|
|
Shimano XTR Trail BR-M988 Disc Brake System
Product DescriptionJust as you can get XTR Cranksets in two versions, Race 2x10 and Trail 3x10, the brakes are available to match. And with the wholesale design change from the previous 970 brakes, the performance is more akin to the Shimano brakes we relied on for years, and they weren't recent models either. These XTR Trail Brakes M988 are visually similar to the 985 XTR Race Brakes, though a close inspection will reveal that there are indeed a few differences that make the 988 Trail Brakes more suitable for extreme use. The lever blade itself is one mm wider, at 14mm, to give you a bit more surface area, and it's dimpled for extra gription. Your fingers will appreciate the beefier blades after lengthy, white-knuckle descents. This version also allows you to adjust the free stroke of the lever blade where the XTR Race levers do not. This function lets you determine how far you like the blade to travel before your pads make contact with the rotor, and couple that with a reach adjustment and you can dial them to perfection. In comparison with the previous 970 XTR's radial master cylinder design, this 988 XTR master cylinder is far different. For starters, the integrated barrel reservoir sits along and atop the master cylinder which is positioned at a tangent to the bar rather than straight out from it. Sizewise, these levers are much lower profile, but more importantly, the movement of the lever pivot towards the bar creates a more ergonomic design. In essence, the arc of the lever optimizes your natural finger movement and position of strength with the point in the lever travel where your power is transferred through the system to the caliper. These also feature Shimano's Servo Wave technology where the Race Levers do not. Servo Wave allows the pads to sit further from the rotors at rest (a great feature for trail/all mountain bikes that might see more rotor abuse than a race machine). This is possible as the piston travel changes relative to lever travel as you squeeze on the brakes to close the gap to the rotor quickly, then slowing to allow predictable modulation. The calipers are the same for both the XTR Race and Trail Brakes. They both use a 22mm piston for inspiring stopping power, and Shimano has brought back a banjo fitting for the hose attachment. We're glad because it allows more flexibility with hose routing to keep it safe and looking nice. It should also be noted that these M980 Calipers are lighter than 970calipers, and the polished finish looks great to boot. These 988 XTR Trail Brakes provide 25% more power than 970 levers with no weight increase. They employ Shimano's Radiator Pads. These are specific to the Trail brakes and have integrated fins that rise up out of the caliper to dissipate heat from the pads and caliper body, reducing the temperature by 50? C.The Shimano XTR Trail Brakes 988 are available separately as right or left levers and calipers and have hinged, split clamps for easy mounting. They come as pre-bled lever/caliper/
User Reviews
Submitted by
BeerBikeBerm
a Cross Country Rider Date Reviewed: December 19, 2012 Strengths: They worked amazingly well on the first ride! I suspect that any racers actually using this brake replace the pads and rotors every race. Read Below... Weaknesses: Leaking lines. I replaced and solved the issue. Leaking pistons now? I have heard the same story with these over and over. I have heard of XT having the same issues. This is poor quality control. These brakes do not work. Bottom Line: 
Submitted by
inoack
a All Mountain Rider Date Reviewed: September 1, 2012 Strengths: This is THE all mountain brake I have been looking for! AMAZING power with great modulation. True 1 finger braking. Smooth and quiet with resin on the rear. If your mounting preference allows, the i-spec mounting allows really great decluttering on the bars. Easy bleeding, with adaptor. Lever ergonomics are spectacular. You will only use it once or twice, but mounting / removing is a pleasure with the flip locking bar mechanism. It’s mostly gee whiz. If you are light, you could run these on your DH ride. Weaknesses: Long hose requires shortening immediately if you don’t want your bike to look like a jungle gym, and if you don’t do that perfectly, you will have to bleed the line. I-spec is great for decluttering the handlebars, but I have the brakes mounted inboard enough for ONLY 1 finger braking and this places my shifter pods out of the preferred zone. Metallic pads howl on the rear in dust (like just about every other brake I’ve had), so I put on resin without fins and solved that problem. Finned metallic pads are $40 at my LBS, but the spare off the rear that I replaced with resin should last me another year easily. I suppose the price could be considered high, but my perspective is, frustration with components I don’t like is REALLY mentally expensive. I really don’t care about price when the performance I’m looking for is delivered. I’m 175 nekkid, so if you are super light, it may be too powerful for you. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Duration Product Used: 6 months Price Paid: $400.00 Similar Products Used: see above Bike Setup: Carbon nomad tublees, 180mm coil, air rear, 2.4 tires, dropper post  
Submitted by
matthew melvyn Date Reviewed: May 6, 2012 Strengths: Light, good feel, nice ergo lever, work good initially.......BUT Weaknesses: what is the deal with the leaky lines? It really doesn't matter how great they feel when they work if they fail often. Bottom Line:
Submitted by
iqbbang Date Reviewed: April 30, 2012 Strengths: Good power Doesn't stress the finger weight shiny Weaknesses: EXPENSIVE replacement pads the cable leaks oil and the shop told me the new ones have this problem often. Bottom Line:
Submitted by
jvreeke
a All Mountain Rider
from thousand oaks CA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2012 Strengths: Very powerful, great modulation with resin pads even with 160 rotors Weaknesses: Leaking brake hoses Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Downieville Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $250.00 Purchased At: LBS Similar Products Used: a few others Bike Setup: Mojo SLR full xtr Easton Carbon
Submitted by
CrzyMD
a Cross Country Rider
from Bakersfield Date Reviewed: January 30, 2012 Strengths: Light weight, nice finish. Weaknesses: Price, "free stroke" doesn't work. Expensive replacement pads. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Any one of them! Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $300.00 Similar Products Used: Avid Elixir, Hayes Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Hi Fi Pro 29
Submitted by
Reelmcoy
a Racer
from Waxahachie, Texas Date Reviewed: January 7, 2012 Strengths: Best brakes I have used. Awesome modulation and stopping power. Excellent one finger use. Smooth and quiet. Weaknesses: None Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Oak Cliff Nature Preserve Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month Price Paid: $230.00 Purchased At: price point Similar Products Used: Avid Juicy 5. Shimano XT. Avid XX world cup Bike Setup: Trek Top Fuel
Submitted by
NJMTB
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2011 Strengths: Bar none the best brakes I've ever ridden. Innovative technology that works. Great one-finger power, awesome modulation, consistent and fade-free on even the longest descents. I'm totally blown away by these things. Weaknesses: None. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Romero Canyon Duration Product Used: 3 months Similar Products Used: Avid Elixir, Avid Juicy 3 Bike Setup: 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Submitted by
babar
a Cross Country Rider
from France Date Reviewed: October 14, 2011 Strengths: Power and modulation... -power means one of the most powerfull brake on the market, even more powerfull than my formula ORO puro. -modulation is unbelievable. to do a test put your bike on a workstand and play with the brake you will be impressed by the level of modulation. -One finger brake. -mineral oile -no maintenance required (no sticky piston, no bleed) -constant brake power and modulation even in long downhills in the Alps. Weaknesses: none absolutly none! Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: use to be montello trail Duration Product Used: 1 Year Price Paid: $339.00 Purchased At: alltricks Similar Products Used: others X country brakes are far behind. I owned magura marta, Hope mini, Formula Oro puro...all are old generation brakes.
Submitted by
ehigh
a Downhiller
from San Luis Obispo Date Reviewed: September 26, 2011 Strengths: *note-the lever wasn't $245, but the caliper and the lever came together with my purchase. The ergonomics of this lever is incredible. The reach adjustment really did help me dial in the perfect feel. I had Avid Elixir 3s on my bike that came stock with it and they are nothing like the XTR M988 levers. I knew after my first ride that I absolutely love these. this review is specifically for the lever as that is what the M988 is. M985 is the caliper type. I would recommend these over the race levers. the feel is better and there is just a 40 gram difference. 40 grams-seriously. Weaknesses: admittedly, they are expensive-but I don't know if that's a product weakness. seems like a budget weakness. the sport isn't free Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Two Sheiks and a Dog Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $245.00 Purchased At: Art's Cyclery Similar Products Used: Avid Elixir 3 brake levers and calipers are hydraulics but they aren't really similiar. XTR is incredible and on a different level. Bike Setup: Norco Range 3 with Chromag Fubar OSX 2012 at 780mm Sram's full X0 2x10 drivetrain at 26-39t XTR trail M988 levers with the M985 caliper Specialized Phenom seat Straitline pedals ODI Rogue lock-on grips other flashy bits RockShox Lyrik U-turn 160mm and Monarch R shock WTB Freerider front wheel Loco rear
Submitted by
Shredr
a Cross Country Rider
from Chico, Ca Date Reviewed: August 20, 2011 Strengths: Beautiful. Tiny. The best lever bend out there. Levers have little grippy holes. Very powerful, even with a 160mm rotor on the front. Split lever clamp. They're little works of Mt Bike art. More features than the Race version, but only a mere 30 gms more. Very well designed. People will stare at them... Weaknesses: Price, but who cares, it's XTR... Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Downieville Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month Price Paid: $225.00 Purchased At: Shop Similar Products Used: XTR 975 & other stuff. Bike Setup: Titus El Guapo, 36 Float & RP 23, Full XTR 9spd on XTR 10 spd cranks, 50mm Thomson stem & post, Ti-Fly seat, Crank Bros., King. 
Submitted by
Johnny Chicken Bones
a Cross Country Rider
from CB Date Reviewed: July 14, 2011 Strengths: Power, modulation, ease of bleed, split mount ring, weight, lever size/feel, Weaknesses: Had an issue w/ a cracked ceramic piston. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: mostly whatever is under my tires Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $173.00 Similar Products Used: Each gen of XTR disc brakes, various Avid mech/hydros. Bike Setup: Ti Hardtail.
Submitted by
Lazy Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from Lodz, Poland Date Reviewed: June 12, 2011 Strengths: - consistent power, - ergonomics, - simple maintenance, - looks Weaknesses: - quite expensive but you will pay even more for similar performance from other brands, - sometimes they will reflect sunlight too much, - free stroke adjustment doesn't really do anything Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: rocky, rooty AM rides Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $370.00 Purchased At: Shimano Poland Similar Products Used: Hayes Nine, Avid Juicy 3, 7 Bike Setup: Giant Reign
|
Contests
VideosMTBR on Facebook |
