Are rear SRAM deraileurs/mech really incompatible with shimano gear levers??

Question

Has anyone ever tried using shimano levers with sram derailleurs?

Answer 1

I have never mixed them but I do believe that the shifting ratios are different!

Wouldn't it be great, to mixed and match with the big three and get a super slick, lightweight chainset on the cheap!

I have already looked into it! - Alas, I came away disappointed!

.

Answer 2

The SRAM X.7, X.9 and X.0 I think they aren't compatible with Shimano shifters or rear deraileur. You can use a front shimano deralieur with SRAM shifters, but you must have a X.x on the rear.

As another poster said, SRAM uses 1:1 ratio vs Shimano 2:1. I think that he's wrong in that SRAM is faster than Shimano, but what I think is that SRAM is more foolproof than Shimano on the long run.

Answer 3

Meltman has it right....you can use a Shimano-compatible Sram *shifter* with a Shimano rear derailleur, but you *must* use a Sram shifter with a Sram rear. And it's because of that cable-pull ratio that he mentioned. The front shifters and front derailleurs are fully interchangeable between brands since nothing much has changed up front in 50 years.

If Shimano ever licenses the patents that Sram holds on the 1:1 ratio, then they could offer a shifter that would be compatible with Sram rears, but that ain't happenin'....competition, pride, and protection. Lucky for Sram, since so many manufacturers have used the standard classic 2:1 one ratio for so many years, they can offer shifters for other rear derailleurs and still make a sale that way. Shimano is stuck where they are unless they invent a better mousetrap.

I like a lot of the features of Sram rears, but the new Shimano XT Shadow rear is the cat's meow.....they improved vastly on both their own/Campy's classic design and upon Sram's recent improvements. One of the best things Sram did was to make that straight-on cable routing, and now Shimano has that too, in the Shadow model. If you're looking to set up your bike, this is a great time of year to get super closeout deals on parts with online retailers. January and February are even better sometimes.

More than you asked, I know.

Answer 4

Yes they are. Its basically a difference in actuation ratios. SRAM dérailleurs use a 1:1 ratio while Shimano uses 2:1, this means that SRAM dérailleurs shifts faster that Shimano. This however doesn't mean they are better per se. There are however some SRAM gear shifters that they designed to be able to work with Shimano dérailleurs. But definitely not the other way around.

Answer 5

I have seen bikes with Shimano Alivio shifters attached to an sram derailleurs.

Answer 6

Depends which your taliking about. I've used SRAM xray shifters on my Shimano MTB for a decade. Most SRAM road stuff needs matching shifters and levers. I'm not sure about newer MTB stuff. So my answer is maybe.

Answer 7

never but i think
a:either you are a good mechanic capable of readjusting things really finely
b: stick to just one of them shimano with shimanos campy with campy sram with sram