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Looking for a replacement race bike and my size are all sold out in the UK - as are the frame-only options 🙁 . So I have spotted an SRAM force-equipped bike in Germany. Never ridden SRAM, so wondered how it compared with Shimano?
I have ridden Ultegra 6600 (very nice light shifting) and 6700 (heavier, more precise, definite clunkiness, not in a bad way) and DA 9000, which is as light as 6600 with nicer egonomics and a shorter throw and better front shift - just perfect in fact. I had thought of 6870 Di2, but those are all sold too! DA Di2 is not an option - "race what you can afford to replace".
Does Force feel more "mechanical" like 6700 - or light like 6600 and DA9000 (and I presume 6800 as well)? I'm sure Double Tap can be easily adapted to, and I will be able to swap my other 11 speed wheels as desired. I'm not at liberty to test ride at the moment.
very mechanical is how I'd describe it. It's ok, nothing wrong with it in fact and have used it for a few seasons but I'm leaning back towards Shimano these days only because I couldn't stop the Yaw front mech from rubbing the chain in the combo I tend to use the most, this is probably down to poor set up rather than an issue with the group!
Three bikes and three set ups. Ultegra, Chorus and Force.
IMO Force is a stiff change, which actually I really like for racing, and it's very precise. The shift also 'seems' to feel shorter than Shimano, but similar to Campagnolo.
For just riding and training WGAF.
Hard to choose between Campag and SRAM right now as I need a new group.
Campagnolo did limited edition shifters with a stiffer shift, Force is like that.
Shimano.....nope, long travel wobbly brake lever pants.
Force is lighter than Ultegra too. I have SRAM rival and like it. Remember SRAM uses Double Tap shifting - short tap down the block, long push back up it again.
My experience of SRAM is that its great when fresh, but a real pain when the cables get a bit sloppy. Much harder to index and get a perfect shift.
On a race bike that doesn't see much winter/water it might be fine though.
Cheers all. Sounds a lot like ultegra 6700. Migh go for frame only and 11spd ultegra. I'm sure there's little in it. But I can't really justify DA on a bike that will definitely go down the road sometime. (as opposed to into the side of a mercedes 😉 ). At least I have a frame only option from Germany too.
Nah, give it a go! Double tap is good, much prefer it to Shimano's (older) shifting. It's definitely not like 6600 shifting (which was nice and smooth, but ergonomically awful imo). It's better than 6700 (which I thought was shit). I've never used any of the Shimano or SRAM 11 speed groupsets though, all this is based on past experience with 10 speed stuff.
Have force 10 speed and 11 speed 105. I much prefer the 105 tbh. I've had a lot of trouble with front shifting on the force which means I have less confidence in it.
Didn't like the fact the 105 brake levers moved about on heavy braking but with winding in the reach it is much better.
SRAM 10 speed front shifting is a shower of shite to be honest.
The 11 speed Yaw stuff much better...?
I'd hope so......