SRAM Brake Bleed Kit [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

A new set of brakes can make a world of difference and inspire you to ride harder than ever before. Setting them up though can be a daunting task without the proper tools and knowledge. Our friend Andrew recently upgraded and installed his new brakes with the SRAM bleed kit. See his review below! 

Introduction

I recently purchased SRAM G2 RSC brakes and a bleed kit from Worldwide Cyclery to upgrade the SRAM Level TLM brakes that I have used for the past 3 years on my Santa Cruz Tallboy. The TLMs have worked well but did not have enough braking power. I can repair nearly anything on my bike including taking apart the suspension linkage and re-greasing or replacing the bearings. Hydraulic brakes however have always intimidated me. The local bike shops are so backed up it would take weeks to get them to install these so I decided that I would take the plunge.

Installation

The bleed kit made the process very easy and fast with just a little online video instruction. The corrosive brake fluid was a concern as compared to Shimano’s mineral oil but it was not a problem. The SRAM G2’s are four-piston brakes and are much more powerful than the Level brakes. My main motivation for this is the 6 night, 7-day trip I will take with my son and a college roommate from Durango to Moab in August 2021. I weigh 185lbs and will be carrying a lot of extra weight with food, water and equipment so did not want to get in trouble with not being able to stop. I have not loaded the bike but with my usual kit, my riding confidence has improved substantially knowing I can scrub speed very quickly.

As usual, these items were shipped quickly and I would encourage anybody who is looking for more powerful brakes with great modulation to buy these and to buy the bleed kit so you can shorten the hoses and install them yourself.

Ride Prep

Since then I did a race on fast and flowing trails with very few roots and few rocks. The Maxxis DHF and Maxxis Ardent that I have been riding were overly aggressive with too much rolling resistance, although great on loose and steep trails. I have used Maxxis Rekons previously and found them aggressive enough for trail riding but faster rolling and lighter than the other tires. Worldwide had these in stock in my preferred 2.4 width and in skin walls! They arrived quickly with free postage via USPS Priority Mail, despite COVID-19 delays. This weekend’s project is to remove my Industry Nine wheels, remove the old tires, clean the rims and install new sealant and the new tires. Who doesn’t love how brand new tires smell, look and feel? I plan on these being my go-to for local riding, XC races, and the Colorado bike packing trip.

For the trip, I am not sure what the ideal bike is, or if there is an ideal bike. The ride can be mostly on dirt and gravel roads but there is an option for single track. Either way, I think my 120/110 front/rear travel and my tire choice will be fine. The next steps include buying one spare tire and a spare rear derailleur to take to share between me and my son. Luckily we both are running SRAM Eagle drivetrains and both riding on 29-inch wheels so sharing parts will be easier. The questions now are: should I take an extra chain or just a couple of master links and a few regular links, what seat and handlebar bags should we use, how many spare tubes and tire plugs do I carry, should I carry a drink supplement like Nuun tablets or Skratch, and should I attach bottle cages to our forks or use a backpack with bladder for all the water we are supposed to carry? So many decisions still to make...

Final Thoughts

Bleeding brakes may seem like a daunting task to take on yourself if you haven't done it before. The right tools are required but the process isn't as scary as you might think. Check out our detailed "how to" guide on bleeding Sram brakes to see step by step instructions.