Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Dearborn, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
Strengths: These are bomb proof levers. Fairly light and super durable.
Weaknesses: They'll probably never break, I'll be using these levers for the rest of my life!
Bottom Line:
These levers have outlasted any other component that I have ever used! It's crazy! These levers were stock on my Gary Fisher Big Sur when that bike was still considered a good mid level ride; now the Big Sir is barely a respectable entry level bike, but I digress. These levers have never given me a problem since I acquired them! They've been on three different bikes with three different types of brakes. When I built my current ride a few months ago, I decided to upgrade to Avid Mech. Disk brakes, but opted to keep the old school levers. They're simply awesome!
Purchased At: They came stock on my 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur
Similar Products Used: I've been using these levers for so long that I can't remember any others!!!
Bike Setup: Jamis Dakar XC Frame, Manitou Elite Black Forks, Fox Float R Rear Shock, Mavic XC 717 Rims, Shimano XT Disk Hubs (front & rear), Old School Shimano XT Crank, Shimano XT ES71 Splined Bottom Bracket, Speedplay Frog Pedals, Shimano XT Front Dérailleur, Shimano XT Rear Dérailleur, Shimano XT 9 Speed Shifters (front & rear), Shimano XT 9 Speed Cassette, Shimano XTR/Dura-Ace 9 Speed Chain, Avid BB5 Disk Brakes (front & rear), Old School Avid 1.0 Brake Levers, Cane Creek Headset, WTB Laser V Saddle, Avid Flack Jacket Housing/Cable (shift & brake)
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Submitted by
Nikola Djurdjevic
a Weekend Warrior
from Downtown Eastside Van
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2005
Strengths: super smooth, stop like crazy and do it as good as some mechs.
Weaknesses: maybe that theyre a bit farther from the handlebar, making it harder for 1 fingeres trials, but other than that, perfect
Bottom Line:
I don't know what people are saying that these levers are heavy, and why the hell would someone drill up their lever to save a few miligrams. Bottom line i got these stock on my XC bike which i turned into a urban dirt jumper and these v's rock.
Similar Products Used: the no-name u brakes on my bmx that caused my friend to get hit by a car
Bike Setup: Block 8 hardtail, '02 dj1, rynolites, avid v's haro big block pedals, shimano cranks, custom machined chainguide ect...
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Submitted by
istrate mihai
a Weekend Warrior
from cluj Romania
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005
Strengths: light.they do their job prety well.
Weaknesses: actualy the lever bends down if you push constantly.Ex:trials,bunny hopping
Bottom Line:
good material for tials and street.it is a light set up,unlike disc systems.if you go for DH forget'em.this the cheapest v-brake lever from Avid but works SUPER.they worked for me so they shoud work for you too.i'm onto discs now.i wanna go big this year so i need heavy duty parts,so parts that are heavier.buy'em!...DON'T TIGHTEN THEM HARD ON THE BARS!They will brake.SAFE RIDE TO ALL OF YOU GUYS!
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2004
Strengths: Very simple, very solid lever. Crisp feel, not slushy.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
These are the nicest levers i've ever felt, they have a clean crisp feel, and when paired with XT / XTR parallel push V-brakes, you will stop when you want to, not when need to.
Bike Setup: k2 softail, xt drivetrain, xtr real derailleur.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004
Strengths: They feel great, strong leverage, last & last & last....
Bottom Line:
These levers are handed down to my third bike now (always felt the best). Bought them stock in '99 on my commuter. They are scratched, gouged and banged to h3ll bu still feel great. Used them on Avid v's, XT v's, and now on rear 8" hayes cable disc. They even feel balanced with the front hydros. Work extremely well in all cases.
Similar Products Used: Shimano levers, hayes cable levers, hayes hydro
Bike Setup: XC commuter, freeride HT, urban assault HT
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from DC, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003
Strengths: Do everything levers are supposed to do. Durable. Zero maintenance.
Weaknesses: Weight? Non-adjustable.
Bottom Line:
I think these are the last stock item on my FSR. they've lasted 3 years, 4000 miles, many, many crashes and they just keep going. No bells and whistles, not the lightest levers out there, but they get the job done.
Weaknesses: Heavier than some levers, but thats what a drills for. Plus after you drill around the clamp it adds a pretty cool look. (Don't do this if your a warranty freak)
Bottom Line:
For the money there great levers and with a few modifications they can be as light as the next lever just use your imagination. You can always upgrade parts by simply changing the bolts from Alum. to Ti. drill the clamp, hell drill the lever if your really are a stickler about weight. Look I'm a mechanic and a Expert racer and I'm not trying to say it's a good thing to drill your levers but it's an idea if you just don't give a care.
Submitted by
Wacked Out
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001
Strengths: They work just as well if not better than most mid range brakes out there.
The feel is solid and braking is strong and accurate.
Feathering is easy on the front when D-Hing
Not too expensive.
Weaknesses: They don't look like XTR, and there is just something about that grayish/blue anodized look that makes me feel like a better rider.
Oh, and they're a little heavy...whatever
Bottom Line:
Will probably upgrade to a better Avid or XTR, but i'll wait until they break.
They feel solid, so unless I eat a tree I should be good for quite a while.
Price point is sweet compared to high end components. If they're stock, stick with them. If you're building a bike up then spend a little more for lighter stuff.
Similar Products Used: LX, XT, XTR, Avid 2.0 etc, etc....
Bike Setup: Specialized Rockhopper (Stock)
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Submitted by
Andi Baumgartner
a Weekend Warrior
from Berne, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001
Strengths: Well, i bought a Kona Caldera last year, i was checking to see what brakes felt good for my price range. I came to the Kona, and this is what made me buy it. These levers are nice, they are pretty cheap, arent too heavy, and have the closest feel to a disk brake, instead of a rim brake.
Weaknesses: Little heavy, who cares
Bottom Line:
If you are on a budget for new levers, i highly recommend these, they are nice, and for the price you cant beat them.
Submitted by
adam young
a Downhiller
from melbourne, victoria, australia
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001
Strengths: Nice lever feel,good adustments
Weaknesses: bent lever blade
Bottom Line:
A quality lever with a nice feel with a few good adjustments like a "play" adjustment, a lever reach adjusment, and a normal cable adjustment,I have no problems with this lever except for the time I crash in a rock section and managed to bend the lever blade and the paint on them scratches kinda easily...
