Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2007
Weaknesses: This is strictly a vanity complaint but they are a bit of an eye sore. Functionally, however, they're the shiz!
Bottom Line:
These things rock if you're using V-Brakes. My hardtail C'dale was experiencing some serious flex on the seat stays each time I hit the rear brakes. After the boosters were installed, my braking ability was VASTLY improved. And the flexing was all but eliminated. I'm a 170lb rider and an admitted weight-weinie, so installing disc brakes on either of my MTBs is out of the question. But if you're looking to add breaking power, I highly recommend these boosters.
Submitted by
Nathan F.
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, TEXAS USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2006
Strengths: Works great to minimize the flex on my seat stays when applying my V-brakes (XT).
Weaknesses: NONE!
Bottom Line:
As many people know, titanium is flexible, but hard to break. But with this flexibility, it makes braking harder, but not allowing enough force to clamp down onto the rim. The Brake brace re-enforces the brakes to help bring my ride to a stop. I would recommend this to any one that still uses V-brakes and even more so for the Ti riders out there. It is one of the best piece of equipment that I purchased in a long time.
Bike Setup: 1999 Litespeed Tsali-XT Group,Titec 118 Ti Handlebar,Frogs,Judy SID,KING Ti bottle cage,Salsa Brake Brace&Syncros Ti post. WT approx. 23 pounds ;)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland Oooooooohio
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005
Strengths: its strength
Weaknesses: makes the brakes really hard to work on and I can't take my rear tire off easily
Bottom Line:
Makes a good thing even better. Light, cool looking, and improves braking power. No flex whatsoever
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountains of TN
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005
Strengths: They work, completely eliminated the flex I was experiencing, improve braking power
Weaknesses: make it hard to get my big fingers in there to adjust stuff on the brakes
Bottom Line:
Well, bought the front one because my front brake was squealing on me, and I obviously wanted to stop that (was due to flex in the fork), and then I was toying around with my bike, and noticed that the rear end was flexing more than a Mr. Universe contestant. Well, I quickly contacted Universal cycles and got them to add another one onto my order, and what can I say, they work, they do what they are supposed to do, they increase braking power, stop frame flex, and aren't too heavy. Warning to people w/ fat fingers, it makes adjustments a little bit more difficult, but it is worth the trouble.
Bike Setup: Airborne Corsair, RS Duke SL, LX v-brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
johnny Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from kaneohe, HI
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004
Strengths: **THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE CARBON VERSION**
I bought it at a great price, MSRP is 55 buckarooskies. The carbon looks way cool plus is lighter than the Al version.
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
After a few weeks my rear brake became mushy and squeeled like a banshee. i tued everything inaginable, cable reroute, cleaning rim, new pads and none of that worked. finally i bought the Salsa Arch-de-treoomph. what a difference. the first ride out the squeeling was gone like as uncle bob at the family reunion. As far as power woo-doggy! now it truly is a single digit brake. the feel of it is incredible. i would highly reccomend. this products endurance has yet to be seen, however none of its reviews suggeast that it will fail anytime soon. so no worries. i give it 4 for value b/c i got it cheap, but you might not. and five overall b/c of its looks, weight and working as advertised.
Bike Setup: Surly Karate Monkey, Salsa rims, Avids SD7, Thomson post, Truvativ 180mm SS Crank, Surly rigid fork, WTB stealth pedals, easton stem
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Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Grande Cache, AB
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004
Strengths: Looks sweet Does the job No cutouts (easy to clean)
Weaknesses: Paint durability?
Bottom Line:
I decided to run a rear v-brake on my new Pantera frame, and to my dismay, the beefy stays visibly flexed with healthy applications of brake lever. I needed a booster that complemented the looks of the frame - the black Salsa was perfect.
It's pretty hard to make a bad brake booster - it's probably the least tecnologically complex part on the bike. The Salsa's solid, wafer-thin design works, and is much easier to clean than the thicker, cut-out Tektro I use on another bike. The price was totally reasonable, too. Recommmended.
Bike Setup: gt zaskar, LX/XT gruppo, FireXC, Manitou Six fork
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Submitted by
Mark A. Lohnes
a Cross Country Rider
from Skagway, Alaska
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2003
Strengths: Stiff, curvy looks, Carbon
Weaknesses: While the brace itself is light, the hardware is heavy.
Bottom Line:
These braces really help the rear end...now the modulation is much crisper and the power is more than up to the task. On the front, the brace tightened up the fork flex and while the modualtion increse was not as pronounced as the rear, the stopping power definitely was. All in all a worth while upgrade that gives me more confidence and control. Combined with XTR levers and v brakes, I can stop as nearly as well as my friends with disc's.
Bike Setup: Trek 7300 w much upgraded gear. XTR brakes, XT F/R derailleurs, LX Octalink crank etc!!!
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
MIKE NONCHEN
a Cross Country Rider
from pickering ont ca
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003
Strengths: works well, eliminates flex and brake squeel.
Weaknesses: heavy, ugly
Bottom Line:
very good product, my seatstays used to flex at least 3/4 of an inch on my el cheapo allu frame. Now my bike stops better that my friends ride that sports speed dial 7's
Submitted by
Kamaaina
a Weekend Warrior
from Oahu, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003
Strengths: Super stiff construction. Slim design. Wouldn't say that it's the best looking booster but "form-follows-function". Good hardware with different thickness spacers to adjust clearances for different brake calipers.
Weaknesses: None so far except did they have to make the "SALSA" emblem so big? I will definetly scrape off the SALSA word and the two "pickles"......will look a lot cleaner without them.
Bottom Line:
These boosters really stiffen-up the frame and fork. It still flexes a little when you grab the brake levers hard but by then you'd be skidding anyway. More of a value than buying the Shimano carbon booster which is twice the price of a Salsa. Brake system feels a lot more solid; cables don't feel like rubber-bands anymore. 5 flaming pickles for these boosters....they get the job done.
Strengths: stops frame flex,i now have a rear brake!
Weaknesses: dont let anyone tell you it looks cool. this is the one thing i hate on my bike it covers my beautiful xt brakes, looks sooooo cheasy, but it works
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from The Mountains of Tennessee
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003
Strengths: Imediate difference is noted, pumps up the braking power of any brakes
Weaknesses: Kind of makes it difficult to access the noodle on end of the brake cabel housing and to manuever it(especially if you have fat fingers like mine
Bottom Line:
I bought these for both the front and rear as I noticed squealing from both my front a rear brakes. Being that my bike is Ti this came as no surprise for the rear, but I figured the Duke, which is just now one year old would hold up better. Oh well, I now have the Salsa boosters on and have noticed a significant difference. I have left many a skid marks in the sharp corners of downhills as I have gone bombing down them. Not that I intended to do so, but momentum and inertia of a guy my size is a powerful thing to overcome, and these brakes do wonderfully to do so.
Favorite Trail: which one, it is hard to narrow it down
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At: Jenson USA
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: Airborne Corsair, XT/LX, Duke SL
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kai Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002
Strengths: Works perfectly as advertised. Noticeably eliminates all flex from braking
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
You wouldn't think that the fat seatstays on the Klein Attitude would be flexing and robbing you of braking power, but they were. I threw this bad boy on the rear v brake and instantly all squeal disappeared and the brakes took on a noticeably firm, direct feel. These do the job intended and do it well. I shoulda got one for the front.
Weaknesses: Should have got one for the front, too
Bottom Line:
Back brakes used to feel kind of mushy (Cane Creek with Avid Levers) because they were so strong the frame flexed. They feel really smooth now. A little heavy, but it works and was easy to install. I only paid $20 for mine, so I don't have the usual gripe about price.
