Red vs Force

[norcalbiker]

I have decided to built a climbing bike and I'm solid with SRAM components. My questions is.

Does SRAM red worth the $500 extra than the force?

Tia

[vqdriver]

I'd pay for the zero loss in the right shifter but other stuff no.

[Pete Serotta]

I used the 2010 FORCE in COLORADO during the summer and it worked as well as my Campy 10 speed for performing shifting and braking.

GO with the one you like the looks of better. Shimano Ultegra and Dure Ace work fine to

THe one you like the looks of is the best for you.... :D

PETE

[Smiley]

The KEY is the brifters, buy the Red Brifters and the rest of the grouppo Force and you'll be happy add a few grams and that is it. Smiley

[gearguywb]

I have both and honestly I don't see much difference in them at all.

[zachary]

^+1

Drop the money on the levers if budget is key, but if you have the money to spend, RED all the way!

[CyclingGuru]

I have a full Force group on my cross bike..full Red on my race bike and the Red is much better from being light and smoother in my opinion. The rear derailleur shifts crisper and is smoother (ceramic bearings) in my opinion and I like the look of the Red better. They both so the same thing..but Red cuts A LOT of weight and functionally feels more sound to me.

[maxdog]

$500? I just got a new Red gruppo for $1275. Not sure how I'm going to like it though.

[CyclingGuru]

Where'd you get it for that price?

[false_Aest]

They're both better than what most of us deserve.

[norcalbiker]

They're both better than what most of us deserve.

In reality, yes you're absolutely correct. But we live outside reality where you have better choice. Not that we need them, we just want them. Human nature.

[norcalbiker]

$500? I just got a new Red gruppo for $1275. Not sure how I'm going to like it though.

Yeah where did you get that price?

[aoe]

Where'd you get it for that price?

He's saying the red costs $500 more than the force...

[dimsy]

Where'd you get it for that price?

saw this, best non auction price i've seen so far.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SRAM-Red-8-Piece-Group-172-5mm-/170571509579?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b6daaf4b

[PaulE]

On Red you get front derailleur trim on the big ring and not on the small ring.

On Force you get front derailleur trim on the small ring and not on the big ring.

At least that is the way it was when these groups first came out. The trim function is built into the shifter, not the FD. Since you're building a climbing bike, see if you can figure out which trim option will work better for you.

On a full Red group you'll save a few grams and get a Black Box ceramic bottom bracket that is marginally smoother than a bottom bracket with steel bearings. Are those factors worth the $500 for a climbing bike?

[vqdriver]

Trims on the big ring for force

[maxdog]

Trims on the big ring for force

I read they worked out the fd problem in the new Red.

[oldpotatoe]

I read they worked out the fd problem in the new Red.

Yep, called Force front derailleur.

[d_man16]

In reality, yes you're absolutely correct. But we live outside reality where you have better choice. Not that we need them, we just want them. Human nature.

+1 for human nature. I remember my first bike with SIS down tubes!!! they were worth an extra 100$ they still work and I still love to ride even though I have moved on.

I don't think that either group will hold you back if you can spend some extra money on a pro fit a properly fitting ride is worth the money.

[deluxerider]

I have a full Red bike, my race bike is a mix of red, force, and rival, and my cross bike is rival. The only difference that I can really tell is that the throw in the Rival rear shifter is marginally longer than the throw in the Red rear shifter. The Red has zero-loss in the rear shifter and the Force and Rival do not. Otherwise, I do not notice much of a difference in shifting between Red and Rival. If your going all out for a climbing bike it's gotta be Red to save the weight, IMO.

[maxdog]

Yep, called Force front derailleur.

So you're saying the problem has not been worked out?

[vqdriver]

There's no "problem" per se. Im just noting that the fd is trim is on the big ring like red. the difference some mention is the stiffer steel cage on the force fd vs the "flexy" ti cage on the red fd. Most mortals cannot tell the difference but apparently the pros can.

[thegunner]

There's no "problem" per se. Im just noting that the fd is trim is on the big ring like red. the difference some mention is the stiffer steel cage on the force fd vs the "flexy" ti cage on the red fd. Most mortals cannot tell the difference but apparently the pros can.

the pros this year had steel reinforced Ti cages... except they looked exactly like force cages branded as red ;) methinks the pros might not be able to tell the difference either

[bicyclego]

Seems to me I remember seeing a graph which showed that Force was the best bang for the buck $ vs. Grams, if that sort of thing matters to you. I've used all three, currently running Red, and I'd probably go with Force...maybe spring for Red shifters if I was piece-mealing it.

[pdmtong]

by pretty much all industry accounts, 2010 force is something like 90% red but at a significantly lower price. I got mine for around $800 (no brakes) that is a price thats tough to beat. supposedly so close to red that SRAM will be forced (pun-intended) to revise red soon.

[bikser]

I've used both, preferred the 2010 Force based on the shifting. The RED with the zero loss was too tight (how I would describe it). Coming off 7800 the Force left more natural in the shifting, Plus I prefer to have the trim adjust ment on the small ring. I don't care for the braking on SRAM at all no matter which group. Crank difference was really just aesthetics, couldn't tell the difference without looking at them if you paid me.