High quality & great price! The Promax XC Mechanical Disc Brake is the most affordable in the category. Forged lever with low-friction pivot bolt, heat-treated one-piece stainless steel rotor & floating caliper for smoother braking. Includes extra lever, cable, housing & bolts.
Submitted by
toyord
a Weekend Warrior
from slc,ut, usa Date Reviewed: September 17, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
came with bike set u
Strengths:
decent entry level brakes
slow you down
Weaknesses:
rotors heat up to fast
hard to adjust
jitters when trying to lock it up
not good for fast xc
fades fast
Similar Products Used:
avid bb5
Bike Setup:
08 diamond back recoil, with some upgrades.
Bottom Line:
These brakes work ok if your gonna go riding around town or some small hills. Does not work good for fast descents, or steep trails. It like jitters when you try locking them up, kinda like abs brakes on a car, ha. would defenitley upgrade these breaks if your gonna do some serious riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
traxxasmaxx33
a Weekend Warrior
from Jacksonville, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
mandarin park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
Trek Bicycles of Jac
Strengths:
low price, smooth, came pre-mounted, simple, works in all conditions
Weaknesses:
long break-in time, kind of heavy, hard to adjust, rotors warp easily, sometimes brakes are spongy
Similar Products Used:
v-brakes, cantilever brakes
Bike Setup:
2009 trek 3900 disk
Bottom Line:
Paid $ 430.00 all together brakes are ok but I've only had them for four days so they still need some braking in. They ok for the beginner or on a budget (like me) but if your up to the price, Avid's hydraulic juicy 3's or elixir 5' have way more power but require more maintenance. Great if your on a budget but might be a bad choice if your a serious cyclist you know racing or what not. Dont be fooled if the brakes dont stop well at first, they need to be broken-in for about a month or so.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon130
a Cross Country Rider
from Tacoma, WA Date Reviewed: August 25, 2009
A bit noisy, as are ALL disc brakes during the break-in period.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Hydraulic Discs, V-Brakes, Cantilever Brakes
Bike Setup:
2009 GT Avalanche. Brakes came pre-installed.
Bottom Line:
I was skeptical of these brakes as they came on an entry-level GT Avalanche we bought for my girlfriend but I'm fairly impressed. They don't have quite the stopping power that my Hayes hydraulic discs do on my 4 Banger, but to be fair my bike is also 10 lbs lighter and the brakes are worn in. My opinion is that these are definitely a good value and superior to MOST V-Brakes for all-weather braking. We haven't had them long enough to really say how well they hold up over time or on serious trails. My guess is that, as these are generally sold with entry-level bikes, this will likely be where they need to be. As with anything on a bike, maintenance is the key to better performance. For a full set of disc brakes with a price under $100, I really can't complain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allen Gilliam
a Weekend Warrior
from Winter Park, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Reasonable cost. Much stronger braking than rim brakes. They look cool.
Weaknesses:
None I know of.
Similar Products Used:
Cantilevered rim brakes.
Bottom Line:
I'm very happy with the ProMax mechanical disc brakes on my new mountain bike. They're entry-level, so I feared they might be no better than rim brakes, but they're great. I weigh 275 pounds and, even before breaking them in, I can lock the back wheel and skid to a stop sideways on dry pavement. That put a smile on my face! I haven't been able to do that since I was a kid. I certainly couldn't do that with my old cantilevered rim brakes. Other than safety and cool stops, being able to skid the back wheel allows me to skid around sharp turns. Fun!
They do have to be adjusted properly to get full stopping power, but that's easy to do, unless you consider an Allen wrench to be a baffling high-tech gizmo. And when adjusted properly they do not rub the disc all the time as some have erroneously written. There's no contact at all.
Adjustment is really just common sense: Loosen the caliper mounting bolts. Adjust both pads toward the disc an equal amount until they're both touching the disc, squeeze the brake lever to align the caliper body, and then tighten the mounting bolts. This centers the caliper body on the disc and gets the pads parallel with the disc. Then simply adjust both pads out so they're as close as possible to the disc without rubbing, which can be easily heard when you spin the wheel.
The caliper body has a tiny Allen wrench screw on the side that locks the inner pad adjustment. It needs to be loosened before adjusting the inner pad.
If you're heavy, regularly ride in wet or muddy conditions, or need to brake for long periods of time in the mountains, these brakes are certainly worth the extra cost.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scuds03
a Weekend Warrior
from Garden Grove, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 18, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Outclasses V-brake stopping power by far. Especially when wet. One allen wrench and your fingers turning a knob to setup/adjust (Don't know why others have problems its so simple). I ride my DH bike to and from work which takes me down a 55-60 mph hill everyday and I have full confidence these will stop me QUICK. 3 months of that hill now 2x a day 5 days a week and they stop great with no noise or rubbing. Replacement pads are super cheap.
Weaknesses:
If I had to name the weakest link it would be the cables stretch over time which as cyclist I can accept. Beats the hell out of hydro brakes and the headachs that accompany them.
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Average Dh bike which doubles as a commuter / trail chewer.
Bottom Line:
I love everything about these brakes. Power, reliability, good looks, and great price... If you have problems with them its cuz you most likely didnt adjust them correctly. If youre having trouble take your bike to a local bike shop and have them tune them in for you before you throw dirt, you'll be impressed! Just because they are economical does not always mean they are junk!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nokipete
a Weekend Warrior
from bournemouth uk Date Reviewed: November 29, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
bought on the bike..
Strengths:
damn good brakes.dont try stoppies with too much wait in a back pack.i did, 1st week in august, now going for phyiso on shoulder. DOH!
Weaknesses:
cant stop it from squeeking at low speeds, like car brakes.
Similar Products Used:
only v brakes no good in the wet!!
Bike Setup:
front and rear discs,front suspension.
Bottom Line:
cant think of much.only that getting fed up with flat rear tyres,nothing to do with brakes,must lose some weight that might help. lol
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Jackson
a
from Cedar Park Date Reviewed: February 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any & then some
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
from friend
Strengths:
Havn't ridden yet. can say that judging from how they worked on a friends fr bike they did a good job of doing thier job.
Weaknesses:
me, learn to set up right.
Similar Products Used:
Avid v-brakes
Bike Setup:
Set up old school Giant DS3 X-vert T fork Friend had sitting in garage for 4 yrs. Race Face Prodogy cranks disc going on it Maxxis 2.35 ignighters w/ Stan's. nuke proof hubs w/ bontregar asym rims Race Face B.B. isis drive
Bottom Line:
For those that are buying parts from wal-mart, the above gentlman said it best. Wal-mart guys slam and show bike monkeys. First Always have a bike tech do a t5une on your bike when its new to get out the grimlins. Second ride a new bike with some respect to learn how and what it does well and doesn't do well, as with add ons. Above all reaserch before buying to see if it fits your type of riding.I see too many riders or novice complain about parts.Enjoy the ride and maintain your bikes..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry Leigh
a Weekend Warrior
from South Orange Date Reviewed: August 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Liberty State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Stock part on bike, 2006.
Strengths:
Inexpensive, reliable and replacement pads easily available.
Weaknesses:
Available only for I.S. 51 forks, although I belive this has been addressed by more recent Promax models, especially those with fork adapters.
Similar Products Used:
First-time Disc Brake user
Bike Setup:
Completely upgraded discount/no name MTB. A so-called "branded" or "licensed" bike (using the name of a famous company that does not manufacture bikes, hah). Bought it because of the fine aluminum frame which fit me to a tee and because of the disc brakes, which in actually cost nearly as much as the bike if I had purchased them on the aftermarket. Replaced the stock discount store components with the real stuff; Deore hubs, Shimano/Ryno rims, Cane Creek and Aluminlite, Rock Shox Dart 2. All purchased at a significant discount.
Bottom Line:
I have recently returned to cycling for the exercise and better health. Mostly I ride paved paths and the street, so the Promax disc brakes work well for me. As a bonus, Avid BB5 pads fit the Promax brake caliper, as do KoolStop and Jagwire pads. So you'll never be at a loss for affordable replacements (as compared to Hayes or Shimano).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from concord, ma, usa Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
great glen, nh
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
rei
Strengths:
it stops you decently. goes well with avid levers. adjustment knob works well and is simple.
Weaknesses:
tons of contant adjustments, makes a really weird bubly noise in the front, sometimes squeaks, rubs occasionally, stock levers were horrible, fine adjustments are tedious and tricky, and both calipers are loose and i cant fix it
Similar Products Used:
none yet
Bike Setup:
k2 attack 1.0 not much is stock any more. i have to get a new brake system because these brakes don't fit on my new marzocchi
Bottom Line:
they work if you want a cheap disc brake, for anything else, its not good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
m k
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, GA Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Blankets
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
on bike
Strengths:
great stopping power once broken in and adjusted properly. They stop on a dime even going down hill on dirt.
Weaknesses:
they need to be adjusted a lot.
Bike Setup:
k2 attack stock, so far.
Bottom Line:
Great brakes for $!!!! and if you are on a budget. Thanks to previous posters for the hints on adjusting. If you follow the hints on adjusting the brakes they will work great. I did and they do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from NY Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bad weather.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Bike shop
Strengths:
Inexpensive, They do work! Great introductory to disk brakes, seeing a complete set is only $90. pads last a long time. Rain , snow, sand, mud, saplings, dust do not effect their braking power.
Weaknesses:
At times pesky to tune nice and tight. Only entry level. Week holding magnets.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB5 Mechanical Disk Brake, Hayes HFX Mag XC, and many V-brakes
Bottom Line:
They aren’t no Hope/Shimano/Hayes/Avid/(insert top brand here). However they are not junk. They do better than V-brakes.
Joe Green has it right. You have to get down there and fiddle with them.
Here is my tuning guide I made over 2+ years with these brakes. Using this you should be able to get the perfect set up and have very good preformance Skip 1-3 If you cable is already tight.
1. Set your cable tension knob on your brake leaver to its lowest setting. 2. Loosen the cable lock bolt on the brake arm so you can move the cable to take the slack out. Tighten it back up. 3. Slowly tighten your Cable tension knob on your brake leaver till the arm moves a hair, but only a hair. As soon as you move the brake leaver, the arm should move. If there is a delay keep tightening the tension knob. By the way you have to have a good strait disk to do this right. 4. Down under the brake body there is a little red wheel. Turn this till there is only about a millimeter to half a millimeter between the disk and the Left pad. 5. On the inside of the brake, there is a big silver circle with a hex whole in it. This is the pad adjuster that many people don't know about. Now take a hex key and turn it clock wise till the RIGHT break pad is about a millimeter to half a millimeter from the disk.
Now you should be done. Careful your brakes should now be tight, and powerful.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: February 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
off road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
looks good
Weaknesses:
poor stoping power
Similar Products Used:
v brakes
Bike Setup:
iron hores outlaw 3.3 hardass bomber forks
Bottom Line:
i just got this bike and it came with these brakes and all i have to say is give your self about 7 feet befor you have to stop to start braking, this is my first time using disk brakes and im disapointer, i have to say they suck
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hor1k
a Weekend Warrior
from Romania Date Reviewed: February 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Street
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Virus bike shop
Strengths:
Forged lever arm, die-cast block, low price, heat treated rotors which look kinda cool, performance.
Weaknesses:
weight...err...none
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX2
Bike Setup:
my Mali Mamba
Bottom Line:
Good disc brake for the price, i recommend it to anyone on a budget. Avid bb5 pads are compatible with this brake so you can use avid pads! comparable with hayes mx2 preformance!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Williams
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia Date Reviewed: November 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
street
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
walmart
Strengths:
These brakes are the cheapest u can buy. They came on my bike and immediatly was dissapointed in disc.
Weaknesses:
Weak on power, not easy to adjust, just garbage
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7 160
Bike Setup:
Mongoose Xr200, Avid bb7's, kenda slicks, electric assist
Bottom Line:
Don't ride these brakes stock. They will either scare u or hurt u with their weak power. Go wit BB7's as an upgrade.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
The Bat Dude
a Cross Country Rider
from Gotham City USA Date Reviewed: August 29, 2006
The brakes are no problem for me. When I first got the bike it used to squeal a lot but after a break-in period they work fine. I've got 431 miles of some hard riding on them and still stop on a dime.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from MD Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Not bad for the price
Weaknesses:
Lock up then have to back up to unlock. Can't find pads
Similar Products Used:
V Brakes
Bike Setup:
Mine
Bottom Line:
Good disc brake performance for the price but can't come close to Avids.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
EDGE
a Downhiller
from Romania Date Reviewed: June 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Urban Freeride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Virus bike shop
Strengths:
*Price *Performance *No fade in wet weather *Works like a disk brake should
Weaknesses:
*Hard to set up *Break in period for the pads & disk
Similar Products Used:
No name V's, Logan V's, no name disks(something chinese)
This disk brake works well in wet weather, and has enough stopping power for an entry level disk brake.It takes aprox. 1 month or more for them to get broken in and the disk kinda blackens over time(don't worry the blackening will dissapear once it is broken in).If you want it broken in faster i suggest going down long downhill trails so that the brake gets hot(thats when most of the protective layer wears out).Also check that it is adjusted like in the instructiion manual says(thats how i adjusted mine and it works!).Don't worry about wobbly disks, they won't affect it's performance much.Good disk brake for the price,good for the entry level biker who seeks performance and also low budget bike parts!if you are pro and have lots of $ get hayes or avid disk brakes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen Beecken
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbia, SC, USA Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lost Creek (Harbison Forest)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
WalMart
Strengths:
No fade in water, seem to last longer
Weaknesses:
Initial adjustments dificult
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock Promax Disc, Mongoose XR-250, less the frills.
Bottom Line:
I am with Joe Green. If anyone says these brakes do not have stopping power, they are not adjusted correctly. The initial setup took more than a few minutes, but after reading the product documentation that came with the bike, it was just a little trial and error. They do seem to require a break-in period, but have performed from day one. I rode 26.5 miles this past weekend, and through water and mud, these brakes performed, even when the rear v's didn't. Stopping is not an issue I will ever have to worry about.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Green
a Cross Country Rider
from Potsdam NY Date Reviewed: March 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Local bike shop
Strengths:
Inexpensive, easily adjusted by an adjusting wheel, simple easy design, easy to install, powerful for entry-level disk brakes, no squeaking in wet conditions while no affect on braking power
Weaknesses:
Is only an entry-level disk brakes. the one rotor I got had a slight wobble to it but had it replaced for free. The rotors will blacken over use, long where in piriod, the brake pads move a bit does not offect stoping power
Similar Products Used:
V-brake, other disk brakes hydrolic and machanical (only tested)
Bottom Line:
I decided to get these because they were inexpressive and from the test ride on a Fuji Thrill and I could lock both wheels they seemed good for the money. Also I needed disk brakes for my 2 mile plus downhill runs on road. And was not very happy with my V-brakes that kept loosing there power as soon as the rims became wet. Also the ones I have are the 610j’s
TO ALL WORRIED ABOUT STOPPING POWER Get over it. These do have plenty of stopping power, I am 260 pounds, and they can stop me faster than my old V-brakes (some times have to hang on tight or over I go lol). The others here probably did not adjust it right. Or did not wait for them to be worn in. (took good month for mine to be completely worn in. I think it’s a good thing means they last longer.)
How to adjust these: 1 let the brake arm go to its max position and tighten the cable so that as soon as you move you brake leaver it moves the brake arm. But when you let go of the brake leaver the brake arm should go to its position as if there was no cable connected to it. Other wise you going to kill you modulation. 2 on the inside of the bake there is a Pad adjuster witch you use a hex key to adjust now move this in till there is about 1-2 mm between each brake pad and the rotor (you might have to play around with the centering dial a bit here) then just make sure they are centered.
As with all you get what you pay for. These are good for entry level and at $60-$100 is a good way to try out disk brakes or to get into it. I really like these. Always fun going down a five mile downhill slope in the rain and hearing the rain hiss off the hot rotors. Lol I have not had these lock up on me as some others have said.
I have tested other disk brakes and they have more power than these but these are just entry level but once you get the adjusted just right you love them. Unless your pro and use to more high tech high cost high performance stuff but for those of us who just may go biking ever day just for fun or even just once a week, these are great adds a nice stile to you bike too.
the rotors do blacken and havent though of a way to get rid of it Though I get compliments on how unique and nice they look and questions on how I got it to have a black outside. From non serous bikers though. lol
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from deland, fl, usa Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$279.00
Purchased At:
walmart
Strengths:
stopping power, upgrade from v brakes much cheaper than hydrolic.
Weaknesses:
adjustments not easy, for the first time.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
mongoose blackcomb (brakes came with bike)
Bottom Line:
For everyone complaining about stopping power, don't. You just haven't adjusted them properly. I had a problem at first too. Then I took the rear brake off and looked at it. There is a whole other adjustment screw on the other side (inner pad). This screw is large, looks like a coin, and has the allen key insert in it. I soon realized that this is for the pad closest to the wheel. Without adjusting this, you only have the outer pad hitting the rotor, not making the sqeezing effect you want when braking. Thus causing sluggish, if at all, braking. Take it from me, i am 250 pounds, and now I have no problem stopping the bike better than my tektra v brakes on my other Mongoose.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DOUG MILLER
a Weekend Warrior
from JENNINGS , LA, USA Date Reviewed: January 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
CITY AND OFF ROAD
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
WAL MART
Strengths:
GOOD STOPPING POWER
Weaknesses:
NON FOUND SO FAR
Similar Products Used:
FIRST, STOCK ON PRESENT BIKE
Bike Setup:
MONGOOSE XR 200
Bottom Line:
Yes entry level bike. Bought for the aluminum frame and the disc front brake. For the money, not at the least disappointed. Overall it has been a great bike. Personally I really love the disc brake. This is my first, thought if this is junk , I can not wait to see what a real disc brak e is like. Presently in the mkt for another bike with dual disc brakes , aluminum frame. Not sure what make to go with so if you would like to refer me to one , I would appreciate it .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Binghamton Date Reviewed: November 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Brickyard
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came Stock
Strengths:
Stops moderately well. Makes absolutely no noise in pouring rain. Discs very durable and never warp from high heat or bend from crash abuse. Overall very sturdy
Weaknesses:
Entry level. Not a weakness, just something to know before you buy them or a bike with them. Adjustablility takes some patience. Ive replaced them. Ive gotten past entry level.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX-2 XC
Bike Setup:
MountainSmith Altitude (same as Giant xc bikes) Manitou Stance Blunt, 8 inch hayes discs from, 6 inch rear.
Bottom Line:
Good for the beginner. Worry Free. If your loking for awesome stopping power dont look for it here. If you want something that just works for little money....get these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston Date Reviewed: November 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
cheap?? im sure people will give them away
Weaknesses:
stopping power, cable resistance
Similar Products Used:
avid, tecktros
Bike Setup:
tried on mongoose/schwin
Bottom Line:
these brakes just dont have enough stopping power, you grab the levers as hard as you can and it just slows you down.
I tried the brakes on 2 different bikes. same result.
for those of you saying they need to be adjusted? I have one of the brakes in my hand right now. the adjustment screw moves, but the brake itself is frozen.. it doesnt move.. its a pice of junk!!
If you want these brakes, you might as well get your whole system from wal mart. ANY V-brakes are going to provide more stopping power.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon
a Racer
from london ont canada Date Reviewed: September 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
This is for the Hayes/Promax aftermarket Pads. Price was right but the fit wasnt, Had to file and trim to get to fit.
Weaknesses:
Spring clips are junk and the fit is brutal. Dont trust them Stick with real deal if you want to guarantee your safety.
Bottom Line:
Maybe a bad batch but the 2 packs I got didnt even look the same as the ones that I removed??? I got them to fit with fileing and trimming but do you want to trust that???? Im not sure... good luck to you if you decide to save a few bucks
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Kirchner
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas,TX 75374 Date Reviewed: August 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
rowlett creek preserve
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$378.00
Purchased At:
came with new bicycle
Strengths:
look good, good stopping power when adjusted correctly
Weaknesses:
poor stopping power when not adjusted right
Similar Products Used:
v brakes
Bike Setup:
motobecane 400ht (beautiful vibrant red )
Bottom Line:
these are the first disc brakes i have ever had, overall i am pleased with their performance. i have ridden many bikes with rim brakes and was looking to upgrade to discs i found this bicycle with these brakes to be a good value. the first time i rode they sucked, i then took the bike back to cycle spectrum and had them adjusted, now they rock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
R-DEN RACING COMPONENTS
a Cross Country Rider
from Arvada,CO,us Date Reviewed: July 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
belcher hill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$42.00
Strengths:
uhhhhhhh.
Weaknesses:
pads are impossible to get.feels cheap.Discs bent right away.
Similar Products Used:
v brakes
Bike Setup:
hardtail
Bottom Line:
Good brakes for price but v brakes work better.No good for downhillers. TOTALLY STUPID AND THEY REEK LIKE POO!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Kanata Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
NubScrubber
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Price point
Strengths:
Cheap. Work well enough, when set up and broken in
Weaknesses:
Cheap. Easy to tweak. Where are the replacement pads?
Bottom Line:
Does anyone have any freaking idea where to get pads for these things? I got some degreaser on mine and they've never been the same since.
Four chilis for value, they're good for the price. I could lock the tires up with these no problem.
Two chilis because (maybe I'm stupid) I can't find pads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: April 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Roads + Off Road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Good stopping power. Price is just right for entry level disc brakes. Doesnt lock wheel even at full speed. Brakes stop quickly and powerful.
Weaknesses:
Looks abit weird. Levers are a little hard to depress. Brakes make abit of 10% sounds when stopping. Discs turns blackish after a while due to included brake pads.
Similar Products Used:
None. V brakes
Bike Setup:
Progear 2005, Shimano System, DNM Fireball rear shock, RST T-4 Fork , Progear saddle, Modified handgrips, Promax disc brakes Lizard Skins chainstay, grunge guard for both derailleurs and headset seal.
Bottom Line:
Buy it if you're on a budget. These brakes look good on a bike and has good stopping power for the price. The lever is hard to press, but is quite easy for me due to strong hands. =)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
carlo censored
a Downhiller
from laspinas,philippines Date Reviewed: January 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
santa rosa laguna....fire road
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
price and its looks....
Weaknesses:
locks up when it gets too hot....the screws for the rotor come loose all the time...
these brakes are good if you dont cosider freeriding or downhilling......
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Maryland Date Reviewed: January 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Gambrills
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Great value, simple design.
Weaknesses:
Must be set up just right to provide good performance.
Similar Products Used:
V Brakes
Bike Setup:
Mountainsmith, stock
Bottom Line:
Simple mechanical design that is very reliable when adjusted properly. Would reccomend for anyone who would like disc brakes and not willing to spend alot like on other over priced units.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jonny
a Downhiller
from banchory Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
stops but not that fast
Weaknesses:
continues to lock
Bike Setup:
cannondale gemini 1000
Bottom Line:
dont buy
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nigel Aston
a Racer
from Yorkshire England Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Anything as long as it scares the s**t out of me
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Awesome stopping power for price
Weaknesses:
Need to keep well adjusted
Similar Products Used:
ALL ( I AM A CYCLE SHOP MANAGER )
Bike Setup:
Too many to list
Bottom Line:
I have read many comments on this site regarding the performance or lack of it from disc brakes. Disc brakes whatever the price point offer stunning braking performance and reliability however like all braking systems they require regular care to achieve this. The expensive units are to a greater degree a fit and forget unit where the only maintenance required is cleaning and pad replacement when needed. The cheaper units do not have this luxury but with minimal attention they can be almost as powerful. As a rule of thumb if you keep the pads centered on the disc and running as close as possible to the disc without touching it is then simply a matter of adjusting the cable slack to give your preferred amount of lever movement before brake contact. If you dont know how to adjust your brakes find a GOOD INDEPENT BIKE SHOP ( they usually have correctly trained mechanics rather than someone who knows how to fit parts to bikes ) and they will be more than happy to set the brakes up. Please do not fall into the trap pf criticising your equipment because you do not know how to get the best out of it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento Date Reviewed: December 8, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Cheap as hell, work quite well once broken in.
Weaknesses:
Not too well built, there's lots of play in the caliper's moving parts.
you cant review a product unless you know for a fact that it is installed and adjusted correctly. This is especially true with brakesets. Just keep in mind that the bike builders at Wal-Mart have no idea what the hell they're doing when they adjust these things.
Sure, these brakes take a few rides to fully break in, but that's expected. You need to wear off the layer of greasy film from the pads before you can expect them to work well.
If you're looking for an entry level disc brake set that wont cost you much at all, go with these or the Tektro IO discs.
If you want a more reliable and adjustable mechanical set, check out Avid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Foonog
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, IN Date Reviewed: October 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Circle City Bicycles
Strengths:
Strong, reliable, durable, and inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, Intro-level performance.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes and Avic hydro and mech disc
Bike Setup:
Fuji Outland
Bottom Line:
It seems to me that people are expecting too much from too little here. These are entry-level disc brakes. Yes, they are disc brakes, but they aren't Juicy Sevens.
I have used these brakes out on the trails for over a year and have racked up over 500 miles on them. I have never once had any problems stopping even on long descents or in wet conditions, or both. They did seem to have a long break-in period, but I am pleased with their performance overall. They have proved to be invaluable in wet conditions, and they have held up well to abuse on the trail. They do require some fiddling with the pad spacings and alignments every once and awhile.
I will agree that they do not have the best feel compared to other products out there on the market, but these are the best bang for the buck discs out there. If you are spending less than $80 on disc brakes, then this is what you are going to get to matter what brand you do with.
All in all, these are great brakes to get your feet wet in the disc brake pond if you are unsure of how much you want to spend. Give them a chance and dont critque until you have many miles on them. They will grow on you, they did with me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Endo
a Weekend Warrior
from Topeka, KS, USA Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Loch Ness Forest Access Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Cheap and cable driven. Stopping power in rain.
Weaknesses:
Not as strong as hydraulics. Lever travel for rears.
Similar Products Used:
several hydraulic systems
Bike Setup:
light hardtail
Bottom Line:
I get the feeling that people just aren't spending the time adjusting these things. When I got my bike they hardly even slowed down the bike, but after spending time adjusting the brakes so that you can't see a gap between the pads and the disc on EITHER SIDE, the brakes grab better than any but the most expensive V-brakes and have a good linear feel to them. In fact the fronts are so strong and quick, I have to watch myself even with one finger braking.
The rears still suffer from a spongy feel because of cable stretch, I am considering getting something like Aztec powerlines to reduce this, but this sort of thing is present in all cable rear brakes and the brakes are still strong enough to stop me (145lbs) on steep declines by themselves. I usually go to the fronts for added assist with other brakes on the same slopes.
They aren't the strongest I've ever used, but they are stronger than most so I'm really surprised people rate them so low. All it takes is a little time to adjust the pads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Olney, IL Date Reviewed: September 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Price, if anything....
Weaknesses:
Very poor braking power.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Mechanical
Bike Setup:
Mongoose Rockadile ALD, pretty much stock setup.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are not as bad as people are making them out to sound. Yes they take some extra lever pressure, and no they don't stop on a dime, but they are a decent intro into the disk brake world
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa,Ontario,Canda Date Reviewed: September 12, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Canadian Tire
Strengths:
Um it's got the name disc brake...
Weaknesses:
It doesn't deserve the name disc brake.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX 8" hydraulic, Lots of shimano 6" mechs, and some hayes 8" mechs and 6" mechs
Bike Setup:
Supercycyle Fringe
Bottom Line:
These things stop your bike...but compared to all other discs I have tried on the market these are by far the worst. I really don't mind because the came stock on the supercycle and I didn't pay for it so meh...But to tell the truth the v-brake on my bike works better than the disc so theres not much u get out of this disc. Last words:ONLY BUY TO BE ABLE TO SAY U HAVE DISC BRAKES...IF U PLAN ON RIDING WITH THESE EXPECT TO PULL HARD ON YOUR LEVERS.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Hainesport, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Dick's
Strengths:
High tech look. Decent stopping ability. Great Value
Weaknesses:
Long brake lever travel. Amount of finger pressure required.
Similar Products Used:
Hydraulic,
Bike Setup:
Mountain Smith, Approach
Bottom Line:
Good overall. Unfortunately, the tech. at Dick's Sporting Goods didn't set up the brakes correctly. The initial set up didn't provide any stopping power. After playing around with the adjustment, I was able to dial in wheel skidding stopping and everything in between. Unfortunately it requires alot of finger pressure and lever travel. A great value for the Weekend Warrior.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Gray
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester, NY Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Trails in Boulder CO area
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
advantages of disk breaks
Weaknesses:
Horrible stopping power. First time on disk breaks and I was completely surprised at how much they sucked. Even worse tham my 1996 cantilevers!!!
Bike Setup:
Fuji Outland stock
Bottom Line:
Don't get them, if you ride off road at all, get a different set. My mechanic spent all day on the phone with Fuji trying to get them to stop right, and finally gave up and told me they were no good. They definately brake, but not anywhere near the power needed for even moderate downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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