Thanks to the recent PSA here I picked up a new Vitus E-Sommet. Bike is great, bar the brakes, which are SRAM DB8s. I'm looking to switch these out and would ideally like to utilise the sram rotors. As such, I'm leaning toward Code RSC's but curious if there's any other recommendations out there? Mt5 worth a punt?
Thanks
I've got Code RSC's and they're half decent. Plenty of power. Really fragile feeling, plasticky levers. Sticky pistons mean they rub and need regular cleaning. When they start acting up I'll replace them.
Hope Tech 4 on the other bike. Expensive but a brake for life hopefully. I certainly won't be binning them when they need maintenance or spare parts.
I've got Tektro Orion on the Eeb... they're SOOOOOO bad i can't put into words just how bad... don't get them.
I've put some hope tech3 e4 on mine.
The basic Shimano ones it came with were a bit rubbish.
Not sure of SRAM DB8's but I've got SRAM Guide RE's with 220mm rotors on my Levo and they feel really underpowered on a big bike with this rather...ahem....chunky rider.
I have XT 4 pots on my Giant
Controls 25kg of bike and 120 kg of me very well.
Zees on the hard tail are also very good but not as modular as the XTs
Have you tried the DB8s? 🤔
I had Shimano 4 pots on my 23kg e-bike bike and it stopped significantly better than my road bike with SRAM AXS Rival brakes on…
I'm running Code RSCs on my Turbo Levo and are very good.
Daughters are running Guide REs on their Turbo Levos and again are very good .
Other half is running Magura MT7s on his and compared to the others they are rubbish. They have been bled twice at the bike shop and once by Magura in Finale last year.
I'm sure if he wasn't injured and stubborn they would have been swapped out by now
I have the following brakes on various bikes
- sram code rsc on a yt capra
- Shimano xt 4 pot on an orbea wild fs full fat ebike
- magura mt7 on a trek fuel exe ebike
The maguras are head and shoulders above the others for power and modulation, but they can be tricky to bleed (as evidenced by traceys post above).
The other two are also fine and powerful brakes, just not as good as the maguras
How much do you weigh? Had RSCs on my whyte (25kg +100kg of me). They were great until you did a long descent. Then they suddenly became terrifying.
Yes hope V4s, brilliant brakes, unflappable. But also: £500 with rotors (you need the vented rotors right).
MT5s are beautiful, you could also look at TRP Slates. Both were very cheap on Merlin a few days ago.
my theory is that all brakes are a bit rubbish in their own special way.
i run code rsc on both my bikes. they do the job but do need regular piston cleaning.
Magura's all the way for me. Great power and modulation but also the easiest to live with on an ebike just for a quick 'one syringe' bleed.
Hopes are great, but more difficult to maintain. Shimano always good.
my theory is that all brakes are a bit rubbish in their own special way.
I've been saying this for years. There's something unforgivably wrong with all of them. No matter how cleverly they're designed they're always manufactured down to a price and whittled away to the minimum amount of material. I have no interested in saving weight on brakes, I just want the best possible brakes.
I really wanted to like Hope for their aftercare, warranty, parts supply, longevity etc. but the power was crap. Now they've fixed that issue I'm back on board. And Hope even tried to ruin the experience for everyone by building leaky calipers! Luckily mine are bang on.
Magura’s all the way for me. Great power and modulation but also the easiest to live with on an ebike just for a quick ‘one syringe’ bleed.
Hopes are great, but more difficult to maintain. Shimano always good.
See this is the problem with this place. You've made 3 points here and in my experience the opposite is true for all of them.
I have Code RSC's in my Eeb and I'm looking to change them out as they are nowhere near as powerfull or easy to live with as the XTR 4-pots on my hardtail.
The Shimano lever shape just works for me anyway but those XTR's have probably been the best brakes I've ever owned, just superb, an annual fluid change is all they've needeed, I do like quick a 'grabby' feel though so they may not be for everyone.
That said, I Would love to try some Trickstuffs.
I've Tech4 v4 on mine.
Levers only though, the calipers are the tech3, but tbh ss pistons aside, theres no difference as far as im aware, the power increase is all in the levers.
So if you already have Hope brakes fitted, it will be a big increase (and save a couple of hundred quid) just to swop over the levers.
my theory is that all brakes are a bit rubbish in their own special way.
Yeah, s'why I asked if the op has actually used the DB8s. Cos they may be ugly lumps, and not in the list of trendy brakesets, but they are plenty powerful enough.
The Hope RX4 on my road bike are a pain in the arse. Much harder to bleed than my Codes and often need attention. Code R have been fit and forget on both my mtbs - never really touch them. Code RSC are meant to be better than the R but they’re equally not the most powerful brake out there. Don’t know why the chap above says they have fragile plastic levers - they actually have a huge chunky lever with a replaceable metal blade. I’ve mangled 2 and it’s been £20 just to replace the blade and I’ve been good to go again. One, a mate went down hard whilst riding my bike (lost the front wheel on a wet root) and battered a lever into some roots - the other I had a big coming together with a tree.
Shimano I’ve had 3 or 4 calipers that have micro leaked for me so they’re a hard no. <br /><br />
Magura mt7 are meant to be some of the most powerful brakes available - but some of the levers are plasticky and they can be tricky to bleed.
Formula Cura 4 are meant to be decent but I’ve not tried them.
TRP make some DH 4 pots that get some decent reviews.
Trickstuff Maxima are the ultimate if you’re feeling spendy.
If I were in your shoes I’m not sure what I’d try - most of the brakes have at least 1 thing that counts against them. I defo wouldn’t buy Shimano or Hope though personally.
Think I’d try Code RSCs (note that a 220mm rotor gave my codes a chunk more bite than 200mm ones) or the Cura 4s probably.
Bike is great, bar the brakes, which are SRAM DB8s.
Out of interest what are you finding troublesome with the db8s? They're fitted to my new ebike and I'm actually very pleasantly surprised with them. Bigger, chunkier and less pretty than the codes but the performance isn't a million miles away from them.
(If you're historically a Shimano brakist you'll probably find everyone else's feel underwhelming because they don't deliver their power as sharply, that's not a failing of the db8s it's just them not being shimano and the only solution is shimano of whatever flavour suits your budget)
I was going to swap the DB8s on mine straight away but better pads and a bleed and I'm pretty happy with them.
Not just me then 🙂
I replaced the DB8s on my ebike with Formula Cura 2s, which I think are ace. I think I was already too used to the feel of Cura 2s to get on with the DB8s which just don't feel as nice to me.
Turbo Levo + bigger 700w battery + 100kg me
SRAM G2 RSC and G2 calipers Dot 5.1 fluid and sintered pads
Magura 220 front 180 rear MDR- P 2mm discs.
Very happy. Alpine descent fade free, great feel.
My Spesh came with Code RS's and 200 rotors front & back.
Ran them for a few months then replaced with Saints, Galfer rotors 223F & 203R and Galfer pads.
Job done.
Not sure if the reason for rotors getting bigger and bigger is the brakes are getting worse and worse. Used to be 160/180, then it was 180/180 with only DHers having a 200 on the front.
Now we have trail bikes with 220F/200R.
Whats next ? a 300 front and 220 rear, for single tracking along fire paths 😕
My ebike came with Magura MT7’s and I loved them so much I’ve now put a set on my normal bike. Took it to the Alps this year and they were faultless.
Thanks for all the responses - seems like there's no consensus and each brake comes with potential issues.
I have used the DB8S on a couple of spins. Power is ok but not great and the lever feel is pretty poor. Sounds like a bleed and a set of better pads might be the first solution. Thanks all!
what size rotors are you running?
without a clue of where/what you ride, i'd say big rotors 220/200mm and hope tech 3 or 4s e4/v4
Had Code R's on my Decoy, never felt they lacked for power but I had a couple of calipers develop a lazy piston that resulted in an annoying squeeak-squeeak.
I upgraded to a set of Hope Tech4 V4 and I think they're great, I feel like I can control the braking forces even better than on the Codes (I just don't get on with Shimano) and I think they're mighty purty too 🙂
I put magura trail(?) The mt5 with the big 2 pot on the rear on my kenevo sl. Now my pads needs are reduced and it stops when needed.
They can be a bugger if not bled correctly but great when you know how.
Magura MT5 I prefer to Saints.
Hope your forearms can stop you better than the brakes will stop the bike.
Levers are nasty plastic things mind you but they are bonkers.
I'll just run into the room, shout "HAYES DOMINION A4s!!!" and then run out again slamming the door behind me and covering my ears shouting 'la la la la' so I can't hear any further debate.
HTH! 🙂
Got a set of MT7s in the classifieds at the minute if your interested?
I highly recommend Hayes Dominion A4s, but I haven't tried any other top-tier brakes. The leverage ratio data puts their power close to Trickstuff Diretissima levels, none of the competitors come close.
