For the past few years I've been a Shimano guy and have gone through groupsets ranging from 2300/Sora to the Ultegra. I loved them but then the new 5700/6700 shifters came out I had the choice of keeping my old 5600 ones or trying out SRAM. I'll admit the double tap technology is weird but the ergonomics of the shifters sealed the deal. The only way to describe the difference between Ultegra and Force RD is Ultegra is more buttery while the Force is more of a crisp shift. Both have a different feel but do their job very well. I haven't had any issues w/ my Force set up but I hear SRAM customer service is good.

(Posted on 12/03/2012)

I spec'd this gruppo on my Trek signature series Madone and it looks great on the bike and is light for the attractive price. However, the gruppo has left me stranded in one gear thirty miles out on a mountainous ride twice in the first two thousand miles, and miserable on the bike most of the rest of those miles.

The LBS noticed that the RD arrived from Trek with a fractured bolt, and was replaced under warranty before I even took the bike home. The FD cage (steel, supposedly stronger than Red's Ti cage) separated in the first month and threw the chain. FD, crank, chain were replaced under warranty. Right shifter just quit short of 2,000 miles. Replaced under warranty. So far, the ONLY drivetrain component that has NOT been replaced is the left shifter, and it's never worked as smoothly as the same piece of old Shimano Ultegra. Maybe SRAM's quality control dept. took a day off when my gruppo slipped out their door.

The good news: SRAM has sent replacement parts to my LBS readily, the LBS' service mgr. who personally built up and exclusively works on the bike is an ex-Pro Tour mechanic w 25 years, and the shop is tops. So SRAM can't blame the failures on poor local set-up or maintenance. The bad news: Meantime, I'm stranded (nearly crashed) on the road, then bikeless for days waiting on parts, and sometimes the LBS charges to install them.

This would all be not so bad if the shifting was worth a darn the rest of the time, but, frankly, it's nowhere near as smooth or reliable as the old Ultegra/DA mix on my other bike, and it still comes out of adjustment and throws the chain. To the outside. I, like Andy Schleck at TdF last year, run a chain minder on the inside of my SRAM crank. Fat lot of good it did either of us.

Wish I could be more positive, because I admire SRAM's innovation that shook up complacent Shimano and Campy. But I'm saving up to Make the Leap to Di 2, like Andy.

(Posted on 26/06/2011)

For the price and function I think it is hard to beat the force groupset. Some people complain about SRAM double tap system, but it really doesn't take much to get used to and you'll soon realize the functional advantage to this system. Rival group is ok but you will see enough of a difference in the crispness of shifting to warrant the extra cost. Sure we would all love to have the red setup but save your money these are great.

(Posted on 10/04/2011)

Similar products used: Shimano 9 speed 105 & Ultegra, Dura ace 7900, Dura Ace 7800, SRAM RED.
I've had this groupo for 1 year. Upgrading from Shimano 9 speed 105 my bike is now 500g lighter with Force.
I love the looks of the Force groupset, the black on white colour scheme should suit any frame.
Installation is easy with SRAM wining points over Shimano in BB design and maintenance.
In use I can't tell the difference between Force and RED, you get the same immediate shifting.
Things I prefer over Shimano 7900
- tapered grips give you more options over the almost straight grips on 7900
- large shifter levers; I never miss with thick gloves like I do sometimes with the tiny 7900 ones.
- Shifting requires less movement of the levers and the levers have less play in them. After using these 7900 feels like the levers are loose.
Things that are better on 7900
- front ring shifting is just plain better; faster, smoother, quieter.

(Posted on 08/04/2011)