Looking at options for a new bike - brakes choice includes:
Avid Elixir R
Formula R1
Magura Louise
Magura Marta
Shimano Saint
Shimano XT
I want easy to use and not to faff all the time. Any experiences to share? One better value over others?
Bike Forum
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What brakes?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Avid BB7
(runs away to hide...)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shimano XT are very good.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hopes every time
Posted 2 years ago # -
OK TJ
Choice excludes Hopes. I like my Hopes, but not an option this time.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Why not?
From the little I know those you mention either are very hard to get spares ( shimano) for or are a real fiddle to bleed ( magura)
Hopes - simple effective and infinately rebuildable
Posted 2 years ago # -
TandemJeremy - Member
always needing rebuilt.Hopes - simple effective and
XT - job done (unless of course you want to spend a few pennies more and get XTR)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Avid Elixir R came on my Fuel EX9. Front is spot on, rear needed a bleed and bit of a fettle to get right (and it was very bad when it was bad). Really like them, powerful and controllable for me but not fuss free. So I guess it's a no for them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not mine Druidh. Years of trouble free faultless service
Posted 2 years ago # -
TandemJeremy - Member
Not mine Druidh. Years of trouble free faultless service
So why does it matter if spares are available?
Posted 2 years ago # -
magura louise.
(i hear good stuff about xt, and my missus deores have been faultless)
Avid Elixir R - nope
Formula R1 - nope
Magura Louise
Magura Marta - arent these a bit lightweight?
Shimano Saint - overkill
Shimano XT - punters breaks [sic]Posted 2 years ago # -
druidh - because I have these brakes now for life and seals will go - as happens with any hydraulic system. Its good to know that if and when they do I can get the parts easily and cheaply and fix them with no hassle.
Whereas with shimano when the seals go as they will you have to chuck them away and buy new brakes.
Its all about design and sales philosophy - shimano are good and very cheap - but disposable and with built in obsolescence.
Hopes are more expensive, but rebuildable and without the built in obsolescence.
Max power for your pound - shimano have it. want to have a brake with a long lifespan - hopes are the only answer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Louise work well, plenty of power + modulation.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shimano every time for me. Pretty much as near to fit and forget as brakes get - they just work - consistently.
And when they do need bleeding, its a piece of piss, unlike the Avid and Formula's.
XT's as much brake as you'll need for UK riding.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Magura Marta. Used for 16 months now and still going strong.
Posted 2 years ago # -
2nd the martas...
I have 2 sets... 1set at 3 years the other at 10 months 5 year leak proof guarantee!We fit, Bleed and service loads of brakes and have had faff with most makes... and have been dealing with discs since when they first appeared!
We have found most problems are caused from initial poor set up and poor maintenance from then on.prefer mineral brakes... i.e. Shimano or Magura... even the entry level tektros work great...
the martas have a great lever feel... and oodles of power.. On a post mount Marta you can go up to 210mm rotor..and it works!
thats' if you need too 
zone
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks for the inputs so far.
TJ - no Hopes on this build. Nope - not happening. No point in telling me I should - it is not an option. Do we have comprehension? Leave it!
Posted 2 years ago # -
so if i were to say M4s?
Posted 2 years ago # -
All brakes are good these days (from a committed Shimano fan). Buy the ones you like the look of the most, but maybe consider that mineral oil is "nicer" than DOT fluids.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Love my Saints, but very impressed with the Elixirs I bought, really nice lever feel but not had them very long so not sure about the fettling.
For maintenance free I would say go for Shimano, and for value for money I would get the SLXs, or if you want something better then XTs, the XTRs don't have the Servowave yet so not worth the money.Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm a fan of Formula Brakes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Magura Louise user here.
Having had Hope C2, (original) Mini's (2 sets) and Mini Mono's, the only one I was happy with was the C2 on the front of my trials bike. Both of the original mini's had spongy levers and calipers that flexxed apart when you pulled the lever.
Magura's might be more complicated to bleed, but my current set are 2yrs old, and my previous was a lot older (about 5 years) and neither have required a bleed yet. My Hope's did, so take it as you want (although Hope customer service is very good).
Posted 2 years ago # -
None of the above -
Had R1's on my full susser, which were pretty good, but a bit fragile. Changed them for the ones. Nothing can touch them imho, the modulation is superb and the outright power is awesome!Posted 2 years ago # -
I've used Hope Mini Mono, Shimano XT, Magura Louise, Louise FR, Julie, Avid Juicy 3s.
Now from your list I'd reccommend Maguras or Shimanos.
The Shimanos work very well and are easy to set up and bleed, the Maguras more powerful and (Dare I say it) better in extreme situations
From the little I know those you mention either are very hard to get spares ( shimano) for or are a real fiddle to bleed ( magura)
Dunno about Shimano spares, but Maguras are just as easy as Shimano to bleed, you just need the bleed kit to do it right.
So, I reckon it depends on what you NEED. You won't go wrong with Shimano, They just work. But if you plan on going anywhere like the Alps, you may suffer some fading problems, and (disc) size for size, Maguras will have more power. Louises with 180/160 rotors are more powerful than XTs with 200/180 rotors.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just to qualify what I said about power/Alps --
4 of us went to Morzine. 2 sets of XTs, 1 set of Martas, and me on Juicy 3s. IIRC we all had big rotors.
The 2 on XTs were commenting on fade by the bottom of the descents, I had problems with mine overheating (Wrong pads I think, should have used organics) and the discs turned blue, although they never faded! The chap on the Martas had no issues at all. Just reliable, fuss free braking day after day. And remember the Marta is the lightweight 'race' brake too.
I've since floggen my Juicys and fitted the Louises I had sitting around. Just waiting for the 200mm front rotor to arrive.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Magura or shimano for me.
The julies have had on my hardtail never failed and like shimano are easy to bleed. Magura customer servies is top notch from my experience.
Just bought some new saints for the full suss. Wanted no fuss power - they seem the business but not used them in anger yet.
I had Formula oros that are now in the hardtail - light, good at first but very, very fidily.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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