Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA, USA Date Reviewed: September 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rothrock State Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Strong hydraulic stopping power, nice look.
Weaknesses:
Takes a long time to get these dialed in just right, not to mention tons of maintenance.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BBDB (mechanical)
Bottom Line:
If you have tons of time to adjust these very regularly then these are for you. These brakes could stop a train but making sure they are dialed in all the time is really a pain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Great for cross country riding
Weaknesses:
Horrible for downhills. Rear brake constantly overheats to the point I have to stop and spray with water to cool!
Bottom Line:
Great for buzzing around the woods on the east coast without a lot of hills, great for stopping on the x country single track.
I moved to Co and the "hills" here are just too big for these breaks...
Depending on where you ride, take my advice!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA. Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
specd. on bike
Strengths:
Good modulation, plenty of power, ease of maintanence, parts easily available, they will take hard use all day long!
These came stock on the bike. I swapped the pads for EBC red up front& green in back. EBC's make a big differance and they wear long. I run the 6" rotors front& rear. Pad changes are easily accomplished without disassembly. Bleeding, when necessary, is a simple operation. I've never experienced any overheating,fading or lock-up. After 4years of HARD riding there have been no leaks and no worn out or faulty parts. Bottom line,For downhill or XC use. Plenty of power! Dependable!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike H
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
KL
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Kunstadts
Strengths:
came stock on bike, look very nice. the levers are really pretty, stopping power
Weaknesses:
they will pump up, and overheat, thus locking the brakes on hot days.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore Hydraulic
Bike Setup:
2001 Norco Rampage with loads of upgrades
Bottom Line:
well, these brakes were really nice until I rode on a hot day with them, where they would heat up and lock the brakes.
The brake fluid started to spill out of the levers, which at that point I took them back for warranty, and I got Deore Hydros instead. They are cheaper, and I have not had any problems with them at all.
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Submitted by
Collin
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Urban
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Provelo
Strengths:
These brakes could stop a train. They have great adj. features and a kick ass look to them with those two-piece meaty rotors.
Weaknesses:
They weigh a bunch. Don't get the if you ride cross counrty.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, magura, avid, hope
Bike Setup:
Beat to hell Trek Bruiser, marzocchi jr. t '00, black shimano disk hubs on alex dh 32, dura ace rear derailer, and a steal botrager crowbar dh handle bar
Bottom Line:
These brakes will do a better job than dh systems twice their price. They are meant for tandoms and other heavy duty apps. but are perfect for freeride because they are so freakin burley. Get a 7.5" rotor for the front and swap the 6" to the rear and you'll learn the true meaning of power.
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Submitted by
Johan
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
It's a disc brake and it's better than a rim brake. Once it's well installed, it's very good.
Weaknesses:
Difficult to find suppliers for the break pads (I only know one supplier in Belgium). Nobody else seems to use it so no experience in maintenance, which obliges me to do it myself.
Bike Setup:
GT Zaskar 2000, Formula evoluzione 9.5 front and rear. Shimano XT hubs, Rockshox SID XC fork, Mavic rims. Group is a combination of LX, XT and XTR
Bottom Line:
I never used any other disc brake so I can't really compare. After some trials I succeeded in changing pads in 10 minutes. Also the bleeding I do myself, and it's quite easy once you've done it a few times.
Compared to newer disc brake types that appeared the last years (like Formula B4, Shimano XTR, Magura, ..) I honestly believe that Formula Evoluzione are very good brakes, that's my conclusion after hearing reactions from many other users. The main difference with other disc brake types is the heigh weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Hollis, NH Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
FOMBA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
stock on bike
Strengths:
fairly good lever feel, good modulation
Weaknesses:
not a lot of pure power. Fine for XC, but nothing else. Bleeding and replacing pads is a PAIN. You must take the caliper appart and bleed to replace the pads! Non-standard rotor, so replacing is a pain.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Avid mech.
Bike Setup:
GT Zaskar X
Bottom Line:
In all honesty, don't buy these brakes aftermarket. If they came on the bike, fine. I am planning on replacing them once I replace the pads again. (I just put on EBC Reds) If they are dialed in perfectly, they are fine, if not, they suck. Maintenence is a HUGE PAIN.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from truckee Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
trt
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
pcna
Strengths:
excellent modulation, no fading.
Weaknesses:
sometimes during long steep descents they will overheat/lock up
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
1998 Porsche FS
Bottom Line:
ONCE YOU GET THESE BRAKES DIALED IN, THEY ROCK!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron Snyder
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbertsville Date Reviewed: April 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Can't tell
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came stock on new bike
Strengths:
good feel, awesome modulation, price isnt on the steep side, and i haven't to have any matainence except bleeding
Weaknesses:
i have a liquidy/watery sound when braking at slow speeds but is absent at higher speeds
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes which i cant begin to compare to these
Bike Setup:
2000 GT Avalanche
Bottom Line:
These are great brakes at a great price. I use them for XC racing and i love them except for the slow speed braking sound. If your looking for discs at low price you've met your match. They cant even beging to compete with V-brakes in inclimate weather or hot sunny days.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Varga
a Weekend Warrior
from Hungary Date Reviewed: January 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Looks good, works good, the modulation is good, and relatively cheaper then the other (Hayes and XT)
Weaknesses:
With the original pad and disc isn't so good
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Shimano XT, Grimeca's system 8
Bike Setup:
Schwinn, RST Delta TL 100mm, LX/XT, Rhyno Lite, [roox] parts
Bottom Line:
I use this brakes with Grimeca's 185 mm discs. IMHO now i have reach the brake power, that i have hoped, and the disc can't owerheated now. To setup the brake you must have time and to bleed also difficult, but after this you get excellent modulation, and real power!
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Submitted by
Damon Bennett
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Date Reviewed: January 12, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Kedumba Pass
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Universe
Strengths:
Light Weight, Goodish looks, good modulation, green standard pads need to be upgraded to EBC reds to get better power.
Weaknesses:
Not that easy to fill and bleed,not the power I would realy like,
Similar Products Used:
hayes, grimeca's
Bike Setup:
GT Zaskar, Sids, Chris King Hubs, Etc
Bottom Line:
Not really the easiest system to look after. Discs are still supior to V's etc but I really think the constant fade in power from just serviced to weak is not what I would like from a disc. Will look at Hopes, Hayes and decide if its worth the spend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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