Good insight and mini review Andrew, would have to concur with your once again cost vs performance metric, I have found this too in the 2 piston varients as well. Although all my personal bikes do use XTs, but all my other use SLX or Deore and have never had anyone complain about them, if anything they comment how good they are or how powerful.
While I guess I am a Shimano-phile because they just seem to work, especially down in the tropics, even if with some having the wondering bite point, most don't notice and the ease of bleeding or a quick lever bleed and they use mineral oil. All that being said, with the now current price of the 4 piston offerings, even this chepeast option, they're now not much more than brakes from other manufacturers, who like you said, can be serviced instead of just chucked if something happens.
Honestly, if I'm looking to drop $150+US per wheel for brakes, I'm going to be looking at a set of Hopes, despite the whole DOT fluid thing, because of all the DOT brakes I've experienced, they are the easiest to bleed and IMHO, one of the best looking, plus you have colours to choose from if you want, PLUS Hope has a reputation for supporting products 10+ years down the road.
Sept. 28, 2020, 5:09 a.m. - MountainBikeBarbados .
Good insight and mini review Andrew, would have to concur with your once again cost vs performance metric, I have found this too in the 2 piston varients as well. Although all my personal bikes do use XTs, but all my other use SLX or Deore and have never had anyone complain about them, if anything they comment how good they are or how powerful. While I guess I am a Shimano-phile because they just seem to work, especially down in the tropics, even if with some having the wondering bite point, most don't notice and the ease of bleeding or a quick lever bleed and they use mineral oil. All that being said, with the now current price of the 4 piston offerings, even this chepeast option, they're now not much more than brakes from other manufacturers, who like you said, can be serviced instead of just chucked if something happens. Honestly, if I'm looking to drop $150+US per wheel for brakes, I'm going to be looking at a set of Hopes, despite the whole DOT fluid thing, because of all the DOT brakes I've experienced, they are the easiest to bleed and IMHO, one of the best looking, plus you have colours to choose from if you want, PLUS Hope has a reputation for supporting products 10+ years down the road.