Thoughts on lightweight brakes

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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gfeldy
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:00 pm

by gfeldy

Hey there, as some of you C'Dale guys know I'm building a custom Scalpel. I only need a few more items to complete the build and one of them is brakes. I'm torn between the trusty XTR and the new Formula R1R.

Please help. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
~GFeldy~
S Works Tarmac w/ EPS
S Works Epic HT Blurple tuned
Kitsbow
S Works Epic Blurple tuned - Sold :doh:
FS-i - Sold
Scalpel custom - Sold
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by Weenie


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DanW
Posts: 1243
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 5:39 pm
Location: Here, there and everywhere

by DanW

There's few threads here about R1's and also MT8's. Consensus seems to be that almost everyone wishes they stuck to XTR. M9000 is pretty light nowadays so it isn't such a compromise on weight like it might have been a few years ago. XTR just work :D

stuka666
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:28 pm
Location: portugal

by stuka666

I've had the same R1R for about 2 years, awesome.

And they are the first version, without ECT.

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cerro
Posts: 1959
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Location: Malmö, Sweden
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by cerro

Avid XX is pretty light too and maybe my favourite brake. Using old Formula R1 Racing now with alu hardware and some tuning, works great :)

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eliflap-scalpel
Posts: 870
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Location: italy
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by eliflap-scalpel

i can give the tip to buy an used set of 2012 R1 from Formula.

oldie and goldie.
http://eliflap.it/

Jaker
Posts: 701
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:55 am
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

by Jaker

What about 2013 with the ECT? Also, are the 2014-2015 not lighter?

Ghost234
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:21 am

by Ghost234

I just tried the Magura MT8's on a demo bike. Stopping power was pretty decent, but it did have some fade on hard braking. But my big complaint was the reach felt pretty far for my hands (I dont think there is a reach adjust).

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gfeldy
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:00 pm

by gfeldy

The MT does have reach adjust but what size rotors were they using?

How do you get the Avids to shut up? I can't hear myself think on my team bike (has Avids oh and a 180 rotor so it will stop)

Thanks for the feedback
~GFeldy~
S Works Tarmac w/ EPS
S Works Epic HT Blurple tuned
Kitsbow
S Works Epic Blurple tuned - Sold :doh:
FS-i - Sold
Scalpel custom - Sold
EVO - Sold

Everyone
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:02 am

by Everyone

Different rotors maybe? Could try the new centerline ones if you're not already on them (and are tied into sponsor equipment)

Failing that; new brakes! :D

TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

Noise can be caused by two things:-
A constant pitch and variable volume is caused by resonance, more common an Avid brakes (and I attribute this to the silly CPS washer mounting system as it reduces stiffness a lot), metal pads are worse than organic (no internal damping), lightweight discs make it worse as well (Ashima, Alligator style), I had this really badly on one setup, organic pads and a slightly heavier rear disc fixed it.
A near constant volume and varying pitch is usually caused by a contaminant, by that I mean grit/dust and not fluids (which if oily reduce friction to the point where there can be no noise as the brake does nothing).
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

Jaker
Posts: 701
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:55 am
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

by Jaker

I just switched from a set of M975 XTR brakes to a set of older Formula R1 brakes, and the R1s seem to have a lot more braking power than the XTRs. I think the XTRs had some bad pads or something. I've never heard of R1s working better than XTRs.

aaric
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:10 pm

by aaric

THe XTR M975s didn't have that great of braking power: On the same bike with the same rotors, the M785 XTs I upgraded to were a night and day difference. I'd assume the newer XTR is at least as good power wise.

Jaker
Posts: 701
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:55 am
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

by Jaker

Well that helps justify the expense then! Thanks.

by Weenie


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User avatar
gfeldy
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:00 pm

by gfeldy

XT's have historically had more braking power
~GFeldy~
S Works Tarmac w/ EPS
S Works Epic HT Blurple tuned
Kitsbow
S Works Epic Blurple tuned - Sold :doh:
FS-i - Sold
Scalpel custom - Sold
EVO - Sold

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