Avid XX Carbon Disc Brakes 2012: Single bolt MatchMaker-X compatible handlebar clamp design for easy install/removal (includes both hinged MatchMaker-X, and minimalist stand-alone clamps). Updated, flip-flop magnesium lever body
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Tustin, CA, Orange County
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2012
Strengths: Light
Weaknesses: Constant pad rub, pads wear out quickly, have to pump to keep pressure up while riding, expensive.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are a joke for the money they cost. The calipers stick constantly, pad rub on every ride and if I don't pump them after every downhill they go to the bars. Based on the huge amount of horrible reviews and the high cost Avid should have issued a total recall of this junk. I wonder if they monitor this site? Hello Avid!
Bike Setup: 2010 Jet 9 with all XX and Crest rims, DT240 hubs
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Submitted by
G
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2012
Strengths: Lightweight, good control, Matchmaker (in theory), look great
Weaknesses: Matchmaker. This system is great in theory. I've used the brakes for a year now and have had 4 levers break at the mounting point when I've come off the bike. The clamps were definitely loose enough to allow play on a hit but tight enough to allow me to use the brakes with confidence. Out of warranty, these things are far too expensive to be replacing that often. It has put me right off the XX line.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is theyre far too expensive, and when installed on a handlebar with the matchmaker clamps, they do not marry uop to the shape of the lever. There is a gap which creates the problem of them braking so easily. If the clamp married in to the groove on the brake lever i feel at least 3 of the 4 I have broken would not have been an issue.
I will not be buying these brakes again and the regulars I ride with have expressed the same. They really have not been worth an ounce of the money spent. Look elswhere.
Use these if you're a sponsored rider and can get replacement gear on flow easily.
Bike Setup: S-Works Stumpjumper 26", Full XX groupset
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Submitted by
Adam490
a Weekend Warrior
from Hammond, LA USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2012
Strengths: I have the 2012 Avid XX that no longer uses the CPS mounts. No squealing or turkey gobble to speak of! I lost an arm in a car accident many years ago and only ride with a rear brake setup, so I cannot speak for anything concerning front braking characteristics. The brakes have a ton of power and do exactly what they need to do; solid 1-finger braking. I bled them once when I got them after I cut the line to proper length; great feel and have not had to to touch them since. The Ti hardware is nice and light and it came with the Matchmaker X mounts. So nice not to have to bother with those CPS washers any more!!
Weaknesses: Pricey! I got a GREAT deal on a new rear XX setup from a seller here in the classified section.
Bottom Line:
Great brake and much improved over previous models. If you are in the market for a super light, high end braking system, I'd definitely recommend these brakes. Have not had any of the typical squawking or turkey gobble often associated with the older versions of these brakes. Bled once when I cut the hose to proper length and have quite a few miles logged since with no change in braking performance. Overall, great performer if you have the money/desire for a high end brake set.
Submitted by
schril
a Cross Country Rider
from clio, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2011
Strengths: lightweight
Weaknesses: lack of modulation, difficult reach adjustment, stock pads need immediately replaced with organic, lack of stopping power up front
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for a year, the front brake was warrantied and is only about 2 mos old. Supposedly the magnesium was reacting with the dot brake fluid in some brake systems causing off gassing and the loss of power (similar to when air gets in the line). Overall the system is weak when taking into account the price tag. I only race once a year at Downieville and am primarily a xc rider, but feel this groupo and brake are best suited for race specific riding and "controlled" types of tracks or trails. As for xc country and trail riding, I would go with a system that offers a 203mm front rotor, easier reach adjustment and that are good for all day rides.
Similar Products Used: Avid Elixir CR, Formula R1, Magura Marta SL
Bike Setup: Epic with all XX, stans arch w/chris king hubs-headset-bb, henge saddle, maxxis ardent front tire/specialized captain rear, easton ec 70 bar, thomson stem/post, shimano xt pedals
Weaknesses: Instant loss of power during rides!
Continuous bleeding required on about every two rides or until you instantly loss power within that time frame.
Sticky pistons which results in pad rub.
Bottom Line:
Ditto on all the previous complaints about instant loss of braking power during rides, sticky pistons, and continuous bleeding.
These brakes are an accident waiting to happen for SRAM. Complete loss of braking power during rides! It’s amazing that companies don’t recall a product until someone is seriously injured and takes legal action.
Bike shops best friend because in order to get them warranted, they will charge you for numerous bleeds/maintenance only to tell you the same thing you took them into the shop the first time – there’s something wrong with them and then at that point they call SRAM.
For your SAFETY, health, and well-being, do not buy these SRAM XX Brakes! SRAM makes some great products and I will keep using them on my mountain and road bike bike. It’s only the XX Brakes that are poorly/inconsistently made and dangerous.
Weaknesses: Will not hold a bleed more than one ride. Levers will go nearly to the bar without warning. Must "pump" them to get them to come back during your ride. Exciting!
Bottom Line:
The first rides were decent thru the first month. Then the brakes needed to be bled. Then again. And again. And again. I paid for three bleeds. The shop covered three. sometimes a bleed would last only one ride before the levers hit the bars unexpectedly.
Frustration level "11" !
If you like "exiting" rides when you never know if your brakes are going to work, then these are for you.
RUN, RUN FAR AWAY from these babys.
My LBS worked hard to make these work and gave up. However, I must give kudos to SRAM for sending me the new 2012 world cup version free of charge when we asked. They are installed and I will review them after I have about 10 rides on them.
Bike Setup: Full XX group on an XXL Turner Sultan 29r. Lots of carbon bits. DT 240 hubs on Stans Flow wheels. 180mm front disk, 160mm rear disk, Fox F29 & RP23.
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Submitted by
B Rad
a Cross Country Rider
from Bow,NH
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2011
Strengths: After trying to think of it for a minute....all I can think is I hate them! Mayby the new word I picked up in a previous review....JUDDER! I think any product that cost this much and does not work should get a total product recall. I will never use an Avid product again. But hate set aside they are great if you do not go down any hills. set as
Weaknesses: On any steep downhill they are junk. Judder is the word used above and it is a word that is fitting.
Bottom Line:
Big disapointment. After building a Rip nine with what I thought to be the best components I find out that these brakes stink! How can you not be pissed! Usually if you spent the money you get a good product...not here. Mayby they are ok if you ride on a flat plane and do not need to brake????
Weaknesses: braking power is weak at best, the modulation of the brake is terrible you have no idea when it will grab. The lever adjustment screw is behind the lever in front of the grip, making it very hard to get a hex key on. The grabbing distance adjustment is labeled backwards. These are the worst hydraulic brakes I have had. They are not as good as a nice pair of v-brakes. To bleed these brakes you need not only special oil but a kit with the two syringes and the screw adapters, there is no other way. Wost brakes I have every used and they are over priced. I hope you don't read this then go to ebay to buy mine, I hope to find someone to buy mine that is as dumb as I was.
Bottom Line:
Don't buy them they are over priced and don't work well. If you have this kind of money to spend buy hope, or XTR. Don't buy it unless you are trying to improve your bike handling skills and you want to risk life and limb riding with poor brakes.
Similar Products Used: Shimano XT, XTR, Hope, Magura.
Bike Setup: Lynskey Pro 29er SS
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Submitted by
madskatingcow
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2010
Strengths: Power, lightweight, finish, Matchmaker X clamps allow clean mounting of the XX shifters.
Weaknesses: Sticky pistons, noise / judder.
Bottom Line:
Already had three sets of XX brakes. Two of them had after about 2 months of usage in dry conditions sticky pistons. First pair at the front, second pair at the back. Pushing out the pistons, lubing with some brake oil, no result. Note : the brakes are not overfilled from bleeding.
On both my Epic and Flash the front brake howls on steep, low speed descents and judders little. This starts to occur once the pads are bedded in and increases when the pads wear more too. The G3 clean sweep rotors make less noise, probably to the increased stiffness of this rotor vs the Clean Sweep X.
I would give 2.5 chilis overall, but that's not possible.
Similar Products Used: Formula Oro K24 / Oro Puro / R1, Magura Marta SL magnesium, Magura Louise, Avid Juicy 7, Hope Mini
Bike Setup: Specialized S-Works Epic 2009, Cannondale Flash Team Edition 2010.
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Submitted by
OOverboard
a Cross Country Rider
from water valley alberta canada
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2010
Strengths: Light weight, power (xc level), feel
Weaknesses: Discs seem prone to being untrue
Bottom Line:
Great brakes. I did not cut lines (no need) and have ran them since new w/o bleeding. Great xc / trail power and superb adjustability. Running 5.5" (rear) and 7" rotors on a blur LTc and the match is perfect. Some squeal on long downhills, but most brakes do. Pad wear seems high but for the power I'll gladly sacrifice that.
Maybe an 8" front would be nice but really no complaints as both my rotors work great (I'm used to 8/6" rotors).
Value is downgraded as they are expensive but I wnated the best and I think I got it.
The modulation could be a bit smoother, power comes on quick and they are powerful.
I'm having to bleed my brakes every 2 or 3 rides. Start a ride and they feel fine. Then during the ride they go to mush. Sucks to go flying into a technical section anticipating brake performance then squeezing lever to bar and puckering.
Also for a time, like another reviewer experienced, if I set my bike down, after picking it up I could squeeze one of the levers to the bar. Sometimes pumping it or oddly pushing the lever out to the 'travel' position and then squeezing would help.... sometimes not.
Personally I find the CPS alignment system to be frustrating. They'd probably work if the rotors were perfectly rigid. But I tighten the bolts down and watch the caliper move, even slowly alternating between bolts. Much prefer shims.
Bike Setup: Stock Epic SWorks (180mm/160mm rotors front/rear)
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Submitted by
SweatyYeti
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2010
Strengths: -Light weight (the Formula R1’s are only a few grams less)
-Excellent modulation and stopping power (for XC application)
-easy to inspect and replace pads
-noiseless (hard to believe for Avid’s)
-CPS bolts easily adjust calipers (once you get the hang of it)
-XX rotors with aluminum carriers do not warp from heat as badly as the steel G3 rotors do (Al has a higher heat capacity than steel), this prevents the ever present pad drag after every sustained downhill that plagued the Avid Ultimate’s (with G3 rotors) I used to run
-Ti mounting hardware
Weaknesses: -rapid pad wear (for organic pads)
-requires more maintenance (bleeding) than other brands of brakes (but once you get good at the bled process it’s not that difficult to get them bleed properly)
-poor heat dissipation of caliper (because its magnesium, Avid warns about this, but that is why these brakes are so light)
-ugly gray paint (surely Avid can offer these in different colors)
Bottom Line:
They are excellent brakes for the XC application, but be prepared to do some maintenance. The bleeding process is not too difficult to get right, just read the instructions, and look at the videos on the Avid website. The organic pads do wear fast and need to be replaced every 300-500 miles. I cheat and use semi-metallic pads on the back because I use the rear brake more and can wear out a set of organic pads in a few 100 miles. The semi-metallic pads last much longer than organics. Avid says not to use semi-metallic pads because of heat dissipation problems, but I do anyway. Also, Specialized bikes spec’ed with XX brakes come stock with semi-metallic pads so I figure it’s OK. I tried to run semi-metallic’s up front but they are too noisy.
Strengths: light weight, looks great with an XX kit
Weaknesses: rear brake works, lever feel is kinda weak but its also light weight carbon. front brake came out of the box with bad seals and has been a pain since day one, sram was contacted for warranty but is out of them so here i race a bike with 1 brake.
Bottom Line:
if they can sort out their issues and keep them light, i'm all for them. but if not i'd rather add weight and go back to hopes.
