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'12 Avid Elixir 9 VS '12 Shimano XT Brakes

kgbdhbiker

Chimp
Apr 2, 2011
14
0
I know these are 2012 brakes, but think they were available last year. Anyone have opinions/experience on either and/or both??
I know XT has new ICE rotors and finned pads that supposedly work, and Elixir 9 has new bladder in internals to make them more reliable while still remaining adjustable.

I will set these up 200mm front and 160mm rear on my 7" do anything all mountain/gravity based.

Anyone have any help?
 

Optimax150

Monkey
Aug 1, 2008
208
0
Japan
I thought this was a joke, but seemingly you're serious.

XT hands down.

You're obviously aware that there have been issues with the Elixirs, so why even take a chance on the improved version when you can choose the XTs
What was some of the issues with the Elixirs?
 

Hougham

Monkey
Mar 28, 2007
375
3
XT hands down the better brake in my eyes. They not only feel so much nicer to me but more so they are a LOT more durable and simple nicer to work on.
 

zdubyadubya

Turbo Monkey
Apr 13, 2008
1,273
96
Ellicott City, MD
I am one of THE biggest SRAM fanbois... but XT all the way man. Shimano does two things very very right in this industry: brakes and cranks. There is no (logical) reason to run anything else in those departments...
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
Shimano does two things very very right in this industry: brakes and cranks. There is no (logical) reason to run anything else in those departments...
I agree on the cranks, but brakes is a different story. They do not only need to perform well but they have to fit you too. I tried hard to like Shimano brakes a couple of times but for some reason the ergonomics just feel wrong to me. Same with Magura but no problem with Avid or Formula. :confused:
 

simontac

Chimp
Jul 29, 2010
96
0
I thought this was a joke, but seemingly you're serious.

XT hands down.

You're obviously aware that there have been issues with the Elixirs, so why even take a chance on the improved version when you can choose the XTs

KGB, I think contactjt is being overly sarcastic - hopefully jokingly. Fair question I think.

I had previous gen 2010 Elixir CR on a DH bike with 8" and 7". I had none of the issues with bleeding or others that were reported with reliability. Having said that - they just didn't feel 'great'. Good for sure, just not great. So when I read that the new Elixir package is better all around (according to Avid and supposed 'independant' industry review, I am interested... And with them being in use last summer are early 2012 releases, some people should have some time on them.
As for the 2012 Shimano XT - they too were out last summer. I have never ridden them, so can't give an opinion. BUT have ridden previous gen XT and can say for sure that they could have used some work - which Shimano and 'independant' reviews says is the case - with many going so far as to say they are very very very good indeed. Many rank them as their favourite brake (other than elite XTR/etc level stuff).

So valid question, a thread I am reading and watching as I too will buy new brakes in the next few weeks - and these fall into the same pricepoint, and general targeted performance point.
 

baca262

Monkey
Aug 16, 2011
392
0
They do not only need to perform well but they have to fit you too. I tried hard to like Shimano brakes a couple of times but for some reason the ergonomics just feel wrong to me.
ergonomics are one of the things i like the most about my m775 xt's, the lever pivot position fits me way better than on a elixir r i still have around here somewhere.
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,479
4,719
Australia
The XT levers are kinda short but if you can work with that there's no reason to even consider the Avid offerings. I've finally changed from Avid to Shimano on all my bikes and I'm not going back anytime soon.
 

Uncle Cliffy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 28, 2008
4,490
42
Southern Oregon
I am one of THE biggest SRAM fanbois... but XT all the way man. Shimano does two things very very right in this industry: brakes and cranks. There is no (logical) reason to run anything else in those departments...
Do yourself a favor and demo the current drivetrain stuff. Their new shifters have me switching all my bikes back after years running X9/X0 stuff. Lighter action, and the double down-shift of the "dual release" rules! I'm full Shimano after hating on them for a decade.

And I haven't even tried a "Shadow Plus" derailleur yet...
 

frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
I've been Sram drivetrain fan for years. Not only because, I could, from time to time, get free RDs from a friend at Sram. But also, because I loved light action, low weight, cool design of X.9 RDs.
But I couldn't count on freebies everytime I damaged RD, so I have to turn to more cost efficient X.7. Still, very nice RD.
I've kept using Sram drivetrain, coz I didn't like hard fill and loud noise made by recent XTR and XT while changing gears. Especially by FD and shifter.
However, I've just seen 2013 SLX with Shadow Plus technology. Updated XT will certainly be equipped with this stuff for 2013, too.
So, as I plan to switch to XT brakes, I though it would make a sense to try Shimano drivetrain, again, for a change. If there is some spare money in my pocket, go for XT Shadow Plus SGS, if not, choose SLX.
The question is, what cassette shall I choose? I currently own 11-28 SLX/Saint 9sp, which is assembled on aluminum spider (good for aluminum cassette body hubs) and weighs 231g (which is lightest MTB casstette Shimano makes). I would have to go for 10sp. I am thinking about road 105 or Ultegra.
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
Do yourself a favor and demo the current drivetrain stuff. Their new shifters have me switching all my bikes back after years running X9/X0 stuff. Lighter action, and the double down-shift of the "dual release" rules! I'm full Shimano after hating on them for a decade.

And I haven't even tried a "Shadow Plus" derailleur yet...

the brakes,seriously speak for themselves aswell.

All I do Is let customers feel avids over shimanos,and its not hard for them to decide.
 

exzackly

Chimp
Feb 7, 2012
2
0
ideally, the Avids should perform much better than the Shimano brakes. They have the benefit of the DOT fluid, which is the perfect medium for this application - it was engineered for this purpose. The problem is, they don't. Mineral oil is really not a good hydraulic fluid but we are talking about bicycles. With that in mind, do you really want a caustic and toxic fluid on your bike? You'll have to bleed them eventually and DOT fluid can damage many materials. A friend was bleeding his and answered his phone with a small amount on his hands. It ruined the phones finish. Sometimes it can take a day or so to destroy something so I just wonder how much has been destroyed without even realizing what destroyed it. DOT fluid is bad stuff. Do yourself a favor and "forgettable it." Besides, the XT's offer better performance - along with other benefits. And its Shimano. They BEEN in da game.
 

Bedlam

Monkey
Feb 13, 2010
240
0
Under ground
I haven't owned a pair of Shimano brakes, and I run Avids on all my bikes and have been more or less forever. I guess I'm one of those lucky enough to never have had problems with the bleeding (sure, I've swapped the fluid once a year, but I find that to be regular maintenance to keep things fresh)... Actually, I've pretty much never heard of anyone having the problems RM say "all Avid brakes" suffer from outside of the internet, and pretty much the whole downhill scene in Sweden run Avids..

I feel everytime I try a new Shimano brake that they have some sort of "notch" in the beginning of the stroke of the lever that has to be overcome before it starts moving, which totally messes up the modulation for me (corrently being used to 2012 Code R, adjusted close to the handle and biting early. 200f/180b discs..)

Is that "notchy" feeling something that you get used to, or is it just the ones I have tried that has been weird?
 

staike

Monkey
May 19, 2011
247
0
Norway
I feel everytime I try a new Shimano brake that they have some sort of "notch" in the beginning of the stroke of the lever that has to be overcome before it starts moving, which totally messes up the modulation for me (corrently being used to 2012 Code R, adjusted close to the handle and biting early. 200f/180b discs..)

Is that "notchy" feeling something that you get used to, or is it just the ones I have tried that has been weird?
It's because of the useless free stroke screw. Turn it all the way in and it's completely gone.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,927
14,444
where the trails are
I have a new set of XTs, 810 Saints, older 800 2piston Saints, Formula The Ones, and a 12 year old pair of 755s with servo-wave levers, on various bikes.

In the past I've owned Juicy 5s, 7s, I've tried Exilirs, and didn't like any of them. I've tried Codes and do like those.

I love these newest XT versions; the one finger lever is perfect for me, they have the same consistent modulation I've grown used to and have tons of stopping power. I have a bit of an intermittent howl in the rear brake which is weird as Shimano brakes are normally totally silent, I'll clean the rotor and pads, check all bolts and I expect that will go away. Overall they're awesome, and I'd run them on my DH bike with large rotors and dh compound pads.
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
I have strong opinions about a completely redesigned brake that has the same name as something I didn't like 3 years ago.
 

jnooth

Monkey
Sep 19, 2008
384
1
Vermont Country
I have owned elixers and codes. Love them. I also havent had the issues that others have claimed. My elixers have been on my DH bike for 1.5 years and they have been consistent and always felt great. I have never owned xt's but I have spent a fair amount of time on a buddies bike that had them. I have nothing negative to say about them. they also worked well although I wasnt in love with the lever design. maybe I would get used to it but in the 4-5 rides I did with them i never did.

For me, there is no reason to try anything new.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
doesn't matter, had shimano.

i haven't tried either of these brakes but every shimano brakeset I've had has been infinitely reliable compared to anything else I've used. Those new saint brakes look glorious too. My only complaint about them is the non-split perch and the crappy lever blade feel. Both of those look to be worked out for the ice tech brakes.