Bike Gear Expert

Best Mountain Bikes & MTB Gear Reviewed

The Best MTB Brakes of 2018

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With so many different brakes available in the marketplace, it can be hard to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve taken the time to find the best MTB brakes and present you a thorough review to help you make the best decision. Making sure you have quality brakes installed on your mountain bike is important for safety reasons. However, going for the best MTB brakes will also give you the confidence to ride at your best without worrying about your brakes failing you on the road.
Product Name Length Material Weight Price Range Score
Baseeing Bike Brake Pads Brake Kit 2.7 inches/ 70 millimeters Aluminum 4.8 ounces/ 136 grams Affordable 3/5
Shimano XT BL-M8000 Disc Brake 4.7 inches/ 119 millimeters Aluminum 9.1 ounces/ 258 grams Medium 3.5/5
Shimano Deore XT BL/BR-M8000 9 inches/ 228 millimeters Aluminum 10 ounces/ 294 grams High 4/5
Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake – BR-T4000 4 inches/ 107 millimeters Aluminum 9.6 ounces/ 272 grams Affordable 4.5/5
JGbike Shimano SLX M7000 Hydraulic Disk Brake MTB Front & Rear Set 2.4 inches/ 61 millimeters Alloy 4.8 ounces/ 136 grams High 5/5

5. Baseeing Bike Brake Pads Brake Kit

best baseeing mtb brakes kit

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Specifications: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches
Rear: Yes
Front: Yes
Brakes: V brake
Weight: 4.8 oz

The Baseeing bike brake pads and brake kit comes with four piece of brake pads and four pieces of brake line elbows. This is meant to be two pairs of brakes installed on your brake, meaning that it can be added to the front and back wheels. This is a brake pad that is designed for all standard V brakes.

Pros

Customers mentioned that the Baseeing brake pads had a strong braking force and was very durable. The actual brakes are designed to be responsive in wet conditions. This is due to the curved brake body conforming to the tire of the bike. Customers also liked the fact that the brake was quieter than other brakes in the market.

Cons

The only small disadvantage of this brake set is that the tube is not rust resistant. Some customers mentioned that it rusted faster than expected. If you like to ride in wet conditions, you may need to install new tubes that won’t rust.

4. Shimano XT BL-M8000 Disc Brake

best shimano xt bl m8000 mtb brakes

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Specifications: 5.9 x 4.7 x 3.2 inches
Rear: Option for front or back
Front: Option for front or back
Brakes: Disc brake
Weight: 9.1 oz

The Shimano XT BL-M8000 Disc Brake is a hydraulic brake system designed for mountain biking. This model will surprise you by being lighter than other Shimano brakes. This will give riders increased performance whether they intend to use it for the trail or racing.

Pros

Many customers said that this was one of the best MTB brakes they’ve ever purchased. The brakes are easy to install, very responsive, and lightweight. Many customers liked that the weight of the brakes didn’t impact their riding experience.

Cons

There isn’t much negative feedback from customers. There were a few customers that had problems with parts missing in their order. However, this can be easily resolved by contacting the retailer to get a replacement.

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3. Shimano Deore XT BL/BR-M8000

best shamano deore xT M8000 mtb brakes

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Specifications: n/a
Rear: Yes
Front: No
Brakes: Yes
Weight: 10.37 oz

The Shimano Deore XT BL/BR-M800 is a brake set that comes with brake lever calipers as well. Such a hydraulic model is specifically designed for the rear wheel. The brake set is designed for trail riding and is intended to be light. As for the focal point of this brake set, its main purpose is to give you control through an intricately designed servo wave.

Pros

Customers are impressed by how easy it was to stop their bikes after they installed these brakes. Many also appreciated how the design allowed it to cool down quickly. This meant that riders didn’t have to worry about the brakes overheating and wearing down quickly. The easy installation and alignment for these brakes also took on average 5 to 10 minutes.

Cons

There isn’t much negative feedback about these brakes either. The only thing worth noting is that the price of the brakes is higher than some of the others on the market.

2. Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake – BR-T4000

best shimano mtb brakes T4000

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Specifications: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches
Rear: Yes
Front: Yes
Brakes: Yes
Weight: 9.6 oz

The Shimano BR-T4000 is another V-brake kit for mountain bikes. It is designed for a smooth and quiet brake while delivering the necessary power for bikers. It also has a mudguard that prevents dirt and mud accumulation. This is great for riders that ride in wet conditions or those who never avoid a dirt track.

Pros

Customers were happy about the high performance that these v-brakes delivered despite this brake kit being priced very low. They also liked that the brakes are also very light and do not weigh down the bike. If you want cheap yet reliable v-brakes to replace your OEM parts, these might be the best MTB brakes for you.

Cons

Some customers did not like the finish of the v-brakes. It had a painted finish that made it look like a low quality part and could peel off easily over a long period of use.

1. JGbike Shimano SLX M7000 Hydraulic Disk Brake MTB Front & Rear Set

best jgbike shimano slx m7000 mtb brakes

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Specifications: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches
Rear: Yes
Front: Yes
Brakes: Yes
Weight: 4.8 oz

The JGbike Shimano SLX M7000 is a hydraulic disc brake set for mountain bikes. This set comes with a set of brakes for both the front and the rear. As a result, it delivers a very strong stopping power. The brakes come as a pre-bleed model, meaning less installation work, particularly for bikers that don’t know how to bleed their brakes.

Pros

Customers are impressed by the stopping power of this brake set. It gave many riders the confidence to ride as they wanted due to the brakes being very responsive. While it is priced on the higher side, this is one of the best MTB brakes if you’re looking for a model that really can stop you on a dime.

Cons

There aren’t any big negative points about these brakes that stand out. The only thing that may be a deterrent for some buyers is the fact that this is a high end model that costs far more than the average brake set.

Conclusion

That’s a run down of the best MTB brakes you can purchase right now. We’ve tried to compile a list that featured both hydraulic and V-brakes. In addition, we’ve looked for brakes that delivered a great performance for all price ranges. If you have any experience with these brakes, please let us know in a comment.

Comments

  1. There is going to be a time when us bike riders will need new MTB brakes, and it will boil down to getting the best ones when the time comes. The Baseeing bike brake pads are pretty good even though they tend to rust easily.

    Reply

    • Hey, Kasey! That’s true, any hobby implies dedicating a lot of time which comes with the need for some upgrades at some point. Brakes are the first thing people check during their bike maintenance and also the first part they should upgrade the moment they are no longer in top shape. Baseeing is a great choice especially since they work with standard Shimano V-brakes. Follow our Facebook page for fresh MTB updates!

      Reply

  2. The Baseeing bike brake pads are good and work well. They are quiet and affordable. They are also strong and very durable. I know it is not rust proof which is a bit of a concern because it may not last long.

    Reply

  3. Hey if you are looking for the best MTB brakes then you are going to want to get the Baseeing bike brake pads and brake kit. They are super durable and have a strong braking force. You need brakes that you can trust! These are it.

    Reply

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