WHILE SOME BRANDS just add a carbon lever and some Ti bolts to create their flagship brakes, the Guide Ultimate also gets subtle but significant internal changes to create a performance and control difference when riding at full gas.
The lever body is essentially the same as the Guide RSC’s. That includes the silky smooth cartridge-bearing pivot, power-amplifying ‘SwingLink’ cam and stiff but effective tool-free bite point and lever reach adjustment. The new carbon blade, Ti hardware and alloy-centre rotor contribute to an impressively light weight. The lever syncs well with SRAM/ RockShox remotes and shifters too.
The S4 calliper is all-new, with four hybrid, super-tight tolerance alloy/phenolic resin pistons, more supple seals and improved airflow and heat shielding. That reduces operating temperature, no matter how long or steep the hill (we’ve checked that in the Alps too). It also creates more consistent braking performance at the extremes of use, with flawlessly subtle and immediately responsive modulation however hot, cold, wet or rough things get.
The Guide Ultimate’s high price will be an issue for many, original pad wear is rapid and big or aggressive riders may want to size up the rotors. We’d still say it’s the best controlled all-round brake available though.
Weight: 401g
Price 463$
