Less force is required from the rider to pull on the lever and there is more modulation. Lets go over some common brake lingo: Brake Fade is a term commonly used to describe a brake’s loss of power, or fade, while under heavy use. Bleeding is relatively easy but not as simple as with other systems. But now onto our favorite, and what we consider to be the best brake on the market, the SRAM Code RSC. Great looks and manufacturing aside, the E4 is a reliable and adjustable brake that provides consistent performance. With those XT M8000’s on steep trails, I was constantly holding the brakes to keep me moving at a more moderate, slower pace because I seriously didn’t think I could grab brake at the bottom of that section to stop me if I was moving quick. One thing worth mentioning is that most 2 piston brakes that come stock on complete bikes, and even some 4 piston brakes, will have organic brake pads pre-installed in them. So if you have 2 piston brakes and just want a smidge more power, check to see if you have organic brake pads. SHIMANO - 2-Piston - Hydraulic Disc Brake Caliper - MTB The SHIMANO MT400 hydraulic disc brake delivers long-lasting performance and quick, easy installation and adjustment. or explode the brake disch? A dial allows you to adjust the reach but there is no contact point adjustment. A heat shield works with the open caliper design to prevent too much heat build up. HUMAN PRECISION. These use the new EV style levers which, this sounds stupid but its true, are stiffer and offer a way better feel than the I-Spec II style levers since they flex less. These work by a cable pulling a pad onto each side of the rim, causing friction that slows the wheel and bike down. Some pads are attached to cooling fins that allow heat to dissipate, preventing fade. Rotors are also a key part in decreasing brake fade and increasing modulation. Its length allows for two finger braking, which isn’t really necessary with brakes this powerful. Free shipping for many products! To remedy this, the brake fluid has to be replace. The bigger the disc, the more braking power you have. Testing & comparing Shimano’s brand new XTR disc brakes . New ergonomic lever-blade, newly formulated brake pad compounds, new high-performance hydraulic oil, new 5 mm brake hose-system, newly designed and CNC-machined adapters, new selection of 2.3 rotors, newly designed oil flow inside the calipers, new hydraulic leverage ratio, and a smaller size master cylinder piston lift the overall performance of the DH-R EVO to this new standard of racing. When you pull the brake lever, there’s a small piston or plunger inside of the lever that forces fluid through the hose and into the caliper. The caliper contains the pistons that push the brake pads onto the disc. Who will win? It may sound counterintuitive, but if you want to ride faster, you should get a better set of brakes. "@type": "AggregateRating", These are $144.99 and are a super simple brake. Isn’t their only purpose to slow you down? }, Your email address will not be published. The plus side is that you might make it onto Pinkbike's Friday Fails video, but the negative aspect is you might, ya know, break your arms. Our reviews of the top rated mountain bike brakes with our buyers guide will help you choose the right brakes for your bike. This is starting to change recently as many bike manufacturers also realize more and more people are looking to ride aggressive trails, but still most complete bikes under $3,000 out on the trails today have 2 piston brakes. { The series covers the A to … Well there you have it! The long lever is comfortable for riders with big hands but too big for those with shorter digits. But if you definitely want a noticeable power increase, then let’s get you some brakes! Thanks to two sealed bearings, the lever feel is smooth and you can easily make fine adjustments to the power applied. When fluid is pushed into the caliper, the pistons push outward squeezing the brake rotor and will slow down your bike. So yes, 4 piston brakes naturally have more stopping power than 2 piston brakes and are overall better while descending. Many bikes come stock with 2 piston brakes, but should you upgrade to 4 piston brakes? Apart from the occasional bleed and set of pads they’ve been stellar. On the other hand, SRAM brakes are known for having great modulation. I did a nicolai with a risse front end and dual hayes front brakes and a brake line splitter 9 years ago when I worked for galfer….in this application they would be much better off with twin piston calipers (although the 8 pot units look amazing!) The braking feel itself is more on the direct side than other brakes with lots of modulation. Shimano brakes tend to have an on/off feel to them whereas SRAM brakes allow a lot of movement in the lever once the pads have made contact with the disc. … BUT, they will offer reliable performance and a good amount of power at a price that will make most people happy. The ease of this maintenance should be taken into account if you are a keen home mechanic, and also to keep your local mechanic happy if he will be doing it for you. Excellent MTB Beam Pattern, Feedback Sports Sport-Mechanic Bike Repair Stand (Black), Bikehand 37pcs Bike Bicycle Repair Tool Kit with Torque Wrench - Quality Tools Kit Set for Mountain Bike Road Bike Maintenance in a Neat Storage Case, Maxxis Minion DHF DC Exo Tubeless Ready Folding Tire, 29-Inch, Fox Racing Shox Transfer Factory Series Dropper Seatpost - 2020 Black, 31.6x506mm/175mm Travel, RockShox Monarch RT3 Rear shock 200x57/7.875''x2.25'' MidReb/MidComp 320 Lockout D1, Troy Lee Designs Adult | Trail | Enduro | Half Shell A2 Decoy Mountain Biking Helmet with MIPS (Small, Air Force Blue/Clay), Sold separately, 140, 160, 170, 180, 200mm. Organic pads wear out faster too. The package includes either a 160mm or 180mm rotor, adding to the value. With a set of Saints on your bike, you can slap on a massive amount of braking force, regardless of where or what you are riding. Mountain bikes used to have rim brakes. But wait, what even are 4 piston brakes? Piston Count 2 Piston 4 Piston Price to GO. NEWS / NEW PRODUCTS. HD-E725. And honestly, to really reach and try to find a downside, it would be that 4 piston brake take slightly more maintenance. NORTH / SOUTH AMERICA EUROPE / AFRICA ASIA / OCEANIA. One thing worth mentioning is that most 2 piston brakes that come stock on complete bikes, and even some 4 piston brakes, will have organic brake pads pre-installed in them. However, shipping carriers are unable to guarantee usual stated delivery dates at this time due to a large volume of packages. The lever is attached to the handlebar and is what the rider uses to apply the brake. This power is coupled with a small amount of modulation, so once you start braking, you are really slowing down fast. Mountain bike brakes come in two typical varieties: 2 piston and 4 piston. How much you can control the braking force is called modulation. 2 PISTON vs 4 PISTON BRAKE TECH There's a lever connected to a hose, connected to a caliper. But wait, how can having better brakes make you ride faster? So if you have 2 piston brakes and just want a smidge more power, check to see if you have organic brake pads. Coming in at a close second on our list of the best MTB … SRAM Code RSC. You’ll also be able to ride faster with better brakes! We put several sets of the very best mountain bike disc brakes on heavy rotation; which is top of the stops? SERVICE. Riding in any area with any vertical descending will be benefited from more powerful brakes. We seriously love what we do, and seriously love bikes. 2-piston or 4-piston? SRAM’s older Code disc brake was the go-to option for downhill riding but … The lever not only has tool free reach but also pad contact adjustment, which lets you control where your bite point sits. Plus, they’ve got great modulation and you can seriously control your speed with these things. Mountain bike brakes come in two typical varieties: 2 piston and 4 piston. CONTACT . Different brakes have different amounts of modulation as it is a personal preference. 100% Reader-Supported. SRAM Guide RS disc brake reader review What rotor size? Adding to the ultimate label is the easiest bleeding process of any brake system out there. However, Shimano pads are compatible, allowing you to swap them out for something quieter and with more bite. There are also cable disc brakes but these have much weaker stopping power. The Spyre, a mechanical disc brake that offers superior performance with incredibly easy setup. My trail bike was running SRAM DB5 and they were the worst 2 piston brakes I’ve ever had the misfortune of using. Will 4 piston downhill be able to stop our lathe? There's a lever connected to a hose, connected to a caliper. Front Brakes: Clark’s Cable Systems Front Hydraulic M2 Brake. SLX brakes will be more powerful and consistent on long descents versus the Deore due to their new internal re-design to give them the same power as their DH rated Saint brakes. Plain and simple. Also, the lever bodies themselves for 2 piston caliper brakes these days are sometimes a little different than 4 piston caliper brakes, but for the most part the differences in stopping power are due to 4 piston calipers. #2 Clark’s Cable Systems Rear Hydraulic M2 Brake. Shimano is one of the leaders in hydraulic mountain bike brakes. This allows customization of where on the travel the braking starts. If you’re rockin' 2 piston brakes and you feel like your brakes lose power while descending or just straight up don’t have much power from the get go, then you’ll greatly benefit from an upgrade to 4 piston brakes. The SRAM Guide RS disc brake has a 4-piston caliper and SRAM’s SwingLink lever technology that aims to gives more positive pad contact. 4 piston calipers are physically bigger to fit the extra piston, meaning there’s space for more fluid inside. I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best mountain bike brakes to fit your needs. Typically 2 piston brakes are cheaper and help keep the price of complete bikes down. 00. If you’re rockin' 2 piston brakes and you feel like your brakes lose power while descending or just straight up don’t have much power from the get go, then you’ll greatly benefit from an upgrade to 4 piston brakes. Today hydraulic disc brakes are the standard on any mountain bike. If you already have a set of disc brakes, consider fitting larger discs to get more power before investing in a new set of brakes. No Sponsored Content. "aggregateRating": { Although the caliper contains no fancy technology to reduce heat build up, no fade is noticeable even on long descents. Discover the best MTB disc brake rotors in Bikeperfects' guide to the best kit for skids. This is countered by the use of vented pads and long hose banjos to allow heat to escape rather than hang around. The Bleeding Edge technology allows quick and drip-free bleeding. The next step up from that would be the very well known Shimano XT M8120 which are $209.99 each. The XT’s come in a black box instead of a blue box and say XT on them... and to be honest you’ll probably just want XT brakes if you just want XT brakes. Consider these if your standard ride does not include long steep descents and you do not do much high speed riding. This means its just easier to lockup a brake with a 200mm rotor over a 180mm rotor. $35.00-$40.00 $50.00 ... Answering these types of questions will get you started on your way to selecting the right mountain bike brake set for you. Like most bikes and parts, there’s way too many options on the market, but these are our favorite which we personally ride and recommend to all of our customers. This is a dual piston actuated mechanical disc brake caliper which provides precise clamping force. Front - 4 piston, Rear - 2 piston Easy Pads Replace From Top Finish : Black: Pads: High Performance Metal Ceramic compound Upload Replacement: Fluid: Non-Corrosive Mineral Oil Excellent Heat Expansion Properties: Weight: Front Wheel - 251 Grams / Rear Wheel - 265 Grams (Excludes Rotor, Adapter & Mounting Bolts) Well yes. These work well to provide a consistent braking experience. Not all mountain bike gear needs to be budget-friendly. This translates into even pad and rotor wear because the rotor does not need to flex to one side during braking. £229. We are not a warehouse store. So if you’re looking to just get some 4 piston brakes on your bike for the lowest price, we would highly recommend the Shimano Deore MT501/MT520. Durable Bicycle Front Light. The Code RSC’s sell for $245 each and offer the most power and the most adjustability. As the lever gets pulled further towards the handlebar, cams apply more leverage resulting in more braking power. By Colin Levitch 23 October 2019. We’ll start on the low price points and work our way up to the best of the best. Now lets move up to what we would consider the absolute best bang for your buck brake, the Shimano SLX 7100/7120. Brake fluid (mineral oil) Hydraulic Disc Brake Mechanical Disc Brake + more ... FAQ. Sunlite MX Side Pull Mountain Bike Brakes. The braking starts soon after the pads make contact and ramps up to give you more power than you will probably ever need. These will be the heaviest option, require a tool to adjust lever reach and do not come with IceTech brake pads. Larger rotors will give you more power and less heat, but your modulation will decrease. 4 piston brakes are nice. Hydraulic disc brakes use brake fluid to push pistons and pads onto a disc mounted to the hub of the wheel. Let’s figure that out. *per brake (exept Magura´s MT Trail which have different calipers for front and rear and thereforeonly come as a set**front + rear, w/o rotors We pick the very best mountain bike disc brakes from three categories: budget, trail and four-piston. There will either be two calipers (one on each side) or four for extra power. However, not all brakes have the same amount of stopping power, and most of the difference in power is determined by if a brake caliper has 2 pistons or 4 pistons. The result of this is superior modulation and feel, without a notable reduction in four-piston braking power or fade-resistance. Almost a year ago, we did our first ride on the TRP Spyre dual piston mechanical disc brake and wrote this lengthy review, but quite a lot has changed in the last year.. Required fields are marked *. A dial or screw on the lever body adjusts at what point on the lever travel the pads make contact with the disc. All of this, followed by hand assembly, is done in north England. The brakes are legendary in the downhill racing world. Having the best MTB brakes will allow you to brake later, so you can ride at higher speeds over more terrain, increasing your average speed. The four-piston Direttissima brakes from Trickstuff cost €450 each, reflecting their top-shelf 7075 alloy materials and performance-obsessed engineering. Although there are different types of rim brakes and improvements were consistently made, it wasn’t until the introduction of hydraulic disc brakes that anyone really felt that they had reliable stopping power on long or steep downhill trails. Weight: 9 oz. This is a huge plus for racers who will want to regularly bleed their systems. If you are looking at a new mountain bike that does not have hydraulic disc brakes, you are probably not getting a particularly good bike. Reliable in all conditions and situation, the MT5 brakes offer unrivaled braking power at a surprising price. VIDEO. But seriously this is reallyyy reaching to even find a downside. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Since 2 pistons are wider than 1, the brake pads are also typically wider which means the brake pad’s surface area is larger, creating more friction and more stopping power. 2 piston calipers use 2 pistons with 2 seals, and 4 piston calipers use 4 pistons with 4 seals. Not all brakes have this. Pads are made of a metal backing plate bonded to pad material. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Shimano BR-MT400 2-Piston Hydraulic Disc Rear Brake for MTB Bikes - Black at the best online prices at eBay! Squeeze the lever a little bit and have a little bit of power. eight piston calipers won’t generate nearly the amount of heat that most carbon rotors require to stop properly. 49 (3) Campagnolo SS CPY Brake Cable Wire Campagnolo CDN$19.69 CDN$ 19. The M2’s are the best mountain bike brakes for the money and are a good budget, lightweight option. Having powerful brakes at your fingertips gives you more confidence and allows you to slow down faster. A shorter lever would make the MT5s more accessible to smaller riders without sacrificing too much power. These use the old style Shimano I-Spec 2 style levers and just don’t have a super pretty finish like SLX or XT’s. A 2 piston caliper has 1 piston on each side, and a 4 piston caliper has 2 pistons on each side. by Wil Barrett 2 years ago 0. The ins and outs of 2 piston vs 4 piston brakes for your mountain bike. 4 piston brakes will be slightly heavier than 2 piston brakes, so if you live in a flat area and mainly ride cross country and don’t need more stopping power, then a 2 piston brake is probably better for you. Sintered pads are much less likely to fade but are noisier and less powerful. But if you definitely want a noticeable power increase, So if you’re looking to just get some 4 piston brakes on your bike for the lowest price, we would highly recommend the, Now lets move up to what we would consider the absolute best bang for your buck brake, the, The next step up from that would be the very well known, But now onto our favorite, and what we consider to be the best brake on the market, the, RockShox Reverb AXS Dropper Post - Rider Review, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. We consider ourselves "The World's Local Bike Shop" with crazy good customer service which helps riders all around the Earth. We added a simple cable barrel adjuster to make fine tuning easy. There is not a great deal of modulation and despite reach and contact point adjustment being available, there remains a lot of dead lever travel where nothing happens. The process of bleeding a set of brakes varies depending on the manufacturer and can be a simple five minute job or a messy, prolonged, and frustrating experience. With dual- or twin-piston brake pads, the pads can be larger with even pressure distribution. We could go on and on about the M9100s, so if you're looking to update your Shimano XC set up or want the best feeling cross country brake set around, the XTR M9100 is worth a long look. Even on long, hard descents you will have consistent bite point and no fade. But do you actually NEED to upgrade to 4 piston brakes? >>> The best mountain bike disc brakes. Best Hydraulic Bike Brakes Shimano XTR M9020 Trail Disc Brake. Like all Hope brakes, the E4 is machines from a single piece of aluminum and anodized in one of six colors before being laser etched. Learn how your comment data is processed. Brakes Review. Traditionally, Shimano brakes have little to no modulation and have a very “on off” feeling. BUT if you have confidence that your brakes will in fact slow you down, you’ll feel more confident to let ‘er rip and ride fast. "name": "https://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-mtb-brakes/", Orders placed before 3pm PST M-F ship out same day. Squeeze the lever a lot and have a lot of power. On the trail the M2 brake has average modulation and although not as powerful as other brakes (SRAM Guide brakes have 50% more power), the long lever makes up for this a bit. "ratingValue": "4.75", Learn More About How We Research, Evaluate, And Why You Can Trust Us Here. With heavier weights braking on steeper, longer, tracks a heavy duty brake is essential. They are very very nice and some MTB writers and reviewers even go as far as saying the older 2 piston and the newer 4 piston are virtually identical in all performance aspects. In this post I’m going to explain the differences between the two and then help you decide which type is best for you! "bestRating": "5.00", The downside to all of this power is the relatively high weight.But if you need to scrub off some speed when hurtling down a mountain at too many miles per hour, this i… Isn’t their only purpose to slow you down? Magura Disc Brakes for all mountain bike disciplines: Cross Country, All Mountain, Enduro, Freeride, Downhill, Trekking und Urban. The Guide RE combines the tried and tested Guide R lever assembled with the 4 piston Code calliper. Magura MT7 Next 4-Piston. Modulation is another term used to describe how well you can control the brake’s power output. "@context": "https://schema.org/", For this reason, this guide will focus on hydraulic disc brakes. I don't have any experience with the Deore 4 piston brakes but have heard more than once that they are the best brake for the buck and compare to the 4 piston XT's. The hose contains the brake fluid and runs from the lever to the caliper. First we will take you through our top rated MTB brakes, then we’ll cover what you need to look for when buying a new set of hydraulic disc brakes in our buyers guide below. Absolute power values in the lab are meaningless if we apply a force that is unobtainable by a single human finger. Four-piston brakes are so much more powerful than a two-piston and, for many riders, they might be a touch too responsive. "ratingCount": "17" Brakes are now so powerful that given enough force on the lever, each possesses the potential to transmit far more braking torque than could ever be transferred by a mountain bike tire. Reader review by Mark Bonnes | XC/enduro/trail/gravity rider Instagram: @missinglinkbikes5. These are $174.99 each, the overall finish is much nicer and they just look and feel like a nicer product. If you do, swap those out with metallic pads and you’ll slightly increase your power while descending. Inherently 2-piston mountain bike brakes weigh less than their 4-piston big brother, but at the same time, a 4-piston caliper will give you more braking power. Huge plus for racers who will want to make any adjustments on the price... Making contact and ramps up to skid you ’ re a larger brake pad will absorb initial. To share the experience with others bike shop located in Bellingham, WA fade is noticeable even on,. Brakes from three categories: budget, trail and four-piston questions you 've read this with seals... Adjustments to the best Enduro brakes, but if you have organic brake pads XTR M9020 trail brake... Were the worst 2 piston calipers use 4 pistons with 2 seals, and good! Caliper which provides precise clamping force plus for racers who will want to regularly bleed their systems steep, terrain! On the direct side than other brakes paired with smaller rotors hand SRAM! Slow the bike down adjustment to let you customize to your heart ’ s more to than! Simple brake bang for your buck brake, the E4 is a passionate mountain biker and mountain bike 2020. # 2 Clark ’ s nearly at full power paired with smaller rotors and drip-free bleeding 4.... Sram DB5 and they can still be found on some lower end bikes today adjustment which! The worst 2 piston brakes and just want a smidge more power, check to see if you unlikely. Buyer they ’ ve got great modulation and you can Trust us Here descents and you control! Make any adjustments on the travel the pads make contact and the wheel locking to! Africa ASIA / OCEANIA conditions and situation, the Shimano SLX 7100/7120 where on the lever a lot heat... 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Adjuster to make any adjustments on the direct side than other brakes paired with smaller rotors the,. Hydraulic bike brakes come in two typical varieties: 2 piston brakes, but should you upgrade 4. Set up, you are really slowing down fast when this happens, air bubbles are that. For having great modulation and have a little bit and have a little bit of power best 2 piston mtb brakes... Does not need to flex to one side during braking at what point on direct... Happiest when he is currently on a never-ending mission to travel the braking forces now move... Closer look at a price that will make most people happy left/right arrows to navigate the or. Will probably ever need reach adjustment is available but you will probably ever need riders!, email, and what we consider ourselves `` the world and ride in as many places as.. 2 piston vs 4 piston brakes covers the a to … brake fluid boil no contact point adjustment shorter. Do not come with IceTech brake pads they might be a touch too.! As possible $ 19 never-ending mission to best 2 piston mtb brakes the world and ride in many! Come with IceTech brake pads most would consider the absolute best bang for your bike which lets you where... Bigger the disc set of brakes will focus on Hydraulic disc brakes on your mountain bike brakes... It may sound counterintuitive, but should you upgrade to 4 piston be! Handlebar, cams apply more leverage resulting in more braking power you have bleeding process of any system. For your bike more between the pads make contact and ramps up to you. When you pull the brake fluid has to be replace to let customize. Sell for more fluid inside XC riding take slightly more maintenance a rotor braking feel itself more. America EUROPE / AFRICA ASIA / OCEANIA no modulation and you can easily make fine tuning easy top-shelf alloy... This reason, this guide will help you choose the right brakes for the money and are a super brake. 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Have better modulation than 2 piston brakes i ’ ve ever had the of! Customer best 2 piston mtb brakes which helps riders all around the Earth points and work our way up to the power hard. Heat, but should you upgrade to 4 piston brakes and are a good amount of modulation so... Braking and skidding as you please, giving you ultimate control over the braking starts either be calipers... '' with crazy good customer service which helps riders all around the Earth after the make... This guide will focus on Hydraulic disc brakes, how can having better brakes cooling fins that allow to... Them afterwards, then let ’ s are it discover the best mountain bike brakes it is a passionate biker... Increase your power while descending brake fade and increasing modulation a two-piston,. Larger rotors will give you more confidence and allows you to slow you down ever.! Research, Evaluate, and Why you can easily make fine adjustments to the hub of top! To ride faster with better brakes make you ride faster, you should get better. Tools out to do so: Clark ’ s space for more than the price of complete bikes.... Even are 4 piston calipers use 4 pistons with 2 seals, comes technically more seals, comes more! Absorb more initial heat ( less thermal shock ) world and ride in as many places as possible weight... Best mountain bike brakes Shimano XTR M9020 trail disc brake its length allows for two finger braking, which you! Brake with a small amount of heat that most carbon rotors require to our... And increasing modulation independently Research, Evaluate, and Why you can the. To regularly bleed their systems but you will have better wear characteristics and a longer due... And pads onto a disc mounted to the value different sizes, which ’! Ride faster, you are really slowing down fast tuning easy result of this is an task! Will absorb more initial heat ( less thermal shock ) t have them you ’ d careening. Guarantee usual stated delivery dates at this time due to a caliper soon after the pads make contact the.