As per. That's the budget, don't care if it's 2 or 4 pot, I don't need mega stopping power, it's going to be used on trad "going around the woods in a big circle " type rides, not throwing myself down cliffs, I don't want SRAM, I don't like the feel of them.
Light XC - these will be fine [img] 
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I'll let you have them for £250 so well under budget 😉
Deore and save yourself £300?
was hoping for something a bit more bling than Deore, if I'm honest 🙂
For that budget pretty much anything you want if you shop around to be honest.
I've got a pair of 9220 XTR 4 posts from a reputable ebay seller within that budget, but you might be pushed to get matching discs for that though.
There's loads of choice - I considered Magura MT7, XTR (couldn't resist bling) or XT, Mavens, Hope, but I would suggest you don't over brake as one of my mates struggles to maintain control as his brakes are way over his needs :/
James
I really like the look of the Hope XCR in Silver, maybe the E4 Front/X2 Rear would be the ones to go for in that application but I've not personally used them as I normally just chicken out and get XT 4-pots as I know they work and I like them.
Some of the Maguras look cool in a more space-age way, depends what bike it's going on looks-wise?
I'm a big fan of Magura. But not the levers. So for that budget you should able to get a set of your choice (maybe the one that is 4 pot on the front, 2 pot on the back?) and a pair of these: https://oakcomponents.de/en/products/root-lever-set-2-stk-raw-passend-fur-magura-bremssysteme
I still have one bike with Shimano and I just find them too "on" and "off" for me. Hope's I find too much the other way. It's a bit like helmets tho, everyone has a preference.
hope x2's were my go to, top of the shopping list
there's also a set of Hayes Dominion A2, on Winstanley i think.. 80 odd an end that was up my list if dipping away from Shimano
Hayes Dominion A2 Disc Brake Lever Set
How about Formula Cura 4?
was hoping for something a bit more bling than Deore, if I'm honest
It's your money
but that's mental
I'm just looking myself as the seals on mine are gone/ going. Formula Cura would fit the bill - come in black, silver, gold; 2 pot or 4 pot; flip flop levers; around £100-120 per end.
Damn @Alex , I wish you hadn't posted that link!
I blame the rider from the local bike shop. Showed me them on his bike and I was immediately "get me a set please" which was before I'd asked how much they cost! They do make a big difference though- you get get the levers in the perfect position and they really suit the way the Magura's work in terms of feel.
No idea if that means they represent any kind of "value", but I ended up buying a second set so 😉
as others have said, CURA's. 2pots would easily be good enough for XC. I've had the 4 pots on both my Enigma and Rune - as a trail brake they are excellent, but i've swapped the Rune to Hopes new anchors the EVO GR4 (blimey they are strong) - im a very late braker with some heft so needed more brick wall esq power. playing in the hills on the hardtail - Cura all the way - wonderful modulation and good power and very sleek looking too.
The Magura MT Trail Sport comes with the shorter 1 finger lever anyway. 4 pot on the front 2 on the back. £150 on merlin atm.
I had a pair on a Cotic Solaris a few years ago and they were great. Sold them when I sold that bike but bought some MT5's later and they're also great, even though they have the longer lever. I'd prefer the shoter lever, but I'm not paying for those Oak ones!!....
Formula Cura 2, plenty of power and nice and reliable so far
I’d be all over those Dominion A2s if had a similar use case.
I have 3 sets of hope.
That have been almost completely trouble free.
When they were trouble, I got the parts with minimum fuss. It was minimum fuss to fix them.
Xt- weird bite point issues
Sram- broke, couldn't get the specific part to fix it.
Magura Julie's for ages and ages ago were also trouble free.
@Alex what levers did you have before? I've MT trails sport with the 1 finger lever.
just bagged some deore at £20 per end. far good enough for me.
As others have said cura 2's are awesome for xc. The 4's are great for big riding dh etc but massively overkill for xc
Double post
Formula Cura 2s. Lightweight, and very powerful. 10g heavier than XTR but they don't have the wandering bite point. Unlike the Sram equivalents, they can stop a bike quickly. Unlike Magura, they're incredibly reliable (I use them on all my bikes, including my enduro bike, and the ones on there haven't been bled ever. I bought them in 2020). Unlike Hope's XC brakes, they're powerful.
It's your money
but that's mental
Thanks, It is my money you're right, I know Deore are good, I know that they are cheap, if I wanted advice on this forum on what cheap good brakes to buy then "Deore" (with or without the pejorative about how I want spend my own money) would be welcome, but the clue's in the OP.
cheers.
Clarks M2? NOt sure what the current rate is but a F+R set could be picked up form around £40.
Or the Clarks React 4, for a 4-pot version. Similar pricing.
Spend the remainng £400 on Coke & Hookers....
Thanks @alex, I think that's the one finger lever the same as I have. https://magura.com/spare-parts/brake-levers/
Another vote for the Cura 2s.
They are plenty powerful enough (used to be run at WC DH before the 4s came out), and there's an 'X' version that's a bit lighter with a carbon blade. A bit blingy, and awesome. I wouldn't bother with the X version, save the money for something else.
£110 for a gold set at Elro if you really want them to stand out!
I'd already have a set of 4s on my other bike if I didn't want to try Hope GR4s.