What to choose?
Of those two definitely elixir. Strokers refine but elixirs are better
BUT
Why not shimano/ formula?
Rose bikes have awesome deals on shimano too...
Came in here to say 2012 slx from rosebikes.
Elixirs are good. I'd buy again.
Very impressed with my Elixirs.
Elixirs on both my bikes - great value and plenty of power
I found stroker trail's a little too powerful but got rid because they were an arse to bleed and spares were expensive.
My experience: Stroker trails are terrible...
I've got Stroker Trails on all my bikes, think they're great.
Got cr,s on a trance X and strokers on my spicy.
Both sets have just been re-bled,new pads and adjusted up.
Strokers are more powerful and can stick me over the bars.
The cr,s have better modulation though..
Stroker Trails, sold the avids on my bike to get strokers. Now have them on both my bikes.
Most powerful brake known to man . . . . er . . . probably!
I have Elixirs on two of my bikes and really rate them
I've Elixer's on my bike and just upgraded the better halfs with Stroker trails. I'd say the bottom line is you won't go far wrong with either.
I'd echo exactly what robhughes said. More power from the Strokers, plenty power but a bit more 'feel' from the Avids
I'm running Stroker Trails on my xc bike. As others have said, they're very, very powerful despite the spindly feeling levers.
I have often caught myself out overbraking after riding my AM bike with Hope M4s!
Just in the interest of balance, my Elixirs are crap.
They stop the bike (most times) but squeal like a pig. Also, when I went to replace the rear pads, the pistons wouldn't retreat far enough into the caliper so I had to take them into a shop to remove some fluid (note: I've not touched the fluid so they must have been over-filled at the factory - I've had them just over a year).
I'm now also finding the brake fluid boiling over on really long descents but I guess that's symptomatic of using DOT fluid rather than mineral fluid the Maguras on my other bikes use. Yes, this wouldn't happen if the brake fluid was replaced but it's not a job I've had to do in many many years on using Maguras.
Furthermore, the front brake I've never been able to adjust to the correct reach (they are too close to the bars for my liking). I think they've probably been under-filled with fluid but I ain't gonna mess with fluid levels after what happened to the rears!
Bottom line - unless you commit to replacing brake fluid at least once per year or are on a really low budget, avoid anything using DOT fliud (ie use Magura or Shimano)
My LBS tells me there are reports of Avid calipers rusting on the inside (possibly as a result of DOT fluid absorbing water?)so that may be why my pistons wouldn't retreat
On a positive note, the brake pads are much cheaper than Maguras!
Neither- Shimano or Formula.
markgraylish - MemberI'm now also finding the brake fluid boiling over on really long descents but I guess that's symptomatic of using DOT fluid rather than mineral fluid the Maguras on my other bikes use. Yes, this wouldn't happen if the brake fluid was replaced but it's not a job I've had to do in many many years on using Maguras.
Not connected- the boiling point of DOT 4 is higher than the boiling point of mineral oil except when severely wetted out, and unless something's drastically wrong your fluid won't be wetted out after a year. Different brakes deal with heat differently though. Brake fluid doesn't need replacing anything like as frequently as you think.
Not connected- the boiling point of DOT 4 is higher than the boiling point of mineral oil except when severely wetted out,
Actually, my mistake. I didn't actually mean the the DOT fluid itself boiling, rather the water the fluid had absorbed was boiling.
and unless something's drastically wrong your fluid won't be
wetted out after a year.
I live in Vancouver BC and this year it's been particularly rainy! 🙂
Different brakes deal with heat differently though. Brake fluid doesn't need replacing anything like as frequently as you think.
Out of interest, how frequently should DOT fluid be replaced, assuming "normal" riding conditions? I've been running Magura Louise and Magura Louise FR brakes on a variety of bikes for something like 6+ years and only recall bleeding or replacing fluid on one occasion and that was so long ago I can't remember the reason why...
markgraylish - MemberI live in Vancouver BC and this year it's been particularly rainy!
If you've left the reservoir open that might make a difference 😉 But brakes are a fairly well sealed system.
DOT 4 fluid in bike brakes is realistically good for life in many cases- the brakes themselves have a pretty limited lifespan due to obsolescence, resale, fashion and damage, and often you'll end up rebleeding for some other reason anyway. It starts to degrade immediately but the rate of contamination is very low in a sealed system. 4 years would be a reasonable timescale for most people IMO. DOT4 when it's degraded to its midpoint should be fairly equivalent in performance to mineral oil.
Obviously that'll depend on usage and the particular brake- if you're pushing your brakes to the limit you'll want to keep fresh fluid in them, maybe replace annually but really if you're working them that hard it'd make more sense to get a brake that doesn't need to be functioning at 100% efficiency to do the job- ie switch to something better, or bigger rotors. Whereas someone doing simple XC with a good brake could probably be absolutely fine with ancient, saturated fluid, as far as boiling goes.
Your boiling problem is almost certainly just down to those brakes not handling heat all that well. Likewise, there are mineral oil brakes out there that don't deal too well with heat. But Magura make damn good brakes. Unfortunately for your Avids they've just got very good competition 😉
coatesy is the guy to talk to markgraylish
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/elixir-cr-contact-point-adjust-question
Yes, when they are working Avids are ok brakes
BUT
Avids give problems.............more than other brakes I've dealt with, and quite often even the Sram Tech guys are struggling to mend them. And more often than not Fisher Outdoor will NOT have the rebuild kit you need for months on end.
AVIDS = PROBLEMS
I have Avid Elixirs on three bikes and apart from the occasional bleed think they are really good brakes - would be the choice for me.