All New SRAM/Avid XX and XX World Cup Brakes Revealed

SRAM just announced all-new XX and XX World Cup  (XXWC) hydraulic disc brakes. Borrowing heavily from the recent Elixir 7 & 9 redesign, the new magnesium lever body is similar between the two brakesets and gets the revised bleed port location and air trap to improve bleed performance. From there, they did what they always do for their top-level spec and shaved grams.

The new XX levers appear to have a lower profile Pad Contact Adjust bezel and tooled reach adjust rather than the Elixir’s knob. The XXWC lever does away with the Pad Contact Adjust to save weight, and the master cylinder body is much sleeker and tapered toward the lever pivot (pics below). If you’re not using the MatchMaker mounts, the XX clamp is a little more chiseled, too.

The real newness comes in the calipers. Both get all new castings, and both do away with their CPS (Caliper Positioning System – the small cupped washers that make lining up the calipers easy that have come with Avid brakes forever). The alloy XX calipers are essentially the same as the new Elixirs, but the mounting surface is extended slightly to make up for the gap otherwise filled by the CPS washers. Claimed weight is 289g per wheel.

The XXWC, however, gets a sleeker magnesium caliper with larger pistons for a system weight (claimed, front 160mm) of 270g per wheel. That’s 88g lighter than the new Elixir 9 and 18g lighter than the current XX brakeset…and puts it just under the Ashima’s we just reviewed.

More pics and the official PR after the break…

PRESS RELEASE: The newly redesigned XX and XX World Cup incorporates race-proven technology and improved performance all while shaving off precious weight. XX is just as comfortable on the World Cup podium as it is on your Saturday trail ride. Join us in welcoming the new standard of lightweight power, control, and reliability to the AVID family.

XX

(Shown below, right) With a complete overhaul of the internals, an updated TaperBore system and new forged aluminum caliper, XX ventures into the trail riding category while maintaining its cross country racing heritage.

(Editor’s Note: Compared to the XXWC lever below, the XX looks downright beefy, appropriate for the growth into Trail…much like XTR now has their “Trail” version).

The patented TaperBore closure system is experiencing a true evolution through refinement. We have developed a new bladder material, simplified the bleed port, and designed a new air-trap feature that makes the brake easier than ever to bleed.

• All new internals with high volume reservoir
• New Air-Trap Feature
• New Forged Aluminum Caliper
• New Forged Magnesium lever body
• Non-CPS caliper for increased weight savings
• New HSX rotor 140/160/180mm or HS1 140/160/180/200mm

XX WORLD CUP

(Shown above, left) With an industry leading strength to weight ratio, the 270 gram XX World Cup defines power and control in a lightweight package. Combining an updated TaperBore system, a new two-piece forged caliper, and oversized pistons, gives the rider more stopping power with less lever pull.

• New two-piece forged magnesium caliper
• Non-CPS caliper for increased weight savings
• New HSX rotor 140/160/180mm

MSRP PRICING:
MSRP USD   XX: $404 / XXWC: $404 – Availability July 2011