Submitted by
megrim
a Downhiller
from North Vancouver, B.C., Canada Date Reviewed: May 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Robert's Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Different Bikes
Strengths:
These brakes are the most powerful stoppers I have tried so far. Very consistent lever feel whether it's at the beginning of a cold ride or at the end of a huge DH run in the hot. And, like all Shimano brakes, they probably have the best lever movement and feel. Last strength, pad wear; I have been running the same pads for ~ 6 months through a North Shore winter. Last year, I replaced 8 sets of pads between two bikes (juicy 7's). This year I haven't replaced a set on either bike.
Weaknesses:
Price. Pad price. Not the best modulation (the old Saints were better), but still better than any Avid product I have tried.
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 7, Codes, Saints, Hope
Bike Setup:
Knolly V-tach, Fox 40, Cane Creek Double Barrel, etc.
Bottom Line:
I wa so happy with the first set, that I bought another set for my 'little' bike. It was tough to fork out the money for the brakes, but worth ever cent. After a long day at Cypress, riding steep, gnarly trails, my hands still aren't sore.
If you don't have tons of steep terrain, or really long DH runs, then these brakes might be a bit of an overkill. But if you like to brake late into corners and have the ability to stop whenever you please, then get some on order; you won't be disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mr_p1979
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: March 13, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
chainreactioncycles.
Strengths:
Great stopping power and modulation
Weaknesses:
Oh my god. could a set of bgrakes be any louder. its actually so load as to be embarrasing. every one turns their head and thinks 'wtf is that?'
Similar Products Used:
old m800 saint
Bottom Line:
Great stopping power but embarrasingly loud. tried different pads (old 4 pot XT pads but still howl like nothing else).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dhwuss
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: February 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Original Sin
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Go-Ride
Strengths:
Unbelievable stopping power! No quicker way to endo a slack DH ride than cranking down the front brake of these bad boys! GREAT mod and Ergo... WAYYYY better than the older SAINT.
Weaknesses:
$$$ But who really cares? I mean I'm a student, single and when you're addicted to biking it's a justifiable purchase. Plus "You pay for what you get" is a true principal. They get hot.
Similar Products Used:
Old SAINT(BR-801?), Avid Code, Old XTR four piston
Bike Setup:
08Flatline Pro, DHX5.0 Fox 40, Saint everything, , Havoc DH Wheelset, Thompson Stem and Monkeylite DH bars, King Headset... Brooks saddle.
Bottom Line:
"Verra nice, how much?"-Borat. Totally sick. More stopping pwer than the Brembos on my car.
I highly recommend getting smaller rotors. Becasue of the HUGE pads, they can get pretty hot, so you might want to think about a vented rotor if you are financially able. seriously though, 8" rotors are a bit too big for these dogs.
WORTH EVERY PENNY!!! Empty your account if you have to, you wont feel bad about it... I say that because it's what I did!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wingfield4x
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: February 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Karate Monky
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Go-Ride
Strengths:
Inceredible stopping power! There is no easier way to endo a DH bike than cranking down the front brake of these bad boys on 8" rotors!
Weaknesses:
pricy, but who cares? If you're addicted to riding, it doesn't matter...plus I'm single. And they get hot.
Similar Products Used:
Old SAINT(BR-801?), Avid Code, Juicy 7, ServoWave XTR, Hope M4
Bike Setup:
08 Flatline pro W/pushed DHX5.0, Pushed Fox 40, Saint Everything, X0 Shifter, Easton Havoc DH Wheelset, Easton Monkylite DH bars and a Sick tight Sotto Voce Chris King.
Bottom Line:
"Verra nice how much?" These are indeed the Bomb.com.
quite spendy, but worth EVERY penny. I highly recommend getting smaller rotors, they do heat up a little more as a result of the HUGE pads, so if you do go smaller I recommend a vented rotor.
Way to go Shimano!
5x5 for sure, No detering weaknesses at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fernanjs
a Weekend Warrior
from Yonkers, New York Date Reviewed: December 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Blue Mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
Wiggle.co.uk - WAY
Strengths:
Excellent all around system. Very adjustable, the modulation is unbeatable and the intense stopping power gives me way too much confidence! Get the whole set (levers and calipers)trust me its worth it. The stopping power is scary with 8" rotors.
Weaknesses:
Absolutely none!
Similar Products Used:
shimano deore 555 and 556, hayes hfx 9, hayes so1e (garbage) and a bunch of different mechanical discs. The saints are by far the best, although the deore were an excellent value - they just lack the modulation and some of the stopping power.
Bike Setup:
66 RC-3 on an Older SC Bullit, Laserdisc DH wheels, Saint m810 levers and calipers, Raceface prodigy cranks, azonic pedals
Bottom Line:
Pricey but you certainly get what you pay for. They are the best brakes I have ever tried in almost every respect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Borek
a Downhiller
from Czech Republic Date Reviewed: October 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Klinovec
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
www.koloshop.cz
Strengths:
really super strong. Even stronger than older saint brakes. Good modulation and ergonomy
Weaknesses:
little bit noisy but I dont care that much
Similar Products Used:
older saints, Hayes MAG,Hayes MFX9
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz V10, 888,diabolus,saints
Bottom Line:
excellent brakes for HC use!Much much better than MAG or HFX hayes brakes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairport, NY, USA Date Reviewed: October 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bent Rim Trail-Ellicottville NY
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Very powerful. Good modulation. Good ergo.
Another reviewer mentioned having to remove the caliper to replace pads. Actually the pads can be easily replaced without removing the caliper, just like any other Shimano disk brake. These brakes have a 25% larger pad surface which is different (and better) than the current Shimano pads.
Weaknesses:
Not cheap. Could rip the knobs off tires. Not made in USA
Similar Products Used:
XT, XTR, XT 4 piston calipers
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas 32, FOX DHX Air 5.0, 203 mm disk,
Bottom Line:
Nothing like big brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
b15mo
a Weekend Warrior
from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia Date Reviewed: September 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere with Flow
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
my LBS
Strengths:
Plenty of power, Shimano reliability (I hope), Good modulation.
Weaknesses:
A bit noisy (with QUAD rotors), 2 piece design and have to remove caliper to change pads.
Similar Products Used:
Older Saint, LX, Hone, Mag9, XT'08, Code (tested)
Bike Setup:
Specialized Demo 7 + All the 'best bang for the buck' goodies
Bottom Line:
More power but still has good modulation as the old ones. Downside is quite noisy using 'QUAD pulse rotors' as i'm using 6 bolt hubs, noisier than the old saint with metal pads. Will update review with different rotors and more downhill rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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