Soon to be the proud owner of a set of 2012 SLX brakes, I ride a Charge Blender for all of my riding, 4x, mini dh, light freeride, Dj, trails and a bit of xc.
But I can't make up my mind whether to go 203/180 or 180/180, been looking at the 'show me your hardtail' thread and looks like a lot ride 203 up front.
Who rides like this? Would you recommend it? What are the benefits? Is it the right thing to do?
OR is it just more weight? Overkill? No real world benefit? Wrong?
Photos welcome!
I run a 203 up front. I think that it gives me a bit more control over the braking but it might just be in my head, I don't know. Either way it makes me feel like I'm more in control so it's worth it for me! I also ride a hardtail for all of my riding - mainly dh and xc
What do you ride? Any photos?
The peril of oversized discs is the pads won't get up to a good temperature as often and thus wear more quickly. So it depends on how heavy you are and how big the hills are that you're riding down. Are most of those hardtails not sporting 180/160 F/R?
yup, 203 front, 180rear on a bluepig, biggest problem I've found with then is that they slow you down.
203/180 on my DB Alpine, but i'm in the alps and 1000m vertical descent is common.
I'm not sure in the thread, some look 180 up front some look larger, I'm.wondering if 180/160 is the right thing to do, but I'm concerned ill regret it,.I'm bout 85 kg (13 stone) I ride decent sized stuff, big jumps gaps 25 30 foot is about max. Forest of dean DH tracks etc.
I run 203/180 on mine. The big rotor can be a bit of a pain - gets bent quite easily in transit and stuff, but power is the main thing I want in brakes so I can live with it.
Currently waiting for some new XT brakes to arrive - I might downsize to 180/180 or 180/160 if they are up to the job...
I used to ride 203/203 but now ride 180/160 and didn't really notice the difference.
Well my brakes are on 160/160 and they're an old set of giant so show see a massive increase in power anyway.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/66763076@N07/6078950265/ ]IMG-20110702-00127[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/66763076@N07/ ]robsoctane[/url], on Flickr
I find that my brakes do the job very well & I'm 11 stone nowt. 😉
Works well for me, but i'm a big 'un & I like the control it gives.
Hope M4 with 203 Floating rotor...
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For those of you with the new xts how useful/effective is the bite point adjustment? I was looking slx but tempted by xt now.
You running giant MPH brakes? notoriously bad according to interweb so maybe give the SLX a go on your current rotors first, could be fine with those. I run 180/160 on my hardtail but it's down to where and how you ride.
Yeah mph brakes, ok nothing to special, mates run v2s, saints, elixir etc, I've got to change rotors though I'm already sold on shimano rt76s to add a little being
I think you'll be fine with 185 160. I ran 203 185 on my freeride hardtail and it was overkill 90% of the time.
Get the ice rotors and you'll be good to go.
I was fine with 160 each end on my hardtail to be honest, and that was when I was about 18 stone. Yes they sometimes got a bit hot but they never overheated and stopped working. Most of my riding on that bike was at Cannock/Stile Cop and FoD so not really long or steep descents.
Now using 203 each end on my dh bike and they don't get hot but the brakes don't actually feel as nice to me as they did with the smaller rotors. Don't have as much "bite" - could just be the rotor surface though. The 160s were avids, the 203s are a hope and a superstar fwiw.
ive just put a set of the new slx's on my ns surge.. 180f 160r. I ride xc and as much dh as my bones can take. 203 doesn't tempt me at all but the rear will probably go up 180 too.
The feel from them is just amazing, well pleased. £180 from merlin with two 160 rotors and one 180 with mount. not bad 😀
That's it I've made my mind up, 180/180! Order will be placed today. 🙂
I went from 200/200 to 200/180 at the beginning of the year with no problems; and I've just gone to 180/160 on both my bikes. No down sides yet including some real big doonhalls. I've kept one 200 rotor and the adapters so I can go back up to 200/180 if I find I'm under braked... but I don't expect to need them.
Just changed from 180/180 to 180/160 on an original On one 456. No real difference in power but the rear wheel is now less prone to locking up.
Reckon there's a big difference between Hope & other brakes. If you use Hope then they'll serve you well. relied on for years & now I know Superstar red pads are the best.
Good luck with your brakes - whatever you buy. 😉
Run 203/160 on my P7 with Hope mini monos
Could prob upgrade rear but out of the saddle most of the time so not noticable
Happy Days
bite point on the xt's is a waste of time, from a 2012 xt user. i can barely notice the difference in position from full in to full out.
my hardtail runs 205 up front and 185 at the rear. As I don't do long descents on it its a bit pointless, but its what the bike I stripped for parts for the ht (cararra banshee xxx) came with, so on they went 🙂
203/180 for me but that's on my 29er and I'm big/heavy. 183/160 on my 26" bike and that seems fine.
Cheers,