When first installed, the Shimano SLX M7100 hydraulic disc brakes had a noticeably long bite point, meaning that the brake pads didn't press on the rotor immediately but rather only after quite a bit of lever depression. This behavior contrasted substantially with the bite point behavior of the Shimano Deore M6100 hydraulic disc brakes on my Thrill Volare minivelo which bite almost immediately. I bled the SLX brakes once again hoping to shift the bite point to a closer, shorter bite, but this had no effect.



What I did instead, a much simpler procedure, fixed the problem and gave me the near immediate bite point that I craved: I hand-...well...finger-tightened the spring plate that sits between the brake pads. This closed the gap between the two brake pad plates, narrowing the dead distance or gap from the rotor. Depressing the levers several times brought out the pistons to a new position, flush to the brake pads with no rub on the rotors. When the brake pads were removed, I was able to eyeball too that there is zero air in the lines as the pistons move perfec sync and no delay with the lever. Minute lever displacement results in immediate, instantaneous, minute piston displacement. The brakes now work great with the very close bite point that I prefer.



Hope this is useful to someone here looking to troubleshoot the same issue and fine-tune their Shimano hydraulic brakes.

Deore or SLX?
Oh yeah, if you wondering whether to go for Deore M6100 or SLX M7100 hydraulics, the former are just as strong as the latter, missing only on the easier lever throw adjustment and the caliper brake pad bolt (instead of a cotter pin) on the SLX. I only bought the SLX because they were on sale for only $20 more than the Deore. As I've said before, Shimano Deore M6000/M6100 is the value sweet spot.