New cassette - SRAM Red or 1070??

Bob Irwin

My bike has a SRAM Red drivetrain - including the cassette. I like everything very well. But given my watts and my weight, I'm going to need more gears for IMC. It would either be a 11/28 red cassette or 12/28 1070. Any real reason to spend the extra money on the red cassete?   Thanks

novaavant

I actually prefer the Force level of the SRAM group for a cassette. You can also get a Shimano cassette, many are on season end close-outs right now. The monoblock SRAM red cassette is very light but also very noisy. The Force and Shimano cassettes are going to be less noisy and also less expensive.

Joe Matchette

@Bob - I can't speak to the noise level of the Red cassette personally, but I can tell you that is the common complaint I have heard. I am currently riding with a 1070 12x27 and really like it.

John Withrow

I'm currently riding an Ultegra 11-28 and have had no issues.
$69.99 with free shipping here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Shimano-Ultegra-CS-6700-Road-Bike-Cassette-Sprocket-11-28-10-Speed-Lock-Ring-/290725771268?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b09b3804#ht_524wt_1374

If you want to stick with SRAM though, you could also get an 11-28 in the 1070 for the same price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SRAM-PG-1070-cassette-11-28T-Road-bike-RIVAL-FORCE-/150826596442?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item231df7385a#ht_571wt_1141

$195 seems like a lot of extra $$ for the Red cassette and 30 grams of savings... FWIW, I kind of like the loud ping that the Red Cassette makes, though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SRAM-RED-og-1090-10-spd-cassette-11-28-new-/390429309631?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae7667abf#ht_3118wt_1141

mancona

The extra money will get you a very small weight savings that doesn't matter in a tri, more chain noise, a cassette that may last a little longer, and some bike bling.

I've had Red 1090, Force 1070, duraace and ultegra. I think Ultegra is by far the best buy and I would go buy two different sized ultegra cassettes over 1 red or DA cassette anyday (or buy the ultegra and save the other money).

FWIW, My typical setup is sram deraileurs, shifters, cranks with shimano cassettes and kmc chains. I've tried many different combos and like this one best for both training and racing.

All that said, riding a sram red cassette on a carbon disc is kind of fun as the shifts sound echo in the cassette and disc and sound awesome.

Bob Irwin

Thanks everyone. I was more interested in the shifting performance. I have a 11x25 red cassette now, so I know how it sounds, and the noise isn't an issue. But I could apply extra cash to something else that I'd like to have - like new bike shoes or ... There's always something.

Woody Freese

Having used both cassettes, I have not noticed a shifting difference at all.

Bob Irwin

Matt - I'm curious about the KMC chains - never heard of them before. I've been using the SRAM 1091R chain,and it works fine. But I'll probably need new chain after two years - and a new cassette, so it might be worth trying something else.

Coach Rich

Posted By Attila Matyas on 11 Jun 2012 03:03 PM

I actually prefer the Force level of the SRAM group for a cassette. You can also get a Shimano cassette, many are on season end close-outs right now. The monoblock SRAM red cassette is very light but also very noisy. The Force and Shimano cassettes are going to be less noisy and also less expensive.

 

Yep. I have a 26-11 Red on my PT wheel. Crazy $$$ and fookin' noise. Like, my bike is tuned for shit, no way I'm crossing the chain in _this_ combo noisy.

Save your money and go Ultegra or Force.

Dino Sarti

I think part of the question is also the cog range 11/28 or 12/28. I use a 11/28 in the hills of SoCal. I like having the 11 and use it a lot on slight down grades and even steep decants until it spin out at about 39mph with my 50 front ring. Regardless of makers or the "cadence gap" potential, if you like to hammer down hills, an 11 tooth cog is nice.

mancona

Shifting performance is much more a function of how well tuned you RD than the cassette. With a perfectly setup RD all of the cassettes mentioned will work perfect, with a RD that needs adjusting they will all shift like crap.

I like KMC chains as they are quieter than SRAM, come with a good master link that actually works and is reusable (unlike either SRAM or Shimano) and cost less then either. I can usually find a KMC 10-speed chain for under $30 shipped and they last just as long as the others. KMC also makes the lightest and some of the best looking chains (but those models cost more and I don't waste the money on it).

I have owned full Red, Force, Rival, Dura-Ace and Ultegra setups. In my *opinion* A red/force/rival mix for the major components, with ultegra cassette and kmc chain is the best bang for the buck.