New MTB or ROAD Shimano ROTORS ??? RT-CL800 rotors vs MT800 - XTR, GRX, Ultegra, Freeza

Available in 180 and 203 mm, the new Ultegra Road/ GRX Gravel RT-CL800 and CL900 #rotor from #Shimano blur the line between roan, #MTB and #gravel . Here they are next to MT800, the MTB XT equivalent. XTR has the CL800 listed as well.

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⌚ Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:11 Why MT800 alternative?
01:59 New rotor design
03:32 Lock Ring, compatibility & install
04:16 Weight vs MT800
05:12 ROAD or MTB rotors?
05:38 Alternatives, conclusions.

My channel is not sponsored. All opinions are my own, 100% honest. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase and it's no additional cost to you, I appreciate your support!

[hardmtnbiker]

I built up a custom gravel wheel set for my gravel bike with CKing CL hubs so I needed CL rotors. Previously I’ve always used 6 bolt rotors. So I bought the Dura-Ace/XTR CL900. They’re high quality and have never been noisy. The required aftermarket lock rings, the Dura-Ace lock rings don’t work on my Chris King rear hub. I bought Wolf Tooth external notch lock rings and they work fine, plus they are blue ano so they look really nice too.

[ontariorob]

Timely video! I was trying to figure all this out yesterday. I'm considering Ashima Ai2's but will need to dig deeper with other product lines.

[cegalleta]

Shimano should release 2mm or 2.1mm freeza rotors for mountainbiking, that'd solve the warping and the overheating and also provide more durability.

[zdravo]

Well I have brand new RT-MT900 rotors and brand new resin pads with fins. On longer descent if I hit brakes harder I can notice that the rotor expands and touches pads, causing well known sound which I personally hate. I tried to algin calippers perfectly and I did it but no matter what I do it acts the same. So I got brand new Galfer Wave rotors and Galfer advanced pads (without fins, red color). This new combination works perfectly and no any sounds at all.

[alexdi]

Great summary. Keen to see if the new ones stay true. My RT800 Ultegra rotors never did, very annoying. Favorite rotors so far for XC use are still Ashima Ai2.

[anthonyhebert-trudeau]

I rode Shimano Icetech or Freeza rotors for a long time for road and MTB with my Shimano brakes but one day I tried simple Magura Storm HC which are 2mm thick and never looked back. The Steel-Aluminium-Steel construction on the Shimano rotors really isn't as stiff as it should be and these rotors warp like cheese when things get a bit hot. Also, the Magura Storm are much cheaper.

[glennmorgan]

Another interesting vid thank you!!! I really like the look of those freeza rotors my 203s are quiet as hell and they stop on a dime.looking forward to your thoughts on the new ones!!!Cheers!!!

[smithandshortdogs]

Ironically I have been running mtb rotors on my road bike, because they were cheaper and lighter.

[BrianKlausen]

Alternatives are nice - but I've settled on the Galfer Wave about half a year or so ago. They work tremendously well, at a very nice price point. Not as blingy as the Icetech rotors, but the price of the Shimano Icetechs certainly also reflect that, and the Galfers are not bad looking.
The Galfers in 6 bolt are some of the lightest I can find that I would also trust my life with anyway, and they work very well with stock pads for both my Maguras and Shimano brakes on my daugthers MTB.
On my bike I have them on a set of Elite Wheels that I bought with discount code from this channel - so thumbs up and thank you for the reviews!

[tippy]

I'm switching to TRP 42's since my 1 year old XTR rear rotor got contaminated after the 4 pot SLX caliper decided that it didn't want to hold its mineral oil anymore

[DoubleYouRandyBe]

If you look at the XT and XTR groupsets on the Shimano website and read the recommended brake rotors, the CL800 rotors are now recommended. So yes, the application range for 180/203 is probably primarily intended for MTB.

I have installed a 180mm CT-800 at the front and rear of my MTB and am very happy with the performance. A long downhill of approx. 600hm on asphalt was no problem for the brakes.

[reylopez]

I ran the Sram H2 rotors with my 4 piston Xts. Worked great, no rubbing & great bite paired with the Shimano metallic pads.

[MarioGoatse]

I love the look of them. That fin design looks great. Not a big deal on the few extra grams either. Would love to see how they perform

[Jacob]

I was literally just watching another video of yours 😂
Thanks for your videos!

[wallyedmonds]

Good vid as always, I use 6 bolt but these look like killer XC bike race rotors, 203 in the front for better braking less effort . But weight ? The smaller ones would be good .

[All_the_bikes_are_cool]

Cool video. I think 203mm for gravel and road e-bikes… more and more we will have them.

[JasonLiske]

Aishima does fine for me. 220lb & like to go fast. I just upsize.

[TheBIKEDEALZ]

RT64 = Deore.

Keep up the good job mate :)

[wildman]

I got a warped centerline going to replace it with an XT MTB version and see how that works. they have been good on the meta

[bikedan]

Great! I was again annoyed by my noisy RT-ML800 blades with flat mount breaks. Where I live the RT-CL800 is common in 140 mm and 160 mm. 180 mm and 203 mm seem to be not very common.