Shark fins and a Kashima coating on a brake rotor?? That sounds like the ultimate eye-catcher. GALFER promise that the premium finish combines an exclusive look with long-term durability. But does this Spanish anchor’s performance match its striking looks? We put the 203 mm version of the GALFER Shark EVO rotor through its paces on our home trails in the Black Forest.

GALFER Shark EVO | 203/203 mm | 195/205 g (6-Bolt/Centerlock) | €110 | Tester: Bene | Test duration: 3 weeks | Manufacturer website

Over the past few years, GALFER have gone from an obscure insider tip to a serious player in the disc brake market. The Spanish manufacturer focus exclusively on disc brakes, pads and associated accessories such as mount adaptors. Their braking portfolio covers MTB, road/gravel, trials and even motorsport, with specially tuned rotors for each discipline. Naturally, the model that landed in our editorial office was designed for gravity-focused mountain biking: the GALFER Shark EVO brake rotor. The second generation of the “shark rotor” aims to retain the strengths of the original Shark while improving on them in several areas. GALFER claim the new design not only offers a larger friction surface for even more braking power, but also makes a strong visual statement. The central aluminium spider is available in three different finishes: Anodized Black, Raw Aluminum and, as on our test rotors, genuine Kashima Coating – familiar from the top-end models in FOX’s suspension and dropper post ranges.

Let’s be clear: the Kashima spider is the real talking point of this rotor. It’s striking, instantly recognisable, and positively screams “expensive custom build”. GALFER themselves see the coating as both a visual USP and a layer of corrosion protection, but it’s worth remembering that the Kashima finish is the icing on the cake visually, rather than the core of the rotor’s performance promise.

When tightening the bolts on the 6-bolt mount, the downside of the premium finish became apparent. Friction from fitting and torquing the rotor bolts caused the Kashima coating to wear away fairly quickly at the contact points. Once installed, the bolt heads hide most of the affected edges, but on a premium product at this price, it’s still a bit of a shame.

A note on colour matching: as many riders will know, the shade of Kashima can vary slightly even between FOX forks, shocks and dropper posts straight from the factory. The same applies to the rotor. If you’re expecting a perfect match with your stanchions, be prepared for some slight variation in colour.

GALFER Shark EVO Brake Rotor on Test: Spanish Stopping Power with Bite?

From long, steep descents to fast flow trails, the GALFER EVO had to prove whether the upgrade really made any difference on our Black Forest trails. For a direct comparison, we used the Shimano RT-MT905 rotor that had previously been fitted. We mounted the 203 mm rotors to a Specialized Stumpjumper 15 EVO, paired with Shimano’s current flagship XTR brakes.

From the very first metres of descending, the GALFER setup makes a strong impression. Braking power is noticeably higher, with a touch more bite than the already powerful Shimano rotor. The difference isn’t night and day, but you can clearly feel the extra performance through your index finger. The green GALFER G1554T Pro pads work extremely well with the rotor’s stainless steel brake track, delivering plenty of bite from the first metre, without needing an extensive bedding-in period. The Shark EVO also proves its worth on long, steep descents: there’s no noticeable fade or wandering bite point – just consistently reliable braking performance throughout. On top of that, the rotor remained impressively quiet and fuss-free over the entire three-week test period, with no annoying rubbing, squealing or vibration to spoil the fun on the trail.

There is one downside we noticed in everyday use: GALFER currently only offer the rotors in 180, 203 and 223 mm sizes. With most manufacturers now opting for even 200 and 220 mm diameters, some setups will still require washers or new brake mounts to get the brake calliper perfectly aligned. We’d like to see GALFER add matching 200 and 220 mm sizes to the range soon.

Conclusion on the GALFER Shark EVO Brake Rotor

The GALFER Shark EVO Kashima is a seriously cool performance upgrade for anyone looking to squeeze that last bit of braking power and exclusivity out of their bike. It delivers a noticeable boost even to high-end brakes like the Shimano XTR, impressing with powerful bite, excellent consistency, and complete composure on the trail. The price is steep, and the Kashima look is obviously a matter of taste. But if you can live with a little coating wear beneath the bolt heads and want to fine-tune your dream bike both visually and technically, this is an exceptional premium anchor for hard trail riding.

You can find all further information at galfer.com.

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Words: Patrick Gruber Photos: Benedikt Schmidt