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Submitted by
life speed
a Downhiller
from Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | good feel, strength, modulation | | Weaknesses: | sealing, mechanical design integrity, ease of service | | Bottom Line: | Not a reliable design that will survive over time. Stupid, fragile, custom pivot bolt arrangement for lever. No locking mechanism for adjusters. Piston would not retract fully when lever was released, sticky. Leaked a little.
The feel was great, but the other problems are too annoying. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Wild
a Weekend Warrior
from Grande prairie
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Paradise mine (To the top of the Mountain or top of the world | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The color kicks, I love the way they feel, amazing lever strenght for wieght ratio. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | xt and lx levers | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn factory team
beatiful full Kooka/xt/xtr/truvativ | | Bottom Line: | This product rules | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross-Country Rider
from Mainz / Germany
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
local trails | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
light weight
looks great
1-2 finger brake-lever | | Weaknesses: |
Due to its wheigt this part is no hardcore brake lever. Everyone who buys it should be aware of that. But for XC it works excellent. | | Bike Setup: |
Brodie Expresso
RS Judy | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding those Kooka'a for almost 2 years now, without big trouble. One Lever (from an older series) showed a little leaking at the beginning but after setting it up once again it finally stopped. The other one is from a newer series and is stiffer than the other and there was no leaking at all. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kim
a cross-country rider
from IL
Date Reviewed: February 28, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had the Kooka Hydrolevers for a few years now and they have delivered flawless performance. My bike gets ridden pretty hard and has suffered some pretty intense crashes. I did manage to brake one during a crash (the handlebars spun around and the lever hit the top tube)I thought surely I fractured my pelvis it hurt so bad, but I took my bike to the shop I bought it from, they sent the lever back to be rebuilt, and two weeks later it was back, good as new. Considering the intensity of the crash, I was happy, and impressed with the design of the levers, which allowed for them to be rebuilt at no charge. They have not leaked ever, have provided flawless service, and are quite adjustable( since I have smaller hands, I can bring the lever a little closer to the bar for easy one finger modulation). I'm afraid I cannot agree with any of the negative things posted here about them or their Customer Service, and they look kick ass. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a racer
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: August 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My friend's dad had these. Loved them. Then he was on a ride and the pivot flew out. He endoed. Broke his wrist. Stuck a twig in and finished the ride (applause). Then didn't ride for six months. Beware. They're real light, and look cool, but you might not look so cool with a cast on. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
flurry
a weekend warrior
from cali
Date Reviewed: August 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
sounds to me like you crybabies are your own worst enemies dont work on your bikes if you cant change a lightbulb!ive had mine two years ,hard riding,no problems,easy to install,bleed;and look great!i hate to imagine what would happen to to you all if you try to install braided stainless crossover lines from magura,by the way they look cool too! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clarke Clingenpeel
a racer
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought these trying to lighten up the brakes, however, the stopping power was terrible. They were mushy & the seals leaked. They were lighter, but they defeated the whole purpose of hydraluic brakes. I also thought the foam type wrap around the lever arms was cheap looking. I did prefer the smaller levers to the stock magura's, but who cares if they don't stop you. I returned them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pelle Hedstrom
a cross-country rider
from stockholm, Sweden
Date Reviewed: May 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I used the levers at work (being a bike-messenger). They lasted for about 2-3 weeks. Both levers snapped apart in the clamp during some pretty hard braking. I think they suck. If you want a lighter bike, try to save the weight anywhere but the brakes. Currently i´m using my Magura stock-levers and they work perfectly well after 3 years of use, 120 km each workday. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Pentecost
a cross-country rider
from Portland, Maine
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I'd just like to update my review that I wrote directly below. I too have finally started experiencing the leaking problems that all the others are talking about. During a nasty downhill ride recently, the master cylindar on my rear brake cracked and squirted oil all over me and my bike, leaving me with no rear brakes while flying down a steep hill. Bottom Line: DON'T BUY THESE LEVERS!!! They're really poorly constructed and do not stand up to everyday riding. Altec makes a similar replacement lever for Maguras, and these seem to be your best bet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Pentecost
a cross-country rider
from Portland, Maine
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These things are cool looking and light, but they aren't very well built. The pivot pins strip easily (I've already stripped two which were promptly replaced by Kooka which seems to have excellent customer service) and the actual levers don't fit well onto the part that contains the master cylinder so they rattle around when you're riding over rough terrain (which is pretty damn often). There's no way to tighten the lever down because the pivot pin is only threaded on the top and will therefore not cinch the lever in there if tightened. I'm only a 150lb. rider, and I'm normally extremely light on my bikes (meaning that I rarely if ever break things on them) but I've already broken the front brake lever by simply pulling on it too hard.
I haven't yet had the leaking problems that I've red about in other posts, but only time will tell on that stuff.
I guess the bottom line is that this seems to be a company that is trying hard but not succeeding in making a light replacement lever for Magura. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keith
a cross-country rider
from reno nv
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
They look cool. They feel good.But they leak.I had about ten rides on them when they started leaking,I sent them back a month ago and have not heard a word sence.For the money they should send me new ones. I wish I would have known about mtbr review before I spent the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bouke M
a weekend warrior
from the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: February 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
For refill I screwed a hard plastic tube in the bleeding hole, so no oil
was spilled.Be a little inventive here ! So far (I have theme 2 months)
no complaints, and the please my eyes better than the original. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Torpedo
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a follow on to my initial comments.. I have had them since February/March time frame.
The durability is in question here. Also there is MANY design flaws. First is the Tiny Bleed screw that fits nothing and is impossible to capture the bleeded fluid. Thus it just comes out and at best you capture it with a rag, then you wipe down the lever when your done. Why couldnt they put the same size of bolt on it like the Magura to facilitate the bleed line.
Also the bolt that hold the actual lever to the body (piston) is poorly designed also. The top part is threaded and the bottom isnt. After extensive use the lever develops play because the upper and lower sinch plates start to spread apart. And since the top sinch plate is the one that is threaded you cant re-tighten it up (so your screwed).
Kooka's answer to this is, mail it back to us we will REBUILD it.. yeah right at $150 bucks for the pair I want a new one NOW! Its not ready for prime time, maybe wall art but thats about it.Also Special Note: Kooka's idea of a warentee department is this guy that has no customer service sense or common sense for that matter. STAY AWAY from Kooka. Buy TWP or some other brand.. It is not a matter of IF it will break, it is just a matter of WHEN. and at $150 bucks I was hoping they were not disposable levers. Well, they are.. And Kooka is not willing to stand behind them..
KOOKA is all Hype. Dont believe the Hype.. Go check out the reviews on their Cranks.. Nothing they make is worth a shit. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Yuelling
a weekend warrior
from Corning NY
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Great levers, much better then stock maguras. I am having a problem with the right lever sticking and the adjustment screws keep loosening up and would like to know how to get them fixed or replaced. Please email me. Over all I love the levers. Recomended them to alot of friends. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan Sainsbury
a cross-country rider
from Boston, MA USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I hate these levers. Yeah, they look great - that's it. When installing,
I accidentally stripped the bleed valve screw. Kooka said this was common
and sent me a new pair. I had my LBS install them the next time. Half way
through my ride, the right/rear lever started to leak. On a downhill, I
needed both brakes and had only one working. I over-compensated with the
front and endo'd. The lever snapped apart. Then I had no brakes and still
had 3 miles of trail and 6 miles of road to go get home. Short story, I
crashed hard on pavement. Kooka's warranty is really great. They replaced
them again. At this point, I didn't trust them any longer, and went back
to my stock levers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This little thing is pretty trick. It's alot lighter than the stock Magura lever and looks ALOT better. Installation is a snap, too. So far, it has worked very well. The only problem I've had is with the bleed valve. It leaked a bit of fluid. But I just tightened up the bleed valve screw a bit and it remedied the problem. It's worked great since then. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve (Torpedo) Hartsell
a cross-country rider
from Yokota AB, Japan
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I have used them for about a month. They feel nothing like the Stock Magura Levers.
They are 2 finger or 1 finger levers. They have good feel and adjustable reach. On the
negative side the bleeding is a pain in the ass. Poor design here, they have a small
screw that fits nothing and they way it is designed you can not fit a line over the hole.
It would have made since to have the same size of hole as the Magura. But other than that
a good lever.
| | Overall Rating: |
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