Posted at: Mar 19, 2021
Which is better, Shimano's older generation higher grade brakes or the current lower grade brakes? This article examines Shimano's brake technology and the year they were released.
Table of contents
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First, let’s check out the technology used in Shimano’s brakes of the past.
Shimano’s latest brake technology is this SLR-EV. It is a conventional dual-pivot system, but with three fulcrum points for increased rigidity. The amount of pull on the brake lever is compatible with the NEW SUPER SLR.
The NEW SUPER SLR is an evolved version of the SUPER SLR, and when combined with the corresponding STI lever, it can provide strong braking power even with weak force.
It is different from the SLR-EV mentioned above, but the amount of brake lever pull is compatible with the SLR-EV.
This is the generation of Shimano’s dual-pivot brakes, often referred to as the old SUPER SLR because it is easily confused with the NEW SUPER SLR.
It requires more grip strength when braking than the NEW SUPER SLR.
Let’s take a look at each grade of road bike and see which brakes use each technology.
| Grades | SLR-EV | NEW SUPER SLR | OLD SUPER SLR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURA-ACE | BR-9000 or later | BR-7900 | BR-7800 or earlier |
| ULTEGRA | BR-6800 or later | BR-6700 | BR-6600 or earlier |
| 105 | BR-5800 or later | BR-5700 | BR-5600 or earlier |
| TIAGRA | - | BR-4600 or later | BR-4500 |
| SORA | - | BR-3500 or later | BR-3400 |
| SORA | - | BR-3500 or later | BR-3400 |
As of January 2021, only brakes of the 105 grade and above are compatible with the latest technology, SLR-EV; all brakes below TIAGRA, even the latest ones, stop at NEW SUPER SLR.
Although 105 is race-ready and preferred by hobby racers, it has been compatible with SLR-EV since the previous generation BR-5800, so this may be the reason why “if you are going to upgrade, at least go with 105”.
Next, let’s take a look at the current generation of Shimano brakes for road bikes and which technologies they use.
| Grades | SLR-EV | NEW SUPER SLR | 旧SUPER SLR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURA-ACE | BR-R9000 | - | - |
| ULTEGRA | BR-R8000 | - | - |
| 105 | BR-R7000 | - | - |
| TIAGRA | - | BR-4700 | - |
| SORA | - | BR-R3000 | - |
| CLARIS | - | BR-R2000 | - |
Shimano’s current generation of brakes are all NEW SUPER SLR or higher.
The 105 and above are the latest technology “SLR-EV”, but all other grades are NEW SUPER SLR. In this sense, we can say that the technology is “105 and above, and the rest”.
When buying brakes at a second-hand store, the question that comes to mind is: “older generation higher grade vs. current generation mid-range or lower grade”? That’s the question, isn’t it?
Let’s compare the current generation mid-grade and lower-grade brakes with the older generation upper-grade brakes.
First of all, the following is a comparison between the higher grade of one generation ago and the current grade.
| Grades | SLR-EV | NEW SUPER SLR | 旧SUPER SLR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURA-ACE | BR-9000 | - | - |
| ULTEGRA | BR-6800 | - | - |
| 105 | BR-5800 | - | - |
| TIAGRA | - | BR-4700 | - |
| SORA | - | BR-R3000 | - |
| CLARIS | - | BR-R2000 | - |
The 105 and above are already SLR-EV one generation before the current R generation, so even the older models are better brakes than the middle and lower grade brakes of the current generation.
If you don’t consider the condition of the parts, then a used 105 or higher brakes of the previous generation is a better buy than a new lower grade of the current generation.
So how does it compare to the brakes of the higher grade two generations ago?
| Grades | SLR-EV | NEW SUPER SLR | 旧SUPER SLR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURA-ACE | - | BR-7900 | - |
| ULTEGRA | - | BR-6700 | - |
| 105 | - | BR-5700 | - |
| TIAGRA | - | BR-4700 | - |
| SORA | - | BR-R3000 | - |
| CLARIS | - | BR-R2000 | - |
All are now NEW SUPER SLR. In other words, the current generation of mid- and lower-grade brakes can be viewed as “equivalent to the brakes two generations before the higher grade” in terms of technology.
Incidentally, the current generation of mid- and lower-grade brakes were released between 2015 and 2017, while the brakes two generations before the higher-grade brakes are products that were released between 2008 and 2010.
Considering the deterioration of the parts, it would be better to buy the current generation mid- and lower-grade brakes with equivalent technology than to buy brakes that are more than 10 years old.
I’ve been looking at the older generation of Shimano’s higher grade brakes and whether the current lower grade brakes are better.
In summary, here’s what we’ve learned
When you want to replace or upgrade your brakes, it is quite difficult to decide which parts to choose, but if you look at it from the perspective of the technology installed, it will be easier to choose.
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