Looking for feedback from SRAM users

[hulagirl]

You really are just going to have to ride one to try it out.

Couldn't agree more!

I have Ultegra on my Orbea and she shifts like butter. Just a light flick and all is good. I even have a mantra for my rear gearing - "a LITTLE harder" and "a LOT easier" (to remember to use the little lever to make it hard, and the big lever to make it easier)

I find that defined point between the "up" and the "down" shift to be very hard to get past with SRAM. (As does my husband, he's had his SRAM shifters for 2 months now and still can't shift the front chainring well at all) Well, harder for me than on my Ultegra.

I know you know this, but there really isn't any reason Ultegra should be that hard to shift AT ALL. Have you contacted Shimano and told them your story? I would. Because as the manufacturer they may want to know that some LBS can't service their products, or set up their products properly in the first place? And I would tell them you are thinking about going to SRAM due to the issues.

See what they say. You have nothing to lose.

Denise

[smilingcat]

something isn't right!!

Ultegra shifting should not be that hard even with STI. It is forgiving in adjustment while SRAM is tad more finicky.

My thoughts are: correct cables being used? is the cable housing new or slightly old with potential rust inside? Is the correct cable housing being used for the shifter. Brake cable housing is different than the shifter cable housing so be aware of the difference.
did you pour oil into the cable housing? (gummy up the cable travel inside)

And is the shifter adjusted properly?
Is the front derailuer mounted at the correct place on the seat tube. etc. ?

[hulagirl]

(Bikes are hanging in the shop, pardon the upside-down-ness)


Pushing just past this point will get my R/D to shift down 1 I think. I have to push much further/harder past that to shift up (compared to Ultegra). Notice how I have to hook my thumb around to get enough pressure to push this over.

same position below - but on Ultegra


Very easy to get to this position, very little force needed at all. Even with the bike hanging free from the ceiling, I didn't need to use much pressure.

[tangentgirl]

I went from Shimano Tiagras to SRAM Apex, and i love my new setup. This could just be the result of jumping so far ahead, and also the fact that was using 10-year-old technology, but it rocks.

I have better control and much smoother shifting on the SRAM. It did not take me long to get used to the shifting technique.

[bluebug32]

I love, love, love my SRAM shifters! I went from Dura Ace to Rival and it's made a big difference in my ease of shifting. The reach was way too long with Shimano, even with their shims in. SRAM fits perfectly from every position. I don't really think the shifting is harder. The levers are in a better position and I've never had trouble shifting. Plus, I had one SRAM lever break and they replaced it, no questions asked. It wasn't even the current model. When my Ultegra shifter broke last year, that was it. I had to buy a new shifter.

[zoom-zoom]

I love, love, love my SRAM shifters! I went from Dura Ace to Rival and it's made a big difference in my ease of shifting. The reach was way too long with Shimano, even with their shims in. SRAM fits perfectly from every position. I don't really think the shifting is harder. The levers are in a better position and I've never had trouble shifting.

I had short-reach Shimano shifters and the reach was STILL too long. SRAMs adjusted right are perfect.

[salsabike]

I went from Campy to SRAM, am perfectly happy with the SRAM.

[ny biker]

I also went from 105 to Rival, and I'm happy with the change. I don't often shift chain rings, because I tend to have knee problems with the big chain ring. I did have shifting problems when I was playing around with the big chain ring a couple of months ago, but that was because it needed an adjustment. Since then it's okay.

My current handlebars are smaller than the old ones (WSD vs not), and I think that makes it a bit easier for me to shift and brake now vs. before.

But yeah, you should do a test ride to see for yourself.

[zoom-zoom]

I went from 105 to Rival...I will never go back to Shimano. It never felt 2nd nature to me, even after riding 3500 miles. SRAM isn't as quiet, but I have dealt with a LOT less hesitation and only one dropped chain in over 2300 miles. My 105 was notorious for just randomly dropping--not even while shifting (I'm sure this is in part to having been a triple--my SRAM set-up is a compact double). No one could ever find anything "wrong" with it, it was just flaky.

SRAM is just is more intuitive for me, too. On my 105 I was forever shifting in the wrong direction.