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Submitted by
tex5491
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Green belt 360 to beyond hill of life | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | When tuned breaks bit very good, works very good even in wet conditions | | Weaknesses: | only slowed me down on steep decents. | | Similar Products Used: | hand full of other brakes some "V" some disc. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher warranty fram deore components ect... | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 260lbs and ive been to all the major trails in austin and have been through a frame already. Gary Fisher said that the Austin area has more warranty clames that any where else in the contry these brakes have been through it and work. yes i know that there are better brakes out there (I'm currently going Hydro) but these are cheap and get the job done five Chilis for value couse ther cheap and five chilis for reliability. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Latias93
a Cross Country Rider
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Bukit Kiara | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | BikePro | | Strengths: | Durable, good modulation. | | Weaknesses: | May misalign occasionally. | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC Team, Marzocchi Bomber, Avid Single Digit 3 | | Bottom Line: | I've been using this v-brakes since I was 9 and now I am turning 16, which makes it almost 7 years. I have been riding cross country frequently and almost every day. The modulation are very good for the price, and the brake pads supplied with it lasted me 6 years. I'm converting to hydraulic brakes soon though, but I'll still keep my Avid Single Digit 3. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack_demo
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | birkenhead cycles | | Strengths: | strong stopping power, cheap, reliable. | | Weaknesses: | none really. | | Similar Products Used: | cheapo crap shimano things, scott comps | | Bike Setup: | marin pioneer trail 08, mainly stock apart from brakes and tyres (DMR motoR's) | | Bottom Line: | buy them if you're after a good quality set of brakes at a good price, but if you're an enthusiastic and skillful rider buy something a bit better. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harry Hall
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Quantocks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | 15.00 | | Strengths: | Good value for money, decent XC stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Dodgy screws, occasional problems with alignment | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD5, Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Specialized Rockhopper, stock (mostly) | | Bottom Line: | ne of the adjuster screws gave out on the front brake after about 6 months of riding, and I couldn't get another screw so in the end I bought some Single Digit 5's, which are the same, just a bbit better. Even so, I partly blame myself for the screw, as I adjusted it using a multitool philips screwdriver, not a proper one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Chimney Gulch to Apex to Sluicebox | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | on new bike | | Strengths: | Seemed to work ok for first few months of riding. Stopping was ok in most situations. | | Weaknesses: | After part of the first season their power began to wear out and I was clenching harder and harder to get the bike to stop. Now the spit brake pad material all over the rims and my hands hurt after only short downhills. Just ordered some Avid SD 7s that I am sure will be a big improvement over these. Sheesh, call me a fool for waiting so long. | | Similar Products Used: | Other older Avid V-brakes that seemed to work better on my old bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper hardtail with Fox Float, Thudbuster, Candy SL, soon-to-be new brakes. | | Bottom Line: | If you are shopping for V-brakes then look beyond these. For $15 to $20 more per brake you can get huge performance improvements. If they come on a new bike then swap them out as soon as you come accross another $75 or $100 for some better Avids or Shimano. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
el ray
a
from the midwest
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Mega strong stopping power like all Avids. Immeditate grab. | | Weaknesses: | Not as much modulation as weaker brakes (they're simply so strong they often lock up immediately) I try not to ever use the back for this reason. They go out of alignment sometimes (I can't figure this out) | | Similar Products Used: | dozens | | Bottom Line: | I don't see what everyone's problem is with these brakes. For cheap rim brakes they are absolutely unmatched. They even compete with SD-7's in my opinion. With the exception of the odd alignment issues, the actual performance of these brakes is among the best I've ever used (and I'm a disc brake user). They simply STOP. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Niklaus Hartmann
a Weekend Warrior
from Cochabamba, Bolivia
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Escalarani, Cochabamba | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Stock on bike | | Strengths: | Simplistic design, above average braking power in its price range. | | Weaknesses: | I don't know maybe its just me but I nearly end up in a mental institution everytime I take them apart and try to adjust again. Once you setup the brakes correctly they work very well, but the setup takes me forever... as I mentioned earlier maybe its just me... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore and XT's | | Bike Setup: | Scwinn Mesa SL '03, RD: Deore, FD: XT, Michelin X-Sport Tires (I highly recommend these)... blah blah blah... | | Bottom Line: | If you're not planning on doing anything on the Xtreme side these will cut it... If you set them up correctly they work very well... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Whateva | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Buddy | | Strengths: | Easy To install, Light action, Cheap | | Weaknesses: | HAvnt had um long enough to find one. But don't worry I will Everything has flaws. | | Similar Products Used: | Just the stock brakes that came w/the bike. | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M60 | | Bottom Line: | Well this is just preliminary Findings but here we go. My friend had them on an 02 Giant NRS3 and they worked fine for him. I now have them on my bike. They were so simple to adjust and center. I am very pleased. They have a very good amount of stopping power if you arn't stupid. They are good for light riding not racing. Ive been round the block a few times and I trust pretty much anything avid puts out. On the trail these work, around campus they work, in the snow...well I'd much rather have discs for that but lets just forget about that. Bottom Line, they work plain and simple. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | with bike | | Strengths: | Well, I've ridden these for 7 years. The ones I have don't even have the little adjuster screws. They might even be SD 1s! My front pair finally died. Guess I didn't get all the salt out from winter riding before going away for 6 months. Came back to seized brakes. No problem, disasemble, clean, regrease, just like the last 6 years. Well, this time the spring part that's pressure fitted to the bushing came off, leaving the bushing inside. "Well s..t". Just can't get it out. These brakes have,until now (due to neglect), held up wonderfully. The front still has the ORIGINAL PADS, and I've done A SICK amount of riding. I even did couriering on this bike for a year (90+km/day). I didn't think I'd ever replace these. Yes, they could have better braking power and better modulation. But they're so simple and so easy to setup, and if you know how to ride, scrub speed on terrain, use arms and leg movement, then you don't need rediculous destroy the trail stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | If you let them sit with salt for 6 months, the bushings will seize. More power would be safer in the wet. More modulation would be sweet (I miss my cantis). | | Similar Products Used: | xt V, lots of cantis, SRAM 9 | | Bike Setup: | Thin Blue Line '97 steel hard tail, fully rigid, 8spd xt shifter/levers, avid 1s(?), lx rear d, xt 8 cogset, stx front, ugly green wildgrippers, raceface chainrings, sugino cranks, raceface lowrise bar, blue oury grips, specialized balls happy saddle -it's a frankenbike! | | Bottom Line: | These brakes have lasted for over 7 years (even the pads!), the rear brakes are still going. I am very very demanding on my bike, ride it all year in very cruddy winter conditions (ottawa!), ride it A LOT, sometimes haul a heavy cargo trailer, love technical single track. These brakes have served me well, may they rest in peace. Next brakes I think will be Avid 7s. Anyone looking for long lasting, reliable, easy to adjust, can take abuse brakes, Avid has you covered. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrice Monroe
a Cross Country Rider
from Ljubljana, Slovenia
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | up to 15% on ascent, up to 50% on descent with some obstacles such as roots, stones, no 50 cm drops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike setup | | Strengths: | Well... maybe, it is accuracy of braking, but nothing is really special in this brake. It is just to weak. | | Weaknesses: | lack of braking power. I cannot do endo even with my | | Similar Products Used: | brakes on Felt FS-250. Did the same job much better. | | Bike Setup: | Avid SD3, deore brake levers. | | Bottom Line: | Good for descents up to 15%. Inefficient as a MTB brake, but good enough for city biker. Might serve good for lighter bikers - my weight is over 90kg + 10 kg for a bike. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Faff'n round the forrest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Do the job they were designed to do if you bother to set them up properly
Cheap enough for Avid
Look good in black
| | Weaknesses: | Require a little bit of patience to set up (but nothing a monkey couldn't do) | | Similar Products Used: | SD7's, SD Mag | | Bike Setup: | Kona Unit Singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for. These aren't the strongest stoppers on the planet, but they work well if you take the time to install and set them up properly. I laugh when I read complaints that they don't centre properly after you take your wheel out etc. Even the best V brakes won't centre if you are too cheap or stupid to do some basic bike maintenance. You need to grease the bosses and get the centering / tension adjustment screws adjusted properly. It also helps if you cut the cable to the appropriate length so that it doesn't induce a sideload.
Don't forget that these things are designed for your average XC rider doing average XC trails, and they do fine in that environment. If you ride lots of steep stuff or in the wet and mud, do yourself a favour and buy some discs. I run these on my singlespeed and they work great zipping about the trails in the forrest. I run '04 XT discs on my trailbike because they work great for that kind of riding. Only a Bozo would expect these things to be flawless at this price-point. If you want super-dupa brakes, get out your wallet and go buy some top-end models from Hope, Avid, or Shimano. Otherwise get on and enjoy the ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Brennan
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O.,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | toxic forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | * They work well
* Easy to adjust
* Stop bike | | Weaknesses: | * None (maybe not cool enough for some) | | Similar Products Used: | cantilevers
SD-7 | | Bike Setup: | 03 lava dome, raceface prodigy crank, marz Mx comp, Sun subIV w/ xtr hubs, xt drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | Most people dont need to spend more. These work well on most everything, except maybe muddy downhills. Great value. Simple to adjust.
Or pay twice as much for sd-7 and get no discernible benefits. Probably the last thing I will replace on my bike, unless they break. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
heine
a Racer
from St.L,MO,USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap. Effective. | | Weaknesses: | Arms flex under heavy loads making the stopping power of the brakes less predictable and just plain less. stock pads will wear quickly and changing the pads does help performance a bit. I'm finding that I'd like more tire clearance. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid disc mechanicals, Avid 10, Tektro, various no-names. | | Bike Setup: | Single speed full rigid | | Bottom Line: | There are two mentalities for creating a good component: Create a expensive high quality piece to stand against all or create a cheap effective piece that can be easily replaced. I used these brakes on my single speed cause it takes a lot of abuse and I expect things break. When they break, I don't want to shell out $$$ to fix them again. This brake works great that. So far, I've bent one arm (polo mallet), but it bent back and it's been fine. Would I cringe if a polo mallet hit an expensive brake-- yes, cause it probably break and then I'm left with the same problem as the cheap brake. 5 chilis for value. These are great brakes for the money. 3 chilis for overall rating: there not high performance brakes but are good enough for most occaisions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a
from Bend OR
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Flagline | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 2.0, Avid 7.0, Hayes Disk | | Bike Setup: | Klein Palomino V | | Bottom Line: | The Avid line of V-brakes are very similiar - whether they be the 3, 5, or 7. I improved the stopping power by 1) getting good brake levers. I switched to the Avid 7s. And 2)getting good brake pads. I put on the top of the line Avid pads with metal support. The benefit of the Avid 7 over the 5s, and the 5s over the 3s is weight. They all use the same leverage, materials, and pivot points. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Benn Jamieson
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ditchling Beacon to Buckland Bank | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | EBay | | Strengths: | They're in black. | | Weaknesses: | Brake pads wear out too quickly. Fiddly to align. Too weak. Rusts! | | Similar Products Used: | Stock cantilevers on me Cannondale. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale with SRAM and Raceface | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy them unless you only trundle around the park. Not good for XC as they have limited stopping power and you really have to squeeze the brake to get it to grip the wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
peter
a Weekend Warrior
from perth
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | came stock | | Strengths: | they allow me to stop when i need to (most of the time), they look kind of cool. Braking is fine with these. | | Weaknesses: | used to require frequent adjusting (think that was due to my old fork's flexing). could do with a bit more power. | | Similar Products Used: | xt's, cheapo shimano's (altus or something) | | Bike Setup: | stock giant XTC 2, but with manitou black elite fork | | Bottom Line: | i think these brakes are fine. however on long steep descents they can be a little scary and i have missed a corner once or twice. a little more braking power would be nice. but honestly i think for most people they are fine. too many people have component snobbery. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood, Colo.
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Buffalo Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Arvada Bicycle Co. | | Strengths: | Weight, looks, ease of tire removal with these brakes,
Adjustability. | | Weaknesses: | Avid 3's lack feel and power! | | Similar Products Used: | Avid single digit 7's | | Bike Setup: | Stock 04 Specialized Stumpjumper. | | Bottom Line: | I had Avid 7's on my last bike and REALLY NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE on my new bike. The stopping power and ability
to modulate the braking force was just not evident on these 3's! Rim Wrangler pads would help but with Price Point and Performance price match I'd be a fool not to
upgrade to another upper-end Avid brake system with goretex
cables. I know how good Avid brakes can get and these stock
3's just "ain't cuttin it." | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jord
a Cross Country Rider
from Rayong, Thailand
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Probike | | Strengths: | rather light (isn't this a prime reason to opt for the V-brake?) but other good v-brakes are as light, if not lighter. Look simple enough for a V brake. | | Weaknesses: | Flex and friction causes poor modulation and poor stoping power. An on-off switch feel. Definitely not a set-and-forget component in my bike. Steel part get rusty in my riding environment (close to the sea). | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Ultimate | | Bike Setup: | stock 2001 Klein Adept Race | | Bottom Line: | If these brakes come with your stock bike (check out Trek, Klein, and Garry Fisher), I recommend to trade them with other models and get some discount for the new ones. This is, for me, the way to optimize the value from these brakes.
This brake shouldn't be used if you want to try some agressive technical rides, or even a long downhill road with some turns. New rider pay special attention to this message as I learn it the hard way.
I replace these brakes to Avid Utimate and have changed my attitude towards the V-brake system. V-brake can be so good (light wieght, great modulation, low maintenance, and plenty of power in one-WOW) and I know why I used to feel bad about it.
Don't buy this SD3 model unless you commute in a slow speed on a bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A D
a Cross Country Rider
from Halifax, NS, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock with Giant XtC 2 | | Strengths: | Cheap, nice looking, easily adjustable | | Weaknesses: | Very poor braking power. Requires frequent adjustments and centering. Very poor control at speeds above 25 km/hr | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC 2 stock | | Bottom Line: | Average to below averge brake. Mostly intended for infrequent and slow x-country riding | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Catts
a Weekend Warrior
from Spring Branch
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | McAllister Park/Rocyhill Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | They blow...don't stop worth a crap.. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 2.0 Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Trek Fuel 80 w/XTR kit | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because I have used Avids before and the SD 2.0 worked great..but these Sd 3r'S BLOW BIG TIME..THEY DON'T STOP WORTH A CRAP..I am taking these off and putting my 2.0 back on..dont buy them..I guess for a recreational bike path rider..but for reliable stopping power they suck.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K
a Weekend Warrior
from HK
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came wif bike | | Strengths: | Good Braking Power at first | | Weaknesses: | Wear out fast .. releases alot of powder from pads......... | | Similar Products Used: | Dia-Compe | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche | | Bottom Line: | Good Brake at first... Good Braking Power.. Not so good in Wet.. Fast wear out so u must change pads | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from winnipeg, manitoba
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | looks good, stops the bike most of the time | | Weaknesses: | weak when wet, require frequent adjustment, take a lot of force to slow the bike on declines | | Bike Setup: | specialized stump m4 2002 | | Bottom Line: | Not bad, but not great. I put up with these brakes for one season, as they came stock on my bike. Stopping power is just not that great though, and the frequent need for tuning (half the time on the trails) was getting annoying. I just purchased some avid mag brakes off of ebay, which hopefully will be a big improvement. It's minus 25 degrees in winnipeg right now though, so you'll have to wait a couple months before i review the new stoppers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marc
a Weekend Warrior
from Maastricht, Holland
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Zuid - Limburg | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Works fine when brand new. Came stock on my new bike. | | Weaknesses: | After one ride in the wet with a lot of mud: very slippery, fast wear. Rear brake is very weak now. Mechanism pulls to one side, needs adjustment frequently. | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper '03 stock, continental escape tires | | Bottom Line: | I'm not convinced. I'll change the pads to Kool Stops. If there's no improvement, I'll upgrade to Avid SD 7 or Magura HS 33 (nice reviews). I'm only 70 kg's and I think that V-brakes will do for me. Maybe the Magura's are a little bit to much for the hills in Zuid Limburg? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on new bike | | Strengths: | Decent power once you swap out the stock pads and put something else on (like Koolstops). | | Weaknesses: | Have to recenter and adjust every time I take the front wheel off. Not the best build quality. Lotsa play. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR v's, canti's, XT's | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | Got tired of adjusting them all the time so I bought some XTR's for the front. They had a little more stopping power, and much better modulation, but they were so LOUD I couldn't stand it and put these cheapo Avids back on.
They work pretty well with the Koolstop pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Benny juice
a
from Bristol UK
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bike | | Strengths: | They get in the way of trees and bend easily | | Weaknesses: | weak and for new starters in riding | | Similar Products Used: | ad7's promax brakes | | Bike Setup: | cindercone 2002 | | Bottom Line: | They are ok for n00bers who are slow downhill or on the roads but show them some mud and they will fail.
My friend is a n00ber who is going to get an Evo02 which has these on but he is lame so he'll be ok.
Good entry level brakes though I suppose. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mtb Master
a Weekend Warrior
from Aust
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 10 foot drops | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Strengths? what strengths | | Weaknesses: | No modulation. No rear braking power at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hydro and xtr. | | Bike Setup: | norco 250cc | | Bottom Line: | This brakes have potential as long you get the right adjustment. Good newbe's brakes and not good for inclines. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mtb Master
a Weekend Warrior
from Aust
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 10 foot drops | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Strengths? what strengths | | Weaknesses: | No modulation. No rear braking power at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hydro and xtr. | | Bike Setup: | norco 250cc | | Bottom Line: | This brakes have potential as long you get the right adjustment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Metherell
a Cross Country Rider
from Carson City, Nevada
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on a Fuel 90 | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | These brakes are garbage. They do not float because the centering adjusting screws interfere with the springs. | | Similar Products Used: | Switched to Shimano LX, a 100% improvement. | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 90, mostly stock | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy them. If they come stock on the bike, change them out before leaving the shop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BIgRed
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, OH
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock on Bike | | Strengths: | Wait... I'll think of one... uh... they... uh... Well, they stop a bike. Does that count? | | Weaknesses: | 1) Every time I take a wheel off, they need to be adjusted.
2) The pads work well for about a week (on road!), then blow.
3) The brakes flex.
4) When wet, they suck pretty bad (granted, my rims suck too). | | Similar Products Used: | XTR V when they first came out (and those still kick butt). | | Bike Setup: | Flyin Monkey | | Bottom Line: | Not bad if they cost you $10, but no more. Definitely look for a better V when you want rim brakes. I am a big dude who likes to do tricks and could always count on vice-like performance from the XTRs. These have slipped a lot. The good thing was they didn't lock on some hairy trails, the bad thing was they didn't lock on a wheel stand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RYan
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton AB Canada
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Hardcore MTB store | | Strengths: | well they are avid, so they have a brand name going for them, I would expact braking like this on a lower end bike, but i payed a reasonable amount of money for my bike, and to be spec'd w/ breaks that can be found on bikes half the price is attrocious, wise up with the parts selection gary fisher! | | Weaknesses: | Flexy, ugly, cheap | | Similar Products Used: | deore v, hayes hydro, alvio v | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 3+ with no bontrager parts | | Bottom Line: | They suck, Im gonna try a brake boster and dual compound pads, and if that doesnt work im gonna buy some xtr's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chad
a Cross Country Rider
from brooklyn
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | stock on bike | | Strengths: | they're cheap. | | Weaknesses: | these brakes suck. they came stock on my bike and they have very little if any control going downhill, all they do is lock up the wheels. i didn't buy the klein for the components but i wish they stocked better brakes. spend the extra money on the better avids, you'll thank yourself later. when tubeless disc wheels become cheaper i'll switch to discs, but until then better avids will have to do. | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | 02 klein attitude comp, mostly stock | | Bottom Line: | these brakes have no control going downhill, they either lock up or they lock up. they work great on most terrain, but not when you need em most. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
trekkiller
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseburg or, douglas
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | too many | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle Shop | | Strengths: | Good stopping when dry only, excelant stopping power when at moderate speeds on slanted ground. | | Weaknesses: | problems grabbing when wet, primarily when muddy, does not grab consistantly feels kinda jerky. | | Similar Products Used: | deore lx | | Bike Setup: | k2 attack 4.0, noleen mega air fork, noleen rear spring, xtr de-railors, WTB wheels, stock setup. | | Bottom Line: | it is an excellant lite offroad brake for the beginer to moderate MTB'er, but when things get tuff these brakes take a hike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York)
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | I like it rough and dirty, baby! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Seo Cycle, LalaPort Tokyo Bay shopping mall, Minami-Funabashi, Chiba, Japan | | Strengths: | For most riders, this is an excellent brake set. Especially if you're putting a bike together and you're wondering where to cut costs, this is an excellent performer for the money.
They perform much better than I expected.
They don't make noise--this is with a Bontrager Select wheelset.
Stopping power is excellent, however . . . (see weaknesses) | | Weaknesses: | . . . they also seem kind of jerky when engaged, like they're really meant exclusively for locking up the wheels; so they're not as smooth as could be in braking for control versus stopping--like when decending down a hill through the trees where there is no trail and hense I need much smoother control (though this is like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford). I think this might have to do with the lack of rigidity in the brake arms.
They seem kind of flimsy, particularly the springs--again, if you're not really punishing your brakes, this should concern you too much.
Essentially my only complaints are that they're not as good as the Deore's of the same type I have on my other, older bike--but those are truly outstanding. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore--the best so far), and various caliper brakes (which couldn't be worse--and yes, I do mean all of them. | | Bike Setup: | The Avid SD3s came stock on my 2002 Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | I originally thought I was going to replace these brakes with Deores--which I love--before even hitting the trail on my new bike, but over 200 off-road kilometers later, they're still on there.
They don't perform as well as my beloved Deores, but they do perform pretty d@mn well. I wont hesitate to replace them if they fail on me somehow--without even trying to repair them--but until that moment comes I'm happy with them.
On a budget? Get these. They perform like they should cost much more, but they're inexpensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey Cups 'N Saucers
a Weekend Warrior
from New Haven, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | An area bike show | | Strengths: | Good stopping power, Great for riding in the city on my way to school everyday. Easy to adjust once broken in well. They work best with Shimano LX levers. | | Weaknesses: | Absolute *itch to tune in, the springs lose tension quickly and you have to bend them every now and then. | | Similar Products Used: | Generic alloy V's from DANSCOMP.COM (good brakes for nine bucks) And These Tektro's. (the alloy's were better and 1/2 the price) | | Bike Setup: | Gary fisher frame, 2002 RockShock Judy SL with 100 mm travel. XTR deraiullers. | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes, cheap, hard to tune in, but once you put the effort into it they're with it. You need levers with lots of adjustment in them or the brakes stink. The next upgrade on my bike is new brakes, but i think im going to stay with Avid, these brakes haven't been too bad to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a_sanity_assassin
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | They work...... in the beginning | | Weaknesses: | Then they don't | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | two wheels, frame..... the usual | | Bottom Line: | Awkward to adjust. Pull to one side. Soft/mushy rear. Reasonable stopping power. Too much work to warrant buying them as after market - they came on the bike and now they're going in favour of SD Ultimates. I wouldn't recommend them to anybody if you do any off-road riding. My granny makes hotter chilli than these, hence a disappointingly low 2/5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chuck
a
from NorthVan, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ned's Atomic Dustbin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | local bike shop(prefer not to say) | | Strengths: | Works well at first
sort of light
looks alright | | Weaknesses: | the power fades aftera downhill section
they dont work in rain/mud
the lever feels mushy especially in the rear brake
the brakes are hard to set up because it pulls more to one side, so if your rims a out of true the brakes drag
the pads wear really quickly
| | Similar Products Used: | various V's | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cindercone 2001
mostly stock xcept for rims and tires
| | Bottom Line: | Once you start riding steeper faster trails these brakes are no good. This is a good beginner brake.
I thought these brakes actually work better when they havent broken in.
About 11 months after i got my bike the front left arm's spring snapped at the end of a fairly easy trail. I disconnected it beacause it was dragging so much i couldnt ride.i was hoping i could get a new spring at the bike shop at the bottom of the mountain. As we biked down towards it as slowly as we could a car makes a right turn and cuts right in front of me causing me to crash into it. Luckily i sustained no injuries so we continued on. At the arrival of the bike shop they told me that the spring could not be replaced so i had to get a new arm ... which i could not at afford the time. i went to the shop i got the bike from and asked if they could warranty it but the owner told me that he would not becuz i had ridden more than what the bike was intended to do. He also told me that i had to get a whole new set. (what the !@*# !!! ... the other bike shop told me that i could buy jus one arm and that it should be warranted....)
I give it two chilis not for its braking performance but becuz of the shop owner(NOT COVE)who would not warranty it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gshocker
a Racer
from Aurora, Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The one i'm riding | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good consistant braking! If you are not concerned about stopping on the dime without paying a lot... these brakes are for you!!! | | Weaknesses: | They loose too much grip when trying to slow on steeps. Not enough "UMPH" to the braking for me. Need A LOT of adjustment. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek 8000 with XTR derailleurs, Eaton CT2 handlebar, soon to have Avid Ti's, Race face good and Evil grips! | | Bottom Line: | Overall, these are a good pair of entry level racing brakes. They are very dependable. But because of the lack of braking strength, i give them 3 of 5 FLAMIN CHILIS! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fredrik
a Cross Country Rider
from Bergen, Norway
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Lots of braking power - never lets you down. | | Weaknesses: | Need lots and lots of adjustment to be optimal. Mechanism pulls most on one side - leaves little mud clearing. | | Similar Products Used: | LX's, Tektro (yuck) | | Bike Setup: | stock Caldera | | Bottom Line: | Overall a good V-brake. I do not know their price, as they came with the bike. Besides the frequent need for adjustment, I'm happy with these brakes, and will not replace them untill I can afford $500 discs. Need to be given little clearance to rim for perfect function, that also gives little clearace for mud to pass, with the additional dirt and thereby also wear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jomper
a Cross Country Rider
from Gothenburg, Sweden
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Probably cheap, i dont know really. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to adjust, one of the brake pads is always getting closer to the rim than the other. You adjust, go riding, and afterwards it needs adjustment again. Irritating. | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT, shimano cantis. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek 8000, SD3s stock mounted. | | Bottom Line: | I just cant understand why Trek put such lousy brakes on this otherwise lovely bike. Will exchange them as soon as I can afford. Either to XTR or to Arch Rival 50's.
They would probably work fine for commuting or for the one who doesnt care if the brakes needs adjustment all the time, but not for the rider who wants to ride, not adjust.
A friend of mine has another bike with SD3s and has the same problem.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Culloty
a Weekend Warrior
from Leicester, England,UK
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Watermead Nature Reserve | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Stopping power, adjustability, finish, price | | Weaknesses: | You gotta be kidding, none! | | Similar Products Used: | ProMax V's, Vuelta V's | | Bike Setup: | Claud Butler Alpina alu frame w/Judy TT fork, LizardSkin Moab grips, Alivio - STI shifters & derrailleurs,Truvativ Five D chainset,Selle Royal Ethos Gel saddle,Specialized Crossroad EX tires,Vuelta Vision rims | | Bottom Line: | These babies have got stopping power galore and I like the finish, they may not be Shima-no XTR, but they look great. I'm 51 years old and I use my bike for commuting, recreational off-roading with the local club and fun racing. I weigh 80 kilo so I'm not light, but they stop on a dime and I don't need to strangle them. Maybe it's the rim, tire & brake combination on my new bike, maybe I've been riding cheap bikes with crap rim & brake combinations -Raleigh Manta Ray, GT Aggressor? I upgraded the specs on My 'Alpina' new and I'm glad I did. I give these four chilis overall because I'm sure there are better brake sets, but, for the riding I do and the money I spent I'm over the moon! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fletch
a Weekend Warrior
from Sheffield, England
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Super Cycles | | Strengths: | My DDG Shooter came fitted with these Avid SD3's and when I road the bike for the 1st time in Worncliffe Woods in Hillsborough they stud-up to the huge decents with no problem and they have worked just as well ever since.
I've always been heavy on the brakes but only when I need them... I have a lack of fear on the hills so I seem to ride flat out and these haven't let my down yet... everyone said they where good, and they are. | | Weaknesses: | None what so ever... Just really powerful so what out if you've got big hands | | Similar Products Used: | Lizard V-Brakes...(crap) Shimano Deore (not bad but less tough and reliable) | | Bike Setup: | DGG Shooter Single frontset... blaagghhhh blaaagggghhh ye know can't be bothered to rite it all out again | | Bottom Line: | Really good V-Brake that never fall to be accurate even after some real hammer... Get them unless your a twat and use Disks to jump with (I'm a DH/ Dirt Jumper you see) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Clark
a Cross Country Rider
from Elkridge, MD, US
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | These things are so easy to adjust.....if you ever need to. I got these stock with my klein attitude comp, and have beat the crap out of the in the spring mud of Avalon. I've only had to tighten the cable. They've stayed rock solid and still hold on to my rims for dear life. | | Weaknesses: | If you like to have your brakes set up very touchy to where it doesn't take much lever travel to engage, one side can tend to rub. if you ride in muddy and wet conditions, it can get annoying. | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude Comp | | Bottom Line: | Overall great brakes...I'm still not completely thrilled with the mechanics(one side pulls more than the other....so if you set them up really tight, you get no mud clearance) They do what they were made for though, and they've held up even though I've beat the crap out of them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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