Metieval

Who has went from shimano to Apex 1x and it wasn't failure?

I am fishing for opinions./experience.
I am not against 1x. Actually 1x is attractive, because my Fitness/hybrid /flatbar is 11-36 XT 10s with a 42t chainring

I am just worried about going from Ultegra di2 on a road bike to Apex on a gravel bike. Basically my choice at the moment comes down to Revolt advanced 105 (105 hyra brakes makes this an option) or Apex.

maybe buy the Apex bike because it's an awesome color I like, and if I hate Apex, then I can always makes changes, it's only money?

gus6464

Apex is poo. RD is made of cheese like SRAM GX and NX. Bushings on the pulleys vs bearings on Rival and above. Also the 11-42 cassette is an anvil plus it costs more than an XT 11-42 for some reason.

Seriously, when shifting under load especially off-road the thing sounds like it's self-destructing. The Rival 1 RD is not like this.

SilverRubicon

I have a 1x Apex commuter and a 1x Rival gravel/all road. I don't think the shifting between the two is night and day but the Rival is definitely better. (I don't have a whole of time on the Rival as it's a new bike.) I like the feel of the Shimano 105 on my Rove a bit better than either Sram but there's something to be said for the simplicity of 1x drive train.

Transitioning from Ultegra down to a Apex will be a noticeable downgrade.

Hmmm

I went from 105 5700 to Apex 1x. At the start the chain wouldn't stay in the 42. After some tuning it works great.

Am I the only one having a good experience with it? I might be easy to please. When I had 105 I rented a CF road bike with SRAM eTap and while I thought it was nice, I also thought, is this really what all the fuss is about??

A big thing for me with Apex Hydro are the hoods. I love putting my forearms down on the tops and grabbing the hoods. I prefer this to the drops. Something about pulling with my fists on the big hoods feels great. I also love the look and the the way SRAM shifts.

It would be nice to get a lighter cassette. Can I swap out for an XT 11-42?

Buy a TCX Advanced Apex 1x. Save $200. Sell your hybrid gravel, sell your road bike and get another set of wheels.

DrIsotope

I don't know what deal you're looking at, or even the model year-- but based on the mfr. website alone, the price leap between the 105 model and the Apex model (especially in the 2019s) would certainly have me leaning toward the Shimano-equipped bike.

When I was building up a bare frame, the cost difference between Rival1 and Apex1 was minimal, so I went Rival. Absolutely no complaints. I go back and forth between a 6800 Ultegra bike and the Rival1 bike. They're comparable.

Banzai

SRAM 1X: when you can’t engineer front shifting that works, market your way around it.

Banzai

I have Red on my road bike. To do it over again I’d go Ultegra, even 105.

Marcus_Ti

Having U-Di2, and having played with Apex....it is a massive downgrade.

wsteve464

Since it is only money go Di2

D-Fuzz

I would only go for Apex1 if you are really wanting the 1x system, but the difference between Ultegra and Apex is huge. I went from a bike with 2x Ultegra to 1x Apex because I wanted 1x for gravel. Apex does the job but it feels pretty agricultural compared to the smoothness of the Ultegra.

gus6464

If you don't need a 10t small cog on the cassette go with the xt cassette. It quiet downs the drivetrain and shifts smoother.

DrIsotope

The OP never talked about Ultegra on the gravel bike-- he asked about going back-and-forth from riding an Ultegra road bike to an Apex1 gravel bike, and dealing with the differences in shifting quality. The Ultegra-fitted 2019 Revolt is $820 more than the Apex1 model, and the 2020 model is $1,050 more.

If it's the 2019 model, Shimano all the way. It's $450 less than the Apex, and could be made 1X Shimano for far less than that $450 (all you need is a clutched Ultegra RD and a narrow wide.) Use the orphaned shift paddle for a dropper post.

Metieval

its the 2020 Revolt advanced 2 and 1

$200 increase for apex,
1x is attractive, but it isn't necessary.

btw 105 on the 2020 year is shimano hydraulic brakes. and while i love the purple wine of the APEX bike, the white /black /red on the 105 actually reminds me a lot of the 1991 Schwinn Crosscut. a color combo I DIG.

Metieval

well if I want to drive 200 miles I can go buy the 2019 black Ultegra Revolt. The wheels are okay, but..... I can get better?

the 105 in 2020 became an option with the move to full shimano. It also allows me to buy the wheels of my choice. I really dislike the colorway of the Ultegra in 2020, and honestly the all black Ultegra in 2019 is bland too. but for the $ the Ultegra is a good buy.

fronesis

I’ve ridden a bunch of campy bikes and a bunch of Shimano bikes (including Di2). I’ve currently got a gravel/rain bike with SRAM Force 1.

I don’t know what Apex is like, but the honest truth is that if I had to choose between the SRAM Force 1 and Shimano 105 R7000 – I’d go with the 105.

The SRAM crank is really nice, and the clutched RD is excellent. The shifting is functional, but I just don’t think the SRAM moves up the cassette well. Shifting down the cassette it’s great, but going up requires a deft touch at both the shifters and the crank. None of that’s needed with the Shimano, which is way smoother and always precise.

So I simply can’t imagine paying MORE for Apex over 105.

Oh, and thanks to this thread I now know that the 2020 105 bike got REAL hydraulic brakes. Yay!

BluFalconActual

I agree. Maybe because I’m more than a little biased

Metieval

btw,,,, if you wanna know what tan walls looks like, maybe....

Rides4Beer

I have a '19 Revolt 2 and the 105 shifting is very smooth. The shop put 105 hyd levers/brakes on right from the start, they're great too. If you like either of the '19 colors, there's probably some available.

Personally, 1x doesn't appeal to me at all, because I ride my Revolt on the road a lot. With a second wheelset, it makes a great road bike, it's basically a Defy with more tire clearance. And to be honest, if you don't mind giving up a lil speed, riding gravel tires on the road is nice because they're more comfortable and then you don't have to worry about holes/cracks/bad pavement.

Caliper

This.


Add an Apex 2x crank, FD and left shifter... I like SRAM over Shimano but also like two chainrings so this would be my route if I bought that bike.

gus6464

Apex 2x crank doesn't exist nor does the FD and shifter so moot point.

Caliper

Ok, I guess those are 10sp parts after all. So just go Rival.

Rides4Beer

This. Components are easy to change, color not so much. That's why I got a '19 even tho the '20 models were out, I wanted the metallic orange.

You could have them change out the groupset when they build it, then you can sell the Apex set as a brand new takeoff (or the shop might work a deal with you, never hurts to ask). And if I were going that route, I'd put the new Shimano GRX on it. (but the 105 stuff is performing fantastically, probably the only thing I might change would be a clutched rear at some point).

Metieval

yeah!

Geekage

Nothing wrong with using 10-sp parts for the front. I don't think the hood or lever shape is any different either. Actually, you might want to use the S-700 front shifter. I think it's made for Yaw FDs. Read: no trim.