Updated on April 8, 2023
Shimano and SRAM are two different bike component manufacturers. They make different products – Shimano makes bicycle derailleurs, cassettes, chainrings, etc., while SRAM makes chains, shifters, brakes, etc.
Shimano and SRAM components are not compatible with each other – you cannot put a Shimano cassette on an SRAM chain or vice versa. If you have a bike with Shimano components on it and you want to change the cassette, you will need to find a Shimano cassette. If you have a bike with SRAM components on it and you want to change the chainring or derailleur, you will need to find SRAM replacements.
You can, however, mix and match Shimano and SRAM chains. A Shimano chain will work with SRAM shifters, derailleurs, etc., and an SRAM chain will work with Shimano shifters, derailleurs, etc. So if you need to replace your chain and you want to use a different brand than what came on your bike, you can do so without any compatibility issues.
Can you use 12 speed SRAM chain with a Shimano cassette?
Yes. An SRAM 12-speed chain will work with a Shimano cassette.
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The spacing between the cogs on a Shimano cassette is narrower than the spacing between the cogs on an SRAM cassette. But because the width of an SRAM chain is wider than the width of a Shimano chain, you can use an SRAM chain with a Shimano cassette as long as you use an appropriate SRAM Chainring (and vice versa).
There are two different types of SRAM chains – 12-speed and 11-speed. The 12-speed chain is compatible with all SRAM and Shimano cassettes, while the 11-speed chain is only compatible with SRAM cassettes. So if you have a Shimano cassette, you will need to use a 12-speed SRAM chain.
Is the Shimano cassette compatible with SRAM?
Shimano cassette is not compatible with SRAM. Shimano cassettes are designed to work specifically with Shimano derailleurs, while SRAM cassettes are designed to work specifically with SRAM derailleurs. You cannot put a Shimano cassette on an SRAM chain or vice versa.
If you have a bike with Shimano components on it and you want to change the cassette, you will need to find a Shimano cassette. If you have a bike with SRAM components on it and you want to change the chainring or derailleur, you will need to find SRAM replacements.
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You can, however, mix and match Shimano and SRAM chains. A Shimano chain will work with SRAM shifters, derailleurs, etc., and an SRAM chain will work with Shimano shifters, derailleurs, etc. So if you need to replace your chain and you want to use a different brand than what came on your bike, you can do so without any compatibility issues.
What is the difference between Shimano and SRAM?
Shimano and SRAM are two different companies that make bicycle components. Shimano makes derailleurs, shifters, brakes, etc., while SRAM makes chains, cassettes, chainrings, etc.
Shimano and SRAM components are not compatible with each other – you cannot put a Shimano chain on an SRAM cassette or vice versa. If you have a bike with Shimano components on it and you want to change the cassette, you will need to find a Shimano cassette. If you have a bike with SRAM components on it and you want to change the chainring or derailleur, you will need to find SRAM replacements.
You can, however, mix and match Shimano and SRAM chains. A Shimano chain will work with SRAM shifters, derailleurs, etc., and an SRAM chain will work with Shimano shifters, derailleurs, etc. So if you need to replace your chain and you want to use a different brand than what came on your bike, you can do so without any compatibility issues.
How do I know if my bike has Shimano or SRAM components?
The easiest way to tell if your bike has Shimano or SRAM components is to look at the branding on the components themselves. Shimano components will have the Shimano logo on them, while SRAM components will have the SRAM logo on them.
Another way to tell if your bike has Shimano or SRAM components is to look at the spacing between the cogs on the cassette. A Shimano cassette will have narrower spacing between the cogs than an SRAM cassette. This is because Shimano cassettes are designed to work specifically with Shimano derailleurs, while SRAM cassettes are designed to work specifically with SRAM derailleurs.
If you’re still not sure which brand of components your bike has, you can take it to your local bike shop and they should be able to tell you.
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Are Shimano and SRAM freehub compatible?
Shimano and SRAM are not freehub compatible. There are some very specific differences between their cassettes and freehubs that make it so they are not interchangeable.
Shimano’s cassette has splines on the outer edge of the largest sprocket that fit into corresponding grooves on the inner circumference of the hub body. The number of splines (10) and their width (narrow) is what distinguishes Shimano’s cassettes from SRAM’s.
On the other hand, SRAM’s cassettes have 12 splines on the largest sprocket, but they are wider than Shimano’s. This is because SRAM uses a lockring to hold its cassette in place on the hub body, as opposed to Shimano’s cassette which is held in place by the pressure of the axle.
So if you have a Shimano freehub body and you want to use an SRAM cassette, you’ll need to replace the freehub body. And if you have an SRAM freehub body and you want to use a Shimano cassette, you’ll need to replace the cassette.
Austin Jacobs is a passionate cycling enthusiast who has over five years of experience in bike repair and maintenance. He is an avid mountain biker and loves tinkering with bikes for hours on end to make sure they are running at their optimum performance level. Leland’s blog, which focuses on bike repairs and tips to keep them in good running order, was created out of a desire to share his knowledge and help fellow cyclists stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. He covers topics such as preventive maintenance, troubleshooting common issues, basic tools and supplies needed for repairs, and more.
