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Submitted by
Carlos
a Weekend Warrior
from Central FLorida
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos at Ocala, FL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Stiff, nice looks, cheap | | Weaknesses: | None. Would be nice if hardware was Ti. | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar brake booster crap | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek Fuel 100 with rear carbon | | Bottom Line: | Stiff. This one really allowed me to lock the wheel on descents. I had problems braking on no so steep descents and the wheel was not locking. I was thinking about disc brakes, but then bought the DKG brake booster and the brakes are hard as hell. Careful the first time as you will need to readjust your brakes and learn how to use them again. I am pretty sure there are other boosters out there that can do the same, but I am sticking to this one. CHEAP TOO! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Smyrna
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Excellent design, performance | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | RANS V2 LWB Recumbent | | Bottom Line: | Couldn't lock the rears up even with Kool Stop pads. With
the DKG, no problem! The cam adjusters are great and make
installation easy. This is a well designed product that
performs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerome
a Weekend Warrior
from Delray Beach
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Great piece of engineering. Totally adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | none. God forbid you have to go to the store for some washers. | | Bike Setup: | old school Jamis diablo. Great frame! Great company! I'm able to run 2.3s front and back no problem. XT v-brakes no problem. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this booster! Trust the reviews! I've been riding with these for over 5 years. DKG is responsible for preserving my flex prone cromoly frame. So, if you want to keep your frame forever buy a pair. A bit tricky to install if you are not mechanically inclined. When I bought it it was pretty expensive but totally worth it in retrospect. If you can find a pair buy them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TienShan
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodside
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | El Corte De Madera | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | rigid and strong | | Weaknesses: | Hardware is too heavy. | | Bike Setup: | Dean TI | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up to my previous post. This brake booster still works great. Since the original hardware is heavy, I have replaced the hardware with lighter ones.
It's a lot lighter than the original. I purchased the replacement bolts, washer and etc from www.racebolts.com. I also replaced whole bunch other bolts on the bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Stein
a Cross Country Rider
from Southington, CT USA
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bicyle Outfitter | | Strengths: | CNC machined aluminium, cantilever specific, anodized finish, locking brake stud cams | | Weaknesses: | lots of mounting hardware (all of if needed though) | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | old school iron horse ars 800r with xt cantilever brakes, lots of xt and xtr goodies, rigid fork, use xcr seatpost, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I was experiencing bad rear brake fade. The brake stays would actually push out between 1/8" to 1/4". I installed the brake booster and wham, significantly increased braking power. This is a hard to find item, I think Cambria may be the last place selling it. I highly recommend this product for a canilever brake setup. Even though it is a little heavy, compared to others, it really does the job. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tienshan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | El Corte De Madera | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | CambriaBike.com | | Strengths: | Stiff, it reduces the flex of my Dean Ti bike. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy and pricy. It weighs around 112 grams instead of 92 grams as manufacture has claimed. The bolt kit is very heavy. It's around 40 grams. There should be lighter version or replacement for the bolt kit. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Dean Ti frame, Ti bar, and Ti post with XT groupo and Manitou Mars Elite. | | Bottom Line: | When rear brake was applied before this brake booster was installed, I can see the seat stay flex quite a bit.
After brake booster is installed, the flex disappears.
A friend of mine help me install it and we kind of pre-enforce. That is we apply the brake and pull the booster outward to fit it onto the bolt.
Afterwards, the brake is very crisp and solid. It no longer gives the mushy feel and there is no more flex on seat stay. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny
a Weekend Warrior
from Detroit
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Does what it says it does...stiffens very nicely. Easy installation...just thread in the straight threaded rods and twist on the cap lugs. The eccentric installation wheels are ingenius. They won't slip like a slot might. Once installed you know you will keep getting the added benefit of the booster. Nice anodized finish. | | Weaknesses: | hmmmmm. | | Bike Setup: | GT I-drive | | Bottom Line: | Tremendous value for an upgrade. Best $20 bucks spent on my bike.
Before I put these on my rear brakes it took about two thirds of the lever travel to lock up the rear...the brakes felt a bit mushy. With the booster on, one third lever travel is all that I need to lock 'em up. The brakes feel much better.
If you find your brakes a little mushy, get this product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Avon Lake, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | internet somewhere | | Strengths: | design,CNC'd!!, color, Performance | | Weaknesses: | None-no picture on this sight-UNBELIEVABLE that a manufacturer has this opportunity to sell product and does not submit a photo to be posted by MTBreview.com!!!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | SALSA | | Bike Setup: | 00 M2 Stumpjumper, AVID ARCH RIVAL SUPREME'S w/SALSA booster up front and the DKG in the rear. | | Bottom Line: | If I had to pick one booster out of the two it would be the DKG - stronger, lighter, better made, mounting holes are the best out of any booster currently made - I've checked - they won't quit working even if the screws come loose!! However, I do like the salsa up front - gives me better clearance running bigger fatter tires. Give this booster 5 flaming hot peppers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pat rossbach
a Racer
from bel air Maryland, usa
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria bike source | | Strengths: | Stiff as hell, looks cool, awesome adjustability,just plain simple | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none, this is the best | | Bike Setup: | 16" DB topanga comp, chainguide,judy 100, avid arch 40 front, tektro cheapie with dkg rear | | Bottom Line: | stopped the flex (was like 1/4") stop on a dime lock up with ease for trials and stuff, it is the best looking and working. period. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Estep
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayward, California
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light
Stiff
Nicely Machined
Ingenious Variable-Width Design | | Weaknesses: | No Spacers / Standoffs Provided
Mounting "Bolt" Lacking
| | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Originally used on rigid Yokota Yosemite (front)
Now on Gary Fisher Joshua (rear) | | Bottom Line: | I recently found this booster, new and unused, in a box of parts at home. It was the second one I purchased (4 or 5 years I've had it); the first went to a friend, mounted on an old bike. I remember having trouble mounting it to a set of XT V's, and probably threw it in the box out of frustration and forgot about it.
It works very well, stiffening up an already stiff rear aluminum triangle on my Fisher Joshua. The rotating moununting holes are maxed at their narrowest setting on my frame, and the fit is tight. The rotating mounting holes are a marvel - I think I'd be disappointed by any "sliding" setup, as on the Shimano or Salsa.
The height of the booster blocks a cable stop on the URT that would prevent me from stringing up my front derailleur. This is a design limitation of the frame; any booster with adequate tire clearance would likely block this cable stop.
In my case, I am running Cane Creek Direct Curve 2 "V" brakes, which already blocked this cable stop. My workaround was to install a bolt-on cable stop and route the cable differently, bypassing the frame's cable stop.
The weakness is the mounting hardware. The "bolt" provided is a length of threaded rod. The threaded rod is turned by screwing a cap nut on one end. This is functional, but ugly. It detracts from the asthetics of the beautiful booster. I had to pay a visit to a fastener shop to get a proper set of hex bolts.
To top that off, no spacers are provided. In my case (with both the Cane Creek brakes I run now, and the Dia-Com cantis's I ran on the previous bike), I need about 5mm of standoff between the brake arms and the booster. My solution is to use a pair of spacers/adjusters from a set of post-style brake pads. These are functional, but fit the bolt loosely and are concave on one side, again making them less than ideal.
I wouldn't hesitate it recommend this booster, if it can still be found. The problem with the fasteners may not bother some folks, and is easily and inexpensively corrected. Since it doesn't affect the function of the booster, I won't deduct any points. I will deduct one point for the lack of spacers, however. I have experience with this booster on 3 different brands of brakes, and all 3 required some amount of standoff. Again, easily correctable, but prevents proper operaton.
--Nate Estep | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rockohaulic
a
from Palmdale, CA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Pinos, Big Bear | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | STIFF | | Weaknesses: | Zero | | Similar Products Used: | Moonlighter Ti and Gorilla | | Bottom Line: | The DKG booster is one fine, stiff work of art. It is superior to the Gorilla Al and Moonlighter Ti. The other two are basically punched/cut sheet metal, while the DKG is milled out of a much thicker base material then CNC'd. A lot more work went into the DKG - and it shows.
All three are stiff in the direction of flex from your brakes, but the DKG is superior in controlling flex because of the cam set-up. The other two mount with oval mounting holes - if the bolts slip, then they can't control flex. The DKG mounting system is superior.
The DKG is MUCH MUCH stiffer torsionally - i.e. fore and aft. It will keep your fork sliders from moving with respect to each other (fore and aft), leading to better steering response.
The DKG booster is the best, period. It made a huge improvement in braking power. Highly recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Nyc
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Stiffer than any other brake booster out there | | Weaknesses: |
None. | | Similar Products Used: |
Salsa brake booster, Shimano Carbon Booster | | Bike Setup: |
'99 Trek Y3, y2k Mnaitou Sx-r, y2k Avid Arch rival 50's with speedial 2.0 levers with viewport, ect | | Bottom Line: | My front brake didn't need a brake bosster ... minimal flex with the strong avid brakes ... but my Steel swingarm ... flexed! ... STEEL flexing?
Yeah with my arch rivals 50's ... nothing coulnd hold it down ... the salsa's i tried were good ... and the shimano carbon booster cracked ... i brake hard! ... so i went for dkg ... Oh my oh my ... the don't stock for some reason and made mine when i ordered it ... woo freaking hoo ... it rules... there is no flex what so ever ...when i brake... my rear feels like a rock. also another advantage is... they come with one hole... not that slide adjustment like salsa ... one hole with little adjustment thing ... cnc machined ... and ready to goto work.get one@! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buddy
a Weekend Warrior
from Scherr
Date Reviewed: June 12, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Design, Appearance | | Weaknesses: |
Price - $30.00 | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bottom Line: | I was amazed at the improvent such a simple piece of equipment could make. I am 235 pounds of solid muscle..........OK, maybe 205 of that is muscle. Consequently, I need all of the braking power I can get when going down steep hills. The dkg brake booster improved my rear braking by an easy 60%. It is also one of the most elegant add-ons that one can add to a bike. Instead of the usual, ugly slots for the mounting screws, the dkg has an ingenious eccentric mounting device. And it just plain looks cool! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jin
a cross-country rider
from Auburn, Al
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I had this on my Al hartail as bike jewlery for a long time. (the rear was plenty ridged enough and didn't flex under braking). I got my dad to buy a bike (a $400 ridged cromo) and this little wonder improved his rear braking 50% (I could exaggerate and say 100% but real numbers is probably close to 50%). The rear brake went from two finger grrrr lock to one finger lockup even with Alivio canti's w/ shimano hanger. The rotating barrel insures that the booster continues to work even if the bolts holding them on fall off! The best designed brake booster of them all. Might be a little heavier then the rest but by far the best design and the strongest. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Michel
a
from Oakland, Ca.
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Until I put one of these on my Y-22 the whole rear felt spongey. It was hard to get a
controlled slide on the rear. When you applied the brakes the rear stays flexed about
a 1/4-1/2 apart. This device worked Great! Even got it in colors. Cheap fix with
good results. This and the rollamajig my two best investments for the buck. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Heavy by a few grams than most, but easily the strongest and the best. They are the only ones with the rotating adjuster barrel for the lock down braking stud. This is awsome, because they don't ever get loose or out of postion. | | Overall Rating: |
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