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Hello there I am thinking about upgrading my brakes for my enduro bike to something with a bit more modulation and power.
So far i have seen SRAM guide RE brakes and Magura MT5 Pro brakes for around this price are any of these good options or are there better ones ?
Or Shimano SLX. I binned a set of SRAM Guides when the master cyclinders failed after a couple of years, happily the bike shop in Ainsa had a set of SLX. I've had good results with Formula; Oros and RXes still going after years of use.
TRP Slate Evos at Merlin...
https://www.merlincycles.com/trp-slate-evo-front-and-rear-disc-brake-set-282217.html
£99 (rrp £240ish)
They run fine on standard discs, or factor in £60ish for 2.3mm discs.
Bloody brilliant brakes, very powerful + decent modulation.
TRP Slate Evos at Merlin…
Except they've been OOS for ages (aside from one set which I assume was a return that was available just as the STW review went live).
Amyway, I really think you'll struggle to beat SRAM Guide RE's for £38 an end from Tredz (use the extra discount code on their site).
Guides are excellent. seeming better than base Code R's. As for the "Master cylinder fails", it get sticky, you can replace the piston or keep using them and they just come back to normal (I've had two sets & know other who've done the same)
I've put some MT5s on my Tilt and I'm very impressed so far, swapped from XT. Apparently some folk have issues with the levers but mine have been fine.
You can get some very good and powerful brakes for really not a lot of money at the moment with plenty of good options.
What I would say is that if you worry about longevity then quite a few of those options don't look quite so good, Formula are much better made than most of the bigger brands and can last a decade with a bit of TLC.
Bike Perfect were very complimentary about the Clarks CRS C4 that they had on test
They're on budget for the OP as well. And happily, although they're made in a Chinese factory, they're not stealing some-one else's design.
i came here to mention the Clarks... on my list
btw, if you find them from Clarks on eBay and watch them, you'll get a periodical discount offer it seems
I got Guide RE's when I bought an On One Scandal, could never get them working to a point I was happy with them - replaced with an ancient set of Formula R1's off my old HT.
The Code RS's that came on the eeb were ditched in 3 months, replaced by Saints.
I know other folk love them, but not me.
Benji has some Formula Cura 2-pots on his Orange being tested at the moment. I read nothing but good things about them so I'd be interested to hear how they fair in UK conditions.
I like my Cura2s. Quite different feeling from the fours from new, my set are are more positive but a bleed on the 4s might change that.
Clarks on eBay and watch them, you’ll get a periodical discount
Bloody hell, I will need to pay attention to this, I mean at £200.00 for brakes and rotors both ends it's pretty amazing value already
When my Guide master cyclinders failed they failed, zippy. The lever went back to the bars. Front brake on one descent joined by the rear shortly after. They came on the bike, they worked fine when they worked then failed. I took them into the Ainsa bike shop where my diagnosis of failled master cylinders was confirmed - not the first they'd seen.
I got Guide RE’s when I bought an On One Scandal, could never get them working to a point I was happy with them – replaced with an ancient set of Formula R1’s off my old HT.
I have guide RE's on my turbo levo. They are awful! my deore's are far better on my hardtail. I just prefer shimano brakes
My front guide brake died. Lever pulled back to the bar in a decent. Lasted me 3 months
At the time I couldn't get the internal parts any where.
Replaced with xt- bite point wandered and I couldn't cure it with repeated bleeds. Lasted 6 months before I got fed up
Replaced with hope E4. 6 years on still ace. Had some pistons replaced because I chipped them when bleeding them (user error). Sticky pistons once more.
Hope v4 second hand from here were about that cost. They have been a bit more maintenance than the E4 and a bit more power.
So id go second hand hope
Had a set of these on my hardtail for 3 years or so and they have been faultless
https://www.merlincycles.com/magura-mt-trail-sport-disc-brake-set-102037.html