I have one bike with DA Di2 (road bike) and one with Red AXS (CX with 1x). For those of you who are curious about how SRAM’s latest is vs trusty old Shimano, here are my takes:
What I think SRAM does better:
- The AXS drivetrain seems to be a lot more quiet than Shimano’s, and also seems to require less greasing/waxing/cleaning.
- The whole ecosystem including the app (I use iOS) seems better thought out, and you don’t need that extra bluetooth add-on (which is necessary with Shimano).
- Wireless offers a clean, clutterless look.
What I think Shimano does better:
- The SRAM hoods are significantly more clunky than Shimano’s rather sleek design. I suppose someone with huge hands might find Shimano’s hoods a bit too tiny, though, so this is more of a preference thing, and I prefer Shimano.
- Shimano’s disc brakes seem to offer better modulation than SRAM, and also make less noise.
- Shifting quality seems to be just as good, although Shimano may feel slightly crisper and faster.
Other observations:
- While Shimano can argue “only one battery”, for all practical purposes I’ve had no issues with SRAM’s battery system. On the other hand, once the Shimano cables and battery is set up correctly, there is no need to fiddle any further with it either.
- Red AXS chains are bloody expensive (but they seem to last quite long, so perhaps cost per mile is comparable anyway).
- 1x is really cool, but for road racing/riding, I appreciate the nuances that 2x offer.
- I have no experience with SRAM AXS front shifters, but it seems Shimano have nailed the front shifters to a higher degree than SRAM. Worth considering if you’re going for 2x.