New brakes... any suggestions

Hadaka · September 2011

I have a specialized enduro 06

I need to replace my brakes.... As with most of us, money is a little tight so I have to watch what I am spending... I am thinking about Avid elixir 5's? your thoughts on these or any other suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers

1mancity2 · September 2011

What type of riding do you undertake and whats your budget?

Hadaka · September 2011

1mancity2 wrote:

What type of riding do you undertake and whats your budget?

Just trail - xc riding...Epping/Thetford forest sort of stuff....and some road

Budget would be... well I would like it to be under £200 if possible... but could stretch to a little more if it was worth it.

Thanks

felix.london · September 2011

with that budget I'd get these...£195 the pair (if you get the rear post-mount LH lever)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=23049

101_North · September 2011

felix.london wrote:

with that budget I'd get these...£195 the pair (if you get the rear post-mount LH lever)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=23049

If going Shimano those are decent brakes but not a good deal when you can get the new XT M785's for less:

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=13& ... 85&x=0&y=0

You need to swap the levers over but it's an easy job and the postage (mine took 3 days) is only a fiver.

101

felix.london · September 2011

A good deal indeed. How easy is it to swap the levers round?

101_North · September 2011

Easy enough. Everything you need comes with the brake except mineral oil but with a bit of care it can be done without needing a bleed. I bled mine just to be sure but others have done it without a bleed.

101

felix.london · September 2011

Yeah I did my Deores with the sheath from some telephone cable, a plastic bag and an elastic band! - all good. So same system for all Shimano brakes I guess?

Pudseyp · September 2011

XT £150
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... KE-SET.htm

Elixir CR £180 (Carbon or Magnesium £199)
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... r_1852.htm

felix.london · September 2011

just re-read your post - "without a bleed" - I read without a "bleed kit" - sorry

Yeah think I'd bleed em too just to be on the safe side

felix.london · September 2011

101_North wrote:

You need to swap the levers over but it's an easy job and the postage (mine took 3 days) is only a fiver.

101

All the bikes have their brakes that way (the wrong way) round over here anyway. Pain in the ass when you borrow or get a test bike from a shop

Maybe it's a case of when in Rome...

Pudseyp · September 2011

Sorry why pay £180 for a set without discs and the fact that you will have to buy a bleed kit at another £40 ot get a LBS to do it...when you can buy the older version with discs ready bled and ready to for for £150 ???

If you were prepared to do this for the new XT and pay arround £220...I would chuck another £80 and get a complete set of new servo wave XTR with rotors, ready bled with all adaptors from Merlin
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... SC-SET.htm

felix.london · September 2011

£170 with delivery for the latest XTs isn't bad

I'm presuming the OP already has discs fitted

And you don't need a bleed kit to bleed Shimano brakes

Saying all that, I agree with you - I'd go for the older model for £150, gain a 'free' set of discs, eliminate the hassle of lever swapping & bleeding and save a score! sweeeet

junglist_matty · September 2011

Best value, I'd recommend these for £126 inc. rotors and adaptors....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=53568

I've got them on my On-One and they perform more than well enough for me on 160mm rotors and I'm 200lbs in weight!

estampida · September 2011

hayes

I have a set of 9's that are 8 years old, never been stripped

2 pairs of strokers, very nice

never been a fan of the shimano and avid offerings

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hayes-Stroker ... 236wt_1185

and at that price

GhallTN6 · September 2011

Hadaka wrote:

I am thinking about Avid elixir 5's? your thoughts on these or any other suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers

I have these, they are OK, do the job but I'm not too impressed, took ages to line up, the modulation isn't that great, and they can make a lot of noise when braking, apparently they are a bit of a nightmare to bleed as well. they came on a new bike so didn't have a choice, I prefered the Home Mini's, and they have nothing on the M4's I have on my other bike.

Personally, there are better brakes out there, I hear good things about Shimano, find yourself a bargain on ebay.

felix.london · September 2011

junglist_matty wrote:

Best value, I'd recommend these for £126 inc. rotors and adaptors....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=53568

I've got them on my On-One and they perform more than well enough for me on 160mm rotors and I'm 200lbs in weight!

save a tenner if you get them from here;

http://www.kompressor-bike.com/paire-de ... anguage=en

pastey_boy · September 2011

some serious offers to mull over. the mega brake is especially tempting as its the same brake as formula's the one brake apart from the missing tool free reach adjuster.
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/sp ... rake-set-2
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/brake-set-mega-4
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/br ... oro-bianco

Hadaka · September 2011

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions so far...I will have to re-read this thread a few times to digest all the info.

I have Juicy 3's at the moment...rear pistons are seized, if they can't be fixed (which I don't think they can) then I will be looking to get new brakes.

I am a bit of a lump so I do need something thats gonna stop me

Bike Bloke · September 2011

I have the "old" XT brakes, they're great and very easy to bleed!

kenan · September 2011

pastey_boy wrote:

some serious offers to mull over. the mega brake is especially tempting as its the same brake as formula's the one brake apart from the missing tool free reach adjuster.
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/sp ... rake-set-2
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/brake-set-mega-4
http://store.formula-brake.com/items/br ... oro-bianco

I would also look at Formula brakes. Both my bikes have Formula brakes and friends I know have sold various brake set-ups to change to Formula after trying mine.

CycloRos · September 2011

The Deore 595s would be my choice - http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Brakes/Disc+Brakes/Shimano+Disc+Brakes/Shimano+Deore+595+Disc+Brake+Set+-+Front++Rear_DEORE-DISC-BRAKE-SET.htm

although those Forumla k18s posted earlier look a bargain!

EdW · September 2011

rosebikes.co.uk have 2012 Shimano brakes at very good prices. You need to order front, rear, adapters & rotors (if required) separately & swap levers around.

Prices for front, rear & adapters are approx:
Deore M596 £80
SLX M666 £118
XT M785 £140
Plus postage which about £5.

I got my XT M775's from them about 6 months ago, much cheaper than anywhere else & arrived within 3 days. I managed to cut hoses to length & swap levers without needing to bleed. Don't know if the 2012 versions are as easy though.

They also have Avid & Formula brakes.

Hadaka · September 2011

Thanks all for your suggestions.... there was much to look at.

I decided to go with some Shimano XT 775's

I got a full set of front and rear including rotors, for £149.95 inc del, from Merlin cycles.

Great sevrice from the guys at Merlin, I ordered them yesterday afternoon(Thurs) and then have just been delivered (am Fri) not bad at all.

Just have to get them fitted now....

Thanks to all of you for your imput.

New brakes... any suggestions

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