An updated TaperBore design incorporates a new air-trap feature, which prevents potentially trapped air from entering the system, resulting in ridiculously smooth control you can count on.
Strengths: Good modulation and stopping power. Good ergonomics.
Weaknesses: Way too much free stroke.
Bottom Line:
I've got myself a 2012 pair of X9 brakes to upgrade the Elixir R which came stock on the 2010 Enduro SL. I really liked the brakes. Adequate power and modulation, good ergonomics. The only weakness I've found was the lack of adjustability. If I got the reach were I wanted, contact point would be too far and inversely, if contact point was as I wanted, reach would be too close.
So the new X9 seemed a good upgrade. Unfortunatly it is not so. Free play is way too much. Out of the box the lever as an huge amount of dead movement... and the contact point dial is useless, because winding it out will only increase free play.
To achieve the feel I want I guess I'll have to follow the guidelines as depicted on another review. That is, "creative" bleeding.
Bottom line:
if you have an old set of Elixirs and you find it OK, keep it.
If you really want to upgrade, search somewhere else.
Similar Products Used: Avid Elixir R
Hope mono
Hope M4
Shimano Deore
Shimano XT
Bike Setup: Stock 2010 Specialized Enduro
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Submitted by
Tarekith
a All Mountain Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2012
Strengths: Easy installation, simple to set up so they don't rub. Looks great, and plenty of adjustment.
Weaknesses: Hosings were much too long, and stock they are WAY too soft and need to be bled.
Bottom Line:
I bought these to replace the 2005 Juicy 5's I've had on my Enduro since I got it. Installation was simple, though the hydraulic cables were way too long, especially the rear brake. Not a big deal as I had the Avid bleed and cable shortening kit for my Juicy's anyway (works fine with the Elixirs), so making them the right length was no big deal.
However the brakes were way too soft right out of the box (yes, before shortening the cables), even with the pad contact adjusted all the way in. I had to have the lever reach almost all the way out to keep from having the brake levers hit the bars before they started working. This was the exact opposite of how I wanted them to be, I got the Elixir 9's to have the lever closer to the bars, not further away. They basically felt like weaker and less dialed-in versions of the brakes I had been using for the last 7 years that were extremely beat up.
I decided to rebleed the brakes even though they were new, and ultimately had to do it three times before the brakes worked as expected.
The main issue is that Avid recommends setting the pad adjuster all the way IN when bleeding the brakes, and it's inevitable that a couple drops of fluid will come out of the reservoir or caliper when you remove the syringes, no matter how fast you are. These brakes are VERY sensitive to the amount of fluid in the system, so these couple of drops mean that even done properly, there will still be too much slack in the lever once you're done. Literally an inch to 1.25 inches where nothing happens.
The third time I bled these brakes, I ended up dialing the contact OUT all the way, and using a brake pad spacer I made out of cardboard that was half the thickness of the included one in the bleed kit. That way, even though I lost a few drops of fluid when removing the syringes, the pads were still reasonably close to the rotors when I was done and had the lever reach where I wanted it.
FINALLY, these brakes are responding like I expected for something that costs this much. I can have the levers set close to the bars (within an inch), and I can go from no engagement to full stoppage with less than a half inch of lever travel. All without the pads rubbing the rotors normally at all. Modulation is incredible, and I can lock up both brakes with one finger if I want (and I don't). The carbon levers are comfortable, and the response over all is exactly like I expected initially from a high end brake like this. Once the pads were broken in on some long downhills, I was amazed at how well these brakes worked and responded to the slightest input.
I can't imagine someone with no experience bleeding brakes trying to install these though, it would be a nightmare. Despite what I read about Avid redoing their factory bleed machinery, they still need to improve on this. Also, while my front brake is dead quiet, the back do have the dreaded turkey wobble noise still when it gets wet. I plan on replacing the pads with organics soon, as this solved the issue for me when I had the same issue with my Juicy's 7 years ago.
Super happy with these brakes now, I just wish it wouldn't have taken me a while weekend to get them to where they should have been fresh out of the box.
Bike Setup: Specialized Enduro Elite set up for all-mountain and light freeriding.
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Submitted by
sjmtber
a Cross Country Rider
from cherry hill, nj, usa
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2012
Strengths: When pads contact the rotor the modulation is good, it allows for a braking range before locking up. Overall a nice progressive braking feel once the pads hit the rotor.
Weaknesses: Where do I begin. WAY too much "dead zone" in the lever stroke before pads begin to bite the rotor. While you would think this could be rectified with the pad contact adjuster it simply isn't the case. The contact pad adjustment is limited meaning you only get a certain amount of clicks in and it stops.
Bottom Line:
SRAM's so-called new generation Elixir is a huge disappointment. The previous Elixir CR was a better performing brake. Like the CRs before it the Elixir 9s offer reach and contact pad adjustment which is great. Unfortunately if you dial the lever reach in the pads don't contact the rotor until the lever is close to the bar, giving you that wonderful sensation that you don't have brakes. The first 50% of the lever stroke is useless. You would think you could remedy this by dialing in the pad contact to be closer to the rotor BUT you come to learn the pad contact adjustment is limited. So you're forced to run the lever further out than the previous generation Elixirs. Note to SRAM, don't offer a lever adjustment if it renders the brakes ineffective. Do yourself a favor and find some previous generation Elixirs (CR, 5, whatever), they're cheaper and perform better. SRAM needs to do some follow up work on the new Elixir.
Submitted by
Greenfin
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, AK
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2012
Strengths: I think they stop well. Hard to say because they wale, shutter, vibrate, resonate, like a banshee and its very distracting.
Bottom Line:
I have not yet tried to fix the noise as I keep hoping they will break in and the noise will stop. I will add more when attempts have been made to fix the noise.
Bike Setup: 2012 Fatback upgraded build. I commute all year round. In two months this bike has not seen pavement, water or dirt. Just to cold.
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Submitted by
Ell3
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2012
Strengths: Good stopping power, good modulation and if dial perfectly will definitely throw you off the bars. surprisingly the bleed manual is easy. hardly find brakes that bleed successfully the first time.
Weaknesses: the stock HS1 rotor. squeak like pig when wet or dry. tried most of the semis and organic yet nothing seems to work.
Bottom Line:
the brakes work perfectly. good improvement to the old taperbore tech. advice: if you get one, go for the older rotor. stock rotor suck
Similar Products Used: Shimano's, Avids, Magura's....
Bike Setup: Merida 3000D hardtail, Rock Shox, Shimies and sram drivetrain and etc
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Submitted by
kevinrod1983
a Racer
from fall river, ma
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2011
Strengths: lightweight, strong,and compact system. a lot of adjustment, including self centering. easy, painless pad removal. they slow you down not skid you to a stop. it takes 2 fingers for that...
Weaknesses: the system screams when there wet. even with organic pads. barrel adjuster for the lever reach is questionable in its quality. had a slight issue with is but nothing that cost me money to fix or much time.
Bottom Line:
besides the use of different materials, its XX technology without the price tag
