Submitted by
X_er
a Weekend Warrior
from Newhall, CA USA Date Reviewed: October 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Easy to dial in and service. NO BLEEDING of a hydro. Awesome power. Nice modulation similar to a good hydro. Excellent for all mountain and x-country . . . my type of riding. These are far better than the Juicy hydros I had.
Weaknesses:
Some squealing/noise after hard use due to heat. But after cooling, noise goes away . . . until the next long/fast decent.
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 7
Bottom Line:
I would highly recommend these brakes . . . for their all-mountain and x-country performance to any body. Their value and performance can't be beat!! Go buy a set and get rid of those hydros.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cornt1989
a Cross Country Rider
from Cleveland, OH Date Reviewed: October 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Asbury Woods Erie
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Stop on a dime!
Weaknesses:
Loud when wet.
Similar Products Used:
V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
KHS Tuscon 29er
Bottom Line:
These are my first disk brakes and I would never have thought that a bike can get stopped so fast. After reading other review I don't understand how much faster one can get stopped. These provide great stopping power that does not fade at all under any conditons or inclines. If set up right the only ajustments are turing the inner pad with an allen wrench, something everyone should have on a trail anyway. I have to say that I don't like how loud they are when wet, but the stopping power is absolutely unbeatable for coming standard on my bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
slogophobia
a Weekend Warrior
from Corvallis, OR, USA Date Reviewed: September 17, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came on 06 DB respon
Strengths:
great power, very smooth, quiet when dry, good modulation
Weaknesses:
sqeaky when wet. cant buy them, only come on bikes.
Similar Products Used:
hayes stroker ryde, avid bb7
Bike Setup:
DB response sport, truvativ blaze, fsa bar and stem, avid SD7 levers, wellgo pedals
Bottom Line:
one of the best cable brakes i've ever used. minus the squeaking of course. i prefer them over the bb7's i have now. bb7's might be a bit more powerful but i just like the mx4's better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
callumandrew 009
a Downhiller
from leeds Date Reviewed: August 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
the works
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
crc
Strengths:
awsome! these are better than most hydraulic brakes when set up!
Submitted by
Nasty_
a Racer
from Eastbourne, Great Britain Date Reviewed: May 27, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
easily as strong as alot of hydro's, if not stronger, especially considering how much they cost. easy to set up, and easily have the power to lock both wheeles at any speed, be it on downhill tracks or just street ridding. work in the wet, you'd never tell any difference other than a bit of squeaking. pads are easy to access, easy to center.
Weaknesses:
erm, i guess the pads squeak a bit if you dont clean them for a few months, but then so does any other brake ive tried.
Similar Products Used:
hayes stroker trails, avid bb5s, tektro IO's, old school hope hydros( dunno what model), hayes hfx 9, quad hydro, avid juicy 3 & 5.
Bike Setup:
currently using them on my mongoose ammassa comp jump bike, which i also use for DH, as i currently havnt finished
building my trek session. running with a 203mm front disc, 160mm rear. marzocchi DJ comps, hone holowtech crank, sramm gears(dont buy).
Bottom Line:
probably some of the best brake around, especially for the money. Anyone who who seems to think otherwise hasn't set them up properly. i know this because i lucky enough to work as a bike tech, so im pretty good at setting up brakes.
Obviously, if your intending to do hard downhilling, youd be better off with some more expensive hydraulics, but other wise you cant go wrong with them.
They will cope with what ever you can through at them, ive even managed land my bike with most of the impact taken by one of the brake calipers against a rock, and it didnt even bend it.
Would definitely recommend them instead of more expensive brakes hydraulics, especially if your on a budget.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt123
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island Date Reviewed: May 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Rocky Point
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
OEM
Bike Setup:
giant xtc
Bottom Line:
these brakes came on my bike and didnt have the money to replace them at first. so i used them and i cant wait to get rid of them and get bb7s. they always squeak on the trails and fade all the time. im getting bb7s within this month and cant wait to get rid of these. i dont know how these brakes get 4 stars they are the worst Hayes makes. if you buy a bike with these i suggest you buy a new set of brakes when you have the money to do it. ill give them two chilis because they were manageable in the time for me to buy bb7s
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
franklynation1
a Cross Country Rider
from Gloucester Date Reviewed: April 16, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Powerful,good feel, easy to maintain and reliable. Look good.
Weaknesses:
Can be squeaky occasionally
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX2
Bike Setup:
Giant Yukon, manitou super splice and some other small things...
Bottom Line:
Great brakes, with all the benefits of disc brakes. Easier to maintain and simpler than hydrolics, and with no real downside. Great power and very reliable. Perfect for trail/cross-country use. Good choice for first disc brakes, as they're simpler than hydrolic and you wont notice any real difference. Brilliant!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Firth
a Racer
from Cornwall Date Reviewed: January 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Still the Cornish cliffs [sorry walkers]
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
2nd Hand
Strengths:
CHEAP!
Work pretty damn well.
Usual disc brake advantages.
Simple.
Solid [Survive abuse and don't fail], no hoses to pull out.
NO NEEEEED TO BLEEEEEDDDD! Thank goodness.
Weaknesses:
Heavy [Compared to high-end stuff]
Single side actuation [Need adjusting fairly often]
NOT FADE PROOF FOR DOWNHILL-TYPE RIDING!
Similar Products Used:
Deore and Jucy 5 Hydro
Tektro IO Mech
Quad Mech
XTR V
Bike Setup:
Small frame do-anything bike.
Bottom Line:
They're not competing with XTR on weight,
they're not competing with "The One" on power,
hell, they're not even competing with BB7s 'cos they're cheaper.
But they work. Very, very, well.
I junked my Deore hydros for these....
They cost me next to nothing to setup with Avis FR5 levers, 180mm and 160mm cheapo discs, and cheap cables [full of nice grease tho], and I set them up carefully [I've had plenty of practice].
I've maintained them well [pads within 1mm max of disc, discs true, cables greased and adjusted]
I've used them lots and lots and lots. Jumped, singletracked, crashed plenty, and even used this bike to Cycle Courier in London.
I DO HAVE A 180MM FRONT ROTOR.
With this setup I can honestly say I have no problems, both wheels can be EASILY locked when needed, and there is plenty of modulation. Was declared "Good enough for trials use" yesterday. Used with standard pads.
BOTTOM BOTTOM LINE:
***Face your disc mounts and setup right***
Simple, solid, sound design. Does the job.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ploww
a Weekend Warrior
from faulco n.s.w. australia Date Reviewed: January 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
faulco point
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
lifecycles on bike
Strengths:
reliable,good stopping power[I'm 100kg],good wear longivity
quiet,lbs does pads for me aint too expensive
Weaknesses:
has frightened me on really steep stuff but saw me through
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
07 wolverine,fitted 44t chainring
Bottom Line:
first bike with disc brakes,so not a real boffin,but I've hammered the old wolverine,I ride pretty aggressive all mountain and it still goes good and these brakes have a bit to do with it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
preludedriven
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, Ca Date Reviewed: November 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fullerton Loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Sports Authority
Strengths:
Simple design with smooth action. Decent stopping power in most conditions.
Weaknesses:
Not as powerful as others, but still good for the price.
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Quantum II.... Easton RaceFace Ride Riserbars, EA50 Stem, Panaracer Fire XC Pros 2.1", Wellgo MG-1 Pedals
Bottom Line:
When paired with the right levers and cables, these brakes can be very good. Feedback on lever is very smooth, even smoother than BB7's (possibly the BB7's had a bad cable/lever setup). Buy these if you care about Price:Performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adept
a Cross Country Rider
from Hungary, Budapest Date Reviewed: October 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Got with the bike
Strengths:
It is a very good item. After my previous brake I didn't think it will be better. But is does. If I knew this, I wouldn't bought the Stroker. It doesn't feels like a mechanical brake. It is strong, silent, and holds my weight (100kg)
Weaknesses:
none yet. Maybe later I need a bigger disc to the front...
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Storker
Bike Setup:
Haro Shift R3 2008
Bottom Line:
It was a nice surprise for me. It is a cheap item, but is does its job very well. I offer for everybody, except downhill. I wouldn't buy anything else now. It meets my every expectation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tsubibo
a Weekend Warrior
from Antipolo, Philippines Date Reviewed: October 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bike Plus
Strengths:
for an oem component, it performs quite good considering its small size. stopping power can be easily controlled specially when paired with the correct levers and cables.
Weaknesses:
brake pads are quite flimsy looking and the small contact area on the rotors mean that either you're going to replaced the pads often or the pads are so tough that the rotors are the ones that are going to take a serious beating
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
2008 Haro Escape Sport
Bottom Line:
being an entry-level product,it performs good. i still need to test this product in the long run and see whether the brake pads give in or the rotors. but i don't think i would go that far with these as i'm already thinking of replacing them with higher model Hayes, Avids or Shimanos. this is good for those who want to get away from the rim crimping brakes and into the world of disc brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sagermeister
a Cross Country Rider
from Bryan, TX Date Reviewed: October 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lake Bryan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Aggieland Cycling
Strengths:
They're a helluva lot better than any rim brake i've ever used. stop quick... sometimes to quick
Weaknesses:
inside pad rubs on rotor
Bike Setup:
09 Giant Yukon
Bottom Line:
They're nice, they work pretty well, good enough for trails with small jumps but tend to lack control in some areas. can lock up with very little pressure. cant seem to fix that stupid rub.... overall- worth it, just dont go out and jump off something.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mchlwaters
a Cross Country Rider
from California Date Reviewed: September 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Saratoga Gap
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
The Off Ramp Santa C
Strengths:
I had a Cannondale F400 Hard Tail and traded up for a Giant Trance.. It has the OEM Hayes Breaks. I rode down Mission Peak in Fremont Ca 2,500 Feet of down hill fun. Like Disney Land 2 hours up and 30 seconds down. Hit 37 MPH. The Breaks Rock and stop.
Weaknesses:
None that I can find at this point. Disc are the way to go. Suspect replacement might be a challenge finding(Pads?).
Similar Products Used:
My wife has a GT with Shimino V7 I think (spelling) Disc Breaks. They work well too. All my other bikes had Rim Breaks.
Bike Setup:
Stock 08 Giant Trance 2. Large frame - has lots of cool stock upgrades compared to most.
Bottom Line:
Disc Breaks - are the Best option no question. For the price I paid for my bike the OEM Disc Breaks are excellent no question. - These breaks work and help me keep the rubber side down. If these are basic - the next levels must be awesome! Unless your pickey and want more flash - bigger name and have lots of extra cash these breaks are excellent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mondoman1
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA USA Date Reviewed: September 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
OEM on my '08 Giant
Strengths:
Simple, robust, works well.
Weaknesses:
No simple outboard pad adjustment. Hard to find info/specs for this model.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7
Forte (rebranded Tektro IO)
Bike Setup:
'08 Giant Yukon mostly stock, w/MX-4 brakes & Tektro levers
'07 Columbia "iron bike", bent into shape & upgraded w/Forte front disc.
Bottom Line:
My Yukon is the first bike I've had with stock disc brakes, and I'm happy with them. I'm a hefty guy (>200lb), but so far they've done a great job stopping the bike, even on 25mph+ downhill runs. My runs include a lot of hills (it's Seattle) and are so far 2/3 pavement, 1/3 gravel/hard dirt. I'm able to easily modulate both front and back from slightly rubbing to locking the wheel. No runs yet in the rain/mud, but I certainly don't feel any need to upgrade the brakes. If BB7's rate a 10/10, I'd give the MX-4 8/10.
Note: the Hayes installation/adjustment/maintenance sheet for the MX-4 is the same one as for the MX-3, so just download the MX-3 file on the Hayes site.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
StumpyP
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland Date Reviewed: August 25, 2008
I put these on as per instructions and using a torque wrench, and they work amazingly! They came with an Avid juicy brake lever. Great stopping power. Of course they wont have Hydro power, but def a vast improvement on V brakes. Work like a dream in the wet & mud, and they are quiet! Would be happy to put these on the back too....
Suitable for XC, trails, road use not insane downhill riders!
Take the time to set them up and you wont be disappointed
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikeguy
a Weekend Warrior
from KC MO Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
City
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Brakes very fast and strong.
Weaknesses:
Seems to pull rotor towards inactive pad (inner) a little too much..I think I will adjust that with an allen wrench. The rotor was rubbing then i loosened the tire and straightened it out and tightened it now ok...so basically its kind of hard to get on perect when adjusting tire. Actually bent with hand then banged with hand and got it back true LOL oh well..seems OK now!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
came with DB Response Sport 07
Bottom Line:
Seems OK to me....I haven't heard any noise either..so far. Good Brakes...Im sure there are better tho. Not sure how much they cost cuz they came with bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nate
a
from Ashland, OR Date Reviewed: April 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Works sorta'ish
Weaknesses:
Rear brake has hung up on and off since day one, front brake barley works in less than perfect conditions.
Bike Setup:
Iron Hores Sachem 4.0, Saint Cranks, Kore Pedals, Soon new Hydrolic Brakes, everything else stock.
Bottom Line:
This is my first bike with disc brakes I was expecting alot more. They have alot less stopping power than they should and are EXTREMELY NOISY. No wonder hayes wont admit to making these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JBL
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: March 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hardwood Hills
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Kamakazi
Strengths:
Strong back brake. Good in any weather.
Weaknesses:
Front brake is weak.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Sole
Bike Setup:
Kona Shred
Bottom Line:
Amazing quality.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JRL
a
from CANADA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hardwood Hills
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Kamikaze
Strengths:
Not much fade, cheap to maintain, good on snow/ dirt, have been put trough hell
Weaknesses:
Front brake kind of weak
Bike Setup:
Kona Shred
Bottom Line:
Very good for price good for beginners.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin/North Dakota Date Reviewed: February 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anything involving dirt and/or snow
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
WHAT IS GOING ON!? Okay now that I have that out of my system. Um, strengths... a good hard object to throw at someone, I guarantee it will cause damage with a good hit. Well vented discs... though kind of ironic considering the brakes themselves. Coooool black color, hm that's all I can think of now.
Weaknesses:
Very small pads, about the size of a dime. The pads fit sloppily. Looking at it right now, the moving one is crooked (can't be fixed). Ridiculous adjustment ability. Allen wrench needed to adjust outter pad. Inner (moving) pad only adjustable by changing cable position. My rear brake would hang up badly, (from 10mph it would stop in under a second). I had to drill out the mount holes to allow it to be moved inward farther. Some people mention noise, this is sort of inherent to discs. Stopping power is nothing to shout about. My bro had the same bike and brakes, his front one got bumped I think, and he went over the front because the front wheel was locking up with a very small amount of pressure. I fixed this but it shouldn't have happened to begin with. No real listing for the pads it uses, I assume the same as MX3s but it's kind of funny, nobody acknowledges that these exist.
Similar Products Used:
Avid BB7s
Bike Setup:
Giant Yukon (i bought it for the frame, that's it). Avid BB7s front and back. Avid speed dial levers. Flack Jacket brake cables. I'll tell you, the stopping power is insane compared to the Hayes. Also, Marzocchi All Mountain 2 2007 fork.
Bottom Line:
When it comes to bikes, the higher end of one technology is usually better than the low end of the seemingly higher end technology. In this case, discs vs rim brakes. My old GT bike had relatively good quality V brakes that had much better stopping power than these MX4s. I bought the Giant Yukon for the frame (I am very tall and they offer the 24" frame) knowing that I would be replacing most of the components, including the ENTIRE brake system which I have done. I am writing this based on higher expectations of mechanical disc brakes. I weigh 200lbs and ride hard so I need some power. For the basic rider, these could be okay as far as brakes in general, but be careful with that front one as these seem to be unpredictable. I hope this was helpful. Happy Biking! P.S. For value, i'm not sure, they obviously are cheap, so i'll give them a 3 seeing as they CAN stop you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dale Mills
a
from Wales Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Great & Quick Stopping Power.
Weaknesses:
Very noisy alot of the time. In nearly every kind of weather.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 5
Bike Setup:
Kona Shred
Bottom Line:
They're very good brakes but just goddam noisy that pulls attention of everyone in a radius of about 10 miles :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Juan Jraff
a Cross Country Rider
from Jakarta Date Reviewed: January 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Everywhere
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$42.00
Purchased At:
Shops near Home
Strengths:
Smooth, Strength
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX 3
Bike Setup:
Da Bomb
Bottom Line:
These Brake very great (Price, and Performance)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt mc taggart
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia Date Reviewed: December 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
my place
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
croydon
Strengths:
bites quick great stoping power
Weaknesses:
nothing people say they warp real easy tho
Similar Products Used:
shimano v-brakes
Bike Setup:
08 norco katmandu (white)
Bottom Line:
great brakes all round if you dont plan on doin DH
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Reliable, cheap, quick bite, inexpensive to service
Weaknesses:
Difficult to modulate, discs warp easily
Bike Setup:
2006 Iron Horse Maverick Team
Bottom Line:
These came on my Iron Horse Maverick Team bike. I've been pleasantly surprised at their performance given the price. They bite very fast and very hard, and do not fade very easily. Definitely stop quicker than even good V/cantilever brakes. I've ridden through some wet trails and the venting seems to shed water effectively.
Adjustment and service has been quite simple and relatively cheap given that they are entry-level.
One complaint is that modulation is tricky -- these things are either on or off. This is the case with many entry-level disc brakes. It will take some getting used to, so be careful the first few times or you will lock the tires up FAST.
Another issue is that the discs seem to bend/warp easily. I don't ride my brakes or abuse them, and I already had warped a disc in the first few hundred miles. Sorta annoying since I don't ride every day, but the replacement disc was relatively cheap. Performance Bike did have to order it since the Avid discs are considered inferior.
I wouldn't buy these off the shelf, but if you're looking at a bike that has them installed, it's a good setup. If you really need to upgrade, I suggest the Avid BB5 or BB7s, as they can be had cheaply on eBay.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Ontario Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Sportchek
Strengths:
Great stopping power...i think....
Weaknesses:
could be designed better.... noisy when wet
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse WArrior 3.3
Bottom Line:
good.. for its price
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ali summerly
a Cross Country Rider
from newcastle Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
chopwell
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
sunset mb
Strengths:
Great stopping power great break
Weaknesses:
Only one the noise pee's me off sometimes :@
Bike Setup:
cross country bike kona firemountasin great braks for the job
Bottom Line:
fantastic breaks but slitly let down by the noise
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ben prager
a
from kingston Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
JJ cycle
Strengths:
Amazing breaking power, as soon as you feel it you think they are hydaulics.
Weaknesses:
a little noisy once in a while
Bike Setup:
Devinci District 1 with maxxis holyroller's and Sun Ringle eight track
Bottom Line:
great break, came with my bike and im so happy with them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bernie
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna and Pangasinan, Philippines Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bolinao PATAR Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
stock bike
Strengths:
Powerful, smooth and is very reliable, feels hydros on the lever.
Weaknesses:
sometimes so noisy
Similar Products Used:
XT and LX Hydraulics
Bike Setup:
HARO Shift R3
Bottom Line:
The brake system is enough for mild trails and is very good enough for cross country use. Do not use on eztreme drops and extreme trails. Worth for its price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
