At Avid, we designed the brand-new Juicy Seven hydraulic disc brake to solve the problem of uneven lever engagement, and about 5,000 other problems you didn’t even know you had. Featuring a Tri-Align caliper positioning system, a rotor a ninja would use, the best caliper design in the business, foolproof lever adjustment and switch hitter levers. Its not IF you'll want to switch, its when. Available in 160,185 and 203mm rotors.
Submitted by
rnighte0
a Cross Country Rider
from Modesto,Ca Date Reviewed: January 9, 2010
Favorite Trail:
Laguna Seca
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
easy to center and seems to stop ok,
Weaknesses:
these are the noisiest brakes I have ever had. I have tried everything to quiet them down with no luck
Similar Products Used:
XTR and Avid Juicy 3
Bike Setup:
29in wheel single speed with Race Face Crank set and Misfit wheel set
Bottom Line:
The pad contact thumb wheel adjustment doesn't do anything and the constant squeal everytime I apply the brakes drives me nuts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gunnar-man
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: December 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Great modulation, easy set up, easy to bleed and maintain.
Weaknesses:
The levers have developed lateral play over the last year
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, XT dual control, Elixirs
Bike Setup:
Banshee Rune with 203 on the front and 160 on the rear
Bottom Line:
I have not had any issues with these brakes since day one. I didn't bleed them for two years and never had them fade or let me down. The bleeding process is more involved than my old Hayes were. But it is a helluva lot more efficient and cleaner than Hayes.
Honestly, I can't find any real faults to these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
x
a Downhiller
from Germany Date Reviewed: November 10, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
purchased with used
Strengths:
light, looks nice, brakes somehow.
Weaknesses:
fading. soft feeling/no hard point when it starts braking.
Similar Products Used:
shimano deore 525, avid juicy3, formula oro k18, avid code, avid bb5, grimeca system8, magura louise 2000, magura clara, magura julie
Bike Setup:
sx trail, 66, dhx5, juicy7 06.
Bottom Line:
This brake is good for its intended use: crosscountry and all mountain. when you do some technical downhills it may happen that you smell the brake and loose power.
at all it is still a nice brake.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
johnhugo71
a Cross Country Rider
from grand rapids, mi Date Reviewed: November 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
yankee springs
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
good stopping power, 1 finger speed check, 2 finger stopping and 3 finger Holy Crap i'm gonna die!!! easy to maintain
Weaknesses:
can't get rid of stupid pad drag while cruising, pads were pretty worn down though, could have something to do with it
Similar Products Used:
hayes mech, v-brakes
Bike Setup:
C-dale Rush 3z
Bottom Line:
the brakes do a good job of stopping in all conditions, the only complaint i've had is that the of the pad dragging while cruising along, it's only when i'm going 10-12 mph. just replaced the original pads that were worn pretty well, maybe this will help. all in all though i have been very happy with them over the last 2 yrs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
beta2007
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: November 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Warehouse
Strengths:
When working correctly, they performed well. Stopping and slowing were never an issue.
Weaknesses:
CONSTANT SQUEAL! It has been virtually impossible to adjust these brakes and keep them adjusted. Multiple trips to the bike shop have proven to be futile.
Similar Products Used:
Other Avid and Shimano discs
Bike Setup:
Stock Specialized Stumpjumper Elite
Bottom Line:
Completely unable to get these brakes to stop rubbing, binding, squealing, and vibrating. I have given up on these brakes and will be giving up on Avid for the forseeable future unless they prove otherwise that they can produce a reliable disc brake that is easy to manipulate and adjust.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Drftn280zxt
a Downhiller
from Las Vegas, NV, USA Date Reviewed: September 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon and Mt. Charleston trails
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Las Vegas Cyclery
Strengths:
One finger braking is easily achieved with awesome stopping power. Easy modulation. Simple pad replacement.
Weaknesses:
The pad contact adjuster is a bit confusing and never really seems to do anything. Adjusting brake lever reach is kind of tricky especially with so much play in lever.
Don't store your bike upside down, you will get air bubbles in your brake lines and have to constantly rebleed your brakes.
Very powerful brakes for a one piston design. Calipers and their mounts are very strong and will take a serious beating without be being even slightly phased. Adjustments on the levers could be simpler, but newer iterations appear to have addressed that issue. If your an all mountain rider or want good brakes that won't break the bank these are a great option.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
redderek
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks, California Date Reviewed: September 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Encinal Canyon, Bulldog, Anything with a bunch of climbing and a bombing downhill
Very few... Sometimes the pad spring can drop out if you wear the brake pads too far.. I had it happen once but it was my fault for not checking the pads sooner.
It is interesting when I read about all the trouble folks seem to have had with pad drag, modulation etc.. I go about 225 and I have a 160mm rear rotor and a 180mm front rotor. When I set these brakes up originally I had no trouble at all with the installation or set up. I have NEVER experienced "pad drag" or problems with adjustment or the dreaded "modulation" factor, in fact, I find it almost comical as I read the many Brake Reviews. You'd think you were reading about fine wines or something. These brakes have been bullet proof for me and I have ridden them very hard in wet, muddy, dry, dusty, sandy and rocy terrain. I have never had a problem with them. I did experience a slight fading issue on a hot summer day on an intense 8 mile down hill run, but at my size, that could be expected. "Modulation" what a concept.. I'm no self proclaimed bicycle Guru, but I can tell you that the only true case of modulation is the amount of pressure you exert upon the brake levers (thats right, YOU, the operator)... It's either a one finger feathering or a two finger firm braking application or a full tilt three finger panic grab at the old binders... Given the fact that these brakes rate in the high 3's and given the obvious fact that some of the reviewers are somewhat mechanically challenged, I would have no problem recommending these brakes to anyone. I find them to be rock solid, safe, confidence instilling, and consistent performers. Coming from someone in the Clydesdale Class, that should say something about these brakes. Ok, enougb said... I'll sit back and wait for all the haters and self proclaimed brake Wizards.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
runawaymachine
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, NV, USA Date Reviewed: August 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Guadalupe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Cyclist
Strengths:
Bang for Buck. Weight. Pad contact adjustment.
Weaknesses:
Lots of initial adjustment. Fades on high speed or steep downhills, but it was not meant to be a DH brake.
Similar Products Used:
Hope, Hayes
Bike Setup:
El Guapo, Lyric, Crossmax SX, X9, mid weight all mountain build
Bottom Line:
If you can do without a rotor searing, gravity defying, 4 or 6 piston caliper then this brake will do fine. The set up was fairly involved and might require a visit to your LBS, or two. But once they are set up and bedded in they have decent power, they don't drag, and they stop gobbling and honking at you. Good for XC to moderate all mountain. I took away 2 chilis for initial set up otherwise they are great for the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Waterat Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgan Hill, CA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Excellent modulation, Light weight
Weaknesses:
Sticky calipers, constant adjustment and cleaning lubing
Similar Products Used:
BB7
Bike Setup:
Blur LT1
Bottom Line:
These were great when they worked but I got tired of the constant pad drag. You will be working on your brakes all the time if you buy these. I don't have the time BB7s are so hassle free.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daniel.malvoisin
a Weekend Warrior
from Tournai, Wallonie, Belgium Date Reviewed: June 28, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Bike.discount.be
Strengths:
Look
Weaknesses:
reliability, noise, really breakale. Not made for mountain bike
Similar Products Used:
None, it was my first experience with disc brakes.
Bike Setup:
Radon
Bottom Line:
On the begin a problem with the level, and now withe the calipers. Really noisy brakes an you can have any confidence in it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Boo
a Cross Country Rider
from Poland Date Reviewed: June 28, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Strong, reliable brake
Weaknesses:
Brake with 185 mm rotor lacks modulation a bit
Similar Products Used:
Oro K18
Bike Setup:
Radon ZR Team/Reba/XT/Ritchey Pro
Bottom Line:
Strong brake, not too heavy, easy to adjust. A bit too strong w/ 185 mm rotor, needs careful adjustment to keep fine modulation. Generally very good performance, worth recommending.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pynis McDermott
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: June 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
BCT & Sunset
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Works great as far as I can tell. Haven't had many problems, only occasional "Turkey Gobble" that usually passes after that particular hill.
Weaknesses:
None that I have noticed - look great, weight is great, stop when I need them to, modification when I need.
Similar Products Used:
Shiitmano Hydraulics and Older V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
Niner Rip 9, Stans ZTR Flow Rims, 185mm Rotors up Front, 160mm in Back
Bottom Line:
I am not a self proclaimed Ninja, so I do not need exact nanosecond braking or overanalyzation in search of the "Holy Grail" of brakes. I do not let a "Turkey Gobble" or temporary change in Hydraulic performance affect my overall opinion of these brakes. The setup is perfect for my bike. I like the weight, and performance combo - so that fetches high value points. I have not done a bleed yet, so I don't know how they are to maintain. So far, these are the best brakes I have tried. They keep me alive and on the trail and I ride fast and hammer.
MTBR - Send my jersey award notification to nathan_moroney@yahoo.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
XSL_WiLL
a Weekend Warrior
from Naperville, IL, USA Date Reviewed: June 4, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Braking power, reliability, ease of use and maintenance, customer service.
Weaknesses:
Modulation
Bottom Line:
I've had Juicy brakes since their debut in 2004. I was stoked when I purchased the brakes at that time. There was nothing similar at that time. I loved that the lever freestroke could be adjusted independently of the reach. Note that the knob is to adjust the freestroke only, it does not affect the pad position.
Unfortunately after 2 years, I had somehow managed to chip a piston. I called up SRAM to see if I could get parts. Apparently after the first year, they moved production to be in house. So they just sent me a brand new brake instead. Now that's service.
After a couple crashes, I managed to break the plastic part of the knob off of the metal stud. No big deal, it was just harder to turn by hand.
I then bought another set of J5s for a different bike. And sold my 04/05 brakes for a set of 07 J7s.
These brakes have never given me any problems. As long as I kept fresh fluid in the brakes and didn't just drag them the entire DH run, I would never fade out the system. I found that there has not been a single issue of "turkey gobble" that I could not resolve. It really does just come down to careful setup.
The braking power is good. But the brakes are a bit on the touchy side and do leave something to be desired in the department of modulation. Certainly the modulation is better than the likes of Hayes HFX9. But it is less than fantastic.
These brakes are easy and clean to bleed (though they do require the kit). Parts are easy to find. And they work well. They are a bit finicky to setup though.
So if you're a hack mechanic (no offense) or just lazy (again, no offense), these brakes may not be for you.
These days, the brakes can be found very cheap, so they're a great way to upgrade from v-brakes or mechanical brakes on a budget.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tacubaya
a Downhiller
from Mexico City Date Reviewed: June 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
El Chico
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Strengths:
Avid Juicy 7 line has a lot of strengths, for example it is a relatively light brake system, it is sleek, powerful and easy to bleed and to change pads. The piston size is ideal for a mix of power and modulation, and coupled with big rotors they deliver great stopping force. The looks are great and the pad contact adjustment and reach adjustment work like a charm. If you bleed them with 5.1 high performance fluid they will deliver reliable performance with great power and almost no fading!
Weaknesses:
In comparison to other brakes you can definitely feel a bit more of a On/Off feeling in the middle of the lever travel, but in comparison to XC-AM brakes you feel it's spot on. My only complaint with these brakes and reflects a big weakness is the bushing system it uses to allow lever movement. With time the lever will develop lateral play that, although it doesn't affect performance, is quite annoying. Avid should use bearings or adjustable lever play like on Formula/Hope brakes.
Great brakes that require minimum maintenance and will stop even a downhiller! Good price, great looks, great performance!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
alanchan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto Date Reviewed: May 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Ok power but not great.
Easy to setup.
Weaknesses:
Squeals a lot, one piece caliper, 'TOOL-FREE PAD REPLACEMENT' was horribly design, 'PAD CONTACT-POINT ADJUSTMENT' knob was badly design and can cause lock up.
Poor modulation, stiff feel
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7
Hayes 9
Hope Mono Mini, Hope M4, Mini
Shimano LX, XT, XTR
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz, Fox Vanilla 125 RL, Singlespeed
Bottom Line:
I will not recommend these to a friend. If you really want Juicy, get the 5 as the PAD CONTACT-POINT ADJUSTMENT on the 7 will cause you problems along the road. They aren't the greatest brake either in terms of stopping power. Modulation is horrible and pad replacement design is bad. I rather use a tool (pin design) to hold up the pads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
OSM
a Racer
from HatersVill, sickFizzle', in da YAY Date Reviewed: May 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
L I F E
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
dude gamme the Plug.
Strengths:
easy set up, smooth looks compact design, replacable levers.
Weaknesses:
reviews foreshadow lots of noise, and critical correct initial setup. I read the stock rotors should be replaced.
Similar Products Used:
this is my first set of hydro's. I was running a BB7 up front w/ 160 centerlock, and hayes MX2 rear w/ 160 stock hayes 2005.
Bike Setup:
hardtail found in dumpster, heavy fork, profile cranks. mag 30, SRS 40t, 30' bars. 33lbs of climbing machine. DH racing, beer runner
Bottom Line:
I got a good deal. I wanted more confidance in my hard, late braking into corners. Hydros can get expensive, so I was looking at lower end or used stuff. A lil' worried about the negitve reviews everywhere, I figure I read the tips I can set em' up cool. I run old rotors 160/160, centerlock/ mx2 hayes. organic pads up front. semi-metallic rear pads( thinking of rotating for longer pad life) These brakes work perfect! No loud unusual noises. the centerlocl rotor is a bit short on contact area, but works fine. I want more power on long dh runs so I get 185 front rotor soon. This brake works well for everything. great adjustability in the levers. set up the first time is most important make sure everything is really straight and un contaminated. I read all the reviews before buying brakes, replaced all stock rotors and pads up front pro install. ZERO problems. I rate these on the price I paid and that they don't make awfull sounds like the rest.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
i_am_cool
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne, australia Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
churchill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
ebay - way to go lol
Strengths:
good braking power, even in the wet. love the quick adjust on the lever. friends ohhs and ahhs!
Weaknesses:
a bit skeaky at the start but after a bit of playing around and wear down they come up a treat.
Similar Products Used:
hayes sole
Bike Setup:
juicy 7s, sram sx5, rst launch, great frame and tough.
Bottom Line:
good brake for someone who wants a bit more power in their braking, but no need to replace until your current brakes are worn down heaps. stacked the first time i tried an endo coz i wasnt used to the power. you have to keep them in good condition and replace fluid every 6-12months othrwise they go crap. but easy to do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtrider
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern VA Date Reviewed: May 9, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Low maintenance
Weaknesses:
Break fade during long decent
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Nine
Bike Setup:
GF HiFi Pro 08
Bottom Line:
These a great for short decents, 'bout 1 kilometer, anything longer, they will start to fade. I don't have problems with brake noise, only when when they get wet from the occasional stream crossing. Once they dry out after pumping the lever, they rotors stop squealing; but no performance loss. Works great for XC, but will not recommend for AM or DH.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ollieono
a Cross Country Rider
from Norway Date Reviewed: April 28, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
original config. Can
Strengths:
Bleeding is easy, but expensive kit.
Exceptional hype
Weaknesses:
Noisy, squealing, vibrating
Poor breaking power
Calyper piston oxidizes and jams, rendering breaks useless
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
-06 Ccannondale Scalpel 2000
Bottom Line:
These are made for sunny california - I used the bike a couple of times in the rain - the back break piston oxidized and jamed rock bottom. The pads fell apart. It took several weeks, the help of friendly mechanical workshop and loads of $$$ to repair. That was last year. This year the front break has oxidized...
I've learned that it'll be cheaper to buy new set of breaks of another brand, than to repair Juicy 7.
Other breaks cost a fraction of the price - I have other ways of wasting my time & money than on useless components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tonycrd
a Weekend Warrior
from Barcelona/Spain Date Reviewed: March 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Garraf
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At:
E-bay
Strengths:
Looks, price, stopping power, ergonomics.
Weaknesses:
you need to buy a special kit to bleed the brakes
Similar Products Used:
none, only V brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F700SL, only stock items left are frame and headshock
Bottom Line:
I got the 203mm discs and man do they brake! Yes they made some noise in the beginning, regular adjustment the first couple of rides and braking them in slowly is key. Now they do not make any noise and they do not need to be adjusted after every ride. Setup the caliper height correctly on the discs and you have a noisefree setup. They do not care if it rains or if they get covered in mud, if I pull the lever with just one finger I almost get thrown of the bike every time. This is seriously good value for your hard earned buck! Would have gotten 5 outa 5 if not for the pricy bleedkit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RobertCShay
a Cross Country Rider
from Stamford, CT, USA Date Reviewed: March 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Upgraded Original eq
Strengths:
Excellent modulation
Quiet
User Serviceable
Weaknesses:
Noisy out of the box
Similar Products Used:
None hydraulic
Bike Setup:
2008 Stumpjumper Comp
Bottom Line:
These are great brakes once you get them set-up with KoolStop Pads.
When I first got the brakes I rode in very humid conditions and the brakes were very, very noisy. I switched the pads to Koolstop organic and the noise went away. I also wipe the rotors down with Simple Green solution after each ride to ensure that all the sand/dirt is removed.
Great modulation, pads last a long time, caliper parts are easily available and cheap to rebuild the units - mine in year 3.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Gallacher
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow, Scotland Date Reviewed: March 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Chain Reaction
Strengths:
Great modulation and stopping, easy to set up and, the little red knob works for me!
Weaknesses:
Did need a little fettling out of the box but 15 minutes sorted that. Since then however fiddle free.
Similar Products Used:
Hope
Bike Setup:
SC Chameleon, Fox Vanilla, Race Face, XTR, XT Chris King, etc
Bottom Line:
Recommended. Take some time with them out of the box and you'll be sorted. Used Hope C"'s for years - great except for the closed system - what a welcome to have an adjustable open system with no "pump up"
Price quoted, pounds sterling
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mare45
a Cross Country Rider
from East Brunswick, NJ Date Reviewed: February 25, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
I like the way the lever felt and they stopped well.
Weaknesses:
I have bled them far too many times, and each time it was always such a pain in the a$$. 4 years later (yes, they lasted me 4 years, but they were a hassle for 4 full years, from the start), I have had enough and am switching to Hope or Hayes. I think the little red knob never worked properly. Who knows. By the time I realized how persistently frustrating these would be, it was too late to do anything with the manufacturer.
Bike Setup:
Blur XC, XTR, DT Swiss wheelset, Fox fork and shock.
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't buy Avid again. These worked well when they worked, but on any given ride, they would just lock up or just pull straight back to the bar. I don't feel confident riding with these anymore.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dnotten
a Weekend Warrior
from netherlands Date Reviewed: February 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
belgium ardennes
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
very very good stopping power. I have the 200mm disc version. Even in wet muddy conditions it brakes like hell. You have a lot other brakes with good stopping power, so what`s making the real difference? I think is the way you can dosage the brakepower. The juicy`s are extremely good in modulating the brake force.
Weaknesses:
Out of the box, the brakes are badly bleeded. This results in sticky pistons and spunchy braking. Don`t blame the brakes for that. I see a lot of negative feedback on these brakes only because of this fact. Have patience and do a properly bleeding of the brakes and you have the best brakes you can get. So my advice is when you buy these brakes, order also a bleedkit.
Similar Products Used:
lot of v brakes and giant mph discs
Bike Setup:
gary fisher hi deluxe 26 inch. xt, mavic 719 wheels and avid juicy 7
Bottom Line:
As they see a good bang fur the bucks. They would have got 5 chilis, if they where properly bleeding out of the box.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fisher26
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheboro, NC Date Reviewed: February 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
exterra uwharrie
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
preformance bicycle
Strengths:
stops great
Weaknesses:
nothing bad execpt pads have to be broken in
Bike Setup:
Gary fisher wahoo,avid juicy sevens, crank brothers candy, shimano alivio shifters, everything else is stock
Bottom Line:
if you want a brake thats reliable but dont mind a little tuning up then this brake is great for you. I personally wouldn't take this brake on the local down hill course but for cross country its a great choice. I paid $260.00 for the set and it was worth it. I would defenitly reccomend this to a friend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
L4m3r
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA Date Reviewed: February 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Urban traveling
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
masherz.com
Strengths:
Great stopping power
Affordable ($260 got me both kits- front and rear, 203mm).
Pad adjustment dials right on the levers
Smooth operation with good modulation
Very easy to install
Quiet when installed and adjusted properly
Weaknesses:
If the calipers aren't on straight, the brakes can vibrate a lot.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7 (185mm front, 160mm rear)
Hayes Sole (185mm front, 160mm rear)
Tektro Aquila (160mm front/rear)
Bike Setup:
2008 GT Avalanche 2.0
Bottom Line:
For good hydraulic brakes, these really are a great value- only about $50 more than I had paid for my old setup with BB7s. The pre-assembled kit is stupidly easy to install.
I had issues with squealing and vibration from the rear brake at first. As it turns out, this happened because the caliper was not on straight. The hose clips on my frame are on the bottom side of a tube, and routing the hose around the bar was pulling my caliper out of alignment. After some re-routing and adjustment, I have not had any problems.
They don't feel any stronger than my old BB7s were, but the modulation is definitely better. Plus, when you squeeze harder, you know that pressure is going to the pads and not just stretching your brake cables. I'm pretty big, and these brakes have enough stopping power for me to descend a staircase slowly. What more could I want?
If you're in need of some nice hydros, you can't go wrong with these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Klein
a Cross Country Rider
from Bella Vista, Arkansas Date Reviewed: February 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Mojo Sport (part of
Strengths:
Light & simple
Weaknesses:
Do not stop well and they are noisy
Similar Products Used:
BB7, Hayes HFX9, Magura Gustav, Clara, & Julie
Bike Setup:
2008 RIP 9 Complete
Bottom Line:
The brakes were part of the complete package. I was not impressed at all. The brakes are noisy and do not stop well. I have tried re-bleeding and adjusting - they are brand new and I should not have to mess with them after "burn in". I tried to adjusting with several of the adjustments available on the brake system – the brakes never stopped as good as even my BB7 brakes! I rolled these for 6-7 rides of 6-10 miles and have to say that yes the do stop eventually but in the grand scheme of things they are not a good value for the money or time involved to adjust them. Switched out for some Shimano 4 Piston brakes and I am happy again. I ride everyday that I can at local trails that vary from quick descents to wicked climbs - I am not a downhiller - I am not a free rider – I am a average guy that likes to ride and not maintenance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
batman
a Racer
from Australia Date Reviewed: January 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Unbelievable power, modulation, great performance wet or dry, require very little maintenance, easy to bleed.
Excellent brake with unlimited performance and feel, these work excellent for XC racing, fast decents and single track. They only require bleeding when "optimal" performance is wanted (or if you don't use DOT5.1 and boil the fluid), but you can neglect them for years and they still work very well. Yes they do squeel, but only when they get dirty. If your not getting excellent performance and or suffering shudder or excessive squeeling, got to a different mechanic as they are probably setup incorreclty. Only fault I can find is the bleed kit costs AUD $60, and the only reason you need is is for the bleed barbs, which sould cost about $5! Otherwise couldn't be happier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jcullerton
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bear Creek/Pinhote Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
It's almost as good as Shimano XT's when it works.
Weaknesses:
Squealing and warbling/vibrating.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
Niner, Jet 9. King hubs w/ dt swiss rims, king headset, fox rlc fork, sram X0 trigger shifters, xt cranks, thomson post and stem.
Bottom Line:
I road Shimano XT on my Giant Anthem 1 and never had one minor problem for 18 months. They performed great. I got a new bike (Jet 9) which I love but these Avid's are doing their best job to be a buzz kill on a great bike. The rear brake is vibrating or warbling (term I never heard until I encountered other Juicy 7 owners online). These brakes also sound like someone is slowly slitting a cat's throat. If I read great reviews on these and people loved them, I would view it as an unfortunate and isolated problem and try to address it. But after I read about the wasted hours on end that people spend dealing with their LBS and Avid trying to fix these things, I'm more inclined to do whatever it takes to get these off my bike and save myself the anxiety. I'm going to work with my bike shop to get these off my bike w/out any skin off my teeth...we'll see how it goes. Does someone at Avid have pictures of all the major bike manufacturers in compromising positions at highway rest stops? Why are these being included on so many bikes?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
m0ngy
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, SA, Down Under Date Reviewed: January 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Winter Track, Chambers, Horsenell Loop
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Very Durable, reliable, service/adjustment free, decent modulation, ergonomic levers
Weaknesses:
Not very powerful
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Mag, XT Discs (the previous model)
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR, 55 ETA, Thompson, Hope, King, etc.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up; been hammering these brakes for about 2 years now, never serviced 'em (bled) or needed to adjust, just changed the pads after about a year. Thats impressive.
What isn't so impressive is the actual stopping power, even with 180mm rotors. As many other reviewers have already stated, these are for XC, not AM and certainly not DH *cold shiver*... they tend to fade like a mofo after a km or so of constant use. Not exactly, "F&%k me, I don't have any brakes left!!" like canties or avid v-brakes, but you really gotta grab a handful of brake just to slow down.
Riding AM as I do, I want to rip lugs off my tires and change line in a flash, and i've had a few white knuckle experiences with these things. Code 5's or the new Saint 4-pot's (sweeeeet) would definately be my next mtb purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Herman9t9t9
a Weekend Warrior
from Zwolle, Netherlands Date Reviewed: January 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Passo Zebru (Italy)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
Web
Strengths:
Easy installing! That's for sure. Ideal for XC riding in normal terrain. I bled them myself, easy to fix. Reliable, I never had leaks or serious sqeualing. The disc maintain true, even when I turned them brown due to alpin downhill.
Weaknesses:
I became painfull arms after the riding the Les Gets bikepark. So, for long alpine rides, like Passo Zebru or Bernina Pass to Poschiavo, I would not recommend them. I wish I had my Gustav M mounted during that time.
Similar Products Used:
Gustav M, HS33, Grimeca.
Bike Setup:
Nicolai Helius AM, Lyrik, Hope Pro2's
Bottom Line:
Simply looking, easy installing, reliable brakes, ideal for normal XC riding. Not useable for alpin riding, Freeriding, DH or All mountain riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
egsavio
a Weekend Warrior
from Florianópolis Date Reviewed: November 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Boqueirão da Serra
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Mercado Livre
Strengths:
Enough power stop for one finger DH with 203 mm rotors.
Excellent modulation.
Fine adjust of the inclination of the lever.
Very easy to adjust the right position of the calliper because the V-brake style washers.
If the rotor is bent, is possible to minimize the problem with the pad contact adjust.
The lever inclination and pad contact adjusts are independents.
Weaknesses:
Is need to burnout, and the lever inclination screw adjust is a few inaccessible, but I believe these are not a considerable weakness. My Topeak has a 2 mm allen with the right size.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Mag, Hayes Nine, Deore, Grimeca, Tektro, Hope C2.
Bike Setup:
UMF Freedy, Fox DHX, Totem, Saint.
Bottom Line:
I'm very impressed with the control provide by the modulation. The adjusts are great. It is affordable for his level, maybe his main concurrent is XT.
You may be disappointed with the brake power before burnout, but be patient, it will work great at next down. Wash the rotor wit soap for a faster burnout. It will solve some residual oil.
I'll do a new review against some months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
big_sur
a Cross Country Rider
from goode, va Date Reviewed: October 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
peaks view
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came on the bike
Strengths:
When they work, they work well
Weaknesses:
They don't work sometimes, particulary when you're bombing down really rocky terrain(bad spot for brakes to stop working)
Similar Products Used:
juicy 5s, shimanos
Bike Setup:
07 hifi pro
Bottom Line:
So these came on my bike and they sucked. It's not that they feel spongy but if you stand the bike up on the back wheel, the lever pulls the bar. This also tends to happen if you're going down for a while over rocky terrain and don't touch the brakes for a while. Then you get to the bottom and the lever pulls back to the bar. A couple of pumps and it's back but I'm not really trying to pump my brakes all the way down the hill.
Anyways, it's not unheard of for bikes to need bleeding out of the box so I take it to the bike shop and they bleed them. I take the bike out and it comes back almost immediately. Repeat again. Bike in, bike out, same problem. Third time it goes in the bike shop gets tired of bleeding brakes and calls Avid. Avid sends me a brand new pair no questions asked and I'm happy....
For about three months...then it comes back. These brakes are absolute junk, crap, trash, fillyfally, whatever you wanna call it. I mean, yes they squeal but whatever. I don't so much care about squealing as I care about having brakes when I'm doing 30mph downhill, a turn is coming up, and I have to pump my brake lever three times before I get any response from the brakes. SAFETY HAZARD, do not buy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Culver City, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Sycamore Canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Helen's Cycles
Strengths:
Good braking power, people can hear me coming a mile away.
Weaknesses:
SSSSQQQQUUUUUUUEEEEAAALLLLL!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
rim brakes
Bike Setup:
came with my Santa Cruz Blur XC
Bottom Line:
That's a whole lot of noise from a little package. Doesn't seem to effect the braking power. I had the LBS get me a new set of rotors from AVID(SRAM). They sent me the new set and same result. Saw an earlier post recommending Hayes V6's and tried those out. So far, they still make noise, mostly when wet, but nowhere near what they were doing. Gave it a "generous" 3 chilis since they seem to be working after I spent the extra $50 on rotors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
swad
a Cross Country Rider
from Hudson Falls, NY Date Reviewed: October 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Spire Falls
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Good stop power. Speed dial pad adjuster. Easy setup.
Weaknesses:
Noise and bike shudder.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7, V-Brakes.
Bike Setup:
Giant Xtc. Mx Pro fork, spinergy xylone wheelset.
Bottom Line:
Pretty good brakes overall. They are very easy to setup and the speed dial makes it easy to adjust and get even lever pull. The pads are easy to change, they have a magnet that holds them in place. Pretty good stop power.
The front brake is awesome, no problems at all. The back I just can't seem to get dialed in. It has always made excessive noise and caused bike shudder since day one. I have changed pads, rotors, and adjusted them over and over again. I even got a new wheelset (not because of the brake problem though). They will be nice and quiet for a while, then right back to the way it was. This does not seem to affect the stop power though. Overall, good xc brakes. It seems like most other people don't have this problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dgangi
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: October 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any one I am on
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came with my bike
Strengths:
Stopping power, durability, ease of service
Weaknesses:
Modulation is a little "on-off" for my taste, squeals when dry
Similar Products Used:
Magura Marta, Avid BB mechanicals
Bike Setup:
Titus Motolite
Bottom Line:
These are great basic hydraulic brakes. The Avid Juicy 7's must be the most common braking system out there...and for a good reason: they work well.
My bike has 160/160 rotors and the Avids have plenty of stopping power. I'm about 150lbs and do lots of long downhills, and the brakes have never left me wanting for more. Heavier guys might want a bigger rotor up front.
I've crashed my bike many times and the brake levers have lots of gashes to prove it...but so far nothing has ever broken. In the 18 months I've had my bike, I have never had to bleed the brakes. I am also on my original brake pads.
One complaint: I am running the semi-metallic pads, and they do squeal some when the conditions are dry and dusty. I've heard the organic pads cure this problem, but they also wear faster.
The other complaint I have is the modulation is just so-so. It's more "on-off" than I like. The modulation on the Magura Martas on my race bike is much better.
All-in-all, you can't go wrong with Avid brakes. And given their popularity, anybody in the world can fix them should you ever have a problem (can't say the same about Magura).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robclapton
a Cross Country Rider
from California Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Good one
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Great stopping power. Pad adjust is nice.
Weaknesses:
Constant shudder that impacts braking power. Also, ridiculously loud squeaking.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
A nice one
Bottom Line:
They are not worth the money and hype. The shudder is a serious problem that even my local bike shop couldn't do anything about and seems to be a common problem. The noise is really bad also. The shudder would be tolerable if it didn't affect stopping. But then again, everyone seems to find problems with hydrualic brakes. Just look at hayes' review. It seems no one can make a good brake, or I guess people just like to submit a review when they are pissed they spent a lot of money on a product that doesn't work, like me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Double b
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, Fl Date Reviewed: September 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
North Georgia
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Stopping
Weaknesses:
Maintenance
Similar Products Used:
none/came on the bike
Bike Setup:
Fat Possum XO
Bottom Line:
I am a roadie that started mountain biking last year. I have to admit that I am a little overwhelmed by the amount of upkeep/replacement of equipment on the bike. The brakes seem to be the most high maintenance item. I go through pads like a chainsaw through hot butter. If I am not replacing I am adjusting. I need a NASCAR pit crew waiting for me after every ride. In addition the manuals provided on maintenance/ adjustment are lame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ventura
a Weekend Warrior
from SJM, Portugal Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Stopping Power, Modulation, Feel!!
Weaknesses:
Time that they took to bed!!!
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise Bat
Bike Setup:
Marin Mt. Vision
Bottom Line:
In the first km (300km!!!), they were loud with this i mean realy loud, a continuous whistle that could be heard 400mts away, the first 2km it was funny after 50km it was torture, apart from this noise i also had the famous turkey gobble in the back that also anoyed me but at least it was only when i braked and not continuous like in the front!!
They also were very vague and they didn't have a strong stopping bite, it was more slow down than stop but with time they changed and how they changed!!!
When they finally decided to bed in they started to brake and now they really, really stop, when they started to brake i thought that they had poor modulation but when you get used to it it is really easy to control the stopping power but the soundtrack continued and it was driving me insane so i went to the shop and i said kill the sound or change the brakes, in the shop they adjusted again the caliper and since then they are working perfectly, since then i made over 600km and no problem, no bleeding, no adjustments att all!!
If i was doing this review in the first 300km i would give only one chili but now i that i met the other side i will have to give it five!! Do i recomend it? If you are patient, absolutely Yes!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
madcatmini
a Weekend Warrior
from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Quarry trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$170.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Great durability, Awesome adjustability and AMAZING stopping power
Weaknesses:
None since bleeding is regular hydraulic maintenance
Great brakes have not had a single issue with them. They work great for hard AM riding. My BB 5's just couldn't stop me. 185mm on front 160 on back and I dont budge when I brake. Got them bled them rode them nuff said!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jcc456
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver Date Reviewed: August 26, 2008
I have the new expert with the Juicy 7's and they are junk. I mean expensive junk.
I have had the infamous "turkey gobble" noise from my rear brake since buying the bike and it progressed to the frame shaking vibration.
The shop I bought the bike from told me I "use the brakes too much" ..WTF?????
The next shop said the pads were contaminated and I spent $40.00 to replace the pads. Then the hydraulic fitting came loose on the rear. Another $30.00 to bleed the line. Still vibrates like crazy so I call SRAM/Avid and asked "Have you guys been having problems with these brakes?" They say "No way".
Then I find a thread on the Juicy Seven brake problems over on the mechanical forum on this site and find that it is a common problem. More so on the 7's than the 5's. I call Avid back and they still deny a problem until i mention the forum thread and the numerous warranty replacements they have done on both the 7's and 5's. The all of a sudden we get somewhere. Their solution is to run organic pads and install a new rotor at the same time. They should warranty both items so you don't have to pay for it out of pocket. Pisses me off that they did not even mention there was a problem the first time. Inexcusable.
Problem is - I did this and I still have the problem - although not as bad.
Now my front brake is fading after a couple minutes of use. Have bled the system and checked the pads and rotor and there is no reason the brake should fade - according to two shops. I am just too PO'd to even deal with Avid on this.
I am now upgrading to Formula K24 brakes as I am thoroughly disgusted with the Avid products and lack of customer service.
I have never had a single problem with three previous sets of Shimano disk brakes. They only required maintenance once a year to replace pads and they always worked. Thats the way a brake system should work. Too bad Avid can't get there and will not admit to its consumers that there is a problem without a cattle prod up their @$#.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Downhiller
from Scotland Date Reviewed: August 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fort Bill
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
On bike when purchas
Strengths:
Amazing stopping power in wet and dry and fantastic modulation.
Weaknesses:
Noise at times, brake fade with original set-up, the hoses on older models are useless trash!
Similar Products Used:
Hope M4, Hayes nine, Shimano
Bike Setup:
Giant DH, 08 Boxxers, Mavic 729's
Bottom Line:
First impression was very good, as they out perfowmed Hopes and Hayes by a long way on local trails. However after taking them to the Alps I noticed ridiculous amounts of fade on the longer descents. This was down to the crappy hoses fitted as standard on the older models, as soon as I got a set of Goodridge hoses fitted all the problems disapeared and I was left with an awsome, if occasionally slightly noisy, set of brakes.
Overall rating is based on the the Goodridge upgrade, value rating suffers because this is essential for serious riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
greg de taos
a Racer
from Taos, NM USA Date Reviewed: July 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
better than V brakes, mostly
Weaknesses:
tons of noise, require way more maintenance than I would like to give them. Mostly worthless in the rain. Horrid customer service.
Similar Products Used:
XT, Hayes
Bike Setup:
Giant Anthem 0 custom build King Hubs DT swiss rims, Fox 80mm up front and RP-23 in rear, Thompson post and stem XTR components
Bottom Line:
After one year I hate these brakes as much as I did the week that I bought them, they are the loudest brakes I have ever dealt with. I (and my LBS) have bled them 40 times over the last year. The levers will not stay inward of the lock out position, they are always just flopping around and can be very hard to fine on a tough decent. The brakes have had a leak since day one, I always have to add fluid. The worst thing is that after repeated phone calls, Avid is unwilling to do anything about it, (from me and my LBS)seeming to hope that i just go away. Avid always wants to try another part or another method and the brakes are simply lemons. I cant afford other brakes at this time so my entire riding season has been with brakes that do not work for sh*t. I am not the type to complain much but these brakes are worthless and I would never buy them again or anything from Sram or Avid as they do not seem to back up what they sell.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lebikerboy
a Weekend Warrior
from North Van Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The Shore
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
They're hydraulic disk brakes.
Weaknesses:
Don't stop well at all and require frequent servicing.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano old and new versions. Hayes Mag's, Avid BB brakes, Grimeca, etc.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro expert.
Bottom Line:
I had this demo version of a Specialized Enduro Expert at the Whistler Bike Park for a weekend. The Juicy's couldn't stop me well at all. After several runs the rotors were scorched black and constantly faded as they heated up. Upon return to the shop where I borrowed the bike from, the mechanic hearing of my problems bled the brakes to see if the problem was air in the system. The DOT 3 fluid was the colour of coffee which indicates it had boiled at some point in it's lifetime. Maybe a DOT4 fluid or even DOT 5.1 would be better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
amorimoto
a Downhiller
from Orange County Date Reviewed: July 11, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
The Bike Co.
Strengths:
Nice looking
Weaknesses:
Brakes fade really quickly, started to feel like crap after 4 months, did a full bleed and rebuild and they started the die on me halfway down my first desent (not very fun as you can imagine).
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Stroker, Hope M4
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad, DHX coil, Fox Float 36.
Bottom Line:
I don't know if these brakes are more suited for XC, but if you are an All Mountain/free Ride rider like myself these brakes just wont hold up. If you want some brakes that will work everytime, wont fade, and be there when you really need them go with Hope or Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
2tech
a Downhiller
from Abbotsford, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
goat's gully
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
my shop
Strengths:
great modulation and bite if you need it at low speeds. Amazing pad contact adjust feature!!! I'll never ride a brake without it again!
Weaknesses:
Loses some power after exposed to extreme downhill conditions. noisy for the first while.
Similar Products Used:
Avid code, Hayes 9, mag, magura louise fr
Bike Setup:
Bombproof Banshee w/ juicy front and code rear
Bottom Line:
I decided to go with an odd setup for my bike last year and experimented with an 8" juicy 7 in the front and an 8" code in the back. I can safely say I prefer the feel of the juicy and on 99% of trails it works amazingly, but last week I found that, while trying a new(and stupidly steep) trail it ran out of power for me. I found myself careening around sketchy turns while two-fingering my juicy, trying to get it to slow me down. I hold nothing against it, but now I think I will start the hunt for a front code or a full gustav swap. I recommend these brakes to anyone and would trust my life with them on anything but devil's throat ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MTN MAN
a Downhiller
from sandiego/florida Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
a bunch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
trek/gf dealer sandi
Strengths:
it stops the bike well they are durable and adaptable. saved my ass going on super steep dh.
Weaknesses:
the red lever doesnt seem to do anything. very loud.
Similar Products Used:
other avid and something else and a ton of V brakes
Bike Setup:
07 trek remedy 66 with highrollers.
Bottom Line:
These brakes literaly saved my life when i was in vegas when i was on a terrifying hiking trail. but one of the reasons i ride is becasue i like to go fast without hearing any sound but these brakes are rediculously loud i mean they would scare the hell out of anybody near you. so they work awesome but the sound is a negative
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Simi Valley,CA USA Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
China Flats
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
BikeBling.com
Strengths:
This review is for the 08 Juicy Sevens.Does what its suppose to do,great stopping power, feels great.
Weaknesses:
None Yet
Similar Products Used:
BB7's
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll 900SL: Ultra Fatty shock, XTR derailers and shifters, XT crank, Mavic wheel set, Thompson post
Bottom Line:
I'm a cross country rider and decided to upgrade to hydro's even though I was happy with my BB7's. I am extremely pleased with the feel of the adjustable levers and the modulation from the Sevens. I have NOT encountered any noise from my brakes yet. I have the 185's up front and the 160's in the back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kiwijames
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, CA Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Big Trees and Cinderella
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Does everything it says it will in the lit/specs. Has great modulation, you adjust how much lever travel you prefer, alignment is easy, and the pad adjust is handy.
Weaknesses:
NONE! It did blow a cap on a reservoir, but I have o attribute it to a bad crash in which it impacted rocks on the lever. Lever fine, cap replaced..works perfect.
Pretty simple component to deal with if you just read the manual. People complain about the squealing, big deal, clean up your rotors and get the pad alignment correct. As for glazing, there's several grades of pads of Avids, ones for DH, ones for regular old XC and others for Muddy/Wet, get the proper ones and they're easy to drop in and go. Opt for the sintered ones and stay away from the "organics", they do suck!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtb4ever
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Adjustability, stopping power
Weaknesses:
Bleeding is a hassle, pads can wear quickly, finnicky
Similar Products Used:
Shimano M525
Bike Setup:
2007 Specialized Stumpy with Brain, Fox Talas RLC, XT group
Bottom Line:
I have a love/hate relationship with my Sevens. They stop really well, have a great feel, you can dial in the perfect adjustment, and overall I find they perform excellent when working right. However, you need a $35 kit to bleed them, the levers mount with caps so if you put your palms on your lever mounts while climbing the bolts dig into your palms, one of the pistons in the rear sticks periodically causing the brake to fade during the ride, the pads have to be installed just right or they fall out, and they can get a little noisy (although not uncommon with disc brakes). Those who do experience loud squealing can try thoroughly cleaning the rotors with rubbing alcohol and use a 120 grit sand paper to (carefully) smooth the pads. Let the alcohol dry completely before putting the wheel back on.
Also, posting over and over to lower the products rating is not really fair to the product. We've all had bad experiences with products. Review and rate once, then let the buyer beware.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kris Simons
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA Date Reviewed: May 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Walker Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Treads Lakewood
Strengths:
Looks good
Weaknesses:
Neither brake lever feels the same from the front to back. Rear has a piercing sound when going downhill. It also scares riders in front of you because it almost sounds like there is something very wrong. The front just doesn't work good and you can put the brake on at full strength and still be able to move the wheel with your hand.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deores on my old hardrock. They stopped better than these.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Caffeine 29er with Avid Juicy Sevens
Bottom Line:
Fred Flintstone stopped his car by applying his feet to the ground to create friction. If your setup includes Juicy Sevens, you might as well be stopping the same way.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fisker76
a Cross Country Rider
from Underhill Ctr, VT Date Reviewed: May 26, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
stock on bike
Strengths:
Stops me every time and fast [I'm 6'3 235lbs]. No muss, no fuss, no squeals, in fact I've had no issues others have listed here and I have these brakes on two bikes, my hardtail & fsr. So far, easy to maintain, adjust and keep in good working condition. 1000+ miles on both pairs since last fall and this spring and going strong.
Weaknesses:
On one set the lever distance feels 'spongy' but the brakes always work consistently and reliably.
Similar Products Used:
None, these are my first hydraulic brakes
Bike Setup:
came stock on my enduro sl & motobecane phantom pro
Bottom Line:
So far these brakes have done the job they were designed to do, performing only required routine maintenance [see owners manual]. I've seen these brakes advertised for around $150+/-
so that seems to me like a good value. Overall sram has made a tough and reliable product, that is well designed and well built. I would recommend this product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, CA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
After breaking in the pads on the first ride these brakes almost sent me over the handlebars. After riding Hayes Sole for a couple of years on my last bike these brakes have proven to me that brakes are for stopping. I am very hard on my brakes because stopping is better than soaring and pads are cheap. I have not even replaced the pads.
Weaknesses:
Because of the very tight tolerances of these precision brakes there are some fine adjustments to be made when you are tuning them in. Also, I have resurfaced my pads a couple times to stop squeaks but this is all well worth the effectiveness of these brakes.
Bike Setup:
Almost stock 07 SJ FSR Elite
Bottom Line:
If you are like me and you are happy to give the bike a fine tune once a week or so when you are cleaning it then these brakes are for you. If you want to slap something on and ride through the mud for the next 5 years without any tuning you should probably stick with rim brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, CA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
After breaking in the pads on the first ride these brakes almost sent me over the handlebars. After riding Hayes Sole for a couple of years on my last bike these brakes have proven to me that brakes are for stopping. I am very hard on my brakes because stopping is better than soaring and pads are cheap. I have not even replaced the pads.
Weaknesses:
Because of the very tight tolerances of these precision brakes there are some fine adjustments to be made when you are tuning them in. Also, I have resurfaced my pads a couple times to stop squeaks but this is all well worth the effectiveness of these brakes.
Bike Setup:
Almost stock 07 SJ FSR Elite
Bottom Line:
If you are like me and you are happy to give the bike a fine tune once a week or so when you are cleaning it then these brakes are for you. If you want to slap something on and ride through the mud for the next 5 years without any tuning you should probably stick with rim brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, CA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
After breaking in the pads on the first ride these brakes almost sent me over the handlebars. After riding Hayes Sole for a couple of years on my last bike these brakes have proven to me that brakes are for stopping. I am very hard on my brakes because stopping is better than soaring and pads are cheap. I have not even replaced the pads.
Weaknesses:
Because of the very tight tolerances of these precision brakes there are some fine adjustments to be made when you are tuning them in. Also, I have resurfaced my pads a couple times to stop squeaks but this is all well worth the effectiveness of these brakes.
Bike Setup:
Almost stock 07 SJ FSR Elite
Bottom Line:
If you are like me and you are happy to give the bike a fine tune once a week or so when you are cleaning it then these brakes are for you. If you want to slap something on and ride through the mud for the next 5 years without any tuning you should probably stick with rim brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, CA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
After breaking in the pads on the first ride these brakes almost sent me over the handlebars. After riding Hayes Sole for a couple of years on my last bike these brakes have proven to me that brakes are for stopping. I am very hard on my brakes because stopping is better than soaring and pads are cheap. I have not even replaced the pads.
Weaknesses:
Because of the very tight tolerances of these precision brakes there are some fine adjustments to be made when you are tuning them in. Also, I have resurfaced my pads a couple times to stop squeaks but this is all well worth the effectiveness of these brakes.
Bike Setup:
Almost stock 07 SJ FSR Elite
Bottom Line:
If you are like me and you are happy to give the bike a fine tune once a week or so when you are cleaning it then these brakes are for you. If you want to slap something on and ride through the mud for the next 5 years without any tuning you should probably stick with rim brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, CA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
After breaking in the pads on the first ride these brakes almost sent me over the handlebars. After riding Hayes Sole for a couple of years on my last bike these brakes have proven to me that brakes are for stopping. I am very hard on my brakes because stopping is better than soaring and pads are cheap. I have not even replaced the pads.
Weaknesses:
Because of the very tight tolerances of these precision brakes there are some fine adjustments to be made when you are tuning them in. Also, I have resurfaced my pads a couple times to stop squeaks but this is all well worth the effectiveness of these brakes.
Bike Setup:
Almost stock 07 SJ FSR Elite
Bottom Line:
If you are like me and you are happy to give the bike a fine tune once a week or so when you are cleaning it then these brakes are for you. If you want to slap something on and ride through the mud for the next 5 years without any tuning you should probably stick with rim brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
weylin
a Downhiller
from seattle Date Reviewed: May 12, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
snohomish valley cycles
Strengths:
awesome stopping power, easy to bleed, and the pad width is externally adjustable from the lever.
Weaknesses:
a little expensive, but what top of the line brakes aren't?
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 5's
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz nomad, Fox 36 talas, dhx 5.0, Kenda 2.5 navegal dh tires, 185mm rotors
Bottom Line:
These brakes are pricey, but well worth it. They have simply tons of stopping power with just a single finger. Avid's are the only brakes I'll ever use. They have a great feel under your finger, it's nice to know you'll never have to worry about not having enough brake.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clyde
a Weekend Warrior
from Michigan Date Reviewed: April 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
dirt - lots of dirt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Adjustable - some users may not fully appreciate the flexibility of this system.
Weaknesses:
none yet,
Similar Products Used:
first disk system
Bike Setup:
Felt Nine Pro off the shelf
Bottom Line:
Great adjustments all around - reach, pressure, pads. Well made parts, tight tolerances - they did a great job in design and weight.
Squeeks can be silenced immediatly. Calipers are self adjusting, the remote pad adjust is great as well.
For the price - tough to beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Johns
a Racer
from Apopka, Fl, USA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Reddick (Razorback)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
They give me a place to put my hand
Weaknesses:
Everything else
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight 2007
Bottom Line:
This is my first taste in the disc brake world. If this is the norm I want my XTR V-brakes back. At first they seemed good. but after just a few rides they squeeked (normal I thought). They started rubing today, so I took the back wheel off and was totally suprised to find my pads were metal to metal. I have maybe 100 miles (5 rides, one in the rain) on these pads. I'm very disapointed with this break system. Hopefully my LBS will sooth my soul.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
thomas mcnamara
a Cross Country Rider
from sedalia, mo usa Date Reviewed: April 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
landahl, kc
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
ebby's
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
legion
Similar Products Used:
shimano lx dual control hyd disc
Bike Setup:
van dessel jersey devil 1X9, XT rear derailleur, Stan's ZTR Flow rims with Crow tires, white industries eno cranks, etc.
Bottom Line:
The Bottom Line is these brakes suck. They made incredibly annoying noises right out of the box that i thought would go away after they broke in a little. But that was not the case. After months of trying to adjust them they still won't stop dragging, squeaking, vibrating, and generally making me angry. Now they have begun leaking and it will be my pleasure to smash them with a sledgehammer in my driveway.
Don't ever buy juicy sevens. You will regret it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas Date Reviewed: March 22, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Awesome stopping power, looks great.
Weaknesses:
Modulation is poor. The caliper is always needing realigned from rubbing pads. Probably twice a week. The pad contact doesn't work as advertised. Been bled twice in a month.
Similar Products Used:
BB5
Bike Setup:
Spec Rockhopper Pro
Bottom Line:
It's an awesome brake with good stopping power if you don't mind having to adjust it all the time. They seem to need bleeds quite often. Two times in a month, wasn't very happy about that. My front brake line ruptured. Can't really say if it is the product or the person who replaced my front brake line. Works good other than that. Keep in mind that they require frequent maintenance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Been Ridin'
a Cross Country Rider
from South Fla Date Reviewed: February 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Oleta
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
The fact they were ever made.
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 5's
Bike Setup:
Stumpy 07
Bottom Line:
These things are bad. I have tried everything and I have foolishly spent a lot of down time and money trying to get my brakes to work. My 07 Stumpy came with Juicy 5. The rear brake blew a seal within 4 months and leaked fluid everywhere. I replaced it with a Juicy 7. I could reach back and grab the rear tire with my hand and that would be a better brake than the Juicy 7.
I have had this brake bled 3 times at three different shops so that is not the problem. I have spent money on 3 sets of pads because I was then told the the pads were "contaminated" which turned out to be a crock. I have changed the rotor, cables, you name I have done it. I have rebuilt this brake over and over and it is what it is. Crap.
These are cheap brakes and I guess that is why they come on so many bikes. Go into a shop and pull on them and you will find no two Juicy brakes have the same feel.
For whatever it's worth the Juicy 5 was a better brake before it blew a seal.
If you are able replace these things, do it. They are bottom of the barrel. I live in Florida where it is relatively flat. If I rode out west with this brake where you have monster descents I probably would be dead by now.
The shop I bought them at told me to bring the bike in and they would see what they could do on a warranty. The problem is the shop far away. I had to buy the brake while out of town on a ride to replace the other Juicy 5 that blew out.
I hate to be so negative because I think SRAM makes some good bike equipment, but brakes aren't their strong suit. There are just too many other good brake systems out there to mess around with these things as much as I have.
Ordering the new XT's now.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andliu Bin
a
from Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: February 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
My own
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Pinkbike
Strengths:
Good strong clean stops
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Mags
Bike Setup:
Custom Build
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2008 avid juicy 7. All brakes will squeak when you have gottewn the pads wet or u run 8 inch rotors. that is NORMAL so people need to realize that noise making is not a defect! These brakes work great and deven in cold weather eill still provide the necessary stopping power.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Little Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, Az, USA Date Reviewed: February 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
yours
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
your mom's house
Strengths:
It slows my bike down.
Weaknesses:
Stock pads suck
Similar Products Used:
other brakes
Bike Setup:
Bike with these brakes on it.
Bottom Line:
Don't even think of using the stock pads, unless you want the bike to howl like a wounded sea lion. (I wound sea lions, so I know what I'm talking about.) Buy some organic compound pads (Alligator brand seem to do the trick and they're cheap) and your brakes will keep their opinions to themselves, and the modulation will improve.
After that, you should not have to do anything with them for a long long time. I've been using mine for two years and all I do is replace the pads now and then.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon Glaus
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Girardeau, MO. United States Date Reviewed: January 21, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$25000.00
Purchased At:
Cape Bicycle and Fitness
Strengths:
None. Absolutely none.
Weaknesses:
Junk, junk, junk! They leak, they fail, they wear out, they require constant maintenance and attention. They are awful.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, XT
Bike Setup:
Salsa Mamacita 29er
Bottom Line:
DO NOT waste your money on this junk. Go with Hayes. These things suck. I am not kidding. Stay away from Avid disc brakes. They have never worked correctly despite numerous attempts at adjusting them and fixing them. They simply do not work well and they are a complete waste of money.
Who should buy them? People who like to waste their money on products that suck I guess.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Stamford Date Reviewed: January 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
TBD
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Stamford Cycle Center
Strengths:
Stops bike fast Good modulation Can count on them Superb support by manufacturer and bike dealer
Weaknesses:
Initially very loud - may have been my fault
Similar Products Used:
Cantilever brakes
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper. Front rotor 203, rear rotor 185.
Bottom Line:
Very, very impressed with the product and the support of the bicycle shop and manufacturer(SRAM).
I got the Juicy 7 brake upgrade on a new bike. My first ride was over 50 miles in 3 inches of wet snow. After about 30 minutes the brakes squealed very, very loud, like I was trying to stop a MAC truck. Cleaned off the rotors and took the bike on another 70 mile ride and had same noise problem. Told manufacturer and local bike shop(LBS). They set me up with organic brake pads and new rotors. Noise problem solved!
However, in talking with the LBS I learned that the service life of organic brake pads is short compared to the sintered/metalic brake pads that came as original equipment. So, I was determined to solve the sintered pad noise problem! After reading all of the Juicy 7 reviews on this site I did two things. First, I wiped down my rotors with Isopropol alcohol (available for 99 cents in grocery or drug store) and I took out the sintered brake pads(very easy) and lightly sanded off the working surfaces with an emery board(fine sandpaper should work or even very smooth concrete, like a garage floor). Put the pads in and went for a 30 mile fast trail ride. Problem solved! Brakes were very quiet and powerful. And, from what I've read, I understand that the sintered/metallic pads have more stopping power compared to the organic pads.
Now, of course you shouldn't have to take out brand new brake pads and lightly sand them to eliminate the braking noise. I may or may not have created this "glaze" on the brake pads during my first use. I'm sure with time that SRAM will figure out this "glaze" problem and begin manufacturing the brake pads so that there will be no need to tinker with them at the beginning.
I highly recommend this brake system AND the manufacturer and local bicycle store support. These brakes are excellent once one works out this little "bug" - which is very simple to do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: January 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Good set of brakes
Weaknesses:
Some squeaking
Similar Products Used:
Rim
Bike Setup:
Epic Marathon..XTR and Sram X.0
Bottom Line:
I'm adding this review because I have noticed many folks with noisy brakes. I had the same problem. Changed rotors, fixed it...Hayes V6 rotors for me...I see someone else posted Shimano fixed his, but Shimano very noisy on mine...So just experiment. The brakes have been trouble free and work well otherwise. A little more spongy feeling at the lever than other brands...but they always stop me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from North Carolina, USA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Patapsco State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
They stop my bike.
Weaknesses:
Makes the "turkey gobble" noise sometimes. I can feel some fade in the stopping power when I ride in cold weather.
These brakes work pretty good. I haven't had any other hydraulic brakes to compare to. Wouldn't mind trying some Hopes, Maguras, or Formulas someday. But you you really can't beat the price for the Avids. I can feel some fade in the stopping power when I ride in very cold weather. I like the way they look. Overall I don't have any complaints.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Whitney Jones
a Racer
from Wooster, Ohio, USA Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Vultures Knob
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Powerful Good lever feel Good price Quiet
Weaknesses:
Modulation is lacking Heavy
Similar Products Used:
Formula Oro Puros, Avid BB7, Hope Mono Mini
Bike Setup:
Fisher 29er, race bike, 22.01 lbs, Formula Oro Puros with Goodridge lines 160mm rotors. Reba fork, Stans 355 laced to Hope Pro II hubs with supercomp spokes.
Bottom Line:
Good Power with 185mm rotors, One finger breaking lifting the rear wheel with weight placed over the rear wheel. Modulation was lacking under hard braking and the setup was a little heavy. Overall a good brake but could use a little weight tuning.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Riverbank,Ca USA Date Reviewed: December 21, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$115.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
good stopping power and the 08' are lighter than before.
Weaknesses:
Have not found any of yet.
Bike Setup:
Heckler w/ x-9 components and race face crank.
Bottom Line:
These brakes get a lot of bad reviews but I have not had any issues with them. I have not heard a squeak yet and they look great. I would buy them again and not give it a second thought.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Downhiller
from Danville, Va. Date Reviewed: December 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Crooked Stick
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Paceline
Strengths:
They stop you.
Weaknesses:
Sqeewkk... continuously. Modulation not as good as I had hoped for. But the level of noise is enough to drive you insane.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes hydralic, Avid Mech.
Bike Setup:
2007 Santa Cruz Heckler, x9 am kit, PIKE, King, and of course the loud Juicys.
Bottom Line:
I was really excited about going to the Juicy 7's when I built up my Heckler. I built it up on the high end side and thought that the Juicy would be a good compliment. I thought that the noise they were producing was just a break in period but after 3 months of 4-5 days a week riding they are still loud and just not that good. If I can't resolve the problem soon I will go back to Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyrel
a Weekend Warrior
from coeur d alene, idaho Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Urban-city
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Easy to adjust, AWESOME amount of breaking power, Looks RAD, Works with DANGERBOY and other afternarket levers, Pad contact adjustment excellent (you can adjust to where you like with simplicity)!
Weaknesses:
Doesnt Come with Dangerboy red levers, you have to purchase them seperately. Not really a complaint, maybe more like a request!
Similar Products Used:
hayes el camino ( RAD-just cant get custom levers), hayes nine (but no adjustment).
Bike Setup:
Black Market Riot frame "Raw", Red Profile SE cranks, Profile Titanium spindal, Red Dangerboy pedale, Odyssey MDS 25t sprocket, KHE halflink chain, FSA Impact sealed Headset, Thomson X4 50mm stem, Ea70 high rise bars, Bmx Odi grips, Red lock ons, Dangerboy Skull caps, Juicy 7's with Red Dangerboy Shorty levers, Hope head doctor, Rock shox PIKE team, Profile Red seat collar, Thomson Post, Odyssey SR saddle, KHE Geisha Freecoaster hub 11t, Atomlab trailpimp 36h rims, Red Atomlab Torx nipples, Black DT swiss spokes, Atomlab Aircorp 20mm front hub, Maxxis Larson tt 2.35 tires, red shrader valve covers! SICK BIKE!
Bottom Line:
Sick set of brakes, add some Red shorty Dangerboy levers and you'll have the raddest brake set out of all your friends. I would deffinately recommend these brakes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Farmer
a Weekend Warrior
from Kennesaw,Ga.30144 Date Reviewed: December 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Blanketcreek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
OutSpoken
Strengths:
Stopping Power. Easy set up. No drag noise.
Weaknesses:
I had to buy a bleeding kit and bleed them after my first ride. The bleedig kit is easy to use. Unlike my old Hayes.
Similar Products Used:
hayes
Bike Setup:
fuel 110
Bottom Line:
These brakes out perform my old hayes.So far they do not make any noise. I am very Happy with them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erie
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn, CA Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Diablo
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
PP
Strengths:
Robust
Weaknesses:
Noise, design, "customer service"
Similar Products Used:
5 and 7s
Bike Setup:
HT
Bottom Line:
Had these for two years.
Sad to hear they haven't bothered to fix the alignment issue (an easy fix of the rotor arm length; their horrific customer service-guess Chicago doesn't even pretend to answer the phones (actually a benefit from my experience); and, the pad glazing.
This is NOT a low maint system. I have all the many bugs worked out and the pads still glaze up and squeel worse than ANY brand. Did the T-day ride on Repack and everybody thought they were the worst. They do modulate great!
Solutions: Demand the clean sweep full-face rotor (they will send a free set if you do this), the wavy are ALL factory design defects. Get the $40 bleed kit. Break in the pads on the easy days and do up several sets. The pads are a bit too tall on the compound face and that is 1/2 of the problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joseph Morales
a Weekend Warrior
from ATL Georgia USA Date Reviewed: November 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
chikopee woods
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$310.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Great stoping power! Ease of installation and bleed are nice...
Weaknesses:
None to this point.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB5 and BB7 mechs.
Bike Setup:
Specialized hrd tail frame. Sun rim double walls, sram X7 all around, easton carbon mnky bars n seat tube, Blaze DH style cranks.
Bottom Line:
The brakes work great! Please note the model I own is '07, not the same as pictured. They have given me no trouble what so ever. I do recomend at least upgrading to 185mm. The weight difference isnt much but the extra stopping power is amazing. Also be sure to install them properly or if not certain go with a mechanic. Honestly I havnt experienced any of the problems that I've read about on the reviews and I'm glad I didnt let them influence my decision to purchase these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Modesto, CA Date Reviewed: November 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Bottom Line:
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP REVIEW...I'm not super techno/mechanical, but here is what I think after almost 2 years:
They provide plenty of power and I like how easy it is to get the calipers centered on the rotor...
But...THEY MAKE SO MUCH NOISE!!! I broke the pads in just like SRAM told me to (and was careful never to contaminate them), tried the stock wavy rotors and SRAM even sent me the new "clean sweep" rotors, but they continued to make a variety of noises. I don't feel like buying new organic pads they may or may not be quiet...
My solution: I mounted my old Shimano XT rotors and guess what???...NO MORE NOISE!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jimmy Hall
a Weekend Warrior
from Falls Church, VA Date Reviewed: November 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Schaffer Farms
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Stopping power, lever adjument wheel
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Rim and mechanical brakes.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Prophet 1000
Bottom Line:
These brakes came stock on my Proph in 2005. I've used them for over 2 years and have never had any problems. The stopping power of these things still amaze me. I have a hard time going from this bike to my other bikes with rim or mechanical brakes.
I love these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emery Cole
a
from Mnt Brook, AL USA Date Reviewed: November 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
OK, here's a follow up. I recleaned the pads, fine sand paper, 90% rubbing alcohol. Then, I reset the mounts, added washers, took out washers....only would make worse.
So, I decided to scuff the pads, using my concrete driveway! It worked!!!!! The best modulating, feel and slowly but surely the strength came back!! I also used sandpaper on the rotors but it worked. Now I do not know for how long but @ 4hours on the trail and still good.
Bottom Line:
The chilis have returned, but due to having to experiment to get things right....only 4 max.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Downhiller
from Penang, Malaysia Date Reviewed: November 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Penang Hill, Youth Park, Mt. Erskine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Used
Strengths:
Strong... Dont heat up easily...
Weaknesses:
Lever leaks like crap....
Bike Setup:
2001 Stinky Primo, 5th element, Domain 318
Bottom Line:
Few weeks ago, i left my bike at home untouched. 2 days later i wanted to ride but my rear brake caliper was closed (gripping the disc tightly) and i can't squeeze the lever. sent to the shop to find out why. The lever seal leaked. then have to do a whole bunch of things to repair it.... freakin annoying. but other than that, it's a good brake
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Faieta
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whiting Woods
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
This is an update to my earlier review. Got the updated rotor and brakes work great. Little noise at the end of very long uninterupted downhill sections, but the turkey gobble is gone. Avid really stood by their product after I was able to get someone on the phone and explain the issue of the squealing and gobbling sounds.
Weaknesses:
As a recommendation to Avid, I would put an end to the only dealing with customers through LBSs. There are many of us out there who buy equipment online or out of the area and quite frankly are better mechanics and treat our equipment with more respect than the LBS does. I was less than impressed at the way the last mechanic at my LBS installed my brakes. It was warranty work, but come on, the least you can do is trim the cables and remember to tighten the caliper bolts. Just my 2 cents, but I was really impressed the way Avid came through and warranteed the rotors once I escalated the issue myself.
Bottom Line:
Great brakes with the updated rotors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
croz
a
from pasadena Date Reviewed: November 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
ridge trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Strengths:
value
Weaknesses:
the rear shuttered horribly, eventually it warped and ruined the rear disk They were installed by a local shop the rear pad was replaced, the rotor was not oily, and they were broken in properly.
Similar Products Used:
hayes, hope, formula
Bike Setup:
all xt/ on steel hardtail
Bottom Line:
I had the brake shutter in the rear wheel described by others.
I was cheap, I should have bought the FORMULAs which are problem free and brake so well. Anyone want to buy a used set of Avids?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
yuri
a Cross Country Rider
from moldova Date Reviewed: November 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
XC
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
Great modulation, great stopping power, fine adjustability. Cool look.
Weaknesses:
They squeal at low speed. After the bike took a bath in a carwash - the rear brake begun to vibrate a bit.
Similar Products Used:
My first disc brakes. I have demoed the Shimano's LX - avid's are way better. Have used the Tektro V-s. And then the Shimano XT-s with parralel push.
The brakes shocked me with their stopping power from the very beginning, but after approx. 100km - you get the pad's grounded to the discs. This give even more stopping power. The stopping feel differs greatly from the v-brakes. As some other peole said- they squeal a bit in wet conditions. It is no problem for me, as it is so fun to make the dogs stay away from you :-)
Bottom Line: I'm glad that have purchased a set of these. No serious weaknesses mentioned yet. But I'll keep on diggin' ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SaddleSore
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary Alberta Canada Date Reviewed: November 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Bow cycle
Strengths:
Power, adjustability, looks.
Weaknesses:
Excessive noise, excessive pad wear, excessive maintenance
Similar Products Used:
Shamano Deore 555 (lighter than XT)
Bike Setup:
2008 Santa Cruz Blur with mostly XT components, Fox F100RLC 160 mm rotors, 2007 spec brakes
Bottom Line:
These brakes are only good for a short while and are delightfully powerful. The noise they make is rediculously overbearing after a couple rides. After only 6 weeks I wore out the pads front and rear all the way to the backing plate. (then it was noisier) Yes, I was riding on muddy trails, and yes, I am not much of a guy for hosing off my bike, but riding twice a week should not wear out your pads in 6 weeks. I had rim brakes that lasted longer! My Shimano Deore 555's pads lasted 3 years of all-conditions with hardly any squealing. anyone know of some better pads for Avid? or should I just sell these things and get some 2008 XT units?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emery
a
from Mnt Brook, AL Date Reviewed: November 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
This is a follow up of my review 2-22-2006. Lever ergonomics, ease of adjustability, easy to find pads etc aftermarket. Initially, the perfect brake....but now....
Weaknesses:
OK, here's what's happened. Brakes were excellent running new and on 2 year old Hayes rotors. After 1 1/2 years of use, they were sounding a bit rough in need of new pads. So I decided to replace the pads with Avid's and go ahead and put on the new Avid rotors which came with them originally. The new rotor would not fit into the rear caliper with new pads, so I had to bleed the rear caliper. The front was fine. I re-bled 3 times. Now I know what all the fuss was about! Pig squeeling rough-grinding braking with poor modulation. Mostly the rear but the front just isn't as good as it use to be either. There has to be a fix for them and I bet it is in the rotors. I am thinkin of changing back to my Hayes rotors after I play with the caliper positioning as mentioned earlier. Also wonder if using other DOT fluid would help 3 vs 4?
Bottom Line:
Hit or Miss
These were the best feeling, most powerful and best modulating brakes I could ever imagine.....for about a year....maybe we all will figure them out eventually.
The chilis are down until something is discovered to improve the brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Nelson BC Canada Date Reviewed: November 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Sometimes they work fine...
Weaknesses:
other times, not.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB.
Bike Setup:
Prophet 3z
Bottom Line:
Sometimes these brakes work great but other times they squeal and chatter for no apparent reason. My trusted mechanic said he experiences the same thing w/ his fives. I would prefer Avid mechanicals over these any day.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cole
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
freight train
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
bicycle sports pacific
Strengths:
looks good, excellent stopping power, modulation awesome lever feel pad contact adjustment
I have used these brakes for over a year on my dirt jumping bike on a daily basis and have had no problems, the stopping power is amazing compared to the other brakes that I have used. The brakes also have excellent modulation allowing for more control in certain situations. They work whether it is wet or dry. One thing I have noticed is that my cable has many "kinks" in it from doing X ups, but the kinks do not seem to affect braking performance in the slightest. I have seen many hayes fail even when they get small kinks in the cables. Many people complain of these brakes squealing, i have ran shimano rotors and A2z brake pads and have not experienced any brake squeal even in the wet. Overall i would highly recommend these brakes to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA USA Date Reviewed: October 31, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whiting Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Brakes look great and the levers are very comfortable.
Weaknesses:
I've had nothing but problems with theses brakes. They came on my 2006 Stump FSR which I bought out of state. I've had the bike into three different bike shops to try and set up, gone through three sets of pads (in the last 3 months!) and bought a new rear rotor. The brakes still make a lot of noise (ear piercing squeal), make the bike shake, and don't modulate well. I had the wavy rotors, Avid refused to warranty it when it's clearly defective, so I had to buy the clean sweep. I don't ride hard, but 1 minute into a downhill, the brakes turn to crap. It could be a set up, or I could have a faulty caliper, but it's been set up by three different bike shops with the same result. I've been extremely dis-satisfied with Avid's customer service. These brakes are extremely sensitive. I cannot recommend these to anyone.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura, V brakes
Bottom Line:
Avoid these brakes unless you want to deal with lots of issues and poor customer service. Avid won't deal with you as an individual, so unless you have a strong relationship with a bike shop, look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GIANT FAITH
a Downhiller
from DENVER CO Date Reviewed: October 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
KEYSTONE
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Look cool, stop well, great modulation, incredible feel.
Weaknesses:
The red knob is pointless, just get the juicy 5
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Nine, Mag, bb5, bb7,
Bike Setup:
Giant Faith juicy 7 with straitline levers and good ridge hoses
Bottom Line:
At first I experienced the noise problem but after carefully examining the caliper I noticed that the pads were in contact with the rotor spokes, which causes this turkey gobble. I just put in some more washers to raise the caliper which completely got rid of the noise. After going through 3 different sets of Hayes over the years I know what I am talking about when I say these are better. Power is better, modulation is perfect, and brake fade is not nearly as bad as the Hayes. Awesome set of brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted Waltman
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, CO, USA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Mt Falcon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Green Mountain Cycles
Strengths:
Easy to adjust levers; great stopping power with little effort.
Weaknesses:
Wicked SQUEAL on back brakes. Front has never made any noise (go figure). I've tried both stock Avid metallic pads and organic pads--no difference. I've read tons of "tips" on the net--best option is to lightly sand pads between rides (PITA).
Similar Products Used:
First time on disc.
Bike Setup:
Yeti Race bike (great bike BTW).
Bottom Line:
Being in Colorado, I ride a lot of hills where there might be a 3 to 5 mile downhill stretch after a long climb. I try to feather the brakes just like in a car to prevent excessive heat buildup. I love disc brakes but HATE the NOISE.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mudandrocks
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Orchard, Wa Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
wired brain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
old town cycle
Strengths:
Easy to switch levers to moto, no disconnecting and bleeding lines. Lever engagement adjustment straight forward.
Weaknesses:
SQUEAL like a stuck pig. Stopping power weak
Similar Products Used:
Shimano deore mechanicals
Bike Setup:
mostly stock stumpjumper elite
Bottom Line:
My wifes mechanicals stop twice as good and don't make a sound. Tried to adjust the pads to stop the squeal and nothing short of dragging the front lever stops the noise. No issue with the rear brake as mentioned by others, dont use it much.
We did have a bear attack a rider awhile back so maybe the noise is a blessing in disguise.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Nader
a Weekend Warrior
from Port Sanilac, MI. USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Brighton SRA
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Felt OEM component
Strengths:
No leaks yet.
Weaknesses:
Extremely noisy. Bike shutters violently when rear brake is applied. There is nothing smooth about the rear brake. I seldom use the front brake and in fairness I won't review it here. The red anodized brake pad contact adjustment knobs/thumbscrews seem pretty lame as well. Regarding performance overall the brakes aren't even that good for stopping. My old rim brakes on my Specialized stopped my bike as well as these stop my new Felt. I'll admit they don't degrade when wet but all disk brake setups have that advantage.
Similar Products Used:
I've ridden a Kona with mechanical disk brakes and various other brands (rentals out West) with mechanical disk setups and never have I heard or felt such annoying brake behavior.
Bike Setup:
07 Felt Nine Pro, 29" bike. Solid components package throughout except the Avid Juicy Seven brakes!
Bottom Line:
Stay away from these brakes, period. They're noisy. They vibrate. They groan and they're difficult to service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ronald Burnham
a Downhiller
from Seattle Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Preston
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Rbikes
Strengths:
Adjustable, stopping power
Weaknesses:
Modulation, noise
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Rogue, fox 40/dhx 5, sram xo
Bottom Line:
Very disappointed with these brakes. Not progressive nor smooth and the noise has to be experienced to be believed. On my bike I was running an 8" disc front and rear. The front brake is ok, but the rear brake has an incredible vibration. Quite literally, the whole bike shakes and I lose traction with the back tire almost immediately. The noise can probably be heard for miles. My LBS bled the brakes and put on new semi-metallic pads, the noise and vibration returned after a few rides. This weekend I had them put on a 7" rotor and organic pads. The first two rides were much improved, but it's early yet. I strongly advise against buying this brake.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Chaput
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder,Co,USA Date Reviewed: October 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sourdough North, KoKomo Pass
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
oem
Strengths:
Adjustable, light, sleek, good stopping power.
Weaknesses:
Loud squall from rear brake the reveberates the entire rear end. Fixed using organic pads.
The load, vibrating scream from the rear of these brakes on my Yeti and a Blur LT (demo) was unbearable. I felt it in the pedals and the resulting shake caused the rear wheel to quickly loose traction. Completely erases any attempt to modulate the rear brake. Strangely the front runs silent.
I resolved the squall with organic pads, but not before spending hours in my garage trying to fix the noise. In my opinion these brakes are defective. The noise disturbs other trail users and the skidding is hard on trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, MD, USA Date Reviewed: October 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Cyclist
Strengths:
Stopping power, good modulation, durable, maintenance free. Easy to setup. Price is good.
Weaknesses:
Loud "turkey gobble" sometimes.
Bike Setup:
Epiphany, Deus XC LR, X9 Trigger shifts and rear derailleur, XTR front derailleur, 07 Talas RLC, Thomson stem and seatpost, WTB Rocket V Team, Stylo 3.3 crankset, Crank Brothers Candy's, 990 cassette, Crossmax ST's, Intense System 4 2.25 up front and Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 in the back
Bottom Line:
This is my first set of hydraulic brakes and they do everything I can ask for. I run a 185mm up front with a 160 in the back and I really like that combination. I ride technical trails(rooty, rocky, with some small drops between 2-3 feet). I always have plenty of stopping power. So far the Juicy's have proved to be very durable and reliable. They are loud sometimes but I can deal with that. I wasn't ready to throw down $300 per wheel for Formula's or Magura's when I could still upgrade to hydraulics for much less. In my experience these have been a solid choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Thompson
a Cross Country Rider
from Boca Raton, FL, USA Date Reviewed: September 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Oleta River State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Tree Fort Bikes
Strengths:
Lots of adjustment Easy to install and set up Great modulation
Weaknesses:
Not as strong as I'd like; perhaps need organic pads Adjusting the lever reach while the levers are mounted on the bars is a bit of a pain; but do it once and you are done
Similar Products Used:
Avid Mechanical Discs, Avid Juicy 5
Bike Setup:
Salsa Caballero; R7 Paltinum fork; S-Type SPV shock; XT F&R derailleurs, Juicy 7's, Pro Taper Carbon bar; FSA Stem; Cane Creek headset; Crank Bros. Cobalt BB; Race Face Crank; SRAM Rocket Triggers; SRAM PC991 chain; SRAM PC 990 Cassette; Sun Ringle Disc Jockey wheelset; Ritchey WCS seatpost; Koobi Enduro AU saddle; Race Face lock-on grips; Kenda Nevegal 2.1 tires; Aztec Powerline cables
Bottom Line:
I had read lots of reviews that ranged from great to really bad. I bought the new 2008 version 160 mm rotor version based on my positive previous experience with Avid products. Love the new dark gray/graphite color of teh calipers and master cylinders. I built my own bike from the frame up, so I felt that if the Juicy 7's were finnicky and required some TLC to get right, I could do it.
I set them up according to the instructions and used the advice from reviewers on this site on setup as well. Everything came together quickly and easily. They set up just like the Avid Mechanicals. Yes, they do require a bit of fussing, but the range of adjsutment is well worth it; especially not having to use spacers, shims, and all the junk you have to with other brands.
I've used them for two 13 mile rides so far in a mix of sandy, muddy conditions here in South Florida. At first I was NOT impressed with stopping power. They required about 7-8 miles of break-in before they started working well. I am impressed with the modulation, the fact that lever reach is decently adjustable, and the option to adjust the pad contact point. I find myself going faster and tructing these more than any other brake I've used. The one thing I don't like as much is that the semi-metallic pads that they came with don't grab as hard as I would like. I weigh 190, so maybe the 160 mm with a rider my size means I need organic pads. After the last ride, they did seem to be getting better however. I'll likely buy a bleed kit soon to make sure that the system is air-free.
I don't have any noise issues. They are very quiet and the pads don't rub whatsoever. The rotors are the Avid Clean Sweep 2, not the wavy version. They are just like those I had with my Avid Mechanical Discs and they were always good. Time will tell on leaks and maintenance, but so far I'm quite impressed and definately not disappointed in any way. They are the quality that I have come to expect from Avid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Titus
a
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Definately stop
Weaknesses:
Squeals and judders
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler, Fox36R, DHX Air, SRAM x.9
Bottom Line:
I got these when I bought my latest bike, with 203mm rotors. They've been used for nearly 2yrs. In hindsight I would never have got such large rotors for general trail riding, but they slow you down fast! My biggest complaint is that they are noisy and sometimes judder quite badly, which makes them unpleasant to use. The front rotor quickly got warped due to its large size (easier to get knocked) and now drags when riding on flat roads, making a godawful noise. Also, reservoirs have leaked a bit and some of the paint has corroded off which looks manky! These aren't bad brakes, but they're not what I would call top quality.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Racer
from Chester, NJ Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Allamuchy
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great performance, fine-tuning and modulation.
Weaknesses:
Squeak when wet. Some fading occurs in the front brake during longer downhill runs.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7, Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
VanDessel Ramble Tamble, American Classic Single Speed 29er wheels, FSA headset and BB
Bottom Line:
The babies stop on a dime, engagement is very predictable and uniform throughout the lever range, and I'm wowed by the ease of fine-tuning the feel of these brakes, especially compared to the Shimano XT hydraulic brakes. Perfect XC brakes, would go with something beefier for downhill or all-mountain riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bossman
a Cross Country Rider
from Nampa, ID Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The steeper the better
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Bobs
Strengths:
Endless power, Smooth pull. Confidence builder.
Weaknesses:
There is a slight vibration in the rear break in the steeps, everyone says that its the disks fault, but not enough to really notice unless you are very nitpickey. Just change the disk if its a problem.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes 9, Magura Julie. Avid bb7.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stump Jumper Expert. Monkey Lite. XTR. Plenty of scratches from great rides.
Bottom Line:
These are very good breaks. I like them better than the Hayes and the lower end Magura. I have never tried the "great" breaks, but I cant afford them either so it doesn't matter. As for the disk problem, its not a really big deal, when I bend it I will get a different one. I had my LBS align the breaks after I installed them and I have not had many problems with squealing. Their Disk Breaks, thats what they do. Although I cannot give 5 chilies because of the disk problem that everyone is experiencing, they should come with a good disk for that. I think they are completely worth the price. Besides you can pick up a good disk off a web site for $8.00.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Jonesboro, AR, USA Date Reviewed: September 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Syllamo Red and Green loops
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
Gearhead Outfitters
Strengths:
Easy setup, clean and easy bleeding system, no fade on extended downhills, excellent stopping power, pad control adjustment on levers
Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. For the folks who had so much trouble w/ squealing, I wonder if you got them set up properly... Also, please break in your pads gently, make sure they get burned in nicely before you start really pushing them.
I rode a race last week in absolutely horrid conditions (almost 5" of rain the night before) and the course was disgustingly sloppy. However, I never had any problems with my brakes the entire day. No fade, no squeal, just performance. If my experience with these changes, I'll note it here, but so far I absolutely love them.
$ 259.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
