With this article I’ll be sharing my top picks for the best disc brakes for XC mountain bikes.
Favoring low weight XC brakes are mostly offered in a 2-pod variant, which means the brake caliper holds 2 pistons. With the correct rotor and brake pads, this should provide more than enough stopping power for your average trail.
When looking at the big three of brake manufacturing, Shimano, SRAM, and Magura, it’s obvious that the subsequent gains within their lineup are relatively marginal with respect to the price you have to pay to obtain those gains. Brands use the same brake caliper design, using the same pistons, resulting in the same braking characteristics.
It means that as far as stopping your bike is concerned you’re equally well off with a budget version as you’ll be with a top-tier brake. The difference between brakes is in materials used, but mostly in the brake lever.
You can see stamped aluminum for blade levers, being replaced by forged aluminum or carbon levers. Stainless steel hardware for titanium, and aluminum brake masters for magnesium. All of these measures are to reduce weight.
The most expensive brakes often ditch functionality, like the reach adjustment knob and bite adjuster, to further reduce weight with a couple of grams.
So choosing the “”best”” disk brake for XC for yourself might not be as simple as choosing the most expensive one. But you will be able to make the proper choice by reading the following list. Enjoy.
SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth 4-piston
The professional XC scene is dominated by SRAM Level brakes. If you look more closely, you can see shiny silver brake levers and calipers, courtesy of the SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth brakes.
And with XC courses becoming more technical and not shying away from brutal rock gardens and steep descents, the 4-piston version has become a staple among professional riders.
Stealth refers to the divisive design of the brake lever, with the brake master following the direction of the handlebars much more closely, enabling easy cable routing through headsets.
The brakes come with a Matchmaker clamp, offering you the ability to mount the shifter, brake levers, and dropper controller using the same mount. That’s almost a necessity with the brake lever sitting so close to the handlebar, that adding another clamp proves to be more difficult.
The brakes are extremely expensive, but are the only way to obtain SRAM’s renowned brake modulation in a 4-piston package, a carbon brake lever, banjo tube connection for easy routing, and aforementioned new lever design.
Other features, which are shared among SRAM’s top tier brakes, are tool-free lever adjustment, bearings in the lever pivot, improved “bleeding edge” fluid routing, reducing risk of air pockets in the system.
This 4-piston brake is lighter than the 2-piston standard Ultimate, making it the lightest 4-piston XC brake as well. A tried-and-true way to achieve this, is to swap out all standard nuts and bolts and replace them with titanium ones, something you’ll only find with the top-tier Ultimates.
The weight, and superior brake feel, which can be further tuned using aftermarket brake pads of your choice, are the core reasons why these brakes are as popular as they are among pro riders.
And winners always can set the price they want because they are exactly that. So the price is as extravagant as it is justified.
- Lightest 4-piston XC brakes on the market with superior, championship endowed SRAM brake feel
- Use of matchmaker clamp is almost a must. New lever design for headset routing might not be necessary. Extremely pricey
SRAM Level Silver Stealth 4-piston
There are 3 differences between the SRAM Level Silver Stealth 4-piston brakes and the top-of-the-line Ultimate brakes.
Swap out a carbon brake lever for an aluminum one, titanium botls for stainless steel ones, and DOT 5.1 fluid for DOT 4, to obtain brakes which work just as great and are 255 grams per pair instead of 232. And save 100 USD per brake along the way.
And since DOT 5.1 and DOT 4 can be used in the same system, it can be a non-Ultimate specific product spec. I don’t think I need to say more about the reason you’d want these brakes over the more expensive ones.
- Simply the better value-for-money offering. Much cheaper than the Ultimate Stealth while losing non of the brake characteristics except for a little weight gain.
- None
SRAM Level T
The SRAM Level T is a 2-pod XC-oriented brake which has the distinction of being one of the most affordable ones in their lineup.
The Level family is SRAM’s XC lineup, which favors lightweight, 2-piston brakes over 4-pod ones. A decade ago SRAM brakes (or rather Avid) were known to have crappy pistons that had a tendency to get stuck, but that’s no longer the case at all.
Today’s SRAM brakes, including the Level T ones, are reliable brakes, offering consistent performance within said XC range, and long-lasting life without the need to prematurely bleed them.
They are comparable to Shimano Deore or Magura MT Sport brakes. Not in terms of functionality, but in terms of where they sit in relation to other brakes in their respective series.
If used within the proper XC discipline they are fine. When used for trail, enduro, or even downhill, the lack of braking power and brake fade will rear its ugly head, more so than with other brands. That’s because SRAM uses 21mm pistons, instead of larger 25mm ones. And also because the brake lever rotation points are set differently, offering a longer, more linear brake feel.
It downgrades the otherwise smooth brake feel to a much more on-off system. That’s not really a brake issue, because the Levels aren’t meant to be used as such, but it’s good to know nonetheless if you want to strap these brakes onto a hardcore trail and/or enduro rig (which you shouldn’t).
The brake levers do offer reach adjustment, but the tiny allen bolt can only be operated with the brakes not mounted. That’s a nuisance which has been handled in more expensive models, but also something not present in both Magura and Shimano models.
They are specced to go with DOT 4 fluid. But since DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 (not to be confused with DOT 5) can be used interchangeably, you can make use of the more heat resistant fluid to increase braking performance should you want to.
The main disadvantages of DOT fluid is that it has a shelf life and is toxic. This means you need to take more care bleeding the brakes, and the process is more involved because of it. The other argument against DOT fluid used to be that the shelf life meant braking power deteriorated over time.
I would argue that with a properly bled system that’s no longer the case, unless you plan to literally never bleed your brakes, which I realize is a common practice among a great portion of people.
As all budget brakes, they offer a fixed housing port, so be sure that they match your particular frame. They are also one of the heaviest budget XC brakes, nearing 300 grams (without rotors).
The entire design of the Level T still offers typical SRAM brake feel for 2-pod brakes, so that’s a plus. On the other hand, their usage feels more narrow since all Magura brakes are more powerful (and some much cheaper), including Shimano SLX brakes. I can recommend these for SRAM aficionados explicitly using them for XC (or lighter usage) on a somewhat tight budget.
- Entry-level XC brakes with typical SRAM feel
- Both Shimano and Magura have more powerful brakes for the same or less money
Shimano SLX BR-M7100
Traditionally the great value-for-money option is reserved for everything that has Deore XT stamped onto it, which is Shimano’s series sitting just below their top-of-the-line XTR. Yet with the Shimano SLX BR-M7100, the Japanese manufacturer has made a more affordable option for 2-piston braking, that is just as good.
It’s a stretch to call these brakes a budget option. They’re mid-tier sitting next to XTR and Deore XT as the more premium option. It means they inherit the same braking technology like the overall design, reach adjustment for the compatible brake lever (BL-M7100), and a servo-wave lever stroke.
Servo-wave was introduced in the early nineties Deore XT cantilever brakes, a time when XTR wasn’t even on the market. By attaching the lever to a slotted wheel, the same travel of the brake lever results in more oil displacement within the cylinder and increased braking. It means more feathering or brake control in brakes, which are otherwise known to offer immediate stopping power.
The reason of the SLX’s popularity has to do with the somewhat odd Shimano sales-pitch claiming that the brake levers, apart from their finish, are actually shared between both SLX and XT, thus offering a similar snappy braking, which is sort of Shimano’s trademark braking style.
That similarity is extended to the brake calipers as well, which are exactly the same weight because of it. Again, the only difference resides in the finish.
Shimano is known for offering ease-to-maintain brakes with excellent lever feel. Even people favoring the braking power of Magura brakes sometimes combine them with Shimano levers for a “Shigura” (portmanteau of Shimano and Magura), so that says something about the quality of the brakes.
What then are the differences I hear you asking. Well, the only part left in the package are the (recommended) brake rotors. So should you buy an off-the-shelf Deore XT braking setup, including rotors, they will be different. The SLX rotors are a tad heavier and don’t offer the cooling fins of their XT counterpart.
Since the rotors are sold separately and are totally compatible with each type of brake that offer the same design, this is a non-issue unless you specifically want to pay for brakes with XT stamped on them.
The combination of dependability, durability, easy to maintain, and excellent lever feel turn these 2-piston brakes into an option for anyone riding XC and (light) trail.
- Except for the brake rotors (sold separately and fully compatible), the SLX brakes are similar to the XT ones. High quality dependable brakes inheriting from XTR the best brake characteristics Shimano has to offer .
- Pretty expensive for 2-pod brakes
Shimano XTR BR-M9100
The Shimano XTR BR-M9100 and accompanying BL-M9100 brake levers is a very lightweight XC brake, and one of the very few brakes going below the magical 200 grams.
Offering a carbon brake lever, in a magnesium brake master, and doing away with weight-adding features like an adjustment knob and bite-adjuster.
The brakes operate a forged aluminum unibody caliper with titanium brake pad fixing screw. Everything to remove a couple of grams.
All top-end brakes are too expensive for what they offer besides a low weight, and the XTR brakes are no exception. The heavier SLX brakes offer similar, immediate braking power for less than half the price of the XTR.
I can understand the appeal of the XTR brakes. They are Shimano’s flagship product and are true to their reputation of being easy to install, easy to maintain, and offering excellent and immediate braking power.
The snappy feel of the Shimano brakes takes just as much time getting used to as the mushy feel of the Magura MT8 SL ones. And one isn’t necessarily better than the other, just different.
With your standard average maintenance, there aren’t any glaring issues, apart from having more noisy rotors.
- Truly lightweight XC brake with immediate brake feel, characteristic for the Shimano brand.
- The SLX version offers similar braking power for less than half the price.
Magura MT8 SL
The Magura MT8 SL are the German brand’s top-tier XC brakes. There are a number of aspects that distinguish these brakes from the competition, but as with any very premium product, you pay top-dollar for gains that can be considered marginal.
The MT8 SL shares the top spot of being the lightest brake on the market with the Shimano XTR 2-piston brake. Both sit at 195 grams. That’s nothing short of impressive.
There are two reasons why Magura has achieved such a weight, which are unique to these brakes in their lineup. The first one is the use of a carbon blade, and ditching the tool-free adjustment knob you can find on the MT8 PRO sitting below the SL.
The levers are single-finger ones, which creates a super compact lever design. But Magura offers a separate, aluminum 2-finger option as well, which has a different, less firm bite point.
The second reason is by manufacturing the brake master from their in-house carbotecture material. But unlike the cheapest MT Sport, the MT8 SL uses the, you guessed it, SL version of this material. It’s a carbon fiber reinforced lightweight resin compound. I assume SL stands for “super light”.
They are 2-piston brakes, which should be more than enough to tackle the majority of XC courses. The number of pistons isn’t the only factor used in determining stopping power. Should you want considerably more stopping power than the stock Performance pads offer, you’ve got Race pads as well, which are much more effective in dry conditions.
The braking experience is unique, with the combination of 1-finger, carbon lever blade and composited brake master offering a soft brake feel, which some people would call mushy. To a certain degree it’s the same feel as their cheapest MT Sport brake, which also has a carbotecture brake master, and non-aluminum, carbotecture lever.
The brake feel is so distinctive that you either shy away from it and go back to either Shimano or SRAM, or get to love the modulation this brake provides.
The 1-finger lever sits far out of the handlebars, so people with short fingers might even get into trouble using these brake levers. You can get a 2-finger lever of course, but that kind of defeats the purpose of buying these.
The 2-piston caliper has a forged aluminum body with 25mm pistons operating a pad that sits in the right place using magnets. Magura claims it has the highest braking power of their 2-piston lineup, but I don’t see how that’s possible, since the caliper design is the same for a number of other models as well, and a lever doesn’t add braking power.
- Lightest 2-piston XC brake on the market, besides Shimano's XTR, with unique soft brake feel in a 1-finger lever.
- Distinctive brake lever, and brake feel is not suitable for everyone, especially considering the price.
Magura MT8 PRO
If the MT8 SL targets a niche market with its unique 1-finger design and soft brake feel, the Magura MT8 PRO is the much safer bet.
Using the same caliper as the top-level SL, it’s not hell-bent on saving weight to the extreme. You still get a very lightweight brake at 225 grams. But the carbotecture SL brake master is operated using an aluminum lever blade, instead of the carbon one. And this lever has a tool-free adjustment knob as well.
It knocks off 100 dollars (or more) of the price depending where you look, so it’s also by far the safer choice from a financial perspective.
I like carbon stuff on my bikes, but if I would by high-end Magura brakes for cross-country riding, these would by my top pick. Even buying these brakes and outfitting them with the HC carbon brake lever is cheaper than buying the SL version.
- Far more sensible choice financially for a brake that's all but the same as the SL
- None
Magura MT Sport
The Magura MT Sport is the cheapest hydraulic disc brake in their lineup, and probably one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest big brand hydraulic disc brakes on the market.
The best thing I could possibly say about these brakes is that I actually bought them as a temporary replacement for my SRAM Level Ultimate brakes, because one of them was broken. It’s been a year and I’m still riding with these brakes.
So I have this extremely high-end XC bike rocking the cheapest disc brakes you can find, and I’m totally ok with that, because these brakes work fantastic for the type of riding I do with that bike.
I believe I paid 100 euros for a set, which included the levers, calipers and hoses. The main reason why Magura has been able to create such a high-quality product for such a low price is because of the material.
The brakes and levers are almost made entirely from carbotecture, which is a name Magura coined themselves for a fiberglass-reinforced polymer. They borrowed the technology from their own work in the automotive industry and applied it to their brakes.
It shares some similarities to carbon fiber with respect to its low weight and that fiber alignment allows for additional strength in places where that will be under a lot of stress. The most important aspects for us is that it’s very strong, very light, very durable, and best of all, very cheap.
And if that isn’t enough, the Magura 7.S brake pads are outstanding as well, offering long-lasting life, little squeal, and an allround great performance in varied conditions, from dry to wet.
The overall shape of the 2-finger lever is solid, with a modulation sitting somewhere between SRAM and Shimano. The brake lever is made from the same carbotecture material and offer markedly more flex than the aluminium levers (or carbon) used in the rest of Magura’s lineup.
It doesn’t mean the MT Sport offer less braking power because of it, and you probably won’t notice it because it sits at the end of the lever pull, when you’ll be braking hard on a trail section that demands your attention, not a bit of flex in a brake lever.
The SRAM Level Ultimates are all carbon fiber levers, red anodized pistons, and titanium bolts. In other words, they look as premium as can be. The same cannot be said for the carbotecture finish, which looks decidedly plastic and have a dull sheen.
But anyone who knows anything about brakes, will not be able to deny the single most important thing these brakes do very well. Which is stopping your bike when you want to. And you can spice up the piston with a custom-colored ring kit if you want to.
- Best budget hydraulic disc brakes on the market.
- Carbotecture finish lacks that true premium feel. Levers offer mushy feel at end of lever stroke.
Magura MT4
One step up from the entry-level MT Sport sits the Magura MT4. In terms of braking power, they are the same, and I would argue that one is as good as the other. There are a number of slight differences though, which might see you buying these instead of the cheaper MT Sport version.
In terms of overall looks, they are almost indistinguishable. The MT4 are slightly lighter at 230 grams versus the 241 for the MT Sport.
Should you need it the MT4 offers a rotatable tube connection, which makes cable management a bit easier.
In terms of braking performance, expect nothing different from the same carbotecture body operating a 2-piston setup. The brake master is made from the same stuff, with an aluminum lever operating the cylinder. The aluminum lever does away with the mushy feel of the carbotecture lever fromt the MT Sport, which might justify the price for some.
The brake pads are the Performance version instead of the Sport version, offering an ever so slight edge in braking power and wet condition riding.
Unless you need an alternative cable routing, there’s little if nothing to buy these brakes over the already fantastic MT Sport. But they do offer a more distinct brake feel courtesty of the aluminum lever.
- Offers rotatable tube connectors. No mushy feel because of aluminum levers.
- MT Sport is a cheaper alternative offers similar braking performance
Hope Tech 4 X2
The design philosophy of Hope is the best in the business, which results in some of the best bicycle components worth your money. The Hope Tech 4 X2 is no exception, with the best-looking XC brakes offering everything you’d want in a lightweight package, and then some.
The gorgeous-looking brake lever offers both tool-free lever adjustment and tool-free bite-point adjustment, rotating on sealed bearings. It’s a dimpled two-finger lever blade made from aluminum, which is basically Hope’s go-to material since they can CNC everything in-house. Something which they are known for.
Although the lever has been made longer than its predecessor, and the addition of the bearing pivot should reduce friction, lever action is definitely not as light as some of the single-finger options out there.
The caliper is just as magnificently machined, resulting in a unibody design with above-average stopping power for XC brakes or lightweight trail riding brake.
Multiple anodized color options, besides a silver or black base color, are also a Hope trademark and add to its allure.
So what’s not to like? Very little besides the bleed process, which is not syringe-based, but rather uses a proprietary bleed-pot. It’s not more difficult or anything, but you will have to (re)learn how to bleed your brakes because of it. A small nuisance at most.
Another issue is the price, which is less than the most expensive brakes from the likes of SRAM, Magura, and Shimano however. And you undoubtedly get a longer-lasting brake, with more stopping power.
With all the other brands, I could always say that you’d be better off buying the specific brand’s cheaper alternative. It’s a breath of fresh air that Hope makes high-quality, distinct products for a certain riding discipline. And the Tech 4 X2 are simply their best XC brakes. No need to look any further.
- Superbly build, high-quality, no-nonsense XC brakes offering loads of stopping power in a number of color variations
- None
Specifications disc brakes for XC mountain bikes
Name | Price | pistons | caliper weight | oil | blade | brake master | caliper | reach adjust | tube connection | buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth 4-piston | 300 USD | 4 | 223 | DOT 5.1 | carbon | aluminum | aluminum | tool-free | banjo | |
SRAM Level Silver Stealth 4-piston | 195 USD | 4 | 255 | DOT 4 | forged aluminum | aluminum | aluminum | tool-free | banjo | |
SRAM Level T | 92 USD | 2 | 294 | DOT 4 | stamped aluminum | aluminum | aluminum | tooled | fixed | |
Shimano SLX BR-M7100 | 137 USD | 2 | 279 | mineral oil | forged aluminum | aluminum | aluminum | tool-free | banjo | |
Shimano XTR BR-M9100 | 325 USD | 2 | 194 | mineral | forged aluminum | magnesium | forged aluminum unibody | tooled | fixed | |
Magura MT8 SL | 279.9 EUR | 2 | 195 | mineral oil | carbon | carbotecture SL | forged aluminum unibody | tooled | banjo | |
Magura MT8 PRO | 179.9 EUR | 2 | 225 | mineral oil | aluminum | carbotecture SL | forged aluminum unibody | tool-free | banjo | |
Magura MT Sport | 59.9 EUR | 2 | 245 | mineral oil | carbotecture | carbotecture | carbotecture unibody | tooled | fixed | |
Magura MT4 | 89.9 EUR | 2 | 230 | mineral oil | aluminum | carbotecture | forged aluminum unibody | tooled | banjo | |
Hope Tech 4 X2 | 247 USD | 2 | 272 | mineral oil, DOT fluid | forged aluminum | aluminum | forged aluminum unibody | tool-free | banjo |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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