Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Gear Reviews

    Shimano XT BR-M785 Disc Brakes Review

    Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellAugust 18, 20146 Comments4 Mins Read

    Heralded by many as the best on the market, I’ve been able to ride the Shimano XT brakes on multiple test bikes over the past year. They have a lot going for them and have been relatively fuss-free overall.

    Shimano XT BR-M785 Disc Brake Features:

    • Short stroke Servo-Wave mechanism for quick pad engagement and more power
    • Forged alloy brake lever for optimum strength and reliability
    • Lightweight, forged caliper
    • Oversized 22mm twin ceramic pistons for optimum heat insulation
    • Mineral oil brake fluid is non-corrosive
    • Ice-Tech alloy caliper fins enhance heat radiation
    • Adjustable reach and free stroke
    • Available rotors: 160, 180, 203mm in 6-bolt and CenterLock
    • MSRP: $380 complete with 160mm rotors

    Shimano XT Disc Brakes Review

    The Venerable Shimano XT Disc Brakes

    For the past few seasons, riders have been flocking to Shimano’s latest brakesets. Racers have heralded their serviceability and regular Joe’s have loved their fuss-free performance. On top of that, nearly everyone loves that they run on mineral oil as opposed to highly-corrosive brake fluid.

    While I do typically prefer carbon lever blades, neither the XTR or XT versions have them and opt for alloy levers instead. This improves durability, but does increase weight. That said, nearly every racer I’ve talked to prefers alloy levers because they don’t break — they may bend, but won’t shatter on a burly crash. So, no carbon here (which is a common thread across Shimano’s drivetrain as well).

    Installation is straightforward and simple, but you might find the bar clamp to be a tad bulky, in comparison to SRAM/Avid levers. And, I found the unnecessary safety latch to be more annoying than otherwise. I always had to scramble to find a paper clip when I wanted to remove them from the bars. I do like the hinged design as it makes for easy, one-bolt adjustments, but the safety button is a nuisance. The width also makes for a wide cockpit layout as well.

    Shimano XT Disc Brake Lever Has a Wide Clamp

    I’ve now had two sets of XT brakes in the past year on the following bikes: The trail-friendly Ibis Ripley and the cross-country Niner Jet 9 Al. I also spent a few laps with them aboard the 2015 Scott Scale 910 at ScottWeek. While none of these bikes were DH rigs, I have put both of them through some steep, technical and long descents and the XT brakes were always up to the task. These latest versions feature ICE Tech fins and rotors that are built to better disperse heat. Shimano claims that heat dissipation is improved with both the fins and the rotors and my testing confirms that is the case as fade was minimal (if at all). Every pull resulted in predictable stopping power and modulation.

    I like the easy reach adjustments via the outboard dial that allowed me to get just the right reach or adjust on-the-fly.

    Most of the miles of testing were excellent with the brakes largely-invisible (a good thing), but near the end of my 5 months with the Niner Jet 9, the rear brake started to squeal and squeal something fierce. I don’t know if the pads somehow got contaminated, but every squeeze of the lever was met with a squeal so loud I couldn’t even hear myself think. Was that an anomaly or are other riders experiencing this? Please chime in below either way.

    Niner Jet 9 Al - Shimano XT Brakes

    I didn’t experience any bubbles in the hydraulic line or any need for bleeding during the course of testing. I appreciated that very much since bleeding brakes is a tedious task and not something I want to have to do every time I store the bike on the wall for a few weeks.

    Largely, I’ve come away with positive impressions of Shimano’s XT brakes. I’ve now got a set of SRAM Guide RSC’s in for review and initial tests peg them as better (so far) than the XT stoppers, but time will tell.

    The Good

    • Mineral oil instead of corrosive brake fluid — love this
    • Easy one or two-finger pulls
    • No need to bleed them in course of testing — refreshing
    • Excellent, predictable stopping power
    • Improved heat disbursement with ICE Tech
    • Available in 6-bolt or CenterLock flavors
    • Easy reach adjustments

    The Bad

    • Lever clamp is bulky and secondary button seems unnecessary
    • Rear brake developed a hideous squeal (chalking it up to contamination though)

    The Bottom Line

    Shimano’s XT BR-M785 disc brakes are certainly some of the best brakes on the market. They offer excellent power and a great feel — all with fuss-free performance.

    Buy Now: Available at JensonUSA

    123
    SHARES
    ShareTweet
    brakes shimano
    Previous ArticlePatagonia Rock Craft Shorts Review
    Next Article Craft EB Attack Jersey Review
    Jason Mitchell
    • Website
    • Twitter

    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

    You Might Also Like

    Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell Review

    March 29, 2023

    Pearl Izumi PRO Barrier Jacket Review

    March 27, 2023

    Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review

    March 22, 2023

    6 Comments

    1. Luc on August 18, 2014 4:39 pm

      Hi Jason, I also have shimano xt brakes. They also started to squeal really hard. I changed my pads, sanded my rotors and it seemed to do the trick. But two weeks later they started to do it again. Maybe the piston is leaking or something like that.

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on August 18, 2014 4:46 pm

        Hmmm… I thought it was an anomaly, but perhaps it happens a little more often? People are pretty adamant about these being the gold-standard in fuss-free braking. Shops recommend them and you’ll see them spec’d on most bikes — even if they feature an otherwise SRAM spec.

        I’ve liked them… they are great brakes, but perhaps the squeal happens more often than people realize?

        Reply
        • Luc on August 18, 2014 9:00 pm

          Yes maybe. But now I don’t know what to do. Should I try to repair or even change the caliper at the risk of having the same problem next year or should I change to another brand, like sram?

          Reply
          • Jason Mitchell on August 18, 2014 10:15 pm

            Tough call… are they out of warranty? Did they come on your bike or did you buy them separately? Is it the front or rear caliper?

            The new SRAM Guide brakes have been solid so far, but I’ve only got about 50 miles on them. Stay tuned there.

            Reply
            • Luc on August 18, 2014 10:19 pm

              Yes they are out of warranty… I bought them separately, it is the rear caliper

    2. Blundar on September 4, 2014 3:56 pm

      I have Tektro Auriga brakes and ran into the exact same problem. I finally fixed the problem when I swapped over to Nukeproof Trail pads (Resin/organic). The old OEM pads were ceramic and were getting glazed. The new resin/organic pads are super quiet and seat-in quicker. Supposedly they wear down a bit quicker because they are a slightly softer material compared to the old pads, but I will take that slight compromise any day.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Wahoo ELEMNT Rival Multisport GPS Watch Review

    March 9, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    9.4

    Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

    September 13, 2019
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021

    Review: SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS for Road?

    October 5, 2022
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell Review
    • Pearl Izumi PRO Barrier Jacket Review
    • Fresh Goods: Redshift Arclight PRO Clipless and Flat Pedals
    • Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review
    • Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review
    • Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review
    • Outdoor Vitals Vario Jacket Review
    • Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review
    • Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review
    • Review: Giro Latch Mountain Bike Shoes
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.