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Submitted by
Bud Nilsson
a Weekend Warrior
from Lodi,Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | All Bicycle brakes need upgrade for max safety!
ABS brake system for bicycles !
www.budbrake.com | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wirehead
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyvale, CA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Single Digit 7 | | Bike Setup: | Fuji Nevada 3.5 w/ Shimano Altus EZ Fire brake/shifter levers, etc. | | Bottom Line: | So, this is a popular brake to have on a low-end hybrid or XC bike. And, you know what, I cyclecommuted with these brakes through rainstorms and descended mountains and rode offroad and stuff. We're not talking about blowing up in a mushroom cloud the second you hit the brakes or anything.
About the biggest and most annoying property of them is that the torsion spring holding the arm down has a habit of popping off whenever you pop the noodle off to get your tires off. I never tried to adjust them, I left that to the bike shop.
On the other hand, once you've ridden the bike long enough to wear down the brake pads.... if you compare the cost of a decent set of V-brakes... say the Avid SD7's that I replaced 'em with... to the cost of getting a good set of brake pads when the pads that come with the break wear out... maybe it's not the world's worst idea to upgrade... and it's not like you need anything other than a pair of pliers and the multi-tool you already have for emergencies to change it out.
But then you say, "Self, why the heck am I replacing brakes. We're talking about a piece of machined metal with springs and screws in the right places. The whole point of V-brakes is that they are dead-simple. Sure, somebody can make *lighter* brakes, but can they make *better* brakes?"
So, in order to save you the angst of trying to answer that question, sight unseen, I'll answer it for you. If you look at the Avid SD7 next to this set of brakes, it's not like the Avid is made of some exotic alloy or is radically different in shape and form... I'm guessing maybe the geometry is different so it responds to the brake levers a little differently... or maybe just the brake pads are a better formula... but somehow there's just not a whole lot of braking power, even when you really squeeze the levers. So I'm swapping 'em out one-at-a-time and discover that with a Pro Max in front and a SD7 in back... the back brake is suddenly a lot more powerful than the front brake.
So, that's the bottom line. It's just a cheap OEM brake that bike makers can use to shave a few bucks off the purchase price of a bike that your average person isn't going to notice. Not bad enough to merit a recall, not unsafe enough to actually hurt somebody, but clearly not a very good set of brakes. If you are stingy like me, you can probably make do just fine with them, but once the pads are worn down (took me about 2300 miles) it's time to just toss the works and get some better V-brakes. There is a notable performance difference between these and the SD7's I got because everybody reviewing 'em here was singing their praises. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thrilla gorilla
a Racer
from everett, wa, usa!
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | last long great all weather | | Weaknesses: | when wet leave black residue | | Bike Setup: | motorized schwinn stingray, schwinn high sierra | | Bottom Line: | these people cant use brakes for crap, ive had mine for two years! two bikes with same brakes! ive got a mini chopper that goes 50 and thes brakes and pads stop me dead in my tracks. i have to be carefull not to slam the fronts,
my buddy has promax and they do the same thing they scare you! no matter what all v brakes usually rub.
i recomend these brakes to anybody who likes great brakes for an even better price. a tip for users with a bad time with thes brakes are you aware thet your supposed to break in your pads before use? not imediatly go down a hill an see if they stop you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JD
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin Tx
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Walnut Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came With Bike | | Strengths: | Good springy set of v-brakes. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | top pull (Y) brakes, no name crappy super store brakes. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Schwinn Ranger 2.6 FS | | Bottom Line: | I can't believe how long lasting these brakes have been. I compare them to brakes that come with other superstore bikes and they clearly outlast them. I have a friend with a 1yr old Mongoose bike and it's no-name v-brakes no longer spring outward. The Pro-max brakes are still springing and have been donated to the Mongoose. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
damir
a Weekend Warrior
from zagreb
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | worst piece of crap that was ever made on the face of this planet | | Bottom Line: | if you want to buy bike with promax breaks, DO NOT BUY IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel A
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with the Bike | | Strengths: | The calipers aren't bad, I would give them a 4 out of 5. They don't flex much, if any at all. | | Weaknesses: | The Levers and the pads are garbage. If you ad just the Koolmax MTB pads it makes a world of a difference. | | Bike Setup: | My bike came with a complete Pro Max setup. | | Bottom Line: | I was really unsatisfied with the whole setup, so I upgraded the pads to the KoolMax MTB and have seen a hugh improvement. As I noticed the calipers aren't bad and they are not ugly either so I thought lets upgrade the levers to the AVID Single Digit TI.
What do you know, this setup works absolutelly great. The complete Promax setup i would give a 2/5, however as the calipers are in decent working order with my new setup i must say it strikes a 4/5 or better. So If you have this setup, don't spend the money on a complete new setup, just upgrade the levers and the pads... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Memorial Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | They aren't ugly (but they're ne lookers either) | | Weaknesses: | Squeaky, Flexy, don't stop all that well
Have to pull the lever to the bars to lock up the wheels | | Similar Products Used: | Tektros, LX Vs(decent stoppers) | | Bike Setup: | Hardly Stock '06 Marin Bolinas Ridge | | Bottom Line: | They feel like i'm breaking with plastic. They are ok for road riding, in fact, they are good in most road situations. Just don't expect to come to a controlable stop on the trail. The only reason I had them for two years is that I didn't have any money for new brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | - Not bad for the first little while.
- Black color matched rest of my frame. | | Weaknesses: | - Squeaked quite often.
- After a few years I noticed all the pads were cracked on the front and rear. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD7's | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 Deore XT shifters, LX front derailleur, XT rear derailleur, Deore Brake levers, Avid SD7's front and back. | | Bottom Line: | After upgrading from the stock Promax found on my Trek 4500, I will never go back. While the Promax were ok, the difference with the SD7's is remarkable. I bought the SD7's based on the ratings in the review section of this website.
SD7's all the way. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Haslingden
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Area | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | All local rides | | Strengths: | Alerts other persons to presence of bike via a shrill squeek | | Weaknesses: | Many and varied, mostly adding weight to the bike as to just take the whole assembly off would probably aid braking | | Similar Products Used: | Hope M4 Discs The daddy | | Bike Setup: | Built for speed | | Bottom Line: | Ive seen these brakes in action on Michaels bike for a while now (dont have the bravery to run that kind of set up on me own steed.) and wish him luck every trip. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Ely
a Cross Country Rider
from Oldham, England
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Pennine Bridleway (all bits) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Chris Paulson Cycles Rochdale | | Strengths: | Collect muck that would otherwise end up on you. And they stop the bike real fast, but only when going up hill. | | Weaknesses: | These brakes aren't fit for purpose on wet and muddy trails. Don't expect them to help you make a controlled descent - get off and walk if you want to live. | | Similar Products Used: | A brick attached to some string - worked better than this pile of rubbish | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Xcaliber 29er. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy these brakes, they give V brakes a bad name. I'm getting hydraulic discs fitted this week - I think a 3-year trial is fair enough. They failed the test. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Ilinois
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bikes Plus | | Strengths: | None, if these brakes were not on my bike when I bought it I would have never rode them. Im lucky I was not killed when I got caught in some rain. | | Weaknesses: | Anything related to getting my bike stopped. | | Similar Products Used: | Anything and everything. | | Bike Setup: | GF Tassajara, Avid 10s. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes suck. Upgrade fast or you will be putting you life on the line. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barkdog
a Cross Country Rider
from Salem, Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | fantastic rim-scraping, mud-cleaning action! | | Weaknesses: | prevents you from mounting an actual brake on your bike. | | Similar Products Used: | none. an original product, these rim-scrapers. | | Bike Setup: | They came stock on my Gary Fisher HKEK, which is now my singlespeed. | | Bottom Line: | These "rim-scrapers" work great! If you're riding through mud or grime, all you do is squeeze the levers and voila, your rims are shiny clean! I never would have thought such an original product idea would work so well. As mentioned above, they do get in the way of mounting actual brakes on your bike. But who cares? Your rims will be beautiful! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis V
a Racer
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Rowlett Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | None. | | Weaknesses: | I dont know where to start with these things. They came on my GF Tassajara. From all the reviews I had read about the Tassajara I already knew these were supposed to garbage. But I wasnt prepared for just how bad they really are.
-They dont stop the bike.
-They come out of adjustment and start rubbing the rim.
-Both the front and the backpulsate like the rim is bent.
-They are very spongee
-They suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro rim brakes. | | Bike Setup: | GF Tassajara,Stock for the moment. | | Bottom Line: | I didnt think brakes could be this bad. These brakes dont belong on a $600 bike. They dont belong on a $150 bike. In fact I even ended up taking the no-name-whatsoever brakes off of my wifes Wally world Schwin and notice a drastic improvement.
If the bike you are buying has these things on it, do yourself a favor and upgrade before you even walk out of the shop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Nowy Sacz, Poland
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Tatra moutains | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | friend's store | | Strengths: | Well, I'm talking about Promax Race Pro Vbrakes. This model, however old, is the best Promax brake ever made. despite it's age and more than 35000km of service, it is still in great condition and stops my bike wherever I want and how I want. Great modulation, exchangeable pads came stock. Great and precise adjustment. Rigid arms. With a Tektro T2 boosters, those brakes work like XTR. They just never failed. | | Weaknesses: | After those years they have play on pivots. However it does not affect adjustment or braking at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Deore XT, Avid. | | Bike Setup: | Merida Sport 700 | | Bottom Line: | I wish they were making such good brakes these days! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | seem to have fairly strong stopping power
Why does everyone say that they squeal? mine never have. | | Weaknesses: | horrible in wet weather. | | Bottom Line: | Will work fine on any trail, so lang as it's not very muddy, or as long as it's not raining. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Stock in my bike | | Strengths: | Well, they stop you, so they do their job. They just don't do it that well compared to other brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Not very powerful, but they came stock on a $400 bike so who cares?? | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are not that great for aggressive trail riding. But then again, they came stock on a $400 bike that was not designed, intended or spec'd for aggressive trail riding anyway. Odds are, if these came stock on your bike, you probably didn't pay that much for the bike anyway. So quit your BS'ing and go drop $40 on a better set.
These brakes are great when used within their intended purpose. That is why they get 5 chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Lawrence
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hamilton Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cumberland Transit | | Strengths: | They do their job, stop you. | | Weaknesses: | Occasional squeaking in wet conditions but what V brakes don't! Pads that come with them wear quickly. | | Similar Products Used: | a lot of no name brands | | Bike Setup: | 2003 GF Tassajara stock with egg beaters and a DDVado seat. | | Bottom Line: | Apparently I've been the lucky one and have had no problems with these brakes what so ever. I do regular matainence on them and tune the brake lines monthly. I think everyone who complains about these brakes needs to go and get them professionally set up because it sounds like they aren't properly set up. I haven't had to change mine since the day I bought them... a year later the pads are spent but that's it. I haven't had to adjust the pads ever! I've had NO rubbing and I change my front tire EVERY RIDE and have changed the back atleast 3 times with no adjustment needed whatsoever.
The pads do leave a residue on your rims after a wet ride but its nothing you can't just clean off, when your cleaning the rest of your bike. (as you should be for things to work properly)
I think these brakes are getting a really bad rap on here, OR I am just really that lucky to have had no problems with mine. For a brake system included on a stock bike not costing more than 800 I think they perform 100%!!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Moderate stopping power | | Weaknesses: | CONSTANTLY getting out of alignment and rubbing up against the rim. Everytime I've had to remove my rear wheel to fix a flat, etc. the brake starts to rub up against the rim. At first I thought I was doing something wrong when I was removing the wheel, but as I was more careful and it continued to happen I knew something was wrong. Thankfully these reviews let me know many other people are having the same problem. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | TERRIBLE BRAKES. Work ok until you have to remove a wheel, in which case they are then a total pain to adjust so they wont hit the rim while you are riding. If they come stock on your bike, put them on your list of things to upgrade. I'm going to upgrade to Avid Single Digit 7's today. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | O/K brakes not too too powerfull but not that weak | | Weaknesses: | I have to push the entire lever on the front wheel brake to do an endo, in cold weather the go "SQUUIEEEEEK" and make your 600-1000$ bike look like a walmart thing. they also eat your rims up quite quickly. | | Bike Setup: | DiamondBack Response SE w/ Deore components | | Bottom Line: | It came with my bike, but i would never by them again if i had to change them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mira
a Cross Country Rider
from Stockholm, Sweden
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Jacobsberg | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | None as I can see. | | Weaknesses: | Poor braking power, rough feeling at levers, pads destroy rims, weak construction, flexy. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Digit 5 and 7 with Avid and XT levers. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Tassaraja GS. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are terrible. Mystery to me why Gary Fisher put such ugly piece of %¤#" on simple but nice bike like GS. 2 days after the purchase I went to the LBS and upgraded to Avid Digit 7. Heavenly difference! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Indiana, USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Muscatatuck | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | On Bike | | Strengths: | They are probably cheap when bought seperate from bike. Probably adequate for most recreational/leisure riders. | | Weaknesses: | They refuse to stay adjusted, and stock pads are very poor. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Marlin, Marz M/X Pro | | Bottom Line: | My biggest aggevation with these is the constant adjusting. I put together numerous factory bikes a day, most with Promax OEM brakes on them. They will almost always have to be reset from the time they are assembled (and at most are test ridden once or twice) to the time we do the final check up before they leave the door. They are still on my bike so they aren't flat worthless, but definetely something thats on my upgrade list. If you don't ask alot of them the performance is adequate but nothing more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Bad Chad
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Cheap, solid | | Weaknesses: | Pads | | Similar Products Used: | avid, shimano, power tools | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Ironhorse Patrol | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are very useable. All you need to do is upgrade the pads and these brakes are good enough for most riding styles. They do come out of adjustment more than pricier setups, but other than that they will do you just fine. TIP...keep your brake cables greased up and your brakes will "feel" much better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory Reppen
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, Bc
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | flex and sqeal | | Bottom Line: | cheap brakes that will work for a while, but will eventually squally and you will be adjusting them constantly... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Hanaska
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Wat?! | | Weaknesses: | i have to adjust these stupid things like every ride. I have tried every brake bad company out there. shimano, wtb, etc. in terms of power its not so bad but after a while performance noticeably degrades. sometimes theres squealing, blah blah blah. | | Bottom Line: | It came stock on my bike (which is pretty cruddy) so i wouldnt complain alot but still compared to other v's these arent the best. dont buy them aftermarket. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft lLauderdale FL
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | came on bike | | Weaknesses: | noisy-crummy pads | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Solstice | | Bottom Line: | Worked ok at first, but became very noisy,adjusting pads didn't help. Put on $5 Rockwerks pads (off center stud type)toed in the pads and adjusted the cable only, I now have quiet brakes, and did a nose wheely the first time I tried them. One thing I've found is that when I keep my bike indoors 70*F they squealed very badly until they waemed up (85-90*f around here),they still squealed but not as bad.So if you live in a cool climate that may be part of the problem. I don't know if thay'll stay quiet, but right now they're working fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Songster
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ones that dont go up too much | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on bike- North West Mt Sports | | Strengths: | Umm Lets see... If you are coasting on level pavement on a warm sunney day they could help to slow you down | | Weaknesses: | I have spent the last year trying to "adjust" these pieces of crap. NO amount of cleaning, tunning, tweeking, or adjusting will help these sorry excuses for brakes. The sucky levers (especially the rear) hardly ever retract, they squeel when they are wet, are a pain to adjust and they just overal suck | | Similar Products Used: | oldschool center pull brakes (they were even better then this crap) | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500, Marzocchi Z3 bomber, some pedles | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are on a ton of bikes, they are ok at first but before you know it you will be trying new brake pads, screwing with the tensions, cleaning the cables, and asking yourself why you bought a bike with crapy ass brakes on them. I hope this company stops making this junk or goes out of business | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dude duder
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | few | | Weaknesses: | many, the SQUEAL of the original brake pads | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up review for thos who think that these are good brakes, they are not. To the neysayer who says "people are whinging about brake squeal and poor performance dont know how to adjust brakes" i say crap, I have been riding bikes for years and know exactly how to set up brakes, even if you do toe out the pads, they still make noise with the PROMAX pads,there is noy way around it the pads are just too hard a compound, unless of course You are some zitty little teen who rides down to mc donalds once a week to show off his rubbish kmart mtb and doesnt use them hard enough to make them squeal. These brakes ok ONCE you swap to KOOL STOP pads, But i recommend discs or LX/XT V brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tyler
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Came stock with my bike | | Weaknesses: | Brakes get 'mushy'
Stock brake pads are horrible
Can't stop in wet weather | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300 with nothing stock | | Bottom Line: | If you like to have a wild crazy time in the rain trying to stop while pulling your brake levers the whole way, go for it! I am thankful that these crappy brakes haven't killed me, but they have got to go! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dude duder
a Cross Country Rider
from Aus
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Venmans | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It works in the dry, until the pads glaze over | | Weaknesses: | its like braking with soap cakes for brake pads in the wet. | | Similar Products Used: | cantilever brakes | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose wing comp, dual suspension | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work fine for the first few rides, until you go downhill, glaze over the pads and they start squealing like a school girl. Then when it rains the real fun begins, dont even bother stomping any big downhills in the wet with these ones, you will not stop.
I had the same problem with th pads glazing and putting black crap on my rims. The pads get so glazed over and hard, you can actually see silver from the rim that has come off onto the pads after use. I am having to clean and sand pads after EVERY ride.
The adjuster screw also cam out of its hole after one adjustment, as the plastic bush is poor quality.
Get kool stop pads or cheap discs from ebay like i am going to do.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Armer
a
from Prescott, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | smith ravine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | They are cheap | | Weaknesses: | After 5 or 6 rides they became very mushy and needed constant adjustment, they also leave this nasty black crap on your rims, but thats the pads fualt. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar 4+ | | Bottom Line: | I understand thaT Gary Fisher was trying to kep the price down on the bike but this is one corner they should not have cut. I just ordered my avid discs and LX shifters thats what I suggest you do if your worried about price. Pricepoint.com has them cheap! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a
from Kingsland
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | Yall dont know what you're talking about. These are great brakes. The squeal because you dont know how to adjust them or set them up. Its really simple folks, loosen the brake pad bold, push the brake arm till the pad hits the rim, and position the pad evenly on the rim, tighten, and there ya go. If one side doesnt return off the rim, you didnt set them up right, the spring isnt the culprit. You need to take the brake arms off the posts and put some grease inside where the arm actually pivots around the part that goes on the post, that will fix it. It made the cheap no-name brakes work perfect. As for the flexiness, its not the brake arms, its probably the brake pads. Yes, they are cheap pads, they flex a lot. Do yourself a favor and put on a set of kool-stops, problem solved. This site is full of ignorant people who have nothing better to complain about cheap parts. Ive just made this site a place for intelligent people to complain about ignorant people who dont know how to use cheap parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Walnut Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock | | Strengths: | You do stop eventually | | Weaknesses: | Brakes are all or nothing. Became very slopy after about 5 rides. Too much flex. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Gary Fisher Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | These came stock on my new Fisher. These brakes suck. They have too much flex. They work poorly in wet conditions, but so do most v-brakes. The matching lever has a "catch" in it, it gets stuck when I really have to grab some brake. I wouldn't dream of adding these brakes aftermarket. I also wouldn't dream of keeping them on a bike that came with them OEM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kris Allain
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Comite Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | ebayer | | Strengths: | Free | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | avid | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Fisher Tassajara, Rock Shox Judy SL Fork, Koski handlebars, Profile Stem, LX everything. | | Bottom Line: | They haven't given me any problems yet and seem to stop me well | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Canfield
a Cross Country Rider
from Federal Way, WA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles West | | Strengths: | NONE! | | Weaknesses: | Everything! These brakes absolutely SUCK!!! They dont stop in the mud, dirt, rain, snow, or water. DO NOT BUY!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XTR Disc Brakes | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUY! THEY SUCK! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Cohen
a Weekend Warrior
from richmond, va
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | dunno | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good for 2 rides | | Weaknesses: | They don't stop good when wet, they are hard to modulate its either lock or not, after 5 rides they are weak now and don't stop good at all and need adjusting constently | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6700 stock for now | | Bottom Line: | I'm upgrading to Disc soon as i can. These brakes were good for like 5 rides but now they don't stop good at all i was going downhill and couldn't stop and smashed my shoulder into a tree. They are horrible when wet and the pads leave nasty composite on my rims all time. They are good value if you put them on like a commuter bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Stiff, well built, no slop, cheap | | Weaknesses: | The Promax name seems to give them a bad image because people confuse these brakes with the OEM brakes that come on many bike. This is an aftermarket kit you buy which is much higher quality. | | Similar Products Used: | no name brakes and various shimano cantis and V brakes | | Bike Setup: | you wouldnt know what it was by the name anyways | | Bottom Line: | I bought these as a replacement for the terrible flexy, noisy, and ugly v-brakes that came on my city hybrid bike. I was actually sent the wrong set from a seller on ebay, but it turns out these are better. These have excellent build quality. They installed, set up, and adjusted very easily. Stopping power is excellent with no squeal. I would actually go as far to say that these are as good as the Shimano Deore V-brakes I put on my mountain bike. I scored these as a complete set (F+R brakes, levers, and all hardware). I say if you can get the whole set for around $30 then go for it, you wont be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn Whiz
a Cross Country Rider
from Westwood, CA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Reid Divide, MT | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Outdoor Store | | Strengths: | Relatively cheap as compared to other V-Brakes.
| | Weaknesses: | Stopping power, weight, and durability all play a role in this products ability to suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid, LX, XTR.. | | Bike Setup: | 92 Stumpjumper with a few modifications to keep it somewhat current. | | Bottom Line: | I really just wanted to try V-Brakes on my own bike in order to compare them with my original Shimano DX brakes.
Although I have not tried other quality brands on my own bike, I really believe that Keith Bontrager's web site speaks the truth on how V-Brakes evolved.. These ProMax V-Brakes won't last another month on my bike and then it's back to the original DX for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Wichterman
a Racer
from St. Cloud MN USA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They seemed to work ok for about a month. | | Weaknesses: | After a month of riding they were in need of constant adjustment during every trail ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Gary Fisher Marlin | | Bottom Line: | Replace these as soon as you can. Mine became very unrealiable,especially going fast downhill. I switched them out for a set of Shimano LX brakes and I've had smooth reliable braking since. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the man
a Cross Country Rider
from ny
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | local hot spot | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | none what so ever | | Weaknesses: | everything they need constant adustments at least 4 times a week or more the don't work in (dry wet foggy nothing)the suck the big dick | | Similar Products Used: | LX,XT,ALMOST ALL AVID, tektro | | Bike Setup: | fisher suger4+ LX AND XT | | Bottom Line: | THEY SUCK REALY BAD DONT EVER CONSIDER THEM EVER IF THEY COME ON YOUR BIKE CHANGE THEM BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE TRUST ME THAY R JUST "THAT BAD" F*CK PROMAX
I WOULD HAVE GIVIN IT A ZERO BUT YOU CANT UNFORTUNATLY | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Chupka
a Cross Country Rider
from Abilene TX
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | ABC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Biketown | | Strengths: | Free(ha-ha)with bicycle. They stop me. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, levers are ugly and feel a little flimsy | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX on old Paramount | | Bike Setup: | Stock 6500 except Time ATACs and Ritchey Pro stem, seatpost, and flat bar. | | Bottom Line: | They come with the bike, I don't think anyone is going to buy them for an upgrade. I have not used them in the rain, it does not rain here. They can lock up the tires well enough. Just one of those ugly cheap bits on bikes that you throw away when they wear out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric
a Cross Country Rider
from manchester ct us
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | case mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | easy adjustment | | Weaknesses: | the pads suck | | Similar Products Used: | avid v avid disk | | Bike Setup: | stock gary fisher hoo koo e koo with wellgo clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | these breaks sucked at first if your planning to use the stock pads you better own a file they get glazed every ride even dry i got new servere condition pads and they work fine now i dont recomend buying them you can get formula activa discs at jenson usa for 25 bucks thats what im gonna do when the trails get muddy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Sutton
a Weekend Warrior
from Moss Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Half Moon Bay Coast | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Costco | | Strengths: | They seemed to work fine, only used in dry conditions | | Weaknesses: | The front brake failed with less that 60 miles on it.
The pinned bracket that secures the curved cable housing separated at the connection causing a complete failure.
Lucky it was not an emergency stopping situation. | | Similar Products Used: | tekro v-vrake | | Bike Setup: | Motiv full suspension. | | Bottom Line: | This kind of failure is not acceptable at all, a major safety hazard. In this respect it gets the lowest rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noah
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Redbike | | Strengths: | They have none. | | Weaknesses: | Everything! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano base V's | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, LX's all over. | | Bottom Line: | These breaks should not be produced anymore. They worked for about 3 weeks and then they went to hell. It needs constant adjustments(and even they don't lasty more than a ride) and they are extremely bad in all but dry weather. So bad that they barely work. Even if you don't have money for better brakes, don't buy these, there just to much hassle for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bigcat
a
from hawaii
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | low end, cheap | | Weaknesses: | heavy, weak | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300 | | Bottom Line: | Entry level component. Perfectly adequate for stopping at lower velocities, but you'll feel the weakness when you're going fast and need to stop right away. Most evident when going downhill; I didn't feel confident with the braking power descending 1000ft over a 2 mile road course. Huge difference when I upgraded to Avid Titanium brakes!! Can't say anything about wet performance since I have very little experience riding in these conditions (I live in a dryer area of the island). These brakes are pretty heavy too (215g each) so if you're looking for a way to shed weight and gain better performance, consider a brake upgrade
. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Hanson
a Cross Country Rider
from Yorkshire, England
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Almost anything | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Keswick Cycles | | Strengths: | Good when dry
Good for the price | | Weaknesses: | Loose significant power when wet
Pads wear down too quickly | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4100 | | Bottom Line: | Good starter brakes, but as soon as you start riding muddy wet trails, they loose alot of power. I am certainly planning to upgrade to something more powerfull | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennisd
a
from Cornwall, Ontario
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Powerful when enough pressure is applied | | Weaknesses: | Not much modulation, difficult to adjust
| | Similar Products Used: | Lx v's | | Bike Setup: | Stock Specialized Enduro FSR Sport | | Bottom Line: | These are the SX-V232's. They work fairly well for a budget set of brakes. I haven't had any major problems with them so far. However, they lack modulation. it's either full stop or no and really, adjusting them is a b*tch. I'll eventually replace them but since they do work reasonably well and are low cost, I'll probably hold off for a bit. these brakes came stock on my bike so they're an okay value. Looking at XT V's though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ace Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Korea
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | watershed | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | costco | | Strengths: | stops ok unless get wet | | Weaknesses: | you still can pedal even though you are squeezing the levers as hard as you can.... | | Similar Products Used: | nothing's as bad as those | | Bottom Line: | hey you got any buck to spare?
buy some better brakes...
well it works pretty good unless it gets wet...
but once it gets wet? i squels like a pig(seriously)
and you will still be able to pedal while you're braking as hard as you can...
no kiddin' | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
xc star
a Racer
from USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | A lot of trails in the Crested butte area | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | they came stock on my trek 6.5 | | Strengths: | there stoping power is not too bad in dry whether! | | Weaknesses: | levers!!! r waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to long, i barely reach them with my finger tips. need adjustment regularly. chep screws. way to hevy! brake pads r total crap wear down realy fast. spring adjustment broke on one side but luckly i got em fixed!! have a litel play but no big deal. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 7 | | Bike Setup: | trek 6500 with bontrager maverick rims and avid SD 7 brake set up. | | Bottom Line: | ppl say ther 30$ so i sold em for 15$ but i guess that waz a rip off!!! the guy who i sold em to broke the screw when he waz instaling them, now thats not good!! avids dont have much more stoping power but every thing els on em works a lot better! if you want to just get cheap V's then i guess these would be good for u, but still i would up grade em az soon az u have $$$$$$ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TYLER
a Downhiller
from san diego
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anderson truck trail in alpine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | came with bikes | | Strengths: | damn these brakes are dope. i have had these on the past 4 bikes i have boughten. who cares about disc brakes? i sure dont, why waste 500$ on peices of metal. ya they work better in mud and water. but how ofter do you ride in that stuff. i know there cheap but they work fine | | Weaknesses: | rust easy. lol | | Similar Products Used: | nothin but the best. promax haha | | Bike Setup: | soon to be azonic, xvert duel crown, kona bulge, pro max!, and panaracers ect. ect. | | Bottom Line: | get the best
promax
now that i have given you some props, give me a sponcer! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brendan
a Cross Country Rider
from albany western australia
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | ok this is just an update to my previous post.
i have changed to bbb brake pads and it seems that MOST of the weaknesses have gone (ones that related to the pads) | | Weaknesses: | same as before except see strengths | | Similar Products Used: | cantis, shimano, tektro, avid | | Bike Setup: | gt aggressor 3 | | Bottom Line: | these now work great with the new pads although if i was to be in the market 4 new brakes i would probably not choose these over other quality products such as avid or shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brendan
a Cross Country Rider
from Western Australia
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | *stop allright when dry
*umm... | | Weaknesses: | *massive forward/backward movement
*absolute crap when even damp
*squeel like hell when wet
*return springs are weakish and hard to set right
*seem to keep moving off the rim even when done up really tight | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro V's Shimano canti's | | Bike Setup: | 2001 GT aggressor3 mainly stock, Profile Ultra FR bars | | Bottom Line: | buy these if you dont ride anywhere near water or mud(very hard to get out and clogs quickly) and if you dont need to stop very well. much better than canti's though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan d
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | rocky | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | wal-mart on my mongoose a40 | | Strengths: | this brakes work very well, my brother has deore xt and those definitely stop way better, but for such a cheap bike, they are probably the highlight | | Weaknesses: | they are a pain to adjust, if you get them even after riding for around 15 miles they begin to lean | | Similar Products Used: | deore xt | | Bike Setup: | mongoose a40 | | Bottom Line: | these brakes stop pretty well, they just lean one side or the other and rub. it only takes a few min to adjust but i have to adjust them frequently. like once every other week | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
litel riper
a Weekend Warrior
from *************
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any singl trak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | pedalmoraine | | Strengths: | uhhhhh........ stops OK. | | Weaknesses: | stop's like CRAP!!! in wet wether wich sux a fatty!and u have to tune em a lot, and when u tune them thay dont stay like that 4 long:-(and thay have way to much play | | Similar Products Used: | avid single digit 7s | | Bike Setup: | bontrager maverick rims | | Bottom Line: | these brakes suck! im so glade i got em off my bike. thay have way to much play 4 brakes. at least there better than cantilevers. i gave em 1 flamin chili cuz thats az low az thay go.***** | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Burris
a Weekend Warrior
from Staunton, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Levels | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Everything except adjustability when new rims are purchased. | | Weaknesses: | see above | | Similar Products Used: | promax disc brakes | | Bike Setup: | diamondback sorrento se | | Bottom Line: | these brakes came stock on my ol' sorrento. at first i thought they would be the laughing stock of the bike (turned out that was the fork) but instead they came out to be one of the best components on it. ive never had any problem with them while riding through mud, water, etc. i recently purchased a new bike (Univega 950ds) with promax disc brakes. once again i see this ioncredible company churn out another good set of brakes. thanks Promax! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Kerr
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Pinnacle Rocks | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Big B Bycicles | | Strengths: | This was a great step up from
the rim cantilever brakes that i
previously had on my bike.
These brakes have unimaginable
power in regular conditions
Everything
| | Weaknesses: | Say What?! | | Similar Products Used: | Apse rim cantilevers | | Bike Setup: | Repco legend frame, shimano biopace chanrings (originals
not the pro version)Coda Cranks
the aforesaid brakes
and numerous other expensive upgrades | | Bottom Line: | Great value
buy these brakes
I bought these for $85 Aus
they are worth every cent
5 flaming hell turds! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Mountain trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | AWESOME dry stop power! Cheap as linear pull, not hard to adjust or change. | | Weaknesses: | They don't stop when wet (could be a problem). | | Similar Products Used: | Magura hydraulic V's, XT V'S, XTR V'S | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose d-70 w/RS Psylo SL fork, Fox Vanilla float rear suspension, Michelin tires, WTB wheelsets, shimano XT drive, Magura hydraulic V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Great for new riders, but don't ride through streams (i did, and came out with a broken ankle). Maybe change the pads? I didn't really care, I just went out and changed the brake system after my ankle injury. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B-52 Bomber
a Cross Country Rider
from Mt Dare, SA Australia
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Who cares | | Strengths: | Cheaper than chips (fries).
Work well in the dry. | | Weaknesses: | Don't work well in the wet, but which V-brakes really do?
Need adjustment regularly.
Lever must be pulled hard to bring bike to a stop sometimes, a bit hard on the knuckle joints, but better than screaming to a complete halt and doing endos all the time. | | Bike Setup: | GF Tassajara, stock on 2001 bike. | | Bottom Line: | If you want serious stopping power, get disc brakes! But they have their own sets of problems.
For my limited downhill runs, and tough cross country runs, these brakes will do fine.
Brakes came with the bike, but I am not too concerned about their cheapness or performance/price.
And for those that say these brakes make noise when wet, which brakes don't? Get a grip! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Green
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | They came with my bike, They were fantastic for about 4 days, Look quite cool, uh, that's it. | | Weaknesses: | Where do I start? They go off tune fast, on clean rims they grip well for a few days and then they are worn out, on dirty rims there is squat all stopping power. Hard to adjust, rust FAST in anything less than a desert dry climate. Useless when wet, moist, damp, dirty, anything less than perfect. | | Similar Products Used: | Loads of different retail bikes, from GT, Raleigh, even a Cannondale actually. | | Bike Setup: | Reviewed as stanard fit, but that changed recently (thankfully) | | Bottom Line: | Well, they stop the bike (eventually) They are quite cheap, but not really worth it, actually if you do not give really regular attention to your bike (definitely every weekend) and keep a spare set of blocks handy, these could be dangerous. A few days after setup, these things deteriorate fast, a yank on the levers pulls up the front end OK ish, and locks the rear end totally. Even their cool, simplistic look went after a couple of weeks, they rusted, badly, the paint came off them really fast and it took me stripping them and rust proofing them to solve. Only think about these if you ride slowly and not very often, don't even dream about racing these, even with the biggest blocks on I could fit (and textured rims) they were inferior to other systems. For mods, go for a Hydraulic system, they rule. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a Weekend Warrior
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Came with my bike.
I hear they are cheap.
| | Weaknesses: | Came out of adjustment on first ride.
Sqeual.
Power and modulation | | Similar Products Used: | None (yet) | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7500FX with shimano 646DX pedals. | | Bottom Line: | These things suck, if they didn't come free I would return them. I can't wait until I can get them off my bike and get something that works. They squeal, sometimes require a ton of force for just a little grip, have way too much play, and now the back brake is totally out of adjustment. After a ride my hands usually ache just from braking, aweful feel and modulation. Just too much trouble to not replace. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from N.Ireland
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Good stoppin power in wet and dry, cheap and good value for money. Solid index finger levers. | | Weaknesses: | Squeal in the wet and seem to have all the stopping power at once causing you to either fly over the handle bars or lock your back wheel up. (both are quite embarrising) | | Similar Products Used: | avid 30 arch rival | | Bottom Line: | good value for money. Standard pads are slow to wear in. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | -Cheap
-I suppose it's better than having nothing at all... | | Weaknesses: | -Too damn grabby--no modulation AT ALL!!!
-Come with weak-ass levers and wimpy pads,like all cheap brake setups
-A b%&ch to adjust!!
-Hates ANY KIND OF INCLEMENT WEATHER!! | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro 824A(good value for real V-brakes),Avid SD 1.0(AWESOME) | | Bike Setup: | These brakes were on a Fuji Nevada.. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are terrible OEM crap.They have really no redeeming qualities,aside from being cheap.They are SO hard to adjust,they suck badly in mud,and have ABSOLUTELY NO MODULATION--they skid no matter what you do!
Promax belongs on Wal-Mart bikes!!Don't buy them--ever.Get Tektro 824As,or Avid SDs if you can afford them!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gal Ben Yaakov
a Cross Country Rider
from Kiryat Ata, Haifa, ISRAEL
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | CARMEL MOUNT | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | cheep, will stop you untill you get rid of readjusting them.
| | Weaknesses: | it will work fine, until you try to readjust them.
DO NOT TRY TO READJUST THEM! you'll find it imposible. they are also to powerful for my taste. the rear brake is'nt fine enough and get locked easily. they dont work well in mud or while wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid (great!) Rst-disk (even worse) and many more. | | Bike Setup: | Canonndale 99's F600. xt rear dreil, lx front, stx hubs, headshock Pbone-D, coda clipless, brakes came stock. | | Bottom Line: | this brakes are good if you are on budget. but i recomend to spend a little more and by yourself a decent set of brakes. ProMax will not work in mud, water or any over conditions different from those inside the store.
it will work well if you won't need to remove the wheels.
it will be the first thing to be replaced on my bike, because i realy hate this brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | They will slow you down
Got good use out of them
| | Weaknesses: | Needs constant re-adjusting
Cheap - Threaded the screw which holds the cable in place because of costant re-adjusting
Doesn't stop well in mud or while wet | | Similar Products Used: | Simano Deore | | Bike Setup: | Some crappy raleigh | | Bottom Line: | I got these brakes stock, they lasted about 1000km, but died with about half of the oter parts on my bike. Replaced the front with Deore, which are adequate since i only paid $15 (hey, i was feeling cheap) and they stop much better. Te rear brake is stil there and working since i rely on it less, but it will go soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Baikov
a Cross Country Rider
from Moscow
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | came with my bike | | Strengths: | decent V-brake
cool black CNC-machined look | | Weaknesses: | hard to tune the front brake | | Bottom Line: | Pro-Max V-brakes are cheap, but this is their "high-end" model - PX-1
Looks cool, brakes well (Mavic X221)
the only problem is that if you upset a brake you'll have a hard time to tune it decently
The Pro-max are also known in Europe under the name "Intox components" | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Winston Yin
a Cross Country Rider
from London, England
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | aint got one! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Lots of power, so you stop instantly.. | | Weaknesses: | Adjusting the damn thing, my rear ones are ok, but the front ones, well, the left pad rubs against the rim and its annoying.. | | Similar Products Used: | Cantilever ones.. | | Bike Setup: | GT Aggressor 2000 | | Bottom Line: | Well, they work, could be better, buy them if you got a tight budget, mine came with the bike, but if you can afford a bit more then get something else.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bico
a Weekend Warrior
from St-Jean, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Unajustable. Once ajusted, it doesn't take long before they fall out of ajustment again and drag all the time.. | | Similar Products Used: | Sugino | | Bottom Line: | Agree entirely with Mark (the guy below me),... hate these brakes... Don't EVER buy these unless you really want to DOWNGRADE your bike ;~) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Northampton, England
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Aspley Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Keep you stopping until you buy some new 1s or have to adjust them, when set up well they offer reasonable stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Once you try 2 adjust em, they wont stop giving you trouble. with a bit of fiddlin you can normally sort em, but as soon as you have 2 remove your wheel and disconnect them, they get mucked up again. Look crap and cheap 2 | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Arch Rivals, Odessey A-Brake, Shiamno LX Vs (all are much better) | | Bike Setup: | Marin Alu Frame, RST 381s (crap), D521s, Hope front and Deore rear hubs, 24/7 Bar/stem combo, Alivio 8speed Drivetrain with DMR Chain cage | | Bottom Line: | If you're desperate for some cheap V's, maybe buy these. If you can afford better then spend the extra and get some decent V's like Shimano or Avids. If these come on your brand spanking new bike, upgrade when you can afford it, otherwise try not to need to remove your wheels, you WILL regret it. Unless you know EXACTLY how to set the things up, dont try to adjust em, it'll only end in tears. Crap, but considering they're so cheap, they're good value. But don't buy em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Mullholland
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ?????? | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | cheap in cost | | Weaknesses: | tricky to set up , look crap , not great performance | | Similar Products Used: | sram v brakes | | Bike Setup: | specialized hardrock A1 comp 2000 , Mavic D521's ,titec risers , mainly used for trials riding | | Bottom Line: | good for the price, but go for others on the market | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Thatcher, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | cheap($20) for the kit, cheap, simple, and functional | | Weaknesses: | lever that comes with kit isn't very good | | Similar Products Used: | tektro v-brake | | Bottom Line: | It's a good brake for the price. you might not like the lever, but at $20 for the brakes, lever, and cable, you can afford to chuck it. too bad I can't give it 6 chilis for value. oh yeah, and some of the gram counters might think they're heavy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Malone
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Epic, Kamloops | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Reasonable stopping power once you've got them dialled in.
Dirt cheap. | | Weaknesses: | The WORST V Brake ever to set up... except the 99 Shimano STX RC. Pads come cut at the wrong angle, and there's no decent friction when doing up the hex-bolt. | | Similar Products Used: | Most Shimanos, SRAM 9.0 | | Bike Setup: | Work full time in a bike shop, so the ones I've used are on the bikes we build. | | Bottom Line: | All new (Y2K) Shimano are better, even the new Aceras (complete with special 'Aaaagh-No-Brakes Modulator') These are all you can expect from an OE brake on a bike where the manufacturers are cutting corners to give you better other bits. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dav BigDav Schmitt
a Cross-Country Rider
from Topeka, KS
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any and All | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
The brakes offer good control even when wet. No noticable brake fade. | | Weaknesses: |
Haven't found any yet. | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid and others | | Bike Setup: |
Mongoose A40r with Ballistic fork | | Bottom Line: | If you are on a budget and seeing how most of us don't live on daddy's money these are the brakes of choice. If you live to ride these brakes will help keep you on the trails! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cow
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Works well
Easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: |
Could be lighter | | Similar Products Used: |
Cantis | | Bike Setup: |
GT Arrowhead
LX
RS Jett XC | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes. Came with my bike. No complains other than it is a bit heavy. Good value for money for anyone on a budget. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Magnus J.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: July 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Low price,easy to setup, works well. | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy compared to my XTR cantis. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano cantis. | | Bike Setup: |
KHS Alite 4000 frame, MZ Z2 BAM fork, Avid speed dial levers and travel agents. | | Bottom Line: | Nice brakes that works well but Id like them even more if they would be lighter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kjdfskj
a Weekend Warrior
from van trap
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Walker's Ridge | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Stop on a dime. Very good for donkey kicks. | | Weaknesses: |
None so far! | | Similar Products Used: |
Nothing like it! | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized, Rst | | Bottom Line: | I like these brakes because they're very helpful. My brother's bike does not have good brakes. Compared to his V-brakes are perfect. 5.0 | | Overall Rating: |
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