Submitted by
Jason B
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC/Miami Date Reviewed: November 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
RAMPS/Curbs/Urban
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
It hasn't broke on me!
Weaknesses:
People make fun of My CODA brakes!
Similar Products Used:
Dia Compe,Odessy,Shimano XTR
Bike Setup:
Redline RL20 II(1987), GT Pro Performer(1986),GT Performer 20" GT VCR2000 iDrive(FRESH),Trek Y Glide(1999)Broken,Cannondale F2000
Bottom Line:
I dunno...I maintain my bikes well.I haven't had a problem with the Coda brakes (Knock on wood).I'm still very hard on my bikes when I ride.I do alot of ramping still and the brakes werk fine.Go figure.I do prefer the traditional cable/mechanical systems now that I'm reading all these leaks and failed seals..kinda gives me goose bumps as my bones are more brittle..LOL...Ride on guys...Every once in a while we get that messed up product..All you can do is use it or change it out.Coda tried and bummed out.But at least they tried.
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Submitted by
James Feltman
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise, Idaho, USA Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
forfuninidaho@yahoo.com
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Rocky's
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Rotters come warped straight form the factory. I actually had one of my rear pads fall out while going down a mountain. $ bolt design makes them hard to replace. STAY AWAY FROM THESE THINGS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE
Bottom Line:
COMPLETE GRABBAGE THEY JUST NEED TO BE THROWN AWAY
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Submitted by
James Share
a Cross Country Rider
from England Date Reviewed: October 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
LeTour-Chamonix
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Shore-Hayling Island
Strengths:
Work just the same wet or dry. Great if you buckle a wheel. Easy to change the pads.Good for most UK usage.
Weaknesses:
The rear brake hose overheated and dumped all its fluid. The pistons either loosen by themselves or alternatively become seized.They eat pads in the wet.
Similar Products Used:
Only Shimano V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Canondale Jekyl-Gorgeous bike
Bottom Line:
When I bought the bike they were a complete arse to setup and bleed and took ages to bed in and actually lock up the rear wheel.They munched pads within weeks.Eventually they became less spongey and actually worked quite well. For most of the UK usage they're fine, for biking in the Alps, forget it, they could be the cause of your last ever ride... Not sure if the brake stand off kits would help with the overheating problems??!! Oh, I did have a Coda pad fail on me when the material sheared off the metal which then caused a nice metal on metal braking effect.....Nice idea, good for low end use, forget extreme!!
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Submitted by
Matthew Greene
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Galbraith Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Fairhaven Bike Shop
Strengths:
- Good stopping power - Very little maintenance - Works just as well wet or dry - Little to no squeaking
Weaknesses:
- Uneven wear on the pads - Brake levers feel a little spongy...too much play - Hard to find replacement parts - 4 bolt design!
Similar Products Used:
Hayes (on my friend's bike), Avid Mechanical (demo'ed)
Bike Setup:
2000 Cannondale F900
Bottom Line:
These brakes came stock with the bike and are the first set of disc brakes I've owned. I'm a pretty light rider (150lbs.), and they have excellent stopping power. Very little to no maintenance; once adjusted, I didn't have to touch them for the first 6 month I owned the bike. After a year, rotors are very slightly warped, but nothing too serious, and it doesn't affect performance. I'm content keeping my brake setup as it is, but the fact that it is very difficult to find online locations for buying parts (I'm having a tough time locating new brake pads) might make me eventually switch, although the 4 bolt rotor design means that I'll have to replace my hubs if I get a new brake system. :( 5 flames for value because it came with my bike, 4 flames for overall rating due to lack of replacement parts and the 4 bolt design. Overall a good first experience with disc brakes.
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Submitted by
R.H. Brown
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Wheel Life Cycle
Strengths:
Powerful and Definite…WHAM! This is only if you set up the complete system correctly. I have the Competition version, not the Expert. There is a big difference in performance as I’ve tried them both. The Competition version has dual pistons.
Weaknesses:
A true pain in the ass to set up. I can see why guys hate these things. Mine actually came on my rig but I was determined to learn about them and beat them... I DID! After considerable time and determination I feel I have these things working the way they were meant to.
Similar Products Used:
V-Brakes and I’ve tried the Expert version. I’ve ridden friends rigs with Hayes and Hope so I can compare to those.
Bike Setup:
C'Dale Raven 4000SX - XTR minus the crank and front required hub for my Lefty. Thompson Elite, ATAC Carbon and MonkeyLite.
Bottom Line:
These brakes will flat out stop your butt and now. I weigh 215 so I’m not little skinny ass. Patience and determination are a must. I've even seen C’dale ship these set up incorrectly and commonly configured in the Expert configuration. The standoff mod is a must on pre-2001 systems with the sintered pads or ECB pads. I may be wrong, but I think ECB is making the sintered pads for C’dale when you purchase the standoff upgrade. Bleeding is essential and in my opinion is best learned on your own. You care about your system more than a shop mechanic will. Once you nail it, you’ll instantly know you have. If you need help setting these up, email me and I’ll do my best to explain everything I’ve painfully learned.
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Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle Date Reviewed: June 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Dirt
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Read earlier review
Weaknesses:
Short life
Similar Products Used:
avid disc
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000sx, Avid disc
Bottom Line:
For just over a year these brake worked good compared to rim brakes. The brake line rubbed against the guides on the front and wore it thin. Lucky for me I wasn’t on a down-hill when it blew. I tried to find a new brake line with no luck, because Cannondale didn’t have any. I barrowed a friends Avid caliper and lever and used it with my Coda rotor for the weekend. WOW! What a difference. I bought new Avid Mechanical front and rear. An other friend of mine is using Magura disc and had problems with the master cylinder. We discovered then, that Coda and Magura use the same brake line fittings. He is now using my old levers/master cylinders with the Magura calipers. To bad I didn’t know that before I bought the Avids, because I also had to buy a new hub to accommodate a 6 bolt rotor on the rear. BUT Avid disc are so much better. Note: Because of the return spring on the pads of the newly designed 2002 Avid caliper; it will not work with the wider coda front rotor. I’m using a 2001 on the front, although Hayes makes a 4 bolt rotor that should work. WHAT A HASSLE CANNONDALE!
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Submitted by
TONY FERGUSON
a Cross Country Rider
from LYNCHBURG VA Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
blackwater creek
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
piedmont bike shop
Strengths:
MODULATION POWER and believe it or not reliability
Weaknesses:
four bolt
Similar Products Used:
hayes,xt v brakes
Bike Setup:
f2000 sl
Bottom Line:
I have ridden the crap out of these brakes for over a year now.I just read 20 reviews, are they talking about the same brake?I wiegh 180 lbs. I destroy my riding partners downhill.My brakes have NEVER made so much as a peep of noise!I can hold the brake on the edge of lock up w/one finger.no leaks no noise no problems no kidding.still on the same set of pads.dial in the clearence on th epads every two weeks or so and just ride the crap out of them.what did these other people do to their bikes? ok they were a little weak at first,after breakin awsome thanks cannondale.
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Submitted by
Josh
a Cross Country Rider
from Houghton Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
They're flat out dangerous... and embarrassing.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Hydraulic
Bike Setup:
2001 Cannondale F2000 SL
Bottom Line:
I am not exaggerating when I say that they are worse than the old-school cable brakes on my Pacific. They squeal like none other. When I first got the bike, they worked great, and I couldn't understand what people were talking about. Then, one day I was hopping up a set of stairs (something normally not tried on a cc bike) when the back brake gave out and I almost killed myself riding down the stairs backwards. I thought that you couldn't go wrong with hydraulic brakes, but I'd much rather have cheaper V-brakes that can at least lock up the back wheel. I'm not messing around anymore. Hayes hydros all the way...
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Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgewood, NJ USA Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Old Croton Aqueduct Historic State Park Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bikeworks, Rochelle Park, NJ
Strengths:
Design, weight, price performance, manufacturer's support
Weaknesses:
Vague installation/setup instructions
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Cannondale 2002 F900SL with SRAM 2002 Rocket Shorty Shifters, Sun-Ringle DS1-XC Rims, IRC Mythos XC Tires, Wellgo Pedals w/straps, mini pump, bottle cage, underseat bag, and pinger - all other components stock from Cannondale
Bottom Line:
I'd read every mtbr.com user review of these brakes and I still purchased them because I believed that the source of most complaints could be traced back to installation and setup errors. It turns out that my assessment was correct.
My back brake worked perfectly from day one. It provided, and still does, great modulation, stopping power, and lever control. However, problems with my front brake necessitated three trips back to my LBS. It turns out that a loose pad adjuster was the primary culprit. Per Cannondale’s recommendation, my mechanic added three small drops of Loctite (blue #242) to the adjuster, bled the brakes, and reset the system. Rotor contamination was the secondary poor performance culprit. I thoroughly cleaned my braking system’s components with a recommended 10 to 1 solution of hot water and Original Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. Performance of the front brake now mirrors the back one; all is flawless.
My brakes are currently setup so that there’s a slight bit of pad drag. As the pads become bedded in the drag will subside. Until that time there are occasions when the noise is somewhat annoying. It is possible to eliminate pad drag entirely from day one, however you might suffer some loss in braking performance by doing so.
The strong alloy levers are designed for just your index and middle fingers to provide braking control. This might be an adjustment for those accustomed to braking with four fingers. Lever reach adjustment is possible but will require the system to be completely reset. Women with small hands should find the levers comfortable after a proper adjustment.
I primarily ride in dry weather but to compare wet weather braking performance against my v-brake equipped bikes, I took a rainy day ride with the Codas recently. I was extremely impressed; I stopped on a dime even after rolling through many large puddles and being out in the steady rain for almost two hours.
These brakes are fine for mechanically inclined XC riders able to follow instructions and set the brakes up properly themselves, or for those with a competent and compliant LBS mechanic nearby. You'll also need to keep your rotor free of contaminants by washing it frequently with a 10 to 1 solution of hot water and Original Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. If you like to keep a dirty bike, don’t buy these brakes. Also, if you live in a remote area removed from a good LBS and don’t feel like tinkering with the brakes yourself, buy v-brakes or spend the extra money for Hays or the Avid mechanical discs. Both of those brands should be good to go right out of the box.
This is a great product for those who have the patience to insure proper installation and setup. Download all of the Cannondale technical support data if you do buy; if you have the right tools you'll see that setting these brakes correctly yourself up is a snap.
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Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Dirt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
These brakes work great. The pads last along time. East to adjust.
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
F2000sx
Bottom Line:
I believe from what I've read from other reviews, It's not the brakes that are crap. The bike mechanic who set them up couldn't get the air out. I'm an automotive technician by trade and understand hydraulic brakes and bleeding techniques. One small air bubble makes a big difference. more than likely there is an area in the system that is prone to have an air pocket. I can't complain about these brakes at all.
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Submitted by
andy evans
a Weekend Warrior
from dorset, england Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
they stop you, finally!
Weaknesses:
everything, the hoses are weak, they eat pads quickly, they only have a single caliper, they are hard to adjust and they hardly ever work and when they do they squeel
Similar Products Used:
xtr v-brakes
Bike Setup:
cannondale f900sx
Bottom Line:
why? on such an expensive bike something better than these should be specced. Hope brakes are amazing and cost the same. function has been sacrificed over function and my light xtr v brakes beat them easily.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Frazier
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpine, UT Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry Mesa, UT
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Well modulated
Weaknesses:
Poor stopping power
Bottom Line:
Had a chance to ride my friend's Jekyl 1000 with these brakes. The bike is new with less than 10 miles ridden.
The brakes are well modulated but have very poor stopping power. The Avid Single Digit 7 v-brakes on my Santa Cruz are far, far more powerful.
The previous reviewer said his Coda discs will endo with one finger. Why his, but not these?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamie
a Cross Country Rider
from australia Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
any singletrack or flowing downhill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Strengths:
progressive feel , stopping power
Weaknesses:
if useing sintered pads they pump up without much heat everyone seems to bag them
Similar Products Used:
stx rc v brakes
Bike Setup:
raven 2000 elo leftey xtr xt
Bottom Line:
i don't understand all the bad reviews. Mine will endo with one finger and after I set them up need almost no adjustment. I am a mechanic so maybe have a better understandinng of hydraulics. These are the only discs i have used so if endo's with one finger is only not good please let me know.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fluffy
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
None.
Weaknesses:
Had to change pads 3 times in 3 months. They constantly need bleeding and adjusting. They don't stop the bike...
Similar Products Used:
These were my first discs. Tried lots of V's. Even the Acera's on my friend's bike work better!
Bike Setup:
F2000sx
Bottom Line:
After slamming into a fence and into a tree twice(not the same tree), I have decided to have them replaced by Magura's. I hope they will be better. They must be, it's true what this guy said: even your shoes are better. I have bought a great bike, but I feel ripped off because off the brakes! I just hope my frame won't crack after hitting those stupid trees... Btw, I lost three teeth and I'm not talking about my crankset!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Racer
from Calgary, Alberta Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Powder Face
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
local bike shop
Strengths:
-excellent modulation -once you learn, they are easy to bleed -lightweight, compact;perfect for XC racing
Weaknesses:
-had to bleed them over 7 times when I first got my bike in 2000. -I wish they were self-adjusting like Hayes -Coda Rotors are warped out of the box and make an annoying sound at higher speeds. Also, it takes several attempts to put the front wheel in so the the rotor does contact the pads. -Brake lever pivot came loose after a few months and rattles slightly in bumpy sections. -Pads squeel like pigs in wet and have decreased power in wet/muddy conditions -Side issue:Coda Huds are four bolt pattern(not compatible with anything except Hayes)
Similar Products Used:
-Avid V-brakes on Trek 8000 I used to own
Bike Setup:
-Cannondale F2000 SL(2000), stock except for Time Pedals, Titec Micros bar ends, and saddle.
Bottom Line:
Fortunately, I have had good luck with these brakes unlike some of friends who use these brakes(as well as most of the reviewers). No, they are not the most powerful brakes on the market, but that can be an advantage sometimes. The lack of power in the front brakes has saved me many times by not locking up in panic stops on technical sections. Also, they modulate so well that it is easy to pin point the moment the rear wheel is going to lock up once you have used these brakes for a while and gotten the hang of their performance. The pads are still good after 2 years and that is with regular racing and trail riding. I expect to have them for another year. My biggest piece of advice is to learn how to bleed them and work on them. I was told the adapter kit increases power and overall performance considerably.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adonis Dadiz
a Cross Country Rider
from Middlesex, New Jersey Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Chimney Rock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Somerville Cyclery
Strengths:
They make great paper weights.
Weaknesses:
They came with the bike!
Similar Products Used:
Nothing out there can really suck so bad!!!
Bike Setup:
Converted to Hayes brakes with the four bolt rotors on coda hubs!!!!
Bottom Line:
Hayes brakes are the way to go!!! I sent in the review regarding heating the CODA pads until they were red hot to burn off any oil residue that was on there. After the second time of burning these pads, it took one bad accident to deem my bike dangerous! I had to stop riding until I saved up enough for the Hayes Hydrolics!!!! What an AWESOME PRODUCT. A half-assed-shoddy job of installing them during my overnight shift, proved to be a success (they were still ten times stronger than CODA.) When I got to completing the job, I contaminated the pads and rotors with the brake oil by accident and they still managed to lock both wheels...I'm thoroughly impressed!!!! For those of you out there who love the CODA brakes, more power to ya. For those of you who say, "it makes you a better rider (without brakes)" you're wasting your time! These are the BOMB!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lori
a Weekend Warrior
from Illinois Date Reviewed: October 5, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Good stopping power once properly set up.
Weaknesses:
Difficult set up even, it seems, for the dealers.
Bike Setup:
F2000sx
Bottom Line:
These brakes are getting a horrible rap but my experience and my husband's show that they CAN be a good brake.
Bottom line is - set up. My brakes worked well at first but gradually lost power. I had a bad lever. After replacing the lever and bleeding them and multiple caliper adjustments, I got these brakes to work great for the last few months. I even contaminated them once and got them to work fine again without changing out the pads.
I believe the bike shops aren't correctly setting these brakes up for people. My husband's brakes and mine both stop on a dime and will put you over the bars if you're not careful. But we've done almost all the adjustments, bleeding etc. ourselves. The one time I had the dealer adjust them I wasn't satisfied with it and redid it myself.
As far as the squealing - my husband's squealed like mad until he started cleaning the rotors with Dawn dishsoap. They no longer squeal.
I ride 4 - 5 times a week on a 10 mile loop near my house and have logged nearly 1000 miles on this bike in the last 6 months. However, this IS central Illinois and there are no serious downhills to really test these brakes, just short downhill ravines. Other than the time I contaminated the rotor with chain lube, I've never had a total loss of braking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from NoCal Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
let me think........looks? No, weight? No, performance? No, I guess none.
Weaknesses:
See above.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes-A disk brake that has worked flawlessly for over a year. Zero maintainence so far.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000sx-with most of the broken Coda parts replaced.
Bottom Line:
I've metioned this in my review of the Coda hubset, How does Cannondale sleep at night knowing they put such a low quality product on a bike with a price tag of over 2g's?
I really tried to give these brakes a chance. I changed the brake pads twice. I bleed the system per the instruction manual. I was ever so careful not to contaminate the rotors or pads with grease or chain lube or fingerprints. I cleaned the rotors with Dawn dishsoap on a regular basis. I carfully wiped down the rotor and pads with rubbing alcohol.
After a scary decent with no front brakes. (again) I realized the Hayes brake I installed in the rear over a year ago have never been anything but powerful and reliable.
Sorry Cannondale, your frames as well as the Lefty fork are great but these brakes are terrible.
If you purchase a bike with these brakes try to swap them with something else.
Bottom line- get something else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Nelson
a Weekend Warrior
from Pleasant Hill, CA Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Numerous. Most notably, I've stopped riding my bike as it: 1. Doesn't stop 2. Squeals like a tin trumpet 3. Is F#$$%#**! dangerous.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000 w/ full XTR, grip shift, Time MTB pedals, Thompson seat post.
Bottom Line:
These are the worst brakes I've ever used. I've had 3 Cannondale road bikes, all w/ Shimano products, and have been quite satisfied. The rest of the bike is great, except the brakes.
I've cleaned the pads, the rotors, and have done everything my LBS stated and they continue to squeal and not stop.
Honestly, I could probably stop better dragging my feet! I really feel ripped-off by Cannondale and am tired of trying to fix these brakes. After having read many of the reviews, I'm not going to take the bike in to try and fix the problem. It's very clear to me that these brakes just plain suck!
If these were on a car, they'd be recalled and the dealers would provide brand new brakes at no cost to the owner.
How 'bout it Cannondale? It sure would go a long way to keeping a long time (15 year) Cannondale customer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed Young
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver Date Reviewed: September 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Apex
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Easy to setup and adjust. Great braking power, and modulation Reliable.
Weaknesses:
4 hole disk means non standard Discontinued on C'dale bikes means hard to find parts
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes?
Bike Setup:
2001 C'dale Jekyll 900SL
Bottom Line:
As far as I'm concerned, these brakes are fantastic. I've never had any problems with them. They adjust easily and have been trouble free. Only problem was once when I crashed, I bent the rear disk. But all I had to do was open up the calipers so the rotor would pass and I could still brake even with a wowed out rotor. Would have happened with any disk brake system. These have been reliable for 1 year of hard use. Changed tha pads once and had no problem bedding them in or adjusting things. Too bad these brakes get a bad rap and have been discontinued. I'd buy another set.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Delaware, USA Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Wooden Wheels
Bottom Line:
These brakes are not as bad as everybody thinks. I found out that you need someone to set them up properly. When I purchased my F2000SX the brakes were not bled properly. Apparently Cannondale had incorrectly described proper set-up technique. My mechanic at the shop re-bled the brakes and adjusted them so that they have tremendous stopping power and feel. My bike wouldn't stop when I got it. I think that they are quite good now. Believe me they had horrible feel and power when I first used them. No kidding, you only need one finger now. Before you get all upset with them and blow more cash, make sure they are setup properly. They may not be superior, due to the fact that Cannondale is using other brake systems, but they are easy to adjust and work very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tino
a Weekend Warrior
from roxbury, CT Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
the steeper the better
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Class Cycles
Strengths:
gee let me think.........nothing
Weaknesses:
everything!! they don't stop, they don't lock up the rear wheel, the pads wear out after one day of hard riding, the rotors bend, the lever feels like silly puddy. these are good for one thing and one thing only...slamming into trees!!!!
Similar Products Used:
LX V-brakes, Hayes hydro disc (comparing these to the codas is like compare a kia and a ferrari)
Bike Setup:
'00 f2000sx, left dlr, easton monkey riser, xt/xtr
Bottom Line:
plain and simple these brakes just don't work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D M
a Cross Country Rider
from London Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Switzerland-anywhere
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
evans
Strengths:
They came with my bike
Weaknesses:
they dont stop the bike on long runs and are DANGEROUS
Similar Products Used:
none, these were my first set of disks
Bike Setup:
Fabulous Cannondale FX900 with lefty fork
Bottom Line:
TO 'THE GENERAL ':
Cannondale is a great company and their bikes are fab., but please note they are NOT specifying CODA anymore and that thier Top XC rider has Hayes (NOT CODA) set up on his new Scalpel as I saw with my own eyes at the last International competiion in Laax.
If the things leak and can get contaminated and you can loose a tooth over it and get seriously injured, its not worth it. Mine were adjusted by a Cannondale recognised mechanic and still failed to stop my bike when I needed it most. If you're planning on taking a serious track that requires extended use of your breaks or have to ride in demanding conditions, DO NOT USE THESE BREAKS. Rating: minus one chilly
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bad breaks
a Cross Country Rider
from ca,usa Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
You name it
Similar Products Used:
never tried disks
Bike Setup:
raven 4000sx
Bottom Line:
When you consdier the cost of $4000+ for a bike you would think the breaks would be top notch. I love the bike, but I think I'm going to get rid of it because of the breaks. Cannodale should have a re-call on these breaks. They are dangerous. Maybe a class action suit would be the best way to handle it. What do you think we are the ones that can make that happen. I have tried all the recommendations by the resellers, Cannodale this list. The breaks may work a bit and then the will start sqeel and not hold. I can turn the wheels with my hand with full force on the handles. So for get cannondale get a differant bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Eugene OR Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
There are none
Weaknesses:
No power, they break, they cant lock up. If you do any sort of trials you can forget these brakes, I can turn the front and back wheel with my hand when the brakes are fully on.
Similar Products Used:
XT V brakes, XTR V brakes dia compe V brakes, Alivio brakes. By the way all of the brakes listed work better than the codas.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F900sx
Bottom Line:
These brakes are the worst brakes i have ever used!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad The Okie
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma City Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
South Boundary Trail - Taos
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Revolutions Oklahoma City
Strengths:
Absolutely None Whatsover
Weaknesses:
Poor modulation, noise, eat pads, cannot be adjusted by any mechanic on the planet, and, here's the biggy, simply will not stop the bicyle.
Similar Products Used:
No other disc brakes every purchased. Numerous V Brake rigs
Bike Setup:
C'Dale F900SX Lefty, RockShox Seat Post, Raceface riser bars, Serfa Gel throne, otherwise stock
Bottom Line:
These brakes are such a disappointment on this otherwise really great bike. I cannot believe that the engineers of Cannondale were able to sleep at night after deciding to put these brakes on a bike designed to be ridden fast. But, I heard that tobacco company officials testified after swearing on the Bible to tell the truthe that cigarettes are not addictive - so I guess anything is possible.
Bottom line (a) don't buy any bike with these brake unless you are ready to eat the replacement cost because you will NOT be satisfied; (b) don't listen to the crap that you LBS hands you in an attempt to blame the fact that the brakes stink on your getting the rotors dirty (it's a mountain bike, we ride in the dirt - hello); (c) if you see a Cannondale rep, tell him that a guy in Oklahoma is so ticked off that he will NEVER EVER buy another Cannondale off road bike because of how badly he was ripped off on these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adonis dadiz
a Cross Country Rider
from Sayreville, New Jersey Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
North Jersey
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
same as my Magura Hydrolic rim brakes
Weaknesses:
inconsistant performance
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
'98 Cannondale Freerider 4000
Bottom Line:
I just finished reading the first five reviews and I totally agreed with them, until I tried something different. I went through all the pads, red, blue, no color and replaced them with the tech from a bike fest. For the first few rides they worked and then I had to deal with little or no brakes. So I tried the Sintered, with the heat sink and worked for about 10 rides and immediately sucked after wards. Just before I going to but a set lf Hayes, I washed the brake pads and heated the pads on my stove until they were red hot. IT WORKED! On my last ride (the 10th one) I forgot my front wheel and used another wheel and rode Wawayanda on just my rear brakes! (and had a blast). Once, these pads wear out my discs I'm going to Hayes right away!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
They don't work
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura, Avid, shoe (even my shoe works better)
Bike Setup:
Y2K C'Dale SV with Lefty (dropped the Coda Disks after 9 months of effort)
Bottom Line:
These brakes suck. Cannondale no longer specs them on any new bikes, I wonder why. Get your LBS to swap them.
Both Magura and Hayes makes rotors for the CODA hub. You should be able to get the Magura Louise on a near even trade.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Vancouver BC CANADA Date Reviewed: May 13, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
'99's- nothing '00's- decent modulation '01's- wouldn't know I got Hayes
Weaknesses:
NO POWER... my '95 STX-RC canti's had three times the power (wet or dry)... these brakes suck... period... oh and they use a four bolt... which makes them suck worse... except that Hayes started making a four bolt rotor... I love Hayes...
Similar Products Used:
'95 shimano Acera-X cantis with worn out pads and realy sticky cables would probably be similar
Bike Setup:
C-Dale F-2000 (Kona Roast in Two days) with HAYES, and Mav 521's, Headshock... Xt/Coda
Bottom Line:
These brakes suck period... they have been consistent in only two things... their ability to suck and at getting my bike to spend many hours in the company of other CODA equipped bikes down at my local bike store...
Please also note that since the only thing they are good for is maybe a wall decoration anyone out there into new-age art might find the value at five chilis since you could get a pair for $10
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Slamigo
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa Date Reviewed: May 8, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Camp Fortune X-country race course
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Local shop
Strengths:
worked well for first month or so
Weaknesses:
SQUEALING!!! No braking power! I no longer have any confidence in these brakes and am going to have them changed.
Similar Products Used:
these were my first disc brakes
Bike Setup:
1999 Cannondale F-900
Bottom Line:
These brakes are s&%t. I am extremely sick of being told by the local shop that I must have accidentally touched the brake rotor and contaminated my brakes. That is total nonsense. I have followed every piece of advice from this website. *I dried the pads in the oven after de-greasing them. *I had the brakes bled. (a few times) *I bought new brake pads all round. (Not cheap) *I am ridiculously careful about never getting any kind of cleaning solution or chain lube anywhere near the discs.
Overall, I hate these brakes. I am embarrassed to ride my bike because they make so much noise. My brother has them on his cannondale and he has the exact same problems. These brakes are garbage and I feel like I was robbed. Can you imagine what would happen if a car company produced a car with brakes like this? I paid a lot of money for this bike and I feel like a fool. I am currently researching the best choice for an alternative. I am thinking on Hayes but I hear the Hope and Shimano brakes are good as well. I will NEVER buy another bike from Cannondale. I have lost all faith in that company. If someone in this column says that these brakes are great, they are either: a) in denial, because the brakes cost so much and they don't want to admit that they got taken, or b) are just f$#%ing stupid, or c) don't ride very much, and just like the way the bike looks I just can't say enough bad things about these brakes...and for that, I am truly sorry, cuz I really wish that my bike had kick-ass brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Shuttz
a Racer
from Indianapolis Date Reviewed: April 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
None in Indy
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Garage Indy, South
Strengths:
Warning pedestrians of an impending collision.
Weaknesses:
Once they broke in they were great for about 20 hrs of pavement riding, (They were so bad, I was scared of off road). Then the squealing starts, and deceleration stops. Then they got wet once, now they are locked up. Did I mention the poorly sealed hub bearings are locked up too. I'll be replacing the brakes and hub, with standard 6 bold and good bearings. the front hub seems to be just fine, even after wet. (I got the inside bearing seal kit). The lefty I was able to dismantle and clean and reassemble (by my self, I might add). out side of common maintenance the lefty rules, Coda brakes and hub lack quality to cut cost. Obviously a lack of product testing, unless that’s what I’m doing now!
Similar Products Used:
I can not claim to be a disk brake guru, but my friends equivalent bike with Hayes brakes are most impressive, and so were my V-brakes(despite Shimano).
Bike Setup:
Standard late 1999 FX2000, except;XTR front derailer,24,34,46 raceface 180mm cranks, Ringle Seatpost (coda seat lasted 16 days).
Bottom Line:
I can't recommend any CODA product. Save your money and buy after market, its not that expencive in the end.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
racer x
a Racer
from atlanta Date Reviewed: April 9, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
there really isn't anything good to say about these brakes. they have poor stopping power. the first few generations of pads wore away in about 30 minutes of muddy racing. modulation in dry weather is ok at best. ----------- i went to product seminars when i worked at a cannondale dealership. the problem is mainly in design. EVERYBODY ELSE USES AN "OPEN" SYSTEM WITH A RESERVOIR; cars, motorcycles, well designed hydraulic bike brakes, etc.
a reservoir collects any impurities (gases, dirt, water-vapor, etc.) in the lines and separates them from the rest of the system. from the same lack of commmon sense and surplus of stubborness that still brings you needle bearings in a fork .... a hydraulic brake system without a reservoir. performance is further compromised by organic pad compounds (without metal). they don't work. so, cannondale finally came clean in 2001 and stopped spec of the expert crap brakes on their high end. tinker juarrez never put that sh!t on his bike. -------------- and to all the other reviewers below who say: "you're not setting them up right!" I SAT THROUGH A DEMO BY ONE OF THE GUYS WHO DESIGNS THEM. -- I CAN SET THEM UP CORRECTLY AND STILL SAY "THEY WORK LIKE CRAP." ------------- hayes, hope, or magura if you want disc brakes that work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, Tx Date Reviewed: March 29, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Bikeline
Strengths:
Lightweight, easy to adjust pads.
Weaknesses:
Pads wear quickly, bad modulation (even after lines been bled), terrible squeal, cheap shims put between brake housing and fork mount, poor braking.
Similar Products Used:
first hydraulic brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F900SX
Bottom Line:
The first day on the trail (it was wet) I wore the front pads down to metal (approx 15 miles). Brought back to dealer and was told it was defective brake caliper and had it replaced. Brakes worked fine for a awhile then rear became soft and had the brake lines bled. Worked OK for a month then rear brake got soft again. Also the dreaded squeal began when braking. Had brakes serviced again. Two months later same squeal and soft/weak rear braking. Gave bike to my wife who hardly rides and not agressively (bought a used Super V 2000). She told me that before I could ever get another bike that I need to get those brakes fixed because "they don't feel right and they don't stop me as well as the other brakes". Wrote to Cannodale and was told to take it back to dealer and get a newer brake pads. I don't think that will do much but maybe fix the squealing problem. I think I better buy some different brakes before my wife gets hurt or decides to hurt me because I didn't fix the problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Weber
a Weekend Warrior
from Provo, UT. USA Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Devils Gulch, Leavenworth, WA.
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Franks Bicycles
Strengths:
I personnaly feel that these brakes, when operating correctly, are great. They have good rider feedback and excellent stopping power. They are also light.
Weaknesses:
O.K. here it goes. Two years ago I bought a Cannondale F900 on prodeal from the shop I worked at. I really wanted to get my hands on a set of Cannondales new discs. At first they were great, then they started squeeling like banshees, I was actually embarassed to ride my bike and that sucks. Then they sprang a leak and at the same time I found out that Cannondale was voluntarily exchanging them for the new Coda Competition discs with a new brake compound. I loved the new discs. But then they also started squeeking and they never seemed to work right. Isn't the point of discs to have consistant braking? Well, not with these. I was very dissapointed, and then I heard that Cannondale came out with some new discs called "Experts". I thought for sure that all my problems would be solved with the new model. I ran into some good fortune soon after and was able to pick a brand new F2000SX for $1300. It had everything I wanted including the new Experts. The new brakes worked really well, I did notice that they had less power than the competitions but at least they were consistant. At least for awhile anyway. I have had to constantly have them bled, at least once a month, they literally exploded on me at the worst possible time (flying downhill) and once I wrote to Cannondale asking for some expert advice, now don't get me wrong, I love Cannondale, they responded quickly (which I appreciate), but they basically told me to go out and buy a new "stand-off tube". Now that pissed me off. Am I always going to have to buy something to fix them? Anyway, I hate feeling like I have to buy new brakes.
Bottom Line:
If you want brakes that you don't have to constantly keep a close eye on, these brakes are not for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from Tempe, Arizona Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sunset Trail - Mt Elden
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Strengths:
Compact design, decent levers, good modulation
Weaknesses:
horribly problematic. Poor power due to constant problems.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
900sx
Bottom Line:
Just get the LBS to trade them for something else. Don't feel confident in the reviews from the weenies that have only used them for a month. They may have fixed the problems as Cannondale usually does, but I don't think it is fair to beta test brakes on its customers. I have had multiple seal problems that have cost me several great rides. When completely setup, using every trick from Cannondale, they are decent brakes, but they are finicky and if you get three rides out of them then you must have better luck than anyone that I have talked to about them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Racer
from Eau Claire, WI, USA Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1599.00
Purchased At:
Local Shop
Strengths:
Stop Good, Nice Look,
Weaknesses:
Have a little bit of drag, but all of them do, so there arent any weaknesses I guess.
Similar Products Used:
XTR v-brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000 Full XTR
Bottom Line:
I cant stand how everybody rips on these brakes. It really pisses me off how mountain bike always says that these brakes suck. Yeah, they may be a little heavy, but they stop me just fine. They're brakes for S@#$ sake. If they stop you, they work. If they dont, then you can say they suck, but until then, I think you should think again about these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nicola Dirupo
a Cross Country Rider
from Verona, ITALY Date Reviewed: December 16, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good look, good levers
Weaknesses:
Pads very sensibles to contamination, the front howl like crazy and it is the second time that I must replace the rear caliper because it fills oil, contaminating pads.
Similar Products Used:
V_brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F 5000 sl (volvo Team replica Y2k)
Bottom Line:
I started with this bike and I was very impressed about this brakes, everything was good. After four months rear brake lost power. I replaced the pads. Three days later the problem returns, and I found out the caliper filled out oil, so in warranty substituction. With it I replaced front pads(green), with new (blue). One month later noises from the front when it was hot, but good braking power. Today a new failure, the rear brake doesn't brake, why? Because the caliper fill out oils on the pads. At the moment I'm writing this,I'm waiting for a new in warranty substituction, but the warranty will stop next friday. Last problem, with new pads, rotor pefectly aligned, continues the noise from the front brake. If one of you have a solution(not magical) for this problem write me please arydyx@tin.it and I'll thank you for the rest of my life. In the end, I think the bike is very good so as the fork and all of it except for the brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hans
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterford Date Reviewed: December 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Highland Rec
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Flawless operation Great stopping power Good modulation Easy to adjust
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock F-900SX
Bottom Line:
After one season and about 1000 miles, I have not had any trouble with the Expert disc's.
I did get my bike back from the LBS after a tune up and to my surprise I had almost no rear brakeing! After walking the bike down most of the steep descents, I was not happy. When I got the bike on the stand at home I found that the mechanic had the L & R pads on the wrong side! This caused the pad to have very little surface contact and no stopping power.
My advice is to get the tech info from the C'Dale web site and do all of the maintenance yourself. Follow the procedures and these brakes will work perfectly!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paul silva
a Cross Country Rider
from san anselmo ca usa Date Reviewed: December 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:
pine mt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
sunshine bike
Strengths:
Great stopping power (when set up right) single piston sealed closed system, on the fly adjustability.
Weaknesses:
lever is realy big
Similar Products Used:
Vees, magura.
Bike Setup:
custom single speed, disc on front, rigid fork (1x1) 2.4 wtb front tyer,Syncros 6 bolt front hub, wide rim.big disc
Bottom Line:
I just turned 1000 mi. on these and have had (0) problems. 1) I ride every day, 10+ mi. 1000 ft climbing,10+mi. up then 1000+ft of downhill, 2) Im' a very rude rider, (I stand when I climb). 3) on the weekend I ride 40+mi. 4) the disc is the only big C thing I own ( I wouldnt'own a nonsteal bike) 5) I run a rigid fork 6) Iv' riddin down the Kamakazi at Mammouth for 5 days in a row, no problems, I stoped when I whated to 7) still have not replaced the pads 8) take the time to set them up right! 9) they will stop you better than anything out there with great mod, and feel, the down hill disc is the Bomb, till this year it was the biggest disc on the market (size) I have the 6 bolt rotor, and I think all of you kids out there might try reading the instructions Frist before mouting these, it does help, by the way I'm also running a Syncros front hub
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from england Date Reviewed: November 20, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
'on the fly pad' adjustment light look ok work ok for a month
Weaknesses:
lack of power pads suffer from contamination stop working after a month
Similar Products Used:
avid v's and shimano cantis
Bike Setup:
f1000
Bottom Line:
These brakes worked fine for a couple of months and then the trouble started. They started to lack power and became very noisy. I've bled the units, degreased the rotors and replaced the pads quite a few times, but within a week the brakes are back to having hardly any power. Various canondale dealers have tried and failed to fix the problem, the last dealer told me that they couldn't get them to work as they should and offered to sell me new coda disc brakes for £130 each! I recently borrowed a friends bike with had avid v's, and found that these required far less effort to stop the bike than my coda discs!
Don't buy CODA discs, if there fitted as standard on a bike that you're buying then swap them out for a brand that works.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Look cool
Weaknesses:
Impossible to keep adjusted properly. Ambient temperature sensative
Similar Products Used:
Hayes hydro and mechanical; Avid mechanical; Magura Louise
Bike Setup:
C'Dale SuperV with Lefty
Bottom Line:
First, the brakes are not made by Magura. Similar design to the Louise/Clara/Julie, but all Cannondale.
Second, these brakes suck. They are impossible to keep adjusted due to sensitivity to ambient temperature changes. I'm not talking heat generated due to breaking. I'm talking starting your ride out at 7am in low 60 degree (F) weather and being able to pull the lever to the bar without stopping; then at 10am in 70-80 degree weather having brakes that work fine, then at noon in near 90 degree weather having almost 0 lever travel before brakes lock up. What are you supposed to do, hope off your bike and adjust the brakes simply because the air temperature rose 5 degrees?
Third, it now looks like C'Dale has given up on making their own disk brakes. In 2k1 upper end models are being equipped with Magura Louise or Hayes disk brakes.
After a year of frustration, and testing several different systems, I switched to the new Hayes HMX1 mechanical brakes. Stop as good as the hydraulic and are easier to maintain.
If your buying a new bike equipped with these brakes, talk to the LBS about swapping them out, if your considering buying these brakes, don't.
Both Magura and Hayes make rotors for CODA hubs.
I would give a value rating of 0 is I could. $500 bucks for these brakes is a rip-off. (Magura Louise, Shimano XT, and Grimeca can be had for $300, Hayes mechanicals for $170; complete sets)
Overall rating of 2 chilis, when adjusted properly they did stop you; mostly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tom deakins
a Cross Country Rider
from Mass Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Milford
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Strengths:
Coda Expert disk set.
Well, they are disks.
Weaknesses:
Not much power. Rear has very little power no matter what pads are installed.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes and Magura Louise
Bike Setup:
Stock Jekyl 900SX.
Bottom Line:
Cannondale is probably getting these from Magura. It's Magura's Louise/Clara design with some mods to be C'dale specific. They work similar to the Louise. Very finiky setup and low power. Similar power to v-brakes.
The Coda Comp is Magura's newer 2 piston design. Somewhat better than the Louise 1 piston design.
Avoid them if you can. The Lefty's can only use the Coda's, as they are a C'dale proprietary size. No other brakes will fit on the fork. However, the rear can take any caliper and rotor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Rooney
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia Date Reviewed: October 4, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Spring hill
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Cecil Walker Cycles
Strengths:
The badge on the product.
Weaknesses:
well they don't live up to the expectations of any on e who uses them as they are hopeless.
Similar Products Used:
Magura, Shimano XT.
Bike Setup:
Raven 800 stock.
Bottom Line:
Does the name General stand for general manager. How much are you being paid ya phony. Do you really think anyone believes the crap you write, just to stop these crap brakes getting to the hall of shame. Just like the CODA hubs they are useless.(see my review on the Hubs)People like you (C.Dale sales people) make me sick why don't you stop peddling the rhetoric and listen to the people negative feedback is the best consumer poll you can have, we pay a lot of money for the equipment and don't want second best. So unless you want everyone going to Shimano listen to the experts, us the people who use them everyday. Maybe Americans can't cut it in the big world of manufacturing, look at the automotive industry, second rate quality control. Be real, get a better Job looser.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darran
a Cross Country Rider
from Cheddington, Bucks, UK Date Reviewed: October 3, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The braking surface is away from most of the mud and gloop. Kinda cute Easy pad adjustment and replacement
Weaknesses:
Need regular fiddling to keep them working well. Pad adjustment is easy but not very secure - loosens off to easily. 4 bolt pattern Single Piston
Similar Products Used:
Just V brakes, no other disks.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000SL Klein Mantra - with XT V brakes
Bottom Line:
At first I really wasn't very impressed. They had really poor power and on the rear the lever would come all the way back to the bar under hard braking. I took the bike back to the shop and asked them to set them up for me - couldn't tell any difference afterwards.
Since then I've spent a bit of time fiddling with them and trying to get them set up to my liking. They feel really good now. The reviews here are pretty mixed. I think these brakes are just a bit sensitive to setup. Get it right and there's plenty of power and feel. I've had no problems with fluid leaks or the like.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Nash
a Cross Country Rider
from Halifax, N,S. Canada Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wrandees
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
These brakes provide moderate stopping performance in wet conditions than most v brakes. Easy pad replacement & adjustment.
Weaknesses:
Poor stopping power overall. Original pads wear out quickly. Had to install semi-metallic pads with heat disipating fittings, with little improvement. These brakes howl like crazy in wet and dirty conditions. The worst & scariest incident yet has been complete failure of the rear brake lever. There was no warning whatsoever, the pivot pin where the master cylinder and the lever meet popped out on a ride. Has a four bolt attachment pattern to the hubs instead of international system. Have to buy new hubs in order to change to competitors product.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes disc, Grimeca disc, Avid V's, Shimano V's
Bike Setup:
f900, headshok fatty, lx/xtr, mavic 317 disc rims, rock shox post, Tioga fat 66 tires.
Bottom Line:
These brakes do not perform nearly as well as other disc systems and have proven unsafe in my opinion. One little tidbit I have learned is that these brakes will not be spec. on next years high end C'dales. Hayes and Magura will be used instead. How ironic? My LBS has been excellent and have gone to bat for me everytime and so far have helped me tremendously with issues with these brakes and other "Coda failures". Thats another story. I think it is time for Cannondale to help their customers who already own these brakes and replace them with a better performing product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
THE GENERAL
a Racer
from PC FLA Date Reviewed: September 2, 2000
Favorite Trail:
HARD ROCK
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Everything about them
Weaknesses:
Nothing
Similar Products Used:
Hayes,Magura,Avid,Shimano Disc, XT/XTR V-Brakes, Onza, and more I can't even remeber
Bike Setup:
I have two bikes with the Experts setup on them. Both of by bikes are cannodales and are setup the Experts
Bottom Line:
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF READING ALL THE BAD REVEIWS HERE AND IN THE MAGS OF THE EXPERT BRAKES. THEY WORK GREAT IF YOU SET THEM UP RIGHT. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES WHEN C-DALE FIRST CAME OUT HAS LONG BE SOLVED. I DON'T KNOW ANY COMPANY THAT CAN COME OUT WITH AS MANY NEW PRODUCTS AS THEM, AS FAST AS THEY DO, THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM OR TWO. AND THEN FIX IT AS FAST AS THEY MADE IT. PEOPLE WHINE ABOUT ANY NEW PRODUCT IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. NOW CANNONDALE IS SPECING THE 2001 BIKES WITH THE STUPID MAGURA DISC THAT PUMP UP AND USE THE CHEAPEST PLASTIC BRAKE LEVERS FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WITH SMALL MINDS AND WHINING MOUTHS. Once you set the brakes up right you don't have to do any thing but ride and clean like any brake. I and a BBI and USCF certified race mechanic. I have worked with alot of different brakes and these are the easiest brakes to set up and for the consumer the 2nd generation are most trouble free brakes on the market right now. Take the "NEW" shimano discs. They use what they call self adjusting pads. They move by themselves when the pads get worn. So if the rotor gets the smallest bend it will rub on the pads. You can't even adjust. Even shimano says that they are not meant to be used by someone who is going to race. All of the cannondale team(exept Tinker)uses the Experts. Now how unsafe can they be if the whole pro team uses them. The main reason they have had leaky calipers is people pulling the levers when the wheel was not in. By doing this you push the piston past the seal. Then the brake is contaminated. Now its making all kinds of noise and the someone is thinking about all the bad reveiws and take the perfect brake system in to the bike shop that does not understand how they work and they warranty them. So the guy tells all his buddys and then writes one of the bad reveiw up above. This is the only thing wrong with the coda expert brakes. SO ALL YOU GUYS WHO THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. YOU DON'T DESERVE TO RIDE OF SUCH A GREAT BRAKE SET. IN FACT YOU DON'T DESERVE TO RIDE A CANNONDALE. SO SELL YOUR BIKE TO SOMEONE WHO WILL RESPECT THE GREAT WORK OF ART THAT THE CANNONDALE IS. email me with (ANY) comments of questions
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sandman
a Cross Country Rider
from Nepean, ON, Canada Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wolf
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
prone to chronic self-contamination
Bike Setup:
1999 Cdale f2000
Bottom Line:
I honestly gave these brakes a chance, and replaced the pads a few times. Bottom line, they don't work, and aren't worth it. I believe they leak during heavy use, thus contaiminating the pads for good! I've tried several different cleaning strategies and none worked. This isn't a first with a Coda product. I threw out the Coda pedals the first week I got the bike and replaced with shimano.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John H
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
- Made in USA - Dual Pistons - Closed system - Fluid developed by NASA that won't expand under extreme heat or cold - Easy to maintain - Way the levers feel
Weaknesses:
what?
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
2000 Raven 4000SX with CODA Competition DiscBrakes
Bottom Line:
Don't waste your money on CODA ExpertGarbage-DiscBrakes... Get CODA COMPETITION!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a
from Winston-Salem, NC Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Good braking & especially so in wet or muddy conditions. Low maintenance so far.
Weaknesses:
None noticed to date.
Similar Products Used:
No comparisons really tested or used other than v brake systems
Bike Setup:
900Sx w/lefty
Bottom Line:
I read the reviews offered below earlier & prior to purchasing my 900sx. I have been waiting for the spec'd c-dale disc brakes to blow up, but so far so good!! Honestly have not had a problem. My LBS also indicated no major concerns with the ones they have sold.
My riding style may not be as agressive(not a xc racer) or as abusive on equipment as the others below, but I ride all the technical stuff out there, and use these brakes heavily. No leaking lines, great stopping power(locks out on command), miniumn of adjustments needed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek Hapta
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:
anything technical
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
I'll get to that
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
C'dale raven 2000sl,mavic crosslink disc,syncros post,ct2 bar,tioga fat 66, and HAYES DISCS
Bottom Line:
With the upgrades I paid 5000 canuck for this bike and it is worth every penny...Not many bikes can eat single track like this thing. I don't think I have to tell anyone reading these reviews what I think about the brakes...I went through 3 sets of Experts before I finally made the switch to Hayes, I wore through the rear brake line in two months, the back started to leak from the fitting, had it replaced and the new rear started leaking from the piston-side adjuster, the front piston side adjuster seized, had the caliper replaced and the the fixed side adjuster (on the "new" caliper) spun out every few km's and the rotor just buzzed, squealed and didn't work, good thing I had a 5mm allen. There's alot to be said about engineering, of which these brakes have very little! I'm sure Cannondale's next generation will be just as good as the rest but for now I wouldnt even call these brakes SAFE, seriously. If you have em' keep an eye on em'
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ripper
a Weekend Warrior
from Okanagan valley,BC Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
got disc brakes
Weaknesses:
don't work like discs
Similar Products Used:
magura,louise Hayes,formula,diatech mechanical
Bike Setup:
santa cruz bullit qr20 5" XTR VBrakes
Bottom Line:
No I don't own c'dale discs. because they have NO power. I have seen people say that they offer great modulation. but, com'on man modulation means that you are actually able to lock 'em up at some point. These brakes don't even have the power to skid the back wheel. I have ridden all of my friends bikes and I am waiting to try Shimano/grimeca brakes before commiting to shelling out for a set of hayes. I think the diatech mechanicals have the edge on the cdale discs,sad but true. Cannondale please never spec these again and give your customers some real brakes through a world wide recall. I think if someone ever sues you will regret not doing so. no one should buy a bike with these on them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Laurence Wilks
a Cross Country Rider
from Southampton, Hampshire, U.K. Date Reviewed: May 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Elan Valley, Wales
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light(ish) weight
Weaknesses:
Poor design, poor engineering, poor braking performance, poor lever feel, levers wobble and rattle
Similar Products Used:
XT V-brakes, XTR V-Brakes, Hope Sport, Hope XC4
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F900SX, standard except rigid seatpost and Hope XC4 brakes
Bottom Line:
I have had numerous problems with these (Expert) brakes.
1) 4 weeks after purchase the fluid was so contaminated the lever would not move!
2) After a further 2 weeks the 'repaired' brakes were soft with both levers going back to the bars with no appricable braking effect. Faulty bleed nipples were at fault !
3) 3 weeks later the front brake failed completely, 15 miles from civilisation, when the adjuster un-screwed itself!
4) After using thread lock on the adjusters the adjusters seized solid due to Cannondale recommending the wrong type of threadlock!
5) Final problem was both brakes failing due to faulty master resevoirs!
I finally gave up and fitted Hope XC4's with Pro levers, although only three weeks old they are already proving much more reliable, with better braking and a well engineered feel. Hopefully the Hope's will perform as well as my previous Hope's which lasted 3 years with only pad changes!
Final word, the F900SX is great, the fork is the best I've ridden, the frame and all the components are superb it's just the brakes that let it down. In my opinion they are not fit for the purpose they are sold for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from millwood Date Reviewed: May 9, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
none yet
Weaknesses:
well, to update my prior review, the front brake is excellent. However, the rear is spongy and the adjustment is frozen solid.
Bike Setup:
F900sx
Bottom Line:
Bottom line - I'm thinking about switching to hayes. So far these brakes are not too good. First, the first set I had leaked fluid. These replacements don't leak. However, the rear adjustment simply does not work. What the deal Cannondale? Looks like my bike is going back to the shop once again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gorgon
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, Canada Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Easy to bleed.
Weaknesses:
Weak stopping power. Howling from discs. Wimpy levers.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes. xt V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
Raven 900sx
Bottom Line:
I was warned that in muddy BC Coda brakes might start out working OK but go into a rapid decline with each ride, which was exactly my experience. After one muddy ride the brakes began to howl so badly it was embarassing. I'm talking howling so bad you can't hear yourself think. Tried cleaning the pads and disc but to no avail. The stopping power started out OK, not great but OK, and quickly diminished to less than V-brakes. Switched to Hayes and the difference is astounding. No howling, the brakes have incredible stopping power in the wet, the lever set up works well. Exactly what you have the right to expect for the cost of disc brakes. I am amazed that Cannondale would put such a shoddy product on their very good bikes. Fortunately, I was able to convince my bike shop to help with the upgrade but I lost months of riding and bottom line is I should not have had to do this. Maybe the brakes work in dry, clean, flat conditions but in BC where if you see the mountains it means its going to rain and if you can't it's raining, Codas don't cut it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Ossining, NY USA Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
None yet
Weaknesses:
I have barely taken the bike out of the driveway. I already blew out the front brake, all the brake fluid leaked out and now the brake does not work at all. Further, its got serious drag on the non-pivot pad side.
As for the rear brake, there is no drag, but it leaks fluid.
I still have to bring the bike back to the shop. Hopefully, these problems can be fixed.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes disc, cantilever brakes
Bike Setup:
F900SX with Coda Expert Discs
Bottom Line:
At this point, $1800.00 later, I am very disappointed. I expect my shop to fix the problem and I do not expect to have to go back again. If I do, there is going to be some hell to pay by Cannondale. I'll let everyone know how I make out after I have my shop look at it. Like I said, I have literally not taken the bike out of my driveway, and already I am experiencing difficulty with these brakes. Good thing I was not on the trail when my front brake failed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darwin
a Cross Country Rider
from Cupertino Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Stopping power, maintance, look, reasy to adjust
Weaknesses:
tight knobs and bolts for the levers, levers kinda heavy to pull
Similar Products Used:
crappy v brakes
Bike Setup:
CAAD3 frameset with Fatty SL, coda competition disc brakes, Mavic 223 on coda expert hubs, rock shox seat post, LX/XT
Bottom Line:
Very easy to adjust, install, and maintain. When bleeding the brakes, follow every single steps from the menu. don't let any fluid comes in contact with the pads, or they'll speak like hell. replace pads if sqeak and clean with dawn and water solution with 1:10 ratio. it happened to my front brake when i was cutting and line and have to bleed the system. when the bike slowly rows and the front brake is pressed, it speak like crazy. i first tried to clean it with dawn, and sand down the pads, didn't help at all, lucky, i have a extra pair of pads and after i switched it, it works great. these brakes stops good and quick, but the levers are kinda in a odd shape, i use a lx shifter and have to put the brake lever in first than the shifter, or i'll have a real hard time to pull the lever right on the v grove. i got the whole front and rear brakes with wheels for $350. it just works great and looks great on my Caad3. i give it a 4 chilis for over all rating because of the lever, otherwise these brakes kick A$$. =)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Toni
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Santos trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Superior power and modulation.
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise
Bike Setup:
F900sx and F2000sx both with lefty
Bottom Line:
These brakes work great. If yours don't work right then you or your shop doesn't know what they are doing. I have two bikes with the expert discs on them and they are far superior to the XTR's that were on my last bike. The trick with these brakes is learning how to set them up. You really need to learn how to do it your self. Once you get it down these brakes will be trouble free, with only average maintence. If you ride in wet weather, down steep hills, are tired of poor modulation, want to look cool, have money to burn, or just want the best damn brakes on the planet, get some discs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Westfield, NJ Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Easy to setup and adjust, excellent stopping power, Solid levers, no drag
Weaknesses:
I have them mounted on a Zoke z1 x.fly and when in a rooftop rack, the brakepads stick out far enough to keep you from fully inserting front fork into clamp - annoying
Similar Products Used:
Had the Coda Expert Disk for 6 mos. on a demo 900SX, Had Hayes disk for 1 yr. before that
Bike Setup:
Cannondale 4000SL set up for long travel
Bottom Line:
The Coda Competition Disk are much better than the Coda Expert Disk, especially if you have larger hands - the Experts levers were too small and required regular adjusting. The Competition's are set'em and leave'em - they're very consistent and eventually as pads wear, you can adjust at the lever units. Very good modulation, much more than on my Hayes which were like hitting a wall. Also, the pads retract better than on the Hayes because I have no drag at all whereas the Hayes there were occasional issues with drag. I recommend the Coda Competition brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wheeeee
a Weekend Warrior
from socal Date Reviewed: January 17, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
We don't need no stinking V brakes
Weaknesses:
I have to adjust the front pads after a hard ride.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Vees
Bike Setup:
F2000SX
Bottom Line:
CODA Experts on the F2000 Lefty, Welcome to the beginning of the end of Vee brakes.
For those of you who think discs are too heavy... Get a Dale. My large F2000SX weighs 24.5 pounds with real tires (WTB Velo 2.1's; not the flimsy stuff one gets coz companies wanna lighten the bike) . Don't give me no "Dale sux" crap. Your other brand bike has so much in common with a Dale than you would care to admit (SRAM/Shimano/Mavic etc etc) that you might as well say yer bike sux too.
If ya think discs are just a fad... At least one major manufacturer does not put vee brake bosses on their high end frames anymore. Some fad... Get with the program. Get stopping power after a water crossing. Get disc brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ Date Reviewed: January 8, 2000
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great stopping power long pad life (so far) no squealing great modulation
I think these are the best brakes i have used. they are 100 times better than my friends XTR V-Brakes that lock up when you touch the lever. go out and get these now!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nutter
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: December 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
South Mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Different Stops well Good Modulation Adjustable
Weaknesses:
Squeaky That pining sound Lever to long.
Similar Products Used:
LX V-brakes
Bike Setup:
F2000 nashbar carbon fiber pedals Titec riser
Bottom Line:
I really like these brakes. I ride on some really hairy stuff and need good brakes. The lever adjustability is great. I like to use the 1 finger braking method, so the levers had to be moved farther down on the handle bars. But after some minor adjustment, they work great. The squeaking and pinging is kind of annoying, but I can deal with it. I have not had any problems with the stopping power. Especially at 240+, stopping can put a lot of stress on a braking system. This system has done me no wrong. In fact, I would never go back to V-brakes again. They are light too. I have only riden in dry conditions though. Hopefully they can hold up on the east coast with all that mud and stuff. I will let you know how they worked out a few months from now. Overall 5 for stopping and adjustability 4 for poor levers and the noise
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Yakima Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
you can ride with trashed rims. save money on brake pads. adjustable cable tension disk revolution
Weaknesses:
weight some performance issues
Similar Products Used:
hayes disk magura disk coda expert disk
Bike Setup:
cannondale f4000 and f2000
Bottom Line:
CODA brakes can be friend or foe, depending on who sets them up. If the brake becomes contaminated, you are going to have to do some work. Most of the poor braking from these is due to using the wrong cleaners. You should only use dawn dishwashing fluid to clean these! After a good cleaning and possibly replacing pads with new uncontaminated pads they work. After this take a water bottle and ride. while your riding, squirt the water at the rotors and brake and apply lightly. this will burn any junk off and yes, perfect stoppers. Also, cdale's page is got a ton of tips on these to. Overall I'll give em a four because the cleaning issue thing is fairly consistent prob.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Colin
a Weekend Warrior
from wisconsin Date Reviewed: October 24, 1999
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
I work at a local shop,and have found that washing your rotors and pads with 'dawn'dish soap will make them grab much better.However using degreaser or brake cleaner will leave a film on the disk and pads.This film will make your brakes even worse.'Dawn' works best.I have tried many other soaps.'Dawn cuts grease out of your way!'
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta, Ga Date Reviewed: October 19, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Bull Mt. Chicopee Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Looks
Weaknesses:
Weak Stopping Power Product Leaks
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Maguras LX/XT/XTR v-brakes
Bike Setup:
Raven 2000SL with Cannondale Expert Disc Brakes, Fox Vanilla RC
Bottom Line:
I'm giving this product 1 star because I can't give them a zero rating. These brakes are pure crap. The LX V-brakes on my old bike had better stopping power than these brakes. Cannondale's Competition discs may be great, but the Expert are terrible. These brakes have no stopping power and the lever for the rear brake feels spongy. I thought maybe it was just a set up problem on my bike, but after testing some other bikes with the Competition brakes, they were just as bad. To makes matter worse, they started leaking. My LBS ordered new rear system for my bike and it also started leaking. I have ridden bikes with Hayes and Maguras and they had incredible stopping power, so I do know what disc brakes are supposed to feel like. For as much as I paid for my bike, I expected a great performing product. I'm extremely disappointed with this Cannondale product. My bike has spent more time in the Shop than on the trails. Very disappointed with Cannondale.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig Gjerdingen
a Cross-Country Rider
from St. Paul, MN Date Reviewed: October 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
River Flats by the old Cedar Bridge, MN OR Porcupine Ridge, UT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Weaknesses:
Any possative comments on these breaks have been made by nonserious riders, people who've had them less than 100 Miles, or bike machanics.They work fine for about a week and a half worth of riding then the go soft and you can't not stop! Don't buy a bike equipped with these brakes! The store I got them from have been great, but thats not enough, cause it doesn't fix the problem. I hate going back there time after time to have them fix something that can't be fixed. CODA / Cannondale recall these things!
Bottom Line:
Wish I could rate them a no stars.I'm reporting them to the consumer product saftey commission at www.cpsc.org ! Nuff said!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig Gjerdingen
a Cross-Country Rider
from St. Paul, MN Date Reviewed: October 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
River Flats by the old Cedar Bridge, MN OR Porcupine Ridge, UT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Weaknesses:
Any possative comments on these breaks have been made by nonserious riders, people who've had them less than 100 Miles, or bike machanics.They work fine for about a week and a half worth of riding then the go soft and you can't not stop! Don't buy a bike equipped with these brakes! The store I got them from have been great, but thats not enough, cause it doesn't fix the problem. I hate going back there time after time to have them fix something that can't be fixed. CODA / Cannondale recall these things!
Bottom Line:
Wish I could rate them a no stars.I'm reporting them to the consumer product saftey commission at www.cpsc.org ! Nuff said!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Stroh
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fort Defiance, AZ Date Reviewed: October 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
The Dump Loop
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Power, Modulation, Feedback
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Old School xt cantilevers, xt vbrakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Raven 900sx
Bottom Line:
Is it just me, or do the people who dislike these brakes have the grammar skills of a teletubby? These brakes have great modulation and power. I have been a bike mechanic for the last four years, and these disc brakes are easily twenty-five percent more powerful and responsive than a properly set up pair of quality v-brakes. 'nuff said!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Date Reviewed: October 6, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Work great for awhile
Weaknesses:
Stop working
Bottom Line:
Don't work after serious riding. Meat from GA is talking out of his @$$. I've never used soap on my bike and I've had a few shops look at them. Why do they work after breaking in then don't work...get new pads, work for awhile then don't work...I'm guessing it's the pads. Meat must have some pretty high tech equipment to see pieces of his pad on the rotor. If that is true then that design is $(%^ed.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Kalamazoo, Michigan Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Fort Custer
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Looks Cool
Weaknesses:
Break in period Weak braking Lousy levers
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000
Bottom Line:
I own two identical Canondales one with XTR V brakes on ceramic Cross Max's and one the Coda Discs (F2000) The V brakes out perform the discs under all conditions. I'm a very large rider (280#) and find the coda discs inferior to conventional V brakes. They draw allot of attention from other riders but performance is well behind the curve. If you want show get a pair. If you want performance stick with what works..
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sactown, Ca Date Reviewed: August 4, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
modulation up the ying yang.
Weaknesses:
none! zero! Zilch
Similar Products Used:
v-brakes
Bike Setup:
Cdale F900 limited edition
Bottom Line:
There are two kinds of coda disc brakes. expert (single piston) and competition (dual piston). I have the competition. I must admit i was very frustrated with my original coda competition brakes because they leaked and were recalled. Cannondale offered to replace my leaky calipers with their new y2k competition calipers and I am very pleased. After slowly breaking the pads in my breaking feels orgasmic. I will never go back to v-brakes. what can I say, these work great and look great too. I must rate them 5 chilies since Cannondale warranteed and upgraded my calipers for free. Keep up the great service.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Sprague
a Cross-Country Rider
from Melbourne Australia Date Reviewed: June 14, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Any single track
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
* Perfect modulation and brake feel * Light weight * Easy adjustment * No cables to replace, clean, tension etc...
Weaknesses:
Brake pads ping rotars at high speed - theory is that wind speed pushes against tabs on each pad causing pad to pull away from caliper and hit the rotar causing load pinging sound.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000
Bottom Line:
Overall would never go back to V brakes these are awesome stoppers and give heaps of confidence on gnarly downhills. Once set up properly to prevent any drag these brakes are a must. If I can fix the pinging at high speed will give them full marks.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MEAT
a Racer
from GAINESVILLE,GA Date Reviewed: May 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
CHICOPEE
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
STOPPING POWER,NO DRAG,RELIABLE
Weaknesses:
NONE YET, OTHER THAN BREAK IN PERIOD
Similar Products Used:
MAGURA DISC, XTR V- BRAKE
Bike Setup:
CANNONDALE TEAM REPLICA
Bottom Line:
GREAT STOPPERS, ALOT OF THE REASONS PEOPLE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH DISC NOT STOPPING WELL IS BECAUSE THEY ARE WASHING THE DISC OR GETTING SOAP ON THE DISC. THIS REMOVES SMALL PARTICLES OF THE BRAKE PAD WHICH ARE IMBEDDED IN THE DISC. THESE LITTLE PIECES OF PAD ARE WHAT MAKES THE BRAKES WORK THEIR BEST. EVERYTIME YOU WASH THE DISC WITH SOAP OR HIGH WATER PRESSURE THE BREAK IN PERIOD BASICALLY STARTS OVER. I WEIGH 217LBS AND BOTH MY CODA AND MAGURAS ARE AT LEAST 25% STRONGER THAN XTR V- BRAKES AND BRAKING IS MORE CONSISTENT.IF YOURS AREN'T PERFORMING BETTER THAN V- BRAKES HAVE THEM SET UP BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHATS GOING ON. HAPPY TRAILS.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Rooney
a Racer
from Dubuque Date Reviewed: May 12, 1999
Favorite Trail:
FDR
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
great stopping power, great modulation, low/no maintenance, work incredibly in all conditions, even snow, great pad life, absoloutly no drag, easy to bleed.
Weaknesses:
as with all disc set-ups, weight.
Similar Products Used:
hayes hydraulic disc, magura hydraulic rim brakes, v-brakes.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale super v w/headshok
Bottom Line:
I used hayes hydraulic discs before I got my coda discs. I was constantly adjusting them to alleviate the drag problem. The caliper would shift and I would get drag after/during every ride. I also had to adjust the caliper every time I took the front wheel off to get rid of the drag. I think this is mostly because I had to use adapters to put them on my bike. Hayes' bolt pattern allows you to move the brakes horizontaly by losening the mounting bolts and adjusting the caliper. With the codas you remove or add shims to adjust the brake horizontaly. Once you have the correct number of shims in you never have to touch the caliper or mounting bolts again (except for routine bolt tightness checks). The coda discs have cut my brake maintenace down by 90%. The codas are also a closed system that does not allow dust and dirt into the line. the hayes which use an open system are subject to brake fluid contamination. Every time I bled my hayes, the fluid that came out would be dark gray instead of a clean yellowish brake fluid color. no problems like that with the codas. plus if I get any of the coda brake fluid on my frame, I don't need to worry about my paint being destroyed by the fluid. The levers adjustability is great too. I recommend these brakes over hayes to anyone who has a cannondale with disc mounts. they are a perfect brake upgrade. I guess they say that hayes are lighter, I found this to be untrue. when I swithced brakes, I put on a heavier wheelset and my bike weighed the same as it did when it had the hayes and a lighter wheelset on it. This may have been because of the adapters I had to use with the hayes. The codas also have a lrger rotor in the front for better stopping/modulation. I get much less nois from the codas too. My hayes squealed in all conditions. Especially the front. With the codas I only get a slight squeal when the rotors are wet. The hayes also had a grabby feel, some people like that, but I prefer the codas stopping modulation. There is no quick grabby feel, just pure braking power and modulation. True, there is a small break in time for the pads, but you can expect that from any disc brake. I'm not dissing hayes, but I did have many more problems with them than with the codas. The coda discs easily get five stars from me.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Louis
a Racer
from Cap-Rouge Date Reviewed: April 15, 1999
Favorite Trail:
plage jaques-cartier
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Kind of look cool Not too bad in rain
Weaknesses:
they just suck
Similar Products Used:
Magura V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F-4000
Bottom Line:
I'm pretty tired of this piece of crap. They are pretty heavy, It brake like shit. First you have to ride them hard for about 1 week to use them so that the brake coating move off and it's after one week that troubles strart. They loose oil, whey mud comes in too the brakes they strart to jam, Once , the rear modul bolts unscrew while riding and trey are ridiculously noisy. My brother have a pair of Magura HS-22 from 95 or 96 and it crakes way much better that Coda's while beeing lighter considering you don't need ridiculously expensive and heavy wheels like Mavic Lynx or something. Anyway just try something else.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
skitch mobley
a Cross-Country Rider
from pittsburgh Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999
Favorite Trail:
south park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
1) Great modulation 2) Excellent pad life 3) Good power 4) I like the levers alread!
Weaknesses:
1) Not drag free. 2) Draws attention on the trail
Similar Products Used:
I've tried the Magura Louise and was not impressed with the quality or modulation.
Bike Setup:
These brakes came stock on an f200o, which I love like the blessed one himself.
Bottom Line:
My buddy has had all sorts of problems setting up Hayes on his Rocky Vertex TO. I'm sure they'll be great once installed, however only buy discs if they come with a complete bike. CODA has it going on with these stoppers. They have better modulation than V-brakes, but not the same power. They work great in all conditions and the extra mud clearance they provide rules. I bought the f2000 because I ride year round and was tired of repalcing rims twice a year and suffering from piss-poor braking. The CODA discs have solved these problems. I'll never go back to rim brakes.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a weekend warrior
from Boone, NC Date Reviewed: February 20, 1999
Bottom Line:
I got the Coda disks on my CAAD4 frameset from my girlfriend who has the F2000 but did not need disks and I did as I am a big guy (6'3 and 250) and never felt that rim brakes (even XTR) were strong enough. Overall I really like the brakes and am satisfied. Great strength once the pads are bedded, excellent modulation, easy adjustment, lightweight (the above weight is way off), and are relatively quiet. My complaints are that the brakes will emit a loud metal shearing sound occasionally but I think that this is because of a poor wheel build. I need some 317's. The levers could also use some ergonomic work. They are strong and durable but they need to be smaller and better shaped....kind of like XTR would be much much better. Overall I give them 4 chillis....Fix the levers and the weird noises and I'll give them 5.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis
a
from racer Date Reviewed: February 7, 1999
Bottom Line:
I got these on a F4000, and have ridden them a few times. I can only compare to V brakes, cantilevers, and parking lot rides of Hayes. Of the lot, these have by far the best modulation and feel. If you are a lock-em-up-n-slide kinda rider (and I see plenty of them, destroying trails with their braking practices), look elsewhere. These brakes have wonderful feedback. I can tell exactly what is happening at the rotor through the brake lever. I can modulate the brakes to just prior to the point of lockup, which is how they are the most effective. Just look at cars with ABS brakes, or race car drivers to verify this. However, for those times when you want to do a nose wheely, throw some gravel at your buds with a full on rear end slide, or tighten up your line in the loose stuff, you gotta really squeeze these puppies hard. Very different from v-brakes, to be sure. The proof of the effectiveness of these brakes is in my riding. I am much more confident going down scary steep stuff than I was with v-brakes. Why? Becuase, when it came right down to it, I never knew when the v's were going to lock up. The last bit of lever action of v-brakes is non-linear, unpredictable, and numb. These are just the opposite. You are in control. Very fitting with the personality of the bike, BTW, with the headshok trading other traits for steering precision. As for the levers, they are a bit crude, but no more so than others disc levers. They are all pretty gross if you are used to XTR. Cannondale has told me that rapidfire shifters will work with them, but optical won't fit. That is OK, just one more reason to get a Flight Deck.
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Submitted by
Jamie
a cross-country rider
from Boston Date Reviewed: January 22, 1999
Bottom Line:
So these are Sachs right? Well they sucks. So weak you can barely endo. My Cannondale rep said, Uh, it need shims, yeah that's it. Sure. Uh, huh. Master cylinder isn't big enough or something. Anyway you shouldn't be buying any of C-Dale's crap.
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Submitted by
Craig
a racer
from Blue Springs,MO Date Reviewed: December 23, 1998
Bottom Line:
I really like these brakes. I will probably never go back to rim brakes. They modulate well and don't add too much weight. No drag or squeal. A solid performer! I especially like them in the nasty stuff. So far, they've had no drawbacks.
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Submitted by
Kent
a weekend warrior
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: November 3, 1998
Bottom Line:
As follow-up to my original post.
I now have over 1,000 miles on the brake system. There have been (and continue to be) considerable minor problems. With the pads bedded in there is very little front modulation. Rear isn't bad.Brake squeal has continued to plague the system (especially the front)! I've cleaned the rotors, pads. etc with little to know improvement. Pad replacement yielded results only until the new pads bedded in. Getting support products (replacement bleeder valve caps and hydraulic line clamps) turned into a lengthy process taking nearly two months for the caps with the line clamps still pending. I do believe the overall caliper/rotor design to be very well thought out. Lever design while acceptable is not nearly as ergonomic as I feel they should be coming from a huge manufacture such as Cannondale. On the fly brake adjustment is possible, however the lever mounted cylinder requires a lot of torque to rotate. Overall, based on the many small quirks with these brakes, and the poor customer service I've received from Cannondale, I can't recommend the Coda disc brakes to anyone at this time. The only reason I give this product two stars is because my LBS has tried to assist with these brakes. If it weren't for their continued dedication to resolving Cannondales many problems I would sell every Cannondale I own and switch to a competitor.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kent
a weekend warrior
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: November 3, 1998
Bottom Line:
As follow-up to my original post. I now have over 1,000 miles on the brake system. There have been (and continue to be) considerable minor problems. With the pads bedded in there is very little front modulation. Rear isn't bad.Brake squeal has continued to plague the system (especially the front)! I've cleaned the rotors, pads. etc with little to know improvement. Pad replacement yielded results only until the new pads bedded in. Getting support products (replacement bleeder valve caps and hydraulic line clamps) turned into a lengthy process taking nearly two months for the caps with the line clamps still pending. I do believe the overall caliper/rotor design to be very well thought out. Lever design while acceptable is not nearly as ergonomic as I feel they should be coming from a huge manufacture such as Cannondale. On the fly brake adjustment is possible, however the lever mounted cylinder requires a lot of torque to rotate. Overall, based on the many small quirks with these brakes, and the poor customer service I've received from Cannondale, I can't recommend the Coda disc brakes to anyone at this time. The only reason I give this product two stars is because my LBS has tried to assist me with these brakes. If it weren't for their continued dedication to resolving Cannondales many problems I sell every Cannondale I own and switch to a competitor.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kent
a weekend warrior
from USA Date Reviewed: September 3, 1998
Bottom Line:
Hi, I have an F4000 which came equipped with Coda discs. I only have a few hundred miles of various riding (spin, x-country and downhill) on the bike as of this writing. Below are are my current observations. Pros 1) Totally drag free. 2) Lite. I believe Hayes are only mariginally lighter. 3) Quiet under easy to moderate braking. 4) Good Modulation. 5) No brake attachment assembly required for roof rack transport (true of any disc system). This was the primary reason I choose discs. Cons 1) Excessive break squeal once rotors are hot (trying to isolate this now)! 2) Brake lever ergonomics very crude! 3) General weight (true with of any disc system). Also note that many handlebars are not compatible with the brake levers! I wanted a Easton CT2 carbon bar but it wouldn't fit! We tried several composite bars on both the Coda and Hayes brake levers and none fit. Also be aware that Cannondale states that the disc system is designed to be used solely with twist shift shifters! I'm currently trying to isolate their reasoning behind this. It's possible the lever reservoir may interfere when used with Rapid Fire type shifters.I can only give a 3-star rating on the brakes until I have more miles on the overall system and have resolved some of the cons.
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Submitted by
Dale Peterson
a downhiller
from Fairfax California Date Reviewed: July 23, 1998
Bottom Line:
I work at a shop and just built up a F4000. The caliper is very well made, and the housing and fittings are almost identical to Magura housing and fittings. The lever isn't quite as nicely made, but you can adjust the when the lever hits. They don't drag at all and the lever feel is very solid. They have the same stopping power as a pair of v-brakes, with a little bit more modulation. The C-Dale tech guy said that they aren't really designed to be a downhill disc, this is probably why their team is using Hope disc brakes. For a lite weight realiable disc, I think these are a good choice, however, if you are looking for more power, the Hope disc brakes are the way to go.
Overall Rating:
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