Mountain Biking - V-brakes 2002XT or 2003 XTR (consider price)

In one week time I should get my new frame...
I am not decided which V-brakes to buy

1. 2002 XT
or,
2. 2003 XTR (very expensive - twice the price of XT) I can't get 2002 XTR - not as expensive.

What do you think? Is it worth to pay twice as much for 2003 XTR than 2002 XT. Is there that much difference in breaking?

Never. I don't think the xtr groupo is worth the money unless that weight is really a factor in your riding. Also going to 2003 xtr isn't the brake lever a brake shifter combo. Either way it will cost a lot as you mentioned and the braking power difference will be non-existant...

I would have to vote against the 2002 XT brakes...I bought some last season and they squealed like pigs. I tried adjusting, etc., but could not get them to shut up. Other reviews of those brakes yeilded the same squealing. I ended up buying the 2002 XTR and have been super happy.

I put the XTR brakes on my cannondale and WOW,what a great break.They will stop you.They feel good to use and easy to adjust.I think mine are 02's.

Have you considered Avid Single Digit brakes? I got mine on ebay for $60 front and rear (levers extra). Mine are the Avid Mag forged magnesium brakes. Lighter than Shimano and work better too! No squeeking like the Shimanos. I weigh 225 and they stop me very well on very steep singletrack.

Mine are like these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2717582963&category=27949

I already have XTR levers (8-ones) so I would rather stay with shimano. In Poland I can't get XTR 2002 any more. So my choice is limited to 2003 XTR and 2002 XT.

Thanks for your advice.

Originally posted by Jakub
I already have XTR levers (8-ones) so I would rather stay with shimano. In Poland I can't get XTR 2002 any more. So my choice is limited to 2003 XTR and 2002 XT.

I'm running XTR levers with Avid Arch Rival 50s and they stop better than XTR. FWIW, 2003 XTR Vs are only cosmetically different than 2002 XTR Vs. How that relates to 2002 XT I don't know. I guess one would have to know the differences between 2002 XT and 2002 XTR.

I also use XTR Levers with my Avids. One finger braking action on long steep downhills without hand pain. And I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists! :beer:

Dont get the XTR over the XT, they are pretty much the same thing.

I had XT's on my old Cannondale. When I got my Mantra I was going to put the XT's on it. I got XTR's as a gift so I put those on instead. Didn't notice alot of difference. Knowing that now, in the future I don't think I'll spend extra for the XTR's

Get a set of 2002 XTRs.. there's tons of the old sets floating around. I had a set... badass brakes. If you use the XTR V's with the XTR levers you won't be disappointed. Awesome modulation and amazing braking power for a v-brake. Don't buy the 2003 XTRs... seek out the older sets. Nobody wants that goofy ass lever-shifter combo!

Originally posted by Jim311
Don't buy the 2003 XTRs... seek out the older sets. Nobody wants that goofy ass lever-shifter combo!

Hmmm... I got the impression that the original poster was only looking for V-brake arms and not the levers since it was mentioned that he was already using XTR levers.


I already have XTR levers (8-ones) so I would rather stay with shimano. In Poland I can't get XTR 2002 any more. So my choice is limited to 2003 XTR and 2002 XT.

Maybe I read that wrong. I think the important thing is that he also understand that one is not necessarily required to run Shimano brake arms in conjunction with XTR levers.

As far as 2003 XTR brifters go, I still haven't formed an opinion of them yet since I have yet to try them out. I'll probably skip upgrading to that style of brifter for a while anyways since I'm pretty happy with RapidFire.

I have XTs (sorry I don't know what year) and I had problems with squealing fronts for a while (the rear were fine). I ended up trying a few different pads and finally found some that work well. They are very powerful. The squealing drove me insane for ages and I was almost ready to upgrade to a disc on the front. Maybe I should have gone with the Avids, after what I have read.

Oh, I have Avid levers.

Guys,

I found on Polish ebay equivalent (Allegro) little used XTR v-brakes, they are less expensive than 2002 new XT. They only have 600km - not much - so I am buying them!

Thanks for your response.

If you haven't bought them yet...here's a little more info for you.

You can use avids brakes without any problems with your XTR levers!

The difference between XT and XTR brakes is this.... they both work in the exact same way, except the parts that are moving have different internals. The XT's use a bushing to allow the parallel linkage to move and the XTR's use a bearing (it's adjustble) that allows the parallel linkage to move. The reason everyone gets squeal from the XT's is because they use the bushing that allows very slight play in the linkage! The XTR's dont have this play so therefore they dont squeal. There was at one point a shim kit for the XT's, dont know if it's still around or not, and that stopped that issue.

Just thought I'd give you some more info to help you understand it all a little better. Hope you enjoy your new brakes!

:beer: