Which Disk Brakes?!

lazyarsehole

I am looking at some new brakes for my hardtail but I am a little unsure of which to go for as there are a number of good deals on good brakes at the minute.

I am currently looking at:

Shimano XT m775
Avid Elixir CR Mag
Hope Tech X2
Formula RX

Which are the better brakes or are there any others that would be a more worthier purchase? All of these I can currently get for similar prices with adaptors and rotors, looking at around £250-£300 max on a pair.

Andy B

preferred choice in order from your selection:

1 Formula RX
2 Hope Tech X2
3 XT M775
4 Avid

The Northern Monkey

XTR set for £200.
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... KE-SET.htm

The Northern Monkey

Andy B wrote:

preferred choice in order from your selection:

1 Formula RX
2 XT M775
3 Hope Tech X2
4 Avid

I agree

getonyourbike

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Andy B wrote:

preferred choice in order from your selection:

1 Formula RX
2 XT M775
3 Hope Tech X2
4 Avid

I agree

defo that order. I'd love some XTR trail brakes but they cost a fortune.

njee20

defo that order. I'd love some XTR trail brakes but they cost a fortune.

I've got some XTR Race brakes and they're awesome - lovely lever feel, plenty of power and feel, the trail's are only about £160 per end, I'd definitely go for those.

Conversely last year I had Avid XXs and they were utter toss!

lazyarsehole

Formula RX with rotors and adaptors would be just shy of £300
(add an extra £18 for white - tempting)

Hope Tech X2 with rotors and adaptors would be £280
(add an extra £20 for floating rotors front and rear and £18 for braided hoses)

It's looking like either of the two, both would cost me around £320 as I will likely go with floating rotors and braided hoses on the hopes. So which is it to be?!



I would love to say the XTR Trail brakes are in the mix as well BUT at £160 per brake without disks or mounts/adaptors they are over my budget unfortunatly...

ride_whenever

formula every time, face melting amounts of power.

cavegiant

+1 on the Formulas as well.
Hopes are more bling, but formula perform better.

Northwind

Stock answer, Formula Oro K24s are still cheap from the Formula factory store, they're the old model but still stand up in this company no bother, and cost half your budget. None of your list is worth spending the extra for.

The RX is the Oro replacement but it's been getting a bit of a mixed reception. Set I had a play with felt fine though, a wee bit "squeezy" but that might have just been setup.

lazyarsehole

I did notice that full sets are going for £160 but I thought they would be outdated and hard to get hold of replacement parts seeing as they have been replaced by the RX...

Northwind

Wouldn't think so, they were an OEM brake on lots of bikes so there's millions out there. Formula still carry parts for older models.

(if parts availablilty is a concern, remove the XTs from your list )

The Northern Monkey

Northwind wrote:

Wouldn't think so, they were an OEM brake on lots of bikes so there's millions out there. Formula still carry parts for older models.

(if parts availablilty is a concern, remove the XTs from your list )

:?:

Northwind

Parts availability is censored for Shimano... Try ordering piston seals. On the other side they're reliable in the first place but I had to buy a whole new caliper rather than a £2 seal for mine, annnoying.

Dirtydog11

Some good deals on Formula brakes here

http://purebike.fr/en/brakes-and-access ... f10d68dfd8

going for the green and white RX R1s myself.

jayson

Put some XT brakes on my old bike and even with huge 203mm rotors they dint have as much stoppin power as i was expectin especially considering the big rotors.

Maybe im just the exception but i dont think i'd buy them again. I can hear a set of Saints callin my name but £400 is alot of money........ :shock:

Northwind

XTs should give you pretty good power... They're not the strongest but even with 180 on the front they did me fine at fort william.

lawman

hope's anyday of the week, or formula if you can push the boat out, the latest avids have a shocking reliabilty record, shimano are equally bad in my experience, the only sets of brakes ive never seen problems with are hopes, in my riding group we have about 10 pairs for damn good reason, although i have to say formula run them close for performance imo, but i do love my hopes, especially my new ones

lazyarsehole

Decision has been made and product has been purchased.

Gone for the formula RX's in the end as they seem to be a popular vote and have read many good reviews. Also the white and red with black works very well with my bike. Oh, and I got the pair for £152 including 48hr delivery ... SWEET!

getonyourbike

lazyarsehole wrote:

Decision has been made and product has been purchased.

Gone for the formula RX's in the end as they seem to be a popular vote and have read many good reviews. Also the white and red with black works very well with my bike. Oh, and I got the pair for £152 including 48hr delivery ... SWEET!

£152 for a pair!!! thats mad, nice one Where from?

lazyarsehole

£152 IS slightly bonkers, and that's with rotors and adaptors too... 2010 model but they have hardly changed for 2011... May look at getting the reach adjust dial and fcs (feel control system) to get these properly sorted!!!

cloudynights

most good bike shops will say fit hope tech 2 or better or shimano xt or better they both just work and dont eat pads away