SRAM APEX or Shimano 105
- Thread starter BSRU
- Start date
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This months Cycling Plus reviews both, along with Centaur.
In a nutshell
105
Pros - Smooth Shifts and excellent build quality
Cons - Heavier then it's rivals
Apex
Pros - Superwide ratio will improve your climbing prowess
Cons - Slow upshift and flexy large chainring
In a nutshell
105
Pros - Smooth Shifts and excellent build quality
Cons - Heavier then it's rivals
Apex
Pros - Superwide ratio will improve your climbing prowess
Cons - Slow upshift and flexy large chainring
Cheers for that, I'll go and have a read.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
There's no real substitute for riding a bike with your target group sets.
Personally I find the Shimano group sets are so smooth they're vague, often I'll miss-shift on downshifts as there's very little feedback to the indexing points when making a fast shift, the SRAM system is more positive & so get on with it much better. That said my partner is the other way round, she much prefers the feel of Shimano shifters & find the SRAM clunky.
Personally I find the Shimano group sets are so smooth they're vague, often I'll miss-shift on downshifts as there's very little feedback to the indexing points when making a fast shift, the SRAM system is more positive & so get on with it much better. That said my partner is the other way round, she much prefers the feel of Shimano shifters & find the SRAM clunky.
I have Apex, have ridden 105, and of the two, prefer Apex. There's nothing objective about this 'test' - I haven't counted the number of missed shifts or anything. I just prefer the feel of Apex, and I really get on well with the double tap shifters. I haven't felt any of the 'large chainring flex' as mentioned earlier. Perhaps I'm just not pedalling hard enough.
For the price (I paid £399 for the full groupset) I think it's excellent value for money. The 32 tooth cassette is a nice thing to have, and I don't find the gaps in the ratios to be particularly irritating. But then again, I'm just pottering around at my own pace in my own time. In a race, it may be different.
For the price (I paid £399 for the full groupset) I think it's excellent value for money. The 32 tooth cassette is a nice thing to have, and I don't find the gaps in the ratios to be particularly irritating. But then again, I'm just pottering around at my own pace in my own time. In a race, it may be different.
I was going to try apex on my new build. I have used 105 stuff in the past and tbh it's absolutely great. The only reason to try apex was intrigued about the double tap system and having the possibility to tap into a 28 or 32T cog.
In the end I got offered an Athena groupset at cost price so made a decision not hard to make.
In the end I got offered an Athena groupset at cost price so made a decision not hard to make.
sardinical
New Member
Just wondered how people are getting on with the apex set.
I've got them and the idea is good, the ratios are OK, when it works as intended it's fine.
But most of the time the shifting is appalling with missed changes the norm. I've tried a lot of adjusting and trimming, which makes a difference but not enough.
Anybody else struggling or is it just me?
I've got them and the idea is good, the ratios are OK, when it works as intended it's fine.
But most of the time the shifting is appalling with missed changes the norm. I've tried a lot of adjusting and trimming, which makes a difference but not enough.
Anybody else struggling or is it just me?
PaulSecteur
No longer a Specialized fanboy
- Location
- Walsall, West Mids.
I havent used apex, but I wuld doubt that missed shifts would be the norm.
Either its not set up right, or you are not quite shifting right. Either way, someone with a little knw how and maybe a maintenance stand should be able to put it (or you) right in a few minutes. Maybe time for a trip t the local bike shop.
Just out of interest, what bike do you have?
Either its not set up right, or you are not quite shifting right. Either way, someone with a little knw how and maybe a maintenance stand should be able to put it (or you) right in a few minutes. Maybe time for a trip t the local bike shop.
Just out of interest, what bike do you have?
sardinical
New Member
I think the system itself is at fault. It simply doesn't work very well. I do have a little know-how and a stand! And the makers fitting instructions.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has actually used the apex set up with the low gears. Haven't found anyone yet on other forums so I guess there aren't a lot of them about.
the_mikey
Legendary Member
- Location
- South Gloucestershire
You could always use a SRAM APEX wide cassette, with Shim105 shifters, 105 front Derailleur and Chainset, and use a shimano MTB 10 speed rear derailleur that can accomodate the super wide range of speeds(check for compatibility)
sardinical
New Member
So that's dump the whole set-up except the cassette?
You are probably right but I haven't given up on getting it working properly yet!
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
My apex has worked out of the box since day 1 on my (gasp a halfords bike ) Boradman Comp which is fitted with the 11-32 cassette,maybe you have not heard of people saying it works because most people like to highlight faults with anything in life rather than saying "It is ok "
I have tried tiagra but not 105 and i prefer sram method to the shimano system.
I'm still using Apex, and after ~3000kms can report that it's still working faultlessly. No missed gears, never dropped a chain.
Boringly reliable in fact. Nothing to complain about at all. I think in that 3000kms I've had to adjust it once (a single click on the rear barrel adjuster) to take up a bit of slack in the cable that had developed. Nothing to write home about really.
Ta,
nr.
Boringly reliable in fact. Nothing to complain about at all. I think in that 3000kms I've had to adjust it once (a single click on the rear barrel adjuster) to take up a bit of slack in the cable that had developed. Nothing to write home about really.
Ta,
nr.
sardinical
New Member
OK I'll try a bit more fine tuning. So far I haven't managed 10 miles without a missed change. Miss one and it seems you then miss the next three.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
As GrasB says, try and test the groupsets you are interested in, it really is a personal choice.
I've always liked Shimano, my CAAD is full DA and I love it.
Then I decided to try Campy on my winter build, but this has ended up having to be tweaked/modified & fettled. So it now consists of Veloce cranks and small ring, Stronglight big ring, Ultegra cassette and KMC chain, and it all works flawlessly, go figure, but I still personally much prefer Shimano overall.
I've always liked Shimano, my CAAD is full DA and I love it.
Then I decided to try Campy on my winter build, but this has ended up having to be tweaked/modified & fettled. So it now consists of Veloce cranks and small ring, Stronglight big ring, Ultegra cassette and KMC chain, and it all works flawlessly, go figure, but I still personally much prefer Shimano overall.