Recently built my new bike and and have not used much shimano, infact given the past performance of some of shimanos components i wont use it again.
Does anyone else refuse to let the big S rule the MTB roost.

I do my best, but it's hard getting rid of it in the transmission - XT mechs are just spot on! If only Campag would start doing OR stuff again.....

I disagree Rob, Sram is the best transmission out. Very possitive and clean shifting - and cheaper than Shimano to boot.

Excellent VFM - got a Sram 9.0 transmission for LX prices - bearing in mind Sram 9.0 is XTR quality.

And on the BB/Crank sides there are loads of choices non-shimano.

I have SRAM atm, and i HATE it!

Goin up to LX gears... and oh... i hate gripshift... trying to break and shift down at the same time aint that good with gsft

This whole argument is muchly overrated - there really isn't THAT much difference in performance when set up right.

As for shifters, matter of opinion innit? I think (having used various examples of each) that there are pros/cons for both systems.

BTW, Dom, I don't think SRAM 9.0 is really XTR quality - more XT really.

sram is a good viable alternative to shimano,
i have chosen to use the esp 9.0sl set up on mine and it works better than XT.
XTR has no comparative groupset, it is too expensive for most riders and offers little or no increase in performance over XT level,
and it looks sh*ty after a while, the older polished stuff was much better.

don't diss big S you will have the big S on one of your bikes it is a power no man or woman can match

" have SRAM atm, and i HATE it!

Goin up to LX gears... and oh... i hate gripshift... trying to break and shift down at the same time aint that good with gsft"
Yeah I have noticed that - but I've managed easily enough to adapt and the shifting is so clean and quick, changing before, or after braking isn't a problem. Just needs a different style.

Dom.

"BTW, Dom, I don't think SRAM 9.0 is really XTR quality - more XT really. "
Ok maybe XTR is a bit of exageration for some of the GS although I think things like the Cassette and chain are. However it's definatly better than XT.

Dom.

or shimano shifters

ain't sram making big s type shiters cos if they do i may try them

priss

Only problem appears to be with the availability of SRAM stuff. I've had a SRAM 9.0 front mech on back order from UK importer for over 3 months. Finally got pissed off and E-Mailed SRAM Corp in USA,

the reply came back that they had no supply at the moment as they were re-designing it, had stopped production of the old one, and didnt have a date for release of the new one.
So - whats the choice there then (luckily the old XT is still working, just a bit wobbly & shifting badly, I'll still be waiting till after Xmas though!)

hmmm
not used the front mechs before.
i know they are changeing from compsite knuckles to magnesium or aluminium.
the trouble with this time of year is companies are releasing the new stuff so trying to get hold of gear is a pain, this said my ESP9.0SL shifters and mech came quickly but they are 2001 models.
this is the trouble with gear that beaks away from the normal paths take UST for example, is it just ahead of its time?

the only shimano stuff I use are XTR L/Hand brake lever, and a XTR rapid rise rear mech.
the rest is middleburn avid, royce and Sram.
oh, Kieran, I have a 9.0 front mech going, but it's the smaller one that I can't remember the exact size of, came off a steel bike.

HI

I certainly didn't have any supply problems ( other than the supplier 'losing 12 shorties' and giving me a half pipe instead - free upgrade :) ) ordered and installed in a week - would have been quicker but had to wait for some cash.

Dom.

I know that this site should really be called MOUNTAINBIKEmagic, but Campagnolo is better represented than Shimano at any road event.
I think that Campag do make better road components. The Ergolevers have a separate lever for changing up, rather than using the whole brake lever. I find this easier to use.
Also my 105 C/set has pressed rings, for god's sake, at 100 notes?!
Go to the road section of the customer reviews, and you find that the makers of this site have just listed Shimano, Shimano, Shimano. No wonder not many people have reviewed road componenets.
BTW, when I bought my first MB in 1984 (KHS Expedition), Suntour (Mountech) ruled the roost.
So things could change, but bike parts have always been more about marketing than function. This site is helping to promote that tradition.

SRAM vs shimano.

I've used both. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages making a "this is better than that " comparison quite silly.

The choice comes down to; Do you want to twist or trigger?

SRAM's shifting quality is isolated to it's ESP stuff. Anythinglower than that is crap.
Shimano's good stuff is also only limited to Deore and above, anything below that is crap.

Campagnlo made OR components in the early 90's but got out of it because ther bigest market (america) felt that CAmpag on MTB's was not on. The shifters were excellent quality though.
At the time Campagalsohad it's back to the wall developing it's Rd groups. Shimano had launced STi and Campag still had downtube shifters.
So the MTB stuff was dropped.

Will they get back into MTB. I doubt it. They make excellent Rd groupsets and I think they will focus on that for a long time.

Campag road kit rules, no question. they tryed an mtb groupset but it never took off because people cant see past the names association with road bikes.
Sram chains are far more reliable than shimano to date and i'd sooner go for middleburn chainsets and time pedles and forget shimano hubs, it's got to be Hope or DT.
BUT for mechs shifters and brakes i do like my XT and XTR bits, they work really well and tend to lasts quite well too.

Why just talk derailleurs? The Rohloff Speedhub weighs only a bit more than a full XT groupset but with zilch maintenance, and a very very long life. And you can even change gear when you're not moving!

The future is hubs, guys, get with it! Sell your Shimano shares!

Shimano is unavoidable, but I dont see why you would want to totally avoid it. Just get the best for each bit

Sram chains, Shimano Deore Chainset (unparalled VFM) etc etc blah blah