For 2011 Shimano has split the XTR range into two very distinct but still complementary ranges labelled 'Trail' and 'Race'. The best part though is that the XTR trail is the yin to the XTR Race's yang, and together mountain biking's first family of components offers a broad matrix of fully interchangeable options to tube your ride.
Race Brake Systems
Underpowered brakes lead to defensive riding technique and, ultimately, to slower lap times. Enter the new XTR Race brake, which encourages racers to attack technical downhill sections with confidence, leaving the competition squealing and squawking in the dust.
How? First off, they produce 110 percent of the power of their predecessors while shedding precious grams at the same time, so they’re as viable a race-bike pick as ever. Throw in ergonomically re-engineered lever pivots and XTR Race lays on that power with single-finger effort.
But power is pointless if it can't be maintained. Heat buildup is the enemy of any brake system, and IceTech features including aluminum-core rotors, stock aluminum-backed brake pads and the industry's first full ceramic caliper piston all help dump heat and maintain consistent power. For Super-D courses or for heavier riders, brakes can be easily upgraded with Radiator pads (standard on XTR Trail).
The key factor for racers is confidence—the confidence to win, and the confidence to lay off the brakes, knowing they'll be there when they're needed, every time. |