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Price is surprisingly similar, but is XT worth the extra few quid??
Well think of SLX a a ford Focus diesel. It does the job. XT is a focus TDI with all the options, it still does the job.
The anology fails as XT is a bit lighter but thats the main difference nut both function in the same way and have similar durability.
I cannot comment however one how SLX and XT brakes compare as I have never tried both. XT brakes a fab though.
whoops - I meant disc brakes specifically..
They feel identical in use no diffirence in use. Depends id you like the shiny standout xt Or the matt finish on the slx. Either 1 you go for you will love as they are fantastic brakes.
The XT have a 'free stroke' adjustment screw which the SLX doesn't, but from what I've heard, it doesn't do much anyway. The XT caliper has a screw in pad retaining pin, while the SLX has a split pin. Otherwise its just the colour of the finish, and of course those all important little letters that say "XT" 😀
In fact, I'd stick my neck out here and say the parts come from exactly the same pressing machine and are just finished differently, the clue being that the SLX has a little blanking plug where the XT free stroke screw goes, and the caliper on the SLX still has the thread machined into it to take a screw, even tho' they've shoved a split pin in there instead. So, functionally and weight wise I'm guessing they're identical!
I had the xt's. I used to fiddle with the free stroke adjust. To my memory, it did **** all.
Get the SLX's and spend the difference on icetech rotors or the new finned pads, your braking system will be better than someone who bought just the xt's.
All the SLX I've seen for sale recently already have the finned pads...
Next years slx looks real good, more features than current xt. Due out soon I think.
bugcan, are you talking about the whole groupset, or brakes specifically? I know the 2013 SLX has new cranks, shifters, mechs etc, but from what I've read the brakes won't change, as the M666 brakes are already of the same family as XTR/XT
Quote from BikeRadar...
"SLX received a brake upgrade last year so there are no major departures for 2013. There have been some cosmetic changes so that the stoppers match the rest of the group, the levers have shed a little weight, the brakes now come with three-layer Ice Technologies rotors as standard, and OEM pads (ie. those which come with complete bikes) are now the finned Ice Tech version, too – last year these were only supplied with aftermarket brakes. The levers are compatible with Shimano's Ispec bar clamp system, too, if you'd prefer to integrate the brake and shift levers into a single clamp"
And in fact the M666 brakes already come with Ispec levers & finned pads, so I'm guessing there's not going to be much difference at all!