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Anyone running with sram guides?
I'm thinking of changing my Formula T1S's for some of the Guide RSC's. They seem to get good reviews from the magazines but how do they fare in the real world?
They seem to work well, but not really been available long enough to know if they will dissolve after 12-18 months like the older Avid brakes did. I was in denial for years regarding how high maintenance Avid (SRAM) brakes were, until I switched to Shimano last year .
Running X0 Trail which are basically Guide brakes. Excellent brakes and nothing at all like old Avids.
Sharp braking, definite and consistent bite point, powerful, and not had a need to bleed them, even after shortening the hose.
They're based on Code 4-pot brakes and redesigned for general trail use, lighter etc, and they've supposedly done work to address the bleed complaints.
The guides have been around for 12 months now... Long term tests in the magazines are starting to come through and they sound promising.
I've never been a fan of Shimanos.. The feedback from the brakes is pretty lacklustre when you compare them to something like the Formulas, which have fantastic modulation.
I thought the complete re-design of the lever from Elixirs was meant to have solved a lot of traditional Avid problems (apart from squealing like a wounded dog)?
The guides use the same caliper as the X0 trail but they have a new and improved lever. The new rotors are supposed to help with the squealing
Just ordered a pair of the less pimp r's off crc for £84ish....if I was spending around 200 I think I'd go the hope route as the tech 2s (evo m4s and x2) I've had were very nice feedback wise and hassle free..
First I saw of Guides was pre-release stuff at the end of March. It'll be another 6 months at least before any useful feedback is available.
Got them on my bike. Seem pretty good so far.
Like the reach and bite adjusters as they dont need special tools.
Stop me fine too, which is a plus.
What are they like for modulation?
Over the month that I've used them, they sort of remind me of my old Shimano XTR's but with more progressive modulation. Not as temperamental/shit as the old avids either IMO.
The OEM units come with a third rate bleed, but that's par for the course with OEM disc brakes. Lever action is nice, adjustment options are good, straight from the Hope book of adjustability on the RSC model. The problem with Avid's squealing was largely down to their disc choice, that's not an issue with the the Guides thankfully as they've up specced the discs.
We spec them on a handful of On-one models and the R&D guys ran them for plenty long enough to get to grips with their peculiarities- which are few and far between. They seem like a real decent brake from SRAM.