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Submitted by
Pablo Pizarro
a Weekend Warrior
from Caracas, Venezuela
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light, great stopping Power. Even in heavy rain conditions; no matter if it's dry or mud, they will stop you. Better if you are ridding a hrad tail, rather than a FS bike. | | Weaknesses: | Original pads are not good enough, and they are hard to find and expensive. try kool stop, dual compound if it's possible, and you will see how hard they will stop you. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, LX, Deore and STX-RC V's. And a sort of cantilevers such as Dia Compe, Shimano and many others. Don't like discs. | | Bike Setup: | Hard tail, Manitou Mars Elite, Avid Ti, Race Face, etc, etc | | Bottom Line: | This is my second review on same product. I bought a new lightweight frame, to replace a very old proflex reptile. I kept few components from my old bike, among them there were these Avid V's. I change Rim Ranglers pads and bought Kool Stop dual Compound. Before this I was thinking to buy Disc brakes, now I don't even think about it. Excellent stopping power, even in heavy rain conditions; no matter if there mud or sand, theyt will stop you. But be sure you discard rim rangler pads, and change them by kool stop ones, dual compound if it's possible. my brother in law ride a Trek Fuel EX9 with hydraulic XT brakes, and stopping power is almost the same, in spite I'm 6" foot tall and almost 180 pounds, and he is 5"6 and 150 pounds. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Not sure | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Great stopping ability, easy install, easy adjustment, no noise from pads, etc.. | | Weaknesses: | Durability & serviceability | | Similar Products Used: | Many different V-brake setups | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS | | Bottom Line: | I was very happy with these V-brakes when new, however like the XT V-brakes I had before these they became almost completely unusable after a year.
The main pivots/bushings for the brake arms simply become contaminated and corroded, eventually causing the arms to require more and more force, at which point the return springs cannot open the brakes anymore.
I specifically bought these hoping they would be better due to the Ti and other materials which should resist corrostion, but they failed in about a year. There was no way to disasemble the pivots for a clean + regrease, which is not acceptable IMO in any of these high end V-brakes. Any mud/water/sand/salt which contaminates the brakes is going to eventually kill them. This is especially problematic on the rear brake, the front brake is somewhat more shielded by the fork.
This is not an Avid failing per se but it is very annoying. In the end I decided to go with cheap V-brakes until I get get discs, if I have to replace them I might as well go cheap and replace them more often to keep a higher average level of performance. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Simi Valley, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | cambriabikes.com | | Strengths: | light, strong, easy to setup, light lever effort, dead sexy | | Weaknesses: | embareses my friends xtr Vs, adapting to ridiculous brake power wears out my mind. | | Similar Products Used: | lx, xt, xtr v brakes, and various discs | | Bike Setup: | old gt idrive | | Bottom Line: | when avid says single digit they mean it. the bike stops, as in now. took a little getting used to before I would trust them but you really can one finger it in even the really nasty stuff. These arent disc brakes and shouldnt be considered as replacments for high end discs but for v brakes these are really amazing, I certainly wont worry about stopping power on fast decents anymore. The simplicity of the whole system is really great coming from the slightly overcomplicated shimano v brake system. For a non disk rider like myself (I'm not spending that much on a 7 year old bike) these are pretty much tops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
racerchick
a Racer
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Hazzards | | Strengths: | Can't seem to find one | | Weaknesses: | They simply do not stop. The rear brake is like no brake at all. | | Bike Setup: | Titus Ti RacerX, Manitou Skareb super, XT shifters, crank, Chris King headset, Salsa stem, Easton seatpost, DT swiss wheels, hubs Maxxis ranchero tires. | | Bottom Line: | Before I go into full review...I have to admit I have Avid FR 1 brake levers so maybe that is the true problem. I haven't been able to engage my rear brake cleanly except the first rides after new brake pads. That's it. I weigh in at 105 lbs so I'm thinking it shouldn't be a problem to have some responsiveness. I hate relying on my front end to stop. I'm changing the brake levers and if that doesn't make things right I'm going to disc, Magura Marta SL....I want to enjoy my downhills going fast...not doing damage control trying to control my speed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Cross Country Rider
from castro valley CA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | looks weight hardware | | Weaknesses: | flexibility strength | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT/LX magura blue | | Bike Setup: | Kona Pahoehoe,GT Zaskar LE | | Bottom Line: | I really do not like these brakes. I love the way they look. I love the Titanium hardware. I love the weight. I hate the performance. I have these brakes set up perfectly and I am still very unhappy with them. The titanium hardware is the best plus in my book with these brakes which goes hand in hand with the weight. Even properly torqued, the pin that fits into the brake boss snapped off the brake on my rear brakes so that one arm will not return because the spring is not ineffective. Pretty upsetting for a product that gets so much praise. In my opinion, this product is not well engineered and I am dissapointed with the performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Pensacola, FL USA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Great looks, very light, excellent modulation and stopping power | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Older AVID Ti, and AVID Ultimate | | Bike Setup: | Moots hardtail, SID Race fork, SRAM XO drivetrain, FSA carbon cranks | | Bottom Line: | This brakeset is the new AVID SL which replaces the older AVID Ti. There was not a catagory for it so I placed it in this section. This setup replaces a three year old AVID Ti brakeset I was using. I ordered this one from Price Point as I liked the look of the brake levers better (call that a whim). When I installed them, I was very suprised at how much better they work than the older AVID Ti's. This setup works as well as my AVID Ultimates I have on another bike. If you are considering the Ultimates and can afford them, buy them for their great looks and performance. They are worth the money. If you want a setup that works just about as well for less money consider the AVID SL's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
$mokeyJoe
a Racer
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | H&S Bike-Discount | | Strengths: | Light,strong,adjustability | | Weaknesses: | Original pads squeel!So change them for some koolstop ones and go for it! | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD5,Shimano xt | | Bike Setup: | HT with light-weight parts | | Bottom Line: | These brakes stop me whenever i want!Just change the pads like said above.This in combination with ceramic rims,you'll have a pretty lightweight brake setup that stops you in most of the situations(i'm a racer,not DH!)I tuned them with some Ti and Alu bolts/parts,so lighter with the same stopping power will be difficult to get.
Buy them for a cost effective/lightweight brake! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoffrey Seaborn
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gatineau Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | www.pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Has the speed dial system, looks great, very light, doesn't squeak unless really cold (going really fast), amazing value - a solid buy. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. I thought that the price was quite reasonable. | | Similar Products Used: | Speed dial/Single digit 3's, dia-compe etc. | | Bike Setup: | 04 Specialized Rockhopper pro - EC70 riser XC bar, thomson post, easton stem, avid ti's, specialized comp gel saddle, shimano clipless, avid rollamajig, chris king... | | Bottom Line: | Stops me faster than I could ever want, and is way lighter than a disc brake. With high end rim brakes, there is really no need for discs to weigh down your bike. These are very easy to install, adjust, and maintain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, OH, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mine | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambriabike | | Strengths: | Extremly light, Awesome copper color, Strong spring tension, easy to adjust, comes with Excellent pads. It's Avid what can you expect. | | Weaknesses: | Some of the bolts might stripe on you so go easy on them. After about a year of use, my rear brakes pin in the pin/bushing assembly broke on the left side and then broke on the right a week later, but Avid sent me free replacement parts inside two weeks so I'm still very happy with them. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, Avid SD7, Avid arch rival, Bunch of junkies, and Avid and hayes disc. | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Avid Ti V-brake, Manitou Black Elite 80-100, Access Hardtail, Chris King Headset, LX Crank and shifter brake pods, XT Front derailer, LX hubs laced to Sun UFO rims IRC mythos XC tires, Rock shox Seat post, Italia seat, Answer Hyperlite EA70 Bar, FSA XC120 stem, | | Bottom Line: | These brakes rule the only V's I'd want more are the Avid ultimates. For $35.00 a piece you can't get anything better I am very happy with these and you would be to, so if your looking to upgrade your V's or just want something plain better and lighter get these. Avid Rules | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob valentine
a Cross Country Rider
from london uk
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | forest of dean | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | evans | | Strengths: | light weight, non-shimano, no l.inkages to complicate matters and shorten lifespan of the bakes due to wear, solid feel modulation, not too grabby | | Weaknesses: | pads are poor compared to aztec pads, but these came on stumpy pro '03 so can't complain | | Similar Products Used: | shimano dx, lx, diacompe brake esque silver bits...... | | Bike Setup: | 03' stumpy pro new xtr shifter brake things, like em enough to keep them, although if i break them i will buy avid levers and xtr shifters only | | Bottom Line: | do pretty much everything you could ask for shame about the pads, as they can squeal in wet (but don't all brakes do) shimano gets you going the best, but as demonstrated by their xtr discs, they don't stop you very well...... (i work in bike shop and several people have replaced their xtr discs with hope, or hayes discs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pablo Pizarro
a Cross Country Rider
from Caracas, Venezuela
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | la Ciria | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Wind Center | | Strengths: | Light, very light. High stopping power, reliable. Even combined with SRAM levers this brakes stop on any condition and even with heavy mud. excerp when it´s rainning | | Weaknesses: | Not working on heavy rain conditions; hard to fing brake shoes, for replacement | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano STX-RC | | Bike Setup: | Proflex Reptile, with Manitou Marnum-R fork | | Bottom Line: | This are good and light brakes, good alternative for Shimano products; which are unaffordable | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Robert E. Lee | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bicycle Outfitters | | Strengths: | Superior stopping power to anything else I've tried, really light, don't warp, good looks | | Weaknesses: | Nothing at all | | Similar Products Used: | Promax, STX-RC, XT, 5.0, 7.0 | | Bike Setup: | '00 Giant Iguana SE 6061, '03 Crossroc, '03 Duke XC UTURN, Speed dial mag levers, xt shifters | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are sweeeeet. Awsome stopping power, look great, go especially well with Speed dial mag/ti levers. These brakes have never failed me, even in slop. $35 each at cambria bicycle outfitters (http://www.cambriabike.com) in the hot deals section. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Captain Phun
a Cross Country Rider
from Superfund, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Waywayanda | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Great stopping power. Very light weight. Ti-hardware. Nice, tight noodle boot. | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano xt, avid sindle digit 3 | | Bike Setup: | Yeti F.R.O., lightweight parts, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are light, stop super strong, set up easy, and brake so much sweeter than shimano. Heavier return spring for faster return and centering. No Shimano SQUEEL!
These brakes are light, look nice, and most importantly stop the bike very well! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.J.
a Weekend Warrior
from Pleasanton
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Thr ridge! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Real Bicycles | | Strengths: | Awsome, super stiff, these bad boys stop on a dime! | | Weaknesses: | none, great price, works perfect, and looks killer! | | Similar Products Used: | shimano xtr- *skweekskweekskweek* | | Bike Setup: | only the goodies!!!!! | | Bottom Line: | These are a great set up, good price, easy set up, looks KILLER, WAY LIGHT! GET THEM NOW!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Johnson
a Racer
from Tulsa
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Turkey | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Light, stiff, simple, work, good looks. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive MSRP | | Similar Products Used: | xtr | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Aluminum:Manitou, xt, fsa, ritchey, king | | Bottom Line: | i wanted a pair for a long time but didn't want to pay the price. However I found a decent deal on ebay, so I splurged a little. Instalation was easy besides messing with the pad alignment(which sucks to do on all brakes). After riding I felt the brakes were more powerful than my previous xtr v's. I noticed a reasonable weight improvement(I am a weight junky) without sacrificing stiffnesss.
Final thought work a little overtime and get yourself a pair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, Catawba | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Ultimate | | Strengths: | Durable- Stops my bike-Light weight | | Weaknesses: | Notta | | Similar Products Used: | xt xtr v brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Fuel 100 front triangle 2001 rear EC90 Bars Easton Magnesium stem ODI Locks XTR Chain and derailures -Propels and frogs | | Bottom Line: | These brakes along with my ceramic coated rims have over 1,200 miles on them and still stop beautifully. This combination has proved to be real winner when it comes to braking power. Of course when you're racing you try to brake as little as possible! All kidding a side I do recommend these brakes they work great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Oak Harbor, WA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Erie | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$84.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO (Cambria Bicycle Outfitters) | | Strengths: | Light, tough as nails, stopping power, lever feel, and that copper color is just awesome! | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | xtr v's | | Bike Setup: | Kona ti with xt/xtr, avid (duh), sid, tioga, other good stuff. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are great. The direct pull of the avids is a million times better than the weird (and wimpy) ass xtr linkage stuff. They are a lot tougher too. I crashed and the my left-front brake arm smashed into an alder. I looked down at it fearing the worst! All that happened was the little "return spring piece" behind the arm popped out from behind its holder. The whole linkage on my old xtr's woulda fell off! The price is also way better, compared to the '03 xtr v's, which are around $76.00 an end (what a fricken rip off!, why buy those when you can get avid's brakes?!) Oh yeah, the color is lookin' sweet with my ti kahuna! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob N
a Cross Country Rider
from Des moines, IA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | Light, great power, stiff | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | SD 5's | | Bike Setup: | 2003 stumpjumper comp | | Bottom Line: | These make a big difference; i switched SD 5's for these and there was mucho improvement in stopping. The grey looks cool too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from Trussville, Alabama
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Oak Mt. State Park, Trussville Complex | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Look Good, Light..... | | Weaknesses: | Dont stop...... | | Similar Products Used: | Every thing I'v used befor would stop me. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 GT I-Drive Race, Full XTR (except brakes), Easton parts, Gt cnc hubs, Mavic 217 rims, No Tubes.....total wt 24.lbs | | Bottom Line: | These brakes just dont work well. The front brake works beter then the rear. I have gone to xtr pads but that didnt help much. My bike has jagwire cables. I am going to change to Ride On cables to see if that makes a differance. If not,
XTR's we be on my bike soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allen
a Racer
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Easy to set up. Excellent braking | | Weaknesses: | Not for idiots below who don't know how to work on bikes | | Similar Products Used: | XT, Mag V, SD3 | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dragon | | Bottom Line: | Excellent braking - that's the bottom line.
People who claim that brakes don't work because neither they or their friends can set them up properly should have a LBS work on their bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Furneaux
a Cross Country Rider
from Surprise, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | They stop me when I need to stop... | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 7.0, XTR V-Brake, Paul Components | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Mojo, XTR and Sram Drivetrain... | | Bottom Line: | I originally bought my Mojo with XTR V-brakes. I expected they would work as good as the Avids I had on a previous bike. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed, so these brakes were purchased. They are awesome (as expected). I run the brakes with XTR levers and have experienced no problems. I do not get the same feel I got from my previous setup (Avids), so I'm considering buying Avid levers to match the brakes. What more can I write about brakes? They stop me when I need to stop, and give me the solid feel I expected from Avids. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark James
a Racer
from UK
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The £ killer | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Colchester | | Strengths: | Brakes very good. Not many moving parts which makes it simplistic. Easy to adjust. They do look good for the first 2 years.... | | Weaknesses: | I have had mine for 3 years now and all of the nuts and metal parts have rusted. The bronze levers have also began to rot. I have always looked after them and I thought they would last forever. My old XT brakes dont have a speck of rust on them. They are 7 years old! | | Similar Products Used: | Xt, XTR, Avid SIngle digit 5 | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9.8 Elite 2003, mostly stock. 1.2 Hutchinson slicks | | Bottom Line: | The brakes are good and have been pleasant to use over the last two yeasr. I am just a bit dissapointed that everything that it mettalic on them has rusted, and the levers are beginning to rot. I think I may try XTR again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nick M
a Racer
from lisle, IL
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | palos Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBC | | Strengths: | insanely light, great looks, easy adjustment, ALLEN KEY TENSION SCREWS, rim wrangler II pads | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | never used anything else | | Bike Setup: | 2003 giant XTC hardtail, SRAM X.0 shifters\r. derailleur, XTR front derailleur and cassette, RS SID SL fork, Ritchey WCS stem, SRAM PC99 hollowpin chain, mavic X517 ceramic\dt revolution\DT hugi wheelset, Continental Explorer tires, FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue crank, Maxm bar and seatpost, Selle Italia SLR saddle. | | Bottom Line: | overall the best brakeset out there. never had any problems with stripping, loss of power, wear, or even brake flex. i figured these would be ver flexy due to their low weight, but they stop on a dime with the pads. wish i could give more than five chilis! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Paul MN, USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Blast | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Penn Cycle | | Strengths: | POWER POWER POWER!
oh yea... and they are very light! | | Weaknesses: | none so far... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimmano..... | | Bike Setup: | trek 6700, avid sd5 break levers, Single Digi Ti brakes, otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | If your looking for rugged stopping power with unmatched durability, these are the brakes for you. I'm a BIG guy and needed more than just pads to increase the power, so I invested in these and was greatly supprised to notice a HUGE difference. buy em, you'll be glad you did! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Racer
from Truckee, CA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in Tahoe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Easy setup, power, modulation | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, Arch Supreme, Arch Rival 50, AD20 | | Bike Setup: | Waterford 2400 hardtail, Marz Z2, SRAM 9.0SL, Bontrager Mustang Ceramic laced to Hugi 240, Time ATAC, Thomson Stem & Post | | Bottom Line: | I don't know how anyone can these brakes don't work. I've raced with these brakes, rode all over Lake Tahoe and never had any problems stopping. Matched with ceramic rims, I can stop on a dime. Avid have the best rim brakes out there. Blows away Shimano in terms of quality and power. I went through 2 sets of XTRs before I switched to Arch Supremes. The Supremes are now locked away in a vault so that no one steals them. Arch Rivals were just as good as Supremes, but not quite. The SD Ti's have great feel to them. Recommend for anyone who likes the simplicity of rim brakes without losing stoping power. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Kosice, Slovakia
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | lightweight | | Weaknesses: | Well, i just can't get them braking! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar Race, LX/XT drivetrain, Avid Single Digit 7 Levers, Mavic OEM rims, etc... | | Bottom Line: | I've bought GT Zaskar Race with these brakes but they seem to be far worse then LX brakes. Has anyone had similar problems with them? I used several different pads with them but it seemed to have no effect. They are set up properly as far as my friends and I can tell. I weight about 140 pounds (68 kilos exactly). Who can help me? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Soenner
a Cross Country Rider
from Bavaria
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Strengths: | easy setup, lightweight, beautiful, braking power, cats like to play with the boxes they come in | | Weaknesses: | avid should'nt have used the titanium so economical. | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey logic pro, xt | | Bike Setup: | single digit ti brakes & speed dial ti levers with nokon cables | | Bottom Line: | if you're searching for a lightweight and awesome looking v-brake with monster braking power don't search any further - you've found it now.
the brakes look very compact and are perfectly beautiful with their grey finish. my bike lives together with me in my flat and whenever i pass it i have to stroke its new brakes gently and stare at its levers.
i think the braking power is the best you can get out of a v-brake but i'll replace the black pads with koolstops salmon ones. strong spring tension gives you a very crisp feel.
i'am still hoping for a real ti brake with titanium arms but as the v-brake era is coming to an end i guess thís is the climax of v-brake development. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tallboy
a
from New Orleans, LA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Light weight, strong, even braking, easy instalation and adjustment. | | Weaknesses: | not yet | | Similar Products Used: | Promax aka: Crap | | Bike Setup: | Trek fuel 80, rolf satellites, maxxis rubber, cloud nine, syncros hardcore headset, richtey bar, xtr, precision billet derailleurs, sram 9.0 cassette, race face crankset n bb | | Bottom Line: | Great for xc use. Super smooth breaking. No squeal. I have avid's 2.0 levers with jagwire's teflon kevlar cables. I could not be more happy with the set up. I ride some urban assult but more xc. Once these breaks are set you do not have to worry about them, at all. Make sure you set the pads with a little toeing. Check out park tools website to find out about toeing. Over all a great break, cool color, and very reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Metropolis IL
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Brakes alright | | Weaknesses: | spring is to hard, spring pops out. | | Similar Products Used: | deore v brake, xtr v brake | | Bike Setup: | deore xtr components | | Bottom Line: | These things suck big time, these things r alright for braking but they still suck, one of my springs popped out and i thought maybe it was just defective then my rear popped out like 4 weeks later, i saw this one guys review were there almost good as disc brakes-shut up no there not, reason y disc brakes r so good is cuz u wont get mud all in it cuz it doesnt sink into the mud like ur rims, nuttin can beat discs so dont listen to this guy. This brake sux and not only me but all my friends think so too. So whats up wit that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Captn
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Hills
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | very light,easy to work on,they brake well. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | xt | | Bike Setup: | 9800 oclv trek hardtail | | Bottom Line: | they are cool | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from ND
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light, Excellent Stopping Power | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 3 | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 100 (many aftermarket parts) | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brake that is light, dependable, and durable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Cross Country Rider
from cedar creek,tx,usa
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | quality,light weight,simple to install and adjust | | Weaknesses: | price 5 years ago | | Similar Products Used: | xtr,other avids,no names | | Bike Setup: | giant,easton,race face,sram | | Bottom Line: | I got these when they first came out and paid big bucks for them.Thats why the've stayed whith me so long.I run an avid disc on the front(less than a year old)and these things stop almost as good dispite there age.A bargin for what you can buy them for now whith out the added cost for a disc rim and hub.Don't get me wrong the avid mech disc is tops (best brake I've used so far)but if you don't have the bucks to up grade your wheel set these beat every thing else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lothar of the Hill People
a Racer
from Ocomukowonawaukesha, WI
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight. Maybe I can strip the Ti parts of them to put on my XTR V's. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough power, too much spring. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR V's, XT V's, Avid Arch Rival Mag, Formula Discs | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight | | Bottom Line: | UUGH! I thought I'd try these out since everyone is raving about them and got them on sale for $30 ea. Also I liked the idea of saving a little more weight. After a couple of rides...I hate them. There's way too much spring, making lever pull harder than it needs to be and there's not enough power. I just couldn't get these to work as nice as my XTR V's. This is the third time I've tried something other than my XTR's (Avid Arch Rival Mags, Formula Discs, and now Avid Ti's) and everytime I go back to the XTR's. Sorry for doubting you XTR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byran
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwood
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | great lever feel, light, cheap, they look very cool | | Weaknesses: | I would have to say that the stopping power is not incredibly different from my avid 1.0s. But its probibly my setup or the wrangler pads that came with them. I used aztecs on my old pair. | | Similar Products Used: | My old brakes were avid 1.0s, but I guess that these could be comparible to xtr brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Merlin titanium, xt and xtr parts, marzocchi z4, crossrock ust wheels, thomson components | | Bottom Line: | Their definatly cheaper than xtr, and feel better, but I have never owned xtr before, so I can't really say that. It would be a good test to see how they feel with different brake pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Racer
from LA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light, solid, and perfect. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, XT | | Bike Setup: | Superlight, and Litespeed | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that when I built my new hardtail I made sure to include these brakes in the specs. They seem to have more thought put into them than XTR...plus they are lighter! The pad adjustment screw is a 3mm allen and not the Philips head bolt. That seems insignificant, but its a small detail that I much prefer. They puppies are solid, the wire clamp is more secure than XTR, the levers are more customizable. Very good product and you can find them cheaper than the XTR stuff. Good work AVID. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Impressive stoppig power, great modulation, lighter than xtr, doesn't squeal, was a huge upgrade from my old Tektro's. | | Weaknesses: | The only titanium in them are the bolts which save 18 grams per brake. If I didn't find them on sale at price point i probably would have just gone with the SD 7s. | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro, Promax | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC SE with lots of different components | | Bottom Line: | These brakes give me lots more comfidence on those downhills. I know that if I have to stop then these brakes will get the job done quietly and quickly. Get these are the SD 7's and you can't go wrong. Good work Avid! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mick
a
from Nor Cal
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, strong, everything you could ask for in a vee brake. | | Weaknesses: | Levers have too much vertical play | | Similar Products Used: | XTR | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper Pro | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work. They are extreemly quiet if that's important to you. Avid pads wear better than any other I've used. Well worth the $ and better than XTR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Fuentes
a Racer
from Boulder, CO USA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | already 2 crowded | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | stazio swap | | Strengths: | performance, weight | | Weaknesses: | can anybody invent a better brake cable and housing? | | Similar Products Used: | xt, xtr | | Bike Setup: | ionic E3 with cheap stuff that works | | Bottom Line: | i been racing on avid since i was a junior in 94, still got old blue anodized tri-aligns on my single speed. these things are bomb proof and light. for XC there's nothing else. i got em used for cheap, but if i broke them, id buy them new. with avid levers and the adjustments, this is the way its supposed to be. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dudley dorite
a Racer
from the wild west
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Now I kinda like the funky copper color. Pretty light. Take a little more time to dial in. | | Weaknesses: | BEFORE YOU BUY - Avid should remove the word "Ti" from the brake parts since the actual brake parts are aluminum. Only the bolts that hold them on are titanium and you can do the same thing with your XT and XTR's. Very misleading. | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | santacruz, xt, xtr, raceface | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad buy for the buck. Work well. A little more adjustment than standard pads. Lighter- if you're into counting grams. If you already have XT/XTR, grab some titanium bolts if you think it will help. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Murrayville, GA
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Lack of noise
Responsiveness
Weight
Color | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | XT V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Marin hardtail spec'd to my liking | | Bottom Line: | Avid SD Ti brakes are awesome. I'll NEVER go back to XT V-brakes. Rode with my XT brakes for months and came to rationalize that "scalded dog" squealing as normal. No longer, though. I've seen the light... and its a copper color. Same color as these awesome Avid brakes. And these Avid Ti's are light. I didnt weigh them, but they're lighter than XT, that's for sure. These brakes make only a little noise when water and mud get in between the pad and the rim. Give the wheel a half dozen more rotations and the noise stops. In dry conditions, these things are mute -- not a freakin sound. Awesome. Work great with XT levers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Signal Mtn., TN
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Great handling,Smooth,Quiet as a mouse, and very light. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Pisgah, XT, Manitou Mars Elite | | Bottom Line: | Awsome brakes, the Best! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, Al
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | B.U.M.P. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Great stoping power, no noise, light weight, and great looks. Avid has excellent customer service. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper, Avid SD Ti's front & rear, Avid SD Ti levers | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are AWESOME!! I am using them with Avid SD Ti levers. They not only feel great, but they stop with incredible force. I have been nothing but pleased with these brakes. I have only had one problem with them. About three weeks after installing the brakes a small piece that controlled the tension spring broke. I called Avid and they sent me a replacement piece at no charge. In fact they sent me a spare one (at my request) just in case it ever happened again!! (I was assured by the lady at Avid that it should not happen again.)
With these brakes along with get great customer support, you get superb stopping power. I would recommend these brakes to anyone who wants the stopping power of disc brakes but doesn't want to shell out the big bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JimmyQ
a Cross Country Rider
from Spring Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | TRT | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepiont | | Strengths: | Simple to install and set up. Superior stopping power. NO SQUEALING!!! Works great wet or dry. | | Weaknesses: | Very responsive, brake are applied with the slighest pressure on the lever. I guess i'm use to cheaper brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | Pro Max (Stock brakes), TOPO performance Bike, XT. | | Bike Setup: | GT-i drive XCR5000, LX cranks, XT drive train, AVID TI brakes!! | | Bottom Line: | Get these brakes. Especially since NON Disk Rim prices are dropping. I was going to change to disk brakes but why bother now. These brakes weight less than DISC, cost less than DISC and work great with my XT brake levers. I was having brake problems; stock brakes too weak, XT too mushy not responsive and SQUEAL when wet. These are "The Dam Brakes Period". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Life | | Strengths: | Set up, Adjustment, Feel, Modulation, Cartridge type pad set up for ease of replacment, Cheap Pad replacment cost, etc.... | | Weaknesses: | Pads don't last long on ceramic rims. (Not fault of brakes, pads are for ceramics, and need replacing after about 1500-2000km of dry braking) Pads vanish on wet rides. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, XT Vee Brakes, Shimano XT Disks (Hydraulic), Avid Vee brakes (dunno what type except crappy), Magura Hydralic Rim Brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar 1, Bontrager RaceLite Tubeless Wheel Set, Shimano XT Levers | | Bottom Line: | These are 99% of my Shimano Disks, just a metric bit less than perfect. Better than Magura and any other rim brake, probbably due to the ceramic rim coating on my Bontragers which give a heap more friction with the braking surface, but still effected by wet rims unfortunatley. Dry out fast enough, but not untill removing a healthy portion of pad. Not sure about price as they came with the bike, but as always, you get what you pay for, and these would not be a cheap item to buy by themselves.
Never ridden trials or DH, but for X country, these would be the Dogs Bollocks (The Best) for overall performance, lack of weight, and quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Life | | Strengths: | Set up, Adjustment, Feel, Modulation, Cartridge type pad set up for ease of replacment, Cheap Pad replacment cost, etc.... | | Weaknesses: | Pads don't last long on ceramic rims. (Not fault of brakes, pads are for ceramics, and need replacing after about 1500-2000km of dry braking) Pads vanish on wet rides. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, XT Vee Brakes, Shimano XT Disks (Hydraulic), Avid Vee brakes (dunno what type except crappy), Magura Hydralic Rim Brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar 1, Bontrager RaceLite Tubeless Wheel Set, Shimano XT Levers | | Bottom Line: | These are 99% of my Shimano Disks, just a metric bit less than perfect. Better than Magura and any other rim brake, probbably due to the ceramic rim coating on my Bontragers which give a heap more friction with the braking surface, but still effected by wet rims unfortunatley. Dry out fast enough, but not untill removing a healthy portion of pad. Not sure about price as they came with the bike, but as always, you get what you pay for, and these would not be a cheap item to buy by themselves.
Never ridden trials or DH, but for X country, these would be the Dogs Bollocks (The Best) for overall performance, lack of weight, and quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Derbyshire, UK
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Skiddaw | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | Lightweight, very responsive & strong, easy to setup & adjust.
The rim wrangler 2 pads work very well, no sign of squealing and I can lock up either wheel very easily on the downhill's. I bought the complete kit with Ti levers and Avid flak jacket cables which probably aids performance yet further. | | Weaknesses: | Price ? You pay for Ti hardware. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD3's
Tired old Dia Comp's | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Stumpjumper M4, Rockshox SID 100's, EA70 riser bars, XT front & rear mech's, metal matrix seat post, WTB Laser V stealth. | | Bottom Line: | A big improvement over the SD3's and comparatively the Dia Comp's are a joke.
They're not cheap but perhaps the best V-Brake kit available, superb stopping power. These easily coped with my 200lb weight down Skiddaw in the Lakes.
If you're a weight weenie looking for a supreme V-brake setup then buy this product.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lo_dee
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta,Canada
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Stylin' with that copper color...good stopping power...lightweight...easy to maintain | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 3 | | Bottom Line: | My original avids were pretty good until I hit a tree. Spent some bucks and got these, 'cause reviews were good and anywhere you can lighten your bike helps on the climbs. There has never been a problem with stopping power. The arms have a broad arch for descent mud/tire clearance. The adjustability is easier than my older avids, which was constantly needing done (spring tension was always off on older set) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a
from Texas
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Braking power, lightweight, easy to setup, yada, yada, yada. | | Weaknesses: | Price, but I got 'em used | | Similar Products Used: | Crappy OEM vbrakes, Avid discs on my other bike | | Bike Setup: | 2 wheels, a frame, pedals, a chain, some other stuff, and brakes that stop on a dime. | | Bottom Line: | Here's the skinny: I have Avid mech discs on my Giant Rainier, and they pretty much rule. I now have the Avid Ti's (& SD7 levers and Ride On cables) on my project bike and they ALMOST stop as well as the discs. I've only used them on one ride on the trails, but I am very impressed with the stopping power of these babies. I've never installed and dialed in a set of brakes before, but I think I have them just about perfect. I didn't hear them at all the entire ride until I went spashing through a creek crossing. Even then, they were pretty effective. I bought the brakeset used (but brand-new in the box so I guess it'd be second hand), so the price was right. If you don't have chang to get the Ti's, get the SD7's - I've heard they're just as awesome but without the titanium. So the bottom line of the bottom line is that these babies are sweet and if you can get a good deal on them, buy 'em. If not, go with the SD7's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RBC
a Racer
from Macungie
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Simplicity, performance, value... | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Starting with the U-Brake thru the Avid Arch Rival 50 | | Bike Setup: | Proprietary head ange, beta compoments, if I toldf yam I'd have ta, well you know... | | Bottom Line: | Coupled with the Avid cable system, these brakes have really convinced me that conversion to discs are far, far into the future. Very impressed! Super easy to install & set up. Even easier to maintain. If you like aheadsets, eggbeaters, (even fixed gears) this product is for you.
Get'em!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carlos alexandre
a Cross Country Rider
from natal , rn, brazil
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all except muddy ones | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$88.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay of course | | Strengths: | ultra light weight
very powerful and strong
brake shoes kick ass
very easy to adjust
simple design | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | xtr vbrakes, xt vbrakes..... | | Bike Setup: | specialized stump jumper,full xtr group, avit ti brakes,chris king headset and hubs, sid sl 02 fork, thomson post and stem, flite sadle and easton ct2 bar. | | Bottom Line: | this brake is so simple that i really cant understand how avid made them so powerful!!with no doubt, they are more powerful than xtr, and are much lighter..
the best v brake you will find, and by a decent price too.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gael Hagan
a Racer
from Centinnial Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Morrison in General | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint..com | | Strengths: | Very nice grip. Light Weight. You can get a firm on the rim for more technical moves and skills. Look good. XTR brake levers and these are a winning combo! | | Weaknesses: | Poor performance in mud (but what non disk brake does?)
| | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD3's(okay), | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000 Xtr, Ti's, Ct2 handlebar, Replaced Cables | | Bottom Line: | Great Brakes for the money. They perform beautifully in most all conditions. Can't complain, these brakes are everything theyre supposed to be. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
duh huh
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | PP | | Strengths: | Light weight, stop pretty good, cheaper than XT, more compact than XT | | Weaknesses: | Casting/finish quality is inferior to XT but helluva lot lighter. | | Similar Products Used: | Shi ma noooooo | | Bottom Line: | Same brakes as SD 7 with Ti bolts. I didn' like the quality of finish so I stripped off the parts, stripped the paint, sanded and polished the rough edges and casting defects. Now they look freakin great, nice compliment to unpainted Litespeed Ti frame. Paint was invented to cover flaws!
Value rating reduced by all the labor required to make these things look nice - hey Avid ever heard of sandblasting check it out | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Buck
a Racer
from Mankato, MN
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Spirit Mountain Duluth, MN | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Avid Employee Purchase | | Strengths: | These are the best brakes I have ever ridden. They are responsive and strong. The new RW2 work great. The lower profile helps with adjusting and aligning them on the rim. They seem a little grittier which help with stopping power. The color is kickass too. How can you beat that copper color. There is no need for a brake booster. Great stopping power on the downhills. No problem locking the wheels up. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have come across.
Flawless in my eyes | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Arch Rival 40 and 50. XTR | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche Frame, SID SL, XTR RD crank and BB, Thomson SP and Stem, Avid Ti Levers, Mavic Crossland Wheels, XT FD aand Shfters, Salsa Pro moto bars, Ritchey logic pedals, Serfas DDVADO seat, | | Bottom Line: | I have always had great service from Avid. They have always sent parts when I needed them and they are very courteous when I call to order new brakes. The best way to buy these brakes are to employee purchase.
Even though they may be expensive they are totally worth the money you spend. I guarantee you will love these brakes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KT
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island, NY
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$53.00 | | Strengths: | Simple design, work, don't squeel, look good. | | Weaknesses: | none, alright cost more than other SD's which are just as effective, you pay for the Ti | | Similar Products Used: | SD25 (also great), SD20 (okay) | | Bike Setup: | a bike | | Bottom Line: | umm? What that guy said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcus Drew
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckinghamshire, England
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Aston Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Care | | Strengths: | Performance, Weight, Adjustability & Quality, Oh, and the shiny bits are Titanium! | | Weaknesses: | Limited supply in England. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek OEM Stuff | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500, stock, except my new brakes!!! | | Bottom Line: | This is my first serious upgrade on my mid-range Trek, and what a difference, the 'One-digit' tag says it all. Sweet, precise and powerful braking. Who needs heavy temperamental expensive discs brakes??
If you can a set of these cheap and aren't cosidering any serious Downhill stuff, BUY EM'. If you still need convincing check out the weaknesses listed against Shimano equivelants!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
næstep
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Strong Performers;
Quiet;
Simple design — no moving linkages;
Good tire clearances;
Come with Rim Wrangler 2 pads;
Gotta love that copper color. | | Weaknesses: | A tad expensive(?);
QC problem with 1st set. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT V's;
Cane Creek Direct Curve 2's;
Avid Arch Rival 50. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Joshua,
Avid Mag Levers,
Avid Disc Front. | | Bottom Line: | I chose these SD series brakes for the wrong reason: I don't give a rat's butt about the Titanium parts/weight savings. I wanted the copper brakes to match my copper levers (ridiculous, but it floats my boat). These are the equivalent to the Avid SD 7's (about a $20 price difference).
Out of the box from JensonUSA (retail, not OEM packaging), there were 2 QC problems. (1) The rivet holding the linkage cage (the black cage that retains the noodle) was deformed. The rivet head was bent over and gouging the cage, causing excess friction. (2) The titanium mounting bolts were mysteriously missing from the packaging (probably Jenson's fault — they said they'd drop some in the mail).
After some slow email correspondence with Avid Tech support, a brief email to Dennis V. at Avid quickly rectified the problem. He exchanged my brake arms with new ones, and even sent me the missing Ti bolts (which never did arrive from Jenson). Except for the initial hiccup, very good customer service, as I expect with Avid.
The Rim Wrangler 2 cartridge pads are a nice update to the originals. The have a slightly lower profile — about 2 or 3mm narrower than the RW1's — allowing easier brake setup, especially when using wider rims. In my case, I was able to get my brake arms perfectly parallel to each other (when the pads are engaged with the rim), whereas with the RW1's they would have formed a very slight "V". In addition, the pads themselves are curved — the RW1's are straight. Lastly, the cartridges are slightly dimpled on either end, probably resulting in a stiffer cartridge. These are a worthwhile upgrade for change number 1 alone.
The Ti's replaced an AR50/DKG booster setup that worked well but was overkill for a rear brake on a stiff aluminum frame. The SD series brakes allow for much improved tire/pad clearance when removing/replacing the wheel (because of no constricting arch), and slightly lower weight. Swapping the AR50's for the Ti's and losing the booster took me from 29 to 28 pounds on the bathroom scale; according to Avid, the Ti hardware accounts for only an 18 to 24g weight savings over standard steel fasteners.
Power-wise I was a little surprised: I expected that losing the booster and the presumably more powerful AR50's would result in a noticeable, if insignificant, loss of power (lemme tell you — the Avid disc works wonders in the front all by itself!).
But in reality, the only instance that I really feel the difference in power is when resting on a steep uphill. If I've got the bike stopped, but I'm resting my weight in the saddle and grabbing the rear brake to keep me from rolling backward, I've got to squeeze pretty damn hard to keep the rear wheel locked. With the AR50/DKG, my grip wasn't nearly so tight. But for regular downhill type stuff, I just don't notice a difference in performance.
Tuning wise, these SD brakes are great. Easy setup, no slop, and precise range of spring adjustments to get the lever feel just right. I've got the spring tension to a very light resistance, but the brake centering and return remains precise. The brakes are noiseless, with no squeal, chatter or grinding to speak of.
Overall, I've got to take away 2 value points for the Ti premium: $20 for 18g to 24g weight savings is pretty substantial. But overall, I'll stick with a 5 star rating for a brake that is simple, light weight, easy to setup and use, and performs very well.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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