Sram chain & cassette or something else for new Sram build

[Wayne77]

Hey - I'm working on a new build with a mix of Sram Red/Force/Rival. I had heard some mixed reviews of Sram cassettes and chains, something about them being kind of loud and clunky. Would it work better to go with an Ultegra cassette & chain? Maybe the noisy cassette was just with the Red powerdome design? If the Force chain and cassette works fine and is pretty quiet, I'll go that route. Thanks for the suggestions.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Wayne77

Hey - I'm working on a new build with a mix of Sram Red/Force/Rival. I had heard some mixed reviews of Sram cassettes and chains, something about them being kind of loud and clunky. Would it work better to go with an Ultegra cassette & chain? Maybe the noisy cassette was just with the Red powerdome design? If the Force chain and cassette works fine and is pretty quiet, I'll go that route. Thanks for the suggestions.

Powerdome cassette is noisy...and expensive. Use a lower end sram or 5700 shimano. 5700 chains work better, last longer than any sram chain, IME.

[Wayne77]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Powerdome cassette is noisy...and expensive. Use a lower end sram or 5700 shimano. 5700 chains work better, last longer than any sram chain, IME.

Thanks, I'll stay away from Powerdome. Maybe I'll go with something like the Sram PG1070 cassette, or the Shimano 5700/6700 series.

Anyone try KMC chains with Sram cassettes? I've had great experience with KMC with Campy...

[WeakRider]

I've used the KMC X10 SL with a SRAM cassette. No issues.

Personally, I'd go with a Shimano chain, cassette, and FD on any SRAM drivetrain.

[rice rocket]

Scott specs a Shimano chain and cassette on all their SRAM equipped bikes.

That said, I've built two budget bikes with 950 cassettes, and it shifts just fine. Noisier for sure, but that doesn't concern me that much.

[Wayne77]

Originally Posted by WeakRider

I've used the KMC X10 SL with a SRAM cassette. No issues.

Personally, I'd go with a Shimano chain, cassette, and FD on any SRAM drivetrain.

Thanks. Why a Shimano FD instead of Sram?

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Wayne77

Thanks. Why a Shimano FD instead of Sram?

Red FD is pretty crappy, even tho it's so expensive. 6700 is better than Force, 5700 better than Rival. FD 'action' is one area where sram has a ways to go.