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Submitted by
Malibu412
a Cross Country Rider
from Camas, WA USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Timothy Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with GT Maratho | | Strengths: | These brakes came with my GT Marathon and have very decent stopping power. They are quiet unless wet. If buying as an upgrade from cables, price is reasonable for a hydro (see below). | | Weaknesses: | After having my bike less than a month, I have now popped the lever retainer shaft from the piston assembly on each side during very soft, easy falls. Using proper tools while attempting to repair the second one, the shaft became unusable. I have read other reviews and some owners state the same problem with these brakes--the lever retention shaft popping out the same way. I will be upgrading to Juicy Fives tomorrow as I bought my bike to RIDE with regular proper maintenance, not tear the brake levers down for a repair/rebuild every time they get bumped. | | Similar Products Used: | Rim brakes | | Bike Setup: | '09 GT Marathon Sport with upgraded seat, seat post (stock item bent on first ride) and soon Juicy Fives. | | Bottom Line: | If your new bike comes with these, they are fine for safe stopping and a decent first time hydro brake. Use them until they break, avoiding crash contact the best you can. For me, they were more trouble than they were worth by the second repair, even at a bargain price or as OEM. Even if Performance Bicycle or Tektro stood behind them and replaced them, I would not want more of the same. I would not recommend them as any type of upgrade. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cons
a Weekend Warrior
from OC, CA
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | These Tektro Auriga Comp brakes came with my 2008 Iron Horse mountain bike and I was surprise how well they work. These things have great stopping power for both trails and down hills. I could not tell the difference in performance compared to the Avid Juicy brakes I have in my other mtn bike. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Juicy 3 and 5 | | Bottom Line: | Great breaks and I highly recommend them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KinglyRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Chichester
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Kingly Vale | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Powerful, ludicrously cheap, considerable modulation and fairly lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Large piston/lever assembly, personal preference though. Not the most solid unit I've ever used. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope M4/X2s, Shimano XT, Avid 3/5/7 etc.. | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes for the price, I seriously battered them throughout our time together including some nasty falls where the entire bike fell onto the levers pretty much, but still going strong.
They don't have the most solid lever action or brake feel in the world, was always a bit of play before the lever engaged with the master piston but nothing major.
Only need bleeding every 6 months or so and I ride 150-200km a week. Performance wise they never let me down, after a certain point the majority of your braking characteristics come from your tyres anyway, I've yet to find a realistic situation where they're pushed past their limit even on downhill courses (I think people need to let go of the brakes once in the while =D)
I'd suggest swapping your front rotor up to a 185mm to combat the fade on longer downhill sessions though. Overall if your in for a budget set you can't go wrong with these! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bugboy
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Glenrock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Ebay (YEWWW!) | | Strengths: | Long Pad Life, Better than brakeless (just) | | Weaknesses: | ok...Where do i start....Spongey lever, Always leaking fluid, Could melt gold on these things after a short downhill section, Feels like there is concrete in the lines, No modulation and Rotors may as well be made out of paper | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, Avid Juicy 3 | | Bike Setup: | Singlespeed 06 GT Chucker 1.0 with Suntour Duro-D 130mm Forks, Avid Juicy 3 8" brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy these brakes as an "upgrade" you are wastin ur money, get some juicy 3's or even some bb7's cause they are better. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ChrisXC
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Equipped | | Strengths: | Cheap, uses shimano pads, mineral oil, easy to set up. Good stopping power when they are tuned up. | | Weaknesses: | Levers are a bit flimsy. Master piston (inside lever) came out in crash, awkward to repair. Leaks fluid from lever. Frequent tinkering required to keep them optimal. | | Bottom Line: | If these are on your bike, leave them there til they break. They are adequate for 'normal' XC riding.
If you are upgrading then look elsewhere. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bthomp06
a Cross Country Rider
from Sykesvile, MD
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Liberty bike shop | | Strengths: | Came equipped on bike, decent introductory level hydraulic brake system. | | Weaknesses: | Drools brake fluid a lot from brake levers, so needs to be topped off quit frequently(with mineral oil) about every 3 rides or so. | | Similar Products Used: | None really, first disc setup. | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Jamis Durango 2.0 | | Bottom Line: | I'd stay away from this set, they were nice when I first got the bike and about a year after. Then the levers just started to leak out fluid. I would hate to run dry in the middle of a trail, could turn ugly. Adding fluid every three or so rides gets to be a PITA. But really other than the levers the rest of the system works nicely. My opinion is its too much hassle for what their worth. I'll be upgrading to some higher quality hydraulics soon, or even a cable system depending on cash flow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Yellowmundee | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | It brakes like a proper hydraulic brake, pretty good for xc style downhill as well. Easy to Bleed. | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes quite hard to adjust which the pads are keep touching the disc. It sometimes cannot cope with large amount of braking which the levers is not stiff enough even after I've completely bleed the brakes.
I don't like the levers | | Similar Products Used: | some similar price hydraulic | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Otero 07 , RS Revelation + Monarch, Monkey lite, Mavic Crossride, SLX Crank + front n rear d ... so on | | Bottom Line: | It's come with the bike. The original brake pads are great!! After I've done about 1200km of riding it still have 1/4 pads left.
This is a good entry level to hydraulic if you are not planning to do something stupid. I do not recommend to freerider and downhiller because it has limited braking power. But xc, trail and am riding is perfect. This brakes get over heat very easy so you always have to bleed it. I bleed mine every 800km approx.
Its damn good for the price n I can't see a reason that you don't want to give it a go! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Albury, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt Luge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came With Bike | | Strengths: | Easy to setup, I can stop on a dime, no major problems with it yet... :P | | Weaknesses: | you get dirt in on the rotors, then they squeak like nothing else.
I have had some problems with it going slightly soft, like a day after I bleed them...but that's just 'cos I'm being a perfectionist... but get it set up and they are AWESOME!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Some no-brand cable brake on a low level merida MTB | | Bike Setup: | Apollo Ascent
WTB Moto Raptor tyres
Easton EA30 stems, bars and setapost
Shimano Deore LX 27 gears and rapidfire shifters
Fully butted frame
Tektro Auriga Comp Hydrualics
RST Gila 100mm forks | | Bottom Line: | Sweet as!!!
I don't what they cost...except that they're cheaper than Hayes or Avids...good ones at least.
I haven't had any major problems with them and you can check pad thickness without fully taking them apart
They're worth it... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L4m3r
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban riding | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Works- better than any non-disc brake I've used
Low maintenance
Inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | Cheap, weak, poor quality.
Adjustment could be easier.
Loud when wet.
Used less than one month because I replaced them with some Juicy Sevens. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Juicy Seven (203mm front/rear)
Avid BB7 (185mm front, 160mm rear)
Hayes Sole (185mm front, 160mm rear)
| | Bike Setup: | 2008 GT Avalanche 2.0 | | Bottom Line: | Note: Review is for Tektro Aquila.
I knew these brakes were cheesy when I bought them. In fact, I'd have spent the extra money to get the "1.0" model of the GT Avalanche for better brakes, if it were not for the fact that the 1.0 just has Tektro hydros.
Granted, they still beat V-brakes. However, as discs go, these are pretty subpar. I'd not buy these. If you're going to go out and purchase a set of disc brakes, why not get something good? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D1PHAM
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Clara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Skeggs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Great stopping power with 180mm rotor in front. | | Weaknesses: | Levers are a bit large. | | Similar Products Used: | BB7
Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | Giant Anthem | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Issaquah, WA USA
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | Sure stopping power and low maintenance so far. Great for XC riding. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find brake pads?? No lever adjustments. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche 1.0 | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes for the money. I ride in all conditions from mud to snow and these brakes have performed well for me so far. I have about 40 hours on these brakes and no issues to date. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fightnut
a Weekend Warrior
from Pa.
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | White Clay | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Smooth, good modulation, good stopping power, inexpensive. Better then mechanical disk brakes for about the same money. | | Weaknesses: | Not as common as some brands, so it can be harder to find parts at first. Once you find suppliers it's not a problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Mechanical disk brakes | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Teocali Comp, stock. | | Bottom Line: | If broken in properly, and set up correctly, they won't rub or squeak.
And they perform without problems. I rip on downhill sections and have never had a problem stopping.
If you're a full on downhill racer, you might want something higher end. But for XC and AM riding, these are the ticket!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The more jumps the best it gets
a Downhiller
from Greenbrae, CA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Tamalpais | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | performance bikes | | Strengths: | Good braking power while in the road. Low maintainance | | Weaknesses: | After a steep downhill they will work as a horn. too much noise and loss of power if there is any dirty in them. heat too quickly. | | Similar Products Used: | avid juice 7 and future upgrade shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose amasa comp with upgrades and more to come. | | Bottom Line: | If you are a first time user of hidraulic disc brakes or a commuter this will get you enough feeling of how it works and will give a great time around city and light trails. They are good, but the parts look a little weak. My rear brakes are rubbing and the fronts are getting in there. Still good braking power but the noise is too much. I can easily find parts for it and they are inexpensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
proshuto
a Weekend Warrior
from Israel
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good breaking power for XC and even on AM trails/singletracks.
Value for money. | | Weaknesses: | Handles are these brakes' Achilles heel. As someone wrote below, a relatively easy blow can take the handle plunger out and it deteriorates over time: I had the plunger repaired 3 times in the last month! | | Bike Setup: | GT Force 3.0 08 | | Bottom Line: | Good for XC and easy AM. Agrressive trails are too much for these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fr8man
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Harbison outer loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Included with bike | | Strengths: | Allows you to think you have really cool brakes, that is until you need to use them. Impressive squeal lets other riders know where you are. | | Weaknesses: | Limited power. The faster you go, the more obvious this becomes. Pads do not like to be dirty or wet. Will howl like mad until you clean them. | | Similar Products Used: | V brakes, 1988 Huffy side pull. | | Bike Setup: | 09 Rockhopper 29 Expert. 23" frame. All Deore LX components (except the brakes, of course) | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for. Looking forward to the arrival of my new XT brake set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
opelgl
a Racer
from Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | ApGoiaba BikeShop | | Strengths: | really nice breaking power, when wet, breaks nice, upgrade it to 203 and it gets an impressive power bracking, specially using Hayes rotors, breaks more than an avid bb7 | | Weaknesses: | when wet, it brakes like a v-brake, kind better not so good though. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore mechanical, Logan (not good), Avid bb7 (good) | | Bike Setup: | spinner grind 120mm
gts m1
shimano Hubs
pirelly street tires | | Bottom Line: | it's freaking cheap and breaks well for the price paid.
it gets a little time to get the powerfull braking, but not big deal, untill this, it breaks like a v-break.
PS> english may be all wrong coz i'm brazilian, and it's kind a weird to xpress my self here, but it's ok. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Maine
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bradbury Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bikes and Boards | | Strengths: | Cheap, not a bad break for the price but when the price is so low that isn't saying much | | Weaknesses: | Limited stopping power for a hydraulic disk brake. Very similar to rim squeezers "v-brakes". No adjustment of pad contact and absolutely no gradual increase in stopping power as you pull the lever. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Juicy Ultamite, carbon | | Bike Setup: | 08 GT Force, XTR dt, Merzoochi 55 ATA Micro fork, just costomized it a bunch... | | Bottom Line: | I can't wait for these thing to break so I can get some new ones on here with better performance for more extreme riding. If you just do regular XC then they will definitely work fine for ya, but if you are adventurous at all they are not what you need. Stopping power is borderling pathetic at high speed and you have to squeez so hard it tires you out on an all day ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GTrider08
a Weekend Warrior
from ajax
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | durham forrest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | the brakes got excellent stopping power dual piston/mineral oil | | Weaknesses: | I have a gt avalanche tektro is the stock brakes ive had 18 hour on the bike and the rear disc start rubbing already | | Similar Products Used: | my first disc brakes | | Bike Setup: | stock for now | | Bottom Line: | not very impress with the product. im definetely going to upgrade later. do some research first on componenets before purchasing... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
grazo22
a Cross Country Rider
from Kent, UK
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Mereworth Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Really good value and when they work provide enough power to stop you quickly. Very easy to bleed. Mineral oil and easily available pads. | | Weaknesses: | Having recently bought new pads for mine the back is now next to useless. Its either completely on or completely off and there is no progressive feel in the brakes. I have bedded these pads in for over 200 Miles and they still don't have what they used to have, in terms of power. I have lost all confidence in them. Also the screw to take the pads out has rounded off and now I cant replace my front pads at the moment. My friend has also had problems with the brakes dying quickly, great for a while then die soon after. No manual from manufacture. | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro auriga on another bike | | Bike Setup: | Merida Am500
Halo Freedom disc wheels with spin doctor hubs
Marzocchi 55r
Hope dh 50mm 25 deg stem
Titec prolight bars
FSA Gamma drive
Shimano deore gearing
Maxxis ignightor 2.35 tyres | | Bottom Line: | Having ridden for about 800 miles with these brakes I think I have out grown them far quicker than I would have liked. Hope brakes are the way to go. A good value product but I highly recommend saving up for some slightly better line brakes. They are fine for XC but any further and they fall at the first hurdle. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Surfjunkie44
a Downhiller
from Orlando, FL US
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Ocala | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike... | | Strengths: | Great entry level to intermediate braking system. Dependable breaking from a hydraulic system vs. a cable driven rim pincher. They'll put you over the handlebars if you request it. Not bad for learning stoppies and endos. | | Weaknesses: | Rotors could be larger. Don't wreck over your handle bars; one good slip knocks the handle plunger out and it only deteriorates over time until the damn thing won't stay in after going over minor bumps. Fade increases as they get hot and the handle pressure varies depending on how hard you're using them. Rotors will warp over time, not a damn thing you can do and they will get "skweekie" eventually. I might need to add fluid but I'm building a new bike soon so I'm not too concerned. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche 1.0 disc with a bunch of goodies. | | Bottom Line: | If they came on your bike, you've got a decent system for now (leave 'em on). For XC riders, you'll probably love 'em if you aren't too rough. If you love to rough-house, you'll quickly out grow these brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Taunton
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Powerful braking, automatically adjust with change of heat, superb control | | Weaknesses: | rotors bend easily, both mine had bent after a few months causing the brakes to rub | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro Gemini | | Bottom Line: | Had the brakes fitted under warrenty as the gemini that came on the bike had zero braking power. Would definately recommend. I would definately replace with the same as are very reasonably priced | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ken wells
a Cross Country Rider
from ashford middx england
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | south downs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | good power on steep sections nice control over heavy stuff
price is good better than shimano or avid 5 uses mineral oil | | Weaknesses: | no control on braking bite point adjust and buying new pads may be an issue from some retailers | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore | | Bike Setup: | mongoose teocali comp | | Bottom Line: | buy if you dont do down hill but main use is a thrash in woods also cheap to buy and good for the price shame theres no control over bite point but still worth it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leonardo Horovitz
a Cross Country Rider
from Montevideo, Uruguay
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Roller | | Strengths: | Good modulation, good price, good breaking in any condition. | | Weaknesses: | Bent a rotor after a month. | | Similar Products Used: | V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 2006 | | Bottom Line: | Better modulation than v-brakes, a little more breaking power.
Huge difference in HOW they break, not a big difference in HOW MUCH they break, compared to v-brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roman
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Horashim Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | It came on the bike. Good stop power. Nice brakes for the price of original bike package. | | Weaknesses: | I used it for a year on calm riding, everything was ok. When I took it to extreme riding (jumpin, and little freeriding), the power of stopping was gone after long braking and after one strong stop the front pipe insdide the brake "cage"' blew up! | | Similar Products Used: | avid bb-5 mech | | Bike Setup: | Mongoosew otero elite 2007 costomized | | Bottom Line: | I talk about tektro auriga comp model 2007.
If it came on the bike leave it there' if you want to upgrade to hydralic brakes' invest in other brakes!
After the brake i change to mechanical brakes- same stopping power but cheaper and easier to fix! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
molly
a Cross Country Rider
from pahilippines
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | timberland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | armen | | Strengths: | great price, great performance | | Weaknesses: | it isn't popular here in the philippines | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore, avid bb7 | | Bike Setup: | gt avalanche, xcr, shimano xt. | | Bottom Line: | came stock with the bike but performs as well as the deore. strong brakes after it was broken in. nice rotors too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sebastian
a Cross Country Rider
from Debica, Poland
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | mud - water - forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$97.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | - good metal-ceramic pads
- good quality
- not spongy
- good looking
- easy installation
- cheap (I buy two - 194$)
- don't really need too much adjusting
- full service kit in box | | Weaknesses: | I weight 90kilograms, front brake is some shaky ( i must buy bigger disc, now I use 160mm, i will buy 180mm :) ) Sometimes howling, but very rarely :) | | Similar Products Used: | It's my first hydraulic disc brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Unibike Evolution - frame, Marzocchi MX PRO '07 -fork, Shimano Deore XT. | | Bottom Line: | This is cheap brakes and perfect for a begining cross country rider. Good working in hard terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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