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Submitted by
Khuan
a
from Perth, WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | None - I'm a commuter. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with my bike. | | Strengths: | Sturdy, powerful enough, simple and intuitive to adjust. It also looks fine. | | Weaknesses: | Brake pads are too flexible. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Giant Boulder. | | Bottom Line: | This braking system has enough power - with some effort it can lock each wheel, which is the best any system can do. However, I do find the brake pads too flexible compared to my road bike's cartridge pads. I think the pads should have a metal backing to stiffen them up a little. Regardless, this braking system is still adequate and its affordable. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Alamos, NM
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Reverse Traverse | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Light, inexpensive, don't squeal, stop very well (especially when paired with Avid Speed-dial levers) | | Weaknesses: | spring adjustment screws round out easily | | Similar Products Used: | XT v-brakes (do NOT use, front squeals like crazy and cannot be fixed) | | Bike Setup: | Decked out Rockhopper | | Bottom Line: | These are among the best v-brakes I have ever used. They're incredibly light and provide as much stopping power as any other v-brake I've used. When coupled with Avid speed-dial levers, they result in excellent one-fingered braking with enough power to lock either wheel but very good modulation as well. Also, unlike the XT they replaced, they do not squeal, or if they do, it can be fixed by minor pad adjustment.
The spring tension screws are kind of crappy and the philips head rounds off really easily. Plus, normal screw heads have no place on a bike; it should be a hex head. I suggest replacing them with hex-headed set screws immediately. Odds are your LBS has some just calipers sitting around that you can cannibalize. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Japan
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Reservoir | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Relatively light, easy to install and set up. Inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Stock pads wear quickly in wet, muddy conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | DiaCompe VC, Shimano LX. | | Bike Setup: | Supergo Access, SID XC fork, LX/Mavic 517 wheelset, LX shifters and derailleurs, Race Face turbine LP crankset. | | Bottom Line: | When stock pads are gone, replace with quality items from Aztec, KoolStop or other brand name. Low price means you can replace entire brake twice for the cost of Shimano Deore. Great brakes for the novice, upgrade to Avid or Shimano if you start racing or become addicted to downhill trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JimmyCrack
a Weekend Warrior
from West-e-ville
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hard'n'Fast | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS Take-offs | | Strengths: | They work great - stop like crazy - easy to modulate! | | Weaknesses: | No bragging rights | | Similar Products Used: | Just about anything you can name | | Bike Setup: | LX Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | This review is really for Tektro 829A's, but this was the closest listing I could find. I bought these as new bike take-offs for $30 for the full set - front & rear with levers and pads. I've seen some cheaper Tektros with plastic pivot collar, but these have aluminum collars and work great - no worries about stripping the tensioner screw. These are every bit as good as Shimano Deore's, which they closely resemble. The levers that came with them (Tektro AL-360A type)are very similar to Avid AD-3's (or SD-5's without the power adjustment). They're nicer than Deore levers (which are OK) and much better than LX levers (which I hated and replaced with these). I hope whoever had these taken off their new bike did it to put discs on 'cause otherwise they wasted their money by turning up their nose at these without trying them. Bottom line: If you must have big-time brand names on all your components regardless of whether they work or not you won't even consider these because they don't cost enough for you, but if you'd rather be smart and get great parts for cheap prices buy these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | NONE really | | Weaknesses: | They have almost no power to them. The brake pads were awful and almost gone the first time I went Down Hilling with them. They are very flexi and every time I adjust them they go back out of place. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid speed dial 2 and XT v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Oryx with a Psylo XC | | Bottom Line: | Well if you are a DownHiller do not buy these brakes they are ok for XC but there are for sure better one out there. I am going to upgrade because I am getting more into to DH and Urban stuff so these have no ware near the power I need. I don't know if I just got one of the bad one I the group but with my experience if you have v-brakes on your bike do not upgrade to these Tektros and I will never get a bike with Tektros on it again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Hulley
a Weekend Warrior
from Derby, UK
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Moors near my house | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | J. E. James | | Strengths: | Cheap, squidgy, great braking power | | Weaknesses: | Bending now, need replacing | | Similar Products Used: | Can't remember | | Bike Setup: | Kona Hahanna | | Bottom Line: | These things have been great. As soon as I got my bike I started customising. These are the only things I never considered replacing. However, after four years (the first two of which, they were getting twice daily use) they have bent badly and need replacing, so I'm going for some discs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Miller
a
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | Be wary of the other reviews on this page. These brakes come standard on a lot of mid-range MTBs. Sure, they can send you over the bars if you break hard, but most brakes will if you squeeze them hard. Besides, learn how to brake people!
Not a bad brake, but the levers lack customizability and the pads will lose their adjustment quickly. If you've got 'em then stick with them for a while. If you are looking to buy, get something better.
A fair value rating, but lower overall because there's better brakes out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikko Lehtonen
a Cross Country Rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mud etc. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike, from Urheiluaitta | | Strengths: | Black ;> lightweight. Easy to clean (hot water, soap and my fathers toothbrush). They really work, 2 times I have flown over the bar :) pain! They make a terrible noise when wet&muddy but still work. I've used them for downhill and they still work. Probably the best brakes I have! | | Weaknesses: | The pads melted partly on my rim when I was downhilling..but the brakes work. Pads make rims sh!tty, but thats the pads fault...diffucult to clean when on bike? Oh yeah, they _freeze_ when in snow!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Canti-levers...(if you count canti-levers as brakes..) | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M80 with DDG-pedals, Marin 6010 riserbar, RockShox Jett '99, Nokian tyres, stupid suspension seat-post...deore parts.. | | Bottom Line: | Best brakes I have ever got with the bike from the shop. Not as good as discs when it's muddy etc. The look nice, work and last! I'll give 4 flaming chilis 'cause I've used them for only 9 months. And for the value rating, I'll also give 4 chilis 'cause they came with the bike without raising the price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andre
a
from sydney
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | they are damn easy 2 set up. unless u are a restard | | Weaknesses: | well, they snapped | | Similar Products Used: | avids, lx, xt.. | | Bike Setup: | giant, with crappy jetts. | | Bottom Line: | i dont know what u guys are crying about, theese brakes actaully stop u!. and u can actually take them off road,,!
they are not just for foot paths.. i know that they are povo.. but u cant be fussy. my brakes did not come out of allignment or anything, they worked fine, they just lacked power, they just have 2 be maintained and set up right,
they were goin fine un till a few months ago my front brakes pretty much snapped while braking,, resulting in pain,. well thank god i dont ride that bike anymore
they can be set up hell tight for manualing | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kwik- Z
a Cross Country Rider
from severna park, md
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | pedal pushers | | Strengths: | Good stopping power, when well adjusted | | Weaknesses: | they get wacked out of adjustment all the time. One arm will rub all over the rim, it seems like no matter how i adjust, its only a quick fix and soon they are at it again. The front rubbed so much a loostened it a lot, and now its effectively like not having a front brake. | | Similar Products Used: | avid mech. disc(excellent), XTR rim brakes(very good) | | Bike Setup: | 00 kona fire mountain, Z4 air, XT derailleurs, kore lite forged stem | | Bottom Line: | A good powerful brake. As i mentioned they become mal-adjusted often. When they don't rub all over the rim, they can be tightened very close to the rim, and provide a lot of power. my advice would be to avoid these brakes, but if one found a good deal, they are powerful, but perhaps too much of a hassle to deal with. i'm upgrading to Avid single digit 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
derek
a Cross Country Rider
from WA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tiger Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Look good, stop even better | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Avid, Shimano, formula Disc | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Durango | | Bottom Line: | TONS better then my disc brake. Then again, i have a cheapo Formula MD 1 disc. The tektro series are great, and look good to boot! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristoffer
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Spotcenter | | Strengths: | Powerfull, easy to install and cheap!!! | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to adjust!!! | | Bottom Line: | This breaks are great! They are very powerfull, don't use the front break in high speeds (or over the bars you go)!!!
I giv it "only" 4 chilis because I haven't tested some other v-brakes (yet) !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelvin Loke
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bukit Timah | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Very powerful, very light, looks great! Also damned cheap! | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Cantilever brakes | | Bottom Line: | Have no problems regarding moderation. These brakes are very strong, even when my rims are covered in mud, they still bite very well. My are in yellow color, so they're very striking. The rear brakes lock up easily, I never had so much fun sliding before! Buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
josh
a Weekend Warrior
from aust
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | mt dandy | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | when you pull they stop i mean stop | | Weaknesses: | none as yet | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | oo giant yokon se | | Bottom Line: | they stop and they stop hard (dont use the front to hard) or over the bars you go!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alfonso
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | lightweight, form-follows-function design | | Weaknesses: | mediocre stopping power, chintzy pads | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 10, Avid SD 25, SRAM ESP 9.0 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | These came as original equipment on a '00 Specialized Rockhopper I recently parted with after 1,000 miles. I had a great first impression of these brakes when they were new, even as they weren't all that good in modulation... at least they stopped the bike quickly and reliably.
150 miles in, it seemed like the calipers were made of soft rubber and were no longer stopping the bike like they did. I suspected stretched cables, so I fixed that. Rode on. 50 miles later, same problem. Replaced cables with Flaks... didn't fix the problem. I then suspected frame flex. Bought a Gorilla brake beefer for the rear (the main problem). That fixed the frame flex, all right, but rear stopping was still squishy and worrisome. Front had always been OK for stopping strength, but dangerously awkward in modulation. Then there's the pads: quiet in wet and muddy conditions all right, but lose nearly all stopping ability!
Conclusion: great value for recreational, pavement rides (I'd put these on my cruiser, no problem); a downright awful pick for any bike that sees the slightest bit of dirt | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -Stops good in the dry(but there's not a whole lot of that in the Northeast..)
-Cheap
-Simple--no pivots
-It's not Shimano
-Doesn't squeal
-MUCH better than cantis | | Weaknesses: | -Pads are crappy in the wet!
-Sometimes hang on the rims(I think that might be the rim's fault though--I have lousy ZAC-19 hoops)
-Cheapie levers
-For entry-level brakes,not much else-they aren't bad for the price | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Decent brake,but the levers are cheap and the pads have VERY short life in the mud--one water crossing did my pads in.
Not bad,but Avid SDs are much better.3 chilis overall
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Work fine, for one year... | | Weaknesses: | Duration | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M80, Manitou SXR '00 | | Bottom Line: | I have these breaks standard on my bike. No problem occured and good break force. However after one year on intensive week of riding my breaks started to flex..the bushings seems worn out. I need replacement... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Watson
a Cross Country Rider
from Dunsford, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | McSh*T | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Relatively hassle free for the first year and a half
pretty cheap too. | | Weaknesses: | After a year and a half, they tend to lose strenth (plenty flexin')
Dang heavy, Extremely difficult to clean | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | Kona Fire Mountain w~ manitou sx-e | | Bottom Line: | These brakes were stock on my 99' fire mountain when i bought it, and worked great for the first year of racing, and most of the second.
THen problems happened. THere was some serious flexing, stripping of bolts, and they just started to plain suck.
I put on the new Deore set, which seem to be working just as well.... hopefully they'll last longer than these.
Good, cheap brakes.... not in it for the long run though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Silver Spring MD
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Powerful. | | Weaknesses: | Look heavy. Quirky to adjust. | | Similar Products Used: | Last MTB I had was before cantilevers. I don't know what you call the brakes I had. | | Bike Setup: | '00 Giant Rincon SE | | Bottom Line: | When I first rode a bike with these brakes on it, I was astounded by the strength. They flex the mounts, front and back. They can be quirky to adjust, but that's easier now that I realized that I had the adjustment screws in pretty tight. I backed them out and readjusted, and it seems to be working just fine.
I don't know the weight of these things. They look heavy, so they're one of my next two or three upgrades. I've read that "parallel push" is better so that's a consideration.
If you see these on a new bike don't be disappointed, they are very good brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a Weekend Warrior
from inglund
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | power full | | Weaknesses: | springs bend hard 2 balance
power full | | Similar Products Used: | shimano acera-x v's | | Bike Setup: | univega ram 900 acera-x front brake (less powerfull more modulation) | | Bottom Line: | great breaks mind the front one my collar bone still hasn't recovered from that pizzin tree | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachustees
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Price, stopping power,good durable pads | | Weaknesses: |
Mo complaints | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Raleigh M60 with RST 260 Shock | | Bottom Line: | Good Brake, Give it 4 flamers because I have nothing to compare these brakes against YET!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Kenosha, WI
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Quality, stopping power | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
dia-compe | | Bike Setup: |
Raleigh M80 with Judy shock and XT drive line | | Bottom Line: | All I can say about these brakes is DAMN!!!. Touch the lever and hold on. The first time I stopped I almost went over the bars. These brakes rock. I never heard of the company before I got them on my new bike, I thought that I was going to have to replace them, but I guessed wrong. Buy these they kick ass. | | Overall Rating: |
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