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Magura Raceline D

MSRP $ 259.00
# of Reviews 70
Average Rating 4.56/5
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Submitted by Steven Schmidt a Cross Country Rider from Cedarburg, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:Porcupine Rim Trail, Moab
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $170.00
Strengths:Powerful, good modulation, can adjust lever position on the fly, low maintenance - no cables to lose their feel due to need to be lubed, no squeal, pads last a long time, initial setup easy though a tad time consuming. Closed system design means bike can be turned upside down without having to worry about getting air in the lines. Environmentally friendly veggy oil.
Weaknesses:Typical rim brake mud handling disadvantage compared to a disc system. Pump-up a bit under heavy use when warm due to its closed system design, but lever adjusters are easy to tweak on the fly to compensate. Wheel removal can be hindered with larger tires.
Similar Products Used:XT V-brakes; CODA center pulls
Bike Setup:Proflex 857; Fox F80RLT; Risse Astro-5; RaceFace pieces including a 9 year old Turbine LP crankset and BB, headset, and XY seatpost; SRAM XO drive train; 10 yr old Mavic Crosslands and still great; Continental 2.3 Verticals
Bottom Line:Excellent brake system. Once setup, never had to adjust or bleed. My one set of Raceline D's are going into their 8th riding season, 2nd bike, and have been all over country through a variety of trail conditions.

One undesirable side-effect of the Magura hydraulic disc brakes power is that I found it necessary to add brake braces to prevent brake post spreading. Brake braces added a solid feel, but added more weight on an already somewhat heavy system.

I think V-brakes offer similar power and have pretty good modulation, but I can't stand lubing cables and balancing calipers. Motorcycles did away with cables decades ago and I was soooo happy when hydraulic clutches came into being - smooth consistant lever feel.

I don't think these Maguras will ever see racing again due to the light/powerful disc systems now available, and V-brakes will be the lightweight choice for X-country racing. But I believe these still have a place in world of non-race x-country trail and adventure riding, road tour biking, tandems, recumbents, and perhaps cyclocross (does Magura still make hydraulic road levers?).




Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Scott a Racer from Ypsilanti
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:Poto
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $150.00
Purchased At:Trade Show
Strengths:Stops like nothing else
Absolutely no adjusting after they are set
Brake pads have lasted 6 years!!!
Weaknesses:Hard to get used to the amount of power
Heavy
Similar Products Used:nice older shimano stuff but haven't changed in 6 years
Bike Setup:Nuke Proof Titanium Frame, Fir back rim with titanium spokes, Magura front with ti spokes also, Tons of ti on bike...blah blah blah
Bottom Line:Get them if you would like to stop!! Get them if you don't mind a little extra weight added to the bike. I love them and don't know if I will ever change over to V brakes or whatever. These things do not let go, and have a good progression to a locked stop.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Luke a Cross Country Rider from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:Delta Kompressor
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:* Excellent braking power - don't squeeze too hard!
* Simple to adjust
* Have never needed bleeding (knock on wood)
* A snap to replace pads
* No wet-weather fade
Weaknesses:* Eats rims for dinner
* Modulation is an acquired skill
* Does not sit quite right with my Shimano trigger-shifters.
* Heavier than V-Brakes.
Similar Products Used:* Old STX cable breaks
* Casual use of other Magura hydraulics
Bike Setup:Marin Indian Fire Butt 7000
Bottom Line:An excellent brake. Aside from the fact that it eats rims perhaps faster than other rims, it's really worth it. Brakes are important in these wet-weather biking conditions here in the Vancouver area. These are a good choice, even if they are a bit expensive.

If you live in a drier environment, V-Brakes would be cheaper and lighter.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Peter Bakker a Cross Country Rider from Alphen - The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:Everywhere
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:Great breakes, easy maintain, easy install, easy adjustable
Weaknesses:When you install the steel-o-flex cables. You'll never get them as great as they used to be !!!
Similar Products Used:XT V-brakes
XTR V-brakes
Magura Clara (nice, but hard to install)
Magura JhonnyTomac (The same !!!)
Bike Setup:=Azonic DS-1 (check there)
Bottom Line:Good break system, but do not install steel-o-flex your selve !!!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Mike Bike a Racer from Danvers,Ma U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:BRASS BALLS in Beverly, Ma
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:These brakes stop on a dime. Very little
maintence and setting them up was very
simple and quick. Being a X C racer having
brakes that require no cables to replace
every few weeks do to stretching or fraying
is goodto have.
Weaknesses:After every race season I have to bleed
them to get all the dirt and fiberglass
particles out of the brake lines for
maximum power for the following training
season.
Similar Products Used:hope disc brakes on my daul slolum bike
Bike Setup:merlin frame with XT derailleurs and crank
White Bros. UL 72 front fork, race face
stem seatpost and headset. easton monkey
lite riserbars. T.H.E. front fender. REAL
hubs on Mavic 221 rims with butted spox.
Bottom Line:If your the type of rider that wants t have
confidence in his of her brakes no matter
what the weather or terrain is like. Make a
wise investment and buy magura hydrolic
brake they are money well spent.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Marcel a Weekend Warrior from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Strengths:
durability
reliability
stopping power
no brake squeal
Weaknesses:
bulky
weight
bleed oil - haven't had to do it yet
Bike Setup:
1994 GT hardtail
Manitou 3 shock
LX components
Bottom Line:Excellent brakes. Got them when they first came out and haven't had a problem with them yet. But I may go to v-brakes and sell these since I think the v-brakes are lighter and just as powerful.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Perspective a Racer from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ardennes
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
feather touch breaking and excellent to dose...
superior brake pad wear, adjustment and exchange
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
XTR & XT V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Hard tail alu with Judy XC with Allu rims
Bottom Line:Being using them with great pleasure for 2,5 years Zero defects!!!! When you want to break they really should work don't they???
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Michael Hull a Cross-Country Rider from UK
Date Reviewed: October 14, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Red Bull Run
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Powerful
Good looking brake levers.
Low maintenence.
Weaknesses:
Heavy
Now unavailable carbon break booster.
Ugly brake mounts.
Similar Products Used:
LX and 99XT V brakes
Bike Setup:
GT Zasker LE and Rock Shocks Judys.
Bottom Line:I've had the Maguras for over a year and before that I had LX V brakes. I'm not sure if they are that much more powerful than the v's as I always seem to use 2 fingers to brake with them rather than one. What they do offer is superb feel with good modulation (don't listen to the magazine's reviews of them). I would reccomend that brake boosters be used with them front and back because the amount of flex from the brake bosses looks scary without them. Set up is difficult but I managed to get them working and get the shop to fine tune them. Since then no problems. I have another bike which has 99 XT's fitted but I much prefer the Maguras now just for the feel.
One thing, I crashed during a race last year and found that my shocks had split across the crown. I'm pretty sure this had something to with the brakes and how much flex they induce on the brake bosses.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Matt Thorne a Downhiller from Cornwall [england]
Date Reviewed: September 11, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Costal Path
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Loads of power, work very well in the mud which is good for cornwall.
Weaknesses:
Expensive pads, dificult to bleed but haven't needed to do that yet.
Similar Products Used:
Avid 2d V brakes, Lx V brakes.
Bike Setup:
Little trials bike total rigid.
Bottom Line:Good power second only to disc but a damn sight cheaper and best of all a scary bright yellow colour!
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by SB a Cross-Country Rider from NY
Date Reviewed: August 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ontario County State Park
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Modulation, power, looks, lack of maintenance.
Weaknesses:
Paint chips off brake boosters. Shrink wrap in tube fitting kit will not shrink with a hairdryer.
Similar Products Used:
Tektro V's, Alivio Cantis.
Bike Setup:
F400, Maguras! headshok P bone M
Bottom Line:Great brakes. they take a long time to install, but it's not that hard. The cheap paint on the brake booster pisses me off a little bit though. On my first ride they impressed me with their overall feel. They felt so high quality, no grit, positive return, really really smooth. I don't think anyone would notice the weight at all really. Durability and performance mean more then grams.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Joe Fekete Aka narfhead a Racer from Cincinnati Oh
Date Reviewed: June 22, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
powerful
Weaknesses:
lack of feel that V brakes give you
Similar Products Used:
XTR V brakes
Bike Setup:
litespeed obed
Bottom Line:I tried these brakes for a few weeks and I was not really pleased with the lack of feedback you get when you break. to tell you the truth I think shimano V's are powerful enough and have a lot better feel.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Mike Makohon a Cross-Country Rider from Rohnert Park C.A
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
When it is relly muddy out or wet the brakes work extremely better then those crapy V Brakes also they are very easy to adjust when riding.
Weaknesses:
They are heavy but are really worth the extra stopping power also frame flex because they are really powerful & the brake pads were out faster than Vbrakes.
Similar Products Used:
Iv tried Disc brakes but they are a lot harder to maintain than Magura. Magura brakes are just thebest thing other than Disc.
Bike Setup:
Schwinn S Carbon Marzocchi Z-2 Bam.
Bottom Line:Iv tried Disc Brakes and they are pretty powerful but if you just cant afford them Get MAGURA.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Scott a Cross-Country Rider from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: April 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Berryman
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great modulation
No squeal
Smooth lever, beats V's hands down
Weaknesses:
Powdercoating chips and logos wear off
Similar Products Used:
XTR, LX
Bike Setup:
Klein, Marzocchi Z1
Bottom Line:Great customer service, no problems with setup since preassembled. A little concerned about durability, since after only a few rides, finish chips way too easily. Should have been made out of anodized alloy or material similar to Shim's XTR
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Steve a Weekend Warrior from Fraser Valley, B.C.
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ledge View, Abottsford
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Powerfull with great modulation.
Weaknesses:
Heavy
Similar Products Used:
XTR V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super V Active & Cad 3 hard tail
Bottom Line:Very easy to maintain, Like them more than my XTR brakes.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by GP a cross-country rider from Hard Rock East Coast
Date Reviewed: February 10, 1999
Bottom Line:

I just had my second ride on my Maguras, what I found amazing is that the trail today was totally composed of ice, mud, snow, and water, not a dry spot anywhere. Mud deep enough to even throw me once.
With Maguras I had to take no special precautions,no matter how much mud was coating everything, I never had to touch a rim, they stopped as if it was a dry day! I would often ride thru the water to wash off the mud and these brakes could stop on a dime when totally soaked.
With cantilivers and V's I would always pump the Brakes every time they got wet to see how much stopping power was lost, with these,ride thru anything and don't worry about the brakes. The test is if they stay as good as they are now.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dan Maloney a cross-country rider from Buffalo NY USA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999
Bottom Line:

I've been using Magura HS-33 Raclines since they came out at the end of 1997. At the time I paid $250 US for them. The same brakes are now $155 which is a deal of a lifetime. For $155 US you get brakes that will last forever with next to no maintenance. My Magura brakes have been the single greatest upgrade I have every made on my bike (and I've made lots of upgrades). I don't need to tell you about all the other things that make Maguras great, the rest of the reviewers have done that. As for any of the negative reviews, the biggest problem people have with Maguras is installing them. Just because a product is a little difficult to install doesn't make them bad. There is plenty of online support here at mtbr.com and from Magura USA.Please do yourself a HUGE favor and buy some Maguras. You won't regret it.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dave a weekend warrior from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: January 27, 1999
Bottom Line:

These brakes are unbeatable. They don't compare to V-Brakes, and the only thing better is that I got mine for $89 out of Irvine!!!!! Kick ass! These brakes are not going to need constant adjusting like V-brakes, and they stop on a dime. The nicest feature is the red adjuster knod, it is a sweet. The only draw back is the setup. It is straight out a Bizatch, and it took me about 3 hours and 2 Mt. Dews to set them up at 2am. You don't need to be afraid of them, just patient.
Setup 1 chilli
Use 9 chillis
overall 5 chillis
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Bryan Howard a weekend warrior from Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 26, 1999
Bottom Line:

Amazing brakes. SOOOOOOOOo easy pad changes, and NO squeaks. These brakes are unbeatable in technical situations, and stop oon a dime. The colour looks great, and no matter what people say, the brakes don't really need boosters. But get 'em if you've got the money.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Christian Lee a weekend warrior from Burlington, Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 25, 1999
Bottom Line:

These raceline brakes are the best upgrades that I could have ever done to my bike, a Trek 6500. The adjuster knob on the levers work great, and the brakes are extremely strong, and don't squeak. Since they work so well, I never complain about the modest weight (which doesn't matter since they still are lighter than my old garbage Diacompe 737 V's). The best aspect of these brakes are their superior modulation to any of those V-brakes.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by John a from jumpy bike warrior Suffolk, England
Date Reviewed: January 10, 1999
Bottom Line:

I've rode with the raceline for about three weeks now and have had no problem at all, the sudden power they can deliver was just what I was looking for, and the adjustment knob has been of much use letting me modulate the brakes to a good degree.I havnt rode them without the boosters so i dont know how much different they make. Apart from the being slightly on the heaveir compared to V's these brakes are ace. Buy'em Fit'em Ride'em
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Mike a racer from Canada
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1999
Bottom Line:

I am a 155lbs rider who has a steal frame and got my magura's because I hated the performance of my lx v's, they are loud the pads wrecked my rims and I got kool stop's and they didn't work very well they didn't lock up the wheel's when I wanted them to. The magurasa re lighter than my lx v-brake and avid 2.0 lever and they are great. They hardly squeal and they feel the same all the time. I love the 3 finger lever because I have grip shft and they work great. I have an indy fork and a steal frame and I thought by the amount of power and the amount they flex my frame and fork that the two things would break but they didn't. I thought they stopped good and they'd never get any better but I put the carbon boosters on them and now they are even stronger than they were before. They are great for trials and for all of you who say magura's are for heavier riders that is not true I love them and I'm a light weight rider and don't find them too strong or to weak they are just right. Only problem with them is in the first three weeks of riding them I couldn't afford a booster and I broke the stud that holds the brake on my fork it just broke off during a race so then I needed a new fork so then I got a Z-2 Bam and that realy helped the ride of my bike and now I wouldn't trade it for oanything in the world. They costed me a lot more than they should have but they are worth it. If you run an indy make sure before you ride them you get a booster or you'll wreck your fork. And bomber riders don't need a booster on your forks. Steal frames are great for them as well and the flex isn't realy noticeable til you look at them but you don't feel it when oyu ride them.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by IGGH a cross-country rider from Victoria CANADA
Date Reviewed: January 8, 1999
Bottom Line:

Just a quick followup after four months. Maintenance free, excellent stopping power. For a heavier rider like me the confidence inspired by the brakes is powerful. If you know you can stop, you know you can safely go faster.I noticed a lot of very recent reviewers are complaining about the set-up difficulties. These brakes should come pre-set-up right out of the box now. I got mine in mid 1998 and all I did was attach them to the brake bosses and start riding. The system was pre-bled, pre-assembled, pre everything. I checked the web site and that's the way they come now.So, if you are struggling with set-up angst, make sure you got an excellent deal when you purchased your brakes because they're old stock and why should you pay for the grief of setting them up. Your LBS will probably be a big help in setup and do an excellent job for you. Negotiate :)Still lovin' them. For me, it's not worth 150g (1/3lb) to go back to mud-squealing XTR V's. They're lighter than lesser Shimano's and better stoppers than all. As for modulation, these are great. I guess I'm lucky that mine were setup ready to go. Being pre-bled means complete control over modulation from the start. So... modulation problems? - bleed your brakes.Hey, Magura just sent me a huge Tomac poster and some stickers for free. Nice touch. Five flaming triple coilers with a DQ twist.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Joël Vingerling a from Holland,trials
Date Reviewed: January 3, 1999
Bottom Line:

The Magura brakes are looking very cool and feel very good and they braek also very hard bud they are difficult to adjusted.
and tey are heavier than v-brakes bud youcan better handlle them.
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Brian H a weekend warrior from Bay Area (CA,, USA)
Date Reviewed: January 1, 1999
Bottom Line:

I just got these brakes about a week ago, but I am already lovin' them. Sure setup is a pain in the ass, but I'm up to a little test of my patience. It only took two zip ties and I think their neon yellow color looks good on my blue frame. At first the stopping power wasn't great, but after letting the air bubbles (from cutting the line) collect and bleeding the lines, stopping power was great! Definately get a brake booster for the rear. It helps a whole lot!
- one chilie for setup.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Peter Yeung a downhiller from Cornwall/UK
Date Reviewed: December 9, 1998
Bottom Line:

When I was desperately in need of some new brakes, I looked over to the Magura's. Not knowing that these would be a bad choice. I know that most riders will hate me, but I think that these brakes suck!!
They worked perfectly for a few months, but then they both broke!!
My opinion is that these brakes are weak.
Even though I still have the rear installed, I will be changing them very soon to Hope discs. I find that the setup is difficult, and fiddily, and that the setup changes upon heavy braking.
IF YOU WANT AN HONEST OPINION, FROM ME, AND MY MATES ------- DON'T BUY THEM!!!
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Marc a from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1998
Bottom Line:

Well , what can I say , just got a set of Racelines 98 . Stopping power was good , but nothing great . I can hardly endo with 1 finger , barely locks up with 2 fingers , only with 3 fingers that it actually locks up on tarmac ( with my weight all back ) . If it was a cantilever , I would be mighty glad with this amount of stopping power , but for a hydraulic brake , I'm disappointed .
How ever , its really maintainence free . It can get all mucked up , but still perform . Its a pain to set up . When U get a puncture , U're dead meat ( with the booster on ) . Hmm .... $200 for cantilever stopping power .... ? Nutz .I dunno , everyone seem to get power from their maguras , but not me , if U have any tips ..... pls email me . Thanx .
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Ben again a cross-country rider from Bethlehem, PA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1998
Bottom Line:

Welp, i said i would amend my review after i got brake boosters for my maguras, so here i am. Been riding on em for a week and a half and they make all the difference in the world. Now my wheels actually stop when i clamp my lever blades unlike before when my fork legs and seat stays flexed like mad. I had no idea what people were talking about when they complained about poor modulation, but now i see--just a little pressure on the levers goes a long way. But I like em like that. Don't bother my ass none. However, i still have one gripe: maguras are the biggest pain in the balls ever to set up. 9,000,000 different parts fall out of place when you loosen one bolt so you need 9,000,000 hands to hold everything just right when you tighten the bolts. Kinda frustrating, but worth the powerful braking the brakes give you. I gave these brakes 3 chillies before and i'll give em 5 now so everything averages out to 4 chillies, which is how i would rate these brakes overall (minus 1 chilly for setup difficulty).
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by IGGH a cross-country rider from Victoria BC Canada
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1998
Bottom Line:

Easy to set-up, install, adjust. Great stopping power. No cable problems. No squeaks, no uncertainty, no fear.For all you weight weenies...
The weight difference between Magura and XTR (levers, calipers, AND cables) is 146 grams or 1/3 lb. If you're using XT or less the difference is inconsequential. Other brands, take your own measurements. :)Carrying an extra 1/3 for the increase in stopping performance is critical for a heavier guy like me. A good match for my 521's laced with 14 g spokes and clad in my IRC selection-of-the-day (kujo, mythosXC, el gato, slicks, etc.).

To the reviewer immediately below... you're right (with repect to how much stopping power and pressure these generate). Get some brake boosters. Don't dis the brakes just because you're not properly equipped. XTR brakes, especially the rear, can work better with brake boosters too. If your frame flexes the way you describe, you'll need boosters for any good brake system.The possible exception to a perfect score is weight but the complainers tend to compare the entire Magura kit to V-brake calipers often without including the weight of the cables, levers, etc. Again, the weight is IDENTICAL or less than Shimano for all except XTR and even then the weight increase is slight compared to the incredible increase in stopping power.Am I biased? Probably a bit. Not many people would bad-mouth something they bought and risk looking stupid especially if the item was expensive. If I thought Maguras were crap I'd say so. The only truly awkward thing in my opinion is how to attach the line to the frame's top tube. Some use zip-ties, some (like me) use a special shrink-wrap kit, some use little adapters, and the truly brave enlarge their cable guides to accomodate the hydraulic line. All these work well and will do until you can spec Magura compatible cable guides when you have your frame built.Thanks again to Marc at Physical Culture for the suggestion and assistance. To me, these fully deserve five flaming triple-coilers with a DQ twist.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Ben a cross-country rider from the hills in the ghetto
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1998
Bottom Line:

Hmm. HS-33's... where do I start? Welp, replaced my XT V's with the maguras about two months ago (Irvine was blowing out the full set for $99). Sold my V-brakes for $90 so I didn't lose much. But that's not important. What's important is that I've had loads of trouble with these brakes, mainly because I'm too poor to buy brake boosters for them (at least I think that's the problem). I have these things on a Jamis dragon (chromoly) and they are TOO powerful--when I clamp the lever blades down, these things make my seat-stays and fork legs (Girvin Pro-carbon) flex like you wouldn't believe. Because of this amount of flex, the brake modules sort of rotate up slightly with the flex in the frame so they begin to clamp the rims at an oblique angle (the harder you squeeze the levers, the more oblique the pads are to the rim). So, rather than the whole pad contacting the rim, only the lower rear edge of the pad contacts the rim. I figured this out when I noticed a slight radius wearing into the brake pads. Otherwise, the pads seem to wear quickly (it wasn't long before my brake lever blades started closing all the way to my handle bar) and the lever blades are huge--full hand rather than two fingers. Not to mention the fact that my bike gained some weight when I put these things on. I get super-jealous when I ride my friends XTR V-brakes. So for now, until I strike it rich and buy some boosters, I'm gonna give these brakes 3 chillies because I'm holding out hope and think they could work well if they were set up properly. If things work out, maybe I'll amend my rating later.
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Remco a racer from The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have used almost any type of brake so far. Except discs. I used cantilevers, but that is not of this time anymore. Then I got magura hs22. It was okay but i thought they were not powerfull enough. Bought some xt vbrakes. Used them with cantilever levers. They had the most power of all my brakes. Your wheel locked up when the wind was blowing against your levers. Changed the levers for xt vbrake levers to get more rim clearance and a little more modulation. That was a nice setup. Then the v brakes started to fall apart. They rattled and squealed. Sold 'em. Bought some hs33's. Again, their power in wet muddy conditions disappointed me a little. But last week I went on a holiday. It was real muddy and wet. It rained the whole week. In the beginning the v brake using friends of mine laughed about my lack of power. But very soon it became clear that I didn't have less power. It was the opposite. And after two days their cables were all stuffed with mud and their brakes didn't retract. Modulation was out of the question, and their pads wore so fast that they had to change them after two days and they continuously had to adjust their pads, to set them closer to the rim. It was a drama for them. My maguras were getting better and better. Because the pads were automatically aligned because of the wear, the modulation improved and because of the closed hydraulics, I didn't have the cable stuck problem! Conclusion, magura rules in extreme conditions.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Chindo a racer from Alabama
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1998
Bottom Line:

These brakes kick ass, plain and simple. You want a set of brakes that is quiet, virtually maintenance free with unmatched power? get a set of Maggies. Trust me and all the other Magura cult members on this one, you WILL NOT regret it. Oh, and if you are looking for a set of brakes that performs well in the rain, let me tell you that Maguras are hurricane proof. I rode my bike all over town when hurricane Georges hit a month ago and the brakes stopped me without any problems. Do yourself a favor and get a set.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Sherman a weekend warrior from British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 29, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have had these brakes for 2 months and they have been good to me. No more gunked up lines due to mud getting in there. The brake pads last forever. There is a ton of modulation. Very maintenace free. Initial setup is a pain but for people that have done it a few times it is pretty easy and they just brush it off as being nothing. I think it is important that you be patient when setting these things up for the first time or you will get frustrated. They weigh a little more but pros for these brakes far outweigh the cons. Easy brake pad changes. They are a little more expensive than v brakes but they are worth it in the long run. They got nice levers but take a little getting used to. The blades seem a little wide when compared to my v levers.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Andrew Sleath a cross-country rider from England
Date Reviewed: September 25, 1998
Bottom Line:

I think these brakes r amazing!!!!!!1 They work brill and they stop you dead. I rode on my friend's bike and they wore amazing even in the wet and they stop even better in the dry. I am so glad i got these and i cannot feel the weight.
Thaank you ha
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Lee Lau a cross-country rider from North Vancouver BC Canada
Date Reviewed: September 25, 1998
Bottom Line:

I'm only giving it 4 stars but, to me, that's an excellent review. I rarely 5 star anything and give out plenty of 3 stars to good products; 4 star to me is excellent. I can't think of anything I've given 5 stars to.North Shore rider; mainly DH-style trials; very challenging terrain - steeps and deeps etc. On a hardtail bike ridden year-round in mud, snow etc. Run them on Mavic 217 Ceramics and I've had them for 4 months now, minimum time really to give a product a good testing. Compared mainly to other brake systems I've tested and used (DX cantis, LX cantis, Onza cantis, XT-V's, Avid V's)Overall, the Magura Racelines are the best brakes I've ever had.Pros = Superior modulation (use a booster on rear); comparable braking power to others, maintenance free, pads last a long time. No stiction in braking system. Customer service from Magura USA sets industry standard for responsiveness and timeliness.Cons = Durability of brake lever for Shore riding is questionable; two broken levers in four months; sheared at clamp from crash impact; bike lands almost directly on ground after botched drop-in, lever is delibrately not fastened tight on bar but due to nature and direction of impact, sheers. Suggest greater reinforcement - is this just a North Shore thing?Durability of brake line is acceptable - one broken line in 4 months.I like the brakes and the customer service from Magura USA so much I'm considering getting the brakes for a dedicated XC hardtail I will turn over every year.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by sean firth a cross-country rider from hamilton, ontario
Date Reviewed: September 15, 1998
Bottom Line:

i bought these babies in march of this year (sloppy riding time) and i absolutely love these things i have raced with them, gone down 6 foot vertical drop offs with them, with nary a scratch, and always plenty of power and modulation...if you dont have 'em get 'em. you will not regret spending all your hard earned cash!!!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Luc Plattiau a weekend warrior from Aalst, Belgium
Date Reviewed: September 11, 1998
Bottom Line:

During last winter, I bought a pair of yellow HS 33's. They are by far the best brakes I ever used. No screaming noise, more then enough break power when it's dry, but less when circumstances are wet and muddy. However even then I have enough power to stop my 95 kg's. Bying them was one of the best decisions I ever took as far as biking iss concerned
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by B.WEBBER a cross-country rider from OTTAWA,ONT.,CAN.
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1998
Bottom Line:

5 YEARS AT OVER 2OOLBS AND ALOT OF RIDING , THE BRAKES? STOP ON A DIME. I HAD TO RETURN A LEVER THAT BROKE IN A CRASH AND NO QUESTIONS THERE WAS ANOTHER. I HAVE THE RACELINE 1993 VERSION AND I JUST CHANGE THE PADS AND ADJUST FOR WEAR. MAINTENANCE? I USED TO HAVE TO FULLY ADJUST BEFORE EVERY RIDE WITH CANTIS,NOW, GET ON AND GO. WHAT ABOUT THE WEIGHT? DEOSE SAVING YOUR ASS COUNT OR WOULD YOU RATHER LOOK AT YOUR NICE LIGHT BIKE FROM A HOSPITAL BED. THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR CONFIDENCE AND ENHANCING YOUR SKILLS.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by John Thomas a cross-country rider from Arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1998
Bottom Line:

Here's the story: up front, I have a hs-33 raceline. In back, I have a Shimano XT v brake. The difference: night and day! The Magura has super modulation, the shimano has very little. The Magura has an extremely smooth feel at the lever followed by a firm grip on the rims, while the shimano has a rough, sticky feel at the lever (compared to magura) and a mushy feel at the rim. The Magura never glazes up or grinds, while the shimano does all that and more. The only complaint is a little squeaking while locking out with the Magura, but that's still a lot better than the squealing that some v brakes are prone to. When I keep changing cables and pads while getting rid of the slop that the v brake has, I might as well forget about the Magura. 5 chilis!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dave Macki a cross-country rider from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1998
Bottom Line:

Maguras are great. I have had the raceline D's for 4 months now and they are a dream to use. No squealing, easy to replace the brake pads and they are simple to set up (though the manual is poorly written). A major bonus is the excellent customer service.As for ultimate strength of the brake, who cares if they are stronger (or worse) than V-brakes (or disc brakes). I would think that it doesn't make to much of a difference as your wheel will be locked up anyways. I would think that modulation is the key and Maguras offer excellent modulation.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Lucian a cross-country rider from Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1998
Bottom Line:

I recently installed this on our Ibis tandem. Previously, it had Deore DX canti brakes. The improvement is dramatic! With the canti brakes, stopping was always uncertain. The first time I hit the Magura brakes, my poor stoker/wife almost ended up on my back. Setup is a little confusing initially, but very simple once you figure out what to do with all the little parts. Adjustability is excellent. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of thought that obviously went into engineering these. The only improvement I could think of would be a bleeder nipple instead of the allen screw/plugs. For average riders, v-brakes work so well that Magura's are probably not justified. However, for heavy/tandem riders or downhillers, these brakes are WELL worth the investment.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Taylor a cross-country rider from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have been using the Race Line Ds for about four months now and have had absolutely no problem with them at all. The original set up of the brakes was slightly more time consuming then V-brakes but once they were on I have yet to touch them other then the change pads which takes 30 seconds if I take my time. The control and feel of these brakes is sweet and I would have a very hard time going back to V-brakes. The adjustment on the fly is very nice as well and although I never thought I would use it I actually do. The brakes look good, feel good and best of all do what they are supposed to do .. stop on a dime no matter what. If you are considering them ... stop ... just buy them you will not be disappointed at all. Just buy the red/salmon pads as they last a lot longer.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by TJ a cross-country rider from New York
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1998
Bottom Line:

These brakes have been the best thing that has gone on my bike. Even thought they might be expensive, it is worth getting, you stop so fast, faster then V's, even in the rain or if you go through mud, you will stop fast too. In anything you will stop, I haven't had to bleed them in two years and I haven't had to change the pads in two years either, and I use my bike everyday for forty five miles.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nate a downhiller from Petoskey, MI
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1998
Bottom Line:

I love them! I have been running them for 2 years, same pads, same great stopping power ZERO mantainence. BUY THEM NOW! They don't drag like discs and stop like crazy. They waste V's and knock down canti's and pound the s**t out of them with a sledge. Some places (in the back pages of Mountain Bike and MBA)
You can find Magura sets for $79. You can beat that. So they may weigh a few ounces more than other brakes, screw that!!! Get bike stuff you like and lose the fat off your ass. You'll have more cash, and get more chicks cuz' of you nice ass! Ride on my brothers, and stop fast.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by HTmaniac a from Taipei
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1998
Bottom Line:

Very good long lasting quality brake system, additionaly it brakes hehe !, the stopping power is strong, with very litle fading on long downhill, quite easy modulation (better in front than back), good power in wet condition, availability of different brake pads, and easy replacement of brake pads.
Get the brake boosters to reduce the stress put on your frame/fork.
Just a dad heavy but still five start for a brake system that performs very well !
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jon a cross-country rider from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1998
Bottom Line:

These brakes are a gift from the gods. No joke! .. They brake better then your uncles porche... and when you are doing the same speed!... i have had these brakes for 4 months now and have had no complaints at all! .. The only thing that I would reccomend it to get brake boosters. Because trust me.. withou them your frame will have more flexability then your highschool honey..
I was doing some sick downhill and got clocked in at 77kph at mid run. These babies stopped me on a dime at the end. In less then 30 feet! if you dont trust my word then go down to your local shop and steal the firts thing you see with them.. well actually pay for them.. its worth it. plus . i can garuntee that they wont leave your hands ever again!..
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Sig a downhiller from San Jose California
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1998
Bottom Line:

Awesome! I've been riding these brakes for about a year, non-stop braking power, very adjustable and good feel. The set-up was a little labor intensive, but not too bad, and now they are hassle free and have been since installation. For the downhill they just can't be beat, although I haven't tried the disc brakes, but I don't need to since I have the Maguras. One finger braking even in the nastiest of situations. I definetly recommend these brakes!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Stuart Hodgosn a weekend warrior from England
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998
Bottom Line:

i Have had these brakes for around a month now and gopt them for 140 ppounds,not bad i think you'll agree, and am so impressed it's amazing. the brakes were not that simple to fot although once it's done there is not more maintanence apart from pad changes. the Green Frog pads are the ones that i fond offer the best stoping power in all conditions and the great thing about them is that the power never seems to fade no matter what conditions you are riding in. mud never worries them and believe me we get allot of that were i live. It just sticks to the rims and never comes of so short of the really expensive disc brakes i think that these are the best that you can get as they are so mcuhb better than 'V's.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Toady a cross-country rider from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1998
Bottom Line:

Great Great Great....Powerful brakes these MAGURAS.The ultimate in stopping power!They practically stop you in your tracks.I also like the adjustment knobs
and the brake boosters really help.They work well in wet conditions but they seem a little on the heavy side.Then again who cares!!!What is a little extra weight when in exchange you get lots and lots of braking power.Would give the MAGURAS 6 chills but i guess 5 will have to do
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Patrick Tingley a weekend warrior from washington state
Date Reviewed: June 22, 1998
Bottom Line:

I've ridden on these brakes for about 2 years now, the only problem that I've had so far is the pad's wear quickly. But if you ride in mud, these are the only brakes to have, besides disc's. I'm 220lbs so good stopping is very important, and these baby's STOP. Yeah they weigh more than v-brakes but the performance is way better than the v-brakes. I've also put on a set of line splitters so both pads hit the rim at the same time, it also put's the line in the center of the bike, out of the way of brush ect.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by BILL a cross-country rider from PITTSBURGH PA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1998
Bottom Line:

I love these brakes. I have always wanted a pair and I finally got them when I got my job at a local bike line. I took my xtr v's off and installed these. I take them on every type of trail condition i can think of and have no complaints . The work graet in mud and they look really cool the power and non friction feal is above any other rim or even most disk brakesBUYEM
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Clarke Clingenpeel a racer from Raleigh, NC USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have been using the Magura's for 3 years. I previously had cantilever XTR's. I ride alot, and am not the most mechanically oriented person. Therefore, I was constently spending hours trying to get my XTR pads adjusted right. Once they were, next ride they were squelling. The main motivation for me to use the magura's was no toe in adjustment. They do take a little time to get right at the beginning, but after that, brake pad replacement is a snap (literally). I used the adjustment barrel on the lever to adjust the pads as they wore. They are heavy, compared to regular brakes, and they do need to be bled at least once a year (not too hard though). You really notice the stopping power when riding in the mountains. You're forearms will not be sore. The levers have a much different feel from regular brakes. It took me at leat 5-8 rides to adjust to the feeling. So much of braking is instinct. You have to retrain your body to these brakes. They don't take much pressure to lock the wheel up. They are great brakes, and after 3 years of racing and hard riding, I have had not one problem (unlike some of the stories I here about disc brakes.) If you can stand the extra weight they are worth it.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Blake a cross-country rider from Montgomery, Alabama
Date Reviewed: May 12, 1998
Bottom Line:

These brakes are the best things since Frosted Flakes! They don't take all that long to set up if you think everything over before you screw something together. Great modulation, great power, great looks, and the cherry on top is the great support from MAGURA. The people at magura are THE brake people!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nathan Greenwood a cross-country rider from San Luis Obispo, CA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have ridden numerous V-brakes since switching from the old style. Then I found the magura Raceline Ds for 179.00 at PricePoint. That was only like 10.00 cheaper than the XTR V-brakes. I bought the Raceline Ds and couldn't be happier. They have yet to fail me in any riding situation. Braking was never a problem. Adjusting them is not that hard either. The initial settup is time consuming, yet worth it. You won't squeak or have to adjust halfway through a ride. Heavy? maybe, but I can always stop and my hands are never sore from long hard braking downhills. Worth the time and Money!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Hutchie a cross-country rider from Hudson,Que,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1998
Bottom Line:

These brakes are amazing, they take a lot of time to set them up but if your patient, its worth the time. Their stopping power is unbelieveable compared to my old LX v-brakes which are crap, these brakes are so strong that my Sun Cr18 rims are starting to cave in after only 3 months of riding, not that that is a good thing. On long, steep decents fading is non-existant and their flourecent yellow color gathers a lot a attention. The only bad things about these brakes is the weight and the price($475 canadian) and that a pair of pads are twice as much as XT pads.
If you don't mind the added weight, I would highly recommend these brakes.
I give'em 4 chillis for their added weight.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Travis a weekend warrior from Manhattan, KS
Date Reviewed: February 28, 1998
Bottom Line:

I have been using my Magura Racelines since 1995 and will never go to anything else. Some people don't like them because they happen to be the few who are not patient enough to take a little extra time to set them up because they seem to think that adjusting their cantis and v's every other day is better than doing it all at once. Like I said, I have had mine since 1995 and have never had to adjust them since. So I say get them if you can, take the time to set them up and then you have all of the free time to set up and adjust other stuff besides your brakes. Flouresent Yellow Rules!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Robert Drake a cross-country rider from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: February 19, 1998
Bottom Line:

I had the Onza canties prior to purchasing the Raceline D brakes and I had
no idea what I was missing. After reading the reveiws I decided to order
a pair @ 179.00 from Price Point and am amazed by their performance.
I raced at the 12 Miles of Hell in Lawton,OK last weekend and had so much
more confidence on the extreme sections it was unbeleivable.
I removed the tires from the rims to properly align the brakes and it made
the setup much easer. (only about 2 hours from start to finish).
I would highly recomend these to downhillers and cross-country riders as
well.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Paulo Correia a weekend warrior from Cascais, Portugal
Date Reviewed: January 23, 1998
Bottom Line:

After the hassle of seting these brakes up, these brakes are GREAT!!! So there heavy, so what I already weigh 92Kg, what's a few extra grams? Practically no maintenance, changing the pads in a mater of seconds. They are quite powerfull, maybe not as much as the XTR V's, but they're alot more progressive and best of all no squicking!!!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Chris a racer from USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 1998
Bottom Line:

I am a female who has been racing/riding with Magura Brakes for two years now after using Shimano brakes for a couple of years. With the Shimanos, I used to have problems with my forearms cramping on long downhills and would have sore arms the day after a long ride. Since I have had the Maguras, this has not happened to me once. If I had to give them up, I would probably quit riding. They have been extremely reliable…I never have to adjust them. They still work perfectly after two years of abuse and I really love just being able to pop out the pads and snap in a different pair for changing conditions if I want. (Although I haven’t noticed any of the pads working badly in any condition.) Also, I think it is pretty cool when I am in a wet or muddy race and all of the other women’s bike who aren’t using Maguras are squealing and mine isn’t. Bottom Line: If you are willing to spend a little extra, (although some of the linear pull brakes out there are getting pretty pricey) you probably will never want to use anything else!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by micah a cross-country rider from Pgh
Date Reviewed: December 26, 1997
Bottom Line:

I hate the way these brakes feel at the lever, especially on the return. The setup is sooooo long. They are heavy. However they do have excellent stopping power. I guess this all adds up to about 2 chilis. Compared to v-brakes, well, no comparison. blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by DanK a racer from USA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 1997
Bottom Line:

These are the 98 model Racelines, the HS33 Quick Silvers.
They are a claimed 100grams lighter than last year's Johnny T's.
Same 14mm piston but now with a slimmer/lighter brakebody and lever.If you love hydraulic brakes you will love these. I owned the Raceline's before and these are just plain better. But if you have the 97 Raceline D's and are happy with them I wouldn't ditch them for these.But the owner's manual is easier to read and follow than the 96 manual. Customer service is also great.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Enrico a cross-country rider from Italy
Date Reviewed: December 14, 1997
Bottom Line:

This braking system is so powerful and so hassle-free that symply can't be compared with mechanical brake system. No way to go back to the Shimano brakes I used before. It's very easy to install and I really appreciate the four different brakepad compounds to dial-in the brake system with the rim and the weather. The possibility to adjust the brake distance on the fly without tools helps a lot in mantaining 100% of the power. What I really like is the great consistence and the abosule absence of service. FOrget the system, exactly as the brakes of your car.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Fernando Carmo a cross-country rider from Sabugo, Sintra, Portugal
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1997
Bottom Line:

I love my Magura's Raceline. It woks well in the rain, in the snow, everywhere you want.
It increase my confidence on downhilling, and my patiente, because it is a reliable brake system.
I use on long rides and never have any problem!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by D. Yorga a weekend warrior from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1997
Bottom Line:

For me there is no question. I love the modulation, feel and total stopping power avaiable. I purchased the Racelins D's and have never incured any problems. They are maintance free and extremely durable.I have tried v brakes and I do not like them. For out and out power they are almost equal to the D's but for feel they are lacking. An all or nothing kind of power and the squealing is very tiresome.I do recomend a brake booster unless your frame is ultra stiff as I had bent each rear stay out about 1/4 of an inch and had to bend them back to fit the brake booster.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by James a cross-country rider from Knoxville TN
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1997
Bottom Line:

These are simply the best brakes I've ever used. They've got the modulation of
a top-notch canti (Tri-align or Speedmaster, for instance) with more stopping
power than V brakes. Setup is trivial compared with cantis or V's and the Turbo
Pad adjuster (I've got the Raceline-D's) allows for varying taste in lever feel.
Get these. You won't regret it.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Justin Marchacos a racer from Durango
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1997
Bottom Line:

Magura's kick ass! Two words: Bart Brentjens. A couple more: Johnny Tomac. Why do they use these brakes, because they can. They could ride pee-brakes if they wanted to, but hydrolic power works the best. I run them on my bike and will always run them. They give me more stopping power than any squishy V-brake ever has. They (Raceline D's) are easilly adjusted by a small red dial for on they fly adjustment, and can be fine tuned for one finger stopping ability. These brakes are perfect for downhillers, and for fast cross-country racers as well. I highly recommend these for anyone.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Karl Starling a cross-country rider from Australia
Date Reviewed: February 28, 1997
Bottom Line:

After reading some conflicting reveiws I was a bit worried about the Magura's, but after installing them myself which was a breeze, apart from having to bleed the front brake because I let the cable flick out. Don't get me wrong bleeding the brakes is not hard, it's just that when you do it for the first time it's a bit scarry. any way since installing them they have not needed any adjusting at all. And stop!!! First time I used them I had to go fetch my eyes from off the road in front of the bike, they stop just fine. I have the Raceline D's which come with titanium bolts so the weight is not a problem.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Gursel Akay a weekend warrior from Istanbul
Date Reviewed: January 5, 1997
Bottom Line:

I have been using Magura's Race Line brakes for only 5 week-ends.Stopping
power is OK.The set-up is painfull.Zip ties everywhere.Why those big (3 finger?)
brake levers?Pads wears out easily.And the last time rear slave brake tube
cracked inside of the nut(witout a reason )and all the oil leaked.Voila,I am
rear brakeless in the beginning of a superb downhill .I think the power of a V-
brake is equal or better than Magura's.So why use expensive and problematic(complex) components when you have proven ,simple,inexpensive components?
Think it over..
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Eddie Hwang a racer from Holland, Mi
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1996
Bottom Line:

I currently just purchased a Pair of Raceline D's and I can't say enough good stuff about them. I previously used a pair of shimano XTR V's and the Maguras don't even belong in the same catagory. The braking power is unbeatable, I will never use another brake set again
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Andreas Trüb a cross-country rider from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: October 18, 1996
Bottom Line:

Go, go, go! There is nothing that quite compares to the feeling, when you know that you should have pulled your brakes 10 meters ago, but didn't because your riding MAGURAS!
These brakes are totally amazing. They'll stop anything just below the speed of light in zero-point-something seconds!!!
My brother got them first, and when I tried them out, I knew that I had to have them too.
The braking power and control is just amazing. Nothing I have tried comes close; not even Shimano V-brakes. I'm riding with the Raceline D and they are well worth the money. The little red adjuster knob allows you to set the biting-point while your on the fly. The colours are wicked and give your bike that check-out-that-bike-quality.
They are a bit on the heavy side, but who cares when you know that you've got the best! I think that weight isn't a real criteria, when your talking about brakes, as the important thing is that they do the trick and are reliable.
The engineers back in Germany really out did themselves. Join the Brake People
Get'em! Use'em! Love'em!
I'd give them 6 chilis, if I could. But I'll have to settle for 5.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Mike Bennett a cross-country rider from Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996
Bottom Line:

Just got my new pair of Raceline D's installed and have ridden a couple times and
they are amazing. I've used the regular Racelines, but find these to be much more
modulated and true 2-finger braking. The on-the-fly red adjustment knob on the
lever makes it quick and easy to adjust for brake pad wear while riding. The Ds are
supposed to be 20% more powerful than the regular Racelines, and are they? Hard to
tell so far. I am using Magura/Underground CNC'd brake boosters to calm down the
flex between my Judy's legs and in the rear of my LTS. The boosters are a definite
plus for Magura users since they allow you to keep the quick-release feature and
reduces flex dramatically which will inturn provide more braking power to the rim.
Once installed, I have yet to adjust anything except the knob for brake pad wear.
These are truly maintenance free brakes and at a weight of 820 g for the complete
set, they are dfinitely worth it. They are especially good for full suspension bikes
that usually suffer from indirect brake lines and other cable problems.

Get 'em, Ride 'em, Love 'em.
Overall Rating:5






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