Shimano or SRAM? Which Groupset is Best?

One of the biggest decisions you're faced with when buying a new road, gravel or mountain bike is the choice of groupset, and you have three option: Shimano, SRAM and to a lesser extent, Campagnolo. But which is right for you and what the the differences. Let's look at their history and current product focuses to help you decide

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[ravenmoto]

I've been using Shimano forever, never any issues. Even all my fishing reels are Shimano, never let me down!

[anthonyhatter]

Went from Shimano Ultegra mechanical to SRAM Etap as a result of a bike upgrade (Specialized Aethos) at the end of the summer. The reduction on the bike cost meant that I went for gears that would not have been my first choice. I have used Shimano for many years and have always shied away from electronic gears. I also have Campag Record mechanical on a Bianchi I use on a trainer. However, if you were designing gears from scratch today you would design them like SRAM. The simplicity of the gear change choice makes sense. I was cynical and now I am a total convert. They are a thing of beauty and efficiency. Interchangeable batteries on the mechs is also a no-brainer.

[kawabus]

I have both Sram Force AXS and Shimano GRX Di2. Shimano feels a bit more refined. The hoods are more comfortable and the shifting feels smoother and a bit quieter.

[DaveCM]

I've ridden Shimano since 1989 until about 5 years ago when I bought my gravel bike. I wanted 1x for it and SRAM was the only option. It works fine and I don't hate it. It is just more industrial feeling (for lack a better description coming to mind. Shimano feels more refined and smoother.) I purchased my new bike with SRAM because when I rented a bike with Di2, I kept hitting the wrong button when my brain wasn't fully functioning anymore. I figured with SRAM, I would be less likely to do that since left lever goes up the cassette and right one goes down. I will honestly probably just stick with SRAM. I am about to buy a new gravel bike and will definitely go SRAM since Shimano is behind the ball for gravel.

[jeffreysaffir]

Went from Shimano 105 mechanical to SRAM Rival Etap on my Domane SL5. Really prefer how SRAM does the shifting as far as the right lever to move the cassette to the right and the left to move left. Also a great price for the entire group set including a power meter. I really do like the gearing choice and being able to have a 33/46 with a 10/36 cassette. I'd be really pissed too if I had Shimano electronic after the bush league move of not allowing Hammerhead Karoo 2 users to access the gear data since SRAM bought Hammerhead. Pretty pathetic.

[RogerWatson]

SRAM is my personal choice. Wireless is the future, I'm done with cables . SRAM It has more options you can mix and match, faster shifting, no messing wires just the ergonomics need a little improving. 2023 for NEW SRAM I hope. If Campy does Ekar in electronic I'd be interested.

[pangloss]

The holy flame wars people engage in regarding which company is best, is mostly motivated by folks enjoying shouting at each other. I currently ride Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed on my road bike and SRAM eTap AXS 2x12 on my gravel bike. I've also owned a Shimano equipped bike before (105 on an XC frame) and I've never had a lick of problems with any of these group sets. I think the truth is, Campy, SRAM and Shimano are all great. I believe that all gear is just more reliable now than it used to be and regardless of what specific group set is on your bike (Centaur, 105 and Rival and upwards) it'll work just fine and be reliable.

[armasks]

Campagnolo all day..everyday..
Never had any problems, from Mirage, Veloce, Chorus and Record been through all of them..

[ZwiftDude]

Still running Shimano Dura Ace 7970 Gen1 10 speed, I ain't ever switchin! Especially for $3-6k for a new set alone lol

[CycoWarriorx]

I’m a Shimano guy so I’ll definitely say SRAM is the more aggressive of the two companies and that has its pros and cons… Shimano is more plodding, and that has its pros/cons as well… but I’ll take plodding and reliable vs aggressive and… 🤔… finicky acting… Campy has a boutique feel (and price) to them… at the end of the day, it’s whatever you’re comfortable using… 🍻

[Aureas]

MY first real groupset was SRAM Force Mechanical. This was SUCH a dream to use, and sooo light. My specialized Allez gave many carbon bikes a run for their money. So the logical step when i bought my new bike was to go SRAM Force AXS. What a steaming pile of canine excrement. Long story short; now on 12sp di2 Ultegra, and couldnt be happier.

[PatrickLino]

Being that I test and build so many different frames throughout the year, having the ease of installation with SRAM eTap is a complete game changer for me personally. Not to mention SRAM in general is more affordable.

[unairamos]

If you take into consideration price, durability, reliability, ease of maintenance and choice, the best gruppo is definitely Campagnolo Chorus. Not only you are free to choose whether you want to go for the electronic option or the more rational (and lighter) mechanical shifting, but also there's the option for rim brake too, no problem. That's something that other companies tend to forget. The real-life user does not need hydraulic brakes or battery dependant gadgets. And most people can't afford spending 2.000€ or more on the groupset only, let alone a full bike. I've been riding a fully restored Orbea with a 1x system and Campy Chorus 12s for nearly a year now and it's by far the best bike I've ever ridden.

[bryansmith]

SRAM axs etap provides absolute dummy proof operation. Flawless performance and reliability. Both are great, comes down to personal preference, and it doesn’t hurt that it is an American company.

[brentmiller]

SRAM has so many options. As a gravel rider I like the ability to go 10-50 in the rear

[mister-chad]

I got to work on the SRAM r&d building. It was fun to see how much care and innovation go into each part.

[jonburnell]

I love Campy. They look, sound and feel wonderful. They're about the art of cycling not how fast you can make a shift. I've had no issues with reliability with them either.

[KenSmith-bvsi]

I got Sram Force because everyone said Sram sux. I don't race I only joy ride in the warm weather so Force works awesome for me, I did switch out the cassette, from a Force 10-33 to a Red 10-33, the shifting quieter and smoother. I dig my Sram. I sold my SL6 2020 Tarmac with Sram Force and replaced it with an S-Works Atheos with Sram Force group set, which in the app I have set to "sequential" so I stay in the big ring longer going up hills, the shifting is sublime.

[cleftoftherock]

Personal choice. Mine was DI2 Ultegra 12 speed. They are all great. Shimano battery charged in 3 hours and stays charged. Pretty impressive.

[timetrialist]

I bought two bikes of the same kind one with with DA and the other Red eTap. I noticed immediately the Shimano bike is more refined with everything especially shifting theres no problems at all. The Sram bike feels rougher on the edges less refined. Sram bike also had drop chains. Also the front derailleur cage of sram is sometimes too short for some triathlon bikes equipped with smaller chainrings which caused so many chain drops for me. I feel annoyed with my etap equipped bikes. DA no such worries always fluid smooth and feels more dependable even when theres a lot of wear on the chainrings and cassette.