SRAM vs Shimano Mountain Bike Components

This video compares SRAM and Shimano mountain bike components, both the drivetrain and the brakes.

[reynardmauricio]

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.

[michaelglidewell]

prefer SRAM for shifting and Shimano for braking, at least as far as MTB goes, for road my only real experience is with Shimano

[parsnips]

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.

[haroonmohammed]

Bro...one of the most honest comparison vids I have seen on YT in a long time!! nice 😎

[christianholmstedt]

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 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).

[frostburn]

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.

[sangana]

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! 🚵‍♀️✌️

[mtb_rene]

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.

[koho]

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.

[ollydickinson]

I prefer Shimano for everything. Stopping and going, they have the BEST reliability.

[kirwitch]

The new 2020 Roscoe 7 switched to a Sram drivetrain and a Shimano Brakeset and that was a great move.

[ndcookie]

I was just trying to figure this out when I got my new Mtb. Thanks for the great info

[matiasferrer]

Recently I installed the new XT M8020 brakes with quad piston calipers 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.

[Marc]

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.

[b.s.adventures]

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..

[mtbboy]

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.

[Niidea]

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.

[tuckerleonard]

I have shimano slx brakes never used sram but I love the slx braking they work amazing even in the rain and mud

[michaels]

i had SRAM shifting and Shimano XT brakes..loved it

[perrymeister]

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.