Changed bikes over the weekend and really wish I'd kept the XT brakes off my Remedy. Loved them, best brakes I've used, thing is they're a bit dear. So rather than buy a new set of XT, I've been looking at SLX as a cheaper alternative.
Can anyone offer a comparison/contrast between the two? Or just tell me a few reasons why I can get away with buying the cheaper SLX...
Not a huge difference in between em to be honest, XT are slightly lighter, and have the cam action leverage ratio adjust thingy on them too (which you may or may not find useful, it totally depends), and because the calipers are monobloc they'll be slightly stiffer (whether or not again you can notice it is debatable)...
Whatever you get, shop with Ribble Cycles, they're by far and away the cheapest. Pair of XT's for about £132, pair of SLX for just over £100...
That's a good price, and some good knowledge, cheers mboy!
Ribble have been sold out of those for a while now.
...XTs on CRC look like a good deal at the mo...
I have both. XTs are better- firmer lever feel and more power.
I couldn't tell any difference when they had the same pads in. Well, one of the SLX levers felt a wee bit squishy but that might just have been the bleed. Both decent enough brakes, nothing special, nothing terrible.
XTs slightly better but not much in it.
Weight the main practical difference. You won't miss the adjustment.
I have both. SLX are fine and can ne better in the Alpswhere XTs gubbins seemed to leak oil. However XTs are better made, my SLX lever blades rattle now but XTs are rattle free.
i have never used xt's but i upgraded my deores to slx's and they are great,stop when i need and hardly any travel on the levers either.i tried ribble and was waiting 2weeks before they decided to inform me they had no stock left(that was after they sent me levers and hoses but id ordered the full ready bled set)so opted for crc at £130 for the pair and received them next day,sorted!!
Oh, aye, XT gains That Screw Adjuster That Does Nothing which is always a good conversation point. Start playing with it on a faff break trailside... "Hey, what are you doing?" "I have no idea! But it must do something right? I've had it all the way in, now I'll screw it all the way out. Hmm, feels the same. Oh, the screw's fallen out. Still feels the same"
I'd recomend anyone who cant tell the difference the freestroke screw makes just stick to basic deore spec and save your money.
It's interesting, because of the people I know who've said they can tell a difference, no 2 people have identified the same difference.
I have both, I find the XTs arent as squishy as the SLX's. The SLX were squishy right from the start, Ive never had to bleed a brake as much as the SLX and that includes my crappy old Kawasaki GT....now they were shite!
XT better feel and bite if you can afford them
SLX squishy
Merlin seem to have a front and rear set with rotors for £199, which seems like a bargain to me. You can tip the price up a little bit (about £4 per rotor) for different sizes. SLX £169 F&R. I'd personally blow the extra £30.
Re. squishy comments: I assume nobody is comparing non servo-wave brakes with servo-wave ones?
Some SLX squish is flex in the lever blade.
I've got XT on my XC hardtail
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And SLX on my SS..
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To be fair, I do prefer the feel of the XTs... 🙂
Love my SLX brakes
I have SLX on two of my bikes and I think they are really good and they are stopping 18st!! I have never had XT to compare. I have never noticed them being squishy at all, they do pump up on long descents which require extended braking that generates a lot of heat but dont fade out.