Really odd one…..I’ve got both, each pretty much brand new…..have to keep one set, sell another but I can’t decide.

What would you do?

I’m torn, can’t fault SLX for power or feel and love the length of the leave, haven’t used the X2’s properly but they look proper pimp, silver with braded hoses, and damm they just feel amazingly engineered, plus very serviceable.

Head = SLX
Heart = X2’s

Keep the SLX’s and sell me those crap Hope’s for my son’s bike 🙂

New SLX FTW. Awesome brakes, even compared to the best, never id the fact they’re less than £60 an end.

I would have the X2’s personally

2 for Hope
1 for SLX

Anyone else?

SLX – I have the 2012’s, can’t fault em for value for money. I think Jedi was complaining about his Hopes the other day saying how bad they were in the wet. Might be wrong though.

Either that, or he was looking for an excuse to buy Saints 😛

Heart =hope
Power and reliability= slx

Jedi?

SLX without doubt.

4 for SLX
2 for Hope

Come on I need a bigger sample.

Hope every time, sell both sets and get the V2’s

Ha yeah V2’s are nice but need the money….I killed my rim yesterday.

slx

I’d be keeping the SLX.

i use v2’s and they squeal and dont stop as well in the wet 🙁
had them years and rarely ride in the wet

X2’s everytime !

I’d have the SLX straight away!

Jedi – I was reading you were a bit of a guru….any experience with the 2012 SLX for comparison?

hope on the front, slx on the back…hth

never used shimano brakes 🙁

Hope

Sell the shimanos now they have some value.

Any other reason other than value? I think the hopes will fetch more!?

Reason? the hope are a far higher quality product, pads last longer, spares are available

Compare how the pads are fastened for example- on the hopes its a stainless steel machined pin with O rings – last shimanos I had ( LX) was a mild steel split pin

X2s are massively underpowered compared to SLXs (or just about any brake for that matter). SLX all the way.

Also, in contrast to Jezza, I’ve found Hopes to be massively unreliable so while they look well made, they aren’t. Conversely my Shimanos are faultless.

X2s are massively underpowered compared to SLXs (or just about any brake for that matter). SLX all the way.

+1!

SLX 8
Hope 5

The Hopes aren’t as good and you’ll probably be able to sell them for more, simples…

X2s are massively underpowered compared to SLXs (or just about any brake for that matter). SLX all the way.

I have some 2012 X2’s and they are definitely powerful enough. I used some 2012 XT today, I would say they are more powerful, but power isn’t everything. You can only have so much before they lock up.

love my slx brakes but im not sure how much use they’ll be to me after a year of usage, time will tell.

X-2 with normal pads are pretty bad, X-2`s with sintered pads are really good.They do need to be lined up centered with the disc to get the best out of them but once set up and with sintered pads i really like them.

I’d keep the SLX brakes myself. I gave up on Hope a long time ago; they’re lovely looking, spares are easy to get and they’re British however the last few pairs I had and those of friends were unreliable. When we went to Morzine I was running Hayes brakes, everyone took the mick because they were ugly, heavy etc but never missed a beat unlike their M4’s.

I had the original Saint brakes and they were awesome, mega powerful in all weather and needed very little maintenance.

12 SLX
6 Hopes

Compare how the pads are fastened for example- on the hopes its a stainless steel machined pin with O rings – last shimanos I had ( LX) was a mild steel split pin

Makes no difference to performance. SLX are cheaper than Hope – true, but still hold their own against them, if not out performing them (can’t say for certain as haven’t used X2’s). Shimano build quality is top notch.

Hope X2’s every time!

I’ve used hope’s for years, great pad life, spares back up and looks but just don’t cut it with me. I’ve had the x2 and m4’s and both have been under powered and didn’t cope with heat all that well. I don’t even consider them anymore!

A mate has got the new xtr trail brakes which are awesome. I’m using avid elixir myself which have also been fantastic (touch wood) and i wouldn’t change them for anything.

Go for the slx

Looks like its heading for function over form….head over heart….may well be posting X2’s in classified very soon.

Looks like its heading for function over form….head over heart….may well be posting X2’s in classified very soon.

Do you feel the X2’s are under-powered?

Edit: I just read the original post. Put them on your bike then make up your mind, I bet you keep the Hopes.

i use v2’s and they squeal and dont stop as well in the wet

Doesn’t that describe all disk brakes ever? 🙂

I got the X2 evo’s for Christmas so I hope they are good 🙁

no. the kid i was coaching rode my bike for a bit and could stop on his easily but not on mine!! same conditions diff brakes