As a bike rider, your performance and riding depend a lot on the condition and shape of your bike.
That’s why it’s essential to purchase the right gear set for your bike—a set that includes all the bike’s essentials, from the front and black rear calipers to the chain and cassette.
Naturally, your options will come down to top manufacturers of biking necessities, such as Sunrace, Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM. We focus here on only the first two.
Let’s settle the ‘Sunrace vs Shimano’ debate by comparing their products and weighing their pros and cons against each other.
Sunrace: The Taiwanain Enterprise
The bike gear manufacturer, Sunrace, has risen to the top only recently. The company gained popularity due to its high-value products and reasonable prices.
Sunrace’s Product Background
Sunrace products are perfect for beginner and intermediate bikers as they mainly feature gear sets from entry to mid-level.
They manufacture their products from alloy and carbon reinforcements, making them highly durable. They’ll certainly last with you as long as you choose the right Sunrace gear fitting to how often you bike.
Pros
- Affordable prices for a budget-friendly gearing-up.
- Compatible with other high-end bikes and gears, including Shimano and SRAM. This pro allows you not to worry about everything being from one company. You can still ride comfortably without splurging.
- Easy installation. Sunrace prioritizes both a simple design and manufacturing process when creating bike gear, making the gear easy to adjust to and install onto your bike.
- Silent but effective. Sunrace gear will do well for you and not make a fuss in the background while you ride.
- Precise tolerance and shifting. Because of its durable materials, Sunrace gear won’t give out on you when faced with sudden bad weather or a challenging trail.
Cons
- Sunrace gear can be clunkier or heavier than its equivalents.
- Limited range of products. Sunrace can cover your basic gear needs, but they don’t have it all.
Top Sunrace Gear Sets
Here are the top three Sunrace products to consider:
1. Sunrace MX
This gear set is alloy-built and made for mountain bikes of 11-speed cassettes. It features a wide-ratio cassette and a narrow-wide tooth chainring.
In addition, its speed trigger shifter is compatible with Shimano I and Spec II models.
2. Sunrace MS
The Sunrace MS gear sets are available for both 10- and 11-speed cassettes. However, the 11-speed one has a more chromatic look than the 10.
They’re also perfect for mountain bikes. That’s because they feature adjustable rear derailleurs and speed chains with high pin power and high-strength plates.
3. Sunrace RZ
The Sunrace RZ is for road bikes and comes in both 10- and 11-speed cassettes as well. Their designs feature more colors than those above, such as red and yellow.
Not only that, but the alloy caliper brakes allow for a smooth release, and the titanium, carbon-reinforced material makes this gear set highly durable.
Shimano: The Japanese Enterprise
Admittedly, Shimano has been around longer than most bike gear manufacturers and has maintained its popularity ever since. The main reason for this is their top-quality products that vary greatly and cover all your biker needs.
Shimano’s Product Background
This Japanese company offers all gear sets from entry to pro level. They also cover all bike kinds: road, mountain, downhill, and gravel.
Similar to Sunrace, Shimano’s gear is made from aluminum and carbon, with no plastic in sight.
Pros
- Guaranteed quality and performance. Shimano is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers in the world, so they’re a safe bet.
- Incredible range of products. Shimano offers everything from gear sets to biking clothes and even fishing and rowing equipment!
- A price range that has both budget-friendly and treat-yourself options. Shimano sells cheap gear sets, such as Tourney and Claris sets, and rather expensive ones, such as Ultegra and Dura-Ace.
- Quality braking and shifting since the Shimano team constantly works to improve the technology and design of their products.
- Durable material with a high-end design. Shimano products last long and maintain their sleek look despite any rough terrains or weather.
Cons
- You might have a hard time trying to fit Shimano gear if you don’t have a Shimano bike as not all their products are cross-compatible with other bike models.
- Unavailability or shortage of certain gear parts, specifically in countries such as North America.
Top Shimano Gear Sets
Here are the top three Shimano products to consider:
1. Shimano Dura Ace
The Dura Ace is the best and most expensive gear set Shimano has to offer. The set is a balanced combination of alloy, carbon, and titanium and is perfect for road bikes.
Additionally, the Dura Ace uses braking technology that allows for heat dissipation. It also incorporates servo wave tech, creating a stronger link between your pads and rotors.
2. Shimano Tiagra
Besides its modern design, the Tiagra gear set is second best to its more expensive alternatives: the Dura Ace and the Ultegra.
The Tiagra comes with 10-speed cassettes and is highly suitable for entry-level riders because of its easy installation and 30% brake power.
3. Shimano Claris
Claris is Shimano’s most affordable option for a gear set yet. Many entry-level road bikes gear up with Claris 8-speed.
That’s because this gear set features rim brakes with rubber and alloy levers to help give you control over your gears and brakes.
The Verdict
It’s important to properly gear up regardless of your biking habits. Whether you decide on Shimano or Sunrace gear sets, make sure to choose what best suits your bike and your favorite bike trails.
When it comes to Sunrace, even if they don’t provide original parts, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve purchased an almost-perfect alternative to the original. A good plus is that Sunrace sets work with most bike models.
Conversely, Shimano’s product variety might be overwhelming, but you’re sure to find something that’ll last long and carry its job effectively. Remember to check the gear set numbers to know whether or not they’d be compatible with your bike.