|
Avid
Single Digit Ultimate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Grant
a Cross Country Rider
from Hamilton
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Lightweight, Nice feel, cartridge bearings | | Weaknesses: | Rim Wrangler 2 DINA pads that ship stock are worthless unless you love SQUEAL!, $$$$ | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Single Digits, XTR, XT | | Bike Setup: | Kona HOT, xtr, thomson, avid ultimates | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are absolutely great. My only criticism is that the pads that avid ships with these are crap, do yourself a favour and swap em out for some kool-stop inserts.
Pricing: Generally expensive, but keep your eyes open and ears to the ground and you'll score a good deal.
I was able to get both front and rear, brand new off ebay for $90.00.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Cummings
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | allaire/hartshorn | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat | | Strengths: | Great stopping power with great modulation | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S works epic custom. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brakes for the rim brake hold out. Super light infinate adjustment. I am a light weight guy (160lbs with gear) and have been riding MTB since 1995, I cant get into the disc scene since cantilever brakes worked fine for me for years. These are by far the best brakes I have ever used. I plan to buy another set to replace my xt v brakes on my hardtail.
IF YOU HAVE CERAMIC RIMS DO NOT USE THE STANDARD PADS THEY WILL SQUEEL. BUY THE CERAMIC SPECIFIC (GREEN PADS).
For flamin for value (very expensive unless on sale) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Dry Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Sealed cartridge bearings, lightweight, CNC machined | | Weaknesses: | Squeels with ceramic brakes if not set up properly | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Ti, Shimano XTR, XT Disc brakes | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer X80, XT/XTR Groupo | | Bottom Line: | The best brakes I've ever used. I have the new XTR dual control levers and braking wasn't smooth with the Avid Ti. I bought the Ultimates and it made a world of difference! My braking is now smooth and it definitely has to do with the sealed cartridge bearings!
Tip for those who have squeeling problems with ceramic rims: Avid instructs that when the brakes are applied, the brake pads has to be parallel with the brake arms. Do not make them parallel, but adjust the shims so that it's more of an "A" shape.
My brakes was shipped having the "A" shape instead of parallel and didn't have any squeeling. When I read Avid's instructions that it should be parallel, I changed it and my brakes started squeeling like a banshee! Needless to say, I changed it back.
Bottom line, if you want the best V brakes there is no substitute for the Ultimates. I had disc brakes, but we all know that it'll never be as light as V brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rene Hoepelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | I think www.pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Sealed bearings.
Black. | | Weaknesses: | price........but these are the best | | Similar Products Used: | xtr, xt(suxed) and single digit 7's | | Bike Setup: | xcountry | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are phat!! I would choose these over disc brakes any day. They stop just a good. Super light weight. They stay centered. No maintence whatsoever.
Why would anyone want to deal with the hassle of disc brakes.....beats me.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
g love
a Weekend Warrior
from charleston, sc
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | bull mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | very powerful, very light. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | avid mechanical disc, xtr disc, avid sd mag, cane creek dc5 | | Bike Setup: | independent fabrication, full xtr, crossmax xl, fox f80 rlt | | Bottom Line: | the most powerful and light v-brake that i have ever used. disc brakes are more powerful, but thes modulate better than avid mechs. personally i prefer hydraulic disc brakes and i would install them on any bike going forward. my ht does not have disc tabs so these are the best alternative. if you want the ultimate rim brake this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilroy, CA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mailbox, Wilder Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Build Quality
light
no play due to bearings
Best V-brakes out there
| | Weaknesses: | pricing
It's still a V-brake | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, Avid 7s, and all the old stuff before v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Blur, Ultimate V rear, Avid Mech front, CK hubs rear, XT hub w/Mavic 717 disc front, XT Hollow Cranks (one piece),Time pedals | | Bottom Line: | I had both Ultimate front/back and switched to Avid Mechanicals front/back. Wanted more modulation in the rear so I switched back to Ultimates in the rear. Final ratings: Ultimates are the best V-brakes I ever tried bar none. Those with ceramic rims generally have squealing problems with Ultimates because the bearings allow for no play. I don't have ceramic rims. I have Mavic 517s and never had a squeal what so ever on any V-brakes I ever own. Proper set up is also necessary to maximize the power.
When compared to Avid Mechanicals, the V-brakes don't hold a candle to them as far a power to stop you. The Mechanicals just stop you so much faster. However, I don't need that much power in the rear wheel so I switched back to the Ultimates in the rear for more modulation.
I've tried Hope Hydraulics too and when compared to the Avid Mechanicals, it's just a step better with better modulation. But the bottom line is I don't need the power of Hydraulics. I ride mainly cross country and some light free riding with an occassional race here and there.
Bottom line: The Ultimate's are by far the best V-brakes I ever came across, bar ceramic rims. In combination with Avid Mechanicals in the front, it's the best set up for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm riding | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | www.bikeman.com | | Strengths: | Stops the bike well. | | Weaknesses: | Squeal, Squeal, Squeal | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT, XTR, Avid 7, Neo-Retro cantis | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bonty Race, Marzocchi, etc. | | Bottom Line: | In a word: SQUEAL. It seems that all v-brakes do this, so there is no point in paying such a high price for it. These aren't the "Ultimate" unless by that you mean "ultimate rip-off." One would be better off getting some much less expensive Avid 7s, which work just as well and still squeal just as much yet cost much less. Personally, I've switched to Paul Components Retros: linear-pull seems to be for fools.
I rate these at the lowest value because I loathe paying so much for all that NOISE... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SF
a Cross Country Rider
from Stockton,CA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hogan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Frankford | | Strengths: | Engineering,Cnc,Sealed bearings,Great stopping power,Modulation,FVA | | Weaknesses: | !!!Warning this brakes can injury or kill you!!! | | Similar Products Used: | My first V-brake compare to my old U-brake. | | Bike Setup: | Epic,F100x,XTR,Syntace stem,Carbon bars,SLR,King headset& hubs,Mavic XC 717 ceramic,Salsa carbon booster,Avid Ultimate brake&lever,Avid flak jacket&ceramic pads,Ti parts | | Bottom Line: | I believe by chosening the right parts, enhances over all the way the brakes performs. Adjusting the modulation on the levers is a must with these brakes. Especially in the front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SRR
a Cross Country Rider
from Tacoma, WA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Simplicity, sealed bearings. | | Weaknesses: | Price versus performance. | | Similar Products Used: | XT,XTR, SD-7's, Precision Billets (my favorites so far but no longer available). | | Bike Setup: | Hammerhead 100x (w/ceramic rims). | | Bottom Line: | I just got an email asking what exactly I didn't like about the Ultimates, since my earlier review below wasn't clear enough. Well, it's been nearly 9 months now -- 2100 trail miles later -- and I stick to my opinion. It's not that I don't like the Ultimates, it's just that given that I'm also running SD-7's on another bike (same weight/application), which is ridden equally, I've been able to detect NO REAL DIFFERENCE in feel or stopping power!so it bothers me now that I got nothing for the extra money but cool looks and bragging rights. In fact, I believe I prefer the feel of the SD-7's overall! :-o
I'm running ceramic rims on both rigs and believe that this, in the end, is what makes the largest difference. And, yes, like at least one other reviewer, I have had more problems with squeal with the Ultimates than the SD-7's, which surprised me, because I'd figured that the lack of any play in the Ultimates would minimize this risk (and partly justify the price). No such luck. Sorry.
Still, they're better than XT/XTR because they're simpler! They're just more expensive than SD-7's because they're needlessly over-crafted -- but no lighter -- and 'seem' trick. My recommendation to all is to go with some bargain-priced SD-7s (levers too) and put the money you save towards a good ceramic wheelset. There'll be a noticeable return there, for only a few dollars more (for example: hand-built XT/Mavic at Colorado Cyclist for $260).
Compare that to $300, when all is said and done, for the Ultimates alone! with no real advantage other than some snob appeal (because with V-brakes, it's really all about rims and setup -- no magic). Hell, let's get real here! Or at least start thinking about discs -- in some cases -- for about the same price! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Birminghame, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | '02 XTR v-brakes
Avid SD Mag | | Bike Setup: | Durango Bike Works HT | | Bottom Line: | Damn! I didn't know how much difference there could be between the Avid Ultimate and XTR. I will never let shimano brakes touch my side walls again. I was in amazement on my first ride. Get these brakes if want the best and sexiest v-brakes money can buy. They are pricey but well worth it. Super light weight and stopping power that rivals disc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Landahl | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman | | Strengths: | Sealed bearings, stealth black ops color, cnc machinined, zero tolerance for slop because of the bearings. The finest product strength is the customer service from Sram, Avid, Rockshok. Especially Chris McKenney. He is very knowledgable and works very hard to help make things right. | | Weaknesses: | Due to several factors on my bike, they squealed unbelievably loud. My bike has a Headshock that is shaped like a tuning fork. This, along with ceramic braking surfaces and pads made for ceramic surfaces made the bike unridable because of the noise. | | Similar Products Used: | Prior to this, I have only use disc brakes for MTB. | | Bike Setup: | Merlin Fat Ti. Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel, SRAM X.0 long cage rear der., SRAM X.0 shifters, SRAM PC 99 hollow pin chain, Avid SD Ultimate levers, Easton Monkey Lite EC 70 carbon bars and seat post, Shimano XTR M-952 cranks & BB, Shimano XTR M-960 Ti cassette 11-34, Shimano XTR 960 front der top pull, Mavic Crossmax SL wheelset, Michelin UST tires, Oury soft grips, Salsa brake booster over Avid SD Ultimate brakes with black kool stop pads. | | Bottom Line: | After a great deal of help From Chris McKenny at SRAM, these brakes are finally working without a squeal! He even sent me some new Avid SL brakes to try out since they do not have sealed bearings. The idea was that bushings instead of bearings would not have such exacting tolerances as the Ultimates. The problem I had with the Ultimates is that they are too good. The total absence of slop along with the shape of the Headshok, harder ceramic pads, and ceramic braking surfaces made such a squeal it made dogs howl and turkeys come out of the under brush to see what was up. The use of the Salsa brake booster and kool stop not-for-ceramic pads corrected the squeal. They should work great without the booster on non-ceramic surfaced brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Racer
from nevada city ca
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | tahoe rim trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The best V brakes made! | | Weaknesses: | price | | Similar Products Used: | single digit ti | | Bike Setup: | Soulcraft:Sram, speed dream wheels, Fox 100x, bling bling all the way | | Bottom Line: | I friend told me to get the Avid Ultimate brakes and Levers and I could not see spending the extra $$$$, it just seemed like too much. Well i did and what cam I say they stop as good as disc brakes, they are amazing! SPend the extra $$ they are worth it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry
a Cross Country Rider
from Austria
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Strengths: | Light, REMARKABLE brake power | | Weaknesses: | Price (still worth it) | | Similar Products Used: | several generations of XTR | | Bike Setup: | TREK OCLV97, Chris King, Race face, Tune, Rohloff, DT swiss, mavic, eggbeaters, thudbuster, easton, nokon,.. | | Bottom Line: | By FAR the best brakes I had, about 10:1 compared to the 03 XTRs. Use cool stop pads on them without problems, no maintainance so far. Worth the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SRR
a Cross Country Rider
from Tacoma, WA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Little Bald Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO (Cambria) | | Strengths: | Sealed bearings, simplicity. | | Weaknesses: | Price, weight, pad holders work only with Avid pads. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, SD-7's, Precision Billets. | | Bike Setup: | Hammerhead 100X | | Bottom Line: | Some people look for reasons to justify an indulgence; I'm not one of them. Yes, these are better than the comparably-priced Shimanos -- only because they don't rattle -- but hardly any better than Avid's more reasonably-priced offerings. At the very least, for the money, they should come with some ti hardware and a few grams less than their cheaper siblings, but they don't.
Although I can appreciate the sealed bearings, especially in the Pacific Northwest, I'm sorry I purchased this set and resigned to the fact that these brakes are more likely to appeal to snobbies than my knobbies. It's especially annoying because I had a complete brand new set of SD-7's w/levers in my parts box -- which I got for less than the price of ONE set of these brakes -- when I opted to go for the 'ultimate' instead. At least that would've made for less embarrassment on the trail: I'd hate to be confused with one of those high-end types who spend more time worrying over whose end is higher than actually riding.
The same may be said, and then some, for the matching levers.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilroy, CA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Demo Forest, Wilder Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes | | Strengths: | Light, Very rigid, well engineered, no play on pivots due to the bearings, looks very trick | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Mag brakes, XTR brakes, XT brakes, old cantilever brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2000 FSR Pro, Race Face Cranks, Marzocchi 4" Marathon coil fork, Stan's tubeless system, Mountain Speed swing link, Time Ti pedals | | Bottom Line: | Best brakes I have ever used. XTR's & XT had squeeling problems and when set up with pads toed in, it lost power. I contemplated Avid Mechanical discs, which is about the same price, but I didn't want to fork out money for another wheelset when I already have two sets of wheels. I found the Ultimates EQUAL to the Avid mechanicals, but not as strong as my buddy's Hayes Hydraulic disc. Yes they are very expensive for V-brakes, but they are the BEST V-brakes available bar none. No warped rotors, no changing of brake fluid or leaking lines and the brake pads are inexpensive to replace compared to disc pads and they last longer. Granted in Wet conditions, disc will far out perform the Ultimates, but in the kind of riding I do, I race on occasion, it is the perfect brake system I have ever used. For the money, the best V-brakes available to date. 5 flaming turds, 4 for value as they are expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Kennett Square, PA USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Wooden Wheels | | Strengths: | Stopping power, easy to modulate, simple setup, easy to change brake pads. They look good too, nice work and black finish goes with all the black parts on the bike. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive compared to other V-Brakes, but great compared to hydraulic disks, compared to mechanical disks | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, Shimano XTR V Brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Specialized FSR Stumpjumper with Fox Triad Rear and Float front shocks. LP XC Kevlar Composite Bars, SRAM X.0/X-9 Rear. | | Bottom Line: | Best V-Brakes going, expensive compared to other V-Brakes, but good value with a price equal to mechanical disks and equal or better performance with less weight. The price was for the pair Avid mechanicals were about the same price. The deciding factor for me was I take both wheels off to put it in the car most of the time, disk brakes are more of a hassle. Mechanically simple easy to maintain and change pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | Darn good looking. Unreal stopping power. Great modulation for a v brake. | | Weaknesses: | None. Absolutely none. | | Similar Products Used: | xt, lx, xtr, single digit 7, almost all half decent brakes out there. | | Bike Setup: | Ridley Crossbow cyclocross frameset with flatbar setup. All great stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Even though I have used these brakes for only a week they are just fantastic. Only after a week I feel the difference between my xtr's and these. Way better than my xtr's and a million times better than the dreaded xt v brake which are an embarrassment to Shimano. These brakes rock and will stop me at 200 lbs with hardly any pressure applied. If you want the best and I mean best v brake out there get these. If you simply want the best "Ultimate" lightweight brake setup out there get the Avid Ultimate's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Highgear Bike & Outdoor | | Strengths: | Everything! These brakes are the best rim brakes PERIOD! Unbelievable stopping power. Feels like you could crush your rim with these monsters. Light. Look amazing. Bearing pivots. BLING BLING looks! | | Weaknesses: | NONE! You guys that don;t like the price...you get what you pay for! I'm a tool & die maker and knowing how much is involved with machining these part I'm surprised they don't cost more | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 3's (sucked), Avid mechanical discs...really nice brakes but get too heavy when you compare the set up to these brakes which are pretty damn close in power. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90, Ultimate levers & brakes arms, King headset | | Bottom Line: | It just doesn't get any better than this. They definately live up to their name. Get the matching levers, they are the $HIT too! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
justin
a Weekend Warrior
from mamaroneck, ny
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | beyond bikes | | Strengths: | Bearings, CNC, Looks, Stopping power | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | SD3, XT-V | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90, King/Valiant wheelset | | Bottom Line: | This was my first brake installation and they were very easy to adjust. They stop so well. When you pull the levers hard, all of the flex associated with lesser brakes is missing, you just get more stopping power. I bought these over XT discs and think I made the right choice for my type of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Pellegrino
a
from Wichita, KS, U.S.
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The name says it all, Ultimate. When it comes to rim brakes, these Avids really are the ultimate choice. There are a lot of very good rim brakes available to choose from, what sets these brakes apart are: Quality of materials, CNC fabrication, and large sealed bearings. | | Weaknesses: | No color choice other than black | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Klein Attitude Comp; Avid Single Digit Ultimate Brakes, XTR Brake Levers, XTR Shifters, XTR Front and Rear Derailleurs, XT 180mm Crankset with ES-71 BB, Answer Pro-Taper 2” Riser Bar, Thomson, Elite Setback Seat Post, Thomson Elite Stem, Azonic A-Frame Pedals, Koobi PRS Saddle with Ti-rails, and Richey Moby Bite slicks. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes provide powerful consistent stopping-power with very good feedback, along with a set-it and forget-it reliability factor. What more can you ask from a product; Quality, Performance, and Reliability all wrapped-up in an attractive package. Expensive? Yes. Worth the price of admission? Yes to that too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Weekend Warrior
from Roundlake NY
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | lake desolation | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeman | | Strengths: | Very Rigid arms and well machined. noodle is reverseable so when you change from canti's and your cable stops are on the right you don't have to kink a cable around the seatpost | | Weaknesses: | Installations directions are a bit vague. I could say price also, but you are getting what you pay for | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | 1994 Yakota Tandem | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are Heavy doody, everything else is Howdy Doody. This should be the spec'ed V brake on every Tandem. The Improvement in braking power and modulation was noticeable from the beginning. No noise problems either which may be due in part to how tight the tolerance is between the bearings and Cantilever studs.
The price may seem a rip, but once you use them you will discover they are worth it.
I have never rated anything 5 chili's but these brakes are deserving | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | CNC forged aluminum arms, sealed cartridge bearings, no brake squeal, no pivot slop, zero flex, half the weight of XTRs, VERY solid braking action. | | Weaknesses: | A tad expensive, but considering they're the best brakes I've ever used, none really. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD3, Shimano XT, XTR | | Bike Setup: | '02 Trek Fuel 90 | | Bottom Line: | These are the best rim brakes you can buy, period. My Fuel 90 came stock with Avid Single Digit 3 brakes, but were replaced within a week with Shimano XTR due to the fact that they flexed quite a bit. The Shimano's worked well for a while, but the brake squeal was just so unbearable and they were always in constant need of adjustment. Since I installed these on my bike, they have been maintenance and squeak free. I recommend these to anyone who's looking to upgrade their brakes. Sure they're a little pricey, but in this case, you definetly get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | misery mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | www,bikeman | | Strengths: | These work! no slop on the pivot and they stop a loaded tandem with two fat a$$es on a dime. They are well machined and being able to reverse the cable noodle saves from having to braze on new cable stops or having a twisted up cable when it cross the top tube. | | Weaknesses: | I could gripe about the price, but I got my money's worth | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, Avid 3.0, Paul's | | Bike Setup: | yokota tandem, all XT, except brakes, fenders,racks etc (yeah a Fred bike) | | Bottom Line: | If you want serious stopping power these are the best. If you are doing a retro fit from canti's these will make the swap much easier. IMO they stop better than a disc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ride Biker
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$115.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | sealed cartridge bearings = no loose brake arms, strong, light, ultra powerful, smooth, return is great, pad adjustment/centering is a piece of cake, set it and ride forever, and not a peep or sound out of them. | | Weaknesses: | $$$, and to really be the Ultimate they should come with the Ti bolt kit that Avid sells aftermarket | | Similar Products Used: | Avid sd5's , shimano V's, Ritchey and shimano canti's | | Bike Setup: | '02 Superlight, Avid Ultimate levers | | Bottom Line: | If you have the cash, thereis no better v-brake. They are simple and extremely powerful. With speed dial levers, you can adjus the feel any way you like while retaining the power. They sit tight on the bosses, have a narrow width, and you can feel the stiffness in the arms when you are stopping. With the Ultimate levers, I have found V'brake perfection. You will not regret spending the $$$, if you are looking for the best. 5 chiles all around, you forget about the money you spent when you use them, it doesn't matter anymore. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton, Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | www.jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | Incredible braking power to the rim due largely to the stiffness attained by CNC,(computer numerically controlled) machining process manufacturing of the brake arms. Better than anything else I have tried. (this is the same process used by Chris King, Thomson, and Race Face on their respecctive products). No slop with sealed cartridge bearing assemblies compared with bushinged units. They ship with stainless steel hardware that while may not be as light as comparable titanium hardware doesn't require the replacement interval that ti hardware does due to stretching of the ti bolts. Not worth the headache. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, XTR, Avid V, Avid Discs | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Lucky Strike, Chris King hubs & headset, Race Face/ISIS cranks, rings & BB, Speedplay Frogs, Mavic 519's, Thomson stem, Fox Fork Float RLC, Sram Rockets, Shimano XTR derailleurs, Terry 'the Fly' | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for replacements to Shimano XT's that came with my bike. My main and original complaint was I was not able to keep the brakes from squealing even after cleaning and sanding of the original pads and even with replacement pads from another manufacturer. This seemed to be a common complaint with this year and design of Shimano brakes. I was not interested in going to disc brakes. I did the research via email from riders on this site for answers to questions that were not provided on these reviews. (*See Kevin Jones' review) I called Lee Baldwin at JensonUSA.com. Lee's a great salesman who I had dealt with before and very knowledgeable about Avid products as he rides them as well. I explained that I wanted an 'upgrade' which was the key word here. His discription of the XTR line was that it was just a slight refinement to XT and doesn't attain the power these arms do that translates directly to stopping power. After putting these brakes on and realizing the brake force difference I also upgraded the Avid Ultimate levers which are equally as impressive and compliment the brakes are equipped with sealed cartridge bearings as well. A great product. Also JensonUSA's prices couldn't be beat.
Hey, these are the Ultimate, just like they say. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyondbikes.com | | Strengths: | Light, really strong, beautifully machined, NO pivot slop (who'd have thought it was possible), and very stiff, better return spring than any other AVID with an allen adjusting screw. | | Weaknesses: | They aren't free. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 2.0 and SD25, Shimano LX, | | Bike Setup: | 2000 RM Vertex with lots of Race Face stuff and a 7 speed bartop thumbshift setup with XTR cogs and rapid rise R Derailleur (man is that a slick combo) | | Bottom Line: | I thought brake pivot slop was the inevitable companion of a frame pivot mounted brake, but not so. I am impressed at how responsive they are, and with the superior return springs you can adjust them to such light return effort that you'd swear that cable drag had been replaced by power assist. They are very quiet and less prone to squeal under wet conditions, (I'm guessing because there's less pivot slop and pad toe-in variation). They are worth it if you are a fan CNC stuff (they look great beside Race Face stuff on the bike*) or if you like the lightweight and simplicity of really good V-brakes that don't have all sorts of extra pivots and link bars and stuff to loosen up and wear out. The sealed cartridge bearings seem to be nicely covered so they should stay sealed and dry for an extended period of time. If you need discs because of mud and sludge, buy discs, but if v-brakes will work for you these may be the ultimate (or at the very least the pen-ultimate ones.
* who says looks don't count. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.C.
a Cross Country Rider
from MN
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Very good power transfer to rim.
No slop in sealed bearing pivot,no flex in arms.
Light, although nowhere the 162g advertised here,around 180g actual.
Easy to set up. | | Weaknesses: | PRICE! | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 7's, Shimano and Dia Compe(crap!) | | Bike Setup: | Santacruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | The brake arms have no slop at the pivot connection. I took the stock Avid 7's off my Superlight and put them on my old MB3 as an upgrade on the $hitty stock Dia Compes that were on there. The 7's were quite and upgrade for the old Bridgestone,but had noticeable play when you wiggle them by hand, where the Ultimates have no play at all. The 7's are still very good brakes,but the bushing pivot gives a fair amount of play on the brake boss. I put bearing pivot Ultimate hand levers on the bars to compliment the front and back V's. The combo is sweet,I don't think you could come up with more power to weight in any set up. This brings up another point, the Avid V brakes and levers were both heavier than advertised,this seems to be common in others reviews of their products. Both the 7's and Ultimates are strong and by no means heavy,still somebody at Avid has trouble using a simple digital scale! The only downside to them is the price, $200 for both sets of V's and $130, for the levers is disc brake territiory! They dont sell the Ultimates in complete V arm/hand lever sets, like the 7's and Single digit Ti setups,making the cost that much higher. The Ultimates have the same easy to set up pad pivots as the 7's and have been trouble free since installation. 3 chilis for price, 5 for overall quality and performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific Grove, CA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Incredible workmanship, and without a doubt the most powerful stopping power from a V-brake. Ball bearing pivots. | | Weaknesses: | Comes with stainless hardware, as opoosed to Ti. For $100 per wheel, I'd expect Ti. Heavier than the Avid SD Ti brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 2.5's, Avid Tri-Aligns, assorted Shimano models. | | Bike Setup: | Merlin MTB, Titus bar/stem, SID race, King hubs & headset, XTR derailurs, 2x8 gearing, Avid SD Ultimate levers/brakes... | | Bottom Line: | OK, so honestly, I can't say much bad about my older Avid SD 2.5's. In fact, they kicked ass, and the only problem I had with them was that the steel hardware had a serious rust problem in the Monterey fog.
I was actually just looking for a Ti bolt kit for the 2.5's to alleviate the rust problem when I stumbled across the Avid web-site and discovered the new SD Ultimates. Being the total techno-weenie that I am, I couldn't help myself, and I shelled out the $200 for a pair.
I ordered them from Jenson USA, and their web-site advertised a weight of 162g/set and said they had Ti hardware. When I called Jenson, they said the advertised weight might not be accurate (Avid says they're 182g, and when I weighed them, one set was 181.5g and the other was 182.5 - pretty close), but the sales guy confirmed that they had Ti hardware. Of course, when they arrived, I noticed that it's printed right on the box that they have stainless-steel hardware, which just proves that Jenson employees can't read. In any case, the brakes were too sweet to send back.
They pivot on two, large, sealed ball bearings, and have absolutely no discernible slop. They have some nifty design points, like a noodle that can go on either side. They only come in black (every-sing black), end they have super-cool laser-etched lettering, with handy information like torque settings for all the bolts - information that will be really useful for setting my torque wrench properly while out on the trail;-)
In all seriousness, they look killer, and they work even better. I thought the SD 2.5's were strong, but apparently those imported cast arms were flexing a lot, because I seriously had to re-train my left hand to keep from doing endos with the machined arms on the SD Ultimates, and I generally use one finger on the brake levers. The rear brakes had kind of a squishy feel, but as it turns out, that's just due to my Merlin frame flexing under brake loads.
Overall, I would guess that the brakes have about twice the stopping power of the Avid SD 2.5's, but they weigh about 20g/set more then the new Avid SD Ti brakes (cast arms with Ti hardware). If you're a totally techno-weenie that drools over beautifully machined American hardware, and money isn't an issue, then maybe the SD ultimates are for you, especially if you're willing to suffer a few more grams for a cooler piece. Otherwise, the SD Ti's, at less than half the price and a substantial weight savings, are probably the hot ticket. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
