I just got back from an escape to Bootleg for some much needed sun and warmth. I got a new bike, and a bunch of new goodies as well and I was just dying to get some riding in!!!
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Seeing as how I do more all mountain riding than DH and I’m big weight weenie I went for the new Shimano XTR Trail brakes. I have been scouring the net for info about them and there’s not much out there. I just about went for Formula R1’s since they’re crazy light and surprisingly powerful for an XC race brake. Lots of people are happy with them too.
The Trail brakes are bubbling with fancy features. “20% stronger than previous XTR without gaining a gram” Cooling fins attached to the brake pads. A new foolproof bleeding system to keep fade at bay. Lots of rotor options.
Aside from the striking looks of the brakes the first thing I noticed was the luxurious lever blade feel. Tall, rounded blades with high tech dimples for finger grip make them feel very natural. The lever reach adjuster looks like Saint or XT version that’s easy to reach and has a wide range. I set the lever so it sits really close to the grip for minimal hand fatigue. The Servo Wave feature allows for more clearance between the pads and the rotor. This is also a feature on Saint and XT brakes.
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The lever is freakishly short! If you aren’t looking at it there’s no difference in the feel but it makes you think that they couldn’t possibly be powerful! The short blade requires the lever clamp to be set close to the grip, and the shifter to go back to the other side of the clamp, like the old days. I put my Sram X9 clamp on the other side and moved the shifter on the clamp and it put the shift lever in the right spot, right at the edge of the grip.
Being how Shimano must answer to an army of lawyers the levers have a hinged perch but you can’t open them up without taking a pen and pushing a tiny button in a hole in the side of the clamp. Then they click open. I guess if the bolt falls out you can still kinda stop. You also can’t over tighten them. Crank down the bar to Carbon specs and they easily move on the bar. Brilliant.
Furthermore, Shimano has put it to most other brakes in the durability department. If you crash and tug on the lever blade it can’t explode the master cylinder. The blade it hits the perch, and it isn’t even attached to the pushrod. Freaking awesome.
I expected them to be great trail brakes and hoped they would be passable for extended DH runs with small rotors. I had planned on using larger rotors for real DH action. I’ve used XT brakes in the past and although they have great feel, the power is just average. Shortly after mounting them I was just pedaling in circles around the shop and they already felt quite powerful.
Here’s where it gets good…THESE BRAKES HAVE MEGA POWER!!!!!!!
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I was feeling extra weenieish and used Avid 160mm rotors since the Shimano 6 bolt rotors are 120g as opposed to 105, and more expensive. Plus with the post mount frame say goodbye to caliper adapters. it just looks good.I figured the small rotors wouldn’t be powerful enough anyway and they’d be tossed in the parts bin as a bad idea. Well, let me tell ya, these brakes have balls. They come stock with metal pads, and there is serious, front wheel skidding, make your headset creek power. I put in 9 runs at Bootleg on various DH courses and the brakes barely require a one finger tickle to control the bike. I thought there was no way they could possibly be this strong. I jumped on my buddies’ bike and he jumped on mine in the parking lot, his 2011 Codes with 203mm rotors didn’t feel like they had any more bite. He said the same thing. Then I jumped on a bike with Juicy 7’s with 203 rotors. Now those have bite- the harsh kind that’s just too much too soon.
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As I was drifting through the million arrowheads of Bootleg I had no problem controlling the drift, but occasionally I would grab the brakes and do a lil front wheel skid for a split second that made me back off a sec. They have a great feel when slippin and slidin. BUT THIS IS WITH 6” ROTORS PEOPLE!
OK, let’s set one thing straight here, I’m 130 lbs. My bike is really light. Boolteg requires brakes but it’s not like I’m fighting for my life on a 3000’ skid like some trails out there. But I didn’t feel any fade, no hand fatigue.
Shimano also offers organic pads or Resin as they call them as well that have less bite. I would think the typical XC dork would need these to keep from flipping over the bars with the seat at full height. If heat becomes a problem with small rotors then maybe larger rotors with resin pads would be the ticket.
That brings me to rotors, Shimano is all into 2 piece rotors with alloy carriers. This is partly because of Centerlock. They do have them for 6 bolt now too. This could help with cooling a lot too. I have a little RC car temp gun keychain that I plan to do some testing with. The only problem is, I currently have no plans to change rotors if I’m not having heat issues!!!
See you all in Bootleg at the Nevada State DH champs in February!!!
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Krispy
Seeing as how I do more all mountain riding than DH and I’m big weight weenie I went for the new Shimano XTR Trail brakes. I have been scouring the net for info about them and there’s not much out there. I just about went for Formula R1’s since they’re crazy light and surprisingly powerful for an XC race brake. Lots of people are happy with them too.
The Trail brakes are bubbling with fancy features. “20% stronger than previous XTR without gaining a gram” Cooling fins attached to the brake pads. A new foolproof bleeding system to keep fade at bay. Lots of rotor options.
Aside from the striking looks of the brakes the first thing I noticed was the luxurious lever blade feel. Tall, rounded blades with high tech dimples for finger grip make them feel very natural. The lever reach adjuster looks like Saint or XT version that’s easy to reach and has a wide range. I set the lever so it sits really close to the grip for minimal hand fatigue. The Servo Wave feature allows for more clearance between the pads and the rotor. This is also a feature on Saint and XT brakes.
The lever is freakishly short! If you aren’t looking at it there’s no difference in the feel but it makes you think that they couldn’t possibly be powerful! The short blade requires the lever clamp to be set close to the grip, and the shifter to go back to the other side of the clamp, like the old days. I put my Sram X9 clamp on the other side and moved the shifter on the clamp and it put the shift lever in the right spot, right at the edge of the grip.
Being how Shimano must answer to an army of lawyers the levers have a hinged perch but you can’t open them up without taking a pen and pushing a tiny button in a hole in the side of the clamp. Then they click open. I guess if the bolt falls out you can still kinda stop. You also can’t over tighten them. Crank down the bar to Carbon specs and they easily move on the bar. Brilliant.
Furthermore, Shimano has put it to most other brakes in the durability department. If you crash and tug on the lever blade it can’t explode the master cylinder. The blade it hits the perch, and it isn’t even attached to the pushrod. Freaking awesome.
I expected them to be great trail brakes and hoped they would be passable for extended DH runs with small rotors. I had planned on using larger rotors for real DH action. I’ve used XT brakes in the past and although they have great feel, the power is just average. Shortly after mounting them I was just pedaling in circles around the shop and they already felt quite powerful.
Here’s where it gets good…THESE BRAKES HAVE MEGA POWER!!!!!!!
I was feeling extra weenieish and used Avid 160mm rotors since the Shimano 6 bolt rotors are 120g as opposed to 105, and more expensive. Plus with the post mount frame say goodbye to caliper adapters. it just looks good.I figured the small rotors wouldn’t be powerful enough anyway and they’d be tossed in the parts bin as a bad idea. Well, let me tell ya, these brakes have balls. They come stock with metal pads, and there is serious, front wheel skidding, make your headset creek power. I put in 9 runs at Bootleg on various DH courses and the brakes barely require a one finger tickle to control the bike. I thought there was no way they could possibly be this strong. I jumped on my buddies’ bike and he jumped on mine in the parking lot, his 2011 Codes with 203mm rotors didn’t feel like they had any more bite. He said the same thing. Then I jumped on a bike with Juicy 7’s with 203 rotors. Now those have bite- the harsh kind that’s just too much too soon.
As I was drifting through the million arrowheads of Bootleg I had no problem controlling the drift, but occasionally I would grab the brakes and do a lil front wheel skid for a split second that made me back off a sec. They have a great feel when slippin and slidin. BUT THIS IS WITH 6” ROTORS PEOPLE!
OK, let’s set one thing straight here, I’m 130 lbs. My bike is really light. Boolteg requires brakes but it’s not like I’m fighting for my life on a 3000’ skid like some trails out there. But I didn’t feel any fade, no hand fatigue.
Shimano also offers organic pads or Resin as they call them as well that have less bite. I would think the typical XC dork would need these to keep from flipping over the bars with the seat at full height. If heat becomes a problem with small rotors then maybe larger rotors with resin pads would be the ticket.
That brings me to rotors, Shimano is all into 2 piece rotors with alloy carriers. This is partly because of Centerlock. They do have them for 6 bolt now too. This could help with cooling a lot too. I have a little RC car temp gun keychain that I plan to do some testing with. The only problem is, I currently have no plans to change rotors if I’m not having heat issues!!!
See you all in Bootleg at the Nevada State DH champs in February!!!
Krispy
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