Thank you for this video! Just replaced my Tektro Orion HD-M750 levers with SLX. Worked perfectly and has a way better feel now. The Tektro levers are so spongy and the bite point was so close to my handlebars. SLX feels firm and has a good bite feel. Didnt have the tools to cut or install new barbs so just used the existing cap. 100% would recommend doing this swap!
When I shortened my hoses on my siskiuT7 I also discovered the different olives on the Tektros….was extremely frustrating since I have a lifetime supply of the shimano olives. I ended up making it work but it was very difficult to get the olive over the hose. I did end up ordering the correct olives and since changed it out 😊
Thanks for this, i didnt want to replace the brakes but the lever is awful. Now its way better. I dont have tektro bleeding kit so I pushed the syringe to lever with the bleeding cup on, its messy but it worked.
I'm getting ready to do this! The brakes have always felt fine, but the levers suck. One question: Have you had any issues since? I'm kind of a freak about doing anything outside of stock. Running a Tektro barb and olive on a Shimano lever has me wondering if there has been any air leak issues or otherwise?
I did this today (front brake only as waiting on the other lever to be delivered still) and wow the difference is huge. With the Tektro levers I had loads of free stroke before I got any kind of bite, I pulled the lever literally all the way to the bar and as a result couldn't get full stopping power as I ran out of room to pull the lever. Now with an SLX lever I have a little free stroke, a much earlier bite and tonnes of stopping power, in fact it's going to take some getting used to because when they lock in it's almost too much power for met at 70kg. The modulation is much better as before I had about 60% of lever pull doing nothing, another 30% doing very little and the last 10% doing enough to being me to a stop slowly, now I have about 30% free stroke, 30-40% gradual modulation from some stopping power to tonnes, and although I can pull the lever pretty much to the bar when stationary, I don't think I'll be doing that whilst moving as it could send me OTB. Absolute game changer and it only cost me £70 for 2 levers whereas the other options I was looking at were full SLX (£220) or Magura MT5 Sport with new 2mm rotors (£200). It was also so easy to do as I kept the Tektro caps unlike Alex (my levers didn't even come with Shimano caps), I literally just took out the pads, added the bleed spacer, unscrewed the hose from the Tektro lever, screwed it into the SLX lever with an 8mm spanner and did a quick bleed.
Thank you very much for your comment, exactly the same thing happens to me with the Tektro levers, next week I will change them for DEORE ones and I will comment on the experience.
I appreciate the video very much as I cannot stand the original Tektro levers and I'm super stoked that you had good success replacing them. However when the ferrule is placed on the hose the tapered part should go into the lever with the flat end engaging with the nut.
excelente video mi Alex es el unico que vi que hace esta conversion en la Poligon, tambien are lo mismo, nada mas hay que ahorrar para comprar las manetas. Un saludo
I tried the following and it worked Tektro hoses & calipers Replace lever with Shimano XT8000 lever (From factory, BH90 silver barb), I used BH59 (gold barb) in view of the wider ID of tektro hose So what I have on now Tektro Hoses Tektro Caliper XT8000 lever with BH59 barb and olive on lever end (olives are the same between 90 and 59) I did not remove the hose on the caliper end as mines a lever damage from smashing into a tree so it's just a lever replacement
Just to make sure, as it was never mentioned - you have Tektro calipers (4 piston? 2?) and Tektro brake hose. And you attach Shimano levers instead of Tektro (2 piston model?) This is exactly what I'd like to do on my Giant Trance. The Tektro hose is bigger (both OD and ID) - did you use Tektro barb and olive or Shimano ones? Many thanks!
man I really like your attitude for not giving a f**k about what people say, the MTB community is filled with snowflakes who get problem with anything one might do!
You are confusing us, do you have SHIMANO brakes or do you have TEKTRO brakes ? you know they are different companies right ? Please be more clear and less confusing.
Thank you for this video! Just replaced my Tektro Orion HD-M750 levers with SLX. Worked perfectly and has a way better feel now. The Tektro levers are so spongy and the bite point was so close to my handlebars. SLX feels firm and has a good bite feel. Didnt have the tools to cut or install new barbs so just used the existing cap. 100% would recommend doing this swap!
Just done this, tektro 4p calipers with shimano xt levers, Use tektro hose olives and hose interface (screw in bit) and it works really well.
When I shortened my hoses on my siskiuT7 I also discovered the different olives on the Tektros….was extremely frustrating since I have a lifetime supply of the shimano olives. I ended up making it work but it was very difficult to get the olive over the hose. I did end up ordering the correct olives and since changed it out 😊
Thanks for this, i didnt want to replace the brakes but the lever is awful. Now its way better. I dont have tektro bleeding kit so I pushed the syringe to lever with the bleeding cup on, its messy but it worked.
just got done with this, great upgrade!
Thanks for this video, it is exactly what i am searching for 👍
I'm getting ready to do this! The brakes have always felt fine, but the levers suck. One question:
Have you had any issues since? I'm kind of a freak about doing anything outside of stock. Running a Tektro barb and olive on a Shimano lever has me wondering if there has been any air leak issues or otherwise?
I've been using the same fluid on my xt brakes 👍🏽
"We've had shiguras yes, but have you heard of shektros"
😅😅😅😅 Tekmano's sounds better.
Shimektro
I did this today (front brake only as waiting on the other lever to be delivered still) and wow the difference is huge. With the Tektro levers I had loads of free stroke before I got any kind of bite, I pulled the lever literally all the way to the bar and as a result couldn't get full stopping power as I ran out of room to pull the lever. Now with an SLX lever I have a little free stroke, a much earlier bite and tonnes of stopping power, in fact it's going to take some getting used to because when they lock in it's almost too much power for met at 70kg.
The modulation is much better as before I had about 60% of lever pull doing nothing, another 30% doing very little and the last 10% doing enough to being me to a stop slowly, now I have about 30% free stroke, 30-40% gradual modulation from some stopping power to tonnes, and although I can pull the lever pretty much to the bar when stationary, I don't think I'll be doing that whilst moving as it could send me OTB.
Absolute game changer and it only cost me £70 for 2 levers whereas the other options I was looking at were full SLX (£220) or Magura MT5 Sport with new 2mm rotors (£200). It was also so easy to do as I kept the Tektro caps unlike Alex (my levers didn't even come with Shimano caps), I literally just took out the pads, added the bleed spacer, unscrewed the hose from the Tektro lever, screwed it into the SLX lever with an 8mm spanner and did a quick bleed.
Thank you very much for your comment, exactly the same thing happens to me with the Tektro levers, next week I will change them for DEORE ones and I will comment on the experience.
I appreciate the video very much as I cannot stand the original Tektro levers and I'm super stoked that you had good success replacing them.
However when the ferrule is placed on the hose the tapered part should go into the lever with the flat end engaging with the nut.
excelente video mi Alex es el unico que vi que hace esta conversion en la Poligon, tambien are lo mismo, nada mas hay que ahorrar para comprar las manetas. Un saludo
Saludos!
Any update on how this has worked out.... Ive got my xt levers coming and cant wait to try this out.
All still perfect
@@MTBAlex Yep I did the same withe levers... Fitted galfer discs and pads. I'm loving it.
u put the same link gor the xt levers
I tried the following and it worked
Tektro hoses & calipers
Replace lever with Shimano XT8000 lever (From factory, BH90 silver barb), I used BH59 (gold barb) in view of the wider ID of tektro hose
So what I have on now
Tektro Hoses
Tektro Caliper
XT8000 lever with BH59 barb and olive on lever end (olives are the same between 90 and 59)
I did not remove the hose on the caliper end as mines a lever damage from smashing into a tree so it's just a lever replacement
No judgment I use off brand baby oil lol
I just got a Giant Trance with Tekrto Orion 4 piston brakes. I want 1 finger levers, I may do this myself! Thanks!
Just to make sure, as it was never mentioned - you have Tektro calipers (4 piston? 2?) and Tektro brake hose. And you attach Shimano levers instead of Tektro (2 piston model?) This is exactly what I'd like to do on my Giant Trance. The Tektro hose is bigger (both OD and ID) - did you use Tektro barb and olive or Shimano ones? Many thanks!
how does the lever feel? Does it feel like shimano breaks? instant power with short lever pulls?😮
Že naročil ročice shimano XT pa da vidimo. Če deluje je to ogromen prihranek.
Great video Alex. I had to subscribe.
Question: where do I find the tektro things you had to order or what are they called?
The round brass "things" that slide over the hose are called olives, Google "tektro olive"
Any idea if the shimano finned pads would fit the orion calipers?
i open both links and it is the same for the xt levers
Tekmano!
Shimektro .. 😅
man I really like your attitude for not giving a f**k about what people say, the MTB community is filled with snowflakes who get problem with anything one might do!
You are confusing us, do you have SHIMANO brakes or do you have TEKTRO brakes ? you know they are different companies right ? Please be more clear and less confusing.