~ Decent weight
~ Creamy smooth modulation
~ Adjustable lever reach
~ Inexpensive pads
~ Magnesium lever and caliper bodies are well-designed
~ Carbon levers mitigate jarring chatter to a muted tremor.... just kidding!

~ Anodization fades, under extreme sunlight
~ Corrosive DOT 5.1
~ High ambient heat causes lever pistons to swell and stick

These served on my MTB, since 2008. They are now continuing life, as brakes on my Cross/Hybrid/Commuter bike. I still love the modulation and the fact braking bite can be finely dialed-in. When these were released in 2006... they cost a whopping $400, per side! They can now be had for well under $100 complete. They work best with the OEM Avid/SRAM rotors and CPS hardware.

Similar Products Used:

Magura Marta SL
Hygia Usagi Disc
Tektro Auriga Pro
Shimano XTR ST-M975
Hope Mono Mini
Formula R1
Hayes Stroker Gram

Great stopping power. Some of the best modulation of any brake I've tried - waaay better than the on/off feel of shimano. Very lightweight. Everything is adjustable. Carbon fiber lever does not get cold in the winter. These are top tier brakes designed to last for decades - can be fully rebuilt.

Need to be bled using special avid procedure. Because everything is adjustable, you can greatly vary the tune of the way the brake behaves and subsequently performs. If you are competent, then none of this is an issue.

Simply put, these brakes are amazing. They are a high level brakset which requires attention to get them dialed. Most people have no idea what they are doing which results in a poorly performing brake. Once I bled them and dialed in the settings that worked for me, there wasn't a single brake on the market that could touch them.

They stop.

Too many to list.

These brakes are poorly made and as the top of the line Avid product at the time, I'm disappointed. I would look toward Magura which will be my next purchase. I am an daily rider and find these to be poorly designed, noisy, dragging, and all around a poor brake.

Good modulation, light weight, nice quality. Easy to adjust. They look good

They do not use mineral oil. Mineral oil is a bit more user friendly to work with.

I have not had a bad experince with these brakes after 3 years of solid use. There are alot of knob jockeys complaining about these brakes. For example, how the f++k do you give an accurate review of some brakes you bought second hand on Ebay Ant from Australia? You knocker! & you have them only on the front with v brakes on the back? Genius! & to the moron who bled his own brakes & had debris in the fluid, how the f++k is that a fault of Avid you backyard hack? Take it to the bike shop & get the job done properly! Who buys Ultimates & can not afford maintenance??

Similar Products Used:

Shimano XT & XTR 2008 & 09. Hayes also.

- Low maintenance
- works well
- lightweight

None yet

These brakes were on the bike when I got it on 2008. I ride all year round in Squamish, NS and Whistler, average about 50+ kms per week of tech XC trails in all conditions. I maintain my bike myself, have had to do a lot of adjustments to everything - except these brakes! They have performed excellently since day-1 and just keep going for over 3 years now. I am on the 4th set of pads, but have never had to bleed or do anything but tune rotors and change pads. Only noisy when wet, and only then occasionally. Cannot understand those who say pads are hard to change (???).

Similar Products Used:

Hayes nine, Stroker Trails, Shimano Deore, Tektro

Light,Very Strong (AVID Juicy Ultimate)

Brakes make noise if wet or slightly dusty.

Brakes worth the price if you use them what they were designed for.

Similar Products Used:

N/A

none

Lets see, how bout stops working in middle of a big downhill leaving no front brake!!!!!!!!!

I could of got a bb7 but nooooo I have to get the hydro cause it what the cool kids have. Avid take this p.o.s. and stick it in your arse.

Similar Products Used:

bb7 hayes

Compact brake, reversible design, reasonable weight

Weak Lever, high maintenance, expensive new

Reasonable brake to buy secondhand, but expect to do a bit of bleeding here and there.

Similar Products Used:

Hope Tech M4, Avid Juicy 3, Magura Marta Mag, XT

It stops the bike.

Must be a godd deal from the Avid manufacturers for Specialized. These things work well, when they work, but only after much effort. Changing pads needs a workshop and you need to bleed them each time. Getting pads in and out is hard, even with the bleeding and instructions. Adjustment required every few months to prevent the additional friction of the front brake on the front disc.

I guess my main problem is the comparison with my Shimano Deore breaks, and now with SLX, which have replaced the Avid. Both of these feel bomb proof, and require little maintenance. When maintenance is required, it's fairly straight forward, and does not require the sort of black art of the Avids. Sure the Avid's feel more direct at the start of braking, but after a few rides, thedifference is forgotten, and you have to jump on and off bikes with the different brakes to remember. And the Avids leak, and the synthetic oil sucks water.....

Damn things jammed fast and threw me over the handlebars. Could've been a stone got stuck in there.... but given other experiences, my confidence is diminished.

Those of you out there who have had great experiences, lucky you. From my point of view, a return to Shimano with the SLX has broght back riding with no 'bonus friction' from the front brake and an ability to change pads with impunity. I spent 3 months riding another bike rather than even try...

MAintenance is painful, given the frequency required; changing pads; bleeding should not need done so often; pistons should not need played with so much.

Use these if 1. they came with the bike and you forgot to ask for something else 2. you have no choice, they are still better than V-Brakes.

Similar Products Used:

Shimano Deore, Shimano SLX, Hope Mono

Had to bleed the system twice in the first month fluid was full of debris. Rear calliper failed at 330km, has to fully replaced?

I will never touch avid again. Luckily the catastrophic leak from the rear calliper happened after a ride when I was testing the breaks for a spongy feel, just completed some big downhills. Fluid everywhere, I feel a luck man.

Can I place a -1 rating please