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Submitted by
steve holcomb
a Weekend Warrior
from tampa floridaDate Reviewed: March 30, 2007
Strengths: good stopping power/little effort. Mine have only made noise on several occasions, then I would clean the rim surface with alcohol and paper towel.....seems to work.
Keep your rims surfaces clean, if needed do it daily/hourly.Weaknesses: I agree with others hear, they are "rim killers". When the
metal gets into the brake pad, man, it sends chills up my spine (my poor mavic517 rims !). Sometimes I get off the bike and manually clean the rims. Most of the time, and I have found that this works, lightly apply pressure to the brakes, lightly, hold this position for a while, release, and do it again, and one more time if necessary. This works for me and gets the shavings off the rims and pads...try it.Bottom Line: When these pads "wear out" (or maybe sooner), I will not purchase these pads again.........I'm concerned about what they are/could be doing to my rims.
Favorite Trail: n/a
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: campy pads ?? not sure if these are simular
Bike Setup: doesn't matter
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Fehman
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Wayne, In.Date Reviewed: January 9, 2007
Strengths: None. Zero. Nothing.Weaknesses: The turn hard and bridle. They pick up metal slivers from the rim and then sound horid.Bottom Line: The reviews are 100% spot on. These pads are junk. I switched to Kool Stop and I have a whole new view of V-brakes
Favorite Trail: The Red Trail
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Kool Stop
Bike Setup: Specialized M4 Hardtail
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from NorwayDate Reviewed: April 26, 2005
Strengths: Nothing!Weaknesses: RIM SERIAL-KILLER!Bottom Line: Brand new MAVIC-rims more or less destroyed after _one trip_ with brand new XTR- pads! Pieces of aluminum from the rim got stuck in the rubber and cut deep trails in the rim, with a horrible sound when braking down! It happened on both wheels -- front and back. It costs a lot to have a wheel-builder change your rims, so if you want to support the wheel-builders and the rim producers economically, buy these pads!
Duration Product Used: Tested or demo'ed only
Bike Setup: Cannondale F800 - Shimano XT and RaceFace components.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
II doggs
a Weekend Warrior
from guntersville, al usaDate Reviewed: July 11, 2004
Strengths: zero!!! i thought it was a good deal...Wrong! just spent money!!!Weaknesses: squeel, bark and chatter from begining to endBottom Line: shimano should be forced to refund everyones money!
sure does give the "componant god" a black eye, i thought the chatter would stop after some wear...Wrong! these and WTB pads are the worst i've ever used, and from the look at most other reviews, it's the concensus view.
Favorite Trail: iron legs
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At: price point
Similar Products Used: jaguar, kool-stop, ritchey
Bike Setup: cannondale hardtail with XT/XTR
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, AustraliaDate Reviewed: April 15, 2004
Strengths: For ceramic pads-XTR caries some cred, Probably light weight. Last a long time maybe 'cause they are too hard.Weaknesses: For ceramic pads-Too hard, Gunks up Rim with black Sh*tBottom Line: For ceramic pads-I reckon these are crap. Too hard, no good in wet conditions, have trashed my Racelites (Ceramic), way to expensive (but have just bought a set in Tokyo for about $5.00US)
I gave these a low rating because Shimano is usually excellent stuff but expensive (U get what U pay for), in this instance they cost too much and don't work as I would expect from Shimano, especially XTR.
As for who should buy them, I can't answer that. Not anyone who live in wet areas for starters.
Favorite Trail: All
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: For ceramic pads-Avids, No Name Brand (For ceramics @ $5.00US)
Bike Setup: Sugar 1 Stock setup
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Font9a Ninea
a Cross Country Rider
from DownievilleDate Reviewed: April 11, 2004
Strengths: stopsWeaknesses: wears outBottom Line: all you weenies complaining about the squeal -- it's the surface between you brake bosses and you brake arm fittings that is getting worn. Try lubing once in a while. It's good for you, it's good for her. And replace your too-long cables once a year at the very minimum. Keep your cables as short as possible, use no lube, keep them clean and your brakes will feel like little triple beam balances (precise).
Your pads are not the problem. Almost all quality pads will stop you lickity split if you take the time to treat your brake system right and give it the love it needs.
You will go faster if you can stop more quickly.
-- Font9a
Favorite Trail: 411
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$9.00
Purchased At: lbs
Similar Products Used: aztec
Bike Setup: hardtail xc bike.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
KIMO
a Weekend Warrior
from AIEADate Reviewed: October 10, 2003
Strengths: It stopped my chronic brake squeal.Weaknesses: ExpensiveBottom Line: This review is for the XTR "Ceramic" pads. I had this squeal for the longest time and tried everything to get rid of it. Tried toe settings, scuffing the rims and pads, tried KoolStop pads...nothing worked. Took a chance and tried ceramic pads thinking that all the pads I've tried had a "too-soft" rubber compound that's not compatible with the anodized brake surface on my rims. Happy to say that the brakes squeal no more! I guess the harder rubber doesn't flex as much and cancels out the vibrations that caused the squeal. Anyway, I'll have to give these pads good marks because they finally stopped the squeal. If anybody has brake squeal give these pads (or any ceramic pad) a try before going nuts! Probably last a lot longer, too.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At: PerformanceBike
Similar Products Used: Shimano XT, KoolStop
Bike Setup: GT XCR-4000; XT parallel-push calipers; Mavic D521 SUP rims
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Skippy
a Cross Country Rider
from The First StateDate Reviewed: September 28, 2003
Strengths: They support the Japanese economy.Weaknesses: Squeal unrelentingly, will waste your time and moneyBottom Line: There is not a word in the English language which could accurately convey how stupid these things are. I wasted far too much time trying to get these to stop barking and squealing. The only way to get them to be quiet is to not use your brakes. I highly recommend that one does not buy these. I have since gone back to Kool-stop and my brakes are quiet and far less annoying.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$9.00
Similar Products Used: WTB, Kool-stop, a tree
Bike Setup: Singlespeed, XTR linear pull brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Oswald
a Cross Country Rider
from BelgiumDate Reviewed: September 1, 2003
Strengths: Good stopping powerWeaknesses: Wear fast, not good in wet conditionsBottom Line: I only use these for XC races. They are not good for normal xc riding, because they wear too fast and are too expensive to boot. But even for racing I think they wear too fast. They don't provide any stopping power in the wet, and since it rains almost every day here in Belgium, I'm going to try something else.
Best brakes I've had so far were Magura discs, but the constant fiddling with spacers was driving me nuts, so I switched back to V's...
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Similar Products Used: Everything from cantis to discs
Bike Setup: GT I-drive Team, full xtr
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
stripes
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CADate Reviewed: August 27, 2003
Strengths: None, these things wear out and start squealing after the first ride.Weaknesses:
crappy material, squeaky, and don't last at all.Bottom Line:
Don't get these, either as a replacement or stock with the XTR V-brakes. The V-brakes themselves are really powerful, but use a pad that works.
These things wore out after one ride!! After several adjustments and re-toeing, they were still constantly squeaking. Also, the braking power was gone.
When I replaced them with the Koolstops, no more squeaking, and I was able to stop again. When I looked at the XTR pads, they were already worn down considerably!! This is after a month of XC use too!
They're crap and very unsafe. Don't bother.
Favorite Trail: any with dirt
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used:
Koolstops. Never ride with anything else. There isn't a better brake pad.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Sugar 3+ Genesisters, Fox Float RLC, XT/XTR mix..
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Arne Bjørnvolden
a Cross Country Rider
from NorwayDate Reviewed: August 7, 2003
Strengths: Good stopping power.Weaknesses: Eat up the rims. Big pieces of metal in the pads makes a terrible noice, and destroy the rims.Bottom Line: After a few miles in a race, the terrible noice came from the back, it took me a long time too find out it was a BIG peace of metal inbedded in the pad. I did not think this was possible at all. Something must be wrong about this product.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Purchased At: Glade Hjul
Similar Products Used: My C.dale F800 2000 model came with som red avid pads, they was much better.
Bike Setup: Cdal F800. mavic rims.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Moss
a
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003
Strengths: Not SureWeaknesses: InstallingBottom Line: Wish I could try them out but broke 2 pads installing them. A very tight fit. Of course I tried to force it and when I did, they broke in half.
Favorite Trail: Skeggs Point
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At: Calamar's
Bike Setup: SL Santa Cruz with XTR
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sorni
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA EarthDate Reviewed: April 7, 2003
Strengths: Stopped the squealing on front wheelWeaknesses: Didn't stop front wheel!Bottom Line: I bought a pair of CrossMax XL wheels (ceramic rims), and the front honked like a tortured goose with my Kool-stop pads -- both old ones and brand new.
So I purchased two sets of XTR Ceramic pads. Installed 'em on front, and they *DID* stop the squeal; however, they turned the rim black AND barely stopped the wheel. (Plus that grinding sound would truly suck after about 3 mins.)
I used to use regular XTR brake pads, and never had a complaint (wear seemed about same as other brands), so this review is ONLY for the Ceramic versions. THEY BAD!!!
Favorite Trail: Last ride
Duration Product Used: Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At: Performance (local)
Similar Products Used: XTR (regular composition), Kool-stop (black compound).
Bike Setup: Titus Switchblade, XTR except where not...
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Chunan, KoreaDate Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Strengths: common - easy to find in storesWeaknesses: wear very quicklyBottom Line: If setup properly, they don't squeal.
The main problem with these pads is that they wear much too quickly. I've completely worn through a new set (front and rear) of these pads from two rides!!! Today's ride was a bit wet and muddy, but at the end of my three hour ride I found that I had worn the pads down to near the metal cartridge with a complete loss of braking power. The pads looked as though they had melted onto the rim. They wear very quickly.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from germantownDate Reviewed: January 23, 2003
Strengths: stops verry well in all conditions, easy to install on xtr brakesWeaknesses: wear very fast and squeak in any condition seem to be a little too softBottom Line: they r nice to have when they come stock, but i would not rebuy, use cool stops if u plan on upgrading
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At: lbs
Similar Products Used: cheep stuff
Bike Setup: nice moots smoothie
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