Radial design, cast aluminum master-cylinder with integrated reservoir; carbon fiber lever blade with an indexed reach adjuster dial. Symmetrical, flip-flop lever design with removable bar clamp.
Submitted by
lloydd71
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2011
Strengths: When they worked, they would stop my bike.
Weaknesses: Lack of modulation and reliability.
Bottom Line:
These were my first set of disc brakes that came stalk on a bike. They gave me problems from day one, which I assumed was just the price of having disc brakes. I couldn't seem to get them to stop rubbing on the rotor. After repeated trips to the shop, Hayes decided to rebuild them. In the month it took Hayes to rebuild them I decided I'd had enough and purchased a pair of Avid Elixir CR's. The difference was night and day and I realized how much my Hayes just sucked. When I received the rebuilt brakes, I put them in the garage for the next two years until I received a new bike frame. Wanting to save a little money, I decided to put the rebuilt Hayes on the new bike. Again, they were very fussy and gave me grief with rotor rub. After a short time, the rear brake started to fade so I took them in for a bleed. I was told that the master-cylinder needed replacing, so I replaced it. Two rides later, the rear brake stopped working. Back to the bike shop. This time the bike shop contacted Hayes and sent the brake off. Hayes reported that the rear brake line had been destroyed, even though I had just purchased the rear brake line specifically for the new bike and it had less than a few hundred miles on it with no damage to it. My LBS reported a difficult time dealing with Hayes and after six weeks, they sent the brakes back with a new brake line that they begrudgingly paid for.
Bottom line: These brakes didn't work all that well on the rare day they were working - sticky levers and lack of modulation. My bikes have spent way too many days out of commission as a result of this inferior product. Although I know people who have these same brakes and are OK with them, my experience (both with the brakes and with Hayes customer service) keeps me from recommending them.
Similar Products Used: Shimano XT and Avid Elixir CR's.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
marzocchimarc
a Weekend Warrior
from central square
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2011
Strengths: everything, power, modulation, reliable and easy to bleed.
Weaknesses: none except hard to center maybe?
Bottom Line:
these brakes perform alot better than some very expensive brakes. they feel great, have almost no brake fade, powerfull, grrrrrreat looking, RELIABLE and cheap. what more could you really ask for in a brake?? i would HIGHLY reccomend this brake to anyone!!!
Similar Products Used: shimano saint, shimano slx, hayes mx4, avid(terrrrrrible!!)
Bike Setup: 2011 giant reign 1, fox 36talas rlc fork, slx drivetrain, nevegal tirs, saint brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
VTSession
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2011
Strengths: Lite, smooth lever action, modulates well, powerful, looks good, low profile design, good price.
Weaknesses: interferes a little with the positioning of my X9 shifters, longer lever reach.
Bottom Line:
I went with the Hayes Stroker because I had three sets of HFX 9 brakes over the years and never had a problem with any of them. So far these prove to be well built, powerful and solid. I'm confident they'll last me many seasons
Similar Products Used: Avid Elixers, Hayes HFX, Shimano XTs
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Butcher, Fox RP23 shock, X9, Domain 318 fork, Transition Rev. wheels, WTB tires, Fizik saddle, Thomson post and stem, Race Face Atlas FR bar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
outlaw1776
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2011
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: Not much adjustment.
Bottom Line:
Purchased with a used bike and thought the brakes sacked..... but replaced the rotors and pads and they're really good! Even modulation and steady power throughout. I wouldn't race them but more than adequate for typical XC riding.
Submitted by
mdubyade
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2011
Strengths: good power, white color, easy reach adjustment, kit I bought came with parts to shorten brake line.
Weaknesses: you have to pull lever for about 1.5 cm before any engagement, has a more on/off feel, there is modulation but it is little and it takes a minute to get used to, but I am still breaking mine in so it could get better.
Bottom Line:
For the price you cannot beat the performance and looks. It is pretty light too. I am happy with my purchase, would buy again. The line that came on mine was super long so I had to shorten and my brake came with the extra parts to do so, which was nice. I was also able to shorten the line without having to re-bleed, which was very nice, just don't spill any fluid. Replacing pads is also a snap. I think after mine is properly broken in I will really enjoy it. I currently just have the rear, but I will defiantly get the front in the future. 5 chilies for great value, 4 chilies overall because on the dead pull before engagement. I bought because I needed a brake and just wanted to get riding again, don't buy if you can afford better.
Submitted by
pistolpete83
a Weekend Warrior
from NY
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2011
Strengths: Excellent Stopping Power.
Nice feel and great modulation.
I have bigger hands and they are very comfy:)
Easy to clean and maintain (change pads)
No fad even after bombing down a hill on a 40lb bike and 240lb rider.
Weaknesses: Makes a funny noise when once in a while...Almost like a makes a squeak and sucking sound together...Not a huge deal but I ride through my town alot and when I come to a stoppie or something they make a gay noise...not a big deal but ya know, wish it didn't happen...tried to clean tighten and adjust it out but it still happens.
Bottom Line:
Really sweet Brakes. Very powerful and easy to maintain. No problems and very safe. They give me so much confidence if I get on another bike I might forget I don't have the same power I almost kill myself. I would recommend them especially for $75/wheel. (Pricepoint.com)
Changed to 203mm Front Rotor and EBC pad. As soon as I did this the rod coming from the piston snapped and the outer pad fell out. Rebuilt the caliper and before my first ride on it the same rod snapped again. Brake fade during long decent.
Similar Products Used: Works fine with 180 Front Rotor
Shimano XT
Bike Setup: AM/Freeride
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
AndyG
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh PA
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2011
Strengths: Looks good, cheap
Weaknesses: Pin holding pad now bent for 2nd time. Have never been able to stop them rubbing on disks. Poorly positioned lever relative to where your thumb needs to be to operate gears.
Bottom Line:
Don't get these brakes, they don't allow any pad adjustment, need constant bleeding and the pads fall out whenever you take the wheels off. Crap
Submitted by
rhythmtech
a Weekend Warrior
from St Louis, MO USA
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2010
Strengths: Feel great, reach adjustment is independent of pad travel adjustment, easy to install, color scheme matched my bike very well (of minor concern but a nice coincidence).
Weaknesses: Could be lighter, but for the price I paid I'll lug the extra couple of grams who cares. Just a little bit stiff under hard braking (I weigh 190, lighter riders would not have this issue), I might try some different pads down the road to fix this. My hands got really tired during my first ride with them while the pads seated in, partially my fault for picking a trail with a lot of speedy, brake holding technical sections.
Bottom Line:
The main factor in my purchasing them was previous experience with Hayes Strokers and the price I was able to get them for. I would recommend these brakes to anyone who is looking for brakes that won't break their budget and work better than the stock Avid brakes that seem to prolifically be on every other new bike on the market.
Similar Products Used: Avid Juicy 3, Avid Elixir CR
Bike Setup: 2011 Trek Fuel EX9
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ppfeifer
a Racer
from Hampton Roads, VA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2010
Strengths: Modulation
Quiet
Weaknesses: Not very strong
Long stroke to get 'em to engage
No LBS carry replacement pads. You'll have to order these.
Bottom Line:
These brakes have been fine. I really like how quiet they are. Avid brakes have better feel and power, but they make too much noise.
Sometimes these brakes will start to drag/rub for few a mile or so but they almost always sort themselves out by the end of a ride.
Will I buy these for a new bike? Probably not but maybe.
Would I be disappointed if they can OEM on new bike? No.
Overall- They aren't awesome but my experience has been good. The price for these brakes for is almost too good to pass up.
5 Chilis for price
3 Chilis b/c they are good not great.
Bike Setup: These came OEM on a GF Ferrous 29er. They are on my Jet 9 now.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ronbo613
a Cross Country Rider
from The Gorge
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2010
Strengths: Good customer service
Weaknesses: Unreliable, hard to adjust, poor quality
Bottom Line:
Stroker Trails came stock on my bike. They never really worked. First; squealing brakes(needed new pads), then, sticking levers(had to apply grease to master cylinders), then master cylinder and/or caliper cylinders were sticking. Had to send the brakes to Hayes to be completely rebuilt. A few weeks later, the rear brake lever goes to the floor; total failure.
Because Hayes was good about fixing the problems, I've stuck with them, but they have left me hanging too many times. Hayes Stroker brakes are junk, if you buy them, you're crazy.
I was speaking with a buddy of mine about brakes and my dislike of my juicy 3s. He had them also when he first started riding a few years back and he had the same issues I am, main Read More »
Has anyone had any problems with their Hayes Stokers?
I got the rear working perfect, but the front is now fading badly. I currently bled the front three times now and now i' Read More »
The pads on the front caliper have been falling out for the last year or so, but it hasn't been a real issue because the bike they're on wasn't ridden more than a few times a year. Read More »
Just got a new set of stroker trails yesterday and i got the back one set up to where it is just BARELY rubbing in one spot on the rotor, which i can live with. But the front one i Read More »
I did.
It was totally my fault and I did it when pushing the piston back in the caliper with something other than the box end of a 10mm wrench. This is the second time I've done Read More »
