Advantages: Excellent lever feel, stopping power, durability Disadvantages: when they squeel, they REALLY squeel
I've been mountain biking for many years now and over time I've tried a wide array of braking systems on my various bikes. I was always a huge fan of Avid's braking products and had test ridden a number of bikes with their Juicy discs on before deciding on the right bike for me and taking the plunge into speccing my own custom build. The bike was to be a Yeti 575 and the brake choice came down to the Hope Mono minis (as fitted to my Orange), Avid Juicys and the ShimanoXT. I chose Shimano for various reasons and the following review will hopefully outline why I took this course of action over the much hyped Hope and Avids.
Having tested various systems on demo bikes around the country, it seemed to me that there was little to choose between the braking characteristics of my shortlisted products. However, the Shimano just edged it ...
Advantages: They Stop The Bike Disadvantages: Not Disk Breaks
ShimanoLX M600 M-system V brake blocks (not pads but they are the same thing) are the brakes my bike uses.
They consist of two rubber blocks with a screw comming out of them, for easy fixing to your bike. Fixing them is easy anyone who can use a spanner can do it, and at around about 6-99 a pair then they are a lot more resonable than brakes for cars. (Yet another reaon to ditch the motor around town)
One of the most important things brakes do is stop your bike and it is vitaly important that they do it quickly. When new and properly adjusted these babies are bloody good at doing that task, and if you have been used to a dodgy old worn pair then it is not a good idea to hit the front brakes too hard. Unless a mate has a camcorder handy then you could earn a quick 200 quid from Youve been Framed.
The next most important thing ...
Previously, I had a pair Of Ritchey WCS Ti spd pedals (i paid £60 on ebay, but the retail at £140!!). These were next to useless - the bearings failed within 12 months. They looked good and weighed not a lot, but didn't work very well, at all :O(
I begrudgingly purchased the XTR spd's for £56.99 from wiggle, as I didn't want to go the "shimano" route again. First impressions of quality were superb, especially for under £60!!! The smoothness of the bearings is silk like. fitting is just like any other pedal. Adjusting the tension springs was also the same as any other spd, although I didn't have to do them as tight as previoud spd's I'd owned. Clicking in and out of the pedal gave a satisfying quality click. In riding i've done so far, they perhaps clogged more than i'd have liked, but the riding was very very extreme.
After ...
Product Information for "EBC Shimano XTR, XT, LX, Saint, Hone Disc Brake Pads" »
Product details
Long Name
Shimano XTR, XT, LX, Saint, Hone Disc Brake Pads
Type
Bike Brake Pads
Genre
Disc
Manufacturer
EBC
Manufacturer's product description
EBC Disc Brake Pads - Shimano XTR, XT, LX, Saint, Hone Disc Brake Pads Specifications: GREEN - Crosscountry Trekking grade for general use RED - High Friction \Soft\" compound for Downhill Race use only GOLD - High durability sintered metal compound for longer life in arduous conditions such as wet riding or use in mud or sand. NOT to be used for Downhill race use unless system is fitted originally with gold (sintered) brake pads to avoid brake overheating."
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