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Shimano SLX good enough for DH?

PB Forum :: Downhill
Shimano SLX good enough for DH?

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flag Bilalk20
Posted: Jun 3, 2020 at 6:55 Quote
So ive had my fair share of downhill bikes and i just bought a 2015 scott gambler 720 but the previous owner switched to SLX brakes (not sure why). In the past ive always run saint brakes but cant seem to find any for sale.
Im heading out riding this weekend....do you guys think the 2 piston SLX brakes will be adequate for downhil?
Also, ive always been a shimano guy but see alot of SRAM Guide 4 piston brakes for sale. Would a switch from SLX to guide be good enough? Is switching from shimano to sram a pain?


thanks guys!
flag DHhack
Posted: Jun 4, 2020 at 20:52 Quote
Bilalk20 wrote:
So ive had my fair share of downhill bikes and i just bought a 2015 scott gambler 720 but the previous owner switched to SLX brakes (not sure why). In the past ive always run saint brakes but cant seem to find any for sale.
Im heading out riding this weekend....do you guys think the 2 piston SLX brakes will be adequate for downhil?
Also, ive always been a shimano guy but see alot of SRAM Guide 4 piston brakes for sale. Would a switch from SLX to guide be good enough? Is switching from shimano to sram a pain?


thanks guys!

SLX to Guide isn’t a huge change. I’d wait to find some Saints honestly.
flag mooreoutdoors
Posted: Jun 5, 2020 at 1:04 Quote
I'm a Shimano fan from way back but I don't think the SLX's heat management will be up to whats needed for DH personally (even with finned pads and Icetech/freezer rotors).
flag onyxss
Posted: Jun 5, 2020 at 1:45 Quote
Bilalk20 wrote:
So ive had my fair share of downhill bikes and i just bought a 2015 scott gambler 720 but the previous owner switched to SLX brakes (not sure why). In the past ive always run saint brakes but cant seem to find any for sale.
Im heading out riding this weekend....do you guys think the 2 piston SLX brakes will be adequate for downhil?
Also, ive always been a shimano guy but see alot of SRAM Guide 4 piston brakes for sale. Would a switch from SLX to guide be good enough? Is switching from shimano to sram a pain?


thanks guys!
There is a reason why so many Guide brakes are for sale Big Grin
2-piston SLX is a little weak for DH if you are not extremly light. Go for Saints or maybe Magura MT5, simmilar power and good price.
flag nj82tj
Posted: Jun 11, 2020 at 20:38 Quote
ZEE all the way.
flag englertracing
O+
Posted: Jun 12, 2020 at 22:13 Quote
My friends base model banshee legend came with slx brakes... he gets a little fade, but he also doesn't know what a front brake does.

If you wanna know what any sram brake feels like. Get a stick of butter and slather your shimano slx pads and rotor, now with that shimano initial bite gone your close, but you'll also need a shittier feeling lever, so maybe drop it really hard in the dirt a few times to beat it up a little and jam some dirt in the pivots. Wallah you've got the equivalent of top of the line sram brakes for under 1 dollar and 2 mins worth of work.
flag bernan11
Posted: Jun 13, 2020 at 9:01 Quote
Deore XT or Zees
flag DhDWills
Posted: Jun 15, 2020 at 20:45 Quote
Shimano brakes are shit imo. Never used SRAM brakes. I love Hayes and Avids. And DH bike needs DH brakes. I put a Deore XT rear on my DH because the Saint was just too expensive. I always hated that brake. Hayes Prime Pro never known such modulation.
flag Beecee336
Posted: Jun 16, 2020 at 7:18 Quote
Dougdirt wrote:
Zee!!

Zee FTW!! Same as saints just no toolless reach adjust but half the price. Ran Zee for 3 seasons and counting in Colorado bike parks and never 1 issue and super easy to bleed.
flag Eganwp
Posted: Jul 5, 2020 at 14:04 Quote
Tbh I don’t know why so many bikes come with Guides because they’re not great downhill brakes. I think it’s because SRAM doesn’t have an alternative for the price range they’re spec’ing for.

If it were me I’d be putting on Saints, Zees, XT’s (dual or single piston).
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