It has only been two years since Avid introduced the new X0 Trail four-piston disc brakes for all-mountain to enduro use. This makes it all the more surprising that the new Guide brake family is already replacing the existing Trail brakes, and there will be three new four-piston disc brakes under the name Guide to replace the previous Trail models. The special feature: For the first time, the Guide series will not be marketed under the Avid brand, but directly as Sram Guide from June this year.
More reliable thanks to new lever technology
With the help of a completely new brake lever technology and a new brake disc design, the new Guide family should require less maintenance than the familiar Trail brakes, be more stable and even easier to modulate. Frequent bleeding and excessive idle travel at the lever should therefore be a thing of the past. Distortion of the brake disc under heavy loads should also no longer be a problem thanks to the new disc design (a problem that BIKE has already criticised several times in brake tests).
Perfect modulation
Thanks to a transmission ratio in the brake lever (Swinglink), the free travel has been reduced without compromising modulation or the pressure point. With the help of three times the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir, the system should work more reliably and ensure constant braking conditions, regardless of the wear condition of the pads. In addition, a specially positioned hole is designed to ensure insensitivity to air in the system and increase the reliability of the brake.
Price and weight
The Guide will be available in three models with different adjustment options from 115 to 177 euros. At 375 grams, the top model Guide RSC is said to be 10 grams heavier than an X0 Trail.
The first test rides at the presentation in Moab were very promising. More information and pictures can be found in BIKE 6/2014, on newsstands from 6 May.
