Evening...
I currently have Xt 785`s that I have run for about 2 plus years. They have were ok near the start, but on a trip to the Alps, I had a go on a mates new Saints which were amazing, especially as I get brake hand very easily.
I have used old Hayes 9`s many years back which were super powerful and reliable. Also have Avids on a Dh bike, but I would not trust them for any big decents having had a complete failure in the Alps a few years back.
Anyway I have felt lately that they seem to keep ending up pulling way back to the bars even after a bleed, maybe the freezing temps have not helped on the last few rides?
Question is, regardless of cost what are the best brakes as I just want something that works well and is reliable, especially as I will use these brakes not only on my every day bike, but also put them on a Dh bike for the Alps this year... Oh yes, one other thing even though Im not a total weight weenie, if lighter is possible this would be a bonus... Still second fiddle to the power and reliability though.
Zees with 203mm rotors.
Hope 4 pots take some beating IMO - powerful, reliable, adjustable on the fly & loads of feel.
Fall down a little on the weight but worth the penalty all day for me.
Hope minis or 4-pots depending on weight/type of riding are pretty unbeatable.
Hope tech3 V4, 203f-183r, the best alpine/DH brake on the market IMHO.
Bang for buck, Zee's and 203's
I'm a big lardy arse and take some stopping and in the Alps my Hope Tech V4s with twin vented floating rotors 203mm both ends never got much beyond hot when others brakes were bluing the rotors....awesome reliable stopping power....but a tiny bit heavy with those rotors for UK use (apart from uplift days of course)
Bang for buck, Zee's and 203's
This.
Stick to Shimano's cos theyr'e cheap.
Only I've got Hopes (ancient, original M4's & 2010 X2's) & wouldn't consider anything else, why would I? Theyv'e been faultless throughout & I've never even had to test their service.
Just remember, Buy cheap, buy twice.
Edit, neither have been 'serviced or bled' either.
Saint or Hope v4.
zees short run
Hope Long run as you cannot service Shimano
Cheers all,
I guess hope have improved as I had them on a Dh bike in 1998, first brakes they had made and on our first Alps trip they kept pumping up on our bikes, so we had to keep stopping and chucking cold water on our discs.
Did have them again as monos between 2003-2007, which I loved for Uk riding, but never took them abroad as I had lost faith from my 1st set for the big stuff..
Many thanks for all the great feedback. Hope now top of the list!
One last thing, I did also try Formula brakes in the Alps about 8 years back on a hire bike and they seemed really good. Just wondered if anyone had experience of these? I have heard of "The ones" and "Oros", these are the two I have heard of in the past.
Various incarnations of Formula brakes...the T1 is the bigger beefier one, while the R1 is the racing one
There is also a T1s which is the cheaper / OEM one using the T1 caliper and r1 lever. I've got a set on my bike and they work pretty well. Light and pretty good power / modulation but a faff to bleed and take ages to get bedded in. If you have patience and don't mind tinkering they are as powerful as Hope or XT and cos they are oem they can be had reasonably cheaply but unless you get a bargain or really like their lever (lots of people don't) then I'd be looking at Shimano for cost or Hope for longevity
I've got Formula RO and they are head and shoulders above the Tech M4 they replaced and feel more polished than XT
Hope X2's are liable to overheat and fade in the Alps. I love em and have 3 sets, but they are designed as lightweight XC brakes. I can get them to struggle in the Lakes overbraking on long descents.
[url= http://www.hopetech.com/products/brakes/downhill/ ]Tech 3 V4[/url]
or [url= http://www.hopetech.com/product/tech-3-e4/ ]E4[/url]
Ahem. R1 is XC tho there is an r1 racing which is the lighter one
R0 looks nice tho
The most impressive brakes I've owned are my 2013 codes and I've had a lot of brakes . I know all about peoples aversion to avid but even the review on here says they are spot on and I've run them on quite a few builds with no maintenance and think they are fantastic. Second to them were my 820 saints which were good and my hope evo tech x2's are impressive too.
What about the recently revised Magura MTs? Got a good writeup on [url= http://twentynineinches.com/2014/12/10/magura-mt7-brakes-mid-term/ ]29"[/url] but rumour has it you can't run sintered pads, which locally would put me off a bit.
Or Hope V4s with vented rotors if you want power?