No compromise fully hydraulic rim brake system with a 14mm diameter master piston and two 14mm diameter slave pistons. This makes the HS 33 series approximately 25% more powerful than the other rim brake models. Aluminium brake lever with forged 2-finger lever blade and integrated on the go turbo pad wear adjuster.
Submitted by
brettsportler
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2011
Strengths: there are only a few products one could say that they changed a sport-this is probably one of them.
Weaknesses: time moves on...
Bottom Line:
I´ve been a huge fan of this brake (or the preceding RaceLine-Brake, respectively) for many years, starting somewhere in the years following John Tomac first riding these...However, I feel that in 2011 there are better choices: for those of you looking for a rim brake for whatever reason, you will find cheaper and more reliable "normal" rim brakes (such as SD7 with good pads). And for the big rest of you, get something like Avids BB7 which will cost you the same and offer A LOT (sic!) more power. Don´t believe what enthusiasts will tell you on this brake, even when using it in optimal conditions (that is clean, good rims, good pads, no rain), you´ll be far from a well set up disc brake...
Similar Products Used: Avid SD7 Rim brakes, Avid BB7 disc brakes (both mechanical)
Bike Setup: Surly 1x1, Rohloff Hub, (now) BB7 disc brakes...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ligfiets
a Racer
from Delft, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2009
Strengths: When new, more stopping power than regular rim brake. Easy replacement of brake pads
Weaknesses: Reliability, durability.
Bottom Line:
Combines the weak points of a rim brake with weak points of a disk brake. You have the more complex hydraulics and rim damage but not the stopping power. After some two years most of the stopping power was gone; they are hard to service and can fail just as unexpected as a mechanical brake. Maybe they last longer if you do a lot of maintenance, but it's nothing for a 365 day/yr bicycle.
Bike Setup: Challenge Hurricane, USS, random shimano parts, HS33 on back wheel.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
feeal
a Cross Country Rider
from colchester, uk
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2009
Strengths: awsome stopping power, cooler than Steve McQueen, no maintenance so far, , , easy to change pads, confidence boosting performance rain or shine!
Weaknesses: like any rim brake, heavy mud can be a little awkward, just scrapes from the mud build up, they still stop you fine.
Bottom Line:
the whole bike cost me £157 and i couldn't by the brake levers for that. I'm well chuffed. The hs33's are the most awsome part of a beautiful bike, they stop you, and nothing stops them doing that. gotta love the bar mounted adjustment.
Similar Products Used: a variety of v-brakes and a few rides on disc equipped mtbs
Bike Setup: koxx drilled rear rim on a chris king hub, 12-28t dur-ace cassete and mech, middleburn rs8's with 34t uno chainring, raceface bottom bracket and headset, easton monkeylight bars, carbon fibre levers by rb design (by all accounts these are a great improvement on the maggie lever) zoo forks to a hope hub in mavic rim and michellin hot S tyres all lovingly bolted to a light as you like rockhopper frame
Strengths: Good,soft feeling on levers, very strong in braking,look.
Weaknesses: Tricky to set up,to heavy for XC, if not set properly lack of streng.
Bottom Line:
Used them every where, on dry, rain, mud. Mud blocked me only once, on Bansko Brdo. When you set them up properly, they are great. But as the pads start to wear out i hed to set them to often, sometimes after 2 or 3 rides. And it is pain in the ass to set them up corectly. They where also to heavy for my tipe of riding, so i changed them and bought me self a pair of new
XT Vbrakes. Strenght of braking is about the same, but bike is much lighter now, and im vory free of constantly seting the brakes.
Bike Setup: All XT, Marzocchi MX Comp 120mm, kellys Sabotage HT frame.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
BicycleGod.com
a Downhiller
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2008
Strengths: Incredible stopping power. I ride these brakes on the rear of my urban/skateprk rig. Also on the front and rear of my Trials bike. Cannot recommend them highly enough
Weaknesses: Inexperienced riders may find them difficult to setup initally. I did not have this problem!
Bottom Line:
If you want rim brakes instead of discs. There is NO better brake on the market. FACT
Submitted by
David King
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2006
Strengths: Fully sealed system which gives you dependable braking with good modulation. Set up correctly, they are silent and pretty much maintenance-free. Mine have been going NINE years without adjustment, other than changing pads and the fluid a couple of times.
Weaknesses: Braking suffers in wet conditions, like all rim brakes. Tricky to set up, but not if you get a mechanic to do it. New Evo2 mounts look like a major improvement.
Bottom Line:
If you can't use disks, the combined dependability and power of HS33's beats any rim brake. Get them fitted and forget about them.
Submitted by
Pedro
a Cross Country Rider
from Porto Portugal
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2006
Strengths: A very very strong brake!!! I think that it is to strong for XC! but know that I BOUGHT IT I think that I would never chang it for anyone of other brakes!! simply love It
Weaknesses: A bit difficult to set it but once it is set its simply the best brake ever! THE ONLY weakness that I think it as is when ist muddy terrain it has the weakness off v-brake.. a lot of mud in the tyre.. its the only thing that its worst than any disc brake...
Bottom Line:
its just like set it and forgett it..! just love it and never gonna change it! a lot but a lot of strong power!!!
Strengths: Evo2 slightly easier to set up than previous model. A1 braking, good looks. Cheaper than discs and imo as good as discs.
Weaknesses: The new 2005 levers are horrible, the hose runs out at 45 degrees making running them to the front calipers difficult. The levers also dont match my XT shifters.
Bottom Line:
EVO2 system is easier to setup than the older model, I HATE the new levers and will be contacting MAGURA to see if they will exchange them for an older set. HS33'S are bombproof and will last forever. For value 5 chillis but for the overall rating just 2 because of the dodgy levers.
Strengths: Evo2 slightly easier to set up than previous model. A1 braking, good looks. Cheaper than discs and imo as good as discs.
Weaknesses: The new 2005 levers are horrible, the hose runs out at 45 degrees making running them to the front calipers difficult. The levers also dont match my XT shifters.
Bottom Line:
EVO2 system is easier to setup than the older model, I HATE the new levers and will be contacting MAGURA to see if they will exchange them for an older set. HS33'S are bombproof and will last forever. For value 5 chillis but for the overall rating just 2 because of the dodgy levers.
Strengths: Evo2 slightly easier to set up than previous model. A1 braking, good looks. Cheaper than discs and imo as good as discs.
Weaknesses: The new 2005 levers are horrible, the hose runs out at 45 degrees making running them to the front calipers difficult. The levers also dont match my XT shifters.
Bottom Line:
EVO2 system is easier to setup than the older model, I HATE the new levers and will be contacting MAGURA to see if they will exchange them for an older set. HS33'S are bombproof and will last forever. For value 5 chillis but for the overall rating just 2 because of the dodgy levers.
Similar Products Used: Older Hs33's with decent levers.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jose Thibault
a Cross Country Rider
from North of Toronto
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005
Strengths: - Fix-it and forget it - TPA easy to use - locks the wheels up nice and hard - several kinds of pads available for different kinds of rims -
Weaknesses: - Evolution adaptors for V-mounts are pain in the arse to set up - brake is too strong for some frames, requires brake booster (included in XC kit) - (if) booster (is) provided for V-mounts and not Maggie mounts (WTH?) - cross over's brake easily, repairing requires rebleeding brakes - Blue Blood is not included and often expensive itself ($20 compared to $10 for other hydraulic oils) - 4-bolt adaptors often need to be purchased separately (only Trials-dedicated shops have them)
- NOT A GOOD XC BRAKE - WAY TOO STRONG - USE ONLY IF YOU DO TRIALS!!
Bottom Line:
A great brake, but a bit on the expensive side. Set up takes a while and tweaking isn't too difficult, once the user understands how to place the brake.
In terms of value, i'm going to give this one 4, as it can be a bit of an expensive brakeset to maintain. Not to mention the need for extra parts when setting it up for 4bolt magura mounts... it's rather silly that a brake that has frames with mounts dedicated to it, doesn't come BNIB with the adaptors for the 4bolt dedicated frames.
I give it a 4 for overall as well, seeing as how it tends to come with the parts to set up an XC bike, rather than Trials bike. XC-riders seriously don't need a brake this strong, so there's no real point in the brakeset coming BNIB with the evo adaptors and 2pt booster.
Similar Products Used: Avid 2.0, arch-rival, Shimano XT
Bike Setup: Planet X Tibo with Norco Evolve Fork, HS33, Sun Mammoths. Single speed set up via Norailleur
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jose Thibault
a Cross Country Rider
from North of Toronto
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005
Strengths: - Fix-it and forget it - TPA easy to use - locks the wheels up nice and hard - several kinds of pads available for different kinds of rims -
Weaknesses: - Evolution adaptors for V-mounts are pain in the arse to set up - brake is too strong for some frames, requires brake booster (included in XC kit) - (if) booster (is) provided for V-mounts and not Maggie mounts (WTH?) - cross over's brake easily, repairing requires rebleeding brakes - Blue Blood is not included and often expensive itself ($20 compared to $10 for other hydraulic oils) - 4-bolt adaptors often need to be purchased separately (only Trials-dedicated shops have them)
- NOT A GOOD XC BRAKE - WAY TOO STRONG - USE ONLY IF YOU DO TRIALS!!
Bottom Line:
A great brake, but a bit on the expensive side. Set up takes a while and tweaking isn't too difficult, once the user understands how to place the brake.
In terms of value, i'm going to give this one 4, as it can be a bit of an expensive brakeset to maintain. Not to mention the need for extra parts when setting it up for 4bolt magura mounts... it's rather silly that a brake that has frames with mounts dedicated to it, doesn't come BNIB with the adaptors for the 4bolt dedicated frames.
I give it a 4 for overall as well, seeing as how it tends to come with the parts to set up an XC bike, rather than Trials bike. XC-riders seriously don't need a brake this strong, so there's no real point in the brakeset coming BNIB with the evo adaptors and 2pt booster.
Bike Setup: magura brakes, DM24 rims, trial bike .
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Midlands UK
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2005
Strengths: best solution if you don't have or don't like disc brakes
Weaknesses: nightmare to set up, the QR bolts are cheapest metal
Bottom Line:
I had these brakes on my old bike which didn't had disc mounts. I think the HS33 are the best solution in such a case, otherwise, I would prefer disc brakes. Rim brakes just are less powerful than disc brakes, they don't work well in wet and muddy conditions (which is the norm in the UK), and they cause rim wear: my rims had an U-shaped groove after one year of frequent riding. Having said that I think that the HS33 are the best rim brakes around once you managed to set them up without having a nervous breakdown.
Hi
will the new HS33 EVO 2 brakes fit on the back of my santa cruz heckler? I only have V brake mounts but i was wondering if the Brake and all its hardware would fit ?
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I want to do hs33 rear and disc front. If I get a pair of hs33s can I put the front lever on a disc brake? Or is there another way to end up with levers that match or almost matc Read More »
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