Shimano vs. SRAM: Guide to Groupsets & Drivetrains

Shimano and SRAM are the two dominant component manufacturers in the cycling industry, and the vast majority of modern bikes are going to come with one of their drivetrains. Some riders are loyal to one brand over the other based on personal experiences. Others have specific ergonomic preferences. For ultra-picky riders, choosing between bikes built with Shimano or SRAM can be a major factor in their purchasing decisions. 

We can't definitively answer whether one is “better” than the other (sorry). Instead, This comparison aims to shed light on the similarities and differences between the two brands and their products. 

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Key points when comparing Shimano and SRAM

- Shimano has been making bike components for 100 years, while SRAM is much younger than it's Japanese competitor, having opened shop in 1987 in Chicago.
- Shimano is more than twice the size of SRAM and dominates original parts spec on road bikes. However, more mountain bikes are outfitted with SRAM components.
- AXS is SRAM's marquee electronic shifting technology, and it is an entirely wireless system.
- Shimano began selling electronic drivetrains in 2009, six years before SRAM. It's Di2 shifting technology is primarily wired, although the latest Dura-Ace and Ultegra groups are partially wireless.
- While SRAM's electronic shifting technology is increasingly common on mountain bikes, Shimano's application of Di2 shifting in the off-road market has been more limited.

Component hierarchies

Note: Campagnolo is a third option for bicycle components. However, it makes up a very small percentage of total new component sales. Plus, it only produces road and gravel components. The vast majority of bike brands stick to Shimano or SRAM, so that's why Campagnolo is not included in this piece. 

Contents

• Component differences
• Shifters
• Crankarms
• 1x drivetrains
• Freehubs and cassettes
• Gearing
• Rear derailleurs
• Electronic drivetrains
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• History and mission
• Technological innovations
• Popularity
• Final thoughts

Component differences

Shimano and SRAM have been competing for the last 30 years. Competition has bred many fantastic cycling components. This section covers some of the key tech and design differences in certain Shimano and SRAM components. First, here's a brief overview of those differences:

Shifters

STI vs. DoubleTap

Shimano and SRAM take very different approaches to road bike shifter design. Shimano's STI shifters separate the control of up and downshifts into two different shift levers. The brake lever itself pivots inward to act as an up/downshift lever, and a second paddle-shaped lever sits behind it to shift in the other direction.

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Instead of two separate levers, SRAM's DoubleTap uses a single paddle-shaped lever behind the brake lever (which is fixed) to handles both up and downshifts. Pushing this lever one click inward shifts the drivetrain in one direction. Pushing the lever further in, past the first click, causes the drivetrain to shift in the opposite direction. 

Both shifter designs are intuitive and have the capability to downshift multiple gears in a single lever stroke. It comes down to rider preference and ergonomics. 

Rapid Fire trigger shifters

Both Shimano and SRAM offer trigger-style shifters for mountain bikes. Two shift levers are housed in a pod attached to the underside of the handlebar. Both Shimano and SRAM trigger shifters can downshift multiple gears with one lever stroke. 

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The main difference in function is that Shimano's Rapid Fire trigger shifter features "2way-release," which allows the upshift lever to move in both directions. This means upshifts can be performed both by pushing the lever with the thumb or pulling it with an index finger. 

Crankarms

Crankarm material

Shimano is known for its Hollowtech crankarms. Hollowtech refers to a hollow, aluminum crankarm, generally made from two halves joined together. It maintains the stiffness of a solid crankarm while significantly decreasing the weight.

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For its higher-end crank offerings, SRAM uses carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is made from carbon sheets and fibers bonded in resin. It has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel.

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Both materials and crank designs perform well. Carbon is more common for high-end cranks. Shimano is one of the few manufacturers that sticks to aluminum. It claims the Hollowtech II design offers the same performance as carbon with greater durability.

Spindles

Each brands uses a proprietary spindle design. Shimano uses Hollowtech II, which is a 24mm spindle. SRAM uses DUB. The advantages and disadvantages of the different spindle designs can be debated to death and it's a topic that will require its own article. In general, a crank from any brand will require a specific bottom bracket to be compatible with both the frame and crankarm spindle. 

1x Drivetrains

SRAM brought 1x drivetrains into the mainstream with its innovative XX1 group. Today, mountain bikes almost exclusively use single-ring drivetrains for their increased simplicity and reliability. This configuration is also prevalent on cyclocross and gravel bikes.

While Shimano initially resisted the move to 1x drivetrains, it has since developed more single-ring MTB drivetrain options to remain competitive. The GRX group still offers some double-chainring options for gravel bikes.

The downside for some riders using 11-speed 1x drivetrains is the reduced gear range. The release of SRAM’s 12-speed Eagle 1x drivetrains in 2016, addressed this by introducing an ample 500% gear range that has largely eliminated this issue. Three years after the release of Eagle, Shimano also released its first 12-speed mountain bike group, which provided a slightly larger 510% range.

Cassettes and freehubs 

PowerdomeX

A 10-42t SRAM XX1 PowerdomeX Cassette 

SRAM's latest high-end cassette design is called PowerdomeX. This design is a connected dome of cogs all machined from a single block of steel. This greatly reduces weight. However, these cassettes are far more expensive than a conventionally constructed cassette.

Shimano generally still uses the traditional cassette design with individual cogs stacked and separated by spacers or attached in clusters to aluminum carriers. SRAM’s lower-end XD Driver-compatible cassettes use individual cogs connected with pins in the same PowerdomeX layout. These are less expensive but heavier.

Proprietary freehubs

Shimano’s Hyperglide is the most common freehub design, with many brands making wheels and hubs with compatible freehubs. SRAM cassettes have traditionally used the same design. This compatibility allows riders to switch from one brand to the other without changing their wheels or hubs.
With the release of 11-speed XX1 for mountain bikes in 2012, SRAM made the bold step of releasing a proprietary freehub, the XD driver. The XD driver freehub was designed to fit the new PowerdomeX mountain bike cassettes which have a smaller 10-tooth cog. The XD Driver has remained in use for SRAM’s current 12-speed Eagle mountain bike group. SRAM has also released a road version known as XDR, which is used for its 12-speed eTap AXS road group. Essentially all modern SRAM drivetrains now rely on XD or XDR drivers.

Shimano has released its own proprietary 12-speed freehub design, called Micro Spline. It is intended for its new 12-speed mountain bike group. Micro Spline is similar to XD Driver in that it allows the use of a smaller 10-tooth cassette cog, but its shape is fundamentally different. This means Shimano and SRAM’s 12-speed cassettes each require a specific hub and are not interchangeable. Micro Spline does not see the same widespread adoption as XD or XDR.

Road gearing

Fast group rides and races will require more top-end gearing, while lots of climbing or loaded touring will necessitate more low-end. Many new drivetrains attempt to provide as wide a range as possible to handle a larger variety of terrain and riding styles.

X-Range vs. traditional gearing

Recently, SRAM has challenged the traditional gearing that's been used on road bikes for decades. The new eTap AXS 12-speed group uses an entirely new gearing system, X-Range. It is intended to reduce front shifting, allowing riders to stay in the big ring for longer. It does so by shrinking the chainring size and using cassettes with 10-tooth cogs and smaller steps between cogs. Shimano currently still uses traditional gearing, which has seen great success over the years. Only time will tell whether X-Range will overtake traditional gearing.

Photo Courtesy SRAM

Traditional chainring options (teeth): 53/39, 52/36, 50/34
X-Range chainring options: 50/37, 48/35, 46/33

Traditional cassette options: 11-23, 11-25, 11-28, 11-30, 11-32, 11-34, 11-36
X-Range cassette options: 10-26, 10-28, 10-33, 10-36

Cyclocross and gravel gearing

For cyclocross and gravel bikes, Shimano and SRAM offer several options. Both brands have drivetrains with traditional cyclocross gearing, which generally uses 46/36t chainrings paired with a traditional road cassette.

SRAM also offers 1x cyclocross and gravel drivetrains that use their mountain bike technology, as well as AXS drivetrains using SRAM’s new X-Range gearing.

In 2021, SRAM launched a gravel-specific group called XPLR. This is a single-chainring AXS drivetrain designed for a 10-44t cassette. Also of note, SRAM introduced a gravel-specific RockShox suspension fork called Rudy.

Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX group offers a couple unique gearing options as well— 48/31t and 46/30t double chainrings. These have a large delta (the difference in tooth count between chainrings) which provide a wide gearing range for off-road riding. GRX is also offered in a 1x configuration.

Mountain bike gearing

On mountain bikes, SRAM's 11-speed XX1 drivetrain with its 10-42T cassette created a whole new generation of wide-range mountain bike cassettes. Shimano responded to SRAM with its own 11-speed 1x drivetrains using 11-40T, 11-42T, and 11-46T cassettes.

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Then came the introduction of SRAM’s 12-speed Eagle drivetrain with a 10-50T cassette, which solidified the 1x drivetrain as the dominant option for mountain bikes. Shimano has responded with its own 12-speed drivetrain using a slightly larger 10-51T cassette. Not to be outdone, SRAM now offers a 10-52T cassette for Eagle drivetrains. Chainrings that are commonly paired with these wide-range cassettes range in size from 28-36T. 

Rear derailleurs

Clutch design

Shimano derailleurs intended for rough roads and off-road riding use its Shadow Technology, which slims the derailleur and keeps it pulled up out of harm's way. The GRX and mountain bike rear derailleurs use a friction clutch that keeps the derailleur in place on rough terrain to improve chain retention. Shimano’s clutch mechanism can be toggled on and off, mostly for easy wheel removal.

SRAM also uses a clutch on all of its mechanical 1x drivetrain derailleurs. Instead of a toggle switch, SRAM uses a cage lock which locks the derailleur cage in an extended position for wheel removal. 

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SRAM Orbit Damper and Overload Clutch

Traditional derailleur clutches use friction plates and springs but the latest generation SRAM AXS road and gravel derailleurs have a new hydraulic damper and hydraulic clutch system to provide chain retention. The Orbit Damper prevents movement of the derailleur on hard jarring impacts to maintain chain tension on rough roads without the full lockout provided by a clutch. The Overload clutch for AXS mountain bike derailleurs will maintain tension like a traditional clutch, but upon impact, it disengages a motor gearbox inside, giving the derailleur the freedom to move and protecting it from damage.

Electronic drivetrains

Electronic drivetrains are at the top of Shimano and SRAM's component hierarchies. They represent the pinnacle of their drivetrain technology.

Shimano Di2

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Shimano’s electronic Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence) drivetrain technology was first introduced in 2009 with the Dura-Ace Di2 group. It later trickled down into the more affordable Ultegra Di2 group in 2011. Di2 is only available in higher-end groups. Dura-Ace and Ultegra for road, cyclocross, and gravel bikes, and XTR and Deore XT for mountain bikes. 

SRAM eTap, eTap AXS, and Eagle AXS

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SRAM’s first electronic drivetrain, eTap Red, was introduced in 2015. The wireless shifting technology expanded to mountain bikes in 2019 with the AXS group — eTap AXS and Eagle AXS. AXS technology is available throughout nearly all of SRAM's range: Red, Force, and Rival for road; XX1, X01, and GX for mountain bike.

Wiring

The major difference between Di2 and eTap/AXS is the use of wires. Di2 components are connected by wires, usually routed internally through a bike frame. Though it is more complicated, routing Di2 is usually only a one-time job. Shifters and the rest of the system are connected by a junction box, often under the stem. Some bikes hide the junction box in the frame or handlebars, but that requires additional routing. In 2021, Shimano introduced a semi-wireless system for Ultegra and Dura-Ace. The shifters are independent, while the battery and derailleurs are connected with wires.

eTap/AXS is wireless and transmits its signal using SRAM’s proprietary wireless protocol, Airea. The initial set-up is very quick and simple due to the lack of wires.

Batteries

Di2 uses a single rechargeable battery, which is often hidden inside the seatpost or handlebars. Older versions mount the battery externally on the frame. Di2 has 1,000-2,000km battery life. When it runs low, the front derailleur stops working to preserve rear shifting. When the battery dies, the derailleurs will remain in the gear selected, essentially functioning like a singlespeed. Battery life can be checked by holding both shift button on the right shifter, which will activate an LED battery indicator light on the junction box. 

SRAM eTap/AXS requires separate batteries in each derailleur which have approximately 60 hours of battery life. The rechargeable batteries are swappable between derailleurs if one runs low, meaning you can sacrifice the front derailleur battery to maintain shifting in the rear. When the batteries die, the derailleurs remain in the gear selected. Battery life can be checked by pressing the function buttons on the derailleurs, which will activate an LED battery indicator light on the derailleur. The shifters use common CR2032 batteries that usually last several seasons. Shifter paddles have an LED battery life indicator on the inside of the paddle. 

Functionality and shift logic

Di2 road shifters have two shift buttons on each shifter, similar to the up and downshift levers on STI mechanical shifters. SRAM's electronic road shifters have a single shift paddle on each shifter, similar to DoubleTap, but they have a notably different function. The right paddle shifts the rear derailleur up into a harder gear; the left paddle shifts down into an easier gear. Front derailleur shifts are actuated by pressing both levers simultaneously. 

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The Di2 mountain bike shifter uses trigger-style shift levers similar to Rapid Fire shifters. Di2 mountain bike shifters come programmed with the up and downshift levers opposite of mechanical Rapid Fire shifters. This can be reprogrammed. Eagle AXS mountain bike shifters utilize a single large button that can move up or down to actuate shifts, plus an auxiliary button behind the shifter that can be pressed with your index finger. You can customize shift button functions with the AXS app. 

Both Di2 and eTap AXS have satellite shifters that can be placed in different areas of the cockpit for climbing or sprinting. Both allow riders to use an app or software to customize the function of their buttons and shift action of their drivetrains.  

Hydraulic disc brakes

Today, essentially all Shimano and SRAM drivetrains use hydraulic disc brakes.

Brake fluid

Shimano and SRAM brakes do not use the same fluid. Shimano uses mineral oil while SRAM uses DOT 5.1 brake fluid. Here's a quick comparison of mineral oil vs. DOT fluid:

Mineral oil is hydrophobic, meaning it resists absorbing water in the air. The boiling points of mineral oil and DOT fluids are comparable, but the introduction of water reduces the boiling point and decreases performance. Being hydrophobic means mineral oil has a very long shelf life, and the boiling point will remain stable during the fluid’s lifespan. However, if any water does enter the braking system, it will pool at low points and compromise the whole system, requiring a full bleed. Mineral oil is non-corrosive, but it is also unregulated so manufacturers like Shimano determine the specifications of their own fluids, and there are no minimum standards.

DOT fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb water from the air over time. As it does, the boiling point will change. Because of this, open bottles of brake fluid have a limited shelf life so it’s often recommended to use opened DOT fluid within 12 months. The upside is that water won’t pool in a DOT fluid system. DOT fluid is easy to clean, which is good because it is corrosive. It can damage sensitive surfaces on your bike as well as your skin and eyes. Because DOT fluid is regulated by the Department of Transportation, it’s governed by minimum standards that regulate quality and ensure it meets certain specifications. It’s also widely available, not just in bike shops.

Lever design and feel

Shimano and SRAM brakes also have a different feel from each other due to the technology they use at the brake lever.

Photo Courtesy Shimano

Shimano brakes use Servowave. With Servowave, initial pad travel is fast, so little lever movement is needed to contact the rotor. At contact, the power multiplication factor increases so more lever stroke is used to apply greater braking power. This allows the use of short, stubby MTB brake levers with less leverage. Road brake levers are also easier to pull from the hoods.

Photo Courtesy SRAM

Higher-end SRAM brakes use Swinglink, a cam shape inside the brake lever that reduces “deadband” while increasing progressive power throughout the pull.

When riders describe the difference in how Shimano and SRAM disc brakes feel, Shimano is often described as having more of an “on or off” or “lightswitch” feeling where the braking power comes on instantaneously. SRAM brakes will tend to have a more “progressive” feel which may be easier for some riders to modulate and control. Both styles work well and it comes down to personal preference.

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SRAM mountain bike brake levers are ambidextrous, meaning they can be swapped to either side of the cockpit without removing the hoses or rebleeding the system. This is a perk for riders who to switch which side their brakes are on, like myself. I often choose SRAM brakes to reduce the hassle. 

Specific group comparisons:

105 VS. ULTEGRA VS. DURA-ACE | SHIMANO XT VS. SRAM GX | GX EAGLE VS. XX1 EAGLE 

History and mission

Shimano

The Shimano story begins in 1921, 100 years ago, in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. Shimano’s founder, Shozaburo Shimano, was only 26 years old when he moved into a small rented space in a demolished celluloid factory and opened Shimano Iron Works. With a borrowed lathe, Shimano’s ambitious goal was to produce his first bicycle component: freewheels.

Shozaburo Shimano | Photo Courtesy Shimano

At the time, freewheels were the component that took the most technology to produce. Shimano, however, was so confident in the reliability of his freewheels that he backed them with a bold guarantee — any defective freewheel would be replaced by two.

The original Shimano freewheel | Photo Courtesy Shimano

Shozaburo Shimano led his company and developed bicycle components until his death in 1958. His son, Shozo Shimano, took over as the next president. Over the next 50 years, Shimano grew to become the world’s dominant component manufacturer, overtaking former leaders like Campagnolo and SunTour.

Shozo Shimano (left) at Shimano American Corporation office in New York - 1965 | Photo Courtesy Shimano

With high quality and reliable products, Shimano has established itself as a benchmark component brand in the industry. It is currently led by Shozaburo’s grandson, Yozo Shimano. With sales that constitute an estimated 70-80% of the global cycling component market by value, it is the biggest cycling component manufacturer in the world. Their stated mission is to promote health and happiness with outdoor products that help people enjoy nature and the world around us.

Annual revenue: $3.8 Billion (fiscal year 2021, bicycle division, converted from 443.7 Billion Yen based on historical exchange rate)
Employees: 11,829

Philanthropy: Shimano is one of the founding members of the EcoMobility Alliance, an international partnership of people and companies that work to improve EcoMobility. 

SRAM

SRAM’s unique name is said to be an amalgamation of the names of its founders. It comes from combining letters from Scott, Ray, and Sam (Ray is the middle name of former CEO, Stan Day). Scott King was the company's attorney. Stan R. Day was SRAM’s first CEO. And Sam Patterson was an engineer and designer who created SRAM’s first product.SRAM's founder and first CEO, Stan Day | Photo Courtesy SRAM

SRAM was founded in Chicago in 1987. The company began with a single product — the Grip Shift. The Grip Shift was an indexed gear shifter that wrapped around the ends of drop handlebars. Traditionally, riders had shift levers mounted to the frame, but Grip Shift allowed riders to change gears without removing their hands from the handlebars. Sam Patterson, who at the time worked for an engine manufacturer, designed SRAM's first product.

Early Grip Shift on a drop-bar bike | Photo Courtesy SRAM

With a belief in the power of the Grip Shift, Stan Day assembled investors, set up an office, and became the company’s first president while Sam Patterson became the head of research and development. Over the next 30 years, SRAM acquired several component companies, such as RockShox, Zipp, Truvativ, Quarq, PowerTap, and Time pedals. This growth has led it to become the second-largest component manufacturer in the world with an expansive catalog of bike parts.

One of SRAM's key goals is to be the most exciting component manufacturer in the industry. It has worked toward this goal with innovative products that have produced notable shifts in the industry. A point of pride for the company has been its success in taking on Shimano, who once controlled well over 85% of the cycling component market.

Annual revenue: $974 Million (fiscal year 2020)
Employees: 3,500

Philanthropy: World Bicycle Relief (WBR) is a non-profit that specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle distribution programs to aid poverty relief in developing countries.

Timeline: Key technological innovations

Both Shimano and SRAM have developed products that have moved cycling forward. Much of the bike technology we take for granted today is the result of Shimano's and SRAM's innovations. Here are a few key products they've developed that have helped shape modern cycling.

Shimano

1984 - Shimano Index System (SIS)
The Dura-Ace 7400 group introduced indexed shifting, which provided accurate gear changes with shifts that corresponded to clicks in the shifter. Gear changes became more precise and faster as riders could select the gear without having to fiddle with the position of a friction shifter. Indexed shifting is the basis for how modern mechanical shifters work.

1989 - Shimano Total Integration (STI) / Rapid Fire
Photo Courtesy Shimano

STI is a shifting system that allows cyclists to shift gears, operate the brakes, and steer without removing their hands from the handlebars. STI integrated shift levers into the brake hoods, creating the blueprint for modern road, cyclocross, and gravel bike shifters as we know it. Rapid Fire was a flat-bar version of STI, using a pod with trigger style levers clamped to the bar. Trigger-style shifters are now the most common type of shifter used on mountain bikes.

1990 - Shimano Pedaling Dynamics (SPD) shoes and pedals
Shimano created a standard-setting clipless shoe and pedal system. Many brands now produce pedals compatible with Shimano SPD style cleats. It is one of the most ubiquitous clipless pedal systems.

2009 - Digital Integrated Intelligence (Di2) electronic shifting
Di2 was introduced for Shimano’s Dura-Ace level group and was the first commercially viable electronic shifter and derailleur system. Di2 made electronic shifting the new standard for top-of-the-line group.

2014 - XTR Di2
Shimano brought its Di2 technology to mountain bikes with the XTR Di2 M9050 group, the first electronic mountain bike group.  

2021 - Semi-wireless Di2 shifting
Refining its Di2 system, Shimano introduces Dura-Ace R9200 and Ultegra R8100 with shift levers that communicate wirelessly with the derailleurs, which remain connected to each other and the battery via wires.

SRAM

1987 - Grip Shift
SRAM's story began with an indexed gear shifter that wrapped around the handlebars. The Grip Shift design still sees use today on some mountain bikes, commuters, and other flat-bar bicycles.

2006 - DoubleTap
Photo Courtesy SRAM

SRAM’s integrated shifting solution for road bikes allowed the rider to shift in both directions using a single shifter paddle. This was also SRAM's first foray into producing a complete road component group, Force.

2012 - 1x11 XX1 group
Riders had experimented with 1x (pronounced “one-by”) drivetrains in the past, but XX1 was the first 1x drivetrain from a major manufacturer that became a mainstream option. Like previous attempts at single-chainring drivetrains, XX1 simplified shifting by removing the front derailleur. This configuration is now the standard for most mountain bikes and is popular on cyclocross and gravel bikes as well.

2015 - Red eTap
eTap was SRAM’s first electronic road group and it set itself apart from Shimano’s Di2 system by being wireless.

2016 - 1x12 Eagle group
Eagle was the first 12-speed mountain bike group. It expanded the capabilities of SRAM’s already successful 1x11 groups with a wider 500% gear range that was comparable to traditional 2x systems.

2019 - eTap AXS and Eagle AXS
SRAM continued the progression of its wireless electronic group with AXS. AXS introduced a new 12-speed road bike group and the first wireless electronic mountain bike group.

Popularity

Because The Pro’s Closet is the world leader in buying and selling used bikes, we have substantial data about what bikes are popular and what groups they are equipped with. I dug into our recent sales looked at thousands of different bikes to analyze how Shimano and SRAM are performing in different categories. The data presented below does not indicate that one brand is better than the other. It simply shows how bike manufacturers and owners have chosen to equip their bikes.

This data shows that, unsurprisingly, Shimano and SRAM make up over 90% of all bike groups we sell. Campagnolo is the next largest but only contributes to a small fraction of our sales.

The data also shows some recent trends. SRAM has become the dominant choice for mountain bikes, which is likely due to the increased popularity of its 1x drivetrains. Shimano, however, has maintained a firm hold on the road bike category, which it has dominated for decades. Cyclocross and gravel bikes are split fairly evenly between Shimano and SRAM. Neither brand has the advantage yet as the category is still evolving.

Final thoughts

Shimano and SRAM both make quality products, but their approaches and styles are different. Shimano is generally the more conservative of the two. Over the last decade, SRAM has pursued drivetrain innovation more aggressively. In many cases, Shimano has been forced to respond to remain competitive. A good example is the development of its new 12-speed 1x drivetrain in response to SRAM’s ground-breaking Eagle drivetrain. Time will tell if Shimano will react similarly to SRAM’s new AXS drivetrains when it comes to mountain bike components and road gearing ratios. Shimano is not struggling by any means. It remains strong in all categories, and many riders choose Shimano based on its long history in the sport and strong reputation for quality.

I’ve had the good fortune to ride more bikes than the average consumer. I’ve also known many co-workers who are very loyal to their chosen brand. For these ultra-picky riders, it often comes down to small subjective details like feel, ergonomics, and looks. I’ve swapped back and forth countless times.

I have SRAM on my personal mountain bikes, but Shimano on my road bikes. I may switch next season. 

Currently, my mountain bikes use SRAM Eagle drivetrains and SRAM brakes. They’re lightweight, perform well, and I can easily poach parts if something breaks. I also tend to prefer the progressive feel and ambidextrous design of SRAM mountain bike brakes.

For my road bikes, however, I usually go for Shimano Ultegra or Dura-Ace group. I prefer the function and feel of Shimano STI shifters and I like the shape of the hoods.

Your preferences are likely to evolve and change as you spend time riding one brand or the other. Shimano's new 12-speed mountain group and SRAM's new AXS groups interest me, so next season I may switch things up. Many riders become accustomed to what they know and find it hard to switch brands. Others can jump back and forth without a second thought.

If you're on the fence, our suggestion is to just go ride both and change things as needed. Doing so can be logistically or financially difficult, but our Certified Pre-Owned bikes and Guaranteed Buyback Program are designed to make trying out great bikes easy. Where ever your loyalties lie, the important thing is that you’re on a bike that you love riding.

Do you have a preference for Shimano or SRAM? Are you a Campy fan who feels left out? Let us know in the comments!