New 2008 Shimano XT brakes v Formula Oro 18K

[Guest]

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
May 24, 2012, 06:45:44 AM

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Login with username, password and session length

[What is the main type of machine you use to surf the site?]

What is the main type of machine you use to surf the site?
Desktop
	112 (28%)
Laptop
	158 (40%)
iPhone
	51 (13%)
Android phone
	29 (7%)
Tablet
	24 (6%)
Other
	14 (3%)
Total Voters: 287

[bigbighit]

Hi folks

New to this site and have registered pre Commencal ownership!

Just spec'ing up a custom build Meta 5.5 and have been offered the above braking systems for the same price.

What would your choice be? I have no previous experience of either system.

Formula get great reviews but the guy at LBS says the new servo wave XT's are much better! They are certainly more expensive than the K18's so maybe I'm getting better value for my money with the XT's.

What are you thoughts?

[Bigboy]

Hi and I am sure once you get your new toy you will never look back 

I have the Oro 18 and my mate has the shimanos, I love the formulas and he loves the shimanos, he has always had hope and says he will never go back, I think you get a better choice of adjustment with the shimanos compared to the K18s, although merlin have been knocking out the K24s for very good dosh recently which I think would be a good equal to the shimanos. As you have heard on many forums the Formulas seem to be problem free and easy to set up. IMHO it is down to looks between these two as they are both pretty tasty bits of kit!

[grgos]

I run Shima.. 2005 Xt brakes and for now no problems nice power brakes with Xt or Swiss top brake pads combination .

[Affe]

don't have experiece on either but the german bike mag website http://www.mountainbike-magazin.de I was looking alot last fall (when wondering what sould be my first full suspencion and there i first time i read about meta 5.5 witch i'm getting now with formula 18's) and my impression was that they rate all shimano breaks not good at all! and formula very good. site has changed since and the breaks too, but personally would not by shimano breaks its  just my impression...

[bigbighit]

Hi and I am sure once you get your new toy you will never look back 

I have the Oro 18 and my mate has the shimanos, I love the formulas and he loves the shimanos, he has always had hope and says he will never go back, I think you get a better choice of adjustment with the shimanos compared to the K18s, although merlin have been knocking out the K24s for very good dosh recently which I think would be a good equal to the shimanos. As you have heard on many forums the Formulas seem to be problem free and easy to set up. IMHO it is down to looks between these two as they are both pretty tasty bits of kit!

Yes I like the easy adjustment of the XT's. The lever reach is important to me as I seem to have tiny mitts. I also don't like a lot of "dead" lever pull that you get with the Juicy's. Both of these adjustments are easy with the XT's.

Can you adjust both these items on the K18's? Do you have that free stroke adjustment thingy with the K18's or is that only the K24's?

If it came down to looks alone then there would be no contest - The K18's everytime.

I would prefer the K24's but a certain bike store do not have them at present.  



 

[Affe]

I'm not sure what do you mean by this adjustment (not that good in english, thou i'm not sure would i know it in my mother tongue either ) but if you mean that very little nob on the inside next to the main lever(not sure do I make any sense) then it's only on K24's. I guess 18 and 24 are exactly the same thing exept that littel adjusting nob.

still, I would thrust in a manufacturer who specializes in some part rather than a huge company that makes anything. in my philosphy that can not be sustainable qualitywise nor ethically... but again thats just me and i'm always taking everything in very ethical concideration, and have to admit i should look closer to all these companys as i let myself speak here like this! shame on me

I'm sure like sayd you will be happy what ever you choose!

by the way i went to check this german site now after a break and it seems that they tested twelve new all mounains and the winner is............

[Bigboy]

My mate has the K24( jammy sod got a pair from merlin cheaper than one of my k18s ) and it does have the power adjuster or whatever they call it, my K18 doesn't. They both have reach adjustment and I too have small hands and find them pretty good, the dead pull seems to be very small on the K18s anyway, I am running a 203 rotor on the front and 160 on the rear and they feel nicely balanced although many people go for 180 on the front and still love them. The K18s are still miles better than any hayes I have tried for modulation, and don't suffer from squealing rotors like a lot of the hope did/does. The only point of note is that the lever pivot needs cleaning every few weeks in wet weather otherwise you get a slow lever return.
Go on you know you want to!!!!

[bigbighit]

Yeah I've been researching all night and I think I've decided on the K18's. Unless something happens between now and Monday the order will be placed!

Only trouble is they don't have any small Meta 5 frames in stock! Need to wait to beg March.

Is it normal for Commencal dealers to run out of frames and then have to wait weeks until they get more in?

I've read some horror stories that the small frames are finished for the season! Surely not.

[Bigboy]

Hasn't our illustrious Steveb got any in? thats where my (small) frame came from, he he! . . .  Sorry

If you order it from him you will probably get it next week sometime!! go on you know you want to!

You won't regret it, I have had mine since before xmas and am well impressed, and chris king even do a green headset apparently. . . .

[bigbighit]

Hasn't our illustrious Steveb got any in? thats where my (small) frame came from, he he! . . .  Sorry

If you order it from him you will probably get it next week sometime!! go on you know you want to!

You won't regret it, I have had mine since before xmas and am well impressed, and chris king even do a green headset apparently. . . .

Hey there. Just had a look at your bike. Looks great. Now I can see what mine is going to look like! I will have black revelation forks though. Would have preffered the white ones if i'm honest.

I have spend ages putting together a spec and getting it at a good price so i'm going to hang on till March. Can't wait though!

[Bigboy]

As long as you are counting down to march by the minute I think you can make it through!

[mesak1]

Hi,
i've been runing older 07 XT and they were just fine - but then i switched to K18 formulas - i think that they are much more powerful and gave me confidence i needed downhill - i dunno about 08 Shimanos which i beleive is quite different from 07.

[rj]

I've been running K24s, and really rate them over Avids, Hope and the older Shimanos I'd tried, but I tried the new XTs at a demo day over the weekend and they were very, very good.  They had loads of power and good modulation.  I was pleasantly surprised by them. 

I've heard that all the small  Meta 5s from the first batch are gone, but there is another lot due in March.