I am responding to some posters who rated these brakes poorly. I have been using these brakes for six or seven years now and they still work great!! I have overhauled them 3 times now( cleaning internals, and replacing some small parts) but most components with moving parts will need maintenance at some point. I am unwilling to strap a couple of dinner plates on the wheels of this very light bike, and so have stuck with the v-brakes setup. I am not against disk brakes--I am currently building a longer travel bike which will have Avid mechanicals(BB7), but I think the magazines are full of crap when it comes to component recommendations. What they said was wonderful this year is described as unusable once the next latest and greatest thing comes along-- much of this is pandering to advertisers to keep their butts employed. Bottom line the XTR v brakes have excellent stopping power when properly set up--they are very light, and in my experience also very durable. I have encountered only one scenario where they can fail utterly--in winter riding where rims get wet in freezing temps the water will frwwze quickly on the rim and reduce v brake function to nil briefly. Pumping the brakes repeatedly as soon as rims get wet in this scenario to clear water helps a lot. For such riding disks are better.
Bike Setup: Ti Sport Hardtail Ti frame--RockShox World Cup fork-Mavic X618 ceramic/XTR hubs-Maxxis Wormdrive430 tires-Easton EC70 post/CT2 bar-Thomson Elite stem-RAceFace Deus XC crankset-Shimnao XTR ST M961 shifters-XTR rear der.--one light/durable rig!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Norm Ryall
a Cross Country Rider
from Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
I am responding to some posters who rated these brakes poorly. I have been using these brakes for six or seven years now and they still work great!! I have overhauled them 3 times now( cleaning internals, and replacing some small parts) but most components with moving parts will need maintenance at some point. I am unwilling to strap a couple of dinner plates on the wheels of this very light bike, and so have stuck with the v-brakes setup. I am not against disk brakes--I am currently building a longer travel bike which will have Avid mechanicals(BB7), but I think the magazines are full of crap when it comes to component recommendations. What they said was wonderful this year is described as unusable once the next latest and greatest thing comes along-- much of this is pandering to advertisers to keep their butts employed. Bottom line the XTR v brakes have excellent stopping power when properly set up--they are very light, and in my experience also very durable. I have encountered only one scenario where they can fail utterly--in winter riding where rims get wet in freezing temps the water will frwwze quickly on the rim and reduce v brake function to nil briefly. Pumping the brakes repeatedly as soon as rims get wet in this scenario to clear water helps a lot. For such riding disks are better.
Bike Setup: Ti Sport Hardtail Ti frame--RockShox World Cup fork-Mavic X618 ceramic/XTR hubs-Maxxis Wormdrive430 tires-Easton EC70 post/CT2 bar-Thomson Elite stem-RAceFace Deus XC crankset-Shimnao XTR ST M961 shifters-XTR rear der.--one light/durable rig!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Norm Ryall
a Cross Country Rider
from Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
I am responding to some posters who rated these brakes poorly. I have been using these brakes for six or seven years now and they still work great!! I have overhauled them 3 times now( cleaning internals, and replacing some small parts) but most components with moving parts will need maintenance at some point. I am unwilling to strap a couple of dinner plates on the wheels of this very light bike, and so have stuck with the v-brakes setup. I am not against disk brakes--I am currently building a longer travel bike which will have Avid mechanicals(BB7), but I think the magazines are full of crap when it comes to component recommendations. What they said was wonderful this year is described as unusable once the next latest and greatest thing comes along-- much of this is pandering to advertisers to keep their butts employed. Bottom line the XTR v brakes have excellent stopping power when properly set up--they are very light, and in my experience also very durable. I have encountered only one scenario where they can fail utterly--in winter riding where rims get wet in freezing temps the water will frwwze quickly on the rim and reduce v brake function to nil briefly. Pumping the brakes repeatedly as soon as rims get wet in this scenario to clear water helps a lot. For such riding disks are better.
Bike Setup: Ti Sport Hardtail Ti frame--RockShox World Cup fork-Mavic X618 ceramic/XTR hubs-Maxxis Wormdrive430 tires-Easton EC70 post/CT2 bar-Thomson Elite stem-RAceFace Deus XC crankset-Shimnao XTR ST M961 shifters-XTR rear der.--one light/durable rig!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Norm Ryall
a Cross Country Rider
from Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
I am responding to some posters who rated these brakes poorly. I have been using these brakes for six or seven years now and they still work great!! I have overhauled them 3 times now( cleaning internals, and replacing some small parts) but most components with moving parts will need maintenance at some point. I am unwilling to strap a couple of dinner plates on the wheels of this very light bike, and so have stuck with the v-brakes setup. I am not against disk brakes--I am currently building a longer travel bike which will have Avid mechanicals(BB7), but I think the magazines are full of crap when it comes to component recommendations. What they said was wonderful this year is described as unusable once the next latest and greatest thing comes along-- much of this is pandering to advertisers to keep their butts employed. Bottom line the XTR v brakes have excellent stopping power when properly set up--they are very light, and in my experience also very durable. I have encountered only one scenario where they can fail utterly--in winter riding where rims get wet in freezing temps the water will frwwze quickly on the rim and reduce v brake function to nil briefly. Pumping the brakes repeatedly as soon as rims get wet in this scenario to clear water helps a lot. For such riding disks are better.
Bike Setup: Ti Sport Hardtail Ti frame--RockShox World Cup fork-Mavic X618 ceramic/XTR hubs-Maxxis Wormdrive430 tires-Easton EC70 post/CT2 bar-Thomson Elite stem-RAceFace Deus XC crankset-Shimnao XTR ST M961 shifters-XTR rear der.--one light/durable rig!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Norm Ryall
a Cross Country Rider
from Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
I am responding to some posters who rated these brakes poorly. I have been using these brakes for six or seven years now and they still work great!! I have overhauled them 3 times now( cleaning internals, and replacing some small parts) but most components with moving parts will need maintenance at some point. I am unwilling to strap a couple of dinner plates on the wheels of this very light bike, and so have stuck with the v-brakes setup. I am not against disk brakes--I am currently building a longer travel bike which will have Avid mechanicals(BB7), but I think the magazines are full of crap when it comes to component recommendations. What they said was wonderful this year is described as unusable once the next latest and greatest thing comes along-- much of this is pandering to advertisers to keep their butts employed. Bottom line the XTR v brakes have excellent stopping power when properly set up--they are very light, and in my experience also very durable. I have encountered only one scenario where they can fail utterly--in winter riding where rims get wet in freezing temps the water will frwwze quickly on the rim and reduce v brake function to nil briefly. Pumping the brakes repeatedly as soon as rims get wet in this scenario to clear water helps a lot. For such riding disks are better.
Bike Setup: Ti Sport Hardtail Ti frame--RockShox World Cup fork-Mavic X618 ceramic/XTR hubs-Maxxis Wormdrive430 tires-Easton EC70 post/CT2 bar-Thomson Elite stem-RAceFace Deus XC crankset-Shimnao XTR ST M961 shifters-XTR rear der.--one light/durable rig!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bob F.
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Strengths: They stopped me when I needed to stop
Weaknesses: "squishy" feel
Bottom Line:
I expected the XTR V-brakes would blow away the AVIDS, but I found otherwise. It may be a personal preference, but I didn't like the soft feeling I got from the Shimanos. I prefer a more solid feel to my brakes, and as much as I messed around with these, I couldn't get the feeling I wanted. In fairness, I have to admit that these brakes never failed to stop me when I wanted (or needed) to stop, so they aren't THAT bad.
Bike Setup: Secialized hardrock FS 01' version, Mavic D521 rims, Shimano LX front and rear brakes, rock shox Jett 01' edition, core stem and XC bars, XT front and rear mechs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andreas Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2002
Strengths: Low weight, functions now quite well (see below), very nice design, endure,
Weaknesses: originally, not equipped with brake boosters
Bottom Line:
This is an update. Form the beginning, I used the XTRs with Muddy carbon boosters (front and rear). Instead of the Gore Ride On Cable System I've put on the Nokon Konkavex Cable System recently. Now these XTRs works as Magura rim brakes do: perfect function. Nearly no hysteresis, dry pressure point, perfect modulation. No squeeking, by the way. And nearly 300g less than a Magura Quick Silver.
Strengths: looks cool,good delay and have enough brakepower
Weaknesses: complicate to hold the function for a long time on a maximum level - adjust adjust adjust
Bottom Line:
for a v-brake excellent performance only the adjustment could be easier thats the only reason why i give the xtr 4 chilis - you searchin for a v-brake ready for dh? the xtr is hard enough for that ride
Similar Products Used: Magura Gustav M,XT V-Brake,Hayes Hydr.
Bike Setup: DS:Azonic Evo DH:Nicolai Lambda rulez,white,xtr,mrp
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Holmen, WI, UAS
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2001
Strengths: Stopping,, do not try to lock them up, you will loose and go over the handle bars.
Weaknesses: none as of yet
Bottom Line:
Could't believe the diffrence from a tradition arch braking system to the additional lever that the XTR's have. You can get these cheap online, just look up cambriabike.com If you want a true mountain bike experence, try the mountains of AZ !!!
Favorite Trail: Flagstaff, AZ the best in the world!!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$38.00
Purchased At: online, Cambriabike.com
Similar Products Used: Avid, LX
Bike Setup: Cannnondale fatty v-800,mavic crosslink, XT and XTR
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Juho Kekäläinen
a Cross Country Rider
from Vantaa, Finland
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Strengths: -Looks good (nice color) -Low weight -Good modulation -Good brake power ( -Real Bearings -Maintaining free paraller push design -Brake pad holders means fast fast pad repleacement
Weaknesses: -Lousy sealings -Product is not worth of price -No spare parts available -Perfect pad adjustment takes time
Bottom Line:
let me first clear out few things: 1. The XTR brake unit I bought before year 2000 is perfectly well made and works fine (second year in the row and counting...) But 2. The unit I bought about two weeks ago has a sealing promlem;(front side sealing is not seal enought) bearings eats up dirt like a crazy and because of this whole brake arm will be totally jammed. For some odd reason Shimano has ruined the idea of XTR V-brake construction.Why Shimano, what's the idea with that? (Nope mine wasn't lemon, same promlem exists with all in the year 2000/2001 made units, I have checked it with 2 LBS's)
Overall the brake has excellent modulation and offers a lot breaking power even with wet rims.No squeeling is good thing too and I Really Like color of XTR (and it lasts a years without promlems). They uses real bearings instead of reguraly used bushings, which means no rocking. Stainless steel hardvare is smart thinking and Paraller push design is maintaining free.
Bottom line is that at the moment XTR V-brake is good concept but as long as Shimano uses wrong sized (front side)bearing seals with XTR V's, it just is not worth to buy. (Shimano, please fix this sealing promlem)
With correcly fitted sealings (like my rear brake is) it is absolutely one of the best v-brake and really worth of your bucks.
NOTE: rating below is for my 2000/2001 XTR V-brake
For my pre 2000 brake rating is: Value: 4 Flaming Chili (and just because of bit overpriced price Overall: 5- Flaming Chili (Pad adjustment could be easier)
Similar Products Used: All Shimano V-brakes, SRAM 9,0 and 7,0
Bike Setup: Marin Team '2000, full XTR group and Manitou Mars C
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Juho Kekäläinen
a Cross Country Rider
from Vantaa, Finland
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Strengths: -Looks good (nice color) -Low weight -Good modulation -Good brake power ( -Real Bearings -Maintaining free paraller push design -Brake pad holders means fast fast pad repleacement
Weaknesses: -Lousy sealings -Product is not worth of price -No spare parts available -Perfect pad adjustment takes time
Bottom Line:
let me first clear out few things: 1. The XTR brake unit I bought before year 2000 is perfectly well made and works fine (second year in the row and counting...) But 2. The unit I bought about two weeks ago has a sealing promlem;(front side sealing is not seal enought) bearings eats up dirt like a crazy and because of this whole brake arm will be totally jammed. For some odd reason Shimano has ruined the idea of XTR V-brake construction.Why Shimano, what's the idea with that? (Nope mine wasn't lemon, same promlem exists with all in the year 2000/2001 made units, I have checked it with 2 LBS's)
Overall the brake has excellent modulation and offers a lot breaking power even with wet rims.No squeeling is good thing too and I Really Like color of XTR (and it lasts a years without promlems). They uses real bearings instead of reguraly used bushings, which means no rocking. Stainless steel hardvare is smart thinking and Paraller push design is maintaining free.
Bottom line is that at the moment XTR V-brake is good concept but as long as Shimano uses wrong sized (front side)bearing seals with XTR V's, it just is not worth to buy. (Shimano, please fix this sealing promlem)
With correcly fitted sealings (like my rear brake is) it is absolutely one of the best v-brake and really worth of your bucks.
NOTE: rating below is for my 2000/2001 XTR V-brake
For my pre 2000 brake rating is: Value: 4 Flaming Chili (and just because of bit overpriced price Overall: 5- Flaming Chili (Pad adjustment could be easier)
Strengths: -lighter than discs -powerful -love that XTR color
Weaknesses: -none yet....we will see if slop or squeaks develop
Bottom Line:
I haven't used these very long yet, but from what I can tell they are excellent. Keep them adjusted and clean, and they should not be a problem. Excellent power and modulation with XTR levers. I actually prefer the feel of these to the discs I have tried.....and they are lighter, cheaper, and simpler. It's hard to go wrong with XTR!!
