Submitted by
Brett
a Weekend Warrior
from Shanghai, China
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Strengths: Powerful braking, reliability
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I built my first Giant NRS with Magura HS-22 brakes in 1998. I rode the bike hard for 5 years and it is still used regularly by friends coming to visit. In all that time, never a single braking problem. 100% hassle free. I put full XTR on my new bike and have had to replace the disk pads repeatedly as well as replace the disk itself. The Magura set up is both cheaper and much more reliable. Highly recommended V brake.
Submitted by
james
a Downhiller
from castro valley CA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005
Strengths: looks
Weaknesses: weight, ease of installation, engineering
Bottom Line:
These PARTICULAR pair of brakes do not get kudo from me for a number of reasons. The major reason is installation. I bought the brakes because I have never heard anything but good news about them. I think I got a dud pair because I never got them to work. This set is magura blue. I'll start with the levers. They look pretty cool but they vould definitely be lighter. The hydraulic mechanism of the lever could be attached to a machined billet aluminum mouniting portion, but instead, it is one whole peice of cast metal. the lever arms are hideous! they are huge and heavy and uncomfortable. The brake lines are a pain to set up! they obviously cannot be attached to the normal mounting weldments but the way they are routed is riduculous. The worst part about the brakes is installation. There are cast painted parts that have to be pressed into place and never moved again. You must be perfect first time in this case. No room for error. After that the calipers are squeezed into place. The idea of hydraulic brakes is brilliant. The way this is engineered is not. Much work needed. They still get some praise because mine are an exception because they are disfunctional. Expensive, but not a bad price considering that they are frickin hydraulic brakes.
Similar Products Used: Shimano XT,LX Avid single digit Ti
Bike Setup: Kona Pahoehoe,GT Zaskar LE
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Submitted by
GRAEME BLAIR
a Downhiller
from ABERDEEN
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Strengths: POWER, MODULATION, LEVER FEEL, ROLLING STOPPIES.. DID I MENTION POWER.
Weaknesses: ARE YOU KIDDING.
Bottom Line:
STUNNING BRAKES. TWO PEOPLE HAVE DISAPEARED OVER MY BARS SINCE I FITTED THEM AND ANOTHER HAD A BALLS TO STEM MOMENT(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AARON). POWER IS AMAZING BUT THEY ARE HARD TO SET UP INITIALLY. SOD DISKS GET MAGGIES.
Similar Products Used: V'S, CANTI'S, AD990, ACS BOA,MECHANICAL DISKS, YOU NAME IT I BROKE IT.
Bike Setup: BARRACUDA FRAME, ZOKES ELITE 130MM, MAGURA HS22, TRANZ-X STEM, D.C.D, DIAMONDBACK PLATFORM PEDDLES, DEAD BACK DNM SHOCK, WORK IN PROGRESS...
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Submitted by
david
a Cross Country Rider
from corvallis, oregon, usa
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002
Strengths: They are great modulation, nothing compares to their power, nearly maintainance free
Weaknesses: adjustment is tough, and the housings are difficult to replace. They are a little weighty, but if you need to stop that is not an issue.
Bottom Line:
Magura rim brakes are the best. They are a little tough to deal with if anything breaks, but I have used them 3 years without anything breaking. Now they make lighter more adjustable models. I would choose Maguras over v-brakes any day.
Bike Setup: cannondale caad 3 with mavic usb rims.
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Submitted by
Jameson
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Washington
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2002
Strengths: Durable Awesome Modulation They'll never let you down Once they're set up you can forget about them Pad life (at least for the green(frog) and the black pads, tha's all I've used)
Weaknesses: In my six years of riding on these (HS-22 raceline D) the only complaint I have is that I cut the front line too short for my new Z1
Bottom Line:
If you're looking for the best possible rim brakes that you can get anywhere, well, you're done looking. The Magura hs-22 racelines are by far the best braking system on the market as far as rim brakes go. I mean yeah, a 8" hayes setup is going to stop better, but those are intended for FR and DH rigs, not heavyduty crosscountry bikes. The slight weight penalty of these over v's is more than made up for in durability, stopping power, no more worries about wire cables, and the ability to set 'em up and forget about them. If you're scared about messing with the hydraulics don't worry about it. Magura includes great instructions and offers great customer service to make it a piece of cake to install the brakes. One warning though, these brakes will flex the S$%t outta your frame and fork (even my Z1) so get the brake boosters. Why wouldn't you want to anyway? The raceline yellow just looks so cool! Oh, and as a added bonus, you don't have to reset your brakes when you change pads like you do on v's. All you do is give the pads a little tug and out they come. Then snap in the new set and you're good to go. This is one component on my bike that I can say I've definately set up and just forgotten about them, they're just that good.
Purchased At: ?? I can't remember, they've been on my bike for 6 years
Similar Products Used: Hayes 8" discs, shimano v's, and good ol' cantis
Bike Setup: zaskar, Z1, HS-22 raceline d, lx xt xtr drivetrain, sun rhyno lites f/r, Ringle sun of bubba front hub, king rear hub + headset, kore aheadlite, SDG grand prix, shimano 747's
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Submitted by
bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Shawnee, KS
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2001
Strengths: maintenence is easy; it just has a nice feel, control is easy
Weaknesses: I stripped the magnesium clamp bolt (maybe I tightened too much?)
Bottom Line:
I only have one on my front wheel, and it is just an easy brake to own even though it looks complicated. It is easy to set up and maintain, and very dependable.
Submitted by
brandt wysocki
a Cross Country Rider
from thousand oaks
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000
Strengths: strongest rim brake period, once set up, a well thought up, well engineered brake kicks some ass!
Weaknesses: levers too big, go to cambria bike and get altek levers they have a thumb adjuster, for fine tuning. those levers are much more "V" lever like... cannot be used without the magura booster or you will break off the brake boss and your seatstays wont twist other than that..the prouduct kicks ass!!!!
Bottom Line:
dial it in use the boosters front and rear get the altek levers, and you will not need dick breaks $$$$$ dick is rich
Weaknesses: Weight, big levers (which look too "moto"), magnesium bolts strip too easily, spacers/washers, don't work well with frame braze ons, no weaknesses performance-wise
Bottom Line:
I bought these as NOS on MTBR marketplace for a few reasons last year: a) price b) pucker power for learning trials stuff c) I plan on gettting hydro discs sometime soon and wanted to get used to using and maintaining an hydraulic brake first.
So much for the maintainace part! I slapped 'em on and other than adjustments for different wheels, etc., have done zero as far as bleeding, etc. The Evolution adapters make setting up the perfect angle a breeze. There is no such thing as pas squeal, and the stock pads have lasted a long time (although I;m going to try some red ones next). They work well in all temperatures, no noticeable change in modulation in the cold. I can set them up for a ton of rim clearance, and the pads reach the rims with way less lever reach left than you can get away with using cable brakes, which I like. The adjustable lever reach is great for making both levers feel the same.
I think the value, performance, and feel of the brakes more than make up for the weight. I have been using them on my single speed, but when I get my first FS bike, they will go on it until I can afford hydro discs (probably Hayes).
I stripped one of the stock magnesium bolts, and contacted Magura directly - they sent me a whole bagfull of new bolts & washers of all types within days - free of charge! Speaking of bolts & washers, the only major beef I have with the design is the washer/spacers needed on the brake studs between the Evolution adapters and the frame. On the QR side, this washer can fall off too easily when installing or removing the wheel. I found out the hard way. ON the flipside of this complaint, you can stack these washers to get the silver "knuckles" to clear seatstays or brake arches (as I have to do with my Manitou fork).
Bike Setup: Maggies, Rhyno lite rims, Surly hubs, other "stupid" SS items
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Submitted by
Scott Lougheed
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria b.c. canada
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2000
Strengths: Powerfull if you move the lever to the middle of your bars more. Long lasting pads. Stiff and rounded levers.
Weaknesses: You are F***ED up if you think so.
Bottom Line:
Great breacks, almost as powerful as disks, and low mantenace. (Don't trust your friends). If you don't mind wieght, the almost anyone should buy these. Bleeding is easy, and can do it easily alone, without a shop. The bleed kits are cheap.
Bike Setup: '98 Kona U'hu with a '99 z1 drop off, and alps 5r in the back. Gozzaloddi jr, and panaracer pyro on the back
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Davis,CA. USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2000
Strengths: Strong... No leaks... Amazing power... Comfortable feel, and most of all no one has them.
Weaknesses: A little hefty if you are a gram counter but definitely worth it to me
Bottom Line:
These breaks can stop you on a dime.. and they are great for trials. When you squeeze on the lever the power keeps going and going... absolutely no worries when descending and the better your brakes the faster you go without any worries.
Similar Products Used: xt, and some cheapies... lx
Bike Setup: 97" Specialized S works (gold edition) xt shifters, white industries cranks xtr drivetrain and xt hubs laced to mustang rims... and sweet Marzocchi Atom Bomb.. 23 pounds easy
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Submitted by
Adam Levy
a Cross Country Rider
from Evanston, IL USA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2000
Strengths: I've had my maguras now for about a year and they are going great. I just stuck some new levers on them, the ones for HS33s and they work great on mine, they are awesome. I pretty much ride trials around the city so maguras are what i need, they are great for cross country too though. I would buy them in a second.
Weaknesses: Nothing at all, except the kind of big levers they come with, but that can be fixed.
Bottom Line:
THey are great, buy them. They don't fall apart, stop you always, and you can't go wrong, especially if you order them mail order, i got em for like 100 bucks, you can't beat that.
Bike Setup: Dale - m500, titec hellbent riser bar, thomson seat post, LX crankset, LX rear deraileur, stx-rc front, RS Judy XC/Rigid Fork for trials, Maguras, LX hubs sun rims, its a dope ride
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Submitted by
Coonass
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000
Strengths: Durable, ease(lack) of maintainance, they stop with two finger finesse
Weaknesses: Heavy, by comparison, but you've got to be able to go slow to go fast.
Bottom Line:
They came stock on my '96 Kona Explosif, what an awsome deal! I've been with them ever since, haven't ever jumped on the V wagon. Excellent power, modulation, ease of maintainance, RED pads here in the Texas dust are awesome.
Strengths: Increadible breaking Great modulation Maintenance free Easy to change brake pads Works great even in mud
Weaknesses: Heavy Pricy (at least they were when I bought them!) Plastic brake lever flexes.
Bottom Line:
I've been using my HS-22 for about 5 years now. They are by far the best I've ever tried (except for disks!). And I haven't had to service them a single time since the purchase!!!!!! The brake pads are soooo easy to change on the fly. I'm a heavy rider (200 lbs), and I need stopping power. Magura delivers! The only thing that brakes better are disks. But I still think they're useless on cross country bikes! The HS-22 is a bit heavy (almost twice v-brakes), but their performance compensates for this flaw. The only thing I didn't like was the plastic brake lever that was too flexy. I replaced it with the metal version and voila! Problem solved! These brakes are the best. And anyone who says that V-brakes work just as well, surely hasn't tried these! If you need braking power, get a pair. You won't regret it! I can't wait to get my new Magura HS-33's that I ordered for my new Mountain bike! Their lighter and probably work even better, if that's possible.
Favorite Trail: 1991 World championships course, Bromont, Quebec
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: Shimano catilevers XT V-brakes
Bike Setup: XC race bike
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Submitted by
Berserker
a Please Select
from Mattapoisett, Mass. USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000
Strengths: Magura name, beefy looks,no cables to freeze up in the cold and snow, MODULATION, etc.,etc.,etc.,.........
Weaknesses: ummmm.... hang on, i'm still thinkin'....ummmm.....uhhhhh....nope.
Bottom Line:
i bought my HS-22's used for 70$, what a deal. you guys that paid 60$ stole 'em. somehow get a manual, it is needed to get the exact set up and little nuances figured out. They are not V- brakes, so don't expect them to feel like it.They are better.Mud and snow performance is incredible. does anyone understand Modulation? you will after riding these brakes...of course some people that don't know any better or can't set them up properly will bash these brakes and say go with Vee's, but you owe it to yourself to at least TRY someone elses Maggies. 5 chilies ain't enough!
