[resination]

I recently installed some M6100 brakes, and they work great. Pulling the lever from it's starting position to actuate the brakes feels nice, and is similar for both levers. However, pushing the lever away from the grip is drastically different between the levers. The left lever moves 2-3mm (as measured from the end of the blade), in what would seem to be an expected amount of play. The right lever, on the other hand, moves 15+mm. Adjusting the reach doesn't have any effect.

My question is, which side is normal? Any way to adjust them so that they're the same? I'd prefer minimal movement.

 

[resination]

Looks like this is caused by different lever blade parts. They've possibly revised the design. The left looks like it would fit right or left, and rests on the spring. The right avoids the spring, but would be side specific.

Left side:

Right Side (with the extra forward movement):

 

[funks]

Hmmm, did they revise the design? Does this mean that the BL-M6100's can't use lever blades from BL-M7100 (SLX) and BL-M8100 (XT) levers?

Pretty sure the one with the spring can use BL-M7100 and BL-M8100 lever blades, along with the Flo Motorsports Pro 120 MTB levers.

 

[resination]

Both sides have springs. I prefer the feel of the design w/o the forward movement, but could live with either as long as both sides behaved the same.

Are the 8100/7100 blades compatible with 6100 levers? I'd consider getting new blades just so that both sides behave the same.

 

[funks]

Both sides have springs. I prefer the feel of the design w/o the forward movement, but could live with either as long as both sides behaved the same.

Are the 8100/7100 blades compatible with 6100 levers? I'd consider getting new blades just so that both sides behave the same.

The 7100 and the 8100 use the same lever blade design (with the XT having dimples on it) which is great as one can upgrade to the Flo Motorsports Pro 120 Levers.

Looking at the M6100, looks like the levers are of the same design - gotta pull out one of these days and take a look, be nice to verify if the Pro 120 levers works as replacements on them as well.

 

[funks]

Just removed the M6100 lever blade on my other bike and its mechanism and design looks just like the M7100 and the M8100 - so they should be interchangeable (uninstalls it just like my SLX BL-M7100). Only difference I can see between the Deore and the XT lever blade is the later has a knob to adjust reach (instead of using an allen wrench), and has dimples where the finger hits the lever. The SLX lever has the same knob but no dimples.

I personally would just buy the Pro 120 levers (you can use the coupon new10off for 10% off on their site) instead as these levers are very easy to break on a crash (and the replacements a pain to get). The XT lever blade is actually the same price as the full BL-M6100 lever - lol.

Part numbers

SLX M7100 Lever Blades -RH (Y2S798010) - LH (Y2S798020)
XT M78100 Lever Blades - RH (Y2RR98010) - LH (Y2RR98020)

 

[006_007]

Is the forward motion effecting the actual pull of the brake (you know, the direction that actually makes the brake engage?)

Is the only time you notice the difference when you flick the lever forward?

 

[resination]

Is the forward motion effecting the actual pull of the brake (you know, the direction that actually makes the brake engage?)

Is the only time you notice the difference when you flick the lever forward?

Pulling the brake is identical between the levers, and works/feels great. When I'm in a more aggressive riding position with my finger on the lever, I don't notice it at all. I notice it most when I'm doing stretches where brakes aren't necessary and I'm altering my grip, like moving to place a finger on the brake. My fingers will sometimes catch the backsides of the levers, and it feels awkward when one moves but the other doesn't. It doesn't freely move forward, there's a small amount of resistance similar to pulling the lever.