ZEE IS BASICALLY a cheaper version of Shimano’s pro-level Saint downhill groupset, and these bombproof and vastly powerful yet subtly controlled brakes are a brilliant bargain.
The short, broad lever gets dimples for grip and reach adjustment via a recessed Allen bolt, reducing accidental damage potential. The easy-fit hinged bar clamp has a locking pin to stop it falling off if the single bolt comes loose and you can attach a Shimano I-Spec shifter to it. The Servo-Wave cam action means loads of pad-to-rotor clearance to keep the long calliper and pads scuff free even in dirty conditions. Despite bulky looks, system weight is unobtrusively average.
Power application through the twin paired brake cylinders is impressively progressive, growing from a surprising subtle initial bite to properly eye-popping stopping as the blade gets nearer to the bar. The Zee brake doesn’t have the largely ineffective ‘Free Stroke’ adjustment screw of Saint, XTR and XT, and feel and modulation are extremely consistent and reliable as a result.
Apart from split pin (rather than threaded bolt and circlip) pad retention, the calliper is identical to Saint too. That gives Zee damage-dodging wheel-side hose attachment and the ability to upgrade to finned heat-shedding Ice Tech pads for big mountain work. Because the brake is sold separately for 157$, you can team it with steel/alloy sandwich and radiator-frilled Freeza rotors too if you want. Whatever brake set you create, this super-powerful but user friendly stopper deserves to be far more popular than its rarity on the trail suggests.
Weight: 461g
Price 205$
