Shimano or SRAM? And why not Campagnolo? This is the question every cyclist asks when it comes time to replace their cassette: should you stay loyal to the brand already fitted on your bike, or take advantage of a good second-hand deal from another brand? There is no universal answer — each brand has its own strengths, product ranges and compatibility constraints.
This guide compares the three major road bike cassette brands — Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo — range by range, to help you make an informed choice. Before making your decision, also remember to check compatibility with your derailleur, as switching brands may sometimes require changing other components.
1. The 3 main drivetrain families and their standards
Before comparing the different ranges, it is important to understand that each brand uses its own freehub body standard: the HG standard for Shimano and most SRAM cassettes up to 11 speeds, the XD/XDR standard for SRAM 12-speed AXS cassettes, and the N3W standard for the latest generation Campagnolo 13-speed cassettes. This directly determines whether a cassette can or cannot be installed on your current wheel — for full details, see our complete guide to road bike freehub bodies.
2. Shimano cassettes — ranges and positioning
Shimano — road bike cassettes
Range by level
The Shimano road range goes from Claris (8-speed, entry level) to Dura-Ace (11-12-speed, high-end racing), including Sora, 105 and Ultegra. As you move up the range, cassettes become lighter (machined from a single piece of material rather than assembled from riveted sprockets) without fundamentally changing the operating principle.
Shimano 9, 10 and 11-speed cassettes: what changes
Shimano 9-speed cassettes are still fitted on many road bikes from the 2000-2010 era, with wider sprocket spacing and good compatibility tolerance. Shimano 10-speed cassettes, particularly 105 10-speed models, marked the transition towards narrower chains. Ultegra 11-speed cassettes remain today one of the most sought-after choices on the second-hand market, offering an excellent balance between weight, price and availability. At the top end, the Dura-Ace 11-30 cassette targets riders looking for close gearing ratios for pure performance.
3. SRAM cassettes — ranges and positioning
SRAM — road bike cassettes
SRAM 12-speed (Rival, Force, Red AXS) and XDR freehub body
The SRAM 12-speed cassette is now one of the most sought-after choices for cyclists switching to wireless shifting (AXS). It requires an XDR freehub body, which is incompatible with wheels equipped with a standard HG freehub body — this is the number one point to check before purchasing. The Rival, Force and Red AXS ranges all use this standard, with gear ratios ranging from close setups (10-28) to very wide ranges (10-36), particularly suitable for riders tackling mountainous terrain with a single chainring.
SRAM NX and GX: versatile use
The SRAM NX 12-speed cassette, originally designed for mountain biking, is increasingly found on gravel and low-range road configurations thanks to its wide gearing and excellent price-to-durability ratio. A SRAM 11-speed cassette is also still widely available second-hand using the classic HG standard, for older mechanical groupsets.
4. Campagnolo cassettes — ranges and positioning
Campagnolo — road bike cassettes
Campagnolo 9, 10 and 11-speed cassettes: specific sprocket spacing
A Campagnolo 9-speed cassette or Campagnolo 10-speed cassette uses, even with the same number of speeds, a different sprocket spacing compared with Shimano or SRAM. This is why Campagnolo requires its own chain for optimal operation, unlike Shimano and SRAM which share greater compatibility tolerance. Campagnolo cassettes are generally less available on the second-hand market than Shimano models, making them a choice mainly reserved for owners of bikes already equipped with Campagnolo components who want to maintain the consistency of their groupset.
5. Shimano / SRAM / Campagnolo cassette comparison table
| Brand | Ranges | Speeds | Freehub body | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano | 105, Ultegra, Dura-Ace | 8 to 12-speed | HG | Second-hand availability, price, wide compatibility |
| SRAM | Rival, Force, Red AXS, NX/GX | 10 to 12-speed | HG (≤11-speed) / XDR (12-speed) | Wide gearing options, road/gravel versatility |
| Campagnolo | Chorus, Record, Super Record | 9 to 13-speed | HG (≤11-speed) / N3W (13-speed) | Finish quality, heritage, loyalty to Italian groupsets |
Prices and weights vary significantly depending on the generation and condition (new, second-hand, NOS): check the product page for each reference before comparing.
6. Which brand to choose according to your profile
| Profile | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tight budget, second-hand purchase | Shimano 105/Ultegra | Best availability and widest choice of second-hand references |
| Switching to wireless / recent groupset | SRAM 12-speed AXS | Modern gearing ranges, with XDR freehub bodies widely used on recent wheels |
| Climber using a single chainring setup | SRAM NX/GX or open Shimano gearing range | Larger sprockets available natively |
| Bike already equipped with Campagnolo | Campagnolo, same range | Avoids sprocket spacing and chain compatibility issues |
| Upgrade to 11 or 12 speeds | See our dedicated guide | 11 and 12-speed cassette: complete guide |
Key point: there is no "best" brand in absolute terms. The right choice mainly depends on compatibility with your existing groupset, your budget, and the freehub body already installed on your wheel.
7. FAQ — Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo
Road bike cassette guides — to go further
- Road bike cassette — complete category
- Cassette, derailleur and chain compatibility
- How to choose your road bike cassette?
- How to change your road bike cassette?
- Which cassette should you choose for mountain road cycling?
- HG, XDR, N3W freehub bodies
- 11 and 12-speed cassette
- Bike gear ratio calculation and gear ratio chart