We first dropped news of the new SRAM Guide G2 brakes back in March, but it was too early to conclude. It’s now six months on, and we have a good idea of how they perform in comparison to their Guide and Code siblings.
The original SRAM Guide brake has been on the market for five years now, and they are arguably fitted to more high-end bikes than any other brake. We liked the Guide, especially the Guide RE (which shares a Code calliper) but it’s fair to say they were a little down on power for harder use, and with the release of the excellent SRAM Code it became a repeated mantra on ENDURO that we would always choose the slightly more substantial, but far superior Codes. Therefore, it’s great to see that SRAM has finally dropped a new second-generation Guide, named the G2 claiming ‘Code like power for trail riders’. But is it true?
What’s new with the SRAM G2
The new SRAM G2 is a ground-up redesign, with new calipers, hoses, levers and even a new Power pad compound. There will be two models in the lineup, the €190 SRAM G2 RSC and the €295 SRAM G2 Ultimate. The more affordable G2 RSC brake features the reach and contact point adjustment and Guide lever feel, combined with claimed Code power. The SRAM G2 Ultimates are the top-of-the-line option, with a carbon lever blade running on a pivot bearing. SRAM claims a 7% increase in power over the outgoing Guides. Power gains have been achieved by producing a stiffer caliper, with a narrower pocket and larger contact surfaces around the body bolts. SRAM claims that even though they’ve narrowed the pad pocket and removed the heat shield, their switch to phenolic pistons eliminates the need for additional cooling methods and the heat management of the new G2 is the same as the outgoing Guides.
SRAM also claims to have improved the pad movement, so that the pad gap remains consistent as the pads wear, ensuring the lever feel and bite point consistent too. While the pad shape is the same, the new SRAM G2 brake pads have a new compound, named the Power Organic compound. Standard Organic and Metallic are also still an option, and you can fit original Guide pads into the G2’s and vice versa. We weighed the new G2’s at 258 g for the G2 RSC and 246 g for the G2 Ultimate with an 85 mm hose. The SRAM G2s also have a new lever design, featuring the same leverage ratio as used by the Guide and current Code. The G2 RSC features contact point adjustment with a pivot bushing, while the top of the line G2 Ultimates, feature a lever pivot bearing and carbon blade.
Review of the SRAM G2 Brakes
After six months of abuse on everything from light flow-trail use, to shuttle runs and non-stop 1500 m vert alpine descents we have run three sets of SRAM G2’s in our three international offices. We have run both the new Power compound brake pads and sintered pads and used the brakes with both 200 and 180 mm rotors. The new Power compound is excellent for all-round use, but we would still run sintered for long, hot Alpine descents. So how do the new SRAM G2’s shape up against the Guide and Code brakes?
SRAM G2 vs SRAM Guide, which is best?
It’s fair to say that the new SRAM G2’s are better than the original Guides. In back to back testing, we found the SRAM G2’s offer both smoother modulation and a slight increase in the end-of-stroke braking torque available, allowing us to brake a little harder and later than the Guides. Though SRAM state the new phenolic pistons require less heat management technology, we did not experience any improvement over the Guides and both brakes felt a little pumped and suffered from fade during repeated alpine runs. The lever feel on the new G2’s feels predictable with a stronger return and a more secure feeling main pivot. Overall, braking torque feels a little sharper and crisper, and the ergonomics of the G2 nudge them ahead for us.
SRAM G2 vs SRAM Code, which is best?
We have promoted the use of superior SRAM Code brakes over Guides for several years so this is the real battle for the G2 brakes. Going on price, it’s hard to sperate them. The €170 SRAM Code R‘s do not have the useful contact point adjuster of the €190 SRAM G2 RSC, while the €270 SRAM Code RSC lacks the carbon blade of the €295 SRAM G2 Ultimate. However, in back-to-back testing, the conclusion is clear. Fitted with the same 200mm rotors and comparing the sintered compound in the G2 with the sintered pad in the SRAM Code RSC, the Codes are the more powerful brake with a more positive initial bite, suffering less from fade on long descents. The SRAM G2’s held up well but felt like a trail brake when we pushed them hard, heating up and requiring an increasingly firmer pull to engage full force. At a measured weight of 246g, the SRAM G2’s undercut the SRAM Codes by just 38 g (measured weight of the SRAM Code RSC is 284g). However, brakes are not a place to save weight and 76g per pair is a negligible saving. While the G2’s mark a subtle improvement over the Guides, we still recommend the harder bite and increased control offered by the more affordable Codes.
SRAM G2 vs SRAM Code, which is better?
The new SRAM G2 brakes are good performers, with sublime modulation and a touch more power than the outgoing Guide brakes. They blend SRAM’s smooth modulation with perfect ergonomics. However, model vs model they are more expensive than SRAM’s Code stoppers, which offer better modulation and superior braking torque and heat management, so the Codes would still be our recommendation for anyone looking for the best braking performance.
Tops
- Better than the SRAM Guides
- Lightweight
Flops
- Not as good as the SRAM Codes
- More expensive than the SRAM Codes
For more information head to sram.com
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