at Magura, more stopping power than Shimano but with the modulation of SRAM.
Sram drivetrain, Shimano XT or Zee brakes with icetech rotors on all 4 of my bikes. I can swap wheelsets and keeping spare pads is simplified. Mineral oil and maintenance outweighs any performance advantage.
mike darling maintenance is easy on both. sram has 2 seringes, shimano 1 + a bottle or whateva... same crap. dot is corosive ONLY if u let it there but i don't think you will leave mineral oil all over your bike just because it doesn't corode right? and besides. dot you can wash away with water. what can be more simple than that?
Shmu Bogdan mineral oil makes your hands buttery smooth and you can clip your cuticles after you finish bleeding your brakes.
I used SRAM x3 disc brakes and they felt solid, even better than my rim brakes. So, I want to upgrade to disc brakes now. Got my eye on some parts.
I'm working in a bike shop (mechanic) and I was talking to a sram guy the other day and asked if he knew about the problems with sram brakes and DOT fluid. He replied: Sram is producing brakes for professional athletes (complete bs) and they are bleeding their brakes every week or two so they don't have any problems! So Sram brakes are not “normal rider“ friendly i guess.
I have a set of the SRAM Level TLM. Both completely seized during a ride a month ago, unfortunately. I really like the feel of the level brakes. Went back to the XT brakes for the ease, for me, of bleeding and the use of mineral oil.
Robert Trageser I just got my SRAM Levels back. They warrantied them through my lbs. Thanks for your response sir! Cheers!
I love sram eagle but love shimano brakes, I dont want to mix match so ive just got all sram. I found the sram brakes dont dissipate heat much with the full steel rotors, I have this steep fire road I rode down and the brakes glased over and had no power, so I got a new set and about 6 months later went down the same fire road and it done the same thing to the brakes and they actually started smoking, its only about 500m distance but it is 40% gradient, it was a 200mm rotor though and you would think it would be enough surface area. I sanded down the pads and it took about a month before the pads come good again. My old bike had shimano with the fins on the pads and ice tec rotor with the alloy core and they dont hold much heat at all. Its a shame because the sram brakes hold up on downhill tracks but I have to avoid this fire road, where shimano wouldnt flinch down it...
I love the ergonomics of the lever the shape is perfect. I prefer Shimano due to mineral oil, I refuse to use Toxic fluid. I like the feel of Shimano brakes, almost zero friction in the lever, so light and smooth. But I haven't tried Sram long-term testing them in a shop.
It is not about if theyre 12 or 14 disks , it is always about difference between the lowest and highest gear. There are 14 disk versions out, but they do not reach the 500% or simply 1:5
One thing worth mentioning is that SRAM offers the choice of twist shifters. Sure, they're in the minority these days, but I still love 'em.
ralph_libinski I loved the old xray shifters.
i had SRAM shifting and Shimano XT brakes..loved it
A very good comparison, that sticks for the most part to objectivity, but allows for some personal preference in subjective feel. One thing that stands out is the appearance; the Guide lever and housing looks like a low-end cast ( 6:01 ), while the Shimano looks machined. Also, the clamp on the Shimano lever looks high end, while the Sram's remind me of brake clamps I saw when I was a kid. From a strict appearance factor, the Shimano looks better.
I prefer Shimano for everything. Stopping and going, they have the BEST reliability.
over time I have ended up with SunRace parts
and have had good luck with their
derailleurs, shifters, and freewheels/cassettes
on multiple bikes of mine
they do not at the moment have parts specifically
made for mountain biking
I have also been using some Bolany cassettes
that work well
I picked up a bike a month ago and the lever at 2:10 was turned off all the time and i didnt notice haha. Thanks for telling me ab it even tho that wasn’t even the intention of the video
for disc brakes I have ditched factory calipers
and replaced them with TRP and JUIN
cable operated hydraulic calipers
this is a easy 5 minute swap
I have never had to live with hydraulic hose
going up to my bars, not really sure
how problematic that could be
I had just built what I thought was a thoroughly rugged MTB for a multi-day ride through remote country in winter. I was horrified when my SRAM GX 1x11 shifter broke just a few blocks from my house. After that I converted to Shimano and have had no problems. I'll accept it as what it was . . . a rare manufacturing defect (I never bothered contacting SRAM). But how rare? Do such defects always reveal themselves quickly? Now I take a thumb friction shifter along in remote country as a spare just in case.
On my eagle, i also rarely use the 50t. But been happy a few times it was there. After 1000m+ off climbing with some more to go.
Maybe do some experimenting in the future with a bigger ring.
Perry Meister I always use my 50 tooth
@@bobdixon3048 same i use mine all the time
I ride both. I'm really not leaning towards one side or the other. However, the 11-46 cassette by shimano is a foul ball. I prefer a suntour cassette, where the jump to the 46 isn't so steep. Never understand how shimano thought that was a good idea.
I have sram 12 speed eagle xo1 and I like it. It’s really smooth but 12 gears is not necessary even in the mountains where I live as long as you have the top and low end and a few gears in between. My sram level brakes have given me fits with bleeding and adjustments. The levers were found to be defective and were replaced. Next time I’ll go back to shimano brakes. Good video thanks.
I like the position of shimano shifting levers and brakes shimano only. Very easy for maintenance.
TRP breakes, and in the rest X0. I highley reccomand thi combo, I use it on my 710 Gambler and I love it. And yes I use Sram X0 because they are made out of carbon.
Theres's also the noise of the freewheel hub to consider. SRAM makes that noise which is a love or hate thing. Shimano by comparison, whispers along.
There seem to be issues with SRAM brakes. Pistons in levers or calipers get sticky resulting in disc drag etc.
sHram drivetrain, Shimano for brakes. Precise shifting, and good stopping power.
Recently I have purchased a Salsa Rangefinder, which just came out this year (2020 when I made this comment), and I used to have a specialized with SRAM Level brakes, I just got shimano brakes and honestly, I like the shimano brakes a lot, but the feel of the levels and responsiveness was much better, but shimano is so much more powerful. However, I used to have a shimano drivetrain, but on my salsa I have SRAM SX eagle, and it is 110% better. So I think sram is best for going ig, and shimano for stopping
You’re correct, but I’m not (personally) satisfied and convinced by the SRAM Level brakes. Rear pads completely gone after just 3 months of not really long distances. I like your informational videos, but in this particular case I’ll have to respectfully disagree on the brakes. I’m definitely going with either XT, or XTR. Thanks for your video reviews and tips. Ride On! 👍✌️
Love Shimano brakes. Works so well for me. Shifting is a mixed bag. I've had a handful of bikes with sram shifting and I do really like the feel of the shifters. My SLX equipped mountain bike shifters feel a little cheap, but they have been bulletproof. So I guess not as important for me there.
For road and cross stuff though, Shimano all day, every day. That double tap stuff drives me crazy.
Sram drivetrain Shimano brakes
Since February rumors of XTR 12 speeds are growing. It would be 10-51 (lol yup 51...not 50) with a specific freehub and would feature a 4 piston caliper (which i find weird with XT Zee and Saint already being around). I even saw a picture but low quality so not worth very much
The XT caliper is probably just a rebranded Saint caliper. you can buy the calliper separately, or in a brake set, Saint & ZEE hasn't been updated to the new design.
Not about brakes, but go check Shimano's Facebook page...Something is definitely going on :D
Facebook ruined news feed so I can't keep up with their page, but I got other ways to do so. they even messed up even more, clicking on shimano mtb gets me to shimano mtb Norway. I checked on twitter, there is definitely something going on.
I checked on twitter, new rear Derailleur for sure, new cage design, it's offset similar to Sram. twitter.com/ShimanoMTB/status/998911170986889216 I hope they make it with reparable parts, similar to Box component's.
Yeah thats what i was refereing to :)
The 14 speed Shimano patent is from the late 90’s, and uses outdated tech that no longer exists in derailleurs. I only say this because I’ve heard many people reference this as something they are developing, when in fact it’s just an old US patent.
I’ve just got a 2017 specialized enduro comp and it has sram 11speed and guide r brakes and used to have shimano brakes and gears and I absolutely prefer sram completely
The scram looks better , to me specifically the rear cassette, just my opinion, thanks for the great review Shane uk 🇬🇧
I like both brands, but I am 65 years old and the Eagle 50 tooth gear is better for the long steep up hill climb. I have the XO brakes and love them.
Sram chain rings are heavier than aftermarket options. Shimano does nto make Oval chain rings, but there are several options, I use Absoluteblack oval with RaceFace Atlas cranks.
but htere are titanium & steel options, so far I know of kaeng.pro, but I haven't tried them.
I test rode a bike that could be upshifted by pushing or pulling the same lever, multiple shifts too I think. Shimano I believe, but is that all Shimano?
I've passed a ton of people trying to clear their sram eagle at muddy races, xt di2 just works in every condition. I wonder it the new electric sram will be similar?
Sram for the derailleurs and shifting and for breaking will be shimano
Dude if u try this to ur bike it will be bomb aka perfect! 👍
with current day, 2020, shimano drivetrains, they are much closer to sram in terms of responsiveness and in my opinion i'm with shimano all the way around the bike. brakes and drivetrain. the great thing about shimano's newer stuff is that for one, their brakes are more reliable and more powerful. Their drivetrain too has hyperglide+ which routes the chain up and down the cassette way faster and smoother. ANOTHER benefit of hyperglide+ is that you can REALLY crunch through the gears with shimanos stuff because hyperglide actually works better with more tension and torque going thru the drivetrain. thats why ebikes are starting to be speccd with almost only shimano drivetrains nowadays.
By modulation do you mean spongy and weak?
Shop wrench here. Worked on quite a few of both.
Not a fan of Sram brakes at all.
Love Sram drivetrains. Great shifting, reliable gear systems.
Poorly executed manufacturing of brakes. Just terrible really.
We had a run last year were we had to warranty up to 50% of all new SRAM brakes coming through the shop.
Sucks for the customer. “Ok so that $5000, 6000 or whatever priced MTB you ordered.. well the brakes don’t work. Yea, we should have a replacement in a week or so..”
later on, “Oh, that second one is sticking too, ok bring it in. We will warranty another one, or if you want you could drop another $300 dollars for some Shimano XT’s and just forget about it.”
Very very few problems with the shimano’s. A leaking piston once in a while. 2-3% of their brakes.
Much stronger, way more reliable, easy to work on.
My personal bikes ONLY get Shimano brakes.
Just one mans opinion, every ones got one..
Thanks for sharing. I love that kind of feedback, especially from someone who works in a shop.
bryan rut same here! I was talking to a sram guy the other day and asked if he knew about the problems with sram brakes and DOT fluid. He replied: Sram is producing brakes for professional athletes and they are bleeding their brakes every week or two so they don't have any problems! So Sram brakes are not “normal rider“ friendly i guess.
What do you think about Magura brakes?
@@moritzseiboth uk shop wrench here, i use mt5's on my enduro bike and shimano zee on my hardtail, the shimanos have a little more grab to them but the maguras have more power overall, levers are shorter so better for single digit braking without having to move them in too far, the maguras where a little bit of a faff to bleed but once done right they feel like a shimano brake but with a tad bit more "sponge" or modulation however because they have 2 finger levers you barely notice it unless you bring them in and only use one finger to brake, hole that helps
Also as a machanic i completely agree with brian. The problems with sram brakes vastly outweigh any posetives you get which in my eyes is only modulation. Sticky pistons, seized levers, broken down seals because of dot fluid and a shit bleed procesure that is more luck based then anything just makes me tell people to avoid them. Shimano zee/magura mt5 all the way
The main difference between Shimano brakes and Sram brakes is.......... Shimano brakes work!!! the last 3 bike I've bought had Sram Guide RS brakes and all 3 sets had to be replaced with Shimano cause I know I won't have any problems with them and they are awesome brakes. What I can't under stand is why the Hell would ANY bike company put these crap brakes on $5000.00 bikes that people are going to ride down steep mountains knowing they have a problem with them, I can't believe Sram hasn't been sued over these getting people hurt.
I like sram for shifting, and shimano for braking. That is what i use xx1 and x0 shifting and xt brakets. Also I have the same bike of the video rkt jet 9 #ninerlover
SRAM for going, Shimano for stopping. Have you had any luck with the bite point adjustment on the XTs? I heard that backing the screw out and doing a quick burp is supposed to make the adjustment more effective.
Shimano components are generally higher quality - when they get damaged, they bend, Sram on the other hand, especially derailleurs, tend to self destruct. That being said, when Sram came out with their 1:1 cable/actuation ratio, that changed the game - don't think i could go back to Shimano for drivetrain, unless i was doing a "around the world" sort of trip and needed ultimate reliability. Sram drivetrains simply stay in adjustment and work better. Was a mechanic for 10 years and fixed thousands of bikes. Older Sram (Avid) brakes are notorious for being terrible, lol. Definitely was a shimano brake fan. However, in the last few years, Sram has really stepped up their game, and at the same time Shimano seems to be losing some ground with inconsistent bite points and such. I still prefer mineral over dot, but with lines like the code rsc, it's pretty hard not to go Sram these days, interesting how things change.
Based on my experience, this review is spot on.
I have got Shimano SLX brakes from the last generation (SLX written in white) and I have absolutely no complaints so far.
Will you please explain what's the function of the clutch on rear derailleur on Shimano XT system?
And putting it in which direction does what? Mine is pressed towards the right side.
Engaging the clutch, which means flipping it towards the up position, increases tension on the derailleur cage. That will reduce chain slap which will be a quieter ride and reduce the chain hitting the chain stay and causing damage. it will make it slightly harder to shift into a bigger cog.
@@ClintGibbs Thank you for the prompt response. Will engaging the clutch have any other affect on the shifting?
I have a 10-42, 11-speed Shimano cassette. Will it make it harder to shift only in the largest cog or all the larger cogs?
@@ClintGibbs OK, I engaged the clutch and went on a ride this evening. It didn't shift properly even to the lower gears. And I was wondering why that was happening until I remembered what I had done differently this evening. So I immediately stopped and turned it off. I might have to realign the derailleur with the clutch engaged before it to work properly.
@@reclusepilgrim it should shift very well with the clutch on. Sounds like you need to turn the clutch on and tune your shifting when you get back home. I know a good TH-cam video for that 😉
@@ClintGibbs Please share the link.
hi I like sram for drivetrain and brakes.
I ride a mountain bike to enjoy where I can go with it (not a racer). I prefer my xt 8000 2x 11-42. broader range/ smaller increments, frequently use my 42 on long climbs. my rides are mostly 2 1/2 to 5 hours so finding a balance between heart rate and lactic (at 63) is important.
Well, i have Hayes brakes. When i boght the bicycle i did not 100 kilometers to bend both rotors and the brake pads crystallized.
I have 2013 x9 10speed shifters and I try to mount them on an older 1990s 8sp bike with original brake levers and the position is just really weird. Do sram modern mtb shifters designed to go with their own proprietary brake levers? what are they called? thanks
SRAM all day. SRAM seem to run better for longer without needing constant adjustment and fine tuning,especially with the derailleurs and shifters.
I have sram for going and sram for stopping too. I love em
nah
Naglh
@@Notorious-AP lol this was 2 years ago now I have full XTR components
@@neverquit2923 good
Shimano all the way for me. Some people like the "clunky feel" of SRAM but just can't ignore that clunkyness is generally associated with a less refined mechanism, it's simply too suspicious for me. Also, if you are going top tiers (which I am not) those SRAM cassettes get very expensive; for the budget conscious rider, a consumable part such a cassette, seems quite a poor choise where to put your budget.
ha ha ..... a 1299 XX sram cassette or a complete XT drivetrain.....? LOOKS LIKE XT AGAIN !!!!
Even NX eagle is better than XT
Stupid expensive.
@@TheHeldgaard I've been through 2 XT derailleurs in less than 2 years. They just wear out and get loose and sloppy, ghost shifting on bumps. I'm switching back to sram ASAP. Probably my Xmas present to myself will be a new X0 11speed Drivetrain
I've run XT on everything I've ever owned.. I'm buying the new Bronson in a couple of weeks. I'm exited to try the X01, but I'm so leery about Sram Code brakes, (which is the only option) XTR isn't available until fall for the Bronson lineup. I can modulate XT brakes just fine, and I've just heard so many horror stories about Sram brakes, and I don't think I'm going to like those longer levers either. I'm tempted to just talk my bike shop into swapping to Shimano for me. Even if it's for a lower priced XT.. IDK
I used to hate SRAM brakes but the newer ones have come a long way. I would say give them a try. I think after a few rides you'll be totally used to them. Let me know what you decide.
It's done. Shimano has just presented the next XTR series, including a 12 speed cassette (up to 10-51). Very interesting!!!!
MAGURA MT2 NEXT and MT6 before Next also GOOD !!!
Shimano Lower line, M445, M425 ,M415, BR-M-505 Radial brake ALSO very Good !!!
coming from Chrome XT brakes
I just prefer shimano bc i spent some money on the deore xt.I dont know if i should try sram
Nice video. Like the sram twist shifters with the rear 7 speed cassette and Shimano derailleur. Works well but have not tried Sram.
I run both as well. AM HT has M615 brakes & SLX shifter/rear der. (Sram NX 11 - 42 cassette + Blackspire 30t Oval CR).
Enduro rig has Guide R brakes w/ Sram NX shifter & rear der. (Sunrace 11 - 46 cassette + Abs Black 30t Oval CR).
I prefer oval chain rings, so won't run either Sram or Shimano there (spider cranks).
I'm the same with brakes either, or...
I prefer Sram shifter & rear der.
Don't really like either brands cassettes. Too big of jumps on Shimano 11 - 46. Sram are too pricey.
Love Sunrace cassettes. Plus, you've got the likes of E13 as well.
*In conclusion:*
*SRAM* = better for the rider
*SHIMANO* = better for the mechanic
I'm sticking with my V brakes
lol
Hi Clint, how have you found the durability of the BB on the SRAM? I have always used Shimano but I recently upgaded my group set to GX eagle. the BB lasted 3 months where as my XT bb lasted 3 years! same riding conditions etc.
I have not but most of my components have been Shimano. I just got a new cross-country bike that is full Sram so I'm about to put it to the full test!
I'm guessing my xt is too old to double shift the harder gear.
But, doesn't matter since it goes both ways so I can just wiggle it to multishift
Fair comments all round regardless of personal preference.
I wasnt able to finish the video..
But i owned sram brakes and now using xt brakes. Base on my exp, if u want modulation go for sram, the thing i dont like about it tho is the spongy feeling of the lever where it almost touches ur finger when u squeeze it. Thats the reason i switch to xt. Xt have more breaking power i think and i like the "tug" feel when u squeeze the brake and its easy to maintane..
Sram all around for mtb and road biking, it does have its downside when working on sram, but i enjoy how it feels and i know how to bleed sram brakes so its fine
my xc bike has Shimano components and trail bike SRAM. I prefer SRAM in general when riding. Overall points goes to Shimano however, just because of the easier brake maintenance and you can find the spare parts and components to Shimano from every bikeshop in Finland, even from the tiniest village up north. I had to order guide parts from Germany to get my front brake fixed and it took about week and a half to get the parts -__-
Mr. Shimano guy not long ago. I've used both. Prefer Shimano or Magura brakes and Shimano or Sram drivetrain. They are both good.
Both are pretty close these days let's face it. Even sunrace cassettes are hard to fault.next to the big guys now. I've got a Sram.cassette with ultegra on my training bike and it Shifts flawlessly.
Let me just help people buying new bikes out, if you are buying a bike for light trail riding, you do not need SRAM guide/X1 and up or shimano SLX or XT. They're just unnessecary. They are moto level quality stuff, you seriously only need deore group (I have no knowledge of cheaper sram group quality, but I assume NX is solid) it's solid and cheap to replace.
totally lost on the brakes comments . shimano XTR RACE are different from all the others they use the non servo mechanism and the best brakes i have ever used also made from magnesium
I've just reserved a bike with SRAM gearing & Shimano brakes, so looks like I got best of both worlds!
Great comparison, thanks.