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Shimano
1999 XT Hydraulic Brakes System
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Submitted by
Hordi02
a Racer
from Maine
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Super POWERFULL. No DOT fluid. Quiet, no rubbing. | | Weaknesses: | Could use a 2 piece lever clamp. | | Similar Products Used: | XT/XTR rim, Mech disc. | | Bike Setup: | '04 K2 Razorback 4.0, FULL XT (sram chain)Onyx seatpost Cane Creek HS. Hollowtech
Looking to sell | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are strong! People say they rub? Mine don't, just have to set them up right, with the tabs. Very LITTLE noise only when wet, in the snow or streams. Easy to setup (15 mins) Work great. Looking for a rear one now. GREAT BUY if you can find them. Anyone from XC Racers (like me) to Red Bull Rampagers should get these. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a
from Michigan, USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | touch them and they slow me down, grab them and I stop, squeeze the hell out of them and I flip over the bars.
They're powerful, yet modulate well. | | Weaknesses: | It's harder than hell to get the things centered so that the pads don't rub on the discs. The pistons won't really retract far enough. Mine have stayed centered for a while now, but if I were to bend a rotor ever so slightly, I'd be in deep $#!t. I bet I couldn't fit a sheet of paper between the rotor and the pads. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock promax mechanical discs. Each caliper weighed about a pound, and the pad that moved would slide over and bend the rotor against the fixed pad, unless the caliper was spaced to ride the fixed pad. Also, they seemed less powerful than the tektro V-brakes I had on another bike. BASICALLY, THEY SUCKED. | | Bike Setup: | Univega DS900 (black and red model) with XT trigger shifters (half barrel stock grip shifters suck) XTR rear derailleur, selle italia flite seat, and the XT hydros | | Bottom Line: | Probably hard to find now, considering they were discontinued for a year or two when I bought them a year ago.
I only paid $100 per brake, so, for what these brakes do, value is a 5.
Only thing stopping the overall rating from gettin the 5 is the fact that it took me an hour and a half per caliper to center them properly. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Eustace
a Cross Country Rider
from Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cannock Chase and Swansea Clyne Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Part of sale for Orange EV02 | | Strengths: | Excellent braking, not affected by dirt and water | | Weaknesses: | Lever comes back to bar randomly even when lever adjusted away from bar. What is going on!? Someone email me with the remedy michael@sv700.co.uk http://www.sv700.co.uk Cheers | | Bike Setup: | Orange EV02 frame; 2001 spec Rockshox Judy SL 100mm travel; Full Shimano XT groupset including XT disc-mount hubs and hydraulic disc brakes front and rear with XTR rear mech; Mavic D321 rims on 2.3" front and 2.1 rear Tioga DH tyres (they are huge!); Titec DH stem, bars, seatpost and seat. | | Bottom Line: | Once you use disks brakes you'll never go back! :-) | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay NoMoney
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodland, WA USA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Souixon Creek/Lewis river | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$198.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Rock Solid Stops | | Weaknesses: | Slight Rubbing even after complete adjustment | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Haro XCS(Intense Tracer) Mavic Crossmax, Easton everything. Fox Shox. Shimano XTR & bits Tits Deluxe setup. :-) | | Bottom Line: | These brakes kick #@*% for the money! Oh and the reason your brakes are squeeling like a pig... is because you spilled the mineral oil on the rotor. Clean it! with some brake cleaner! And thou shalt be smiling. I love these brakes... They make me stop quite well. All my friends are envious. You should definitely buy them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
_RatAX
a
from Protugal, Lisboa
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Similar Products Used: | I use Magura Gustav M on front ... nothing compares to this magnific brake. I recommend Magura for those who want power brake. | | Bike Setup: | twenty four bicycles, marzocchi DJ2, race face/on off components. | | Bottom Line: | i use shimano xt brake system only in rear wheel and i´m very disapointed with it. I usually ride dirt and urban.
For urban this brake doesn't work very well. Doing manuals is dangerous because at any time the brake may fail and do not support my weight. after that the lever brake is to slow it takes so many time to start stoping.
I don´t like it. But i'm sure that your will like it if you ride a XC bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Loren Lukens
a Cross Country Rider
from Pine Grove, CA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tahoe Flume Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$109.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Simple to install. Brake pads can be removed, cleaned, and replaced easily. | | Weaknesses: | These brakes are made for riders who are hearing impaired, or who will be impaired in the future. There is no way to describe the noise they produce. I have tried everything to quiet them. I even visited a local brake shop for some advice. Nothing I have tried has solved the problem. When I rode at Montana Del Oro other people on the trail were scared because they though the sound from my brakes was a waring from Mt. Diablo Nuclear Power Plant that an accident had happend. | | Bike Setup: | GT' 01 I drive race frame with all Shimano XTR with the exception of the brakes. | | Bottom Line: | If you don't mind noise they are a great brake. I have just purchased the Hayes Disc in hope of the noise solution. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taylor Loomis
a Downhiller
from Asheville NC USA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bennet Gap | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$115.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Very good power after they are broken in. The cost is very good. | | Weaknesses: | This product is hard to set up whithout having rubing. It takes several rides to start the "true" power. Also it is almost impossible to get in 8" rotors. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | I would suggest this to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerome
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything Charlesbourg | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Mont-Velo | | Strengths: | Powerful
4-pistons technology works well
very good feeling
Best-designed levers (IMO) | | Weaknesses: | Pads tend to rub on discs
Steel hoses are not user-friendly
| | Similar Products Used: | Got my hands on Hayes and Avid Mech, but none for so much time | | Bike Setup: | FSR 98 Elite with BETD linkage/Stratos FR5 and lots of custom parts | | Bottom Line: | I rode all the last season with the 6" rotors and had been pretty happy with these brakes. Yes, the pads have a tendency to rub from time to time on the discs, but I don't care. Apart from this, they offer awesome modulation and good power once they're broke-in.
I recently put the 8" rotor in front and the difference in power is impressive. Since I like to go fast and weigh close to 190 lbs, this is a good set-up for me. Try it if you find the stock 6" rotors too shabby.
Seeya on the trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T
a Downhiller
from Daly City
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything w/ jumps, drops, trees | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | JesonUSA.com | | Strengths: | great power, good design, easy to clean | | Weaknesses: | Takes a while to break in, hard to tune | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes discs | | Bike Setup: | GTidrive, raceface, psylo, vanilla, sooped up xc to Freeride | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a good brake, but need downhill stopping capabilities get Hayes or something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Looks good | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't stop you quick enough | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes 8",magura | | Bike Setup: | 99' RM9 ,sun double wide | | Bottom Line: | The shimano brake takes a long time to brake-in.
The hayes have more stoping power. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lennart Jakobsen
a Cross Country Rider
from Copenhagen
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Furesoe | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Strengths: | Besides the usual disc-advantages:
Fit and forget,self-adjusting
perfect feel,so precise,no sudden wheel lock
quality-build | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | different canti/v rimbrakes | | Bike Setup: | 99`RM Blizzard LX/XT/XTR,very custom.. | | Bottom Line: | I love this brake,it makes me so confident in the most rough
conditions,it seems to work better,the worse the conditions get.Good at front-wheelies(great way to test brakes).pads/disc seems to be long-lasting | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tahoe Rim Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bike Emporium | | Strengths: | Stopping power, good modulation, easy setup and bleeding | | Weaknesses: | Steel braided hoses, pads don't stay centered or retract far enough to clear rotor | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight (I built it), Marzocchi Z1 X Fly, Gripshift 9, Mavic D521 Downhill wheels | | Bottom Line: | I think the Hayes stop a little better, but the XT squeals a little less. I have had nothing but trouble with keeping the rotors centered within the pads. My rear rotor is just a teeny bit bent which aggravates this condition. I never had this problem with the Hayes. Drives me nuts! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Torpedo
a Cross Country Rider
from Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hinode - in Japan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeworld | | Strengths: | Stops better than V-Brakes in the dry, and stops better than Anything in the wet. Major Plus with the new 2001 cables, cut to size and able to fit through the hydro guides. | | Weaknesses: | Setup is a little messy if it is your first time. Takes time to seat in. | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Louis, Magura HS-22, HS-33, Shimano XTR Vee. | | Bike Setup: | Seven Sola, XTR everything else...Spinenergy Xyclone Disc. Ibis Ti Stem, Kestral H-Bar, Syncros Ti Seatpost, SDG Seat. | | Bottom Line: | As with any disc brake took time to seat. The front went together flawlessly. The rear was a bit tricky, we had to tweek it for 2 days getting it aligned right, also one bolt was just long enough to hit the rotor, after about 2 days of riding it almost fixed itself, but a little bit of filing to smooth the end down then a washer to space the bolt out enough to clear the rotor. During seat time where your brakes kinda sux, the rear moaned alot. Now it stops as good or better than any XTR Vee. A little heavy as compaired to Vee brakes but hey they are hydro disc.. I would not recommend for the XC racer who races mostly in the dry, but if you ride in the wet you will appreciate the power. The perform much better than the Magura Louis, you were constantly adjusting them.. So far once you got it right it is ride it and forget it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Bushell
a Downhiller
from Wellington New Zealand
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridgeline | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Burkes Cycles | | Strengths: | 4 pot calipers. Easy fitting. Top reservoir | | Weaknesses: | Serious brake fade after a few minutes use. 240lb rider. I've been told that the 6" rotor should be fine and needs to be setup properly.
They make hideous noise once faded and bike goes off trail!
Have sanded pads numerous times and cleaned etc.
Right angle banjo fitting is probably gonna be wrecked soon. Keep pulling trees out of them.
| | Similar Products Used: | None. From v brakes | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle Shockwave, bomber forks etc etc etc
| | Bottom Line: | As a first time user of disc brakes this has not been good experience. Hoping that Dog Boy can show me proper setup or else will switch to 8" rotors front and rear.
If the system cannot handle heat dissipation, fluid heatup for 240lb+ downhill riders, they should say it in the instructions.
They are probably an excellent cross-country brake or downhill for slower/lighter people.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from South Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikedock (UK) | | Strengths: | Price, Looks, Strong Levers. | | Weaknesses: | Performance, Hoses, unbuilt. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope O2, Magura HS33, HS11, | | Bike Setup: | God Like | | Bottom Line: | Here's a quick list of the bad points:
1. They take far too long to bed in.
2. The performance is no where near any other hydraulic disk brake.
3. The braided hoses wreck your frame / fork.
4. You have to build and setup the brakes yourself.
You can now get Hope's for the same price. Go for the Hope. Not even the cheap price justifies buying these brakes. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
robert sandoval
a Racer
from north hollywood ca
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | to many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | nice looks, easy mounting , easy brake pad replacemenet | | Weaknesses: | steel braided lines, brakes tend to apply themselves in cold weather, some drag | | Similar Products Used: | never used disk brakes, used maguras at one time | | Bike Setup: | curtlo hardtail, full XTR drive train,topline cranks, manitou mars fork. all kinds of neat stuff | | Bottom Line: | these are some nice brakes, the hubs really don't cut it, but they can be made to run fast. My only concern is in cold weatherand with long downhill runs. These brake will almost apply themselves in the cold and after being on and off the brakes they gett a little sticky. I am working on trying to figure out these problems but so far I have no answers... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Townsend, WA
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Gibbs lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$239.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Four piston design, nice brake levers, strong steel braid hoses, mineral oil, They bolt right on to the IS brake mounts found on RS forks without the need of an adapter. | | Weaknesses: | steel braid hoses, take a little time and patience to set up, getting the right length hoses, sometimes the recommendation of the salesperson or the bike manufacturer aren't the best choice. | | Similar Products Used: | Assorted V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | SantaCruz Superlight, built by myself | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are awesome!!! After the initial setup and break in period they have performed beyond my expectations. I ride in Western Washington where it likes to rain and riding in the muck is not an exception, it's the norm. These brakes have a similar feel to V-brakes without the slippage in the wet. A friend of mine is a brake specialist so he helped me set up my bike (he also uses the Shimano XT discs) so the actual setup went alot smoother than if I'd done it on my own. He also showed me a few tricks to aid in the overall performance of the brake.
If you ride where it gets wet, disc brakes are a must. Right now Supergo has the brakes for $109 per wheel without hoses. If you ride where it is always dry, stick to V-brakes and save the weight.
One Recommendation is getting some shrink tubing (like the electricians use) to protect your bike from the braided hoses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from South Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Cycles (UK Store) | | Strengths: | Look good, nice levers! | | Weaknesses: | Take an enternity to bed in, scream like banshees! | | Similar Products Used: | Magura HS33's, XT v's | | Bike Setup: | Cheeta DH | | Bottom Line: | These things take far too long to bed in. 3 big rides and still they are no better than average V's. lso they make far too much sound. Braided hoses eat paint work and kink easily. Save a bit more and buy Hope! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy
a Cross Country Rider
from Palos Verdes, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | 401 Crested Butte, CO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$259.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bicycle Center, Redondo Beach, CA | | Strengths: | Work very good when set up right. Easy to replace pads compared to Hayes. Levers have excellant shape. | | Weaknesses: | These brakes are obviously made by Grimeca for Shimano, except Grimecas have better coated lines and quick break-in black pads. All other parts are interchangeable.
I initially found that the brakes required an extensive break-in even though the pads and rotors were carefully cleaned. I consider them dangerous. I replaced the gold Shimano pads with black Grimeca pads and they immediately worked great.
However, after a trip to Utah/Colorado the brakes became grabby. I switched back to the gold pads and they started howling like a dog. I then tried CRC anti-squeal compound without success.
I finally sanded & cleaned front & rear rotors, installed new black Grimeca on the front and sanded and beveled the gold pads in the rear. Alls quiet on the trail but the rear will still talk back occasionally.
Anyway, I hope this helps others. | | Similar Products Used: | Ran Hayes for over two years so I have a lot of experience with them. Good brakes but I had ocassional noise, broke one piston, and bent one rotor. Original levers were replaced by Psycle Werks units. Shimano levers are better though. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlite, King hubs & headset, Mavic 317 rims, Easton post & bars, Speed Play pedals, Titec saddle. Built using the interactive bike builder on Cambria Bicycle Center web site www.bcusa1.com. Actual weight 24.3 lbs | | Bottom Line: | I really like the brakes but I hope this brake pads thing gets worked out. Maybe after-market pads will give me more options. I recommend buying Grimeca brakes instead of Shimano because they come with coated lines and offer at least two pad compounds. They're less expensive too. Heaven knows why Shimano choose uncoated lines - DUH! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frisco Kid
a Downhiller
from Tempe AZ
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | can't tell you | | Strengths: | easy setup, easy bleed, looks awesome, great power | | Weaknesses: | minor problem with lines, but just wrap em up with plastic tubing...done. | | Similar Products Used: | hayes, magura | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Bullit (Lime Green), 2000 Z1 QR20, full XT including discs, d321 rims, hugi/hayes hubs, monkeylite, thomson and raceface stem | | Bottom Line: | great modulation and power. my bike weighs 36 lbs and it stops great. i ride everything, xc dh and freeriding. once they break in 3-4 rides. they are perfect. no maintenance and no drag. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Jetnikoff
a Racer
from Australia
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | mine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | These are actually 2000 brakes. Stopping power and modulation very good on rear, front modulation good. cost excellent. discs and calipers very high quality, easy to mount. lines strong. easy to bleed. good xc disc size (160mm) | | Weaknesses: | Lines available in very few lengths so may not fit your bike. Braided lines as they are will wear holes in your frame or paint. Front absolute power not sufficient. Right angle banjo fitting at lever is a pain and hard to route safely. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hydraulic/cable, Formula md-1, Hope DH hydraulic, Diatech, Motorcycle brakes | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz superlight, shimano xt discs, Rock shox SID SL/ Judy Race ( race/trail ride), WTB headset, XT cranks, flite saddle, syncros ti seatpost, easton monkey lite riser bars, XTR gear changers, XT derailleurs, Avid cables, mavic 517 rims, Shinamo 636 / 747 pedals | | Bottom Line: | VERY VERY GOOD BRAKES OVERALL BUT...
1. The cables MUST be covered with heat shrink tubing to protech bike.
2. Right angle banjo fittings at levers expose lines to damage and make difficult to route.
3. NOT ENOUGH FRONT POWER.
4. HUBS ridulously heavy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg van den Dries
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Gatos
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Can't tell you! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Responsive, light, cheap | | Weaknesses: | Cables | | Similar Products Used: | Magura, Hayes | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight, CK hubs, Asym rims, DT spokes, Manitou x-vert Super | | Bottom Line: | I love these brakes! They're cheaper, lighter, stronger - what more could you ask for? I'll tell you: 1) they require a special adaptor if you use a Manitou shock. It also requires a 170mm rotor which are nearly impossible to obtain. If you own a Manitou, order the adaptor and the 170mm rotor. 2) the cables eat through your frame. I wrapped my contact points with rubber and it works well enough but gee, come on, some product mgr should have seen this one coming. 3) How do you cut a steel-braided cable? I don't know, so get used to running longer than normal cabling.
With those few negatives aside, these things rule, especially for price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clark Griswald
a
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes | | Bottom Line: | Okay now, don't hate me....I just got a pair of XT discs as a gift from a client and thought I'd give my two cents worth. They look good - the usual Shimano mass produced quality. I haven't ridden them yet, but there are some interesting questions that they pose that I thought i should raise before my long term report -
a) Why are the hubs so incredibly bad?
b) Are the braided cables gonna eat my frames paint job and why aren't they coated?
c) Do we need 4 piston brakes on a bike??
d) Where is the innovation? They're just miniature motorbike brakes in absolutely every respect.
e) Why are they totally identical to the Grimeca brakes?
So there you go. If they work as good as the Hayes I'll be happy. I'll report back later with a full report. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake
a Cross Country Rider
from G-Town,TN USA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tour de Wolf | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | 4 piston caliper
cool looking caliper
super heavy duty stainless steel brake line
good modulation (as good as V-Brakes)
V-Brake like levers
| | Weaknesses: | None at all | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Louise
Hayes Disc
Hope XC | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Cannondale F900SL,Full XT/XTR Drive,Mavic X517 Rims | | Bottom Line: | In my opinion these are the best disc brakes that have been made yet !! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Tucker
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas, Ca
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Weight Advantage, Steel lines are more durable, Vee-brake like feel, LOTS of Modulation, STRONG, 4 pistons, bolt in pads Shimano researches EVERYTHING to the hilt | | Weaknesses: | Price used to be an advantage but the one thing Shimano forgot to research was Q.C costs, Heavy hubs, and lack of availability / 8 inch rotor for DH | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes and and soon "Purple Hayes DH" on my downhill bike. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight Fox rear / Sid XC Front All XTR with some carbon here and there, Ano. 517- XT hubs & Panaracer Fire XC Pros | | Bottom Line: | Can't find a bad thing to say about the brakes, the hubs on the other hand need to go on a SERIOUS diet. The levers blow doors on the Hayes and reach has a wide range of adjustment. The steel lines are a minor hassle (length & fit), NO BREAK IN PERIOD - first ride ONE FINGER BRAKING!!! No squeaks here (wet/dry). The Hayes are great but Shimano has them beat, Hayes pads can/have popped out on long DH rides, besides their cables can wear and burst after one season of downhill racin'. The ideal setup has Hayes hubs and Hayes 8 inch rotor with Shimano everywhere else for DH. To bad there is no adapter for the front caliper yet as this setup would work well, otherwise for Cross Country use Hayes hubs and the Shimanos you'll love em'. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Maine
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easy to install, work great, quiet, inexpensive (for hydraulic disks!)Fit international standard mounts without adaptors. | | Weaknesses: | The stainless steel hoses are noisy and abrasive against the frame. Cured the problem by putting 1/4" spiral wrap around the hoses where they contacted the frame and shift cables. Cost $2 and weighs about 30 grams. Looks great. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Hope, Louise, CODA | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR2000, all XT, Monkey Lite riser, Mythos tires | | Bottom Line: | I've had the bike for about 2 months. I've ridden it in mud and rain. I've dumped it in two mudholes. The brakes have never given me any problems. They don't make any noise, they are not grabby or weak. They stop me perfectly (all 200+ lbs) every time.
When I was researching which brakes to buy I had it narrowed down to Hayes and Shimano. I couldn't decide which ones, so the price made the difference. That and the fact that the Hayes needed adaptors to fit the international standard mount on the GT.
The bottom line is that I never notice the brakes while I'm riding. They just do their job competently and quietly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike McDonald
a Cross Country Rider
from Aliso Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Noble Canyon (San Diego) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | To the guy "Mike from Manila" a few posts below. How can you criticize someone for reviewing a product not yet on the market (lots of people try things before they are released) when you have not even tried them at all and you are posting a review? That's just ridiculous. Go try them and then post a review. I've ridden them and like them so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skillet
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | white ranch (denver) or porcupine rim (moab) | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | very cool looking design. supported by shimano, of course. probably lighter than hayes discs, though I don't have any data. | | Weaknesses: | feel/power not that great. reminds me of hayes cable-actuated. (really) | | Similar Products Used: | hayes hydraulic, hayes cable. | | Bike Setup: | intense uzzi sl, x-vert r, rhyno lites, hayes hydro, xt disc hubs, blahblah. | | Bottom Line: | today I had the chance to ride a bike with the new 2000 shimano discs back to back with a hayes hydro equipped bike. I was worried that I would have to get the xt brakes to replace my hayes, because they looked like they would be better, but surprise! For me, at least, the feel and modulation of the hayes system is much better, and they certainly have more power.
******If you have been holding out to buy the XT discs instead of hayes, don't.******
who should buy: Someone who gets a good deal on an oem fitment, or someone who wants discs but is weight-conscious (weight difference remains to be proven, but it's pretty obvious to me). These are great brakes, but they do remind me of hayes cable, and I think the XT V brakes grab harder in the dry, let alone the hayes hydro.
who should buy hayes instead: downhillers (more power), trials-type riders who want really positive brakes, anyone buying aftermarket who can get a better deal on hayes.
value rating may improve in the future with better prices (what I have seen now is $410 complete for xts, don't ask me from who, they only have a couple, but that is still cheaper than hayes (or close).
so there ya have it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
| | Weaknesses: | The hubs are really ugly. High flange and it looks like an old racer bike hubs. | | Bottom Line: | I think its a mistake to review some products which havent been on the market yet. I wrote to shimano and ask when will these brakes be on the market. They said itll be released on March 2000. So how come some idiot ever knew how this product works if it hasnt been out on the market??? Still waiting for the brakes here. The hubs are here already. I think its unfair to shimano to post some lies and unrealistic reviews and Ive heard from a lot that It'll be a recalled item. Is it? For the value rating , I think its the cheapest hydraulics. Overall rating will only fall on the middle since it hasnt been here completely. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
boomer
a Weekend Warrior
from greensboro
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
stops in faster than anything i've used | | Weaknesses: |
sweak sometimes when wet | | Similar Products Used: |
disk brakes | | Bike Setup: |
756 proflex with girvin fork in front. | | Bottom Line: | overall i love em. they are great on the trails for those tight turns and there not much mantainence | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kalun Lau
a Weekend Warrior
from Trujillo
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
everything, quad piston | | Weaknesses: |
nothing | | Similar Products Used: |
pro stop, rst disc brake | | Bike Setup: |
Mountaincycle MOHO CXS, marzocchi z1 | | Bottom Line: | excellent brake system, the quad piston give you awesome braking power. | | Overall Rating: |
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