Shimano have revamped the Race brake to pack proven XTR performance into a lighter package to create an extremely competitive cross-country brake.
The most obvious change is that the little, deeply bent single-finger lever is now a carbon fibre composite rather than cold forged alloy. However, the slightly darker shade of the new brake is a clue that it's now magnesium alloy. Together these changes slice 21g off each brake, putting the Race comfortably mid-pack among its premium race peers.
Power is unchanged with a reassuringly strong effect from even a small amount of lever effort thanks to ServoWave - a leverage-altering cam. Once you're used to the change in piston speed during the stroke it's a well-controlled brake for tip-toeing down sketchy trails.
The heat-eating steel/alloy/steel sandwich RT98 Ice Tech rotor is the default option (brake-only is £170/AU$324.45), but there's an RT99 Freeza option with further cooling fins too. For more hardcore use, the 50g heavier XTR Trail gets finned pads, but has a lower-tech aluminium lever and body.
The double-barrelled piston and reservoir layout are easy to bleed, and Shimano brake reliability was unanimously rated the best by our shop mechanics. Spare sintered pads are included with the brake.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
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