Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

XT Disc Brakes?

Jonathan Bond · 2003-01-23T10:17:15+00:00

Well, I'm ordering a 2003 XT grouppo for whatever frame I end up getting this summer. Tufts Cycling got sponsored by Shimano again, so stuff is pretty much dirt cheap.. how cheap I can't say because of the terms of the sponsorship. But its cheap. Anyway, the way it works is that I can add XT disc brakes to the order, and also get a separate shifter pod (SL) instead of STI. That in itself is nice. However, I've already got XT shift pods, and my old bike doesn't have any disc tabs, so a shifter/lever combo isn't a bad thing for that bike. Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on whenever I get that bike. I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth getting the XTs instead. Comments? Jon "Commander" Bond

Started by Jonathan Bond · 23 January 2003 · Last activity 23 January 2003 · 14 posts · 2,282 views

← Back to Mountain Bikes

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postXT Disc Brakes?Jonathan Bond · 23 Jan 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–14Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #14Chris Phillipo · 23 Jan 2003

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section: Mountain Bikes
Published: 23 January 2003
Last activity: 23 January 2003
Original author: Jonathan Bond
Posts: 14
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 2,282
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Disc brakes Cantilever and V-brakes

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Jonathan Bond
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:17 UTC #1

Well, I'm ordering a 2003 XT grouppo for whatever frame I end up getting this summer. Tufts Cycling
got sponsored by Shimano again, so stuff is pretty much dirt cheap.. how cheap I can't say because
of the terms of the sponsorship. But its cheap.
Anyway, the way it works is that I can add XT disc brakes to the order, and also get a separate
shifter pod (SL) instead of STI. That in itself is nice. However, I've already got XT shift
pods, and my old bike doesn't have any disc tabs, so a shifter/lever combo isn't a bad thing for
that bike.
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its pretty
much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or something
of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on whenever I get
that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
Jon "Commander" Bond

Report
Jonathan Bond
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:17 UTC #2

Jonathan Bond said:
Well, I'm ordering a 2003 XT grouppo for whatever frame I end up getting this summer. Tufts
Cycling got sponsored by Shimano again, so stuff is pretty much dirt cheap.. how cheap I can't say
because of the terms of the sponsorship. But its cheap.
Anyway, the way it works is that I can add XT disc brakes to the order, and also get a separate
shifter pod (SL) instead of STI. That in itself is nice. However, I've already got XT shift
pods, and my old bike doesn't have any disc tabs, so a shifter/lever combo isn't a bad thing for
that bike.
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its
pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or
something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on
whenever I get that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
Jon "Commander" Bond
Oh yeah, the disks are instead of getting v brake calipers too, so the replacement of the v's with
discs is about the cost I listed above.
Jon "Commander" Bond

Report
Carla A-G
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:17 UTC #3

"Jonathan Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its
pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or
something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on
whenever I get that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
I use a set, I love them to death. They are not "on/off". You have total control through modulation
and they are very powerful. Save yourself the money and go for the XT's. Make sure that when you get
them, that you have the correct sized length for the hose, you will have to measure up your bike in
that case. They are so nice that we are getting them for Jim's new bike now too.
- CA-G
Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

Report
Per Löwdin
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:17 UTC #4

Quoted message said:
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches,
Well, MBA, thought so, I have a pair and find the modulation perfect. With V-brakes you sometimes
use brute power especially on long strenuous decents. With XTs one light finger is enough. The first
rides you have to brake them in after that they are excellent.
Per user.tninet.seMTB.html

Report
Jonathan Bond
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #5

Carla A-G said:
"Jonathan Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its
pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or
something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on
whenever I get that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
I use a set, I love them to death. They are not "on/off". You have total control through
modulation and they are very powerful. Save yourself the money and go for the XT's. Make sure that
when you get them, that you have the correct sized length for the hose, you will have to measure
up your bike in that case. They are so nice that we are getting them for Jim's new bike now too.
- CA-G
Canadian Girls Kick Ass!
That could be a problem....
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest. however,
they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be adjustable... nice!
I wish I could swing the XTR deal, its amazingly inexpensive for what you get... but not if I'm
buying a new bike, new wheels, and all that jazz too!
Jon "Commander" Bond

Report
Jonathan Bond
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #6

Jonathan Bond said:
Jonathan Bond said:
Well, I'm ordering a 2003 XT grouppo for whatever frame I end up getting this summer. Tufts
Cycling got sponsored by Shimano again, so stuff is pretty much dirt cheap.. how cheap I can't
say because of the terms of the sponsorship. But its cheap.
Anyway, the way it works is that I can add XT disc brakes to the order, and also get a separate
shifter pod (SL) instead of STI. That in itself is nice. However, I've already got XT shift
pods, and my old bike doesn't have any disc tabs, so a shifter/lever combo isn't a bad thing for
that bike.
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its
pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or
something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on
whenever I get that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
Jon "Commander" Bond
Oh yeah, the disks are instead of getting v brake calipers too, so the replacement of the v's with
discs is about the cost I listed above.
Jon "Commander" Bond
Correction on the correction.. the upgrade for both brakes is about the price of ONE the DEORE
brakes. wow. Screw the minis!
Jon "Commander" Bond

Report
Bill Wheeler
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #7

bomba said:
Jonathan Bond said:
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power any
day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be worth
getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
It's from a magazine, but it backs up my thoughts: hopetech.comnews index.htm
How come they didn't mention Avid Mechanicals?...hmmmm who paid who for that test?
Peace, Bill
The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give
an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

Report
Huw Pritchard
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #8

On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 19:01:26 +0000, Jonathan Bond did issue forth:
Quoted message said:
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest. however,
they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be adjustable... nice!
If not, then the Deore hoses are adjustable in length, and apparently will work happily with the
XT brakes.
--
Huw Pritchard | Replace bounce with huw | to reply by mail | www.secretworldgovernment.org

Report
Carla A-G
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #9

"Jonathan Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I use a set, I love them to death. They are not "on/off". You have total control through
modulation and they are very powerful. Save yourself the money and go for the XT's. Make sure
that when you get them, that you

have
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the correct sized length for the hose, you will have to measure up your

bike
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
in that case. They are so nice that we are getting them for Jim's new

bike
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
now too.
- CA-G
Canadian Girls Kick Ass!
That could be a problem....
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest. however,
they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be adjustable... nice!
Apparently you can cut/adjust the 2003's. You can't do it with the 2002's (which I am running and
which we are installing on Jim's bike).
Quoted message said:
I wish I could swing the XTR deal, its amazingly inexpensive for what you get... but not if I'm
buying a new bike, new wheels, and all that jazz too!
I wouldn't mind a set of those brakes, they look schweet!
- CA-G
Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

Report
Slacker
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #10

"Jonathan Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Carla A-G said:
"Jonathan Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Either way, are the XT disc brakes worth the order? I can't give you the exact cost, but its
pretty much around the price of one disc brake... for the set. I was going to get Hope Minis or
something of the like when I could afford them, but I can get the XT discs now and put them on
whenever I get that bike.
I have heard that XTs are something of ON/OFF switches, and I do prefer modulation over power
any day... but with a set of minis running more than twice the price of these ones, it might be
worth getting the XTs instead.
Comments?
I use a set, I love them to death. They are not "on/off". You have total control through
modulation and they are very powerful. Save yourself the money and go for the XT's. Make sure
that when you get them, that you have the correct sized length for the hose, you will have to
measure up your bike in that case. They are so nice that we are getting them for Jim's new bike
now too.
- CA-G
Canadian Girls Kick Ass!
That could be a problem....
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest. however,
they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be adjustable... nice!
Quoted message said:
I wish I could swing the XTR deal, its amazingly inexpensive for what you get... but not if I'm
buying a new bike, new wheels, and all that jazz too!
Jon "Commander" Bond
Looks like the xtr have cuttable hoses, hopefully the xt's will too
speedgoat.comcategorie.asp .
I say go for it. Just get the hoses xtra long even if they're not cuttable. Also, you can set-up
some hydro systems as On/Off or more modulated depending on your taste. Personally, I much prefer
the on/off feeling.
--
Slacker

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:19 UTC #11

Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
That could be a problem....
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest. however,
they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be adjustable... nice!
It doesn't really matter, you can replace the braided line with Jagwire Kevlar line that has that
braided pattern on it, you can cut it and it looks the same to anyone else. I just put together a
Grimeca System 8 caliper and Deore lever with some of this tubing and it works great. Also it
doesn't cut a hole in your frame like a wire rope saw.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

Report
Bill Wheeler
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:20 UTC #12

Michael Dart said:

It was a test of apples and apples Bill. Hydraulics vs hydraulics. The review was fair as far as I
could tell having both Hayes and Hope Minis myself. Everything they said was true. I don't believe
anyone bought this one. I have ridden a bike with Avids and while I can tell you they are very
good, hydraulics are still better.
Mike

But are they as simple to set up and maintain?
Bill(new to the disc stuff but liking every minute)Wheeler The mind serves properly as a window
glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give an immediate view instead of an
interpretation of the world.
:-]

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:20 UTC #13

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 19:01:26 +0000, Jonathan Bond did issue forth:
Quoted message said:
The order is due before xmas... I won't have the bike until this summer at the earliest.
however, they didn't ask for hose length, so I think the 2003 brakes might be
adjustable... nice!
If not, then the Deore hoses are adjustable in length, and apparently will work happily with the
XT brakes.
The fittings aren't the same compression acorn vs. banjo nut, but they bits and pieces are cheap,
any shop should have them.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

23 January 2003, 10:20 UTC #14

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
Michael Dart said:

It was a test of apples and apples Bill. Hydraulics vs hydraulics. The review was fair as far as
I could tell having both Hayes and Hope Minis myself. Everything they said was true. I don't
believe anyone bought this one. I have ridden a bike with Avids and while I can tell you they are
very good, hydraulics are still better.
Mike

But are they as simple to set up and maintain?
In the case of Shimano Deore, I would have to say more so. Besides being cheaper than Avids (which I
don't understand), you just bleed once which takes no longer than cutting and fitting two brake
cables and it never needs adjustment even after replacing pads.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

Report

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.

Jump through the discussion

What we know about this thread

Continue through CyclingForums

Active in this thread