SHIMANO'S NEW XTR brakes get subtle upgrades to improve already outstanding performance but some niggles remain.
A
new cam coating on the Trail model gives increased power over the Race version
and the carbon-over-alloy lever is tougher too. It's still an impressively
light system thanks to details like titanium bolts. Single-finger modulation is
fantastically rich and communicative, and the pads and pistons get a new
coating for higher heat tolerance. Bleeding is easy and reliability is
excellent. It's compatible with Shimano's I-Spec II shifter mounts and the lack
of orange anodising (as found on the old XTR Trail) makes it easier to colour
match. The bite point dial still isn't great though, and the flan-fringed Freeza
rotors are only available in Center Lock format.
WEIGHT 397g
POWER 115m/s-2
PRICE 345$
