lightweight brakes for xc

mozzy10
mozzy10 Posts: 179
edited April 2010 in MTB buying advice
Hi

I ride xc mostly including a few jumps/drops (never more than 2 feet of the floor), but maximum downhill run would be -250m (think surrey hills, south downs, only occasionally peaks and lakes) so I don't need to worry about brake fade or top end power so much. I weigh 67 kilo/10 stone 8lb. I currently have avid bb7 on the front and v-brake out back.

I am looking for some lightweight xc disc brakes with more focus on weight and modulation than top end power. I will ride them with 160mm rotors. Budget of £250 (f+r) and they will eventually be going on a on-one 456 carbon (when it arrives).

Can anyone recommend some options and explain the differences between models?

Thanks in advance
It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude

Comments

  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    Mozzy you have lots of choice Merlin is you best bet...they are doing sets of XT for £199 and will do all you ask..as for weight a respectable 256g

    They also have deals on Magura and Avid..don't go for Hope..look the business but squeal like a pig when wet
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • joshtp
    joshtp Posts: 3,966
    iv just ordered some clarks sx skeletals, they are pretty light, suposed to be quite poweful, look awsome, have amazing after sales back up, and are british... ill report back on how they perform... they could be the bargain of the century if they are good, they are only like £50 each!
    I like bikes and stuff
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The XT weight is without rotor I guess. Or bolts lol.

    The all in weight of the Avid Elixir CR is reputed to be 375g per end.
  • supersonic wrote:
    The XT weight is without rotor I guess. Or bolts lol.

    The all in weight of the Avid Elixir CR is reputed to be 375g per end.

    I think its jsut the caliper... from what I guessed lol!
  • El Capitano
    El Capitano Posts: 6,401
    supersonic wrote:
    The all in weight of the Avid Elixir CR is reputed to be 375g per end.

    365g if you change the rotor, caliper and clamp bolts for Ti ones. :wink:
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    I have the Shimano Deore 2010.
    Love them so far. :)
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    cheers people

    I think the xt sound good, although it's hard to gauge weight when rotors arn't included. I've heard they're not the best and SLX maybe better and cheaper??

    I think the avid elixr is my main choice. I'm not totally aware of the differences between models or whether its just the material of the lever which changes. I'd like features like bite point ajustment; does SLX or XT have this? Also do formula have any good options?

    Thanks
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • peter413
    peter413 Posts: 5,120
    Definatly look at Hope.

    So what if they squeal, it is a good warning for other people :twisted:

    The Tech X2 isn't too heavy and has bite and lever adjust or look at the Race X2 if you want really light, it doesn't have bite point adjust though but they don't really need it TBH
  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    peter413 wrote:
    Definatly look at Hope.

    So what if they squeal, it is a good warning for other people :twisted:

    LOL..Think most of the higher end Avids have pad contact adjustment...Hayes also do on the Stroker...they do work well though prone to getting grit in them which can be a pain in the a$$....I have heard people raving about the XT's though BR found they had issue with poor modulation on the 09 versions
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    mmm, the tech X2 seem to be a good option

    so far i have:

    Shimano SLX (unknown g): £169 for pair (merlin)
    Avid Elixr CR (369g per end): £199 for pair (merlin)
    Avid Elixr CR carbon lever (375g per end): £280 for pair (CRC)
    Hope tech X2 (unknown g): £209 for pair (merlin)

    It seems wrong that the carbon leaver Elixr is 6g heavier. Surely somthing has gone wrong for the claimed weights on the merlin/CRC websites.

    Does Can anyone comfirm weights for any of these brakes including rotors?

    Thanks
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • peter413
    peter413 Posts: 5,120
    Pudseyp wrote:
    Hayes also do on the Stroker...they do work well though prone to getting grit in them which can be a pain in the a$$....

    No they don't, that is lever reach and the basic Ryde's don't have anything
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The Hopes come without rotors or brackets, so add another 60 quid on.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    good spot supersonic.

    that will make them the tech X2 £264 with the options I want. Only slighty over budget. Which would be ok if they are 50g lighter than the Avid elixir CR.

    Anyone with ideas on weights?
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    WMB tested them at 463g with a 183mm standard rotor.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    That said we weighed the Avid Elixir at 458g with a 180mm rotor.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    nothing ever weighs what it says. the mbr review says 257 + 136 for 160mm rotor. So 393g for front end. Seems like the elixir maybe a little more than that depending on how much a smaller disc drops off.
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    MBR have just taken what Hope says and not added it all in ie hose, bolts, adaptors.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    ok, bike radar say the elixir is 375 with carbon blade and 432 with alloy. Unfortunatly the carbon bladed version for 209 on merlin are sold out!

    So it seems they will both be pretty identical weight (the tech x2 and the avid elixir CR) the both having bite point and lever reach ajustment. So are the hopes worth the extra £64 in terms of modulation, power and looks?

    Also, can anyone find the avid elixir CR carbon's for less than the £280 it would cost on CRC?

    thanks for your advice so far.
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I'd say no - the Hopes are down on power and up on price compared to much of the opposition.

    Though lower power may suit some riders and bikes/terrain. Always best to try of course.

    Would not be where my money goes.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    where would your money go then?
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I'd get the Elixir 5 for 135 quid a pair.

    For 200 the CR:

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... e-set.html
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    Well I've got Formula Oro's on my Meta 5 with 180mm rotors and I find them excellent for their exceedingly light weight weight. Not sure if they still do Oros or whether Formula RX is the replacement.

    I've also got the new 160mm Hope Race X2s, also extremely light, on my Cotic Soul and they do look lovely with red rotor spiders, but are expensive and also not very powerful (but ok for xc).

    Weights for both are I believe well under the other brakes mentioned above.
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    final question: what about these?

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... s-10-35528
    for sale here

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=49251

    is 351g a believable weight and do you reckon CRC include rotors and mounts?
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Weight seems about right, but 300 quid a set opens up many more options... might be here a while lol.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    but arn't they 240 a set? or does the price on CRC not include rotors?
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I must have read the price wrong. Don't know about rotors - ask CRC.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    ok, cheers for all your help.

    i'll stop spamming bike radar with questions about brakes.

    1st choice Formula RX 351g if the price at @£240 includes rotors
    2nd choice Avid Elixir CR 432g @£200
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude