What is the best level of quality of Shimano group-set before it is just about weight.

[snailracer]

Might as well get a Dutch bike - millions proven to work for years in the real world, even when left outside in the rain and neglected.

 

[Rob3rt]

And titanium sprockets are less durable than steel ones.

Galvanic compatibility with steel/alu is iffy, too.

Which is why they are reserved for use on the highest end kit which is essentially racing equipment which will be used only in races (whether people use the kit in other ways or not does not really matter, the intended use of the equipment is clear) and then cleaned and maintained afterwards.

 

[fossyant]

Just buy SRAM cassettes, the mid range stuff is lighter than Shimano anyway.

Bring back the old style cassettes where you could swap every sprocket to your hearts content. Ohh the 12-19 straight through cassette.

 

[Globalti]

I stand corrected. The steel does look like Ti though; it has that grey grainy quality.

 

[Rob3rt]

Just buy SRAM cassettes, the mid range stuff is lighter than Shimano anyway.

Bring back the old style cassettes where you could swap every sprocket to your hearts content. Ohh the 12-19 straight through cassette.

Not only are they lighter, SRAM cassettes are IMO superior to Shimano cassettes. I do not know exactly what it is about them and the design that causes this, but I do know that Force level cassettes are kinder to aluminium freehub bodies than 105/Ultegra cassettes which make a right mess of things!

 

[HLaB]

Not exactly scientific evidence but I've had multiple chains out of SRAM and Campag cassettes but never out of Shimano. SRAM also do ranges I'm happier with.

 

[choplee]

I've always had shimano from my holdsworth with 600 ex , vitus 992 with dura ace , klein with ultegra , genesis CX with a more budget mix and my newer Litespeed now with dura ace ... not had any issues apart from a 15yr old shifter fail and the usual replacing of cassette's and chains to keep the maintenance up , so you could say i'm a shimano fan ...

 

[User482]

Not only are they lighter, SRAM cassettes are IMO superior to Shimano cassettes. I do not know exactly what it is about them and the design that causes this, but I do know that Force level cassettes are kinder to aluminium freehub bodies than 105/Ultegra cassettes which make a right mess of things!

I've found the exact opposite. SRAM mtb cassettes appear to be made of cheese, and my SRAM road cassette (a 1070 I think) is noticeably noisier than a Tiagra. It also seems to have chewed up the freehub body.

For me, SRAM for chains and Shimano for everything else.

 

[stephec]

Athena

 

[DooDah]

I've found the exact opposite. SRAM mtb cassettes appear to be made of cheese, and my SRAM road cassette (a 1070 I think) is noticeably noisier than a Tiagra. It also seems to have chewed up the freehub body.

For me, SRAM for chains and Shimano for everything else.

For me always SRAM cassettes, KMC chains and Shimano everything else.

 

[Paul.G.]

Campag