[Closed] Shimano database

A database seems OTT - XT, Saint and XTR

I can also tell you the bite point adjusters work only once, the first time you use them, after which the brake will return back to its previous feel for the rest of its lifetime. The only realtistic way to change a shimano brake's feel is by the lever throw and bleeding techniques.

I’m fed up with the SRAM/Avid Guide brakes on my Boardman, because the bite point changes as the pads wear

This wound me up as well, until I realised that you can just wind the levers out as the pads wear - thus keeping the bite point in the same place.

Might be worth trying, assuming you run the levers quite close to the bar to start with like me.

Hi, thanks for that all; no, I actually run them far from the bars, so that I can brake with one finger, and not pinch the next finger.  But now that the latest set of pads have worn a bit, I have to brake with two fingers so that I don't pinch my fingers!  But I don't, and I haven't had, the same situation with any of my Shimano braked bikes.

Worth bleeding them by the sound of it. My Guides don’t really change unless i’m just about to run out of pad material. The pinching issue can likely be solved by moving the levers towards the stem (and winding in slightly to compensate)

Thanks for that, very useful.  🙂

Also +1 on the Shimano bite point adjuster.  The only practical effect it has is to make bleeding brakes faffier and comes on Saint, XT and XTR only.

Shift the levers inward a bit. You’ll get more power from your finger being nearer the end of the lever, and won’t catch your middle finger...

I agree with the moving the levers inwards.

I'd even go as far as to say that you should try swapping your levers and shifters around, so that the levers are nearer to the stem than the shifters.

This sounds a bit radical, but allows for better positioning of the index finger with the end of the brake lever.

If you don't like it, you can always put things back how they were - and it has cost you nothing.

I do exactly as belugabob, for this same reason. I don't have especially big hands or fat fingers, this just works for me.

As said - costs you nothing, and you can just swap them back if it doesn't work for you. Might save buying a whole new brakeset

What Tom says, if you only brake with one finger position the lever so that the hook at the end falls between your fingers. It's how I've always set my brakes up since the advent of "2 finger" levers and I've never had any issues either with pinching or bite point.

Yes, move brakes inside shifters/dropper clamps and see how that goes.

You may then wish to wind the levers in a bit when you have fresh pads, and adjust outwards as the bite point heads south.

Thanks All; but I think I'll still change the brakes, I don't like that feeling of excessive travel on nearly new pads.  They are substantially the worst brakes of my four bikes, two have Shimano Deore, and one, my ancient Genius, has Formula RX brakes which are the best of all, anyone selling any?