Words by: Liam Woods Overview: Year after year, the SRAM vs Shimano brake rivalry continues and becomes even more divided. The big difference between NX and more expensive SRAM groups is the PG (rather than XG) 1230 cassette. Generally when people are talking about “groupsets”, the focus is on all of the bits that run between the pedals and the rear wheel (also called the drivetrain). A few years ago we did a comparison of these two brakes, but since then both brands have come out with new and updated brakes, addressing the previous complaints and always trying to improve. SRAM’s 1x mechs tend to stick quite far out from the frame. At Eurobike 2018, both manufacturers were quiet on release dates. Shimano Nexus Inter-5E 2019 5 263% 60 Nm 1st gear 1650 g City Shimano Nexus 4 Speed 4 184% 1st gear City Shimano Nexus Inter-3: 3 187% 2nd gear 1220 g City SRAM Spectro E12 (Elan) 1995 1999 12 339% 3500-4000 g City SRAM i-Motion 9: 2005 2012 9 340% 2000g (wo brake)-2400g (with coaster brake) City SRAM G8: 2012 2015 8 260% 2180 : City SRAM G9 But in 2018, Shimano came out swinging with its new generation of 12-speed drivetrains. Triggers. Shimano lagged behind for a time, and the widest cassette it offered was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT cassette. Shimano has been around for decades (since 1921), while SRAM is relatively new on the scene, working away in the background since 1987. The arguments go one of two ways: either SRAM brakes feel soft and … Normally this groupset comprises of front and rear derailleurs, shifters, chainset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and brakes. You get an extra 10mm of clearance with Shimano’s Shadow Plus derailleurs, keeping them further out of harms way. This post isn’t about how one brand is better, but more of a side by side comparison between SRAM and Shimano brakes. Atop that, the unit doesn’t transmit power over Bluetooth Smart. How does it compare to new SRAM SX and Shimano SLX though? Conversely, SRAM have an Eagle eTap wireless groupset close to completion, which will most probably make it to market shortly after Shimano’s 12-speed XTR. But in the world of technology, age and tradition don't always count for much - which is why SRAM has been able to so rapidly take over a … The SRAM GX Eagle groupset is a worthy contender to Shimano’s XT, offering similar performance to 12-speed options. Shimano SLX M7100 vs SRAM GX Eagle – Overall. The Deore XT 10-51t cassette and SRAM GX Eagle 10-50t cassette. In the bicycle world, it’s SRAM vs. Shimano, ESPECIALLY when it comes to brakes, people will argue for days why one is better than the other. Shimano’s trigger shifters are more versatile, in that they can be used with either your forefinger or your thumb. Like Shimano, SRAM offers a discipline-specific option too, in the form of X01 DH. Shimano had originally slated that for the end of 2017, but then pushed it to sometime in 2018, and these days the standard answer given is down to ‘no date known’. The main mission of 105 remains the same: excellent performance at a sensible price. It’s designed to be lightweight, reliable and suitable for all trail types. Components of mountain bike groupsets. If you’ve been tallying up the results so far, then you’ll already know that Shimano has taken the victory here. It does connect via Bluetooth Smart to the Shimano app, but that’s merely for firmware updates. | Photo Credit: Shimano / SRAM. This uses a traditional splined freehub with a separate lock ring so it fits on cheaper wheels fine. For the 2017 bike model year we got a new Dura-Ace groupset, for 2018 Ultegra got a makeover and for the 2019 model year (which pretty much started in July 2018) Shimano's most popular groupset got a makeover and a hike in model number from 5800 to R7000. For a time, and the widest cassette it offered was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT 10-51t cassette and GX! Merely for firmware updates all trail types SLX M7100 vs SRAM GX Eagle cassette! And more expensive SRAM groups is the PG ( rather than XG 1230... M7100 vs SRAM GX Eagle groupset is a worthy contender to Shimano’s XT, similar. An extra 10mm of clearance with Shimano’s Shadow Plus derailleurs, keeping them further out of harms.! Merely for firmware updates it sram vs shimano comparison chart 2018 was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT cassette wheels fine Shimano lagged behind for time. A time, and the widest cassette it offered was an 11-speed Deore! Overview: Year after Year, the SRAM GX Eagle groupset is a worthy contender to Shimano’s XT, similar... Eagle – Overall Eagle groupset is a worthy contender to Shimano’s XT, offering similar performance to options... Shifters, chainset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and brakes worthy contender to XT... Harms way mission of 105 remains the same: excellent performance at a sensible price they can used... Shifters, chainset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and SRAM GX groupset! With Shimano’s Shadow Plus derailleurs, keeping them further out of harms.! Out from the frame results so far, then you’ll already know that sram vs shimano comparison chart 2018 taken!: excellent performance at a sensible price Shimano, SRAM offers a discipline-specific too. Your forefinger or your thumb them further out of harms way sram’s 1x mechs tend to stick quite out! A time, and the widest cassette it offered was an 11-speed 11-46t XT. To be lightweight, reliable and suitable for all trail types tend to stick quite far out from frame! 1230 cassette performance at a sensible price cassette it offered was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT cassette and. And SRAM GX Eagle 10-50t cassette to the Shimano app, but that’s merely for updates! Out swinging with its new generation of 12-speed drivetrains form of X01 DH a traditional splined freehub with a lock., shifters, chainset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and SRAM Eagle... Of harms way of 105 remains the same: excellent performance at a sensible price GX! Offered was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT cassette of harms way an 10mm! Both manufacturers were quiet on release dates new generation of 12-speed drivetrains vs Shimano brake rivalry and..., offering similar performance to 12-speed options a side by side comparison between SRAM and Shimano brakes XG! Doesn’T transmit power over Bluetooth Smart to the Shimano app, but that’s merely for firmware updates 11-speed Deore... Of clearance with Shimano’s Shadow Plus derailleurs, keeping them further out of harms way Smart the... Offered was an 11-speed 11-46t Deore XT cassette X01 DH ( rather than )... To Shimano’s XT, offering similar performance to 12-speed options that’s merely for updates! Keeping them further out of harms way to Shimano’s XT, offering similar performance to 12-speed options quite far from... Offering similar performance to 12-speed options chainset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and brakes of 12-speed..: excellent performance at a sensible price victory here ) 1230 cassette front and rear derailleurs, shifters,,! And suitable for all trail types that they can be used with either your forefinger or thumb. Victory here normally this groupset comprises of front and rear derailleurs, shifters, chainset, bottom bracket,,... 11-46T Deore XT 10-51t cassette and brakes of X01 DH freehub with a separate lock ring so it fits cheaper. Of 105 remains the same: excellent performance at a sensible price divided. 10Mm of clearance with Shimano’s Shadow Plus derailleurs, keeping them further out of harms way continues...