New brakes for trail hardtail (Cura vs Guide vs Shimano)

[thebob]

The four pot Deore are also an option. Pricing is super keen:

https://www.easybike.co.za/shimano-disk-brakes-br-mt520-bl-mt501-set-b01s-resin.html

Edited August 1, 2019 by the_bob

[Traveler]

The twin pot Deore are also an option. Pricing is super keen:

https://www.easybike.co.za/shimano-disk-brakes-br-mt520-bl-mt501-set-b01s-resin.html

Certainly worth considering.

[Pieter1]

The twin pot Deore are also an option. Pricing is super keen:

 

https://www.easybike.co.za/shimano-disk-brakes-br-mt520-bl-mt501-set-b01s-resin.html

Thats a damn good deal. I have the xt version of these waiting to go on a bike, can’t wait to give them a go.

[Traveler]

 I am planning on selling the XT M8000's on my hardtail at some point, moving the Curas over to my hardtail and then buying a set of 4 pot Curas for the Enduro bike (where the 2 pot Curas are at the moment). Not that I need 4 pot, just seems silly not to buy 4 pots when I am buying new brakes anyway...

It is not worth doing anything if you don’t overdo it.... wish someone made 6 pot brakes.

[Grease_Monkey]

So I had a set of Formula C1 brakes, entry level formula brakes but they worked really well. The issue I had was brake pad life. I only got about 1500km out of the rear brake pads, and they were the metal ones.

 

With my XT brakes I recently changed rear brake pads and they had 4000km on.

 

Seriously intrigued by the Cura’s, but the pad life scares me. Anyone else had this issue with Formula brakes?

My pads lasted very long on the Curas - much longer that Shimano XTs (hard to put km to it), and this is on an Enduro bike used for lots of descending and I am heavy...

[Traveler]

If you read the test conducted by the Rockstars of Enduro Mag (shared twice already), they note a couple of critical points. The size of brake rotors, quality of friction material and bedding of brakes. 

 

I had 203mm rotors on my Pyga and was regularly taking loving abuse from fellow riders about the flying saucers or serving trays attached to my wheels. However, take into consideration that a 203mm rotor accounts for as much as 18-20% more braking power. 

 

Friction material is a critical factor and goes hand in hand with bedding of your brakes. How many times have you taken the time to really do a proper session to bed in the brakes with braking cycles? Again according to the gurus at Enduro the difference between properly bedded braked and non is as much as 60% performance increase. I can strongly recommend the brake pads from Trickstuff, they retail for around 20Euro a set (depending on brake), but you can compare them with boat anchors compared to most if not all OE pads. 

 

Brakes are not really fit and forget components, they also require maintenance, a good brake service takes time, but you cannot believe the increase in performance you have after you had disassembled everything and cleaned all the mud and crud out of the brake pistons to free them up again and remove as much foreign material that increases friction between the brake piston and the caliper body. 

Edited August 1, 2019 by Traveler

[Jewbacca]

The four pot Deore are also an option. Pricing is super keen:

 

https://www.easybike.co.za/shimano-disk-brakes-br-mt520-bl-mt501-set-b01s-resin.html

Is it possible to buy just the calipers somewhere?

[dirtypot]

Is it possible to buy just the calipers somewhere?

 

IIRC, you need to have the new master cylinder for the 4 pot calipers.  The old reservoir (or piston - I can't remember) is too small.  So this isn't a quick cheap upgrade for your existing brakes.

[Jewbacca]

IIRC, you need to have the new master cylinder for the 4 pot calipers.  The old reservoir (or piston - I can't remember) is too small.  So this isn't a quick cheap upgrade for your existing brakes.

I was hoping to marry them to the Brake Force 1 levers I have... the original calipers use Magura Judy pads and I can't buy those anywhere unless I had a time machine taking me back to 2013...

[nox1111]

I'm of the opinion that most brand name brakes will be good if set up correctly.

 

I've, up to recently, ridden with the new Deore M6000's and they were great - not a minute worth of hassle. Good modulation, plenty of power.

I did however manage to get silicone sealant on my rotor which caused me hours of trouble - and then I figured out how to clean it properly and back to good braking.

 

I moved on to new Zees and they are better yes - but not by an arm's length.

 

Decent brakes are one thing - but you have to match them to good pads and good quality rotors.

 

I've even ridden the new Acera, Altus or Alivio's (they look very alike if you don't pay them too much attention) on a demo ebike and they were very good -considering they are dirt cheap.

[JustaGM]

Hi all,

 

I need to replace the stock Tektro brakes on my hardtail (Trek Roscoe), with something with more power. They are struggling to stop all of my 92kg's with conviction. I mainly ride dry & rocky technical trails here in Gauteng, and want to do more enduro style events as well.

 

Current options that fall in my budget are: Formula Cura, SRAM Guide RSC (Formula and SRAM both currently on special online), or Shimano SLX or XT (I can push the budget to XT if needed).

 

What are the opinions? I have read good things about the Cura's and SLX brakes, and too many mixed opinions on SRAM Guide's in general. Stopping power and control is important for me.

 

Alternatively, should I wait for the new SLX 4-piston M7100 to become available?

 

Your opinions are appreciated.

Hi.

 

I have a set of SRAM Lever TL's looking for a new home. That is if you have not made a purchase since the, PM if you are interested

[Blackheart]

I got a set of Curas for my new build and couldn't be happier.

I'm a long time user and fan of Hope, and my last 3 builds have had them and I said I'd never use anything else.

The Curas came up at a good price and I thought I'd give them a try.

Really good - powerful with great feel and modulation and they use mineral oil which is a bonus for me.

Apparently they are the only 2 piston calliper on the WC DH circuit.

[Hairy]

I got a set of Curas for my new build and couldn't be happier.

I'm a long time user and fan of Hope, and my last 3 builds have had them and I said I'd never use anything else.

The Curas came up at a good price and I thought I'd give them a try.

Really good - powerful with great feel and modulation and they use mineral oil which is a bonus for me.

Apparently they are the only 2 piston calliper on the WC DH circuit.

that would be a very interesting statistic!

[Dirt Tracker]

I got a set of Curas for my new build and couldn't be happier.

I'm a long time user and fan of Hope, and my last 3 builds have had them and I said I'd never use anything else.

The Curas came up at a good price and I thought I'd give them a try.

Really good - powerful with great feel and modulation and they use mineral oil which is a bonus for me.

Apparently they are the only 2 piston calliper on the WC DH circuit.

 

They were run for one year by several riders in on the UCI DH series. Proper powerful and strong enough in the 2 pot version. My 4 pots are overkill. 

 

The 2 pot versions were run by: Bruni, Iles, Miller and Payet

Edited August 1, 2019 by Dirt Tracker

[Traveler]

My 4 pots are overkill. 

 

I cannot subscribe to the concept that overkill is not acceptable. Overkill and overdo should be the norm and the standard. Anything that is not overdone (except beef) is not done to a sufficient level. 

 

As stated previously, 4 piston cool. 6 pistons; when do we get them? 8 pistons should be mandatory. 

[BaGearA]

Hope have made 6 pot brakes and mentioned last year with 29er Dh bikes they are discussing the possibility of starting to prototype again with a modern 6 pot hope brake

 

Unfortunately I haven't seen anything related to this from them again