Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, MB, Canada Date Reviewed: January 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
It came on my bike. Light. I like the feel and modulation. Decently durable.
Weaknesses:
Only decently durable. Little to no support due to it not being a common product.
Similar Products Used:
None, just V brakes.
Bike Setup:
Norco Nitro, currently undergoing a remake :)
Bottom Line:
Great brakes if you're handy and don't mind waiting for parts or the squeeling. I like ther modulation and power, everything I need for XC. Have been working for 3 years (2 racing) will little to no maintenance. I don't mind the squeeling as I don't need to shout to slower riders as I come up on them ;)
Little story about the infamous dogbone. I finally lost mine at the most in opportune time. Race the Rockies adventure race in Canmore. At the top of a mountain. First the piece of plastic the dog bone fits into on the lever broke (age I guess) so teh lever kept falling away. Then it happened to fall away on a rocky section at the top of a mountain and the dogbone fell out and was gone forever. The net result....20 minutes of downhill with the rear brake only, white knuckles, praying to make switchbacks and a right forearm 20% larger by the time I hit the bottom.
Do I recommend these brakes, only if you get a good deal on them, the service network just isn't there. Replacement parts took 4 weeks which is unacceptable. I plan on buying XT hyrdos, hope minis, something to go dual hydro in the next couple months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Boogieman
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Strengths:
Good power
Weaknesses:
Plastic parts break
Similar Products Used:
Avid mechs, Hayes hydros
Bike Setup:
Banshee Scirocco w/B4's on the front and Avid mechs on the back
Bottom Line:
I paid only $40 for these brakes. Was it a good deal? Not too sure. At least the rotors are good. After about a month, I took a tumble (sometimes that happens when DH'ing) and popped the lever out. I looked at the mechanics of the lever and found that there are two ball joints (one in the lever and one in the brake body) which are both plastic. They are connected by a metal "dogbone". In the fall, the housing ball joint shattered. This caused the brake arm to wander out of the housing when not under pressure. I fixed this by adding the tried and true rubber band technique. After another couple of weeks, and more falls, the other ball joint shattered. The brake still works, but the rubber band isn't impressing anyone. I have give this brake 1 flamin' chili for overall since it shouldn't brake so easily. Since it only cost me 40 bucks, it gets thee for value. BTW, I also got one for my girlfriend's bike. It broke while loading it onto the bike rack. Stay away unless you get an unbelievable deal and need a spare rotor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tom
a Racer
from frisco CO Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
thorusa.com
Strengths:
Good XC design- balance of weight and power, great modulation, durable- yes I said durable, excellent support from thorusa.com- the only support option, value is excellent compared to XTR/Juicy/Marta (price is dropping)
Weaknesses:
Bike shops suck at support so figure on your own wrenching, old models needed a better bleed than they came with, mechanical aptitude helpful, 200 lbs. weight limit is common sense, breakaway lever design misunderstood
Similar Products Used:
Avid mechs, Hayes hydros
Bike Setup:
DeVinci with 2 wheels stopped by 2002 Formula B4s
Bottom Line:
These get a lot of crap reviews cuz a)bike shops don't support em b)owners don't know where to get parts/info/advice they need c)they came from the factory with air in the lines d)not used for XC. My B4s came low on power and I was disappointed. They worked OK, not well, even after break-in. A full bleed per directions at thorusa.com gave totally solid levers, and impressive brakes. If they don't have better than v-brake power you haven't got the air out. I won't trust my LBS to this, so yeah buying/using a bleed kit sucks. But lessee here, I bleed these once a year, and I've replaced one pair of pads with EBC green (more power again). Now on my 3rd year of use, they are totally dependable and with 2004 upgrade kit, better than ever. 1-finger brakes that feather or lock up at will. Trails aren't flat in this part of the world either. What gives? The Hayes I've tried were not very powerful, and the Avids I've ridden were on/off lockers. One of my buddies has XT 4-pucks, those things are nothing but trouble for him. All discs have potential to suck. B4s are sweet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Racer
from beckley, wv, us Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
light
Weaknesses:
hard to bleed, easy to break levers, no stopping power with front brake
Similar Products Used:
avid, hayes
Bike Setup:
k2 razorback sl
Bottom Line:
This brake is by far the worst brake I have ever tried to use. My front brake does not have any stopping power on steep down hills, I have broke both levers (not actual lever but parts inside or working with the levers made of plastic). In my opinion these brakes should be taken off the market until formula can produce something worthwhile. Stick with hayes, they weight more but you will have no service or stopping power.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
marTy
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, Australia Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
kuitpo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
superlight, looks killer. Thorsten service.
Weaknesses:
difficulty dumb-ass bikeshop mechanics have in bleeding them. difficulty getting spares from a bikeshop (tho this is fixed by simply getting the stuff over the web).
All the bikeshops i spoke to had no idea about bleeding these brakes. my bike went back 3 times, they ended up stripping out the little torx screw (plastic version) and inserting a water bottle bolt of all things - like i wasnt going to notice?!. F*ckwits. Bought the upgrade kit from thor in the US to metal screw, new reservoir cap etc, got the bleed nipples etc and did it myself. piece of cake. I'm 85 kg and use my bike for freeride - have absolutely no trouble with power, drag, fade etc - even on long technical downhills, and even with the 4" rear rotor. Anyone who is having trouble should try working on it themselves. The other reviews suggesting these brakes are crap havent put in the effort: besides the formula site; also consider the following sites. http://www.windwave.co.uk/Pages/newsiteformulab4bleedinstructions.htm get the upgrade kit to metal torx screw: http://www.thorusa.com/ if it gives you any perspective - after the bike shop debacle i bought some xt fourpistons from ebay, but after getting the thor kit and bleeding the B4's up, i havent even taken the xt's out of the box. back to ebay for them! PS formula service is crap, never got a reply from them - go to thor
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Calgarty, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: January 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Bow Cycle
Strengths:
Light, powerful (when set up right) Fairly quiet after bedded in
Weaknesses:
Tough to bleed properly small parts on levers easy to break or lose
Similar Products Used:
hayes mech discs (skweeeeeek)
Bike Setup:
'01 Stumpy FSR XC ~4" travel F&R trailbike setup
Bottom Line:
Couldn't get the levers firm enough, went almost to bar like lots of folks have said here before. I purchased the Formula bleed kit (syringe etc) and used that, but levers were still a bit soft. Saw someone mention using two syringes to bleed these brakes, so I bought a second (connect one on lever, second down at caliper, pump fluid back and forth and get all the air bubbles out), and now lever feel is firm, with lots of power and good modulation.
(Torsten has been very helpful to me too)
There are some small parts on the levers that seem to break easily, so I'll only give them 4 flamers...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jan
a
from Århus, Denmark Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Weight. Works a littel better when wet, maybe due to better cooling.
Weaknesses:
Brake power equal to wet canti brakes. Fades a lot. Needs bleeding often.
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise 2001
Bike Setup:
Commencal Doctor, Psylo SL
Bottom Line:
Yes these are very light, but as told they are very weak no braking power at all. I weigh 80 kg, maybe if you are a 60 kg flat trail XC dude these might be the ones for you.
Function before weight, when you start riding you have 1 kg liquid on the bike so why care of 100 g pr brake.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stevo jackwallop
a Downhiller
from somerset, england Date Reviewed: March 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
kingscliff woods
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light weight, pimpy gold, cute looks
Weaknesses:
dont use for downhill, because of the light weight build strength starts to dissapear after a while even with new pads
Bike Setup:
cute little gold hardtail frame, z1 wedges, xt mech, manacle chain device, fsa alpha drive cranks and ultimax pro bb
Bottom Line:
these brakes are ideal for xc but as i have been getting faster at dh and doing higher and faster drops and decents they have been too weak. they have taken a couple of knocks though not bad for an xc brake.
i work in a bike shop (bicyclechain.co.uk) and one of my collegues has successfully mated a b4 caliper with an old hope sport lever WHAT A DIFFERENCE! this improved the power by 200% they now feel like hayes...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Weight? Handlebar clamps
Weaknesses:
Cheap plastic parts, lack of US service
Bike Setup:
Yeti AS-R
Bottom Line:
In general: They rubbed from when I got the bike - never could get them tuned. When they heated up after short downhills (1-2min) they would squeal for the next 1/2 hour.
Now - about the plastic in the parts: First - there is some plastic lever retention thing that broke off, so I was running a ghetto-lever with a rubber band keeping it from extending too far. Then - Hanging it for the winter, all the fluid leaks from another plastic part - the resevoir lid. Finally - the plastic bleeder screw twisted apart from minimal torque with a torx bit.
I ordered a set of Avid mechanicals today.
Avoid these if you don't have your own personal Itallian mechanic to tune them. I would rather have an extra 50 grams and some metal parts instead of plastic bits.
In all fairness, even though they are junk if they worked when I left for a ride, they still worked at the end of the ride. I was never stranded brakeless, and they always stopped me. For that they get 2 chillis instead of snake-eyes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo Rosado
a Weekend Warrior
from Lisbon, Portugal Date Reviewed: February 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Strengths:
not bad....
Weaknesses:
overheating, is a factor....
Bottom Line:
well, when i first used the brakes ..there where very nice and seamd not to have any kind of problems, but, when i started to do some hard braking i realised that i had to pull the lever almost til the end to stop. i cleaned the brakes ..i put more braking fluid but nothing..she just kept on going when i tried to stop...BUT it was when i went to a bike store and changed the original pads to a fibrax ones...and everything changed NOW i have a massive stoping power i just keep on liking much and much more my brakes.
If someone would like to have massive stoping power and small weait..well these are the brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark DRUMMOND
a Cross Country Rider
from London, England Date Reviewed: December 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Lookout
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
Light, powerful, good value
Weaknesses:
Like all discs need careful set up and 'running in'
Similar Products Used:
only Vs
Bike Setup:
Merlin frame, Xt group, zocchis
Bottom Line:
Many of the gripes indicate some 'set up' issues, take the time to do it right (same as all discs) and they will reward you with good performance. They are damn light and poweful.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
laurence creighton
a Cross Country Rider
from england Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$354.00
Purchased At:
saddington cycles
Strengths:
The disks wear in pretty quick with some light squeaks but overall quite good
Weaknesses:
The pins in the brake fall out easily and i actully lost one, I have been looking for spares everywhere and if you can find one email me at creightz105@hotmail.com
Bottom Line:
they are overall good brakes but hard to find spares
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nonoy
a Weekend Warrior
from Philippines Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
YKK
Strengths:
Lightweight, cool looks!!
Weaknesses:
price!
Similar Products Used:
Avid Mech discs, Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
C'dale F/S, UST tires, Fox float RL rear shox.......
Bottom Line:
This discs rocks!! they squeal a lot at the beginning but its normal when breaking in... still good enough for the weight @ 700 grams (f/r set)...quality built, encountered little probs at 1st but the shop had good service and was able to help me and set the discs perfectly!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, South Australia Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
LifeCycle Bicycles
Strengths:
..ummmm...they look good, oh and you never have to replace a rear tire again, (you may have to when the casing rots)I've not been able to lock the rear in a year! Bleeding service intervals have gotten me out of the weekly shopping expeditions with the wife! (5 chilli's). The modulation experience is unforgetable....and sharpens your braking distance 'senses' to new levels.
Weaknesses:
...this product is used for stopping...seriously? Do not expect to get the same stopping performance from these as your old v-brakes, or get out of trouble quickly on them. Never in my life have I had a rear tire last so long, and when you are able to actually lock a wheel...tell all your friends (or make sure they are there)! 1. The levers and their travel design have been engineered by someone who obviously had too much spare time in the factory downloading porn. I'm sick of pulling a u-turn to fetch those pins. 2. Do not use these in hot weather, they boil way too easy. 3. If you do use these when it's hot...expect the piston seals to start leaking. 4. I did all the research and read the reviews before purchasing these so I expected a 'bedding in' period...still waiting for something (anything!) to happen. 5. The stopping power of these brakes is NON-EXISTENT. If you have way too much confidence in your trail riding abilities purchase these brakes to re-introduce a challenge back into your riding.
Similar Products Used:
..wedged four mars bars between the frame and rims to compare the stopping power....mars wins hands down...and leaves less damage than dot 4...
Bike Setup:
KHS FXT Rage
Bottom Line:
....these would make a great 'gag' gift...do not throw out your old v-brakes...you'll be putting them back on.
Seriously though never before in my life have I been so sh!t scared of trying to stop....ever.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from London UK Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
moose cycles
Strengths:
lightweight, looks saucy, lightweight, better than v's, oh, and lightweight too.
Weaknesses:
flimsy rotors, gay reservoir covers.
Similar Products Used:
hope minis
Bike Setup:
commencal normal (stock except panaracer fire xc's) .Riser bars ,sus.s/post (or anything else gives me the horn )to be added soon.
Bottom Line:
Nice brakes, good power after break in although not as sharp as Hope's. I haven't had the noise other people have complained about but then I do try to keep them clean (that means keeping your mate's dick beaters off the rotors as well) The rear seems better set up than the front, strangely, and also during a rather tough ride the front rotor warped and began squeaking on the pads when pedalling (it was still ok to stop with though) I couldn't / didn't want to mess with it :as it looked bent as a boxing day turd (or thanksgiving doody if you're in the US) but the bike shop sorted it for me on the first service. Overall I would still choose these over anything else (just) Hope's are great looking but seem a bit snatchy on my mates bike.. a cross between these two at the price of Clark's mechanicals would be ideal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Douglas Shearer
a
from Stirling, Scotland Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Superb brakes that are easy to set up and maintain. If you want brakes that work well all the time, these are the ones.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
simon cox
a Weekend Warrior
from Farnham, England Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
bonthrone bikes
Strengths:
Its a matter of fact that these brakes are light. Callipers look nice.
Weaknesses:
The brake levers/mechanism is just too weak. Its far too plasticy and I've already broke mine without even crashing (did a big jump and the force of landing impact caused the lever ball joint to unattach - a common problem I hear. Unaware I reach for the brakes, pull them and the whole mechanism snaps. I don't find these brakes particularly powerful. They're very awkward to bleed (Its not just me being useless before I bought the bleed kit myself I'd had it into two different bike shops and neither did a perfect job). When you do bleed them yourself and get to see the little rubber membrane that you have to purge of air you do wonder just how long that will last without bursting - I mean, yor cars brakes don't have such rubbish components, so why do these brakes have to ?
Similar Products Used:
V brakes
Bike Setup:
Came as standard on GT I-drive 2.0
Bottom Line:
I won't be spending any more time or money on these brakes. The next time there's a problem I'm going to replace with Avid mechanical brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RICHARD OLDFIELD
a Weekend Warrior
from EASTBOURNE, East Sussex, United Kingdom Date Reviewed: August 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
GREAT STOPPING POWER. EASE UF USE AND SET-UP. PLEASING TO THE EYE
Weaknesses:
AFTER A VERY LONG BEDDING IN PERIOD, STILL COULDN'T STOP THE SQUEAL WHEN BRAKING. VERY SLIGHT WARP IN FRONT DISC.
Similar Products Used:
NONE
Bike Setup:
BARRACUDA NEMESIS 2001 FULL SUPENSION BIKE. DNM FORKS AND REAR COIL SHOCK,SHIMANO DEORE COMPONENTRY, SCHUMANN RIMS WITH KENDA KINECTICS TYRES
Bottom Line:
DIFFICULT. SUPERB STOPPING POWER BUT SQUEAL AND WARPED DISC WAS ANNOYING. IF MY PROBLEMS WERE A ONE OFF THAN BUY A PAIR. OTHERWISE, CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE. JUST BOUGHT A SCOTT EXPERT RACING AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GO BACK TO V BRAKES AFTER USING DISCS EVEN WITH MINOR ANNOYANCES.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sterling heise
a Racer
from des moines,ia 50313 Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
rasmussen bike shop
Strengths:
-ease of installation -light weight -full hydraullic -looks
Weaknesses:
-squeel when wet -rotors slightly warped out of box -stopping power (see below)
never having used disc brakes before i can honestly say these rock. installation and setup took me less than 20 minutes from box to bike. the ability to cut tubing down to a desired length is extremely easy due to the supplied banjo fittings. thorsten at formula is the epitome of what customer service is all about. the only real downside is that the stopping power isnt quite up to hayes standards, but ill take the 100 gram difference in weight any day. i was for many years totally anti-disc and i can now say i am 100% a convert!!!!! if your a xc rider/racer i would strongly consider these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, DC Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light weight, lots of power, reliable
Weaknesses:
It's very easy to pop the lever out of the master cylinder - see below for full discussion
Similar Products Used:
XT Discs, Grimeca Sys.8s, Hayes
Bike Setup:
160mm front, 140mm rear on a Giant MCM Team, Race Face, XTR, King, you know the drill.
Bottom Line:
Awesome. I got them dirt cheap on Ebay - full set brand new in box for $90. They're worth twice that much and more. The power is all there; I weigh 195 and ride very aggressively (I do a lot of DH, but not on this bike!), and they've always had enough power. I wouldn't put these on a DH bike, like some rather simple-minded folks below have apparently done, but for an XC bike they're great. They've got as much power up front as Hayes, etc, and the back has plenty to lock up my rear wheel with one finger. Endo's are no problem.
It took me approximately TWO MINUTES to bed these things in - I rode around the parking lot putting some good pressure on them and after 2min on each wheel, I could lock up with one finger.
I have taken these on some VERY long descents and haven't had any problems with overheating and such.
Downsides: they shriek like crazy when they're wet. I think most, if not all, discs do that, but it's still a PITA.
The lever has a little mechanism which attaches it to the master cylinder (inside the lever body). It's designed as a breakaway, so in a crash, the lever pops off the master cylinder and swings away, so it won't bend/break. You just pop it back in, and continue with your ride, unless you've actually broken or lost the pop-out linkage (hasn't happened yet, thankfully).
These brakes are on my XC race bike, so I don't fall much - I've fallen off one time, and the lever popped off. It was dark, so it was a royal pain trying to pop it back in. Also, the other day, I shouldered the bike up a hill where everyone was packing up in front. The brake lever banged against my top tube, and popped out. I had to take a few seconds to put it back in, and got passed by several people. That's a pisser.
Bottom line: THIS IS AN XC BRAKE!!! Do not use it on a DH bike, for fuxsake. If you fall a lot, do not use it. Other than that, it's got tons of power, seems to be very reliable (6months, NO problems whatsoever). Five flamin' turds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Normandin
a Downhiller
from Chelsea, Quebec, Canada Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Greg Crystie ski Cycle
Strengths:
alright stopping power. dot 4 fluid ??
Weaknesses:
the lever broke and that pissed me off. they could have made the lever out of cro mo and be 200 grams heaver and i would still have a fron disc. so now i'm riding some old vee's that work about as well. save your money.
Similar Products Used:
vee's
Bike Setup:
norco nitro
Bottom Line:
well they do a good job of braking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Soren Laursen
a Cross Country Rider
from Holstebro Date Reviewed: June 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Marselisborg, Aarhus
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
HiBike.de
Strengths:
Cool looks, light weight
Weaknesses:
Pump leaks, not enough brake power
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise
Bike Setup:
2000 C-dale Jekyll 1000sl pretty much standard set-up, Easton Monkey Bar, Hügi 240 Hubs, Fi´zi:k cow saddle.
Bottom Line:
I had great expactations to these brakes, they looked cool (still do), light weight = perfect for my XC-setup. However, I got disappointed: the right side pump has been leaking ever since I got them. Got a new one from the Danish agent (had to lay down 20$), but this one leaked instantly. The screws holding the lever will not stay put which at some point, if you don't pay attention, will cause the lever to snap off.
Staying put while waiting for repairs and replacements sucks! - and buying a product of relatively high quality, and paying for it, should not cause problems like this.
The brakes has not got that much power, but they are fine for XC (I am 155 pounds) - if they work properly. In my case they have never worked for more than a few weeks during the past months.
I can not recommend buying these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fabrizio
a Weekend Warrior
from Turin Italy Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
single tracks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
130
Strengths:
light weight, progressive powerness, look good
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
avid sd1
Bike Setup:
kona muni-mula, xt-xtr, rst aerosa aet.
Bottom Line:
I've muonted only the front brake, it go very well, good power, easy to mount. I hope that they continue as is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Manufacture Trade In
Strengths:
Light, Nice To Look At.
Weaknesses:
None that i know of
Similar Products Used:
Formula MD1 Mechanican Disc
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Bottom Line:
I have to say these brakes are just fine by me. My bike came with a Formula MD1 Mechanical Disc which had good braking power but squeeked like crazy. I read all kinds of complaints about it and found that the American distributor was allowing trade ins for the new version.
I took it a step further and Thorsten at Formula Brakes let me upgrade to the B4 Brake system. So essentially I got the brakes at cost. At that price I can't go wrong. I love em.
If i had to pay full price... i dont know. They feel fine to me and I do some hard riding. They even survived my being a bike courier in Toronto for 3 months.
Anyways... try em out... Any disc is better than any V brake... and any Hydraulic Disc is better than a mechanical disc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
luca gervasoni
a Weekend Warrior
from brescia Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Longoni sport
Strengths:
Actually this is a review of FORMULA 4 RACING. (I have requested two times mtbr to open a review without success). Very light, powerfull (dia 185mm front, dia 160mm rear)
Weaknesses:
I do not like color (dark bronze)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano M515, magura luise y 2000.
Bike Setup:
Specialized enduro expert
Bottom Line:
Great brakes, very light but very strong at the same time. Great feeling of control even in panic situations. They do not overheat even after long downhill. Great for freeriding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave the barbarian
a
from Darlington, England Date Reviewed: May 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Bonthrone Bikes
Strengths:
Light
Weaknesses:
Weak leavers, Bent and cracked disc, loses fluid(pressure)
Similar Products Used:
Hope minis (replaced the B4's)
Bike Setup:
GT i-drive 2.0, psylo sl's, lx/xt/xtr chain set, Syncros finishing kit, formula b4's (now replaced with hope minis)
Bottom Line:
they are very poor, local bike dealer says many leavers are snapped and the brakes are generally very weak. i found this after 3days hard riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
baz fairweather
a Cross Country Rider
from scotland Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:
glen dol , callender
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came with cycle
Strengths:
quite lightweight, looked nice alongside my continental traction pro tyres .......... thats it im afraid.
Weaknesses:
does not lock up the wheel, pads scrape , fluid leakage at resovoir
Similar Products Used:
hope mini hydraulic system lots more feel an power to em!
I LOVE MY BIKE BUT NOT THE BRAKES SO I BOUGHT SOME XTR V-BRAKES........... LIGHT,POWERFUL AN VERY COOL..... UNTIL I CAN AFFORD SOME HOPE ENDUROS. ALL PREZZIES WELCOME!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Weekend Warrior
from St Helens, England Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
H. Middleton Cycles, Ormskirk
Strengths:
Set up. Power. Looks. Price
Weaknesses:
Take ages to bed in
Similar Products Used:
Activa mechanical discs
Bottom Line:
i can't beleive that these are the same as the brakes some of the others are reporting on. Mine fitted easily, and apart from taking ages to bed in, have supplied plenty of power, thank you. To the guy who reckons the fluid boils, I doubt it. These brakes use DOT fluid, if thats good enough for your car, its good enough for a bike. Look towards fluid contamination or a leak before boiling fluid. I think price wise these rival others out there, as well as looking good, with the exception of the blue peter manitou adaptor, but this lets me use a 185mm disc, to improve stopping even more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Windsor Cycles
Strengths:
Light Weight, Easy setup, Good feel and modulation
Weaknesses:
Spring clip breakage, Quality control of discs
Similar Products Used:
Diatech Mech Disc, Hayes Hydraulic Disc
Bike Setup:
2000 Giant XTC DS/2
Bottom Line:
First time I had ridden with discs was when I got my XTC DS/2. A wet and muddy Mont 24hr race showed me what a blessing discs were in the rain and mud, but I was never happy with the very spongy feel of the original Diatech mechanicals. Having ridden a couple of bikes with Hayes brakes, I liked the idea of hydraulics, but my budget wouldn't stretch to the Hayes. Enter the B4 at A$650 for a complete setup - so I took the plunge. I had some initial problems - the front brake pulsed. REALLY badly. The culprit was a front disc of uneven thickness - this was replaced (warranty)and the problem vanished. The spring clip which retracts the pads in the rear caliper also broke on me (replaced at no cost) - this seems to be a possible weak point in the design. Overall, I have been quite happy with them, having done a fair bit of riding and 4 races with them (including a 6hr race) in the last few months. Massive improvement in feel over the mechanicals. Not as much sheer stopping power as the Hayes (and this will start to show in extended downhill sections), but I found the action was more progressive, less 'on/off', and it was much easier to 'feather' the brakes. For XC racing, stopping power is adequate. For those desiring a little more bite, perhaps a change of pads would be worth looking at.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: February 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anything smooth & flowing
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Strengths:
Look smart, trendy & modern
Weaknesses:
Not strong enough, faded too quickly.
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Bike came with Avalanche 2.0 frame, Shimano XT components & unfortunately Formula B4 brakes
Bottom Line:
Disc started rusting in places almost immediately as did the pad components. Disc started warping almost immediately. On my first real outing with the bike the brakes faded almost immediately. Upon bleeding the brakes the bleed valve snapped with very light pressure so now I need to oder spare caliper components. I have used disc brakes for years on my motorcycles but no similar problems. For me the Formula B4 system is too weak & not able to last the rigours of use -and I'm not an agressive rider. Get a set of good quality V-brakes & forget about disc technology, at least from this company, until the manufacturing & componets used improve (for those who can remeber it reminds me of the Alfasud cars of 20 years or so ago - they looked good & went great until wheel studs started to shear off on tight bends, body rotted after the first rain shower etc).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Langdahl
a Racer
from Aarhus, Denmark Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
FUSION Aarhus, Denmark
Strengths:
super light weight, easy maintenance
Weaknesses:
none...maybe missing some power when wet!
Similar Products Used:
Magura Clara 2001, Magura Gustav M, Formula from 1997.
Bike Setup:
Commencal VIP, RF System, American Classic Disc, FSA Carbon crank, FSA Ti bottom bracket, Easton Ea70....sub 10k!!
Bottom Line:
I've now used thes brakes in all kinds of conditions, and I'm very pleased with how the brakes perform. One thing is totally drag free brakes an other is lasting pads, and that's nice in Denmark. I've even raced them all through Denmark, form Skagen up north to Padborg in the south...571km in 4 days and all types of terrain and weather....uhh I like these brakes and will recommend them to anybody!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ahriman
a Weekend Warrior
from Slovenija Date Reviewed: December 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Poseka
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$104.00
Purchased At:
Maraton d.o.o.
Strengths:
They look good. When i first saw them i thougt that they were made of gold but my grandpa convinced me that they' re actually made of wool. I believe him because he hasn' t lied to me one time !!! If you throw them at somebody' s head they' ll surely kill him.
Weaknesses:
The sticker on it sucks. The oil smells my mother had a hart-attack because of it.
One sunny day i wass driving along a forrest. The sun was shining and my uphill technicque is excellent so I was eormously fast. I enjoyed the ride very much but suddenly something happened that changed my life forever. The oil in my brake reached the zerro temerature and started to boil. Because of the Corn Flakes TM which I ate this morning the heat from the front brake was transfered onto my front shock which melted (Yes just like that). This caused my rear tire to blow, my handlebar to crack and my crank to explode. Oh I almost forgot. The elastometers from my melted Shiver DH jumped out and hit my head which knocked me unconscious. The next thing I remember was me lying in a hospital. The doctor said that I almost died.
PS: My bike was never found, probably the aliens obducted it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Humphrey
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle,WA Date Reviewed: December 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Tiger Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Hammerhead Bikes
Strengths:
Modulation, Quiet !!! Looks, Weight
Weaknesses:
Some breakable plastic parts
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, XT V Brakes
Bike Setup:
Switchblade w/mostly XT stuff
Bottom Line:
I've had terrific luck with these brakes. I'm about 160lbs and not a downhill freak but they've never lacked for power. I tried a friends bike with Hayes and these felt much better to me. They never honked or squeaked. The only noise they made was some chatter when I was on the road at higher speeds but this went away with some trueing of the disks. I did break one plastic part but it wasn't a ride breaker and Torsten has been good to work with.
If you've got V's now and are thinking of trying discs, these are your brakes. They wont weigh your bike down and will stop on a dime. I can't speak for downhillers but these are just the ticket for me. After hearing about all the hoops that Hope Mini owners are going through to keep their brakes from screeching, I'm very happy with the B4's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
very light, hassle-free to install, reliable, good modulation, pads last forever.
Weaknesses:
very lightweight construction to keep the racers happy but durability may suffer over time.
Similar Products Used:
V Brakes and the excellent Avid mechanical.
Bottom Line:
Came standard on my GT i-drive. My last GT came with the revolting Formula MD-1 cable disc - maybe that design team died of shame, because B4s seem to be living up to their magazine reviews. They work well, have a nice lever shape, modulation and feedback, generally good power (the pads seem slow wearing so it makes sense that they’re slow to bed in), and are mostly silent - the occasional nose when wet like many discs. The design appears to be good if a bit fragile in some areas as a result of efforts to save weight. So far the units seem relatively robust despite some heavy crashes and the discs themselves can be tweaked back into alignment if necessary. Reasonably straight-forward to bleed with the bleed kit - contact Thorsten or Erika Schaette at ThorUSA (Thorsten@thorusa.com) for really excellent and prompt service, advice and spare parts - even to the other side of the world. My bleed screws are a sloppy fit when not locked down which allows air to get into the bleed process, but thread tape cured that. I had to make up shims to get the caliper centered over the disc for drag-free running but once done there’s no further adjustment. Power does seem a little down but the way that the pads seem to never wear suggests that a pad with more bite is a simple answer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Global Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light weight. Ample power. Consistant performance. Supported in N.America by The Brakemeister himself - Thorsten.
Weaknesses:
Hmmmm......ahhh.....errr.....I can't think of one. I'd probably have to say that it was all the little o-ring seals on the connectors - but they do provide total no seepage sealing.
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise, Clara, Julie.
Bottom Line:
These brakes rock - nice power, awesome smooth modulation, leak-free operation, great looks and probably above all - their light weight. V-brakes don't have much going for them now that B4's are on the market. V's only had one slight advantage until now - weight - and this is almost non-exsistant now. Cost be damned - I want good brakes.
They are marketed in N.America by Thorsten (formula@khsbicycleparts.com), KHS Bicycle Parts and ThorUSA (all the same company) and their committment is total.
The levers feel very nice, the lines and fittings are sturdy and you have a great selection of rotor sizes for tailoring the brakes for your terrain. They come standard with 160 front and 140 rear rotors plus 185 front, 160 and 185 rear for those who are heavy and ride steep terrain.
Now no-one should complain that they ran out of brakes. The standard brakes (160/140 rotors) are XC brakes for normal people and racers.
I've had my brakes for six months without a problem.
Great brakes - Formula & Thorsten, take a bow!
G. Bob
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Netherlands Date Reviewed: November 14, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Utrechtse heuvelrug
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light, responsive, predictable
Weaknesses:
lacks a bit of power on long downhills
Similar Products Used:
several others
Bike Setup:
giant XTC DS3 (2000), marzocchi Z4,
Bottom Line:
For normal XC use, with few hills, this brake is very good! It's light, it's got plenty of power for normal use, and they look cool offcourse. I ride a lot in muddy and wet conditions (extremely muddy in winter), and I prefer these disc brakes above V-brakes ANYtime. I have been riding them for over a year and haven't experienced any problems.
I've also tried them on more steep, and speedy downhill courses in Belgium, and they could use a bit more stopping power with 60kph+ over rocky terrain. So I'm thinking of changing the discs for one size larger,: 18,5 cm instead of 16 for example, NOTE!! THIS INCREASES THE STOPPING POWER BY 45% !! YES, 45%!!!!!!! pure and simple physics. Simple, CHEAP, and works very well.
Test do show different results with regard to the oil reaching its boiling point. Some test show its not a problem, others say it is. I haven't experienced it so I can't comment on it. But again: change the disc size! One size larger prevents the overheating of the brake! (probably, but should improve things certainly).
You buy something which suits your riding stile. The B4's aren't advertised as downhill brakes, but XC, so use them accordingly. For XC use, they are one of the lightest on the market, and work like a charm...
Thumbs up for Formula!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ben lambert
a Cross Country Rider
from glasgow, scotland Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
gear of glasgow
Strengths:
lightest disc brake system, great looks, low maintenance, better than any v-brakes i've tried
Weaknesses:
smallish rotors, finish on lever reservoir wears off
Similar Products Used:
hope mini, hope c2
Bike Setup:
sintesi jade, rockshox judy sl, xt components
Bottom Line:
Other reviews i,ve read claim these discs to work poorly, but i've never had a problem with mine. Parts are easy enough to get should you need them and set up and maintenance is a breeze. Other systems with bigger discs obviously mean more power but at a usually big weight increase. My bike is set up for x-country riding, not downhill, and I have yet to need stronger brakes for this riding. Also, there is no way any v-brake system will work better than these in muddy and wet conditions (i.e.scotland).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jerome CAZENAVE
a Cross Country Rider
from Leiria - PORTUGAL Date Reviewed: October 26, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Pyrenees Mountains
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Strengths:
- Look - Weight - Progressive behaviour.
Weaknesses:
- Deficient heat insulation: the oil gets to boiling point very easily, causing severe and dangerous braking disruptions. - Significant lack of braking power. B4 are not better than good V-brakes from Shimano or Avid.
Similar Products Used:
- Shimano XT disc brakes and Magura Louise (model 2000 for both).
Bike Setup:
Formula B4 are fitted by Commencal Bicycles on my full suspension Doctor model 2000. Other components: XTR transmission, Rock-Shox SID SL front suspension, and Rock-Shox SID rear shock.
Bottom Line:
I have ridden about 1000 miles ith my Commencal Doctor bike mounted with Formula B4 brakes. The look of the B4 is very nice, the finishing is smart, and I must confess that I am very impressed by their progressive behaviour. Also, their light weight is very much appreciated compare to models from other brands of disc brakes. With about 345g each set, the B4 are so far best in class.
On the bottom line, braking power is very poor even lower than good V-brakes. This braking power can be improved by fitting EBC compatible brake shoes.
However, the most critical issue with the B4 (model 2001) is the deficient heat insulation. Indeed, the oil gets to boiling point very easily, causing dangerous braking disruptions. It happened to me twice before I decided to replace them by other brakes. Changing the oil for a different DOT value, can improve a beat, but it does not fix the problem. According to me, this is a very critical and safety issue which should justify a re-call from the manufacturer.
In conclusion, I think that B4 are not suitable for regular X-country riders. One day they will certainly be exposed to a severe disruption, mainly on trails with long or steep descents. Only suitable for very soft and light riders, who use their bike ounce a week.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
gerick cycle
Strengths:
feel good once broken in, sweet colour
Weaknesses:
many... impossible to bleed, no power, can't get parts, tiny rotors (5 inch rear)
Similar Products Used:
hayes, deore mechs
Bike Setup:
brodie libido, jr.t, full xt
Bottom Line:
these brakes aren't worth the money at all!! i had my front one break and the hydraulic hose didn't come in for about 3 months, and when it did it was the wrong size!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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