Shimano

SLX Disc Brakes

As mountain bikers, it's easy to appreciate a fantastic set of brakes. However, once on the trail, a disappointing experience has dire consequences. Thankfully, though, Shimano's BR-M675 SLX Disc Brakes have all of the trail-taming power of its top-tier XTR offerings, only in a package that's more accommodating for the rest of us 'non-pros.' So, whether you want to call it value, more bang-for-your-buck, or logic, selecting the new SLX disk brakes simply makes sense.

If you think that the compact lever body of the SLX brakes looks nearly identical to its XTR sibling, you'd be right. And while the XTR brakes enjoy a few weight-reducing measures that save around 50 grams over the SLX offering, SLX borrows the key features that make the XTR brake so compelling. Namely, SLX features the same compact lever body, one-finger ergonomics, and Servo-Wave lever action, all of which combine to provide just as much stopping power as its big brother. And when comparing SLX to the XT stoppers, the differences become even more negligible. SLX loses the chromed finish, as well as the free-stroke adjuster that's found on the XT lever. That's where the differences end.

The compact one finger lever places the pivot closer to the handlebar than previous Shimano brakes. This increases the comfort of the lever, while simultaneously reducing hand fatigue. The Servo-Wave lever design provides a greater degree of pad movement in the beginning of the lever stroke, which provides the brakes with a firm feel. Deeper into the lever stroke, where the brake pad engages the rotor, the degree of pad movement is reduced. Basically, this provides excellent modulation, which you'll be thankful for, since these stoppers have tons of power on tap.

And since overheating is the mortal enemy of disc brakes, the caliper gets the same two 22mm diameter ceramic pistons as the XT version. These oversized ceramic pistons were chosen for their heightened resistance to heat. Meanwhile, the stock sintered brake pads are well-tasked at managing heat buildup. However, if you regularly find yourself descending for an hour or more at a time, these are easily upgradeable to Shimano's IceTech finned pads. The IceTech pads employ radiator-style cooling fins that enhance the heat dissipation. Although, for most users, the stock pads will provide more than enough heat-resistance and plenty of power.

As with previous generations of Shimano brakes, the SLX brakes run on Shimano's propriety blend of environmentally friendly mineral oil, rather than the caustic DOT fluid found in many other disc brakes. Home mechanics will rejoice, as this takes the hazard out of brake service, such as shortening brake lines or the occasional bleed. Speaking of which, Shimano includes a spare barb and olive. So, you're able to shorten your brake lines in order to keep your cable routing nice and clean.

The Shimano BR-M675 SLX Disc Brakes are sold individually as both a front and rear and in the color Silver. Please note that these are sold without rotors or brake adapters. So, we advice you to choose the appropriate sized rotors and corresponding adapter.