Shimano Dura Ace Di2 vs SRAM RED AXS: Our Uncensored Thoughts | TPC

Craig has a 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group. Justin has the new SRAM RED AXS group. We asked them to switch bikes and compare drivetrains. Which of these top-tier groupsets is the best? Craig and Justin did a big ride together and gave us their uncensored thoughts.
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0:00 Freaky Friday on Flagstaff Mountain
2:52 What’s your history with Shimano vs. SRAM?
3:59 Controls & ergonomics
6:48 Rear shifting performance
8:18 Front shifting performance
10:40 Pedaling feel and gearing
11:56 Braking performance
14:04 Final thoughts

[@pewwpew]

one benefit of having rear shifting to one hand, is that you can eat/drink while shifting up and down the cassette. I think the differences are so minimal now its basically what you prefer/can get cheaper

[@michiganstate149]

Pretty much. Whatever is cheaper. Other major one is just what hood ergonomics you like best, you really can't lose.

[@basedgodstrugglin]

Why do we pronounce it “Schram”?

[@ozgurinsan]

elitists

[@kirklarson5781]

How about a comparison for those of us who can’t/won’t pay for the top tier groupset? Ultegra vs Force and Rival vs 105. SRAM Red advantages came down to lever shape and braking. How much have these trickled down to date? My understanding of the difference between Dura Ace and Ultegra is that it’s mostly materials/weight. Performance is very similar. I’m still ok with my choice of Ultegra over Force. My one reservation would be the “semi” in Semi-wireless. I had one wire come loose from the battery during transportation.

[@glassacre]

Getting recommended these TPC videos and they're great. Just wanted to chime in - I ride an Aspero now with GRX Di2 which is the perfect groupset for me, but previously (for about 5 weeks, before I returned it) I had an endurance road bike with old Force AXS and I absolutely detonated those brakes coming down off Lookout Mountain. My MTB right now is Shimano XT but I would consider SRAM in the future for MTB. However, I'm not sure I could do SRAM AXS on a road/gravel anytime soon. Then again, it's also possibly I didn't properly bed the brakes completely before doing Lookout?

[@dmlopezleon]

Desde el ultimo firmware (4.2.2) de shimano se puede programas cualquier pulsador para subir si esta abajo y bajar si esta arriba el plato, es decir, por ejemplo, una sola maneta puede servir para cambio de platos y piñones.

[@oneschance]

What’s the ride location?

[@alexgleeson3634]

Boulder

[@guspachio4977]

I like the saddle jig….where does one get one of those?

[@thecraigwu]

You can get them direct from Abbey Bike Tools

[@guspachio4977]

@@thecraigwu I will check it out…thanks, and much appreciated!

[@DanTuber]

They should do an Ltwoo vs Wheeltop

[@azrulananda7474]

I really love the new SRAM Red groupset. That one finger braking is sooo amazing. Soo light to touch. And the shifting is very smooth. The new Shimano 12-speed Di2 is just giving me and my wife issues. The battery already dropping less than a year. So many times my wife had to cancel ride because the battery simply gone in the morning (charged just two nights or the night before). With SRAM we just replace the battery and we go. With Shimano she had to cancel the ride. SRAM wins by a mile. PS: My wife just ditched her Shimano and now converted to SRAM.

[@Gufolicious]

stop spreading bullshit pls. you get a warning from di2 on your headunit when it gets to 25% and even if you get that warning you can still ride hours and hours before you have to charge it. so your story is just bullshit sram fanboy.

[@vadusa]

Sram the best

[@LTBlightthebeam]

Will Arnett??

[@louis_sharp]

Shimano every day of the week.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

SRAM certainly has its advantages and devotees

[@louis_sharp]

@@petersouthernboy6327 Certainly has it's devotees. The new Red is 13g lighter than my r9270, for slower and less refined shifts, and braking that's no better. The Sram is also THREE years newer! New Dura will be out next year (almost definitely) and that'll no doubt stretch the gap further. The ability to run fully wired for the battery life is great. Products only progress when there is choice, so the best thing about Sram I that it pushes Shimano continue to innovate to stay ahead. Run what you like at the end of the day. I race bikes, so Shimano's best for me, sure social riders can find the benefits of Sram to fit them 👍🏻

[@noahhalbfoster6892]

Enjoy those exploding cranks and 2k mile chains

[@petersouthernboy6327]

@@noahhalbfoster6892 there’s still a massive amount of defective Shimano cranks out there - they just haven’t started creaking enough for the rider to notice the delamination.

[@louis_sharp]

The faulty cranks came out between 2012 and 2019, where they updated the resin used. It’s 2024. That’s like talking about an iPhone 5-11Pro as if it would be anywhere near a 15 Pro. It would be stupid to compare a Pixel8/S24 Ultra with even an iPhone 11 Pro, because there’s years of updates in a 4.5 year span. Compare 9270 to the new Red, because that’s all that’s relevant. Also, an XTR 12s chain will last you most of a season with some good lube/ wax.

[@ozgurinsan]

it took 8 years Sram to catch Shimano.

[@riley_jenkins]

I can't afford any of these

[@pigupigu]

Pathetic

[@jonathanz9889]

Aka all your other opinions are sensored junk ?

[@nofinglimit]

sram, three batterys LOL. so many failure points They beta test of consumers, horrible stuff.