Levo Gen 2 need some new brakes for my 2020 comp what we got

RodC

Member
May 28, 2020
160
92
Queretaro, Mexico
any link whats good whats not? Thinking hope tech e4 easy to fit? any recommendations would be great :cool:


2018. But still a good reference IMO
 

Dirk74

Active member
Jun 6, 2020
99
55
Germany
There are a lot of good brakes out.
To help you it would be good to know what you didn't like on the SRAM Guide RE that came with your bike
and what you are looking for, e.g. w.r.t power, modulation, ... and preferences if any e.g. handlebar mount system (combination with other triggers), brake fluid (mineral oil or DOT) ...
 

Dirk74

Active member
Jun 6, 2020
99
55
Germany
That's a hard one. Better depends much on what you like.
Take a look at Trickstuff, Direttissima or Maxima.
 

muzzman1

Active member
Feb 11, 2019
153
140
Los Angeles CA
I have the Guide RE's on both of my Comps, I recently changed the pads after a combined 6000 miles to the multi compound from Gorillabrakes.com and I am beyond impressed by the stopping power and lack of fade. I figured for how inexpensive they are I would try them out in lieu of changing the complete brake assembly.
At this point I see no need to change the braking assembly. At All.
 

jsharpe

Active member
May 15, 2019
181
185
USA
I have the Guide RE's on both of my Comps, I recently changed the pads after a combined 6000 miles to the multi compound from Gorillabrakes.com and I am beyond impressed by the stopping power and lack of fade. I figured for how inexpensive they are I would try them out in lieu of changing the complete brake assembly.
At this point I see no need to change the braking assembly. At All.
+1. Better pads, and in my case also switching to a 220mm rotor in the front, completely transformed the brakes. I no longer feel a need to switch/upgrade them to something else.
 

Funkeydunk

Well-known member
Subscriber
May 28, 2019
389
297
Uk
So I’ve had Shimano XT, hope v4, SRAM, and Magura. My absolute fave is magura...however one of the dudes on here described them brilliantly, you have to be a surgeon to set them up so they don’t rub, and they can be a pain to bleed. In saying that, I love them, massive power, great initial grab, super modulation. I personally think they are the best Brakes for the money. But hope will the crown for the pretties.
 

Tim22

Member
Jan 15, 2020
63
23
Boise, Id
I bought the Uber Race Matrix to replace stock pads at the same time as going to 220mm rotor in front. They haven't lived up to the hype. Are the Gorilla pads that much better? Anyone run both sets and have an opinion? I'm referring to the metallics.
 

Salespunk

Active member
Jul 27, 2020
107
144
Encinitas, CA
Be careful with the Hope's, the braided housings would not fit the internal routing on an SWorks. I have ridden the Guides and found them way under powered for my terrain. Minimum for me would be XT 4 piston brakes. Magura's are a solid choice as well. Saints will offer the most power unless you go really Gucci.

Overall though you need to know what you want. Do you want more modulation or a solid lever feel? More power and initial bite or softer engagement? There is no "best" brake, there is some personal preference as well.
 

fragledoozer

Member
Aug 12, 2018
99
51
southport
does any one have a link for the correct pads i ordered the gorrila ones from ebay but because i am a muppet ordered the wrong ones:eek::cool: part of the reason for an upgrade is i am building a normal hard tail on a ragley frame and i was going to but the guide re's on that also gives me an excuse to upgrade
 

jsharpe

Active member
May 15, 2019
181
185
USA
These are the the Guide RE/Code:
Multi compound copper kevlar is the pad I went with
I was originally looking for ceramic ones but since all the ones I wanted to try were out of stock I also ended up with kevlar and am quite happy I did. These were not only cheap but a huge improvement over the stock ones that came on the bike. (quiet with good modulation and power) If you ride in the wet a lot you might still need sintered though. These are fine for the occasional puddle or stream crossing, but that isn't their primary strength. The are the ones I got DiscoBrakes.Com :: Shop :: DiscoBrakes Shop :: SRAM Avid :: Code 2011, Code R :: OBE-DA05SG (note that there are different tabs on that page for the various compounds)
 

paquo

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2018
463
283
usa
i really like the kevlar compound but it doesn't seem to last as long on the rear especially in the wet, so i have had pretty good luck with kevlar front and sintered rear
 

CrzyMD

Member
Jun 30, 2018
13
5
Bakersfield, CA., USA
Be careful with the Hope's, the braided housings would not fit the internal routing on an SWorks. I have ridden the Guides and found them way under powered for my terrain. Minimum for me would be XT 4 piston brakes. Magura's are a solid choice as well. Saints will offer the most power unless you go really Gucci.

Overall though you need to know what you want. Do you want more modulation or a solid lever feel? More power and initial bite or softer engagement? There is no "best" brake, there is some personal preference as well.

What exactly was the issue with the Hope brakes? I wanted to put some on my Levo, but after reading your post, I am now hesitant. I measured the outside diameter of the Hope braided, vs the SRAM Code brake lines and they are both 5mm. What do you think prevented you from passing the line through the frame? Was it the swing arm hole, the downtube internal passage? Thanks for your reply.
 

Bigtuna00

Active member
Nov 27, 2019
556
337
CA
I went from stock Code R's to 4 piston XT. Hated the SRAM brakes, no where near enough power to make stopping comfortable. XT still wasn't enough though. Now I'm on Saints. Love 'em. There are probably more powerful and lighter brakes but 1) they will cost more (you can get Shimano stuff really cheap online, I paid $145 for Saints) and 2) they won't be as reliable.

Rotors are another adventure:

I kept the stock SRAM Centerline rotors when I switched to XT, but they got pretty cooked.

I tried Shimano SM-RT66 rotors (partially just to do full Shimano 203mm, but also thought the full steel would be better and cheaper). Cooked the rear one even faster now that I have more powerful brakes :p

I put a SM-RT86 on the rear (Ice Tech rotor) and that has been MUCH better.

I have a RT-MT900 rotor on the front now, but only got to ride it once, since my belt failed. So far so good on that but too early to tell.

So basically I'm really hard on rotors and they tend to overheat. It's also fairly warm out here. Need as much cooling as possible.
 

MJR

Member
May 12, 2020
11
19
USA
Zee's and 203mm SM-RT86 rotors. Powerful and good value, and they look good too
IMG_8253.jpg
 

Dirk74

Active member
Jun 6, 2020
99
55
Germany
Zee's and 203mm SM-RT86 rotors. Powerful and good value, and they look good too
Shimano SM-RT86 are ICE-tec technology, rotor ring sandwich of steel with inner aluminium core. There are reports that they melt at very high temperature. With the need of Zee brake at the rear wheel I would better go a full steel rotor ring.
 

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