[Closed] Disc Brake Recommendations / Deals

Most people will say Shimano Deore.

Have you tried bigger rotors and softer pads?

Shimano brakes are pretty much functionally the same from 5xx series to XTR, you just get nicer finishes and more adjusters. Not just my opinion, although I've had XTR in the past and have XT and deore on two different bikes, here's Bird's thoughts on the new deore 4-pots 

If you're mechanically competent you can buy just the 4-pot callipers for about 85Euro and swap them for the 2-pot ones you have.

The other problem is people will say "my new SRAM Guides are better than my previous Deore", and someone else will say the opposite,  My Deore are better than the XT on my other bike. Not because they're a better brake, they're just new, the seals are clean, the pads aren't glazed (and are nice soft organic ones compared to the year old sintered ones in the XT's). Given a bleed, a bit of a clean, fresh pads and a light sand of the rotors the XT's will be tip top as well.

I very much appreciate what you're saying. However, I can't shake that "flimsy" feeling I have when I grasp the lever.

What model of Deore have you got? There’s a huge variety of models and some are better than others.

I like Sram Guide r’s - they’re one off the cheapest one and you can often pick up a barely used pair from ebay - they came oem in a lot of bikes and people swap them out for Hope etc. With 200/180 centreline rotors they’ve been good for me so far, even on full uplift days.

For not a lot more new there’s the Guide Re which is the same lever as the r but it has the code downhill caliper in it. It’s aimed at e bikes but it’s said to have stacks of power accordingly.

Ive not tried them, but Magura mt5’s with the upgraded shorter lever you can get are meant to be some of the most powerful brakes you can get - but aren’t as cheap.

As above there are the new non series 4 pot Shimano that are broadly Deore level and price but have the beefier caliper. If you want to go Shimano that could do a good job.

Thanks Joe.

Perhaps a little too quick to judge the Deores generally. Left the bike into a shop yesterday. Lever is dead. Not pressurising the caliper even after a bleed.

 “Shimano for braking, Sram for shifting”.

No.

Shimano brakes are fine, but the newer models are inconsistent. Some work fine, some end up pulling to the bar, then magically working again. XT are pointless, SLX do the same job.

SRAM Guides are a pretty well proven platform. They modulate well, are powerful, and pretty easy to bleed with a kit.

What's your budget?

SRAM Guide RSC are a great brake set, my favourite. I've got 3 sets, all work well.

Hope e4 are very very reliable, but a bit lacking in power for me, but absolutely my missus' favourite brake set. I think they've done 3 Alps trips, 1 maderia trip and a lot of Tweed Valley miles, with just one bleed.

Budget £300 ish

XT @Merlin Cycles for £135

I have some ordered via my lbs who price match +a wee bit so I can get decent service. They are replacing 3yr old Devore which other than the rear brake finally giving up after a fair bit of abuse have OK. Temporarily replaced tonight by an ancient Hayes Stroker which is ace!!!! Do I really need new brakes?????

My gravel bike rear failed, upgraded them to next model up but don’t know model type. Certainly seem to have issues with rear brakes and a google search certainly showed up that there are issues, but then so do other brands.

I’ll have a pair of Guide REs for sale when I get back from holiday. Off a Commencal furious that’s been ridden 4 times from new (my lad prefers Shimano and is light enough to not really need 4 pot calipers even on a downhill bike).

having had avid trails in the past, which I really didn’t like, these seem nicely modulated but just overkill for what he needs.

Formula Cura seem to get great reviews stating good modulation and overall power. I’m thinking of saving for a set of them or the Magura MT Trail Sport. Similar situation to you, I have Deore and they do the job. It’s just that they are very on/off rather than gradual.

I’ve got a set of barely used MT Trail Sport for sale if anyone’s thinking of them.

fit bigger discs.  huge difference between 160 and 203 in terms of power.

What POAH said ... though the 203's feel quite grabby... there is no doubt they stop my 73kg + bike faster than I'd ever need.... and I'm running a 180 on the rear until there is a big discount on a new rotor as I can straighten one of my 203's... but I might not bother...it locks up easily with a big hans damp on the back...

Other than the reach adjustment screw and dimples there is no performance difference SLX to XT... CRC are doing £50 an end at the moment and £25 for the older Deore's.

I haven't tried the Deore's but I have mix and match on my bids between XT and SLX (I even have a 785/685 caliper half and half I keep meaning to rebuild)

Truth be told I couldn't tell you which is brake on which bike without looking bits of XT/SLX and the lever on the DJ is Zee with a SLX or XT caliper.... but rotors I have 160 on XC, 180 both ends on trail (makes swapping wheels easy) and 203/180 on the Enduro....

SLX. Best value out there.

My first set of XT 8000's were inconsistent until properly bled.  I've bought a new set recently and they've been perfect (even after reducing the cable size).  They replaced a set of GUIDE RS that suffered very badly from the sticky levers - basically unusable above 20 centigrade. A quick search on here will see a lot of other people have had similar issues with R's to RSC's.  Clearly this issue is not limited to one type.

I would say Guides personally.

As long as you get new/ pretty new ones they should have the ver 2 piston in the levers that don't bind up in hot weather.

Will also have the S4 calipers too, which is easier to bleed than the older Guides.

Starting to look seriously at the SLX. Had those on my last bike without issues running with Ice Tech rotors. Added bonus is cost as I've decided to get shot of the bike so I've decided not to spend big on something I'm not intending to keep.

As an aside, consumer direct is a pig when you have component issues. Having to go to a shop from whom you didn't buy the bike and asking them nicely to take parts off and send to various component distributors on your behalf made me feel like a worm.

However, I can’t shake that “flimsy” feeling I have when I grasp the lever.

Don't get this.  My Canyon commuter has cheap shimano brakes of some kind.  No adjustment at the lever at all - I'm pretty sure they're Deores.

There's nothing flimsy about the lever at all.  That's not to say I don't prefer the Guide's or Hope's I've got on my mountain bikes but that's about feel and being able to set the lever reach/bite just as I like it.

Simon, if you read on I have discovered the "flimsy" feeling as I (probably poorly) describe it, came from the levers being dead ie not pressurising the caliper. When I pulled the lever they just came right back to the bar and were limp. A bleed by a mechanic did not solve the issue.

You may also have read my retraction of the general criticism as it appears this shortcoming was due to a specific fault with my particular brakes rather than an inherent issue with the Deores.

If you can wait for a few weeks the new Formula Cura4 will be available.

If anyone wants some actual "budget" disc brakes, I'm now running the Clarks M2 on 4 of my bikes.. very good performance (180mm).. no issues whatsoever, plenty of power..

The cost? £42 for a complete brand new set front and rear, including 2 rotors! Check eBay..

A review can be found here (this is of the 160mm, the 180s have a fair bit more power)

I went to some blingy XT brakes, but eventually had to buy some Hopes as the XTs were problematic.

I think I have this narrowed down to either SLX or Guide RSCs (good reductions on 2017 model).

Any real world experiences of either or both?

Formula Cura's (2 pot) with 200/180 rotors.