SRAM vs Shimano in 2023: Watch this Before You Decide

If I were buying a new bike or upgrading my component group today, would I buy SRAM or Shimano? In this video we run through some of the pros and cons of each system and why I prefer SRAM for new bikes and upgrades in 2022.

Owning a Specialized S-Works Aethos with SRAM Red eTap AXS and a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 with Shimano Dura Ace Di2 for the last thousand miles has given me some appreciation for both of these incredible systems.

Gear I’m Riding and Into ↓↓↓

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0:00 Intro
0:39 Hear Me Out...
1:09 The Everyday Athlete Perspective
1:40 Aesthetics: Shimano
2:19 Functionality: Tie
3:34 Charging/Batteries: SRAM
4:21 Battery Swapping
5:56 User Experience: SRAM
6:51 Cost: SRAM
7:09 Overall Winner: SRAM
7:35 Agree or Disagree?

Drop me a line, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for watching!

[roberthenri]

Coming from Red I was like you, a big SRAM fan, but when faced with a 3 month wait to get a new bike with SRAM or one ASAP with new Ultegra, I went over to the dark side. Boy was I wrong about SRAM. I get you tested the old Di2, but the difference with the new Ultegra is a no brainer. Shimano wins by a real knockout not a TKO! Shifting is way, way better... smoother, faster, quieter, and most importantly, something you can do under full load hammering up a steep climb! Even your battery criteria fell flat after consideration. I already have more charging stations than is reasonable, so NOT having to charge my bike every week is a very good thing. Aesthetics isn't a big deal, but I agree with you, and will add the Red is a little tacky, gotten old...and Rival looks cheap. Lastly, Red and Dura Ace were always in the same league, but now the new Ultegra beats them all and Dura Ace barely wins out, but if you factor is price, it's biggest loser.
Maybe time to update your review?!?!

[moreaupi]

For me, the shifting is the most important aspect, as this is what the group set is intended to do. Shimano wins and the premium price is worth it in my opinion. Shimano hands down. Of course if you are lucky enough to have multiple bikes, than I understand the advantage of the SRAM ecosystem. This is probably a minority of people…

[nickbike]

One thing I like about the SRAM groupset is the ease of hitting the correct buttons for shifting while wearing winter gloves. Put on some winter gloves and let your hands get nice and cold and try to differentiate between the up and down shift buttons on the Shimano system. With SRAM, there's one big ole' paddle that you can just smack even with bulky frozen mitts.

[insurvive]

I had both, but the reason I prefer SRAM is GLOVES! It is a lot easier to shift with SRAM when it is cold and you’re wearing winter gloves. I also find it more intuitive. Both are awesome systems and you can’t go wrong with either though.

[RookYZRM]

You lost me when you tried to sell "more batteries needing to be charged more often" as a benefit...how on earth is that a feature/benefit?

[MrDrunkenMoose]

I have a Force eTap equiped Bike myself and in general I really like the eTap, but I think it is just a worse system than DI2.
I think the benefits mentioned here are just soft factors, which are nice but it comes off as yeah my cars slower in about every aspect, but I like the color, the soundsystem and it's a bit cheaper.

SRAM Force compared to Ultegra:
- Shifts slower (a bit in the rear, a LOT in the front)
- Brakes are worse
- Weighs considerable more
- Is louder


Furthermore is the brake adjust on sram force and Red a joke. You have leaver and actuation adjustment on paper, but because of the huge shifting pads you basically start to bottom out the lever on your handlebar if you adjust anything more than 15%. It is impossible for me to adjust the lever so that i can comfortably brake from the drops, i always have to cramp my hands upwards, or if I adjust the lever I bottom out the lever having just maybe 60% brakeforce. I have normal sized fingers. No issue with shimano.

Also Force has a habit for throwing off the chain when switching to the smaller chainring in the front.

When it comes to price I have to say most people buy a bike with a groupset, because the value at least on force and ultegra level is way worse buying the groupset alone, compared to getting it with a bike. And there most of the time both are equal in price.

The last thing that pisses me off are some design decisions of SRAM in general. To be more precise the Red crank powermeter and the new wireless Blips. It is mind blowing how one can think a powermeter that is non removable from the chainrings should exist on this earth. Chainrings are consumables and this is just creating more e Waste. Same for the blips. Non removable batteries... the explanation is just bullshit. How tonedeaf can a company be in 2022 to purposley create products for the bin...

[vongdong]

You should really be comparing the new 12sp shimano to make it fair since they have updated both hardware and software. I had the previous 11sp Di2 and just got the 12sp. The hoods are so much better and shifting is indeed much smoother. They use batteries in the shifters too but smaller than the cr2032. The app is much better now too.

What I like about sram is you don't need the app to micro adjust the RD. Super simple on AXS. Mixing and matching both road and mtb parts is awesome.

[KartGuy]

Both great groupsets. It's really a personal choice. I've got Rival eTap AXS on my SL7, and Dura Ace 9100 Di2 on my Shiv. DA shifts a lot smoother and aesthetically I prefer it. AXS I love the single button each side and agree that the App is awesome. I'd happily have either.

[joyousland]

For battery and charging, Shimano definitely wins. Battery life much longer and charging interval much less. You can round Taiwan once for charging only once

[spnadler]

Another issue to consider is the gear range one would want. As I get older (now over 70), I find myself "needing" lower gear ratios, sometimes less than 1 for long steep climbs. With SRAM, one can have 46/33 front and 10-36 rear, with lowest ratio of 33/36 = .92. The new DI2 systems are "rated" for maximum 34 tooth cog in rear, so with 50/34 front, lowest ratio is 1.0. So that is 8% easier! That being said, I hear that while Shimano and bike shops will not say that a 36-tooth cog is allowed, it can be made to work. Even with SRAM 46/33 in front, highest gear ratio is 46/10=4.6, vs 50/11=4.5 with Shimano, so no loss at high end.

[mitchlabrador]

I have both 12 speed Di2 and AXS eTap on different bikes and for ME Shimano is the clear winner.
1. Better shifting
2. Better braking - not even close.
3. Longer battery life - although less convenient

SRAM maintenance (no cables) and battery convenience is unmatched.

…but from my groupset the most important features IMO are, shifting and braking… that should win over convenience… again this is MY opinion.

[liquidSpin]

Shimano's battery is better. It's bigger so it holds more charge than both of the batteries from SRAM combined.

Less time charging more time riding

[bradleyleeper]

Shimano all day! The hoods are the selling point for me. Shifting is slightly crisper as well in my Ultegra Di2. I will have to try the app, had my SL7 for a few months (first big boy bike) and never even thought about the app haha

[korclo]

Garmin button on the hoods sold me, and don’t have to look down and see if you are in the big ring or not.

[WowRixter]

The shifting on R9200 is on another level. Sooo fast and smooth. It's my second DuraAce Di2 groupset and I'm really impressed with the new generation Di2

[Eric_Luke]

Shimano brakes w/ Servo Wave are absolutely sublime. The smallest amount of pressure on the levers will exert huge braking force, makes descending so much more confident. I picked Shimano Dura Ace over SRAM Red for this reason alone.

[jamiesabuda]

Well put together videos. Bravo. I'll start by saying I own both a Force AXS and Dura Ace equipped bike and while it is understandable this your opinion it would seem shifting quality, interface feel and aesthetics would be paramount to the majority of cyclists and far outweigh a $500 cost difference on a top-spec groupset. I very v v seldom find a reason to use either of the apps and Sram just requires too much battery monitoring. The Dura Ace hoods feel great and they don't tend to slide off like the Sram hoods. The Shimano shifting is much crisper and the drivetrain is noticeably quieter. I'll give Sram a slight aesthetic win because I do like the chrome and black but again those hoods and the size of them. Anyway, easy Shimano win for me.

[_dmart]

From what I’ve seen, seems that complete bikes tend to be more expensive when equipped with sram vs shimano. Never understood why.
But I think another great thing about sram axs is interchangeability between road and mtb derailleurs.
Currently have rival axs on my aethos, but if I had the chance/extra budget for bike stuff I would’ve gone shimano. For me the experience in terms of ergonomics and shift quality beats out everything else that sram offers.
Also, I’ve worked on many bikes with both shimano and sram and have had way more headaches with sram stuff.

[LT]

Agreed. I switched from Shimano to eTap AXS and couldn't be happier.

[sol]

You can charge di2 ride 4 times a week and not charge for 4 months. Plus di2 just shifts so much faster