My Hightower XXL came stock with 180mm rotors stock. The same stock rotor size from the small to the XXL frames. That should tell you something. Over-braked for the Small and under-braked for the XXL or even XL depending on your weight. About a year ago I went up a rotor size to 200mm. Much better and I thought this is great. I could now ride steeper trails in control. I tried front manuals and couldn't quiet figure it out. The front would always move a little. I watched some videos of people doing front manuals and they could stop with their front brake only. Not mine. Not with my weight. So I wondered if 220mm would even fit on my bike? After some research I bought some Sram 220mm rotors and matching 40mm adapter brackets. Everything lined up well on the fork, but I needed to add a washer under each post on the rear because the rotor just barely rubbed the top of the housing on my Guide R calipers. Seeing they have a curve to the shape on the caliper housing, it was probably designed for a smaller radius rotor. The washers did the trick.
Now the braking power is crazy! I have to watch my grip went I'm bombing down a steep trails, because that front brake GRABS! First test I did was try a front manual. Did one first try and second try and so on. Now I just started practicing them on tight turns. And I am way more confident on even steeper trails. What a difference....
Now the braking power is crazy! I have to watch my grip went I'm bombing down a steep trails, because that front brake GRABS! First test I did was try a front manual. Did one first try and second try and so on. Now I just started practicing them on tight turns. And I am way more confident on even steeper trails. What a difference....
