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XO brakes for DH?

SinatorJ

Monkey
Jul 9, 2002
582
51
AZ
So question for the tech people are they up to the task? Not trying to go extra light, just have a line on a set really cheap. Thanks
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
according to ridemonkey, absolutely not, in fact you'll probably die.

according to everybody else, they'll be just fine.
 

tavaenga

Chimp
Dec 1, 2011
13
1
I've used X0s on my V10C for over a year now, absolutely no problem with stopping power or over-heating, 203mm front / 185mm rear, riding mostly down the slippery slopes of south-east asia and italy. I would say this though;

- lever feel is a bit vague. Im used to it now, dont notice it. 2012 models seem better than 2011.
- like most current avid levers, X0s mount to the handlebar with a basic clamp. ive lost a lever in a crash, probably due to this design. The new Code 4 models have a stronger design, but weigh a lot more. I now use a matchmaker clamp which looks better and I reckon is stronger too.
- 2012 models use T25 caliper bolts not 5mm allen.

Hope this helps!
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,565
24,182
media blackout
if you're getting a good deal, go for it. if you don't like them, i doubt you'd have a hard time reselling them - and you probably wouldn't take a loss.
 

jvnixon

Turbo Monkey
May 14, 2006
2,325
0
SickLines.com
Should be fine. I'd also check the stock pad material they come with. Organic pads were common on a lot of them, I prefer the sintered/metallic ones personally.
 

al-irl

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
1,086
0
A, A
Ive a pair on my 160mm bike and they certainly seem upto the job, I'd have no hesitation recommending them for use on the dh bike.
 
Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
All the pro's run them, if they can do courses like champery with X0s I think their stopping power will be more than enough for your local places.

I had Elixir CRs on my 951, no problem, had the perfect amount of modulation and were always reliable.

Just snapped a carbon lever once
 

Santa Maria

Monkey
Aug 29, 2007
653
0
Austria
All the pro's run them, if they can do courses like champery with X0s I think their stopping power will be more than enough for your local places.

I had Elixir CRs on my 951, no problem, had the perfect amount of modulation and were always reliable.

Just snapped a carbon lever once
Not 100% true, most of the pros ride XO levers with Code Caliber.......
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
My elixirs were barely tolerable on my 25lb XC hardtail, No way I'd run them on a DH bike. Maybe the new X.O DH bikes are better but it will probably be a long time before I run Avid brakes on a bike again. Formula all the way for me.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Not 100% true, most of the pros ride XO levers with Code Caliber.......
most are actually using Elixr 9 levers. the X0 lever still have the bleed port on the pad contact dial which makes good bleeds a pita b/c of all the little air pockets that trap small bubbles. the blackbox riders were using Elixr 9 levers w/ Elixr/X0 calipers
 
Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
My elixirs were barely tolerable on my 25lb XC hardtail, No way I'd run them on a DH bike. Maybe the new X.O DH bikes are better but it will probably be a long time before I run Avid brakes on a bike again. Formula all the way for me.
Ya, I have heard the same. I honestly listen to everyone hate on Avid. But honestly I haven't had a major problem with them, ever. Granted I haven't ridden as long as most others, but I have owned a few set of Avids, but never had a major problem.

I can say i snapped a lever, that its.

But honestly, Saint has really good reviews.d I have no expierence with saint though
 

Santa Maria

Monkey
Aug 29, 2007
653
0
Austria

RideDad

Chimp
Aug 28, 2009
43
0
My only complaint with the 2011 XO brakes were the levers would quickly wear out so that they would not stay in the correct position. You know how Avids can be pushed out from the bar but have a normal spot where they should stay while riding. The XO's wouldn't stay in the correct spot but would spring out to the outer most position which gives you a really long lever pull.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
most are actually using Elixr 9 levers. the X0 lever still have the bleed port on the pad contact dial which makes good bleeds a pita b/c of all the little air pockets that trap small bubbles. the blackbox riders were using Elixr 9 levers w/ Elixr/X0 calipers
aw ****. You mean the "air-trap" feature? My new bike comes with code-calipers and x0-levers. Where is the bleed-port exactly on the x0? Is it just hard to bleed or impossible to bleed proberly like the x 9 or shimano?

http://www.tnc-hamburg.com/TNC-Shop/images/product_images/info_images/19866_0.jpg

http://www.spoke.ie/wp-content/uploads/elixir9_lever_34_storm-grey-ano-compressed2.jpg
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
aw ****. You mean the "air-trap" feature? My new bike comes with code-calipers and x0-levers. Where is the bleed-port exactly on the x0? Is it just hard to bleed or impossible to bleed proberly like the x 9 or shimano?

http://www.tnc-hamburg.com/TNC-Shop/images/product_images/info_images/19866_0.jpg

http://www.spoke.ie/wp-content/uploads/elixir9_lever_34_storm-grey-ano-compressed2.jpg
in the first pic, the pad contact is rotated so you cant see the bleed screw hole. in the second, its protruding from the lever.
its not impossible to bleed. i bled my Exlir CR lever with no problems but ive had to bleed many other CR's or X0's several times to get all the air out. the taper bore has tiny pockets for the air to hide in. they really can be hit or miss.
 

SinatorJ

Monkey
Jul 9, 2002
582
51
AZ
in the first pic, the pad contact is rotated so you cant see the bleed screw hole. in the second, its protruding from the lever.
its not impossible to bleed. i bled my Exlir CR lever with no problems but ive had to bleed many other CR's or X0's several times to get all the air out. the taper bore has tiny pockets for the air to hide in. they really can be hit or miss.
So whats the trick?
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
So whats the trick?
patience. just take your time and do a thorough job. sometimes tapping on the lever will free up some bubbles every once and a while. the levers that come in the "pro bleed kit" are 1000x better then the cheap ones in the consumer kit.

the planets aligning correctly helps too