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Have a new Salsa El Mariachi that I need to get a group set for. It’s been about three to four years since I bought anything for a frame build so not that up to date.
I’m specifically looking at Sram NX 1x11 or the Shimano SLX sets. Also does choosing one over the other have any bearing on the brakes I can run. I remember that Shimano brakes can be attached to the shifter to tidy up the bars.
Any recommendations gladly appreciated
You can get cheap adapters to mix and match Shimano brakes with SRAM shifters and vice versa.
I've always been a Shimano fan and recently bought a full Sram groupset as it fitted what I wanted out of the new bike at the time.
Works very well and when well set up I'd say functionality wise there is not much between the two.
However what let the Sram side down a bit for me were two things, one being that I like to shift with my finger over the top of the bar. Shimano allow this (although not sure if it is a feature on SLX). Sram doesn't.
The biggest issue is that my cranks appear to be coming loose in the bottom bracket after only 100 miles or so. Have tightened everything back up and so far so good, although I haven't ridden that bike more than a further 40 miles or so since.
Shimano cranks and bottom brackets have always been fit and forget and I don't think I've ever had to retorque one up ever.
Personally I'd be back to Shimano every time now, with whatever cassette needed from whoever to give me the lightest V cost option with the range needed.
Shimano for me.
Worth waiting for the 12sp stuff to filter through?
@ chakaping is it not a bit pricey? I’m happy to hold off until New Years as I’m in the states until new year
Shimano over SRAM for me.
If you can, I'd wait for the 12s MicroSpline stuff.
My experience of SRAM is poor. Wobbly mechs, shifters with inbuilt issues, BB's that didn't last. Cranks are good.
Shimano I've only ever had an issue with those iffy disc brakes. Other than that it just works and works until I wear it out. I've 3 yr old SLX 1x11 on my Marin - 3 cassettes and chains worn out, the mech and shifter just keep on trucking.
Don't like SRAM, for multiple reasons - cranks you can't take off without a massive allen key and a length of pipe to extend it (you can fit/refit Shimano cranks at the trailside, with a normal multitool and a rock, if you have to).
If you haven't blitzed your SRAM cranks it with 54nm of torque, then the bolt will loosen fairly quickly, which is a problem if it happens mid-ride.
As above, with Shimano you can shift with forefinger over the bars, not to mention double or triple upshifts. SLX has this. SRAM GX Eagle has none of this, and feels pretty industrial, although some people like this.
Shimano brakes can be a bit flakey, although bleeding them properly helps, and I've not heard entirely glowing reviews of the SRAM equivalents.
It has been suggested that SRAM mechs can be a bit easier to kill than shimano, and I don't think you can take apart and clean up/adjust the clutch as easily.
Having said this, a lot of people have said that Shimano 11 speed isn't as nice to use as 10 or 9 speed (or 12, for that matter). Avoid the XT shifter - SLX is nicer.
is it not a bit pricey?
Might be worth keeping your eye on the differential - looking only at the drivetrain groupset, SLX 1x11 is 249, SLX 1x12 is 349. I wouldn't go for 1x11 in those circumstances.
https://www.vanillabikes.com/collections/shimano-mtb-groupsets
Though obviously you have to add in the price of microspline for your wheel as well.
In light of this I might just look for an SLX groupset in the Black Friday deals
+1 for shimano
i find their drivetrains slicker & smoother in operation.
I also prefer the asthetic of their brake products - for example , slx levers have a quality machined / cnc'd build to them as opposed to srams cheaper die-cast look.
Shimano
All my previous bikes have been shimano it’s just I hadn’t bought any mtb parts in a few years and some reviews for Sram were favourable and I haven’t had an 11 speed never mind 12 speed bike.
So I’ll stick with Shimano. Cheers.
Sorry but would XT 9 speed crank arms with an absolute black chainring work if the rest of the parts we newer 11/12 speed?
It ought to. Most 3rd party chain rings suit all kinds of everything. You can put a cheap 12spd system together matching AB or Hope rings (for example) with SLX mech and shifter on a SRAM PG 12spd cassette.
Sorry but would XT 9 speed crank arms with an absolute black chainring work if the rest of the parts we newer 11/12 speed?
The Shimano 12 speed chain requires a specific Shimano HG+ 12 speed compatible chainring. You should be able to find a compatible one for 9 speed cranks. 11 speed should be compatible with any narrow wide chainring.