SRAM vs Shimano, worth the price difference?

jozi

Looking at getting a new bike but I can't decide which of the two to go for, both have the same frame and fork etc, just different group sets, brakes & a few other things. With the discount I can get on either bike there's a difference of 170 Euro, on the cycle tip work scheme the difference is slightly less but both bikes will be more expensive (unless I move up a tax bracket) than with the discount.

I've copied the spec differences below

Cassette/Freewheel: Shimano Tiagra - 12-30t
Front Hub: Shimano 9mm QR - 28 Hole
Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Front Mech: Shimano 105 - 2 Speed
Gear Shifters: Shimano 105 - 2x10 Triggers
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Rear Hub: Shimano 9mm QR - 28 Hole
Rear Mech: Shimano 105 - 10 Speed
Rims: Shimano RX05 - 28 Hole
Seatpost: Boardman E4P SL - Uni-directional Carbon Fibre - 31.6mm - 350mm with offset
Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Folding 700c x 28c

Cassette/Freewheel: SRAM PG1030 - 11-32t
Front Hub: 9mm QR - 32 Hole
Front Brake: Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Front Mech: SRAM Apex - 2 Speed
Gear Shifters: SRAM S700 - 2x10 Triggers
Rear Brake: Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Rear Hub: 9mm QR - 32 Hole
Rear Mech: SRAM Apex - 10 Speed
Rims: Mavic XM319 - 32 Hole
Seatpost: Boardman E4P - 31.6mm - 350mm with offset
Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro 700c x 28c

My gut feeling says the cheaper bike is already good enough for me but I will probably wonder maybe I should have gone for the better spec bike?

jozi

Anyone at all able to shed some light on the difference being worth it or not?

Subcomandante Marcos

I'd rate APEX as level with 105, a step above Tiagra. I also prefer SRAM's double tap shifters functionality and ergonomics.

Performance wise it's much of a muchness between either of them and 105 and it comes down to which system you prefer, Shinamo's STI or SRAM's double tap.


It will be more expensive to replace parts on the SRAM groupset as well as being less easy to source as they are less common.

jon1981

Which is more expensive , the SRAM based bike or the Shimano? Never had a SRAM groupset but have a 105 and it's lovely. From googling I've done the preference seems to be the 105s over Sram Apex with some debate as to wether SRAM APEX is not comparable due to it not being equivalent level. SRAM seems to shift differently so if you're use to Shimano, would this be an issue? I don't know.

As i said, never had SRAM but I have the 105s and they are great, reliable, shift crisply and trouble free.

jozi

My mountain bike has sram, it's been years since I had shimano and that was the cheap stuff.

Just to note, these aren't racers but flat bar ones, the double tap doesn't apply ad they have different still shifters.

I just noticed today the cheaper of the two bikes, sram, has dropped to 800e where as the other one is still 1100. Which makes it 550e and 690e (+100) respectively. Ate the shimano bits, wheels and few other things work paying more for?

I have avid juicy 3 and sram x5 on my mountain bike for comparison, brakes I love, shifting is ok sometimes crisp other times not so much, presumably the spec advice for the sram bike is still going to be a noticeable improvement?

derealbadger

both bikes are very similar in spec so if one is a few hundred cheaper then it is simple
CHEEP-PURR CHEAP-PURR

happytramp

The SRAM stuff is likely lighter than the 105 group. A lot of people will say Shimano simply because it's what they have and like because it's the most common brand group set. I've not used SRAM before but I think it looks cool if that's any help

terrydel

jozi wrote: »

Looking at getting a new bike but I can't decide which of the two to go for, both have the same frame and fork etc, just different group sets, brakes & a few other things. With the discount I can get on either bike there's a difference of 170 Euro, on the cycle tip work scheme the difference is slightly less but both bikes will be more expensive (unless I move up a tax bracket) than with the discount.

I've copied the spec differences below

Cassette/Freewheel: Shimano Tiagra - 12-30t
Front Hub: Shimano 9mm QR - 28 Hole
Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Front Mech: Shimano 105 - 2 Speed
Gear Shifters: Shimano 105 - 2x10 Triggers
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Rear Hub: Shimano 9mm QR - 28 Hole
Rear Mech: Shimano 105 - 10 Speed
Rims: Shimano RX05 - 28 Hole
Seatpost: Boardman E4P SL - Uni-directional Carbon Fibre - 31.6mm - 350mm with offset
Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Folding 700c x 28c

Cassette/Freewheel: SRAM PG1030 - 11-32t
Front Hub: 9mm QR - 32 Hole
Front Brake: Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Front Mech: SRAM Apex - 2 Speed
Gear Shifters: SRAM S700 - 2x10 Triggers
Rear Brake: Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Rear Hub: 9mm QR - 32 Hole
Rear Mech: SRAM Apex - 10 Speed
Rims: Mavic XM319 - 32 Hole
Seatpost: Boardman E4P - 31.6mm - 350mm with offset
Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro 700c x 28c

My gut feeling says the cheaper bike is already good enough for me but I will probably wonder maybe I should have gone for the better spec bike?

Why is the dearer one better spec? Just because its dearer?
And I don't understand your comment on the price at all.
Are you saying you can get a discount on these bikes, but if you go cycle to work scheme you cant, and thus they are actually dearer than with discount?

jozi

I have a friend who works in Harford who can get it at a discounted price but can't avail of the discount and the cycle to work scheme.

Leaning towards the cheaper of the two, at 550e it's still a lot of bike and more bike than I need, the difference I can spend on some mud guards, a Speedo, bottle holder etc

Good point about dearer being better, you would some that's the case if the components are dearer they are better?

terrydel

jozi wrote: »

I have a friend who works in Harford who can get it at a discounted price but can't avail of the discount and the cycle to work scheme.

Leaning towards the cheaper of the two, at 550e it's still a lot of bike and more bike than I need, the difference I can spend on some mud guards, a Speedo, bottle holder etc

Good point about dearer being better, you would some that's the case if the components are dearer they are better?

I don't think dearer means better at all, but it seems many do when it comes to bicycles.
It seems to particularly prevalent with Italian bike/component snobbery.
Based on the specs there, Id say they are basically the same bike. Get the cheaper one would be my advice.

jozi

I've been reading up on some of the different components and it seems generally people prefer the 105 group set over sram.

The brakes from avid don't seem to have much of a good rep at all compared to shimano. Requiring regular bleeding and losing feel but more annoyingly squealing, which is a problem I have with my current juicys and always considered normal for a disc setup?

I can't really find much on the wheel set, shimano cost more add a wheel than a mavic rim, obviously.

Will the range difference between a 12-30t and 11-32t be noticeable at all unless climbing lots?

Still undecided anyway, my buddy says to go with the more expensive one.

devonp

i have Sram x7 on a Specz MTB/hyrid, i've done a lot of Km's on the canal towpaths and worse, its never let me down yet...:) hope i dont jinx it ...

Ryder

Have SRAM force on one bike and shim 105 on another. To be honest I don't find any difference. Any weight savings are unnoticeable and both are smooth and reliable.

I got the SRAM on a bike I built up myself, just to be different. The double tap is easy to get used to and I kind of prefer it. The only thing with the SRAM is the hoods have an outer rubber cover that isn't part of the handle like shimano. After many years of pulling on the hoods that cover rotates a little. Not a big issue at all or even annoying, just an issue.

When buying again I might well go SRAM depending on cost but there really is little difference

Muckers

Sram Sram Sram every time

Cee-Jay-Cee

Muckers wrote: »

Sram Sram Sram every time

I'll offer my equally informative opinion...Shimano Shimano Shimano every time.

magicbastarder

as someone who has never bought or used SRAM, i have a completely unbiased opinion, so i would recommend suntour.

oakley2097

Shimano because when the sram brakes leak it will be Dot 4 fluid

Had 105 10sp on my last bike and it was very nice