XT are amazing, using 180mm formula rotors with mine. Not finned pads.

Have a look through Bike Froum for “Cheap Xt brakes from Rose Bikes” thread – many satisfied custimers.

I run a 2011 XT on the front and a 2010 Deore on the rear. The XT is excellent, stops my 14.5 stone easily and is noticeably more powerful than the deore on the rear but I’ve not felt the need to upgrade the rear yet as I’m reasonably light on the brakes.

2012 XT are the best I’ve had out of Hope Mini, Hope Mono Mini and Formula k24…….by quite a way

I run 160 and 180 on my xtr s and those disks are more than big enough to stop me. They are ice tech no idea if they make a difference

nice find honourable george.

Likey.

I think I’ll hold off til they’re out.

Had my first ride yesterday initial small leak from reservoir has stopped so no worries there. They have so much power its unreal. they feel solid when you pull the lever unlike the avids which i have to bleed every bloody month. will update when i get a few more rides in too 😀

I’ve got a set of m785s just the other week.

First impressions are that they feel alot like the formula oros I replaced. Modulation seems good, and power, whilst not properly bedded in, is a little greater than fully bedded in oros. Levers are VERY short – I’ve had to cut my grips down to get the lever in the right position. They’re as heavy as my oros with braided hose, but the M785s have plastic hose, so they’re not super light, but aren’t porky either. Pad fins seem like a gimmick to me, and they rattle a little.

The shiny, electroplated plastic reservoir cover is going to peel in time too I reckon.

Got the new xt brakes, and they have better power and modulation than the previous version, the short levers are great for me, would definitely recommend them. Only minor drawback is they look a bit naff, the resevior looks smaller in the photos, bit bulky in the flesh. Hope brakes look lovely, but most people just want to stop rather than oggle their levers. Got the resin finned pads cheap, and they make zero difference to me this time of year, maybe need to be tested on a Spanish downhill to see the difference?

I bought some resin finned pads to use in the Pyrenees a few weeks ago. We did a chairlift day at Luchon and a few other big long descents at Ax les Thermes and elsewhere. Brakes worked superb even tho my rear is not 100% (got some air in when trimming the rear hose). Finned pads will be completely unnecessary for 99% of UK.
Definitely the best brakes I’ve owned Vs 2004 Hayes Nine, 2004 XT dual control, 2006 XT, 2008 Magura Marta.

One finger braking is all you need, so short levers are appropriate.

I’ve been using a set of new XT’s for about 2 weeks. 1 week on 160mm rotors on another bike but I liked them so much I moved them onto my main bike, a G-Spot with 203mm discs. They are great. Very bitey and you have to be careful not to just grab a handful but once you are used to them it’s easy to modulate them. I did a big 2000m desecent on Saturday and they were just as good at the bottom as they were at the top.

The levers are fantastic, no fiddling to get the right position or compromising with the shifter position. Thankfully no need to use matchmakers which I hated either. I think you could use them middle finger langy if you needed to.

I’m coming from a set of Elixirs which are good when they work but tempramental and difficult to bleed. The XT’s are 100% better so far. I’ll put another few weeks riding on mine and put a review up on my website.

Have SLXs on current bike after XTs which were a few years old. SLXs excellent, in fact bought another set for the other bike cos the avids on it were so abysmal from new.

Superstar sintered or kevlar, finned are just a gimick unless you ride in a really hot place with brake dragging massive downs, like Verbier but in the Atlas mountains, in June.

got 2011 slx on one bike(203 and 180mm rotors)
and 2006 deore onthe other (160mm rotors)
the deore is ok, but the slx really is one finger braking.
i weigh 22 stone btw, so surely if they stop me, you should have zero problems.

running the new XT brakes on my dh bike, plenty of power, put hope v2 to shame, and still worked just as good at the bottom of skiddaw or any other mountain