You've seen the new hydraulic disc brakes on XTR-equipped bikes, and may have envied their light weight, high performance, and super modulation. Now those same benefits come to the XT level in the new Deore XT hydraulic disc brake.
Submitted by
MagicCarpet
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2012
Strengths: Bleed once and forget. Adjustability. Extremely easy to change pads. Stop very well.
Weaknesses: Can't find one after two years.
Bottom Line:
Very easy to set up never need bleeding again. We have very steep fire trails here and are often coming in to corners at 40MPH, reducing to >10MPH, where straight shooting spells disaster. I have confidence with these brakes and recomend them. They have been superceded and were recently on special for ridiculous prices. If you can find them, buy up.
Similar Products Used: I must admit, these are my first hydraulic brake, replacing BB7s, which I still use on another bike and like very much. The price I posted was per end.
Bike Setup: 203mm front and 160mm rear. Aligator Windcutter rotors. Clarks sintered rear and organic front.
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Submitted by
mhandgis
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2011
Strengths: Incredible brakes, they live up to everything I read. One finger stopping.
Bike Setup: Blur LT, Fox Talas, Thompson, XTR trans, XT cranks, Mavic Crossmax wheels.
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Submitted by
Dan Parry
a Weekend Warrior
from Nottingham UK
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2011
Strengths: ease of set up, installing new pads and bleeding
Weaknesses: price of mineral oil
Bottom Line:
I've read many reviews on the XT's about their stopping power etc. I'm 240 lbs and I have no issues with these brakes being able to stop me. They work extremly well in all conditions just as long as they are bled and set up correctly. A really good all round brake thats easy to maintain :)
Strengths: Good lever feel, modulation, caliper feedback (see bottom line), ease of bleed, pad clearance, durability, pad wear.
Weaknesses: These brakes are weak, though not unacceptably so.
Bottom Line:
I'm not sure how some folks are actually lauding the XT's power--for it's really the only major drawback I have found. Even with 180mm rotor and metallic pads I cannot get these to lock up to do a nose wheelie or nose pivot. Granted, I weigh about 190 geared up. I believe the Elixirs and the Formulas are at least two steps higher in power. Otherwise, these brakes are solid, especially for a lighter, less aggressive rider.
Weaknesses: Noise! The rear brake squeals like a pig. Also relatively pricey.
Bottom Line:
The stopping power is really good and performance is consistent in the wet and dry, but the noise is unbearable. Apparently the organic/resin pads don't have the same problem, but the product comes with sintered metal pads so I can't comment on this yet.
Submitted by
zsabor
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest, Hungary
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2010
Strengths: Good stopping power, easy to adjust and to change pads
Weaknesses: Both brakes died in cold weather after 2 days
Bottom Line:
I have the BR-M775 on my touring bike. Winter came, I continued riding. Temperatures dropped to -5 - -10°C. After two days, the rear brake started to behave as if it needed bleeding, and squeal horribly at the same time. One day later, it was completely dead, and the front brake started to exhibit the same symptoms. Next day the front brake was dead as well. When I checked them, I found that a lot of mineral oil was gone - onto the brake pads and rotors.
My LBS told me that the seals have a tendency to fail if temperatures get low. They are non-repairable, so I will need to get them replaced under warranty. Lucky I didn't go out touring in winter with these.
I also have the older model, BR-M765 on my other bike, which has been working without problems for 4 years. Interestingly enough, the older model can still be purchased new in some shops, and is more expensive than the 2008 model.
Don't buy it if you intend to ride throughout the year, and live in a part of the world where it gets cold during the winter.
Submitted by
davis
a Cross Country Rider
from tetonia, ID, teton
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2010
Strengths: average braking power. Brakes are not always on. Some how the brake pads seem to stay off the rotors. Fifty rides and little ajustment to keeep everything centered and not rubbing!
Weaknesses: ummmmm, why does shimano even try to sell brakes that retail for hundreds of dollars with noisy metalic pads. I've nearly givin poor inicent hikers heart atacks screeching my way down hill. I've tried ear plugs but nothing seems to keep my ears from ruptering. What up w/ this sheet!
Bottom Line:
nobody can make a descent hydrolic disc brake on a bicycle!
Bike Setup: 29er Hardtail Access XCL, Shimano SLX dual control shifters, Manitou Minute Fork
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Submitted by
Razvee
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2010
Strengths: Very good brakes. Very good modulation and braking power. Works well here in Singapore woth tropical climate all year round.
Weaknesses: My rear Caliper only one side of the brake pad move in when pressed. The other doesnt move. But this occure after over
7 000km of riding and think it wont be very expensive to get it fixed.
Bottom Line:
Works well with not much problems. Great value and price. Better than XTR brakes in my opinion. These brakes are fantastic.
Similar Products Used: XTR, Hope Mini, Hayes 9, Avid Juicy, Deore, SLX Hydros.
Bike Setup: Raleigh Mojave 8.0 Team Full XT/XTR/XO Components.
Whyte PRST-1 XTR/XT/X-9/Hope
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Submitted by
Get_A_Ride
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2010
Strengths: Great all-around brakes when a rider does not have a specific riding style in mind.
Weaknesses: I haven't noticed too much modulation between light braking power to lockout. These brakes are not the strongest brakes for aggressive AM (I've been at the mercy of large pine trees partially due to the lack of strength in the brakes and partially due to my stupidity.)
Bottom Line:
Great brakes if strength is not a necessity for your style of riding. I guess the brakes are fairly light, though there's no carbon fiber parts so it's not THE lightest obviously. Overall I do recommend the brakes for an aggresive XC to slightly aggressive AM.
Similar Products Used: Old Shimano 755 (3 seasons), old LX (2 seasons) - w/o leaking problem during winter
Bike Setup: Cannondale F600
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Submitted by
illcomm33
a Cross Country Rider
from Cololorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2009
Strengths: Great modulation (when weather is warm), easy to bleed, uses mineral oil, easy set up, great stopping power, pads last forever, pad installation and removal (super easy, no magic needing to be done to get them in/out and they will not fall out like some other brands).
Weaknesses: Modulation in levers during cold (40 f) weather
Bottom Line:
It is true. When the temperature starts to drop the levers feel terrible. So disappointing because overall these are amazing brakes. Fairly lightweight, and amazing stopping power. I have always been a shimano fan. I ended up selling a pair of Juicy 7's because of the dreaded turkey garble they were producing on my GF Rig to get these brakes. Not disappointed in getting rid of those brakes but to pick up something that is so finicky to cold weather? I will start looking for older XT brakes to replace these if that is going to be the way they perform when "cold." Like others have said...the levers get crazy tight and the free stroke is just about gone. Don't even waste your time adjusting the free stroke screw or bleeding because it will not fix the modulation. :) Doubt? Bring your bike inside your house for a day so it gets warm, pull the pads and reset the pistons, and you will see your levers feel fine.
These are 5 chili brakes in summer, 3 in winter. Boo.
Submitted by
Kona.mtbr
a Cross Country Rider
from Buffalo, ny
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2009
Strengths: Easy to work on, no toxic oils...
Easy to set up, can't see how people are saying they are getting a lot of drag. Loosen caliper, squeez brake, tighten caliper, done.
Weaknesses: After about 250 miles the disc (sm-rt78) started to get some
play. At first I thought it was there new center lock ring, wrong. The "rivets" that conect the metel outer disc to the plastic center loosed, a lot. I called shimano tech and they said I had to send them back. What good does that do me right now! He said I wasn't the first to call but got really vague when asked how many got sent back. If they know it's any issue they should send me new ones now!!
Similar Products Used: Hayes, avid, hope, your mom.
Bike Setup: Intense tracer VP, basterd is like a scalpel going through butter!!!
If you have the means I highly recommend picking one up
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Submitted by
GoodFriar
a Weekend Warrior
from Niagara, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2009
Strengths: I run XT dual controls (even though it's an all-mountain bike setup) - I'm use to it from my XC bike. The shimano XT brakes have preformed well in warm season and survived 3-stage, eduro events where riders were going through pads daily due to sand grit and decents. They've also been a great product on my XC race bike - decent modulation sufficient power when needed.
Weaknesses: Poor cold weather performance. I'm in agreement with Artic Tiger and experience the same isssues when riding in < -5C. I've blown a seal on the rears this wiinter and now believe the fronts are leaking.
Bottom Line:
Decent performance and reliability in "normal" riding conditions - they've lasted my 3 years on both bikes. However, in past 2 years I've had failures and poor performance during the winter season. I wouldn't recommend if you are a 4 season rider.
Would get 4-5 chilli's if they figure out the cold weather issue.
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