MTX Braking Red Label Race vs Gold Label HD

[@Utaheyelid]

These are my go to pads. So quiet and very durable. Once I tried them on one bike, I had to switch them all out.

[@Noondog]

Amazing pads. I am running the gold label in my sram code brakes. The power and bite is hardcore and what I crave. I just did a successful run down King Kong trail in virgin UT with a new set of these pads in my YT Capra and there was no doubts in my braking performance. No effort bedding them in. Install and go. Amazing.

[@jessehill3780]

Used reds for about a year and liked em but have switched to gold simply because the extra bite is more confidence inspiring on steep terrain using Sram Code RSC which already have a tone of natural modulation. Downside is the golds definitely make more noise until heated up, maybe more so than stock. Once warm they’re great. My perfect pad would be the bite of gold but the silence of red, as for fade neither have heat fade issues for me but I have significantly less arm pump with gold since I don’t have to pull the lever as hard. And I’m not a Clydesdale or even that extreme a rider I just feel the golds work better in the case of the code brakes.

[@mtxbraking]

Hi Jesse - if you're getting pretty much any-noise-at-all with the Gold Label HD, email or call us and we'll talk you through a process to reset those rotors so they don't do that. The Red Label gets all the hype because they are so quiet, but the Gold Labels are BARELY a step behind in terms of silence too. That trait just gets over-shadowed from the hype around the Red Label. Codes DO seem to gel better with the Gold Label.

[@jessehill3780]

@@mtxbraking these are fairly new rotors on one bike and new on another. Both do it when first braking downhill cold. The reds on the rear did it a little but went away faster (like first brake) the gold take a few brake efforts before they warm up. I don’t really think there is anything that can be done to be honest and just seems like the pads make noise until they are in their temp operating range.

[@mtxbraking]

@@jessehill3780 yes there is something you totally can do, and if you were local I'd tell you to drop your rotors off and we would do it for you. Any noise at all, warm or cold, isn't normal.

[@jessehill3780]

@@mtxbraking ok so what’s the preparation recommended then because even the e bike with new rotors (hs2) and golds does it on the rear

[@mtxbraking]

@@jessehill3780 email us Jesse. You have something going - it’s not normal and even with new rotors, random things can happen with any brake system. Email us and we will relay the prep process.

[@LEGENDofBEANY]

Hello there!! I’ve been recommended to sue these pads ofer my typical shimano pads. The clanking of my front pad is driving me insane. My only reservation is that I will lose some bite. That said, I’m down to try them as long as I don’t incur lots of modulation as I like a bite (hence shimano)… may I have a little reassurance? 😅 Going with gold BTW. Have others had success with shimano brakes, rotors? Thank you!!!!!

[@mtxbraking]

Hello. No, that is not the case - you will not lose the bite with the Gold Label HD ("bite" and anything you feel at the lever is always subjective regardless). It WILL feel different, you WILL have more modulation up front, but they're very progressive and will ramp-up very strongly, and produce top-level power. In a controlled environment on our dyno, the Gold Label makes just as much top-end power as a metallic, but we always encourage people to get away the frame of mind that you need a dump-truck-load of power up front. Control equals speed that you can carry through your corners. And as far as "others having success" - we've sold well over 150k sets of these & most major retailers in the US stock them; I feel like that speaks to the success of others. You're certainly not the first one! Hope this helps.

[@LEGENDofBEANY]

@@mtxbraking I very much appreciate the response. I will give it a go. Thank you!

[@wasupwitdat1mofiki94]

I've been using the Red Label pads on my road bike with Dura-Ace calipers. I have approximately 1500 miles on them and I noticed a lot of brake dust when I was cleaning my bike. I pulled the pads to inspect them and clean everything and was petty amazed that they show little signs of wear. There is still a lot of pad left. I've never gotten that kind of performance out of the Shimano pads. The red Label pads have been quiet and stopping power meets my expectations. I am a firm believer that if you want good brake pads go with a company that specializes in making them. Shimano has really missed it with their pads and those fins on their pads just seems like a gimmick IMO. Because these pads wear so good I have not gotten the grooves in my rotors either. I will never consider using anything other than MTX going forward.

[@robbwilliams7885]

Anybody ever tell you that you have a striking resemblance to that Bikers Edge guy? 😉

[@Danwhit5]

Is it best to use the same front and rear? Or can you combo them? I.e. gold front / red in rear, etc

[@mtxbraking]

Yes, combining the compounds is pretty popular and serves the riders who like to fine-tune their brakes front to rear. Example: the most common mix is Gold Label up front to max-out the power up front and Red Label in back to boost modulation and help you maintain momentum through corners.

[@Danwhit5]

@@mtxbraking thank you for the insight! Excited to try em out!

[@darrinkulyk9560]

Thinking Red/Gold Red/Gold😎

[@Montezuma0]

@@mtxbrakingDoes it make sense to have both red and gold in each caliper?

[@pitgrillersmx3237]

I use xt rotors on my trek rail ebike with m8120 and i really go fast going down. Gold should be the way to go. What do i need to do on my rotors to bed in the new pads. Any advice.

[@mtxbraking]

Email us at [e-mail] and we'll send you our suggested process.

[@BoshJeach]

If I go from red to gold or vice versa should I clean my rotors or is the pad compounds similar enough? Thanks!

[@mtxbraking]

You should be fine to throw in the other compound and go. We have a rotor-prep-process that we need to post to our website which we recommend if you want to reset the rotors before swapping compounds but in most cases you’ll be fine. Expect to go through a short bedding process though: several successive decelerations from 15-20mph but *no harsh stops*. Firm, even and steady pulls of the lever.

[@BoshJeach]

@@mtxbraking I'll be on the lookout for it! Made the mistake of not cleaning the rotors on my RSCs when I swapped reds in recently and oh boy did I regret it. Next up to test will be my TRP DHRs 😎 & going to try both red and gold. Thanks for the quick response.

[@mtxbraking]

@@BoshJeach Email us and we'll send you our preferred method.

[@BCursed2012]

I was running reds on my Saints for a few years- loved the braking. But the two piece rotors would get mottled and warp under extended braking. LBS said the aluminum core of the rotor was getting crushed and not dissipate the heat. Is there any truth to that? I’m back to standard Shimano pads but Don’t like them.

[@mtxbraking]

Sorry that we just-saw this today, but we have never heard this before and it's worth-noting that the very brake pad you're using is our top seller. Our compound will manage the heat just fine under any of the tests we have conducted. But one *major* thing to consider - move away from those rotors. You do not need to use them just because you're on a Shimano system. I would highly suggest using a thicker 2.0mm rotor if you're having issues. Email us through our website and we can get a discussion going to help steer you in the right direction.

[@BCursed2012]

@@mtxbraking thank you. I wasnt happy with the Shimano pads, so I switched back to Reds up front and Golds out back, but switched to TRP 2 piece rotors. So far so good, but I will do as you suggest and go to your website to determine the right rotors and switch up if needed.

[@mtxbraking]

@@BCursed2012 I'll just cut to the chase - grab the SRAM HS2 rotors when its time for new ones. They are smooth, simple, thicker than the standard 1.8mm. TRP are good as well, but if you're having heat issues, you will benefit from the 2.0mm rotors.

[@NoBrakes23]

I run Maguras "Trail" style, (four piston front, two piston rear,) so I'm either running reds, or golds front and something else rear. (currently Gold front/Jagwire rear on the hardtail, and all reds are going into the full sus trail bike.) I'm a super clyde, so if I like the reds, I'll just switch to those and deal with them dying sooner under my fat ass.

[@darrinkulyk9560]

I Have golds in the front and Reds in the back . Saints 220/203 I like the Reds abit more after 3000km . I Ride Vancouver Daily

[@IMac8939]

Any UK/EU Retailers I can buy them from and I noticed TRP is not listed yet I can see they are fitted on a set of them so which ones fit TRP Trial Evo calipers ?

[@mtxbraking]

We are working on an EU solution and have one in-process. TRP uses the same figment as Shimano - look up GL131 or RL131 and you’ll see the TRP DHR model listing in the drop down menu and detailed list.

[@IMac8939]

@@mtxbraking Hopefully UK after that

[@kevingorzny]

@@IMac8939 ideally both will get going at the same time. Working on it.

[@Cajo22]

Definitely an EU solution is urgently needed!! I bought 2 sets of Gold ones and took ages arriving here in Portugal!😓 US postal services + National customs = Despair 🤯