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Brake choices ???

May 3, 2014 at 3:51
by simon kear  
Check my blog

Good morning Pinkbikers !!!Are you out biking already, or putting your feet up and relaxing on this dry Bank Holiday weekend?

As I'm coming to the end of my Niner build, I'm wondering what to do on brake choice/options? I will probably stay 180mm front and rear....

In the past I have run Avid 3's and 5's, 6 pot Hopes, Hayes, SLX, Clarks etc...Lately, being on a budget, I been back to the Avid 3's and 5's with 180mm up front and 160mm on the rear. Brakes that have stuck in my mind have been the Hayes for lever shape, SLX for power, and Hopes for a bit of both...modulation and power.

I have been looking at....

* Hayes HFX-Mag XC
* Hopetech Evo M4
* Shimano SLX/XT...maybe Zee's

My outside options I been looking at are....

* Avid 7 or X-0
* Maguras (any model)
* Formula (any model)

These are the brakes on my mind. Also the above blog is what I would of asked some of you as an individual message, so thought I'd hit you with the same question in one go...

The riding on this 29er will be some XC single track, forest roads, long canal and towpath rides along flat runs. I got three mountains outside my house, so may even decide to hit them also. Brake wise, i'm looking for reliability being the number one choice being far away from home, also modulation and efficiency.

I'm nearly 20st (of love muscle lmao !!!) not getting slimmer, unless I get my pedals spinning !!! So, need a set-up not just to slow a 29er down, but my weight also....but I don't want to be frying the pads, or overheating also?

So Pinkbikers, let's have a gossip on what brakes/rotors/size you use...and why ?

This blog is for all of us on future brake choices, so feel free to add any comments, good or bad, on what you have used....what worked well, and what worked bad !!!!

All the best Pinkbikers, DREAM TEAM forever !!!

Seadevil.

Author Info:
SEADEVIL avatar

Member since Oct 19, 2009
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25 Comments
  • 3 0
 Any but the hfx's. Very outdated wooden brake now. I run hopes so would say them but you cant go wrong with any of the others. I like hope because british and parts are easy to get hold of. CNC goodness. Don't think I have bought any new though so price is negated for me. Always seem to service up well. Normally go for m4's. I think they are nice to look at along with formulas. Maguras are very understated. I normally use 203 rotors out of habit but probably will shrink down to 180's all round to drop a little weight. Recommend superstar Kevlar pads but recently been running EBC gold pads and they are superb. Setup is easy with the tech master and you can keep adjusting it as the pads wear. If your budget is real tight though, I think you are going to want the shimano's. I have read that parts are holder to get hold of for these though and id say probably a tiny bit more fiddly than hopes but no big deal.
  • 1 0
 Great feedback, cheers bro...
  • 2 0
 I've got 2012 hope tech evo m4s on the five and XTs on the stanton and I'd say rhe XTs are slightly better and the fact there half the price of the hope is unreal. I've used SLX lately too on a Rocky Mountain altitude and were also spot on. Shimano for the win Si. Merlin cycles usually has them in for a good price.
  • 1 0
 the 4 pot zee caliper has some serious power and shimano has a great lever ergo on top of the best modulation but for raw power, can't beat the impressive initial rotor bite of Formula calipers...my 2010 'the one' are just awesome brakes with insane power, super light and still going strong heading into their 4th season of dh, the quality is there fosho but quite expensive compared to Shimano,,, bang for the buck, Shimano always ends up on top...
  • 1 0
 Thanks Marc...I'll check Merlin out also Lee.
  • 2 0
 Shimano or hope can't go wrong. Shimano for value for power but hope for power, style and serviceability. If you crash the hope has a lot more spares to replace little things whereas Shimano systems come all in one unit so you'd have to buy a new lever.

Both:

Power
Modulation
Adjustments (reach)

Shimano;

Cheaper (looking wise too)
As powerful
Less stylish/well designed.

Hope

More expensive
As powerful
Better designed/engineered.
More spares
So simple to bleed/service.
  • 1 0
 Got a set of formula R0 brakes for sale BTW Wink
  • 1 0
 TBH, the Shimano range is probably easier to bleed atm...
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the offer, I'm guessing Hope or Shimano at the mo....
  • 1 0
 I cant comment on shimano bleed but find hopes real easy?
  • 1 0
 I've got shimano deores (2012) on my enduro with 180mm front and back. Had to swap them over from my old bike as the avids were shit. I think mineral oil is better, I crashed and popped the top off the brake lever once, oil everywhere, if that was for 5.1 I'd have been even more annoyed. Anyway that being said I would highly recommend the Shimano Zee's as they are great for the price and the same caliper as the saint which stopped my downhill bike like superman punching the front of a moving train. 203 rotor front and 180 back is the magic number if you're riding whiley and Cwmcarn a lot Smile
  • 1 0
 I say and will always say, Hope.
Damn easy to work on, parts are easy to source, great customer service. Plus made in England!
I run Tech 3 E4s/183mm rotor on the Five, Tech M4 Stealth/203mm rotor on 224 and X2s/183mm rotor on Crush and all stop me easy and with great feel (I'm around 14 1/2st all kitted up)
  • 1 0
 I'll have to third the SLX, got them on the Alpine and they're just great all round puppies
  • 1 0
 All SLX so far....cheers bro.
  • 1 0
 I got a pair of zees inc rotors for about 220 new, definitely enough power to stop me & my gut!!
  • 1 0
 Go with the SLX's. They will be the best for the money & will be good & reliable. Power is good on Shimano also.
  • 1 0
 Cheers Stu...
  • 1 0
 Always, always always. Shimano disc brakes. Unmatched durability, modulation and power.
  • 2 0
 Shimano or formula for me pal, never had issues with either
  • 1 0
 IMO you can't beat shimano slx price and power Smile
  • 1 0
 Cheers bro...looks like you both are voting on old faithful?
  • 1 0
 Hopes over rated and over priced
Shimano all the way Smile
  • 1 0
 Xt or xtr are also great options
  • 2 0
 Saints mate gotta be
  • 1 0
 Hope buddy.







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