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I’m after some new brakes for my trail bike, it has Levels on now which are ok but I’d like something more DH oriented just because why not...
I’ve wanted to try out the new Hayes Dominions for a while as everyone that’s reviewed them seems to love them but I see the new Formulas seem to be getting the same love lately, and are also a bit cheaper
I’ve run all kinds of Shimano brakes for years but moved the Enduro bike over to Hopes and now I’m a big fan of modulation so not interested in Shimano stuff but also considering Magura MT5s with the HC lever upgrade
Has anyone ridden both brakes that can offer an opinion? Not much in it price wise (220 vs 260 quid) so very undecided!
Any input before I buy the Hayes?
Magura MT-Trail were on one of the german sites recently for about half your budget. they come with the 1-finger lever, but only a 2-pot rear caliper.
The MT5s, with 4 pot caliper f&r are on bike-discount.de for only £135 in her majesty's coin. Bargain and ze Germans are good to deal with.
I have seen some MT5s cheap, but by the time I’ve spent 60 quid on one finger levers I’m not far off my budget anyway
The Trail Sports with one finger levers seem decent, heard mixed reviews on them though, some say the callipers are too mismatched, anyone got first hand experience with them?
The Shimano Deore 4 pots are superb, I've had mine over a year now and been faultless. about £120 a set as well so cheap as chips.
I have Trail Sports on my trail bike. They're ideal for that application. Having mismatched calipers is the same principle of sizing up front rotors. Though I still run them with 180/203mm as its what I had.
My enduro bike has full fat MT5s with the one finger levers.
I've got the Cura 2s which are a massive upgrade on the Shimano's I've had before.
Modulation is the best I've used including Hope and they are also much quieter in the wet etc. Really can't fault them.
MT5 are decent from my limited time on them but the Cura2 are better overall. 2s have less outright power but the 4s would resolve that.
Not used the Hayes but not heard a bad thing about them.
If you like the modulation of the levels but want more power how about Code R’s? Got them on the front and rear of one bike and the front of the other - with a Guide RE on the back. Both stop well but the bike with Codes at both ends is really impressive.
Cura 4's here no issues with them other than no real choice of after market pads
I have the Hayes. Superb brakes, more power, more modulation, fewer skids than my old xt m785s. I really like how they look too. Uberbike now do posh race matrix aftermarket pads too.
If you like modulation & beefy brakes, only Hayes Doms or TRP Quads will do imo & ime
Again, Cura 4s here and working well with no issues so far. Only difficult thing is getting after market pads although Uberbike now stock there Race Matrix version and Discobrakes offer a semi-metalic pad.
Running the hayes and liking them a lot so far. Power is there, feels about the same as the zees I was running, but hard to judge that. The modulation and lever feel are really nice. Don't like the lever ergonomics as much as shimano and feel I may have been better off with the SFL/j-unit levers. Spares and stuff an arse ache in the UK, which is less that ideal - magura may be better idea in that regard, but I couldn't deal with the levers on them.
Sounds like Cura and Dominions are both good options, I did fancy Codes but I’ve read that there’s a big difference between R and RSC
Cura 2's here, on a ride I don't think about my brakes! More than enough power, even on the steepest of trails, very good modulation as well, consistent lever pull everytime.
Cura 4s here and working well with no issues so far. Only difficult thing is getting after market pads although Uberbike now stock there Race Matrix version
ahh that must be new then, will stock up when their discount day rolls around
Used Cura 2's last year. They were good but poor pad clearance and rubbing rotors was annoying. Have now changed the front to Cura 4's - much more pad clearance, more power and a bit more lever throw. Really like them. Makes the rear Cura 2 a bit grabby and easy to lock up. Going to swap in a C4 into the rear soon, so the lever feel should more equal. The C4 is only 10g heavier than the C2 so no real weight penalty.
First ride on my new MT5s (cheap on Lordgun) this morning, swapped out for old 2-pot XTR (m985).
Very pleased. Great modulation, insane bite, even the two finger levers didn't bother me, though i might try moving them inboard to act as 1-finger levers.
Really good value.
Thanks for the feedback, I’ll get some Hayes ordered and maybe try out the Curas when my Hopes die. Might be a while that though
Chrishc777 where did you order the Hayes from?
I got them from starbike.com, cheapest I could find at 280 for the pair.
Great, thanks
Chrishc777, I'm very Interested in these brakes after reading a load of excellent reviews. Any chance of posting your thoughts on here when you get a chance to fit and test them. It would be very much appreciated!
Is anyone running the Dominion with hope floating rotors?
Never change STW someone comes for a Cura4 or Dominion opinion and gets recommended Mt-Trail, MT-5, Deore, Cura2 and Code R
Theres a reason Saint, RSC, MT7, Cura4 and Dominion are better brakes by far than the above