Submitted by
Steve Just
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA USA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000
Strengths: The brakes look good. The reason I still ride them and I haven't yet switched to Vees is 'cause I don't want to give up the feel of the levers which I like a lot, way more than most Vee brake levers.
Weaknesses: They take way, way too long to adjust.
Bottom Line:
The brakes do a better job of stopping than most people seem to have said in the reviews... I weigh 165 and as long as you take the time to set them up they don't seem to have too much trouble. Is it worth the headache to be DIFFERENT? That's for you to decide. But again, can I just say, the levers feel great?
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 26, 1999
Bottom Line:
these brakes were O.E on my AA, put up with them for 2 long years before I found the magic of V brakes. What can i say anyone still on the curve...get rid of them!!Same goes for their cranks. Total cheapskate Kona, very disappointing. Though points for trying to be unique.
Submitted by
Kris
a Weekend Warrior
from Bozeman MT
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1999
Bottom Line:
This is a just fine brake for a thrasher like me. I only weigh about 150 so it doesn't take much to get me stopped anywhays. So far the only bad thing was teh two hours i spent setting them up and adjusting them. I won't complain, though, I got them for free. If you have the choice get V-brakes, but these will stop you just about as well and look a little cooler :^)
Submitted by
Rob
a cross-country rider
from Rock City
Date Reviewed: March 6, 1999
Bottom Line:
These brakes came stock on my '96 Cinder Cone. They were, by far, THE single most disappointing thing about the bike. They were next to impossible to adjust, flexed like crazy, and had absolutely no stopping power at all. I seriously doubt they even sell these things anymore, but if they do, DON'T under any circumstances consider buying them. There are way better alternatives that cost less than half as much, lx-v's etc... The only thing that these brakes and levers had going for them was that they looked good, which doesn't mean a whole helluva lot when they don't stop you. They get one chili 'cause they did stop me, eventually, albeit with my friends at a complete stop 100' behind me on the trail.
Hey, bullshit crap made by a Taiwan brake maker. Kona could'nt make it with their Joe Murray line of components and hence the name CURVE was born. One would be better off just buying a stock Chang Star brake instead of buying this CURVE brake that puts bucks in Kona's (Dan Gerhard,Jacob Heibron,Dan(Dewey)LaFavor and Patrick(Paddy)White not to mention a whole bunch host of others.
Submitted by
big AL
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1998
Bottom Line:
I got these (Curve OM) brakes with my '96 Kona Cinder Cone. They're not bad for stopping but constantly need attention/adjustment for more braking power (esp at the lever and at the cable guide). Up here in the Pacific Northwest, things are muddy and wet and these do not clear mud and crud very well in spite of the holes in it's body. I'm gonna be switching to Vee's soon once I get the cash cuz I'm tired of grabbing handfuls of brake!!!!!! Can't give it anymore than 4 chillies cuz they do perform their job of stopping a 230lb gorilla like me! Keep the dirt side down dudes!
I've had these brakes for nearly three years and once adjusted correctly, the brakes did a good job. I adjusted them on the spungy side. I'm sure there not the best, but quality is good and overall they do a good job. Try a different brake pad. Made a difference in the performance.
Submitted by
Ryan Denove
a racer
from Orlando,FL,USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have Curve brakes and they are running fine on my Kona U'i. They are very strong , (not as strong as V-brakes)and i like them. The only problem with them is there weight. But overal i think that there not that bad of brakes. So i think that they should get atleast a 4.
Submitted by
Jordan Wong
a weekend warrior
from Burnaby, B.C.
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1997
Bottom Line:
***WARNING*** Do NOT buy these brakes First of all, If you are going to spend $70 on a set of brakes, you mind as well buy V-Brakes. V-brakes have way more power. Secondly these brakes do exactly what they're called...-they Curve! The brakes flex like crazy!!! If you have them set up normally like any other brakeset, when you pull on the lever the pads touch the rim almost right away and then when you keep pulling, they FLEX all the way to the handlebar. Finally, These brakes are a hassle to set up. If I had a choice I would rate these a ZERO! But because the raitings go only 1, I will have to give them that!
i bought the u.s. made brakes ( as opposed to the asian manufactured ones on your konas ) and i love them, of course after i've spent 12 hours installing them, there nice and stiff with the richey pads. the only complaint that i have is that the carbon spring caps have small cracks in them, but it hasn't botherd there performance after a year of racing!
Submitted by
David
a weekend warrior
from New hampshire, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 1997
Bottom Line:
Curve brakes. Always seemed just right to me. Not to terribly hard to adjust. Then never touched them. Smooth, controlled, no-grab stopping. I'd pay to buy these if they weren't on my Kona Kailuiea as purchased.
Submitted by
Rusty Becker
a cross-country rider
from Finksburg,MD
Date Reviewed: April 10, 1997
Bottom Line:
Time consuming to get set up correct, but once done I haven't had to adjust them in almost 2 years. Best Brakes I have riden.....easy to do minor adjustments with....Gotta love 'em
Submitted by
brad chu
a weekend warrior
from honolulu
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1997
Bottom Line:
These brakes came with my Kona Lavadome and they're passable, barely. The levers are ok as well. I'm planning on dumping them for a set of side pull brakes soon. Toe in is a pain with these. No wonder Kona dropped them from their 97 line.
Submitted by
Dan
a weekend warrior
from Honolulu, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1997
Bottom Line:
These brakes came with my Kona AA (Curve OM). Can't say I ever had any good luck with them. A lot of adjustments. l Finally broke down and bought some DX V brakes. Best and only thing I have had to do to my Kona. I have to say the same for the Curve levers that came with them,,, give them away.
Submitted by
jesse cahill
a cross-country rider
from motreal canada
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1997
Bottom Line:
I have curve OM brakes on my '96 Kona Kil' and after six months have been very satisfied. It's true that they are hard to adjust but once they're set up they stop ya just fine. The only major dowwner i have had with the is that I keep cutting the inside of my leg on the cantis on steep downhills. Oh well guess I'll have to learn how to ride.
This question was posted in the Brake section in 2008 so I'm hoping to reach more people here.
Anyone know of a Split Clamp Mechanical Brake Lever in market? I'd like to use th Read More »
I managed to pop the front brake line on my new XT785 brakes. Any opinions on the best replacement, and or what I need to replace\bleed them? I've been mtn biking for 25 years an Read More »
On my Shimano BR-M595 hydros, which I got in 2010 for my Kona Dew Plus, in recent months I have noticed that brake power has gotten really shoddy. One example of this, at the start Read More »
I burst the front brakeline today on my 2012 sf 100 (xt785). I'm a little miffed because it was due to rubbing against the other lines. I should have noticed that they were too l Read More »
Ok, a little backround first. I'm a service manager of an lbs. A local racer brings in his very expensive carbon race bike with worn out XX brakes. He says like 10 races and they a Read More »
