I like this brakes a lot there are very good looking and easy to install and adjust. I recommend this brakes to everyone ho's looking to get the maximum for brking performance
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcus Hesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Durham, NC USA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any singletrack with up/downhill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came on 99 Stumpy'
Strengths:
Very simple design, very light. Looks good.
Weaknesses:
I'm not a fan of cartridge pads, so after losing the actuall pads on trails and having to be careful back to the car a couple times, I've replaced them with full shoe pads. These also have lots of play in them, and because of thier design, they are unable to be taken apart to have a washer put in to fix the play. Also, since you cant take them apart, whatever dirt gets in them, stays. Thus giving you a rougher braking feel.
Similar Products Used:
Many other V-Brakes
Bottom Line:
These are super awesome brakes except for the play, I usually worry on hard downhills about the play becomming larger and breakage occuring, but other than that they are good brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alejo Catalejo
a Weekend Warrior
from Gaüses,Catalunya Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
It does what it has to, works better than it looks.Very Simple and minimal design. Cartridge pads let you forget about adjustment when replacing them.
Weaknesses:
Got some play on the pivots, looks worst than it works.
Similar Products Used:
Dia Compe/v, Lx-v,XTR/v, tryed some disks
Bike Setup:
Avid SD 2.0sl levers, Shimano Wheels(non ceramic rim), Mars CL fork and steel Specialized/Ritchey frame.
Bottom Line:
Very good.Xtr level stopping power. Wandering how they would feel without that play on the pivots, though.That´s a cheap feel... Ocasionally knocked out the pads when taking off the front wheel..however I must say the clearance problem comes from the narrow Mars cl fork. These were around top of the Avid catalogue when I got them and they deserved it. Actually were recomended before XT or even XTR....but I must sadly take 1 chilly off for the play..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Earth Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Stopping power very few moving parts
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
XT, LX
Bike Setup:
Yeti A.R.C.
Bottom Line:
If you had two different brands of brakes that performed exactly the same but one of them had less moving parts and therefore had less chance of breakage, which would you choose? This is the case of Avids versus Shimano. I've got Shimano XT straight across the board except for the brakes. The Avids have a much simpler design and work just as good - if not better - than the XT's. Shimano makes awesome components, but I believe they've over-designed their brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adzlan Arif
a Downhiller
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: May 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
bumpy with lots of sharp turns
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
a friend
Strengths:
good breaking strengh....doesn't flex much...reliable even with any brake pads or any conditions....
Weaknesses:
sometimes it makes that loud screaming sound but it'll be gone in a moment.....
Similar Products Used:
deore
Bike Setup:
downhill
Bottom Line:
a goo and safe brake set....get one...you wouldn't be sorry....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Liamski Pogi
a Weekend Warrior
from Davao Date Reviewed: January 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
somewhere down the offroad
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
breaking power, breaking power, breaking power. no arm flex, easy setup, easy adjustment because it uses hex bolt instead of philips scews, doesn't scream like a wounded pig
Weaknesses:
little bit of play, hard to find in our area its been almost 2 years been trying to find avid v's before i finally got it
Similar Products Used:
deore, xt
Bike Setup:
mix of lx, xt, stx groupos, old gt 3 triangle zaskar frame
Bottom Line:
just installed my new avid 25 (though its not in the production) very big difference compared to xt and deore. i can stop with 1 finger really, very less flex, and its cheap.. deore doesn't screech but its very flexy but it has a descent stopping power. compared to xt, xt doesn't have enough stopping power for my taste and it screams, design is not simple, means plenty can go wrong if you screw it up. bottom line buy this definetely if you can still find one. if you find more than one buy them all!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sky GTR
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: December 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
construction sites
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
someplace local
Strengths:
strong braking power
Weaknesses:
i had no money to change to avid levers so i m stuck with my old LX ones and it's so sensitive
Similar Products Used:
shimano atlus cantilever, coda cantilever <--came with bike
Bike Setup:
1998 cannondale super v-1000 with busted shocks and a tire that scratches the frame
Bottom Line:
great brakes i love them they can stop but they still squeal very little on my bike i replaced these because my friend recommended me to so i did but i didnt have enough money for avid levers so i m still using my old LX ones...that made the brake way too sensitive...a single touch will lock the tire
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: October 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
some crazy trail I rode in a dream the other night
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
price point
Strengths:
light, strong, squealing go bye bye, nice curves!
Weaknesses:
nill
Similar Products Used:
shimano lx vees
Bike Setup:
Trek Y-11, cane creek ad-10, atom bomb
Bottom Line:
They stop me with authority, though that's not too hard as I only weight 140. But they do a better job than the LX's I had before, and they do it quietly (I've never even toed them in). I bought the brakes as a set with the SD 2.0L levers, and that combination is purely adjustabile stopping bliss, if slowing down is your thing...
The rim wrangler cartridge pads are pretty nice too, and they're really easy to change. The pads are made by Kool Stop for Avid I think, and they seem to leave some black residue on my rims. Cleaning up my rims every now and again is a small price to pay for such assured stopping power though.
You might find better brakes, but I'd be willing to bet that they'll weigh and cost a bit more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Taras
a Cross Country Rider
from Kyiv, Ukraine Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
No sqeaking, excellent stopping power, superior brake pads, easy to adjust.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore, XT vees and Magura HS33 hydraulics.
Bike Setup:
LX/XT/Manitou Magnum R/Race Face/Ritchey/Michelin/Avid SD 25 vees
Bottom Line:
These brakes along with Avid SD 2.0 levers are just the brakes you expect the best brake to be. These are simple, easy to adjust, cheap, have excellent stopping power... Buy these, you won't regret it. They give you more modulation than magura rim hydraulics.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a Racer
from East Greenbush, NY Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Good, solid, dependable braking. Light.
Weaknesses:
None.
Bike Setup:
2000 Diamondback Zetec Comp, Avid 2.5 V brakes with SD 1.9L levers.
Bottom Line:
My bike originally came with Diatech disk brakes. They didn't work, wouldn't release, and sqeeled like banshees all the time. I replaced them with the Avid V's and I now have more breaking power then I did with the disks. Plus, except for the first two days of breaking them in, they are silent. Ride through a stream, still silent. Ride through mud, silent. You don't know that they're there, until you go to stop, and stop you do. Great for XC riding/racing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Avidfan
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
* Easy to install * Simple & Troublefree design * NO SQUEAKING!
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT V Brakes
Bike Setup:
Klein Mantra Race
Bottom Line:
These brakes are excellent! As a last ditch effort to resolve the irritating squeaking on the frontend caused by the Shimano Deore XT V brakes, I replaced them with the Avid 25's. What a difference. First, I was pleased with how easy it was to install the brakes and adjust the pads. Second, I was impressed with the simple, yet effective design. Not as many moving parts as the Shimano XT's. Finally, I noticed immmediately after installation that the squeaking was gone. Not a little, but ALL OF IT. If you have Shimano Deore XT's on the front fork, replace them with the Avids. You will not be disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from Terrace, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Terrace Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
McBike
Strengths:
amazing power, cool looks, light weight
Weaknesses:
If you love upgrading, it will be hard to upgrade these!
Similar Products Used:
Really crapy Koski Brakes (If you own Koski V-brakes, throw them away!)
Bike Setup:
LX complete Kona AA with XT rear derailleur set up for freeride. Some Race Face, Marzocchi Z1 D.O. fork.
Bottom Line:
Avid brakes are the best! If you ride these brakes with the Avid Speed Dial levers, then you will be riding awesome brakes. Anyone who has enough money to purchase any Avid brake should. Pretty much, anyone who uses V-brakes, should be riding Avids. Anyone who does downhill, should ride disc brakes. Once you try them, you will know what a brake is supposed to feel like.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Infuionathan
a
from WNC Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Simple, fairly light-weight, good pads, cool looks, great modulation, they stop you as fast as you want.
Infusion M-X-X Pro, Z2, 7 speed drivetrain with XTR rear derailler, XT front, LX cranks, XT bb, SunRingle ZuZu pedals. Pulstar hubs with RhynoLite XL rear rim, Ritchey Vantage comp front. Full Bontrager Race cockpit (stem, bar, barends) with Avid 1.9L levers and Sachs PowerGrip Wavey shifters, ControlTech seatpost. And of course, it has Avid SD25 brakes.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are awesome. They beat the heck out of XTR, they cost a lot less, and they are lower mantenance. My bike had XTR brakes and levers when I purchased it. I'd heard bad things about bushing wear with XTR, and I didn't really like the way they felt, so I sold the set (brakes and levers) to a friend. It was the right move. The Avid's modulate better (might be due to the equally awesome 1.9L Speed Dial levers), have higher peak power, and give you a much better feel for when they are going to lock up. They even weigh less than XTR! The pad compound is far superior, and you don't have all that linkage to clean out and finally replace.
The final analysis: The only reasons not to buy these brakes are that you are weight weenie (get the SD mags or ti), or a poser who needs XTR to bolster his act!
A product that truly deserves 10 flaming turds all around!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt H
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, Tx, USA, Earth Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
ebay auction
Strengths:
stiff. powerful, good looking, no squealing
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
stock tektro crap
Bike Setup:
Fisher KaiTai '00, Sid XC, XT drivetrain. I love TIME pedals
Bottom Line:
I got these on ebay after a mud race ate my brakes pads. I wanted new brakearms anyways. I had heard that avids were good brakes and upgrades are nice on a bike that didn't come with a ton of bells and whistles. I put these on and immediately could tell the difference. almost too good these brakes are. Once you get the modulation dialed in with your levers these are among the most effective v-type brakes you'll ever use. they WILL help you improve you techincal riding skills. shorter braking distance=faster average speeds. simple. light too. another added bonus is the grey/silver ones look really trick. some people say that the pad get knocked out of place when removing/installing wheels. these people must be using 2.75" tires or something. there is plenty of clearance. this should not be an issue unless you can't tied your own shoes. peace and grease.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Rosenfeld
a Cross Country Rider
from Walnut Creek, CA USA Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001
These brakes replaced the Avid 1D 20s on my bike, which replaced the XT V-brakes, which replaced the Cannondale Force 40 cam action brakes that came spec. The Force 40 were trash. The XTs screamed like all the lost souls in hell on my Fatty fork. The 1D 20s modulated poorly, tending to be either "on" or "off." These couldn't be better. I installed them in mere minutes and haven't touched them since. No maintenance at all. The bike stops instantaneously. No questions asked. I can't recommend these highly enough.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jonnyoxygen
a
from WASHINGTON, DC! Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Gambrill
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
- stop beautifully - no frame flex - light weight - pads last forever - great value for the money - great looking
Weaknesses:
- Light fading when wet
Bottom Line:
I bought a Stumpjumper Comp in July of '99 after beating the life out of an entry-level Gary Fisher with garbage components. I knew virtually nothing about bikes or components at the time, only knew a few people that believed in Specialized and new that I was in it for the long haul, so I made the plunge. Needless to say, it was a whole different experience. I went from GripShift to Rapid fire, 7-speed to 9-speed, canti's to V's, etc., and all the components that came stock were worth their salt. The Avid 25's were the brakes that came with the setup, along with SD 1.9's. I've done a bit of upgrading since I bought it, but I won't take these off. They've got great modulation, they're quiet, and they grab onto my rims with a vengeance. I've had some near-death experiences in the city (trucks, pedestrians, other bikers) and on the trail (cliffs tend to sneak up on you sometimes), and these guys are always working for me. They don't let go until I politely ask them to. What baffles me is that I still have the original pads that they came with and they still stop just as good as the day I first used them. And I've never had to adjust them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Savage, MN Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$31.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, easy to install, excellent stopping power, simple to adjust.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
LX cantilevers- yuck! It was quite an upgrade.
Bike Setup:
Specialized stumpjumper with a Judy xc, nashbar pedals.
Bottom Line:
Got these used off ebay in great condition. My 1995 stumpjumper came with cantilever brakes, and thought it was time to keep up with the times. My old brakes cannot compare to these. For the first time I can lock up either tire at any speed with minimal pull on the levers. Definitely worth the money you spend. Plus they look cool.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crazy Bit$#
a Weekend Warrior
from NY Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
-A crackhead chimp could set these up -No squeal -Great power -Worth the money
Weaknesses:
-Does lose some strength in the wet
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX V,XTR V
Bike Setup:
Originally installed on my S.C Chameleon,now on my Surly 1x1
Bottom Line:
I bought these brakes a year ago to replace the LX V's that came on my Chameleon.The LXs were strong,but had problems with squeal and needed constant adjustment,to the point were I was pissed beyond belief.So I sold 'em to some unsuspecting yahoo and got these.
Mated to Avid's own Speed Dial levers,the power is AWESOME.No squeal,and no adjustment--set 'em up once,and go from there.They do get a little sketchy in the wet,though.
6 months ago,I bought a Surly and installed the old brakes and levers on it.Yep--they still work damn good.Only the XTRs I demo'd were better,but the Avids cost way less and have none of those stupid pivots.I give 'em FIVE CHILIES...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve n
a Cross Country Rider
from ma Date Reviewed: January 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
singletrack/ semi-technical
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
catalog
Strengths:
pads are easy to adjust with just one allen wrench. No toe-in required, no squeal!!! pads ahve lasted over 1 1/2 years(40mi. on/off road per week)
Weaknesses:
no peoblems yet
Similar Products Used:
Shimano STX...LX and Tektro
Bike Setup:
schwinn moab 3. Judy fork, Mavic ceramic rims
Bottom Line:
What a difference!!! low amintainence, exellent stopping power, and NO squeal. While my bike isn't the best out there I ride it hard all year long in snow, ice rain, mud... you name it I am in it. These brakes don't quit. The rim wrangler pads have held up very well. Teey are still the originals after about 1800 miles! For the price, How can you beat that?!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bungyfish
a
from Wichita Falls, TX Date Reviewed: January 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
light weight, great power, no toe-in worries, no squeal
Love the power and the weight. Going from XT, they are awesome and they are easier to set up and adjust, and no toe-in B.S. to worry about. Be sure to check that the pads are tight prior to rides as they seem to loosen easily with frequent tire removal, never had any problems during a ride. Shimano has nothing on these. Good for a wide range of riders, especially weight geek XCers like me. Great upgrade. They changed to a SD 7 for the 01 season and these are becoming hard to find. I plan to buy another set if I can find them. They are frequently on ebay in the $50 range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenixville, PA Date Reviewed: January 2, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Red/White French Creek
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Mail order
Strengths:
(Relatively) easy to set up, stiffness, weight.
Weaknesses:
Lots of slop/movement due to not-too-close machining tolerances (I'll admit, mine were among the first few batches and don't know if they've made corrections). Pads pull out of the carriers quite easily when removing wheel w/fully inflated tire.
Similar Products Used:
XT V's, Avid SD 1.0.
Bike Setup:
Intense Uzzi SL, Fox Air Float RC, XTR drivetrain, Manitou XVert Super, Mavic UST Tubeless, Titec stem/bar, RaceFace crankset.
Bottom Line:
Above average, but the slop/movement has repeatedly caused me to think I had a loose headset, and the problem with pads coming out of the carrier when changing a flat out on the trail is a huge PITA (and part of the reason I ended up going tubeless!).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia Date Reviewed: December 7, 2000
this is a great brake.you get sweet stopping power regardless of the weather and even if it's wet it doesn't squeel.if you are looking for a new brake set look no further then avid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Humphrey
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Georgia Date Reviewed: November 17, 2000
I bought these brakes because I finally got fed up with the poor centering and squeeling of the original brakes on my bike. The price was excellent, and the brakes work great. I particularly like the "speed dial" feature of the levers where you can control the modulation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aleks Brumby
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Date Reviewed: November 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Medium - Hardcore Single track
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
www.supergo.com
Strengths:
Very nice and strong braking power, very minimal braking deterioration in wet and muddy conditions, easy to set up and adjust, no squealing, look cool etc. etc.
Weaknesses:
none as of yet
Similar Products Used:
several types of Shimano brakes
Bike Setup:
1999/2000 (I can't remember) Norco Charger - Aluminium Frame, Marzocchi Z5 Fork, Panaracer Fire Tyres, Avid 1.9L Levers
Bottom Line:
These Brakes offer very nice stopping in all conditions and for a very cheap price (for me), with no squealing. With the excellent 1.9L Avid Levers they were very easily adjusted and felt smooth and powerful. It took me about 1/2 an hour - 1 hour to install them and the levers on my bike and adjust them fully. There wasn't even any inconvient toeing in of brake pads required. These brakes were also very cheap, on special from the Supergo website, setting me back only $49.98 for both front and rear brakes and the 1.9L levers
Buy these brakes if you are unhappy with your current ones, or if you just enjoy quality products and quality braking at a cheap price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dk
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Bach, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Any fast, smooth and technical singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Jax Bicycles
Strengths:
Light, good feel, looks, fit and finish
Weaknesses:
None really
Similar Products Used:
XTR
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Sub22, XT
Bottom Line:
Very good brakes and levers. Excellent modulation and stopping power, very smooth lever feel, and the pads wear increcibly well. They seem to offer as good or better stopping than XTR, yet the pads (cool stop pad) wear much better. Actually, amazing how long one set of pads has lasted.
Very good V brakes. Very pleased.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from GA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000
Awesome brakes, good price, one of the best upgrades made to my bike, and the only problem is that they wont let me go fast enough
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Gosse
a
from Eau Claire WI Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Levis Mound
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Milhaupts of Appleton WI
Strengths:
Provides great stopping power. They were a nice upgrade from stock brakes.
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hard Rock comp
Bottom Line:
If you want a great improvement on your cheaper stock bicycle Avid is the way to go.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremiah
a
from Westminster, CO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Any and all
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Modulation, modulation, modulation. They do a damn fine job of stopping too. But the modulation is sweet!
Weaknesses:
Hmmmm, nope
Similar Products Used:
XT parralell link(very crappy), Other Avid's(they are all awesome)
Bike Setup:
Azonic DS-1 Judy XL o/ Judy XC, depends what kind of riding I am doing. Trials or dirt jumping.
Bottom Line:
I am truly amazed with the feel of these brakes. Unlike the XT I had, they wont make your ears bleed.(horrid squealing) Don't have to go thru all the toe-in troubles. 25-30ft nose wheelies are no problem. This is good stuff, and their from Denver woohoo. (these are made in Taiwan, but Avid is in Denver) If you want great feeling brakes and more, these are the ones for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific Grove, CA (formerly from Boulder, CO) Date Reviewed: August 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
too many to mention
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
The brakes are awesome! They are super easy to set up, incredibly powerful, very light (see below), the price is right ($30/pair) and they're not from the infamous S-company! While I've never owned a pair of Shimano V-brakes, I have never seen a pair that didn't squeal after a few months of riding. My Avids are still squeal-free.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any.;-)
Similar Products Used:
Avid tri-aligns - for the past 5 years on my XC bike, and Maguras on a trials bike.
Bike Setup:
Merlin mountain with a 2x8 drive train, and minimal S-comapnay parts.
Bottom Line:
After reading reviews on this site, I decided to pass on the Avid Mag brakes (apparently the advertised weight is bogus), and go for the much cheaper 2.5's. I have not been disappointed.
I can vouch for Avid's advertised weight on these: one pair weighed in at 171.06 grams, and the other at 170.22 grams, with hardware, compared to Avid's advertised weight of 170 grams/pair. They weigh a bit more than my old Avid Tri-aligns (150 grams/pair), but the increased performance and clean cabling are well worth the extra few ounces (I admit it, I'm a weight freak, but I wont shed a few grams for a poorly engineered part).
The performance of the brakes is unbelievable. They stop as quick and offer much better modulation than my Magura hydraulic brakes, and the setup is simple.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bloocow
a Racer
from Singapore Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Newlands Corner, Surrey, UK
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
I run the Avid SD25 on my front and 00 XT on my rear. Works better than xt, stops very well.
Weaknesses:
Some of the semi-circular shaped washers have rusted while my rear xt brakes still look good. Both were bought same time. the rust looks bad since my bike is new.
Similar Products Used:
xt, lx, sd10, xtr, deore.
Bike Setup:
Orange MsIsle frame, custom built parts consisting of azonic, avid, raceface, shimano, sram etc.
Bottom Line:
good value for money, but i'm wondering how to solve the ugly looking rusted parts now. Prob. have to change them but such spares are difficult to find. 3 chillis cos i expected better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris g
a Weekend Warrior
from daly city,ca Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
any at this point
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
simple (no slop) light no squeal
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
stx, lx, xt, xtr
Bike Setup:
zaskar, z2atom 80, xtr/raceface drivetrain, king wheels
Bottom Line:
great brakes that are a snap to setup and work great. they are amazingly powerful and, for the money, probably one of the best buys in sidepull brakes. i got rid of my xtr's and "downgraded" to these... no regrets so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountain View CA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Henry Coe
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light, cheap (relatively speaking), and effective.
Weaknesses:
Pads are useless when wet.
Similar Products Used:
Older Avid 1.0's, older Shimano XT's
Bike Setup:
Stock Santa Cruz Superlight-X
Bottom Line:
These are really super brakes - light, simple, effective, and reasonably priced. They get downgraded on performance and value only because of the poor pad material.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Regina, Canada Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wascana Trails - Toilet Bowl
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Excellent strength, came w/ good pads, low price (OEM for me, $40 US retail)
Weaknesses:
A wee bit touchy...
Similar Products Used:
'97 Shimano LX Vs, '98 Shimano XT Vs, '98 Shimano XTR Vs, '99 Shimano LX Vs, Hayes Hydraulic disks, Formula Hydraulic disks, Magura hydro rim brakes, Shimano STX Cantis...
Bike Setup:
'99 Stumpjumper Comp w/ different tires (Specialized Team F/ Bontrager Jones R), different seat, rise bar...
Bottom Line:
These brakes are deadly! My friend with Magura brakes was impressed, and so was my friend with a front Hayes Hydro disk. The brakes have power, and after half a season and half another season they still feel g-r-r-eat! As a matter-of-fact, I don't think I've ridden on a better set of brakes... XTR, Hayes or Magura. I thought it might just be the levers, but on my second bike I'm running Avid levers with '97 LX V-brakes and kool stop pads and the braking isn't half as good...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Palmer
a Cross Country Rider
from Billings, Mt Date Reviewed: May 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere in Montana
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Great stopping power. Not much noise. Don't rattle while riding.
Weaknesses:
Popped a pad out on one set
Similar Products Used:
XT V-brakes. Those ancient cantilever styles
Bike Setup:
Giant ATX 890 RS with XTR shifting and XT drivetrain and K2 4000 with all XT
Bottom Line:
I made the switch from cantilever brakes and nearly planted my face the first time I had to brake hard. The stopping power is very good and it is smooth and consistient.
The only problem I've had is I just bought a K2 4000 this spring and after about three months of riding, one of the front brake pads popped loose. Easy to fix but still...
The brakes work well on a hardtail and FS.
I think the Shimano ones work well too but rattle like crazy while riding and are more expensive.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Finn Sode
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:
The kind that catches you off guard
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great stopping power...no noise whatsoever...ligthweight and off course: cheap!
These brakes stunned me....they actually brake better and are easier to modulate than my formTomac's. Love the power, love the looks, love the absence of squealing. I haven't had them for long but I have experienced absolutely no problems in the first couple of months. I never thought that Avid was anything I would find myself using, but I must say that I've seen the light....and the sign said AVID 25!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt S
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA, USA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2000
Favorite Trail:
mt. monadnock
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Very powerfull, extremely lightweigh, easy to adjust
Weaknesses:
too many washers hold the pads too far in and have to be removed. Can be a pricey proposition
Similar Products Used:
xt v's, sd-10's, discs, tektros, etc.
Bike Setup:
SC superlight xtr/superfly and cannondale F500
Bottom Line:
These brakes are quite simply the anti-disc. They have better responsiveness and stop better under most conditions than anything else I have ever ridden. If you forsake a little mud stoppability (I don't recall the last time this was a problem) for the shear weight of the things, they are about the best overall brake you can buy. As for the argument that you wreck your rim too frequently with rim brakes, I purpose that if you are wearing out rims with your brakes, your using your brakes way too much and you probably should stick to a bike path.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Simons
a Racer
from Springfield MO USA Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000
Favorite Trail:
chadwick
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
I like the way these brakes function. They are light, quiet, plenty powerful, they feel great, and they look great. So far pad wear is minimal with 4 long muddy rides on them. They are cheap (under 30 bucks at price point). I have a problem with the pads popping out of the cartrige when I install my wheels. Seems that when the knob contacts the lower edge of the pad even a minimal amount of force is enough to pry the pad out of the cartridge. I have inspected the cartridge and there is plenty of surface area to grab onto the pads. I use lower volume tires so I am suprised that there is a clearance issue. So far the only reliable way to install the wheels is when I deflate my tires. (by the way I work at A&B Cycle here in Springfield, none of our mechanics know what to tell me) I am probably going to use old-school pads because you can't afford to have your pads popping out on you during a race. If anyone has an easy solution to this problem let me know, because I am not ready to give up on these brakes yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Carrboro, NC Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
No squealing!!! Excellent stopping power. Simple (Shimano-more pivots are not the answer). Great pads.
Weaknesses:
None so far? Maybe a little pricey for the amount of metal/plastic included, but worth it.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX/XT
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler, Z2, Mavic 517's, XT, blah, blah...
Bottom Line:
My Shimano XT's stopped well, but the squealing that started when the pivots got a little tired annoyed the hell out of me. The Avids do the same or better stopping job, w/out the ear pain. Buy some next time you're going to drop $10-15 on new pads; for an extra $10 you'll be glad you did (oh, yeah, and try out Speedgoat.com - they do a great job on all bike stuff/advice, etc.).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas
a Racer
from Sharpsburg, Ga Date Reviewed: February 13, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wind Ridge, Newnan
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light, Powerful, Sweet
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Xtr:(
Bike Setup:
trek 8000, Xtr, race face, nuke proof atom bombX
Bottom Line:
these thimgs are sweet thats it. I got rid of the Xtr's after they started to sound like a banchee was riding with me (lbs couldn't get rid of that noise) back on went the 25's and I learned to apriciate the quality of AVID's S&!^ koodos to avid on an exclent product. next ARCH SUPREME! buy them if your racing and want something lite but cant fork over for the supremes 5 flaming what evers'!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sierra Pete
a Cross-Country Rider
from CA Date Reviewed: January 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Boggs and Flume
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Works well, easy set-up, no squeal and 100g. lighter per set than XTs.
Weaknesses:
About 10% less powerful than XTs.
Bike Setup:
Custom built '99 Kona Explosif-XT, Judy XC, etc...
Bottom Line:
What can I say. They work well, are easy to set-up, blah , blah, blah... No product is perfect. Shimano makes good stuff and their LX and XT brakes work very well, but these Avid 25s are lighter, easier to set up and don't squeal. Buy 'um, use 'um, you'll be happy!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PiggDawg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Lexington, SC Date Reviewed: October 27, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Turkey Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Looks, Braking Power, Kool Stop Pads
Weaknesses:
None at this time
Similar Products Used:
XTR, DiaCompe (pieces of s@#*)
Bike Setup:
Fisher, Judy XC, Non-ceramic wheels
Bottom Line:
Great Brakes!!!!!!! The Kool Stop pads are wonderful. Less noise than my XTR's I've used previously. Easy to maintain also.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Helgeson
a Weekend Warrior
from Wrangell, AK Date Reviewed: September 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
none
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
good pads, Light weight, good looking.
Weaknesses:
Fit sloppy on brake mounts.
Similar Products Used:
Upgraded to XTR (they're much better) also tried XT
Bike Setup:
DBR Team issue Manitou SX carbon
Bottom Line:
Not a bad set of brakes but a little over priced
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KLAM
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, ON Date Reviewed: March 20, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Good performing brake, solid construction, and fairly easy to setup. Avid is trendy. Rim Wrangler pads with KoolStop offer great stopping power. Proven reputation.
Weaknesses:
Instructions lack diagrams, but setup is still fairly easy. Otherwise no real weaknesses.
Similar Products Used:
DiaCompe, XT, XTR, Avid 1D-10, 20.
Bike Setup:
Avid SD-2.0 L levers, non-ceramic rims
Bottom Line:
Great brake -- period. Good stopping power and solid feel when braking. No complaints. Only difference Avid told me between last year's 1D-20 are the Rim Wrangler pads, otherwise they are the same brake.
Overall Rating:
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