I am looking to get an entry-level tri bike and was interested in the Trek Speed Concept 2.5 and 7.0. However, I see that they come equipped with SRAM Apex components. All my experience has been with Shimano 105 on my road bike. It has been suggested to me that this is a step down in components. Overall, how do the SRAM Apex components perform? Thanks
Apex works fine. It is very good. May many people race cx on it. If it can stand up to the rigors of cyclocross, it is more than adequate for triathlon.
As far as I know, SRAM Rival is the 105 equivalent, and Apex is equivalent to whatever the next group down for Shimano is - Sora? Haven’t rode either, so I can’t comment on quality, but I do believe it would be a step down.
I used Apex last year on my SC 7.0, was very pleased with the performance. I did replace the crank with a standard Force crank, which saved a little weight. I replaced it this year with Rival only because I used the Apex on a bike for my wife. When I had the Rival and Apex side by side, I could see no difference. They look and feel identical, though I didn’t put them on a scale.
SRAM’s claim is the only sacrifice you make between their component levels is weight, no quality/perfomance difference, and based on my experience I’d agree.
I used 105 about 10 years ago when I started triathlon and cycling, and I think that the SRAM Apex is much better than what I had back then.
I have APEX on my Trek SC 7.0 and love it. I like the crisp shifting much better then Shimano, you can really feel it go into the next gear. Gives me confidence that I have shifted and can apply power. From what I have read and folks I talk to at bike shops here in MN, APEX is very comparable to 105, superior to Shimano Tiagra in quality. Weight is really the biggest difference between APEX and Rival, and unless you are an uber pro, this few grams will make little or no difference. I rode both set ups, and could tell NO difference.
I guess you could be a gear snob and say that RIVAL is better because it costs more, but its your money. Long story short, I was a little thrown off my the crisp shifting at first, but fell in love with it. APEX is serving me very well. I live MN’s Capitol and there are a lot of nice hills to climb, and Apex has never let me down.
sram components are pretty excellent. their shift mechanism is the same idea across the group- unlike shimano, their bar end shifter was designed just for that, and the cable routing of the rear derailleur means for faster, cleaner shifting in my experience. I ran shimano ultegra and dura ace for a few years, and my apex road group is the best i’ve ridden. I have red on the tri bike- old red, like 2010, and it is superior to anything else I have tried, including a campy TT group.
SRAM rival is lighter than ultegra. All of the sram components(except perhaps the new red) have very similar performance. Shimano 105 and up is race quality for most mortals as is apex and up.
I have had Red, Force, Rival(3rd set right now) and Apex. Other than looks and weight I could not discern one bit of difference. My 2011 Secteur came with Apex and I was blown away at the performance. 105-DA are great as well, but Shimano simply doesn’t fit my hands as well as SRAM.
I think you will be pleased with an Apex gruppo given my year of riding it…wouldn’t hesitate to point you in that direction. IMO anyone who says Apex is a step down from 105 either hasn’t ridden it or is just a bit too brand conscious. If anything I would put my Apex gruppo up around Ultegra performance…as in it’s a step up on 105.
As far as I know, SRAM Rival is the 105 equivalent, and Apex is equivalent to whatever the next group down for Shimano is - Sora? Haven’t rode either, so I can’t comment on quality, but I do believe it would be a step down.
Who says Rival = 105? I think comparisons like this are outdated and more about marketing. As was pointed out, Sram functions similarly between Rival and Apex, and Apex maybe lighter than 105 in apples to apples comparisons(short cage, same cassette) so where does that leave us…
p.s. Shimano has Tiagra between Sora and 105, which is now 10 speed.
I appreciate the response. I have an opportunity to get a new Speed Concept 2.5 for $1,300. The only concern I had was the Apex components. Seems like based on the deal I am getting, I could update the components at a later date.
That’s a good deal, but frankly, don’t bother with upgrading the components. You will be no faster with higher level derailleurs or brakes. A different crank could save you a little bit of weight, but that weight difference makes a very tiny speed difference. Put your $ toward things like race wheels, aero helmet, etc.
A 2.5 for $1300? Thats a steal, if I was not able to get the 7.0 for $1900, I would have gone with the 2.5. Its a great bike, I loved it when I took it for a test flight. Full carbon is nice, but for $1300, you can get a nice set of race wheels, upgrade the base bar or whatever. Don’t let the Apex components stop you, they work very well.