DH brakes: Shimano Saint Vs Formula K24

I have a set of Saints, although they are on my hardtail and do not see DH use. That said; they are incredibly powerful, offer excellent modulation (almost on par with my old 755 xts), they're Shimano so bleeding is a simple and very infrequent process, and now that they use a post mount setup is a breeze. Also the stock levers are marginally better then the older Shimano levers.

The Saints have a lever reach screw only. I'm only 180lbs but I would recommend them without a doubt.

I only have experience with the Saints, so no comparison to the K24s here, but I will say this...

I switched to Saints this year for DH and swear I will never go back to any other brake for a long time. They are the most simple, cleanest brakes I have ever had. The lever is small, sleak, and fits my finger perfectly. They don't make noise. They come with 2 sets of pads, metallic and organic. They are also super strong, all the power you should ever need.

ArthurDH said:

thing is i'm coming from a pair of hayes 9, and i would like to get the most improvement i can without spending stellar amounts of money... can i safely assume that the saints will be WORLDS better than my hayes nines?

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YES. :biggrin:

A well setup set of Hayes nines are not that bad at all really.

I have used both Saints and Formulas extensively.
The Formulas have a slight edge in performance over the Saints.
They are both excellent brakes, both in power and modulation.
Either of them will make you wonder how you ever managed with the Hayes brakes.

1soulrider said:

I have used both Saints and Formulas extensively.
The Formulas have a slight edge in performance over the Saints.
They are both excellent brakes, both in power and modulation.
Either of them will make you wonder how you ever managed with the Hayes brakes.

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That's actually kind of odd........in just the one run I took on your bike, I remember thinking your brakes weren't quite as strong as mine. I don't remember......you have a 180mm rotor on the back?

It was extremely minor, but just something I remember. It might have even been just the difference in our lever positions.

I can say the short lever throw on those formulas is awesome.

But yeah.....I'd be happy with either. Anything by shimano, formula, or avid is going to be a big improvement over something like hayes or hope.

Ive set up saints with goodridge lines and aftermarket levers on a pile of bikes. You could be in a drunken stupor and still bleed and set them up perfectly. They have tons of power and it seems almost anyone that jumps on a bike Ive set up with saints comments on how good they feel.

Maintenance is a non-issue.

I awful lot of people I talk to in the shop, on forums and lost of people I have just met on rides have all said that the hopes are not very good. Most people tend to say get Avids as there so much better. But every person I have met face to face on my bike that have said that I have offered a go on my bike. Every single one has turned round after and admitted there dam good. I don’t really get what is going on. I only have a old Mono Ti 6 with a 200 odd mm disc on the front and Mono 4 with 180 on the back on my current DH bike. Even when they are hot you can lock both the front and rear wheel with only one finger. I do not really know what is going on. All I can think of is that perhaps it is that people have tried a poor set? But then why so many people would say the same think I know not. Perhaps its all hype and people are just going with what other people say? Perhaps this is a subject for another discussion. But I would recommend you have a good try your self of a brake before spending your cash. But I would tend to agree with the Saint recommendation. Primarily as there simple to setup like the hope. But unlike the hopes there cheap.

codes, codes, codes

I'm sold on the Saints. Anyone know where the deals are at ?

best deal is Jensonusa. Each caliper is 65$ w/rotor & adapter but you may need a differnt one depending on your fork,

LX levers are on sale for 59 a set

Then you just have hose to get.

so you're looking at $200 + hoses

you shoulda had jason at sicklines put those code calipers on juicy ultimate levers like he did for imself or juicy carbon like he did for me, kept the wieht dow, with the ultimatre levers they wieghed the same as juicy 7's

jvnixon said:

best deal is Jensonusa. Each caliper is 65$ w/rotor & adapter but you may need a differnt one depending on your fork,

LX levers are on sale for 59 a set

Then you just have hose to get.

so you're looking at $200 + hoses

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-Are LX levers same as Saint and XT ?
-Aren't the rotors centerlock specific ? (buy a seperate set)
-Can you run 180/160 rotors w/ Shimano ?

gmac said:

-Are LX levers same as Saint and XT ?

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All shimano levers are interchangeable with each other, i've felt no difference between, XT, LX, Saint levers. As far as i know, they're the same. Shimano might say the XT/Saint ones have tighter tolerances in machining, but they've worked the exact same for me across the board.

-Aren't the rotors centerlock specific ? (buy a seperate set)

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Don't quote me on this 100%, but the set of saints I hooked up for my buddy that bought them from Jenson, they came with two rotors (one center lock, and one 6 bolt). You do not have to run centerlock with any shimano brakes, you just need to have the right rotor.

-Can you run 180/160 rotors w/ Shimano ?

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Sure, you just have to get the right adapter, and the right rotor.

Eren said:

you shoulda had jason at sicklines put those code calipers on juicy ultimate levers like he did for imself or juicy carbon like he did for me, kept the wieht dow, with the ultimatre levers they wieghed the same as juicy 7's

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Hehe, sweet brakes indeed! Did you ever get your Straitline levers?

jvnixon said:

Hehe, sweet brakes indeed! Did you ever get your Straitline levers?

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yes sir. definetly siick. they feel awesome. best brakes ive ever ridden. i like the juicy lever on it, feels like more modulation and less on-offy

how yours holdin up?

the best brake in cause of price and quality is the oro k18.
I mounted this brakes with 220mm rotors in the front and rear.
200mm rotors in the rear do also a good job but i wanted this big discs.
For 15 dollars you could convert the k18 to a k24, 30 dollar a pair.
the brakes are awesom against the jucies with 203 rotors.
all looks and feel better.
i spend here in germany with adaptors and 220mm rotors 230€.
plus 25€ for the fcs.
You can mount the gm pads from the limited biancos also.
that's for me at the moment the best brake.

I'm in love with my K24s. I will never own another set of Hayes brakes for as long as I live.

jvnixon said:

Don't quote me on this 100%, but the set of saints I hooked up for my buddy that bought them from Jenson, they came with two rotors (one center lock, and one 6 bolt). You do not have to run centerlock with any shimano brakes, you just need to have the right rotor.

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You can easily get 6 bolt shimano rotors, they are what I run on my bikes.

Transcend said:

You can easily get 6 bolt shimano rotors, they are what I run on my bikes.

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Mmm yea, I was saying that when you buy Saint Caliper's from Jenson USA , they came with both rotors (Centerlock, and 6 bolt).

Eren said:

how yours holdin up?

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They're working awesome for me as well

jvnixon said:

best deal is Jensonusa. Each caliper is 65$ w/rotor & adapter but you may need a differnt one depending on your fork,

LX levers are on sale for 59 a set

Then you just have hose to get.

so you're looking at $200 + hoses

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Yup this is what I did, my saints from jensons only came with centrelocks but I flicked those off pretty quick.

Actually it would seem they no longer have any of the 65 dollar caliper sets, only the more expensive ones.

Shoot me a PM if anyone needs new in bag shimano hoses/fittings. Ive got so many Im about to start throwing them out.

I havent noticed a difference in feel between the lx/xt/saint levers, but I can tell you there is a difference at the piston/seal level between the lx and saint. The saint has a diaphram looking seal on the outside where as the lx doesnt. Not a big deal though....

Straitlines on the saints are sick. The 'DH' xt 6 bolt rotor works perfectly with the saints. I run a 203 up front and a 160 out back to save a few grams.

jvnixon said:

Mmm yea, I was saying that when you buy Saint Caliper's from Jenson USA , they came with both rotors (Centerlock, and 6 bolt).

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Gotcha, that's a good deal.