[jgusta]

Obviously Saints are more powerful and sounds like they have some better performance features, but at about $150 price differential/brake than SLX. I've been on SLX with 7" rotors over the past +1yr. Pretty happy so far, but brakes do fade a bit on longer, steeper descents and relishing the idea of having more available power on hand with great Shimano modulation. I am thinking of just puting on an 8" up front for the SLX or "bone up" for some Saints and possibly run smaller rotors? My SLX brakes are fine for most trail riding duties, my rear lever is bent to sh*t though and will cost me about $40-50 to replace. The Saints will obviously be a much bigger upgrade in cost, but I can get a pair shipped for a bit over $300 if I order by 2/16. Are they worth the upgrade? They would go on my 33.5 lb Banshee Rune with 215-220lb rider on board who does everything from "run of the mill" trail riding to some lite FR/DH, so mainly AM stuff/riding.

Thanks for any suggestions.

JG

 

[AMCAT]

Saints are awesome !! go for it if you have funds !!!

 

[jgusta]

Saints are awesome !! go for it if you have funds !!!

Thanks! Do you think I could get away running 6" rotors front to back or shouId I run 7" front/6" back at the very least for a heavy'ish rider for trail to lite FR/DH riding at most?

 

[Hardtails Are Better]

I'd just put an 8" front on your SLXs if you want more power. That'll help and be WAY cheaper.


If you're itching for an upgrade though, the Saint brakes are excellent. I love mine.

 

[AMCAT]

Thanks! Do you think I could get away running 6" rotors front to back or shouId I run 7" front/6" back at the very least for a heavy'ish rider for trail to lite FR/DH riding at most?

go for a set of 203ff/180rr if you can fit 203rr then just go for 203/203 thats what I run

 

[jgusta]

I'd just put an 8" front on your SLXs if you want more power. That'll help and be WAY cheaper.

If you're itching for an upgrade though, the Saint brakes are excellent. I love mine.

Yeah that is what I was thinking of doing as well, since I have an extra 8" rotor and adaptor lying around. Just on the fence with this, since this voucher I have is only good for another day to get about $20 off my purchase. But, yes makes more sense to run the SLX with bigger rotors and then upgrade to Saints if needing more down the road. Thanks for being rational here

 

[Clones123]

Last year I bought a set of XT M775 brakes with 180mm Shimano rotors front and rear. I installed them with a 203mm rotor in front which I liked a lot at first. Unfortunately, as the standard resin pads have bedded-in that big front rotor has gotten me into trouble a few times. Put me square on my face once; one clumsy squeeze and - BANG - I was down and bleeding like a car had hit me. I'm staying as-is for now but promised myself that I'd switch back to a 180mm front the next time I go over the bars due to a brain-fart with the front brake lever.

I've always been a huge fan of big brakes on any form of transport but that taste-test of a rocky trail has me wondering if 203mm isn't TOO much of a good thing. If I was in Colorado doing DH, maybe then I'd be a fan of the fade-resistance of a 8-inch front brake. As it is, I'm a 225lb Clyde riding XC and trail in the Southeastern USA and kinda feeling like less brake could actually be more confidence inspiring depending on skills and reflexes. I'm thinking now that maybe there is a reason why 203mm brakes are uncommon.

 

[jgusta]

Last year I bought a set of XT M775 brakes with 180mm Shimano rotors front and rear. I installed them with a 203mm rotor in front which I liked a lot at first. Unfortunately, as the standard resin pads have bedded-in that big front rotor has gotten me into trouble a few times. Put me square on my face once; one clumsy squeeze and - BANG - I was down and bleeding like a car had hit me. I'm staying as-is for now but promised myself that I'd switch back to a 180mm front the next time I go over the bars due to a brain-fart with the front brake lever.

I've always been a huge fan of big brakes on any form of transport but that taste-test of a rocky trail has me wondering if 203mm isn't TOO much of a good thing. If I was in Colorado doing DH, maybe then I'd be a fan of the fade-resistance of a 8-inch front brake. As it is, I'm a 225lb Clyde riding XC and trail in the Southeastern USA and kinda feeling like less brake could actually be more confidence inspiring depending on skills and reflexes. I'm thinking now that maybe there is a reason why 203mm brakes are uncommon.

Ah, good point and sorry to hear about your misfortune with the crash. Maybe that is why I am somewhat reluctuant to puting an 8" rotor on the SLX. Cause yeah, it can be a bit overkill when on full squeeze. I have always run 8/7" rotor in the past cause that was all I knew until finally got a brake that modulates worth a darn (Avid's are "on/off" in comparison, IMO). Love the modulation and feel of the SLX, but would like a little more brake power without having to go up in rotor size. I just put one of my old 8" rotors on up front and looks a little warped and can't get it line up right to save my life. So thinking I am just going to "bone up" for the Saints and use my previous 7" rotors front/back and maybe scale down in rotor size if I can get away with it (7/6").

Thanks all for letting me bounce this round in my head and on forum a bit before throwing done the coin on some new brakes. I always kind of thought brakes were brakes, as long as they stop you when needed then that's good enough, but finally realizing that some good feeling stoppers can totally shape the quality of your ride (I test rode a bike at LBS with Saints for the 2nd time tonight and they do feel outstanding, love the feel of them).

 

[Hardtails Are Better]

Honestly if the modulation of the SLXs is key to you liking them you're apt to like the Saints less. They're mega powerful, and while they're good modulation wise for what they are, there's still so much power that they are definitely more grabby. I have to run a 180mm rear rotor on them (on a full blown DH bike that gets ridden HARD. We've got descents upwards of 4000' here) to keep it from just locking on me all the time.

 

[jgusta]

BTW, just ordered some Saints tonight from CRC. Plan to use my current 180 rotors with them. $334 shipped for a set with returning customer voucher (expires on 2/16). A little spendy for brakes, but not too terribly bad and much cheaper than retail ($550 MSRP). Can't wait to get them on the bike, we'll see if these will allow me to ride even faster on the way down?

 

[Hardtails Are Better]

Cool. Like I said they're great brakes, enjoy.

 

[jgusta]

Yeah, I will see how I like them afterall. But, after riding a bike a bit again tonight at LBS with the Saints, I decided I loved the feel of them with nice feathery modulation initially with ability to come to full halt when needed without feeing of total brake and suspension lock up like my Avid Elixirs with 8" rotors would do. Yesterday I descending about 6k' in total following two 3k' climbs and would of put them to good use on the descents, especially with about 220lbs to stop at speeds as fast as my bike will handle.

 

[MonkeyBidnezz]

Saints rock. If you ever feel they are too grabby go with either a smaller rotor and or resin pads. I use the stock metallic pads up front, and resin in the back. It has been a great combo and the resin pads are dirt cheap on ebay thru bikefridge. Ive been on a set for a season and theyre still going strong.

 

[jgusta]

Thanks. I just ordered a set from CRC last night and just plan to run the 7/7" rotors I'm currently using with my SLX brakes or even scale down to 7/6" or even 6/6" rotors with the Saints if can get away with it. I used Shimano organic pads in past, love the modulation and feel but would go through them a little too fast and don't like the feel of the Shimano metallic pads (a little grabby). I am currently running semi-organic Kool Stop pads on the SLX brakes and they feel pretty good with good wear and decent power without being too grabby as well.

Can't wait for the new brakes (even ordered some Saint shifters too!). I just Iove the feel of Shimano brakes! Much better than any the Avids I have owned in the past (Juicy 5's, Elixirs) and even like the feel of them more so than Formula (Ones), even though they have a little more bling to them and our nice brakes as well.

 

[Ksterlingc7]

Ive been looking to get rid of my elixirs and pick up some SLX's so if your interested in making a couple bucks off your old SLX to ease the pain of the new Saints let me know. These avids are driving me nut by having to adjust / align them after every ride.

 

[jgusta]

Ive been looking to get rid of my elixirs and pick up some SLX's so if your interested in making a couple bucks off your old SLX to ease the pain of the new Saints let me know. These avids are driving me nut by having to adjust / align them after every ride.

Ah, cool. Yes, I could rarely ever get my Avid's to not rub either (no matter the rotor size or wheel alignement). The beauty about Shimano's they are really easy to adjust the caliper just by hand. I can get them rub free in the matter of seconds, even when wheel is totally out of true. I have just found them to be superior to Avids, as braking feel and control goes. Can literally attack corners as fast as you are able with just enough scrub of speed in and out of the corners as necessary without skidding which is someone I couldn't necessarily do with the Avids due to "on/off" distribution of braking power.

So yes, CRC just shipped out the Saints to me today, should take about a week or so to get them. My SLX brakes are just over 1-yr old, has relatively new pads in them now (<1mth) and brakes still work great. The only thing is that the rear brake lever is bent in some and has been for several months now from when I laid the bike down into the dirt right after getting the bike and brakes (go figure). The rear lever looks a little funky compared to the front lever, but works just as well for 1-finger braking on wide bars as needed with brakes up to 1-2" inboard from grips. PM me or I will do the same once I recieve the Saints and we can work something out.

Late,

Jon