Shimano XT Brakes Review - BikeRadar

i have had these brakes for over a year now and they are really good, they dont rub and there is all the power u will ever need for xc rideing!

I'm surprised at how low these are rated, given that they get a thumbs-up in all other reviews I've read.

I've been running a set on Hope rotors since early 2008 and I've found them to be faultless. Once you crack how to bleed and position them, I think they're a great brake - offering a good amount of power and modulation. The servo wave is also really useful for setting the bite point to your taste. The sintered pads have lasted me since 2008 and are still going strong.

I am not sure Guy Kesteven is talking sense here? only 2 out of 5 for these brakes, all bike shop's experts highly rated them for ease of use/service and give excellent performance on the trails.

Recently all these star ratings doesnt mean anything as it doesnt make sense, guys and gals, if you need advice, visit your LBS.

Have to agree with the other comments - been using them for the last year and they have been faultless. Great breaks at a good price. Recommended to me by my LBS and I would do the same to other readers.

I've got these brakes and I hate them. They are stupid to bleed and weren't as powerful as Id hoped. I think this is a fair review.

I have them on my bike and can't fault them. Just had to bleed them and it was a breeze. They stop like a set of anchors. I love em.

I suppose it all depends what they're being compared with. After a lot of hassle to set them up and bleed them, I used to love my Shimano XT brakes until I tried some Avid Elixirs. Now the Shimanos seem not very good in comparison.

DISAGREE BIG STYLEEEEEE!!!!!!

These brakes are faultless in all regards, they're a doddle to bleed, easy pad change, very powerful but not over powerful & almost a fit & forgot affair as long as you clean your bike after every ride. I do wonder sometimes about the reviews. As said above most LBS love these brakes for the very reasons above.

I completely disagree with this review, I fitted these brakes recently, they are brilliant, easy to fit to my carbon bars without scratching, very easy to fit and set up with no rubbing and no need to bleed them even after shortening the hose, really good to have free stroke adjustment too, I've got these on two bikes now!

Totally disagree, once the setup is sorted an excellent set uf brakes.

Not being given enough Shimano freebies?

I have been running the 09's since December and i'm pretty sure they are the same as the 10's. I had issues initialy, but bleeding sorted it out. If your still after getting rid of that little bit of play you can add some back pressure to the caliper (another little squirt when the resevoir lid is back on) or as the 08 review on here says bleed in situ with the pads out and against the rotor (not my preferred method). Power is average, but thats sorted out by upping your rotor size. Pad changes are quick and to be fair my ceramics still have loads of life left.

I'm happy with them and i'm sure the price will be slashed soon as they got panned in MBUK, so look out for a bargain soon.

Well the readers poll would suggest at least a 4 star rating . I have to agree they are fantastic brakes, especially if you get them at a better than rrp price.

@Paul 135 I'll swap my Avid 3's for your pant's XT's any time

I disagree with this review. Awesome brakes. I had to shorten the hoses and had no problems bleeding them. I found it very simple to do.. Love the servo wave - never any brake rub and excellent braking power with stock metallic pads, they make Avid Elixir's look very ordinary. And they don't squeal.

Everyone who's ridden my bike compliments me on the brakes.

COULD NOT DISSAGREE MORE! TERRIBLE REVIEW OF FANTASTIC BRAKES!

Ive got a trek remedy 7 and it came with avid elixir 5 and they were SHOCKING! never stopped squeeling, vibrating and rubbing on the disc! so had them replaced with a pair of Shimano XT M775 and ive never looked back! Much more power, Much better feel/modulation, reliability avid could only dream of and bleeding was easy! if i had to criticize there a tad expensive but in my opinion well worth there money.

Ive used avid elixir's and juicy's, hayes 7's and hope M4's and the XT's are the best performers hands down! altho my hope M4's looked the best ;)

Very dissapointed by the review given as ive always thought bike radar was spot on with there reviews but they have seriously got it wrong on this occasion

I just searched about for a review of the XT stoppers as they come stock on my new Anthem X2 due for delivery next week. Never used Shimano stoppers so can't comment on how good/bad they are. I had my disc brake cherry popped by Hope Mono Minis which were quite frankly the most useless brakes I've ever had, I had more power and modulation in my old V's. They quickly were swapped with Avid Juicy carbons which, after carfeful setup to avoid the noise they are prone to, have proven to be awesome brakes. I like them so much I was considering swapping them onto the X2 after reading the review above.

However.............as the majority of real reviews from users above really rate them, I'll give them a go and see how they fair in comparison to the Juicys. I just find it so hard to believe the likes of Shimano would put an XT flag on them if they were as bad as Guy makes out in his review??!

I have these on my Trek Fuel EX 9 and I was disapointed when I first used them. Let me explain as I think everybody complaining about them makes the same mistakes I made.

First off, use them for more than 100kms. The pads will barely break in.

Then, long travel, doesn't mean bad breaks. Yes, you have to squeez these more than the Avids. They have a 1.5" travel. Where as Avids have like what, .5"-3/4"?

I think these breaks give you more modulation than most others. It's all about preference. I like more travel as I always have a finger on the lever and I obviously squeeze them a bit. On Avids that would mean drag. Not with the XTs.

So, 2 stars...take it with a grain of salt. I think Guy Kesteven should have used these for a litle longer.

I am not sure how these got 2 stars, maybe for the price? but even that is not something out of space.

Simple facts:

1. These brakes work, and they work well.

2. Weight-wise, seriously.

I've been using these for a couple of years and I never had to re-bled them. They are robust, work well and modulation feels great.

5 Stars in my humble opinion.

This review is ridiculous!!!! First: Avid are a crappy brand and don't brake nearly as well as Shimano, regard of the model!I have 3 bikes and I have this himano XT brakes on my GT Force Carbon Expert from 2009 and they're superb! I have Shimano Deore on my Big Hit and they're flawless! And I've recently fitted my Mondraker with Shimano BR-M446 and, even beeing the cheapest brakes in the line, they are far superior to the rubish Avid Juicy 3 that I had before.Poor review! Makes me wonder if it's imparcial or not...