Review

Team Tested: Shimano XT Disc Brakes Review

26.08.2014
by

If you’re looking for new brakes for your mountain bike, whether as an upgrade or just something different, Shimano XT brakes could be exactly what you need. One of the best “bangs for the buck” in mountain biking equipment today.

Shimano XT M785 Disc Brake. Excellent stopping power. Excellent price.
Shimano XT M785 Disc Brake. Excellent stopping power. Excellent price.

First, some highlights on Pros and Cons, then our take.

Pros

  • Excellent and impressive stopping power. 1 finger braking.
  • Easily adjustable.
  • Bleed from the factory was perfect for me.
  • Competitively priced.
The lever reach adjustment knob on the XT brakes is very easy to access and use.
The lever reach adjustment knob on the XT brakes is very easy to access and use.
Cons

  • Heavy. 450 grams w/ rotor vs Avid XO Trail, 350 grams (all weights depending on configuration).
  • Replacement Ice Tech rotors and finned pads are relatively expensive.
  • Shimano uses proprietary mineral oil, more expensive.

Shimano XT brakes have fantastic stopping power and, for the price, excellent modulation. Some higher end brakes do better in both areas, but not at the price of XT M785 brakes. In the world of 2 piston brakes, they’re at the top in terms of sheer power. Sometimes it’s too much for people, they don’t like the absolute clamping down action that you get from an XT set. The Servo-Wave action from Shimano can be a love hate thing. Basically it’s a leverage cam action that doubles (or more) the amount of braking power transmitted from the brake lever to the pistons. Shimano has used this technology for years, adapting it from V-brakes to disc brakes. I love it.

Some of the things that make an XTR set more expensive are more fine machining in certain areas, and the use of more expensive (and lighter) carbon and titanium bits. One of the things I miss the most, after having used XTR and Saint brakes, are the dimpled levers. A trivial point? Perhaps.

22mm ceramic pistons help to dissipate heat, as do the finned Shimano pads.
22mm ceramic pistons help to dissipate heat, as do the finned Shimano pads.
Short levers seem designed for one finger braking.
Short levers seem designed for one finger braking.

Bottom Line:

These are incredible brakes, and especially so for the price. The offer excellent stopping power and good heat dissipation. There is some brake fade on ultra long descents, or at certain enduro races, but in everyday trail usage, these things can be counted on to stop you in a hurry. The braking power is entirely controllable. You can find Shimano just about everywhere, so brake pads or rotors, when you need new ones, are easy enough to acquire. If your brakes are not doing the job, upgrade to Shimano XT and go faster by stopping when you need to.

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