Putting the BRAKES on | Shimano Deore SLX M7100 Hydraulic Brake Review and Installation Video

This video has been a long time coming... Its time to slow down and get control, something that has been lacking since the very beginning. So to clamp down on this problem #ProjectFuelEX is getting Shimano SLX M7100 2 piston hydraulic brakes. Upgrading from the Shimano MT401 brakes to these SLX M7100 brakes has made an enormous difference in just how well the bike feels to ride.
Keep an eye out for a full tutorial here soon on installing new brakes, but for now enjoy this video of the before and after experience with this hydraulic brake upgrade on my Trek Fuel EX.
Let me know what you think in the comments below & Don't forget to subscribe!!!
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[@Madbusop718]

Thanks for the great instructional video. Looking to build myself a good mtb and I have a complete SLX 11 speed drive train that has no more than 20 total hours of use so I decided to find some SLX brakes. Thanks again and stay blessed.

[@andreasapostolopoulos2131]

Awesome video dude! Keep it up! Something that I was looking for, for exactly those brakes and that type of bike!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Nice glad I could post the video at the right time. Love the fuel e x and the new brakes have really helped out too

[@teoandrew5620]

Thanks for another great video! I repair espresso machines and coffee equipment for a living so i really appreciate the up close technical details... Still waiting on my EX5 pre order.. I will probably upgrade the brakes down the road as well.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Nice congrats on the EX5. The brakes will be a worthy upgrade but overall the fuel EX platform is pretty darn nice

[@hosenozzle387]

The intro got me! Your videos are better then ever!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Haha, thank you!

[@octaviocordoliani9081]

Awesome job bro!🤘🏻

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Thanks!

[@whichdoctor4858]

Great video James!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Thanks!

[@jasonbradley6357]

Ya got me with the hook. Bravo!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Haha, awesome.

[@gethappycyclingcampingoutdoors]

Good video, I'm looking to upgrade to some SLX M7100.

[@RodPagador]

You made that cable replacement look easy. I had to buy the park tool to get it though the rear triangle... Never again.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

It is pretty easy. That took maybe one to two minutes. trick of the trade on a chain stay like that is to press the cable in all the way till it bottoms out. That will bow out the cable and then with your hook implement you can hook around it and you actually pull back on the cable until you get the end and you pull it straight out

[@richarde1355]

Super good video, and the camera quality is excellent! For those looking just for installation instruction (like me), jump to 2:30 in the video..

[@Gamebit450]

Nice I just put BR-M7120 4 piston SLX on my fuel and fricken LOVE EM!!!! The BL-M7100 Levers are super nice as well.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Nice I bet the four piston calipers are awesome

[@richardmadz5894]

Nice, I would like to convert my brake to SLX M7120 , I also have a fuel ex. What brake rotor did you used & also do i need to put mount adapter? Thanks & happy riding.

[@watdeneuk1]

Nice video! Where did you get the ispec EV clamp for your shifter?

[@ymenota2802]

Great video! Which adaptor do use between the frontfork and caliper?

[@jeffedmisten6576]

Question: why don't you follow your own advice from your other video and use the shift cable with the end cap hack to attach to the existing brake hose so you'll have a guide when you feed the new brake hose in from the back?

[@kjrayo18]

Dude your losing mad weight nice keep it up!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Thanks for the kind words. unfortunately not dropping like I wanted to but that's mostly because I haven't been able to get diet under control.

[@user-lp8fu8em1d]

Hi, thanks for vid, do you have feeling about not enough power or modulation of this 2 pot brakes? I have fs bike 29er short travel, I wanted to know from you if 2pot brakes on the front are enough, or is there a need for 4pot brakes? I wonder if it makes sense to overpay for 4por brakes, I ride roughly the same tracks.

[@alexmalone1642]

I love this brakes!I put it to my Merida 120 400 😇

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Sweet!

[@harrygrimley4352]

I was looking at the martin 7. Any thoughts?

[@JogBird]

i have these on my top fuel and they work well, i find the ispec connected shifter needs to be tightened every few rides

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

We shall see. Prior to this bike I had run sram on all my others and the Matchmaker system was bullet proof. I hope my I-spec setup is too

[@andreylogic8757]

Hey saw your video which was great and clean. and i wonder which adapter did you use and to what front shifter was it paired to. Bought same brakes and so far loving them! But that second point of contact just messed up my shifter position and temporarily its in an awkward place. Thanks!

[@rated89]

So when the kids coming James cause the dad jokes are outta control 🤣

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

AAAAAayeee

[@poadministrator715]

what adaptor is it from the shifter that you change thanks???

[@MrBobswire]

Thanks for this food for thought, I'm thinking of getting a set.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

100% worth it

[@stanleychan1340]

Any chance I can get a part number for that i spec EV adapter for the shifter? I've been looking all over to convert my Deore 12s shifter to the i spec EV clamp!

[@johnildineorquejo8285]

+1

[@saschaliggieri6405]

I've just got SLX brakes as well and I can't find that adapter to save my life! Edit: Here the part code for the adapter Y0GV98050, you're welcome!

[@MrGodspeed17]

Hey James, what part is used on your shifter to attach it to the I Spec Ev? Im looking to do the same with my m6100 shifter and m6120 breaks.

[@watdeneuk1]

I believe part nr is Y0L898040, you can ask your lbs. I can't find it myself unfortunately. You also need integration nut Y0GT10000.

[@mohammedajmalpk4738]

Trek duel sport 3 video waiting.......🔥

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Soon I hope

[@cstrike105]

How to know if the amount of mineral oil is enough in the brakes?

[@fra93ilgrande]

Shimano SLX 😎🔝

[@ac5737]

James this feels like a ChrisFix video and I mean it as a compliment. Awesome stuff.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Much appreciated, ChrisFix is a legend

[@Manwichman]

Quick tip to bed in brakes easier... Apply consistent light pressure to bake lever and pedal pedal pedal. Voila! Bedded 👍

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

👍

[@micaelpereira953]

Nice intro, man! It seemed something really bad! I have SRAM Guide R, I like the modulation but they are not very powerful but I don't have much complain. But I don't ha e other reference than V-brake. How do you compare Guide R with these SLX? Thank you

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Are they the early version of the guide are? The early ones the levers would get a little messed up where the break wasn't quite as powerful due to bleeding issue in the lever. You may want to get them bled and they'll feel better

[@micaelpereira953]

@@Jamesthebikeguy they have the bleeding edge already.

[@Paloloyski]

Where can i buy the adapter for shifter ?

[@peterpage9017]

Why didn't you reuse the same brake hoses?

[@ryanm.8190]

Hi James, where can i find that ispec ev adapter? thanks.

[@ryanm.8190]

I have a clamp type m6100 shifter and m6100 brake levers. So I kinda like to replace the clamp to ispec ev. :)

[@mikewhite5794]

What I spec adapter are you using and what drive train do you have?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Shimano Deore SLX, and it's just the oem I-spec mount for the shifter

[@oldmanjeepingandbiking9621]

Going from shimano to shimano wouldnt it have worked to unscrew the brake cable from the old brakes and leave it in place already routed and at the correct length and use it on the new ones?

[@VodI2]

Nope, the cheap Shimano use a lower quality hose. Dont use that with slx or xt.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Well that and the connectors are not the same

[@shiftintohigh5564]

How were the brakes? “Dont know, never touched em.” - Steve McQueen

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

HAHAHA

[@saschaliggieri6405]

For everyone who is looking for the part code of the adapter that he use in the video, here you have it Y0GV98050

[@rep.reviews2143]

Where did you get the calliper from?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Local bike shop

[@TheRoyaleOne1]

Which brand oilslik grip are u using..

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Supacuz

[@yourfatson8262]

I was riding downhill earlier on my fuel ex 7 and it has those same brakes and they really do have almost no stopping power I’ll probably upgrade to the xt brakes

[@angelo0492]

I got the same isseu with my ex 8 i now have magura mt5 that works way better 4 piston brake power

[@yourfatson8262]

Knives yeah I’ve been thinking of upgrading either the brakes or the rotors and to metal pads mine are resin only

[@angelo0492]

Bills beer Is good i have done both mt5 brakes and the magura disc mdr-p perfect combo

[@turbod15]

How did u feed cable back in

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

This is Hydraulic so no cables.

[@dziadek9975]

Super 👍🖐️

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Cheers 🥂

[@sangramchavan4816]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍

[@kndvds1492]

out of stock because of covid... If everybody would get back to work you could have had the black ends.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I wish it was that simple.

[@bradbell4055]

God video but you made me cuss thought you were quit

[@duoxm6713]

Music was kinda loud when you were talking.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Fair. I am guessing you were using headphones?

[@duoxm6713]

@@Jamesthebikeguy Yep.

[@Jacob99174]

Once the hat went backwards and piano music started, it was time..........

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Engage full BRO

[@Jacob99174]

Brakes never stood a chance. Too many options on the market, its been nice. Its not me, its you....

[@boomclan8398]

what’s this

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

A video.

[@boomclan8398]

Jamesthebikeguy haha

[@ellerybice3787]

🫡🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼

[@Ozqu]

Im 2 years late, but youre using the wrong type of rotors

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

2 years too late to tell me something that's not accurate. I'm using resin pads in the brakes on resin compatible rotors. You'd be correct if it was metallic pads, but alas it is not.

[@commet1]

Thumbs down - no real information on adjusting the brakes, had to move on

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Thanks for moving on and taking the time to comment