Submitted by
Mr. Wood
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: January 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Not telling you!
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
AZ bike experts
Strengths:
Look cool, work great
Weaknesses:
Cable fixing bolt hole strips
Similar Products Used:
Avid
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz superlight, Psylo, precision billit levers
Bottom Line:
I have to agree with the negative reviews below about the anchor bolt hole stripping out. However, I have had these brakes for several years and they never gave me any problems. I don't expect stuff to last forever, but I didn't really change or adjust my brake pads very often, so I guess, it could have happened a lot sooner if I did. Overall, I can't say they are bad brakes. I will probably try to get a longer bolt and nut so I can keep using them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andreas Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
hibike
Strengths:
low weight
Weaknesses:
weak spring, wobbly
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT, XTR (98), Magura 10th, Quick Silver
Bike Setup:
TREK 9900 OCLV, Marzocchi Atom Race, Shimano XTR (98)...
Bottom Line:
I don't like these. The springs are to weak even when the cables are brand new. It is certainly unfair to compare them with Magura rim brakes, but also the good ol' XTR 98 v-brake is a lot better. So there is really no reason to cough up so much money for a mediocre performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Johnny
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
cambriabike.com
Strengths:
light, responsive, looks
Weaknesses:
no gripes here
Similar Products Used:
XT, XTR
Bike Setup:
I use these with Avid Flak Jacket cables... perfect setup!
Bottom Line:
I have never had a problem with these brakes! I just bought a new fork for my bike so I had to take them off and put them back on... I think the screw that everyone is stripping has potential to strip, just like any other screw. You have to make sure it's threaded properly and keep in mind that it's not your seatpost screw. So all you Hercules's out there, lighten up on the wrench. As far as brake functionality... If you adjust it properly for your riding style there is no reason why you won't love this brake. I also never had to do any filing either.
I believe that anyone who has a problem with these brakes (besides the filing), might have made a slight mistake or didn't adjust them correclty. I've had MORE confidence with these brakes than the XTR's.
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Submitted by
Donat
a Cross Country Rider
from france Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
singletrack
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
local dealer
Strengths:
light, simple
Weaknesses:
steel spring rubbing on aluminium lever !
Bike Setup:
PB levers, PB brakes, kool stop yello pads, Mavic Xmax, black snake cables ... life if good!
Bottom Line:
Circle the aluminium part of the brake (where spring rubs) with 2 turn of teflon tape (the cheap one used in plumbing!) I was very confused when I started with these brakes: impossible to center... I realized issue is high friction of the spring on the brake, and when I added teflon ribbon it changed all. Topclass... except this incredible stu..d idea to have a steel spring rubbing with an aluminium lever. BUY and improve !
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Submitted by
Allen Lo
a Weekend Warrior
from Ga Date Reviewed: October 24, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Cambria Bike
Strengths:
lightweight.they;re good when the threads don't strip~!
Weaknesses:
The THREADS ON THE TIGHTENING BOLD WHERE THE CABLE GETS TIGHTENED DOWN ALWAYS STRIPS~!!!!!!!! ALWAYS~! you cannot prevent this crap~! I always thought it was just me but when I came back and read some recent reviews it just made me feel a little better beacuse it seems Bombshell (aka Precision Billet) products have just gone down the drain~!!!!! I even tried e-mailing the customer service 3 times , and they never even responded once~! I think they know what's going on. Mine have stripped twice, once I got them sent back to Bombshell, the second time, they never even responded. It's just too much of a hassle. Stick to AVID or SHIMANO.
Similar Products Used:
Avid SD7, SD Mag, Shimano XT
Bottom Line:
Don't get these, it's not worth the risk~! Trust me. Avid has always stood out to me as a very dependable and stable brake; Avid's are also priced well. I'm about to try XTR for the first time...hope they don't squeal~!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio, USA Date Reviewed: August 28, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
They stop great! No problems there.
Weaknesses:
I was putting on a new front brake wire one day, and when I went to tighten it down, the threads on the brake arm completely stripped out. Well, I thought over tightened, until last week, when I had to adjust the rear because of a new wheel set I bought. The same happened to the rear. GIVE ME A BRAKE HERE!!! This should not happen. I had to put a longer bolt through the brake arm, and attach a nut on the back side of the arm. It will do for now, but a new set of xtr is on its way to me.
The brake work fine if you dont have to adjust them. if you do, they stip out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Watertown,NY Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
cambriabike.com
Strengths:
Easy to setup, lightweight, looks nice (love the matching levers), very good stopping power.
Weaknesses:
Product support really sucks. Verrrry cheap threads. They strip if you stare harshly at them. Then you need a snap plier to replace.
Similar Products Used:
Cantilever, LX Vs, Avid CPS Disc
Bike Setup:
'97 Jamis Team Dakar, XT, XTR.
Bottom Line:
My threads stripped before my first ride. I was angry and expected PB to send another one quick. Wrong. I had to send them the stripped ones for evaluation (I think it was a $7 dollar part). OK, I'm riding. Brakes really work well. Last week I went to readjust for a tighter feel. Threads strip again with verrrry little effort. I bought a spare arm but will not bother with it. BTW, I just stick a spare screw in to put tension on the arm and it works, well, better than OEM. I keep a couple of screws in my pocket just in case.
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Submitted by
Harris
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlottesville, VA Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Let's see... They have decent stopping power and are light.
Weaknesses:
They have decent stopping power and are light (I have never been absolutely confident with these brakes: the reduction in weight, and therefore structural integrity, makes for some flex and a subsequent reduction in power).
Similar Products Used:
All of them.
Bike Setup:
I have used these brakes twodifferent CC bikes.
Bottom Line:
The previous reviewer and must be mechanically deficient: I have never had a bit of trouble with modulation on either of my bikes and they both were outfitted with avid cable sets. My springs were adiquate for proper modulation with Paul Love Levers durring two yars of riding. The real bottom line on these brakes is elusive. For most CC use, my afore-mentioned review is suitable (Harris, 12/99), however, my riding style has changed: these brakes do not offer appropriate amounts of power for extended periods of downhilling. Any prospective buyer has to analyze their riding style: would you sacrafice power for weight savings? The only real problem I ever had with the brakes was a situation where I was drunk and over tightened the cable clamp bolt, stripping the cheap aluminum threads in the break arm. After that unfortunate incident, I bought a pair of Avids (I dont remember which model) and they have surpassed the Pricisions in every aspect except weight.
There is no conspiracy; these are good brakes for CC types concerned with weight and going slow down hills. I am about to slap a set of Hayes (a viable CC choice in my opinion) on my Ventana "free ride" ( I hate this term) bike. Good bye v-brakes, F U.
To the idiots who dont know how to set up v-brakes properly, and especially the dumbass who reviewed just prior to this one, your valium is ready.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Cramer
a Cross Country Rider
from GR, MI, USA Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
They look cool, front brakes work well. Incredible customer service, they really want to help you.
Weaknesses:
Lack of return springs in levers.
Similar Products Used:
Avid single digits, Shimano XT, Hayes Discs
Bottom Line:
*** WARNING **** Don't believe the hype on these brakes!
I bought them based on all the good reviews here. When I first put them on I was amazed at how well they worked. I now think this was more because my old brakes were so bad but that's another story. They work fine for a while but after you get any kind of dirt, mud or whatever in your cables they will not work properly. And yes, I sprung for the Avid Flak Jacket cables which BTW are terrible. The cables were my first attempt to solve the problem with these brakes. They work OK until you ride in real world conditions and even with the best cables you will find increased cable drag after a while. I set the springs to the highest tension (second attempt to make these brakes work) and that solved the problem... for a while... but then it's back to the same old problem. I just put some Avid Speed Dial levers on for my third attempt at making these brakes work. The levers work well and I have new cables (again) but the brakes still don't work right. Specifically they won't make up their mind when you try to adjust them. Aside from doing this myself I've had two bike mechanics look at them, neither could make them work right. Basically you should be able to get the brake calipers to center and then pull equally from both sides. If they pull too much from one side you adjust the tension on the springs to get it to center. The problem is that these brakes will sometimes work, then other times pull from one side, then the next time pull from the other side! This makes it impossible to adjust them properly because they are inconsistant. The result is that the pad doesn't move away from the rim on whatever side sticks enough to clear the rim so if you have even a tiny hop in your wheel it will rub.
I think the good reveiws here came from either A) people that put them on, saw how great they worked and then wrote the review having never tested them on the trail for a few months. B) people who never ride their bikes on trails. C) People that have found a way to ride their mountain bike without getting mud/dirt/sand/corrosion in their cables. D) People that work for Precision Billet.
If you read the review below from Vaughn, that is exactly the experience I've had. Reading that review was like deja vu for me.
I must say though that Precision Billet support has been great. They asked that I send in the brakes for them to evaluate and determine whether they are defective. The problem is that I'm not about to part with my only set of brakes for more than one day or two. They sent me new springs which, in conjunction with my new Avid levers and cables will hopefully make them work OK. I'll post another review in a couple of months after I've had a chance to put a few hundred miles on the new setup.
Anyone looking to buy a set of these levers cheap, drop me an e-mail. Don't say I didn't warn you though!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anderson SC USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
they are strong breaks, excellent modulation-, i didn't know what modulation was till i owned these!
After putting up with the inherent slop of Shimano's v brake linkage and their well proven durability (Three Good Rides ;( BTW what other company has to sell 'shim kits' and 'rebuild' kits for their brakes? Anyway, as i was saying, after riding around with what sounded like a half pound of nails in a metal box for well over a year, i decided to replace that which really needed replacing-a first for me.. i usually buy stuff because it looks cool and is light even if i don't really need it, anyway this was a real 'need' that or some earplugs, so i bought these fukker's and.....'Shazam!' Quality Baby! i can actually modulate the speed of the bike! not just squeezing the stop lever.. They setup as easy as anything else, they are as light as anything else, Sh*t! Go Slap Yer Momma and tell her ya need some brakes. Otherwise, you won't know what your missin!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anderson SC USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
they are strong breaks, excellent modulation-, i didn't know what modulation was till i owned these!
After putting up with the inherent slop of Shimano's v brake linkage and their well proven durability (Three Good Rides ;( BTW what other company has to sell 'shim kits' and 'rebuild' kits for their brakes? Anyway, as i was saying, after riding around with what sounded like a half pound of nails in a metal box for well over a year, i decided to replace that which really needed replacing-a first for me.. i usually buy stuff because it looks cool and is light even if i don't really need it, anyway this was a real 'need' that or some earplugs, so i bought these fukker's and.....'Shazam!' Quality Baby! i can actually modulate the speed of the bike! not just squeezing the stop lever.. They setup as easy as anything else, they are as light as anything else, Sh*t! Go Slap Yer Momma and tell her ya need some brakes. Otherwise, you won't know what your missin!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anderson SC USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
they are strong breaks, excellent modulation-hell, i didn't know what modulation was till i owned these!
After putting up with the inherent slop of Shimano's v brake linkage and their well proven durability (Three Good Rides ;( BTW what other company has to sell 'shim kits' and 'rebuild' kits for their brakes? Anyway, as i was saying, after riding around with what sounded like a half pound of nails in a metal box for well over a year, i decided to replace that which really needed replacing-a first for me.. i usually buy stuff because it looks cool and is light even if i don't really need it, anyway this was a real 'need' that or some earplugs, so i bought these fukker's and.....'Shazam!' Quality Baby! i can actually modulate the speed of the bike! not just squeezing the stop lever.. They setup as easy as anything else, they are as light as anything else, Sh*t! Go Slap Yer Momma and tell her ya need some brakes. Otherwise, you won't know what your missin!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anderson SC USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
they are strong breaks, excellent modulation-hell, i didn't know what modulation was till i owned these!
After putting up with the inherent slop of Shimano's v brake linkage and their well proven durability (Three Good Rides ;( BTW what other company has to sell 'shim kits' and 'rebuild' kits for their brakes? Anyway, as i was saying, after riding around with what sounded like a half pound of nails in a metal box for well over a year, i decided to replace that which really needed replacing-a first for me.. i usually buy stuff because it looks cool and is light even if i don't really need it, anyway this was a real 'need' that or some earplugs, so i bought these fukker's and.....'Shazam!' Quality Baby! i can actually modulate the speed of the bike! not just squeezing the stop lever.. They setup as easy as anything else, they are as light as anything else, Sh*t! Go Slap Yer Momma and tell her ya need some brakes. Otherwise, you won't know what your missin!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anderson SC USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
they are strong breaks, excellent modulation-hell, i didn't know what modulation was till i owned these!
After putting up with the inherent slop of Shimano's v brake linkage and their well proven durability (Three Good Rides ;( BTW what other company has to sell 'shim kits' and 'rebuild' kits for their brakes? Anyway, as i was saying, after riding around with what sounded like a half pound of nails in a metal box for well over a year, i decided to replace that which really needed replacing-a first for me.. i usually buy stuff because it looks cool and is light even if i don't really need it, anyway this was a real 'need' that or some earplugs, so i bought these fukker's and.....'Shazam!' Quality Baby! i can actually modulate the speed of the bike! not just squeezing the stop lever.. They setup as easy as anything else, they are as light as anything else, Sh*t! Go Slap Yer Momma and tell her ya need some brakes. Otherwise, you won't know what your missin!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Simple, light, no squeal, good feel, look good
Weaknesses:
needs cartridge pads
Similar Products Used:
xt, avid
Bike Setup:
titus racer x
Bottom Line:
Got these because I was tired of XT screeching. No noise with PC. They work as well as XT, not clearly better, but that's good enough. The arms aren't spread as wide as XT, so my heel doesn't bump into the arms or the noodle - another plus. Cartridge pads would be nice - swapped withmy old XTs after a few months and liked that combination better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rene' Quihuiz
a Cross Country Rider
from Northglenn, CO, USA Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001
Easton Varilite, XT, WTB Tires, Sun Rims, USE Seatpost, Cane Creek Headset, WCS Bar, RS Sid fork
Bottom Line:
This is the first time I've written in this column, but these brakes really do make you ride faster because you can stop easier. Before, I always thought brakes were just stop or go but, these offer really good modulation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Davis Date Reviewed: February 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Alum Rock Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
Cambria Bike in Auburn
Strengths:
They are lighweight.. strong in all conditions and they look very sweet.
Weaknesses:
Adjustment is a little hard but once they are set... you dont even notice them.
Similar Products Used:
Magura HS-22, XTR, and old school shimano DX
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Chameleon, Avid Ultimate lever laced to sweet billet brakes, Marzocchi Atom bomb, Race face cranks with XTR drivetain.
Bottom Line:
These are great brakes for a person looking for lightweight without sacrificing function. If you can find a good deal on them, don't hesitate!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Date Reviewed: November 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Desolation Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
Well, I don't want to skew reviews or anything, but not having an e-mail address at the moment I can't directly e-mail reviewers here.
Supposedly (according to Cambria when I bought these things) these brakes practically need Avid teflon-coated brake cables to avoid lever-rebound problems that I noticed in a few other reviews (and to keep the modulation in good shape). I was splurging when I bought these anyway so I didn't think twice about it. With the Avid cables and through plenty of mud, rain, and hard-water washing I still haven't had any problems, so who knows. I guess needing expensive cables does make these brakes a bit finicky, don't it? Oh well, still light, powerful, gorgeous, with no squeal. No, they're not magical, just awesome. Even compared to other brakes I have given five stars. I hope this helps other reviewers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Date Reviewed: November 25, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$88.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Light weight eye candy
Weaknesses:
Non-Cartrige pads
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT
Bike Setup:
XT shifter/lever combo
Bottom Line:
These brakes work well, but not significantly better than the old LX brake I had on the front. If I had put the new pads on the old LX the result would most likely be the same. With the XT levers with the adjustable leverage I had tons of stopping power with the old set up. The new brakes still rock on the posts, but they are much quieter than the XT linkage I had on the back. Bottom line, they work well, look nice and are light weight. Are they magic as stated in other reiviews? NO! Are they worth the list price? Definitey not, get them on sale.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vaughn
a Weekend Warrior
from Paradise, CA Date Reviewed: November 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
South Fork
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Direct from Precision
Strengths:
Sleek, simple parts, customer service.
Weaknesses:
Spring tension, poor weather seals, non cartridge pads
Similar Products Used:
XT/XTR v's, Machine Tech v's, old avid tri-aligns, old cantis.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth '01, Precision levers and brakes
Bottom Line:
Nice front brake modulation and feel. The rear brake is another story. The springs are poorly tensioned and the moving parts easily soil. Last winter, Precision Billet very nicely and promptly replaced my original springs with what they reported would be more evenly and strongly tensioned springs since I did have a set of original run brakes, but I have not had any more luck keeping those tight. Slipping the spring loose from the boss and bending outward helps temporarily, but is not something I have even had to bother with on the Shimanos. I like the theory of a hand lever without a return spring to reduce hand fatigue, but it is not working this time around. I have very little lever rebound, which I think decreases my ability to modulate braking. The lever cannot overcome the cable housing resistance and poor rebound at the brake. If I take the whole brake apart, carefully clean, lightly grease the moving parts, and baby the cable housing, it works wonderfully, but it doesn't take more than one semi-dirty ride to junk the whole thing. There really are no seals. I don't mind completely disassembling once or twice a year, but more often and it becomes a chore. My three year old XT v's still work great on their 10th pair of brake pads. ...and this is coming from somebody who was trying to build a completely USA, non Shimano bike a few years ago. In fact, Precision levers mated with '98 XT v's rebound fine.
I long ago replaced the stock pads with cartridge pads. I'm surprised a moderately high end system like this would not have cartridge pads. The cartridges have paid for themselves with all the pads I've run through it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rutrow
a
from Little Rock, AR USA Date Reviewed: November 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Camp Robinson
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Chainwheel
Strengths:
Look cool. Excellent modulation in dry conditions. Levers have a great "feel".
Weaknesses:
Extremely finicky. Once they came out of adjustment and the pads were changed they never worked right again. They Not durable. Pain in the ass to adjust. Need to be adjusted often.
Bike Setup:
It has two wheels and one speed.
Bottom Line:
These brakes have increadible stopping power in dry conditions. They look really cool and different and they are great if you want people to say that your brakes look cool. If you want brakes that "WORK", "ALWAYS", do not get these. The springs on mine are as tight as they will go and the pads will still catch the rim after the lever has been pulled and released. The two canti's are easily knocked out of adjustment. Once they are out of adjustment it is a major undertaking to get them to work again. Wish I would have put AVID's or something else on. Bought these due to recommendations from this site. Should have listened to the LBS. Oh well, live and learn. I'll give them three chilis b/c they work really well most of the time. Oh yeah, and the few times that I have used them in very wet conditions resulted in bruised knuckles from trying to squeeze the levers through them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Desolation Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The best: power, modulation, relatively little fade when pressed hard, great in the wet, light and the most manly-looking brakes I've seen to date (does justice to my Z2 Atom80 fork)
Rocky Mountain Instinct, Complete Precision Billet brakeset with stock pads and Avid cables, Continental Explorer Pro on Spinergy wheel up front, Survival Pro tires on Zero degree light rim on rear, everything is black and silver and badass!
Bottom Line:
I've been even more stoked than before lately so I'm writing another review. There's one long and steep technical downhill I love, which I recently went down in heavy rain. This isn't usually a good idea without discs, and to compare, when I did this with my Arch Rival 50s they lost a lot of power and then proceeded to fade more. The downhill became enormously sketchy, faster than I wanted with all the wet logs and large boulders, and through the second half of the descent my levers were glued against the handlebars and there was no way of stopping the bike other than jumping off. This is to be expected with most rim brakes under the conditions I was in, I'm not picking on the AR50's in the least. This same descent in the rain with the Precision Billet, however, was easy and confidence-inspiring. I was going faster not because my brakes were fading but because I was always able to slow as I needed to in short distances (butt on tire, as it were). I'm not exaggerating--there was very little loss in stopping power and no fade to speak of! No levers-against-the-handlebars, no need to even contemplate bailing off the bike. I felt almost as safe as if I were going in the dry (save the wet logs, of course). Stoked! In my last review I said these were easily as safe a decision as a King headset or a Marzocchi fork. Well, I've changed my mind. I would get them BEFORE I would get a Z2 fork, BEFORE I would get a King headset, before I would get just about anything. As I just told a friend thinking about getting a Santa Cruz Superlight, if you can get only one expensive thing on your bike, get these. I feel better about these things than anything else on my bike except the frame itself (almost all of which I feel very good about, almost all of which happens to be very expensive). A couple other reviews say you probably don't need to get disc brakes with these things, and I agree. Hikers and innocent wildlife will agree. Noise-ordinance will agree. Even your mom will agree. They even look awesome and of all things weigh quite a bit less than most of the other popular brakes out there, so even weight-weenies will agree. Now go out there and buy them before I strangle you!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gadget & Mr. squishy
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, Ca., USA Date Reviewed: October 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Anything local thats not closed, yet
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Soul Cycle
Strengths:
Strong, with fine modulation
Weaknesses:
The stock pads look/feel scary
Similar Products Used:
Big-S XT's
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC DS-2 (Mr. Squishy) built-up with some good stuff. XTR, White Bro's, Race Face, Titec, Etc.
Bottom Line:
Get the complete kit (levers, V's and cables). Throw away the stock pads, replace with cartridges and coolstop pads. My level of confidence has gone up greatly. The feeling that the brakes will do just what you want/need is terrific. The trail likes them too. Much less unexpected wheel lock-up. Who needs disc's with these things! I like 'em!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rod Angler
a Weekend Warrior
from planet of New Orleans Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Hooper Road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Cambria (brakes + levers)
Strengths:
* Great modulation, especially in rear. (This is the pads mostly, not so much the brake arms or levers). * Machined from aluminum, so they look great if you like machine tool marks (I do). * Red anodizing. * Stiff. * Reasonable clearance for 2.1" tires, but 2.25" Panaracer Pyro's are a struggle in rear for reference on the K2 4000. * Good mud clearance (Arch Rivals are available with wider arches, but not as part of a lever/brake kit as far as I know, so that is extra $$). * Not everyone has these on their "ride" already. * Levers are longer than XT's, which I wanted, so this is a minor strength for * Levers are hinged, so easy to install without pulling grips and grip shifters, and are VERY light in weight. * No squealing once torqued down good.
Weaknesses:
* Sharp, machined edges at rear of levers (they need to reprogram their CNC machine center to spend another 30 seconds radiusing these edges, for sure!). * No spring return in levers ... this might be viewed a weakness by many (gotta bend brake springs a bit to get enough oomph to get good return). * A bit fiddly to install and get everything lined up (but most brakes are I guess) * Levers have no leverage adjustment (which the Avids and Shimano's do). * post type pads (not cartridge)
Similar Products Used:
XT levers on LX brakes.
Bike Setup:
K2 Proflex 4000 w/ carbon swingarm, Mavic 517's on one set, Bontrager Mustangs on the other. The rest is blahblahblah irrelevant to this review.
Bottom Line:
Machined arms and levers look great. Brakes definitely modulate much better than my XT levers/LX brakes, and that was primarily what I was after. However, in hindsight, I believe this is primarily a trait of the relatively but not overly squishy pads, and only seconarily related to levers, and fairly unrelated to the stiff brake arms.
Levers have no spring return... to some degree this helps modulation, to some degree people will view it a negative if they are used to spring returns in Avids or Shimano's. I'm neutral on this after getting brake springs to do the work (less an issue with smooth GoreTex cables).
Levers also have no leverage adjustment, which I would have appreciated as a feature myself, but they indeed kept levers very light. And they need to radius the sharp rear edge of levers, a detail they could program into their CNC routine, but it is easy enough to file and sandpaper them down so a very minor complaint for me personally.
I like the pads... they have enough squish to offer modulation, and that was what I was after personally. I mean, why have on/off type Shimano brakes? You want three volume settings on your stereo? On/off on your car's air conditioner?
They are plenty strong in stopping power for me, but so was my XT/LX setup... they are fine here, no better or worse.
A bit fiddly to set up, most brakes are I guess. They use post pads and the convex 3M washers for pad placement.
Buy these brakes for: 1. Modulation 2. Mud clearance 3. Looks, anodized and machined 4. Uniqueness 5. Longer and very light levers
Don't buy these if: 1. you want spring return levers 2. you want leverage adjustments in levers 3. You like on/off brakes (sans modulation)
These are plenty good brakes with plenty of power and very good modulation, and the levers are longer and pretty nice and very light.
I think the other reviews here over-rated them somewhat, so I'm balancing things out with 4 combusting mexican turd burritos (otherwise, probably 4.5).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000
Favorite Trail:
desolation lake
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Modulation, stopping power, awesome looking (I got the black brakes on my black and polished Atom 80). And it's light, so even weight weenies will love it.
Weaknesses:
The best products on the market should be available in sweeter, more mature-looking anodized colors. I keep ranting about ultradark purple. Does this give you any idea of how picky I am? I can't think of any flaws with the product itself. Availability-it's amazing that something so good is so hard to get and so little known. These guys should hire me to do their ads.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano stuff, Avid AR-50s, other miscellaneous stuff.
Bike Setup:
2000 RM Instinct, Precision Billet levers, 2000 Atom 80, Thompson stem, King headset (also needs to be available in ultradark purple), Spinergy wheel, can you say steering precision?
Bottom Line:
I bought Arch Rival 50s about two years ago. They're a definite 5-star product; I was blown away with the modulation, stopping power, and of course nonsqueal compared with Shimano and other stuff. When I got a new bike, I decided to experiment with Precision. The design always looked right, and then I read the reviews here and figured "oh heck, I can always go back to the Avids." The Precision Billet is better in every way. Power, modulation, linearity, feel. They even manage to weigh less and be much better looking. Stoked! The levers are fabulous, too, for all the same reasons. The only brake on the market I've even demoed that might be better (emphasis on might) in ultimate performance are Arch Supremes, which cost three times as much. I notice reviews here disagree on the pads, but keep in mind that everyone will have their preferences in this department, and that pads are easily replaced. Personally, I love these pads. Unless you really need discs or only care about getting pewter-colored brakes to match your XTR stuff, I'd say you can't go wrong with Precision Billet. For cross-country, it's easily as safe as getting a King headset.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from London, Ont, Can Date Reviewed: August 14, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT, XTR, Kooki race-lite
Bike Setup:
Schwinner Homegrown XT (97 frame), mainly XT/Race Face
Bottom Line:
Running with older XT w the "weaker looking" double pivot, and is a HUGE improvment over XTR. I would recommend these to anyone! Not only really light, but the ease of setup (the clamp design rocks) and lack of friction makes these the best I have played on in a while. I found that right out of the box they needed a little working in, but after some oil on the pivot one finger braking is possible even on the steepest incline. You gotta try these out!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
j johnston
a Cross Country Rider
from oakland, ca Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:
french
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
style, strength, modulation, ease of maintenance, american made, price
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
marinovative cheap trick
Bike Setup:
Fisher Mt. Tam hardtail
Bottom Line:
these brakes are dope, They deserve top 5 or better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leroy
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Tx. Date Reviewed: January 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Bar H
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
The brakes work well. They have a basic standard setup. Rebuild kits are available and simple to install.
Weaknesses:
*Non-linear: I use two sets of wheels for off road and street riding. The brake pads have to be readjusted when these tires sets are switched out. I didn't have this problem with the XT's. *Installing the brake was simple. Adjusting the pads correctly took some time. The brake pads move up and out. I haven't encountered this yet, but the direction of movement may create problems when mud gets on the tires.*The noodles are noisy (The Cane Creek Direct Curve has an interesting cure for this problem if your willing to spend $70.oo more than the proshift). The price does seem a bit high for the precision billet product. I paid $103.75 for a set. Seeing as how I haven't used the brakes very long, I'll give the choice of it's pricing the benefit of the doubt. The stock brake pads have to be totally replaced and re-adjusted when replacement is required. I'm currently using the replaceable brake pads from my XT's (I didn't enjoy the feeling of buying a new product and having to modify it with my old parts).*The allen wrench sizes are different between the bolt on screw and the brake adjustment screw. This created minor frustration seeing that the allen wrenches I used were connected on the same tool.
Similar Products Used:
XT's: 1.5 years of all types of riding from Texas to Montana (they work, however, all the moving links are loose and non reparable.)
Bike Setup:
'98 Cannondale Ravin, Raceface LP cranks, XT brakelevers with rapidfire shifters, Fox air shock, Spinergy Spox wheels, XTR ti 12-34 with rapid rise, Notos tires, Specialized Body Geometry seat, Titec Hellbent seatpost.
Bottom Line:
Thus far the brakes do work well and are basic in structure. Simplicity can be a strong asset. Less moving parts less places to brake. Caution is advised when braking. The action is light compared to my old XT's and the proshift will flip the bike if you are not careful (I've had one close call when first riding with the Proshift. The front brakes lifted the rear wheel! Wee Haw!).
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Green Giant
a Cross-Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Mormon/National
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light Easy to set up work great
Weaknesses:
original brake pads horrible a bit wide, could clip heals in rear without narrow pads
Similar Products Used:
xt avid 1d20's
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer X Marzocchii Bomber
Bottom Line:
I've got the brakes and levers, in a word sweet. They work great, weigh very little, set up pretty easily. The only problem I had was with the original pads, really thick and wide. I replaced with XT cartridge pads and they work great now. The rears can set up a bit wide so the narrow pads helped in that respect also.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Harris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Virginia Date Reviewed: December 13, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Stiff Light Uncomplicated Easy to set up No parallel linkage(shimano) Quiet
These are as powerful as those poopie parallel push pieces, look much better, and don't scare the wildlife when descending. I installed em before my hot pocket was finished baking and the modulation was amazingly easy. A blessing, in fact. Chalk another one up for the good guys.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fish Head
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: December 3, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bike Setup:
Old school Chromo YETI rigid fork, Bullseye cranks, XT thumb shifters,yehaa...
Bottom Line:
I upgraded from my cantis so I cannot compare to other v-brakes. I bought the brake lever set from Cambria (great service) based 100% on reviews from this page. I have never seen these brakes or know anyone that has used them. These things are works of art. Very nice to look at. They set up easy and are not an over complicated design. One finger stops me on a full out downhill. The levers are great. I custom painted my levers by the way in a tie dye style fade. 100% happy with this product. So happy that I ordered their rear deraillure to try out. This a great product at a fair price. They are in the top 2 or 3 lightest lever and brake systems on the market. If they had the hype behind them they would rule the market. By these if you need brakes. 5 napalm muffins all day long
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ethan
a Racer
from chicago,IL Date Reviewed: November 21, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
light mucho stopping power look cool as hell easy to clean
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
LX v-brakes
Bike Setup:
sun cr-17 rims
Bottom Line:
get a pair of snap-ring pliers ($10 at auto parts store) and you'll be able to break these down, clean the bushings and build 'em again in 10 minutes. i also use the proshift levers - which are just excellent (BTW, they have two pivot positions for either canti or Vs) occasionally i get a squeal, but i just quickly readjust the pad and problem solved (i've never used toe-in, BTW) look beautiful, powerful with nice modulation - what else do you want?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross-Country Rider
from Maui Date Reviewed: October 30, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light Simple Look killer THEY STOP YOU FAST!!!
Weaknesses:
What?
Similar Products Used:
shimano LX
Bike Setup:
C-dale super v
Bottom Line:
I can't imagine a better feeling better stopping break. No squeeling unlike the shimano and paired with the Avid Ultimate levers this system is ultra-lite and preforms like a dream. Some of the other reviews mention dissatisfaction with the pads but I am totally sitisfied with these breaks. I had a little bit of trouble installing them but I think that was because of my lack of experience. They are about as simple as it gets without sacrificing performance. Who needs disc breaks.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: October 21, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Olympic Course
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Strong Simple Great Looking Unique
Weaknesses:
No replaceable pad holders (minor detail)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX Shimano XTR
Bike Setup:
Kona Ku Custom Race Face Chirs King Sun SRAM Proshift
Bottom Line:
The brakes are great! I replaced my XTR's and have been very pleased. I purchased the entire brakeset (levers and calipers). The set was easy to install and adjust. I immediately ditched the brake pads provided and slapped on some WTB XTR-style pad holders loaded with WTB Razor Blade pads. The brakes have very good stopping power, are quite, look great on the bike, and are rare. :-)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross-Country Rider
from moab, utah Date Reviewed: September 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything with great singletrack
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very easy setup - exactly the same dimensions as Shimanos. Stiff and powerful, but with excellent modulation . Nice craftmanship. Powerful. Not on every other bike you see. No noise.
Weaknesses:
Still looking .....
Similar Products Used:
XT and LX V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Ocoee, SID SL
Bottom Line:
Great brakes. Simple so they aren't going to wear out or become loose and rattely. Better modulation and power than my old XT's. One finger stops down steep hills are no problem. Highly recomended. BTW, Cambria Bicycle Outfitters has them on sale for $44/ wheel. At that price, they're an excellent deal.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross-Country Rider
from USA Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
craftsmanship,design
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
xt,xtr,avid,magura...
Bike Setup:
DEAN colonel '97
Bottom Line:
No paralell push,no pivot to wear out. When fitted with xt cartridges these are just what the doctor orderd. The pads they come with are worthless, so replace them with your old xt cartridge coupled with Cool Stop replacement pads and you are in buisiness. Deduct one pepper for non-cartridge replacement pads.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: June 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
The one that beats me like a rented mule
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Very clean and user friendly design. I especially like having the two spring adjusters so they're a breeze to center. No problem installing them and the tow seems to be automatic (never any noise when wet). I had XT Cantis before these so I can't compare them with other V-brakes but they do a fine job with one finger and they aren't grabby. I should mention that I'm also running the Proshift levers. Also an excellent design although I did have some trouble mounting them on my Azonic double wall bars. The clamp down screws are a bit flimsy and it was tough to keep them from cross-threading.
Weaknesses:
None that I can think of other than the minor hassle with mounting the levers.
Similar Products Used:
I rode a bud's bike with Avid Single digits and I can't say that I noticed an enormous difference but he's had some headaches with adjusting the Avids and the Proshifts have never been any problem.
Bike Setup:
Wheeler 9800 Raceline Prestige with a Manitou FS-Ti. What the hell is a Wheeler you say? Go ask a German.
Bottom Line:
Highly recommended for a solid hassle free brake system. After a couple of hard seasons, I have had zero problems.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rammhoff
a Weekend Warrior
from Wiesbaden, Germany Date Reviewed: June 18, 1999
Favorite Trail:
road to the ambulance
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
-light -powerful -no play&screamin -black
Weaknesses:
a little expensive
Similar Products Used:
Shimano,Trailborn, Campagnolo
Bike Setup:
ZaSKAr,X-Vert, WTHC-power-parts
Bottom Line:
Simply the best V-brakes i know: easy to install, long-lasting well thought out design, very powerful! I strongly recommend using a brakebooster (Gorilla) for this and any other brake. To increase the breaking performance i use NO-V-brake levers and Nokon Trac Pearls cable housings: i never needed more than one finger on the lever! Check out WTHC-Hompage sooooon!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
j.johnston
a Cross-Country Rider
from oak,ca Date Reviewed: June 9, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything new and steep
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
easy setup and maintenance, stop on a dime when tuned right
Weaknesses:
dust getting between arm and spring washers.
Similar Products Used:
shimano exage marinovative cheap trick
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher mt. Tam Judy DH sram 9.0sl levers
Bottom Line:
These things are sweet. I have them set up with srams 9.0sl levers and I am stopping very fast. In fact, I went over the handle bars right away and had to adjust the front so that it has more pull than the rear. The spring adjustment is excellent and offers plenty of tuning. I have a SUN Mammoth rim on the rear and had no problem fitting the brake to such a wide stance. I need to figure out how to break it down for cleaning, but once that happens these should last forever.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bicky
a Cross-Country Rider
from Montana Date Reviewed: June 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Nunya
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
great modulation very reliable look so sweet in red
Weaknesses:
Andy's rating below is an outright farce these do not wear out fast
Similar Products Used:
to many to list
Bike Setup:
Dagger FSI King/Mavic 517 Altek levers
Bottom Line:
I am just returning to add some info about these brakes after 6 months of extreme conditions riding(Snow,spring mud,stream crossings,sand,10 mile downhills,etc) . They still rule. I do not wear out fast like Andy said below. By this time I would have had two rebuild an XT or XTR set once if not twice. I have not even had to adjust these brakes. One upgrade I plan to make, is to get cartridge type pad system to replace the post type that it has stock. This will allow me more pad options.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
doug
a Cross-Country Rider
from san jose Date Reviewed: April 23, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bottom Line:
Oh Yea, they work real real well!! Modulation, power and no noise.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Racer
from East Peoria Date Reviewed: March 21, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Jubilee State Park@ Peoria, Illinois
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Strong and sharp looking Unique
Weaknesses:
A little pricey
Similar Products Used:
XT-V's
Bike Setup:
XT levers
Bottom Line:
Still in the initial stages of use but so far all the other reviews are accurate. These brakes are strong, silent, and sharp!! Just as easy to set up as a microwave dinner! Am thinking about some GripShift 9.0SL levers to replace the XT's, but am happy with the feel so they can wait. I also like the fact that beacuase Precision Billet does not spend on advertising the way Avid or Shimano does, you don't see them on 8 out of 10 bikes. I give the enthusiastic 5 outta 5!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bicky
a cross-country rider
from Montana Date Reviewed: February 26, 1999
Bottom Line:
I have been on a crusade against the Shimano Dynasty. I fight the good fight by replacing all my components with small company made components(as much as posible). The XT brakes on my bike were a severe eye sore for me. The XT brakes also wore out, the pivots became unexceptably sloppy. So as I have done with in the past when lookig to excercise the Shimano demon from my sweet and loveable bike, I studied the alternatives with great scrutiny. I was hung up between the Precision brakes and Altek brakes. I have Altek levers and love them, but I found it difficult to get much information about their brakes. The Alteks have an internal coil spring instead of a linear external spring like the Shimanos or the Precision brakes have. I based my decision on several factors. 1) could not find much information about the Alteks (precision had some bike mag test ratings and they had decent advertisement in some older mags) I have a heard time going to a product that is so obscure. 2) the Precision system is simple and proven design (read- no pivots to wear out and become sloppy). 3) I must admit that esthetics also played a role in my decision. The precision win that contest hands down over any and all contenders. So I bought the Precision brakes and I am so far, very impressed. The highlight of these brakes is the consistent rate of modulation(no distinct phases of rates like I found in my XTs, just a simple, consistent, and linear modulation from light to heavy). All things considered I give these things an early five burning kamikazis.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Querio
a cross-country rider
from California Date Reviewed: February 4, 1999
Submitted by
Mark Weiss
a racer
from Carlsbad, Ca. Date Reviewed: January 30, 1999
Bottom Line:
Having been told by Shimano that all all Cannondale fatty sl's squeal no matter which brakes you use I decided to try a different brake system. Precision billet is local so I gave them a try. These things are fantastic. Not only do they not squeal, they are lighter and modulate better than Shimano's. I even like their pads more than the kool stops I was using. Their service was excellent and I like supporting an American company. I was so happy with thier product that I bought their derailler. I would highly reccomend their products.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BOB
a racer
from USA Date Reviewed: December 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
These are the best brakes in the world, I would recomend them to anyone, I thought it was hard to find them though. I love the pads, I wish I could find replacements for them though
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a cross-country rider
from Date Reviewed: December 12, 1998
Bottom Line:
Although this brake doesn't have a parallel push mechanism, it works as good as my XTR but without that awful noise. Its just as strong and the absence of parallel push mechanism produces less flex on the rear triangle of my titanium hard tail, thus making it feel much less squishy than that of the XTR. Its also very light and super cool. Its the best brake yet.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Weebs
a cross-country rider
from Atlanta, Ga Date Reviewed: December 8, 1998
Bottom Line:
Just an update from my review over a year ago. I can find no flaw with these brakes. Really. They are bullet proof. Require no maintenance (except the usual cable care). They look great and nobody else has them. I have put on about 1100 miles with these things and carried them over to my new litespeed. Hey Precision Billet! Why arn't you advertising these things more? Its true you cant find replacement pads and the original pads are the best but hey, Aztecs work great for me.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J.T.
a weekend warrior
from Portland, Or. Date Reviewed: November 21, 1998
Bottom Line:
To misquote Nine Inch Nails: These are The Perfect Brakes...The Perfect Brakes...The Perfect Brakes... Well, O.K., so they aren't as good as discs, but they're a whole lot lighter, and definitely the best for the money that I've used so far. Most V-brakes that I've tried have two speeds; stop, and go. Not these! With just light to medium pressure on my levers, I can perfectly modulate my speed on descents, but If I need to fully engage these babies A tighter squeeze does the trick. Also next to Arch Supremes, ( which were out of my price range anyway ] they are the most rigid V's out there, despite what certain prevoius reviews on this site may claim. Great Product!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Santman
a weekend warrior
from Tampa, Fl Date Reviewed: September 29, 1998
Bottom Line:
After the Avid 1.0's failed (OEMed on a 98 Fisher Big Sur--Adjustment Screw hole was bored a bit too large...screw threads don't hold their grip)I looked for a similar design, light weight, quality construction, and easy to set up/maintain.These do the trick. Compared them to the Avid on a bench, and the lower end (bushing, adjustments, etc) are considerably beefier with less weight...and they come in cool colors.Performance is excellent with good control up to lock up, and relatively noise free.I didn't like the extra baggage on the XTR parallel-push system (more to break and clean), and the reviews of that product here were not so favorable, so I tried these...and am glad that I did. A solid product worth the dollars.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a cross-country rider
from USA Date Reviewed: September 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!These brakes wear so quickly! Do not waste your money!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ANDY PUTMAN
a racer
from CLINTON Date Reviewed: June 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
These are way better than shimano. They stop on a dime. They're overhead pull is really really narly. They're price is great for the kind of quality you are getting. They come in narly colors that are real eye catchers. They are very easy to install. They are really great. Nice!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a cross-country rider
from Clinton Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998
Bottom Line:
They're great for any kind of riding that you could think of. These brakes blowout shimano brakes by a mile. There straight upward pull is the greatest and they are way better than canelevers. These brakes have saved me from many accidents which makes me feel more comfortable using this product.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Haze
a weekend warrior
from Chicago Date Reviewed: June 18, 1998
Bottom Line:
Incredible feel and modulation. Why? The pads! You can actually see them mush under pressure. This is good if they don't fade fast. So far (3 months) so good. In addition, the brake arms are extremely light and beautiful. Matched up with their levers, no LP brake system looks better. As far as a Shimano comparison? The parallel thing might make a difference, but only if compared to other LP brake systems. These have less parts and easier to install and adjust.What else can I say, than unless you try them you'll never know.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Haoming
a cross-country rider
from usa Date Reviewed: March 26, 1998
Bottom Line:
they rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bombthey rape shimano-they are the absolute bomb
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a cross-country rider
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: March 13, 1998
Bottom Line:
Super brake system. (Intense stopping power, Light weight, Beautiful machining detail, Easy to install, Easy to adjust) What else could you want. Oh yea! - lower price. These things are expensive, but in my opinion -- well worth it. If Proshift have decent (I mean any) marketing, I believe they could be a strong contender.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig Smeg
a cross-country rider
from Berkeley Date Reviewed: February 17, 1998
Bottom Line:
Straight up excellent brakes. Minimalist design. Light, but strong. Super-easy to set up and tune. I'm not sure about Precision's derailleurs, but their brakes are the bomb. They have everything you need right out of the box - even instructions written in plain English. Can't say that for Shimano, can you? Or even lots of other boutique machine shops where the CNC programming always comes first. Go buy 'em.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Hartsock
a cross-country rider
from Anchorage, AK Date Reviewed: February 11, 1998
Bottom Line:
GREAT BRAKES!! I have ridden in very bad conditions, from muddy to wet to rainy to slushy and icy. Never have these failed me, never have they squealed, never have I really thought about them. And really, ain't that what you want?? To NOT think about the brakes?? The whole package of levers and brakes and cables are lighter than air. My only question is, why doesn't Proshift get more play???Rob.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad Trent
a cross-country rider
from NYC, L.A. & NW Conn. Date Reviewed: November 30, 1997
Bottom Line:
For anyone reading these reviews who is serious about finding out the read deal on ProShift brakes, please ignore the Pinhead review by the idiot who simply wrote flexy and gave these INCREDIBLE binders a one chili rating!These things are the best damn brakes I've ever ridden! (I've never had the hydrolic or disc brake pleasure, so my expertise is limited to cantis and Vees...) When I was building up the Hei Hei, I looked at every V-Brake system. I'll admit, I wanted to keep the weight down, but going into the build, I figured XTR was going on the bike...I had personally ridden Shimano XT and XTR, Avids, Dia Compe and Control Tech...then I met a guy in L.A. who had these things on his Bizango...he let me take a spin...I WAS CONVINCED. Not only are the Super Vee's light, but they stop better, don't make a sound and have a much better 'feel' than any of the other systems I tried! I don't know what they use in the pads but you can't make these things squeel!!! The design of the ProShift brakes proves how Shimano can over-design the living shit out of what is a very simple idea...I have XT V-Brakes on my LTS...all that extra hardware not only adds weight, but it makes it much more complicated to adjust and a real bear to keep clean after a muddy ride! The XT's are going out the door when I do some upgrading next Spring!Take my advice (E-Mail me if you want a more personal rant!) BUY THESE BRAKES!!! You will thank me!BT
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a cross-country rider
from Princeton, NJ Date Reviewed: October 15, 1997
Bottom Line:
I recently upgraded my Cannondale Coda brakes to the Precision Billet V-Brake System, including their levers. These brakes are great! The levers have a nice soft actuating feel (they aren't spring loaded) to them and the brakes really grab when you need them to. Steep decents are much easier to manage now. The simplicity of the system makes them easy to adjust as the cables stretch and pads wear.For my setup on an M-800, I am adding a brake booster to the rear brakes since the V-Brakes create quite a bit of torque which flexs the frame a bit.
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Submitted by
Weebs
a racer
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: July 22, 1997
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I decided to upgrade from LX cantilevers on my Stumpjumper to a V-Brake design. I looked at them all. I’ve got to admit I took a hard look at Shimano’s V-brake. The parallel linkage sounded worthy but after looking at a set and getting one in my hand I was unimpressed by its weak design. The parallel advantage is overrated and I believe is just a gimmick. Never mind all the other alleged problems with them. The Avid’s were next on my list but just not cool enough (although great bang for the bucks). There are tons of others as you well know, but the VC2’s caught my eye. Light and solid. These things are a work of art. Precision machining is evident throughout the design. They are solid and the design is well thought out. All fasteners come with threadlocker already applied (nice attention to details). The lever clamps split apart for easy removal of the lever without having to tear everything else off. This is handy for maintenance. Braking is very strong with good modulation. Want more power? Here’s a little trick that works. The levers can be set up for 2 pivot positions (center pull cantilevers or V-brakes). If the long pull setting is not strong enough (doubtful) you can change the pivots and get more leverage. This decreases cable pull but lets you skid your tires or do endos with your little finger. Another interesting thing I found was that I have no brake squeal. None. I set the brakes straight up. No toe-in. No squeal ever. Is it the solid design of the brakes, the pad material, or my fairly new rims? I don’t know. All I can say is NO SQUEAL! Overall: I love’em! Cool looks, solid performance with great features make the VC2’s a great buy. You just can’t lose on these. The only possible (minor) down side is that I think that the VC2’s are not quite as strong as Shimano V-brakes (when set at long pull pivot) BUT I would rather have better modulation than digital breaks that wear out once a month and squeal like pigs.
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Submitted by
Jason Glazer
a cross-country rider
from Tampa, FL Date Reviewed: May 31, 1997
Bottom Line:
I've had these brakes for over three months and haven't had a single problem. Awsome stopping power, good control, and great looks. Installation was easy and pad adjustment is relatively easy. A definite consideration when buying new brakes.
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Submitted by
Pete Richards
a weekend warrior
from Anchorage, alaska Date Reviewed: May 31, 1997
Bottom Line:
Hi I would like to share A secret with you, no It's not sex. I just ordered these and don't ask me how I know that there awesome, let me tell ya, well you see I got this friend frank, AKA the doctor !!!! and he Is the MAN, right now he's gettin around via TURNER burner with all the gucci additions and has tried everything, If we all had machine names his would be precision or to the thousandths Frank but anyway what I'm trying to say is that when the Doctor writes A prescription ya fill It!!!!! with Billet like Precision Billet. I'm lucky enough to have the Doctor install these Gems on my bike while I'm at work so when I get home after 2 weeks I'll give my little sweety some lovin and then straight to shreddin. So what I got to share is buy A pair.
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Submitted by
Paul W. Regner
a cross-country rider
from Moreno Valley, California Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
After having used these brakes for the last couple of months, I feel confident in stating that they are fantastic! They are light, inexpensive and extremely easy to set up. They don't have the intricate design of Shimano brakes (ie. the silly little link that keeps the brake pad parallel to the rim at all times), but in all honesty, I find that the lack of that part doesn't degrade the performance of these brakes in any way (in fact, they don't rattle, as the Shimano XT's do). I would say that they are ideal for any rider who is sick and tired of patronizing the big S company for all of their components. Additionally, when these brakes are paired with the Precision Billet VC-2 brakes levers, they have superior modulation than Shimano v-brakes (this is likely to be attributed to the additional 4mm of cable pull that the levers have over Shimano's). In using these brakes and levers, I have found that the on-off feeling that was so prevalent with Shimano brakes is replaced with powerfull, easily modulated, sure braking.
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Submitted by
Ken Porter
a cross-country rider
from San Jose CA Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
I just bought and installed a set of these with the levers and am very impressed with the ease and simplicity of the design. They look great and are impressive in their stopping and modulation. I would recomend anyone looking into V-style brakes to look hard at these and spend the little extra money to get a great American made product
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Submitted by
Folie Dupart
a weekend warrior
from France Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
There brakes are great, light and stiff.The braking is very powerfull and progressive with Precision Billet brakes lever. They are fun , lovely... I love theme!!
$ 49.00
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