Quantcast

XT Trail/M785 Brakes for DH?

pinkgoat

Chimp
Dec 11, 2007
56
3
Australia
Anyone had any time on the new XT trail brakes?

I saw the thread on the XTR versions and feedback was the were pretty good, I take it XT's would be same/similar?

My elixirs have sh1t themselves and I dont want anymore Avids, but don't want to cough up for Saints or Formulas either.

Thanks.
 

ucsbMTBmember

Monkey
Nov 20, 2009
137
0
i rode the previous generation XT's on my DH sled for a long time. They worked flawlessly for me, even spent a week in mammoth with them and they performed well.
 

richgardiner

Monkey
Aug 19, 2008
224
26
Im using them on my Demo 8 & loving them! Very easy to set up, light, good solid lever feel and predictable. Much cheaper than the xtr's too
 

staike

Monkey
May 19, 2011
247
0
Norway
Looks more shining and the XTR got those notches in the lever blade for better grip. Nothing that a dremel won't fix. :D
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,479
4,719
Australia
Just a set onto my Covert, can say right away they'd have plenty of power for DH. Every bit as grabby as my Saints on the DH bike. Nicer lever too IMO, although its a lot shorter so I'm running the lever on the outside of the shifter.
 

mullarks

Chimp
May 9, 2008
33
0
I've been running them on my DH bike for about 5 months now including 5 days of riding in Whistler with no issues, they are great brakes. The only downside is that the finned brake pads are really expensive, but I am pretty sure you can get non-finned pads for much cheaper now.
 

MmmBones

Monkey
May 8, 2011
272
84
Porkland, OR
Yes. ^ SLX would make for a great DH brake as well. I have been using XTR trail brakes with both standard and Ice-tech rotors, on my DH bike, with outstanding results. The XT and SLX's should perform similarly to to the XTR's, as they have the same ceramic piston, heat sink pad and master cylinder design, but at a much lower price. For best performance to $ ratio, I'd go SLX with Ice-tech rotors. Shimano calipers and levers are sold separately, and can be used interchangeably. Good deals can be found on the individual components if you want to take the time to build your own brake system. For example, I bought XTR trail levers (online, sorry LBS) below most wholesalers' cost and hooked 'em up to some XT calipers. The pads aren't really that much more expensive than any other and they are less likely to glaze from heat, especially with Ice-tech rotors.
 

Freeridin'

Monkey
Oct 23, 2006
316
2
Colorado
Why did you decide to do XTR lever to XT calipers and not the other way around? XTR uses a one piece caliper where as XT does not.
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
I have a superfly here full SLX,brakes blow anything avid out the water in terms of feel.

new rumblefish has avids on it,worst feeling sticky brakes ever.Like most other avids we have here on oem's
 

-BB-

I broke all the rules, but somehow still became mo
Sep 6, 2001
4,254
28
Livin it up in the O.C.
Just a set onto my Covert, can say right away they'd have plenty of power for DH. Every bit as grabby as my Saints on the DH bike. Nicer lever too IMO, although its a lot shorter so I'm running the lever on the outside of the shifter.
That is a valid opinion... Personally I have saints and XT's and I like the saints a lot more. Better feel, more power.
 

Routier07

Monkey
Mar 14, 2009
259
0
Any updates on the XT M788 or the XTR M988 for DH.

Im in around 220lb geared up, and I'm currently running Saints with 203 front and 180 rear. I'm also finding them to be abit too grabby at times.
 

pinkgoat

Chimp
Dec 11, 2007
56
3
Australia
Well I ended up getting them a few months ago, and they are amazing!

I only weigh 150lbs so not sure how they would fare for bigger dudes, but so far for me they have been flawless.

Routier07 - You could always swap the levers out for XT/XTR? I'm not sure how this would affect power (if at all) but the newer lever design certainly feels nicer (more natural throw). This is a popular combo down under..
 

Routier07

Monkey
Mar 14, 2009
259
0
Pinkgoat, thanks for the feedback!

I did try the XTR trail levers matched to Saint calipers and didn't like the lever throw, was abit too long for my tastes. I have a customers bike at work with XTR trail brakes and noticed the throw was abit shorter. Im just wondering if the XTRs or XTs would resist fade with 203mm rotors front and back..
 

bullit398

Chimp
Oct 21, 2007
69
1
Neptune, NJ
Pinkgoat, thanks for the feedback!

I did try the XTR trail levers matched to Saint calipers and didn't like the lever throw, was abit too long for my tastes. I have a customers bike at work with XTR trail brakes and noticed the throw was abit shorter. Im just wondering if the XTRs or XTs would resist fade with 203mm rotors front and back..
I have yet to ride my m9 since putting them on but on my trail bike with 180/160 they showed no signs of fade on extended steep dh trails that used to toast my elixirs.
 

Uncle Cliffy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 28, 2008
4,490
42
Southern Oregon
I heard the XTs are better with Saints as they have more resi space. Can't confirm this as fact.
I've had them on my M9 for a couple months now. (with Saint caliper.)

Compared to my full XTR Trails on another bike, there's definitely excessive lever throw. But, a big improvement over the stock Saint levers. It's all in the pivot point IMO.