Mountain Biking - Upgrading Disc Brakes

Right now I have the Formula RX brakes.

I am looking at purchasing the Shimano XT or XTR hydraulics w/ combo shifters though.

Thoughts / opinions between the two? Thoughts on the upgrade?

The main purpose of the upgrade would be for the combo shifters!

I can't imagine having the shifters in my brake levers, just feels wrong to me. Shimano hydraulics seem like nice brakes, but not sure they're an upgrade from Formulas, just different. Your brakes are brand new, why did you get them if you just want to change them?

^They're the stock brakes on the bike..not sure if I like the feel / actuation / adjustability in the brake levers.

Stay with XT unless you are trying to shave weight, also stay away from the combo levers... since you may want the levers at a different angle than your shifter paddles or as it often happens you'll crash and bend a brake lever... which means new shifters also.

^In that case, I'd just stick with the SLX shifters that I already have no? Unless XT shifters offer anything better?

Alright, I am getting ready to make my order, but since I don't have the help of the LBS, I need your help!

The system is much cheaper to order online!

Anywho,
I assume Shimano includes the necessary post mount adapters and what nots required for my bike (Rocky Mountain Vertex 50). I believe the front uses Post Mount and IS is the standard for the rear anyways?

When it comes to Rotors, I know I require 6 bolt. What sizes does everyone recommend?

I would say just 6 / 6 is fine unless you think you'll do a lot of high-speed descending and really want the extra power of a 7 up front. I run a 7 on my trail bike but it's a bruiser that likes to get pointed downhill and run.

What are you doing with the Rx's? I'm interested if the price is right...

^We'll talk details when my new system is set up :)

^We'll talk details when my new system is set up :)
Thanks...:thumb:

stay away from the combo levers... since you may want the levers at a different angle than your shifter paddles

not sure what you mean, on the XT STI's there are no paddles to angle, you shift with the brake lever itself.


or as it often happens you'll crash and bend a brake lever... which means new shifters also.

Since the levers pivot in three different directions, I have yet to bend one in five years of use. I sure someone has, but I don't see it as a deal breaker.


The system is much cheaper to order online!


CRC was selling OEM M775 lever kits for $80 a few weeks back, insanity.

not sure what you mean, on the XT STI's there are no paddles to angle, you shift with the brake lever itself.



Since the levers pivot in three different directions, I have yet to bend one in five years of use. I sure someone has, but I don't see it as a deal breaker.
.

No paddles huh, i guess i remember something about those lever shifters a while back... i don't know anybody who has broken that pair since i don't know anybody using the combo lever(except you). I have seen a lot of broken and bent brake lever's though which was the cause of my concern - about how complicated replacing a bent up lever would be.

Ordered the XT system! Should arrive this week!

I prefer DC's by far over anything else. I have thumb shifters (best for sheer indestructability) , had SRAM twist grip (hated them) , have XTR triggers and have both XTR M960 and M970 DC's.

Not only do the DC's have the best/lightest effort shifting, I can shift from my barends (awsome when climbing on the barends, the upshifts are easier than the down).
And since the levers can move in almost every direction the are much harder to break that a rigid brake lever.
I would go with the XT unless you get a real deal on the XTR (XTR is a bit lighter and I think have 4 bushings instead of 2 in the shifter, but The XTs work great).

I am not sure what you mean about POST MOUNT adapters. If your front fork is POST mount I DONT think you can get IS adapters for an IS caliper. BUT if your front fork is a IS I think you can get a
a post mount abdapter for a POST mount caliper. The best is to get the correct caliper for whatever your front fork is. The rear is usually IS.

My front is POST so I'm good :)

No paddles huh, i guess i remember something about those lever shifters a while back... i don't know anybody who has broken that pair since i don't know anybody using the combo lever(except you). I have seen a lot of broken and bent brake lever's though which was the cause of my concern - about how complicated replacing a bent up lever would be.

I think that a lot of the crash-damage concern for these things was replacement costs based on Shimano's ridiculous MSRPs for them. Now that on-line dealers are blowing them out for 1/2 of that or less, nobody cares. They barely cost more than regular brake levers.

Brake system and rotors have arrived! Getting the installation done tomorrow!

Gotta say wow! The new system is awesome!