SRAM G2 RSC Hydraulic Disc Brake Set [Rider Review]

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Most would think that having a great suspension setup or a dialed tire setup would be the most confident inspiring components on a mountain bike. Arguably having a good brake setup is more important than anything else on the bike. Our friend Andy shares his thoughts on the SRAM G2 RSC Hydraulic Disc Brake Set. Check it out! 

Overview

If you are reading this review on the new SRAM G2 RSC Hydraulic disc brake set most likely you only have 2 questions that you really want to know the answers to. I’m sure you’ve already looked at 5 different YouTube reviews and read 5 different reviews by 5 different companies trying to sell you a new set of disk brakes for your Enduro or Trail mountain bike. So let me tell you straight up and in a very direct way so that you can feel good about making a solid decision that you will be happy with 6 months down the road. First off, do the SRAM G2 RSC’s really work like all the reviews say they do? Frig yes! After installing the new SRAM G2 RSC brakes, bed in the brakes properly and then go find a nice downhill section of your favorite trail and do a bomb run with your friends. Yeehaw, yahoo, good fun. Remember that one tree of death that sticks out on that blind curve in the trail? Yea, the one that you always either slam your shoulder into or else it grabs your handlebars and you do a perfect endo and face plant in the mud? Yea, the one you always have to slow way down a long way so you wouldn’t crash and burn when you hit it for the 100th time because you were going too fast and definitely out of control and couldn’t stop or slow down enough in time?

Right away, blasting into the curve with the SRAM G2 RSC hanging on your bars you'll feel the difference and notice that you’re not smashing the brake handle flat against the handlebars and dragging your feet as you approach the tree. Oh yea, you are actually under control and flying by the tree of death as your buddies call out for you to wait up for them. While you are waiting for your buddies to catch up with you at the bottom take a minute to fine tune and dial in the reach adjustment of the handles of the G2 RSC’s to get the perfect reach for a one finger lock down, teeth grinding death grip. No tools necessary for this adjustment. A quick turn of the adjustment screw with your hand and you are ready to ride. After adjusting the reach quickly adjust the contact setting of the pads to get the perfect amount of modulation for those long snot flying, eyes watering downhill butt kicker runs.

Once again, no tools necessary it only takes a few turns of the adjustment dial and you’re set to ride.

When your buddies finally catch up you’ll have everything dialed in casually tell your buddies that they got to do another run down that same downhill section with you again. This time at the top you can drop the bomb right from the start and blast that trail with confidence knowing that you can hang on to the handle bar grips with 4 fingers and let your middle finger do all of the stopping and slowing down that you need to prevent an epic crash and burn. Don’t worry about your fingers slipping off the brake handles because the handles are sweetly curved to cradle your finger like it’s being held on with an old fashion toe strap.Oh yeah baby, rock n roll this is big time! Don’t forget to ask your friends, “What took them so long to get to the bottom?” The second question you are probably thinking about is it hard to get the brakes installed on your bike and working properly? To make it easy on yourself go get your 10 year old brother or the kid next door and tell him you are going to teach him how to work on a mountain bike. Really, it’s very simple and straightforward. Most of all the young guy will think you are the greatest for teaching him and letting him work on your bike. You will need a SRAM Bleeding Edge tool kit and some DOT 5.1 brake fluid to bleed the brakes if you have to cut the hydraulic lines. The G2 RSC’s already come completely assembled and have been factory bleed if you don’t need to cut the lines.

Bleeding the G2 RSC’s once again is very simple to do by using the SRAM bleed port on the calipers. Follow the instructions that come with the kit or watch the video from SRAM Tech, MTB Bleeding Edge Brake Bleed. If you have internal routed brake lines on your bike looking into the Park Tool IR-1.2 Internal Routing Cable kit which will make the job so much more easier. Look for the review that I did on it where you found this one I was riding SRAM’s R Guide brakes on my TREK Remedy 8 prior to installing the new SRAM G2 RSC brakes on it. Yes, I grew to like the R Guides but the G2 RSC’s are really a step up in comfort and overall braking power. I especially like the contact pad adjustment feature which allows you to dial in a personalized touch to get exactly the amount of modulation that best suits your riding style. No need to over bleed or under bleed the brakes to get the feel you want.

Final Thoughts

In the first few minutes of casual riding I was able to feel the difference in stopping power of the SRAM G2 RSC brakes. On the first truly downhill run I was smiling and laughing because these things were working great. Besides they look good also. Unfortunately, my bike looks good but I’m still just as ugly as before. Last words- it’s a good buy, you’ll be stoked. Go ride!