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Which one ?
Code RSC. Not worth the minor weight saving for the G2, and the XTs will either microleak or get a variable bite point in time.
XT, cos they look better
Great buy on the G2 including discs at Cotic £199
G2 RSC if you like progressive brakes.
XT 4 pot if you like on / off feeling brakes.
I wouldn't say one is better than the other.
(Sure Codes are more powerful but I never found Guide or G2 RSC brakes to be underpowered. A bit of a deathgrip on the steeper sustained slabs in Squamish but could still creep down at walking pace.)
Stif have the g2 rsc with rotors for £180
https://www.stifmtb.com/products/sram-g2-rsc-brakeset-180-160mm-w-mmx-clamp
Until recently they had Code RSC for just over £200 - looks like they’ve run out now. I did that buy - came with 200mm front / 180mm rear rotors.
Of that choice, the G2. Pad swap can be a PITA, as is the bleeding procedure, but by comparison to the 'reliabilty' of XT, I'd choose the SRAM product every time.
G2 and invest in the Bleed-a-Majig kit. Makes the process a doddle.
Why would the g2 pad swap or bleeding process be a nightmare?
Pads is pad retaining bolt and pads out / quick clean of the caliper / push the pistons back with a plastic tyre lever / new pads and bolt in. Done. 5 mins max.
Bleeding is the cleanest procedure of any brakes I’ve bled due to the bleeding edge connection on the caliper end. 2 syringes is also less worrying to me then the Shimano funnel thing on my road bike where you have to be careful not to spill fluid out the top if the bars spin.
Why would the g2 pad swap or bleeding process be a nightmare?
Didn't say it was nightmarish, I said it was a pain by comparison. Because pads can be a tight squeeze lengthwise in the G2 because of the shape of the calliper, and the bleeding process on SRAM brakes is not as straightforward as the Shimano with a bucket. Bucket might spill, agreed, but getting a firm lever at the end of the SRAM process involves more faff-on than it does with Shimano.
Formula Cura, fit and forget, none of the issues those two options have. All the power and modulation you will ever need.
I haven't even tried the Curas suggested above but I'd give them a try before I risked Shimano reliability or the G2 RSC rather disappointing performance.
I just removed some g2 from my levo if you'd like a pair cheap? I've got 220 and 200mm rotors spare too. They have done about 3 rides before being swapped.
I'm located in Lincolnshire if that's any good.
Edit. Actually not sure if they are rsc spec but they were okay.
I didn't like the G2 RSCs, needed lots of finger power even as a light rider with 200f/180r rotors. I could always stop, but got into pain on longer descents, which disappeared once I changed them for Dominion A4s.
Another one very unimpressed with the Code RSC's, found them mushy, vague and underpowered, was convinced they were faulty so got the guys on the SRAM truck at Ard Rock to give them a onceover, nope that's just how they are apparently.
I guess I like my brakes with the Shimano on/off feel.
hatter
Full Member
Another one very unimpressed with the Code RSC’s, found them mushy, vague and underpowered, was convinced they were faulty so got the guys on the SRAM truck at Ard Rock to give them a onceover, nope that’s just how they are apparently.I guess I like my brakes with the Shimano on/off feel.
I'm just about to ditch Deore 4-pots for Guide REs for the opposite reasons. Definitely a different strokes for different folks situation.
I guess I like my brakes with the Shimano on/off feel.
I think most brakes can perform at similar levels. Most of the tests performed by sites like VitalMTB show that almost everything has wheel-locking amounts of power. I suppose it really does come down to level feel, and how that translates to confidence
It is a feel thing to a large extent I think. My Code RSC with 220 / 200mm rotors feel pretty powerful to me. All the power I could need in general riding and it’s just easy to feel the point just before they’ll lock up and balance them for best grip.
Maybe on an all day uplift day the silly powerful brakes like Magura MT7 / Trickstuff etc might help with fatigue - but I only do a couple of uplift days a year typically - and all in the UK. So BOW / BMCC / Antur / Dyfi etc.
Would the TRP Slate 4 EVO be a good alternative to either? Seems like they are exactly between the 2 in terms of modulation.
As others are suggesting, the Guides are more comparable to Shimano 2-pots, nicer feel but with less power, and I'd say they're only fit for XC use.
If you're looking at XT 4-pots, you should also look at Deore 4-pots to save a few bob and get very similar performance.
And while all my brakes are Shimano, I'd certainly consider some of the other brands mentioned. E.g. if the TRP brakes above are still available for £80/pair or whatever.