Well you may very well have to bleed them right out of the box because chances are the cables will be too long. None the less, I have the XTR M985 race brakes and couldn't be happier (well of course I could with a set of R1's). But I did have the chance to try the Hope X2's and those are frickn sweet as well. I thought the XTR's bit a little harder though and they actually do weigh less. In the end the guy I was getting them from had both sets and both were brand new (though the XTR's were still in the box). He decided to keep the Hopes so I got a screaming deal on the XTR's. Quite satisfied. I have only bled them once and the only adjustments I have had to make is resetting the caliper when swapping wheels out. They seem to rub slightly when switching wheels. Nothing a 4mm and a squeeze of the lever can't fix quite quickly.

I don't know if I would have gone with the trail versions. They weigh more and I have no need for the "cooling" fins. I ride XC, not down hill and I ride a SS at that. The race versions still have the lever reach adjustment but you need a small allen wrench for it as opposed to being tool free like the trails. Seriously though, I set it and haven't touched it in two months. Do I really need a tool free knob hanging out there, that's just extra weight in my book.

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Cannondale Synapse (alu)...it works

Is the extra weight worth the practicality? I would say so. The amount of weight you are talking about is placebo at best.

Oh I forgot what site I'm on though...

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http://www.zencyclery.com

ahhh not true: http://forums.mtbr.com/weight-weenies/xtr-race-brakes-vs-xtr-trail-brakes-weight-savings-real-740626.html