Submitted by
dru
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, Canada Date Reviewed: June 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
The Cut
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$420.00
Purchased At:
all over the world
Strengths:
It's XTR. Has a very cool small rear rotor. Very light weight. Awesome looking rotors. Front calipers can be used with the 140mm rear rotor. Power and modulation are quite good. Does not use brake fluid.
Weaknesses:
A real pain to bleed. Also takes a lot of fussing to get the calipers properly centered on the discs. It uses shims to do this. Took a week of riding to get right. Read up on lubing the pistons, they are too dry from the factory.
Similar Products Used:
Deore 555 hydros, cantis
Bike Setup:
Salsa El Mariachi. Alfine drive train. The bike is dope!
Bottom Line:
A good high end brake. The caliper bolts are drilled for safety wire just like my old race bike (motorcycle)which is cool, although a bit of overkill. Shimano even supplies a bit of wire for the job. Pads are very easy to change but are noisy when used. I suspect that many of the problems people are having are from dry pistons and bad initial set up with the shims. I've had no problems with dragging once I got the calipers properly centered. The brakes are way over priced at retail. I used the net and saved around 300 dollars.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
alanchan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto Date Reviewed: May 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Ok braking power, soft feel for riders who don't like hard levers.
Weaknesses:
Lever shape is weird, too small for my hand at least, some people like the feel of this thing but I prefer my Hopes. MSRP is a bit overpriced.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7, Juicy 7
Hayes 9
Hope Mono Mini, Hope M4, Mini
Shimano LX, XT
These brakes are way overpriced at MSRP. I have not encounter piston issues as I only test ride these in the dry. The lever is the most annoying thing for me. This old XTR (not dual control) was better. Also, OEM pads are expensive as they have titanium back plate. Who needs that?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
moots2
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA Date Reviewed: May 5, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Work moderately well.
Weaknesses:
Pads are nearly impossible to center. Shims do not allow centering, may try a 0.3 mm shim. Pistons stick. Pads rub and squeak almost all the time due to these two problems. Bleeding is difficult.
Bike Setup:
Moots Zirkel, full XTR, mavic, fox.
Bottom Line:
VERY disappointed in this product. Not consistent with general quality of Shimano. Pads do not center with shims, and pistons stick, which leads to constant rotor rubbing. I have had the IS mounts faced and pads "centered" by LBS, but still rub thereafter. Also, the ti/metallic pads had to be replaced after a couple rides due to very loud screaching. Bleeding is a difficult. Supposed to be Shimano's "flagship" XTR, but very poor product. Not fun to ride a bike that constantly squeaks. DO NOT waste your money on these. Hopefully, Shimano reps. read these reviews.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
papkec
a Cross Country Rider
from SC Date Reviewed: May 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
FATS
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Lever shape,feel, stopping power
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 7, BB7, Shimano LX
Bike Setup:
C-dale Rush, Lefty/XTR/LX/Thomson/Mavic 819
Bottom Line:
Awesome brakes, great feel and lots of power. Was initially concerned about "spacer only" adjustment but I have only had to remove one spacer from front brake since I installed them.
I have had none of the piston problems other have had.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
flavio
a Racer
from Aguascalientes, Aguascalietnes, Mexico Date Reviewed: March 27, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$289.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
look good, quit brakes, durable brake pads, light
Weaknesses:
the feel on this brakes is way to soft even after bleeding
very expensive for what you get, my right brake is leaking oil, loose pressure after 30 minutes
Similar Products Used:
hayes stroker, avid juicy
Bike Setup:
k+rbo with full xtr, fox rlc
Bottom Line:
this brakes are not durable you have to replace them after 1 year of use, hard to get a perfect bleed so you will never get 100% from this brakes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sseaton
a Racer
from bend, or, usa Date Reviewed: December 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
light weight, good stopping power.
Weaknesses:
The pistons do not return and do not stay centered causing rubbing. These are XTR, supposed to be the best, designed for cross country racing, rubbing discs are not conducive to speed. These brakes are so frustrating, I have to adjust them after every ride. The shop adjusts them also, but ten minutes into every ride the rubbing begins.
Similar Products Used:
full xtr hardtails
Bike Setup:
scalpel with full xtr, everything else works great!
Bottom Line:
see weaknesses. When a product costs this much and is supposed to be the top of the line, it should be perfect, but it is not.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Runlong1
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseville, California Date Reviewed: November 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Forest Hill Divide, Auburn, CA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Plus, Folsom,
Strengths:
Good stopping power, much better than caliper brakes, look good, light weight.
Weaknesses:
Pistons needed to be cleaned, sticking. Brake squeal on both sets after about 300 miles - Shimano brake pads had small "divots" in them. Would like to find a Kool Stop replacement, since these pads are very expensive!
Similar Products Used:
XTR caliper brakes with Mavic Ceramic rims.
Bike Setup:
Trek Top Fuel Carbon, Full XTR, Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels
Bottom Line:
Nice brakes, but disappointed that I had to change the pads to stop the squealing. Also, pistons sticking after running in only dry conditions, not wet. Took a 5 day trip to the Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota, and pistons clogged a bit with the dry, dusty dirt. Brakes work very, very well when all is good. This is my first experience with disc brakes. I will need to see how they work in the mud when winter sets in!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Datalogger
a Cross Country Rider
from Chambersburg, PA, USA Date Reviewed: October 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Michaux/Pine Grove
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Typical XTR Quality. Nice clean look w/o alot of flash. Awesome power, 1 finger stoppies! No noticeable rub or "migration". M07 Resin pads seem to last forever.
Weaknesses:
Noisy when wet, not a fan of the brake lever adjustment. Shimano should really have a better way to adjust this that doesn't move the brake lever further away from the handlebar. Not a big deal, probably just a pet peeve of mine. Resin pads will glaze, a light sanding brings them back to life. I imagine they are glazing due to overheating them. A larger rotor would most likely fix this.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Maverick Durance Ano w/ the best of everything; DUC32, CK Hubs/Mavic 817 rims/Maxxis Larsen TT 2.35's, Full XTR w/ Dual Action shifter/brakes, 203mm front/160mm rear rotor both w/ M07 Resin pads, Speedball, Easton MonkeyLite SL Carbon Handlebar, XTR clipless. Around 28.5 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Seem to be adequate for my 250lb frame for XC riding. I may need to upgrade the rear to a 7" rotor as my brake did become spongy during a long descent. Afterwards, the rear pads were only slightly glazed, I'm pretty sure I boiled the fluid. Personally, I feel I'm asking alot of any 6" rotor with my size. Increasing the rotor size along w/ a swap to more aggressive pads should take care of everything. The M07 Resin pads have over 500 tough condition miles on them with barely any signs of wear.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
markrods
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto Canada Date Reviewed: September 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Glen Major
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$266.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Good modulation
Great power
Bling factor
Price I paid
Weaknesses:
Brake rub, brake rub, brake rub.... only on the rear caliper. Front was easy to adjust.
Similar Products Used:
HAYES, Shimano 525
Bike Setup:
2008 Santa Cruz LT, XTR, Race face, Fox Talas...
Bottom Line:
The brake rub on the rear caliper is a shame. I have spend hours adjusting these, put in a new rotor, got a shop to attempt adjusment... and like most of the posts... a ride or two later it's back.
Amazing that Shimano has such an excellent performing super light product, that is ridiculous to adjust. I suspect the caliper design is faulty on some units.
The concept of an adjustment that does not consist of shtty shims would be welcome.
HELLO, SHIMANO ENGINEER AND QUALITY CONTROL. YOU NEED TO BE REPLACED.
I pity anyone who paid full pop for these puppys. You should not need a tear down and clean our for every few hours of ride time.
All of this said, they work well when they are not rubbing and pissing me off. The 5 year old Deore 525 and old Hayes I have are more reliable.
Stay away from these until they fix this issue. You may luck out and get a caliper that retracts properly, however the risk appears to be 50% base on the feedback in these posts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joep van der Heiden
a Cross Country Rider
from Landgraaf, The Netherlands Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wild ones
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
-Good stopping power
-nice looks
-brake pads brake and hold well in all conditions.
Weaknesses:
-Rubbing rotors
-lots of different noises
-feeling in brake levers is too variable (stiff feeling in low temps) and also feels very stiff after prolonged braking which causes fatigue in your hands.
-No easy lever adjustment while driving like the juicy brakes have.
-Not the lightest
-Centerlock, so no real options for lighter rotors, unless you want to get expensive new wheels or a centerlock adapter which almost completely makes changing rotors for less weight pointless.
Similar Products Used:
Magura HS33 is the only other hydraulic brake I ever had
Bike Setup:
Full XTR Hardtail bike with dual controls
Bottom Line:
I really wanted to try dual control so I got the XTR's. I absolutely love dual control, but have been dissapointed with these brakes from the start. Out of the box they were way too soft. In addition I've had rubbing pads and a howling rear brake.
I bled the brakes until the levers felt stiff. The feeling is now very nice. Brake power is very good. 2 finger braking come true. Very high power in front brake with 180mm rotor.
The real problem is aligning the calipers. It's a futile undertaking. It works for 30 minutes, but then the rubbing starts again. Apparently the pistons don't retract completely and a different distance every time you brake so it's impossible to align these things correctly. Visually I align them perfectly, but after 10 miles there is an offset again and if I don't want to listen to all the noises I have to do it again.
I've tried just about everything to get rid of the howling rear brake. When breaking in the pads it's at its worst, then it gets slightly less, but still annoying.
The only advantage is, that pedestrians will hear you coming.
It's just bling for suckers. Hey you got XTR, wow. Hrm, what's that noise?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sangmatt
a Cross Country Rider
from Date Reviewed: June 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light weight; nice modulation; decent power
Weaknesses:
STICKY PISTONS!!!
Bike Setup:
Ibis Mojo full XTR
Bottom Line:
When these things are working well, they're fabulous. But I had to return my rear caliper for chronic sticky pistons that wouldn't retract, even after reading all I could and giving them a full cleaning. Shimano did well with a quick, no-fuss replacement. The front caliper is doing the same thing in the start of year two, along with the new rear caliper. They take a lot of maintenance, and even then, they don't always keep from sticking. I now end many rides scraping along the end of the trail, which is bad enough without looks from others in the parking lot which say "nice xtr setup, too bad it doesn't work--idiot"
Lame product Shimano, especially for that kind of money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL USA Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
These are light, have excellent fit and finish and are easy to set up. Straightforward to bleed and get working.
Weaknesses:
These are pricey; If you have to pay retail the XT is a better value.
Similar Products Used:
XTR M965 brakes and XTR V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
07 Turner Flux/Reba M975 XTR group except for XT crank and FD. DT swiss 240 CL wheelset w 160 mm rotors
Bottom Line:
I am using these with 07 M975 levers and found that the pad clearance on these was much greater than on the M965 calipers, this makes the rubbing much less likely to occur with these. I however prefer less lever pull to engage the brakes so I added a small bit of extra fluid to the system to take up some of the gap to the pads. This works fine but requires that the rotors are kept within a tighter range of runout to avoid rubbing. I use a syringe to bleed from the caliper to the lever, I can bleed faster this way. Since installation the only rub has been due to rotor deflection not piston migration. I just true the rotor and they are still running drag free after 6 mos use.
I do run mixed pads on both ends which does not provide the max braking power but works for where I ride. I am able to use them for descent speed control without locking the brakes (good modulation) and can lock them uo with 1 finger braking. Descending without locking was nearly impossible with V-brakes on the same trails. They are designed for XC riding/racing and not downhill or gravity sleds and work very well for their intended application. no experience with extended periods of braking( no mountins here) but I have not experienced any fade.
I got these on Ebay new for much lass than retail which is pretty high; 5 chilis for what I paid but at list price more like 3 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cort
a Cross Country Rider
from Newport Beach CA USA Date Reviewed: February 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
The look, the lateral stiffness and great modulation and very quiet as long as you do not use the steel pads. My bike came with steel pads and they squeeled so badly and the modulation was horrible. I switched to the composite pads and modulation, noise and stopping power were excellent. Shimano should not even sell the steel pads.
Weaknesses:
Disc rubbing on the pad after a ride. Rear brake only. After I ride and rack the bike and spin the back wheel, the brake pad stops the wheel prematurely, almost as if there are no bearings in the wheel. This is my second generation XTR hydralic disk brakes and had the same problem on the 960's. I can pull the pads and push the piston back in and alleviate the problem but the problem returns when I ride again.
Similar Products Used:
XTR 960's
Bike Setup:
Scott Spark Limited All XTR components.
Bottom Line:
Shimano has told me to expect some brake rubbing but nothing that should slow down the performance of the bike. When I ride, much of it climbing, I almost bleed from the lungs and don't appreciate the brakes rubbing at all. Shimano needs to address this. Pads should always retract away from the rotor when not in use. This should be a fairly easy design change with a stronger retraction mechanism. I am looking for a replacement brake that will not work against me when climbing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alistair
a Racer
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
You Yangs
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Cycle Science Glen Waverley
Strengths:
Great stopping power, extremely reliable
Weaknesses:
make heaps of noise when they first get wet but quiet down after a little while
Similar Products Used:
hayes mechs, avid mechs
Bike Setup:
Rock Machine team ten elite, XT wheels, XTR drivetrain and brakes, rock shox reba forks, specialized fast track tyres
Bottom Line:
These XTR hydro brakes came on my bike when i got it and the bottom line is that they are awesome but i guess you would have to expect that when paying the sort of money that they cost! i usually try and review something after its been through its full life and after a bit over 3 years of xc riding and racing both the calipers have given up and iv'e had to get them replaced. The rotors are still perfectly fine it's just that the pistons on the same side (think its the left) arent working anymore and its either get it sent off for an expensive rebuild or find a cheaper replacement. but for 3 years they have been an amazing brake and i highly recommend them to anyone! You should buy these brakes if you either race xc or have a lot of spare money!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon
a
from Phillip Island Australia Date Reviewed: September 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Blair Witch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At:
on line
Strengths:
Easy set up with great feel and modulation. will suit XC to FR,
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes,Shimano Deore, XT, XTR965
Bike Setup:
Trek H/Tail Frame,Fox F100 RLC, Thompson 4X Stem & Post Ritchie WCS low riser, Chris King H/set, Full XTR 975 running gear, Chris King hubs on Mavic 819 rims
Bottom Line:
Gotta set the calipers spacing up straight and even on both sides to start with. Most think they do, even LBS but they don't I have seen several that rub and pistons stick all because of the initial set up. Once set up, regular maintanance is required. These are a performance part with tighter tollarances than most other Shimano Braking levels so you cant expect to just ride and check them once every now and again and complain if they rub!.I have used XTR since 04 on 7 bikes from Hard tails to Free Ride with all new sets each time and average 150 to 200 KLM a week right through our very muddy and wet winters with none of the complaints I see posted. The bottom line is Maintanance!!! Pull pads out after wet dirty rides and clean the gaps and discs, lube piston walls and re assemble. This process takes 10minutes a side. Make sure you put you wheels in SRAIGHT and they will work as they should.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Racer
from Seattle Date Reviewed: June 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Palo Duro Canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Kirkland Bike Shop
Strengths:
great modulation
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, El Camino, HFX-9 carbon
Bike Setup:
Blur XC from the wheels up
Bottom Line:
These things are light as sin and work great. If you can emotionally handle tapping the brakes every couple miles when a bit of "piston migration" occurs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Arroyo Grande, CA, USA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
What Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Came with Ibis Mojo
Strengths:
Clean and well-designed routing. Easy to bleed. Brake levers feel fantastic, both shape and pull feel. Excellent modulation and good power when running cool.
Weaknesses:
Rear brake rubs after every "prolonged" downhill use (10 minutes). Front brake fades a bit and begins to howl after heavy, continual braking. Pistons in the front are now beginning to stick as mentioned in another review below. Conditions have been only dry, summer dust.
Similar Products Used:
I've been mountain biking since '85, but this is my first set of discs as I was waiting for all the initial "bugs" to be worked out (rotor rub, etc.) Prior I ran Avid Mag "v-brakes" with ceramic rims and WTB abrasive pads. These were actually slightly stonger than the '07 XTR discs and didn't fade.
I had hoped that by going to the second generation XTR, these types of issues would have been sorted out. I'm only 125 pounds and am running a 160mm rotor in the rear and a 180mm rotor in the front so I should be well within the intended weight range. If these issues continue--which seems likely--I will have to start searching for an alternative which is a shame since I'd like to have the complete XTR package and love the lever design. I really want to like these brakes as they feel excellent out-of-the-gate, but with only three months of riding and dealing with the fore-mentioned issues, I must say they are only fair for all-around use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Skookum Flats
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
High-tech design and looks. Center Loc is brilliant! Lever shape and feel inspires confidence.
Weaknesses:
STICKY PISTONS or as Shimano calls it - Piston Migration
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 7
Bottom Line:
When is Shimano gonna figure out this piston issue? They nailed everything else. Looks, feel, power. All but this cronic sticky piston. I had "hoped" that the new 975 brake would have address this issue from the older 965 and even the 765, but I guess not.
Bottom line - These brakes are expensive. They should perform and maintain at a level better then the competition. That's what people expect from XTR. If you want a brake that doesn't require constant tweaking, keep looking, this one isn't it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leo Cirino
a Cross Country Rider
from Belo Horizonte Date Reviewed: May 31, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Trip Aventura
Strengths:
Name, weight
Weaknesses:
Needs constant regulation
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX
Bike Setup:
Epic 2006
Bottom Line:
As by now the front brake is going to the local dealer for a new (3rd) revision. There is intermitent noise and a disk rubbing that almost always occurs when going uphill. My LX is older and never showed this kind of problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scotty J
a Racer
from Chicago, IL, USA Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
kickapoo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
powerful braking force, Shimano name
Weaknesses:
Price
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
'07 KHS XC Team (Shimano) stock
Bottom Line:
The brakes are really powerful. Much better than my Hayes. You can do downhill sections with one finger and stop on a dime. Make sure to use the shims to correctly center the caliper to the rotor. I haven't run into any problems with these brakes and don't really foresee anything happening since they are a basic design that should be very durable. I don't have the center lock rotor but imagine that it works pretty good. I haven't raced with these yet but they blow the socks off of my Hayes so I have no doubt in my mind that they're gonna be awesome. At $320 MSRP per wheel I gave the value rating a 3 because that is just ridiculous!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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