XT v SLX brakes which would you buy?

stubs

After messing about with my Avid Elixirs trying to get a good bleed and consistent lever feel I have had enough and decided the big S is the way ahead.

I was going to order the SLX M666 off Merlin but they are out of stock at the moment. Looking at the XT M785s now, they are in stock at Merlin but is a bit more shinyness worth it. :?

What would you do wait till the SLX are back in stock or go for the XT.

ricardo_smooth

XT from rose bikes and swap the hoses over on the levers (piece of piss, jus undo and swap without pressing on the levers!)

Briggo

Stop being a donkey and set the Avids up properly its pish.

ricardo_smooth

Briggo wrote:

Stop being a donkey and set the Avids up properly its pish.

they are wank though

omegas

ricardo_smooth wrote:

they are wank though

They are only as good as the person setting them up.

ricardo_smooth

ha, I just mean in general when compared to the new shimano stuff (yes i've had both) Avids are so wooden!

steelie600

Ive only got deores and the lever feel is exactly how I like my motorbike brakes. And the action/power is superb. Tried a mates bike today with Avids and it was like being back on V brakes

stubs

Briggo wrote:

Stop being a donkey and set the Avids up properly its pish.

They are crap you can get a good solid bleed and halfway through a ride the lever either goes wooden or has too much travel. There is just no consistency and I never feel confident hammering into a fast corner, will I overshoot and end up cuddling a drystone wall or will I lock the front wheel and headbut the ground. Plus they eat pads its a pisser changing pads because one pad (never the same side) has disappeared while the other is still halfway through its life. Oh and the fecking Avid warble another plus point for another brand.

Looking at the Deores as well now they seem to get brilliant reviews.

Briggo

Elixir Rs on the Stumpy
Elixir 5s on the Whyte

Never once have I had any trouble with anything you're describing, infact I've only ever bled the Rs once in 2 years and not had to touch the 5s.

stubs

Briggo wrote:

Elixir Rs on the Stumpy
Elixir 5s on the Whyte

Never once have I had any trouble with anything you're describing, infact I've only ever bled the Rs once in 2 years and not had to touch the 5s.

These are Elixir CR a different brake lever completely. They have an adjuster on the barrel and a different bleed point to the Rs and 5s. They are well known to be fecking impossible to get a consistent feel. I realised quite quickly why they were cheap on ebay

stubs

Just noticed the SLX and Deore have fixed angle hoses at the caliper which could be an awkward fit on the back. The XT has a banjo bolt.

Dix pointe to the XT.

dusk

I've got XT, the free stroke adjustment is rubbish so don't see that as a reason to get them over slx's

DodgeT

I got the older 665's and they are very good, especially considering 115 new with discs.

To note also have elixir cr's and they have been nothing short of very good too. Have you thought of giving them a service/overhaul?

YeehaaMcgee

Briggo wrote:

Elixir Rs on the Stumpy
Elixir 5s on the Whyte

Never once have I had any trouble with anything you're describing, infact I've only ever bled the Rs once in 2 years and not had to touch the 5s.

Have you actually compared them to any newer Shimano brakes?

There's a quote somewhere in an engineering book somewhere that goes something like:
"The shortcomings in our technology is only made apparent once it's been superseded"

stubs

DodgeT wrote:

To note also have elixir cr's and they have been nothing short of very good too. Have you thought of giving them a service/overhaul?

Yes I have overhauled them wasted £40 on the caliper and lever service kits rebuilt them surgically with fanatical attention to cleanliness and TADAAH it made sod all difference. The CRs particulary seem to be very hit and miss you either get a fantastic set that works just fine or you get a set that keeps giving a variable feel to the lever. Avid have changed the design and a mate has the latest set and so far he has had zero problems.

CycloRos

Have to agree that the big S have really upped their game in the brake department in the past few years. Don't think you'll be disappointed with either, but with the new deores (m596s) being so good I struggle to see the point in shelling out more.

Briggo

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Briggo wrote:

Elixir Rs on the Stumpy
Elixir 5s on the Whyte

Never once have I had any trouble with anything you're describing, infact I've only ever bled the Rs once in 2 years and not had to touch the 5s.

Have you actually compared them to any newer Shimano brakes?

There's a quote somewhere in an engineering book somewhere that goes something like:
"The shortcomings in our technology is only made apparent once it's been superseded"

Why would I? I can't afford to buy everything to 'try' it, additionally I have no problems with my Elixirs and they do exactly what I need them to do.

No wooden feel, no durability problems.

stubs

CycloRos wrote:

Have to agree that the big S have really upped their game in the brake department in the past few years. Don't think you'll be disappointed with either, but with the new deores (m596s) being so good I struggle to see the point in shelling out more.

But the XTs are shinier

The only reason I wont be going with the Deore is the fixed hose angle on the caliper. Nothing wrong with the brakes they look great and have more power than the XTs according to a couple of tests I have read. I got a cheque off the premium bonds yesterday and that will pay to get my suspension serviced at Mojo and for a bit of pimping on the bike so I think its XT for me.

Caller

At least it's not just me then.

I seem to have nothing but bother with my Elixir R's lately. I'm currently undecided between XT's or Hope Evo X2's as a replacement.

stevieboy308

i've just bought a set of xt's for the very same reason i got them from tweeks for just under 165 delivered, but if you'll need to shorten them you might as well get them from rose and swap them over.

avids are shit

stubs

stevieboy308 wrote:

i've just bought a set of xt's for the very same reason i got them from tweeks for just under 165 delivered, but if you'll need to shorten them you might as well get them from rose and swap them over.

avids are shoot

Unfortunately Rose seem to be out of stock at the moment

I will have a look at Tweeks

YeehaaMcgee

Briggo wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Briggo wrote:

Elixir Rs on the Stumpy
Elixir 5s on the Whyte

Never once have I had any trouble with anything you're describing, infact I've only ever bled the Rs once in 2 years and not had to touch the 5s.

Have you actually compared them to any newer Shimano brakes?

There's a quote somewhere in an engineering book somewhere that goes something like:
"The shortcomings in our technology is only made apparent once it's been superseded"

Why would I? I can't afford to buy everything to 'try' it, additionally I have no problems with my Elixirs and they do exactly what I need them to do.

No wooden feel, no durability problems.

Well, you're probably not the most useful contributor then, no offence intended. If you've only ever tried Avids, and are happy with them, how does that help someone who does have Avids, but is unhappy with them?

Briggo

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Well, you're probably not the most useful contributor then

The irony.

I'm not comparing, merely stating that Avids when set up correctly (as others have also said) are good brakes, do you really need to get rid of them.

However it turned out he has the CR versions which my mate had trouble with.

Get back in your hole.

YeehaaMcgee

Rich, coming from you.

andymc06

Someone has dropped their handbag!

DodgeT

stevieboy308 wrote:

avids are shoot

I must be lucky with brakes then. Had juicy 3's, 5's and cr's on various bikes and all have been spot on.

YeehaaMcgee

DodgeT wrote:

stevieboy308 wrote:

avids are shoot

I must be lucky with brakes then. Had juicy 3's, 5's and cr's on various bikes and all have been spot on.

What did you compare them to?

DodgeT

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

DodgeT wrote:

stevieboy308 wrote:

avids are shoot

I must be lucky with brakes then. Had juicy 3's, 5's and cr's on various bikes and all have been spot on.

What did you compare them to?

Formulas and slx. Granted I never asked too much of the formulas, 3 and 5's as hadn't been back biking long when I had them so couldn't say if they were as strong, but for the purpose of a brake for general xc use they were absolutely fine.
Been riding / braking harder withe the bike with the cr's and slx's and don't think I'd notice a difference between the 2.

felix.london

I've got Elixir R's on the Session and I have to say I'm not overly impressed with them. They work OK but the build quality compared to my 6 year old Deore's on the Rockhopper is pretty poor - especially the levers which wobble all over the place.

Was looking at the XT's so I could free up the Deore's for the Snap build but missed my chance as Rose are now saying they wont be available for 12 weeks..missed a chance there as could have had a set delivered for less than £125!

Now looking at the BR-M446's for the Snap - very cheap - see other post
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12862185

Giraffoto

felix.london wrote:

Now looking at the BR-M446's for the Snap - very cheap - see other post

Deore is the lowest level in the Shimano catalogue at which you get the Servo Wave function in the lever - so the BR-M446, coming in below this, doesn't.

felix.london

Giraffoto wrote:

felix.london wrote:

Now looking at the BR-M446's for the Snap - very cheap - see other post

Deore is the lowest level in the Shimano catalogue at which you get the Servo Wave function in the lever - so the BR-M446, coming in below this, doesn't.

Got it. Cheers for that

Think I'll hold out and try and find a set of XT's at a decent price (new or used) for the 'hopper and whack the Deore's on the Snap as per original plan