Dura-Ace Killer? | Sram RED AXS vs Shimano Dura-Ace R9200

Sram has launched the latest generation RED AXS groupset. This groupset sits at the top of the brands product line for the road bike category and represents the best of what the American company has to offer. Sram claim its new groupset has improved shifting and braking performance while also being lighter. Joe Baker decided to put this to the test by directly comparing it to it's closest rival from Shimano - Dura-Ace. He has compared the groupsets against a number of different categories including but not limited to weight, ergonomics, price, shifting, braking and technical features. Let us know, which would you pick?

00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Weight
02:10 - Shifting
04:05 - Braking
05:39 - Ergonomics
07:47 - Aesthetics
08:20 - Features
09:49 - Powermeter
10:54 - Price
11:44 - Verdict

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[samguan]

Folks, pls don’t forget that cycling is affordable if you want it to be… I’ve been working on a lot of Ultegras and DuraAces on friends bikes and perceive cycling to be expensive. Recently I worked on an entry level bike and able to replace an entire crankset/cassette for under $120, I had an awakening that there are really affordable groupsets out there that work really well for most of the people. These high end products are there in every sports…it’s really designed for the pros and it falls in the ‘wants’ rather than ‘needs’ for most normal folks. Before you bash SRAM or Shimano, note that they do manufacture really affordable options that work really well as well.

[ageofsigmar]

skyrocket price! I believe my 105 DI2 is good enough

[JibbaJabber]

@1:45 Shouldn't 160mm disc be on front and 140mm on back?

[Vixen]

I think both groupsets are overpriced. Especially the new SRAM and the performance benefit you can get per buck. But when money is no object and you want to have the best performance spec wise then just buy whatever you want. But I think in general that those "ultimate groupsets" are aimed to get bought by pro's or some people like that. But I really like the design of the levers of this Groupset. Especially of the brake levers.

[lukepowell]

This was one of the better groupset comparisons I have seen with direct candidness and key pieces of information I have not heard elsewhere such as the 80 millisecond delay for sram shifting. Good video.

[todddonovan]

Let's see...SRAM drivetrains "feature" smaller chainrings and when I wear out the small chainring I have to buy both chainrings and possibly a power meter. What a great idea! Or I could buy Shimano and when my small chainring wears out I can replace it with any number of options for $30 - $50.

[bayerr]

I go for Sram, due to the charging. It's easy to have one spare battery in the pocket. No cables, beside the braking hoses.

[andersnyberg]

I have never had any problems except my first ride with SRAM etap in 2018, when a mechanic didn't install it properly. Since then no problems at all and today I even use 53 and 34 front chainrings. Those who say they are shit didn't set them up properly.

[LT]

Sram never gets credit for have a clutch in the rear mech. It's one of its best advantages over the equivalent Shimano group. I switched my two bikes to SRAM 3 years ago (Rival and Force) and love them.

[michaelo]

Both groups are excellent, but have advantages and disadvantages. For us as customers, it's good that we can decide for ourselves what we value more. Personally, I've always ridden Sram, but I decided in favour of Dura Ace a few months ago because nobody knew when the new Sram Red would be available. I have not regretted the decision and am very happy with Shimano.

[AndrewShakespeare]

I went SRAM Force AXS. The practicality of the batteries and ease of installing wireless trumped everything else. I'm probably not a good enough cyclist to find tiny shifting differences an issue. I bought a full unused groupset for around £650.

[JasonLatorre]

The “killer” in titles is obnoxiously old.

[grzegorzkozminski]

It is worth mentioning that SRAM includes Hammerhead Karoo in the price. So in reality Red is 400 GBP cheaper than Shaimano.

[andrewblakesley]

Blah blah blah. 99% of riders just don't need to spend this much to enjoy cycling. Accountant-led "innovation" only equals higher cost & less durability. If both SRAM and Shimano both delivered an ultra durable and affordable 10-speed groupset for the people, I'd get excited.

[GrotrianSeiler]

Since I’m at the mercy of the tech who will make the ultimate adjustment on my bike, I will go with whatever he prefers to work on. Those who work with these brands for a living are the best judge of which to go with.

[louis_sharp]

I’ll always run Dura so long as I have a choice

[skasterenvan]

great review. I just bought both :) my new 3T Strada Italia will be custom build with the DuraAce DI2 group-set. And my other race bike that has today SRAM Force will be upgraded to SRAM RED 2024. My gravel bike today has the SRAM RED group-set. I loving it, except the braking when it is wet. Allot of noice due to that the brake pads are so close to the disk. 'I hope this is slidely better on the new SRAM RED. can't wait until I finally get my hands on both

[sktang]

Enjoy your 105, Ultegras Di2 and Sram Rival n Force all you want. They all enjoyed the expensive development of the top of the range Durace n Sram Red. Thank goodness for that.

[abhimawa]

I put reliability as one of top priority ← you know what I mean. Not being slave to equipment

[Cortes]

Shimano still has longer battery life.