Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from leeds Date Reviewed: August 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
lots
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
on bike when bought
Strengths:
None, I feel you probably get what you pay for, everything else on my bike is branded good kit, I knew very little about disc brake brands, I have made sure I know more now!
Weaknesses:
No stopping ability under pressure, which is fairly important for brakes!
Similar Products Used:
used v-brakes before, much better than these,you can fix a problem like this on a remote long ride, but not with these brakes.
Bike Setup:
standard mountain bike,front forks, hard tail.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is i've only done 350 not so tough miles on these brakes and last weekend I set off on a 137 mile trip from coast to coast across england after 76 miles a seal went on my back brake and the fluid came out the front of the lever/fluid store, then with two miles to go my front brake failed and I had to pile myself into bushes to stop! Someone else might not be so lucky, the bike manufacturer had put these brakes on, maybe because of price,.....yes and I nearly paid that price!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sirromffej
a Racer
from Flowery Branch, GA, USA Date Reviewed: August 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Chicopee Woods
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Still looking
Weaknesses:
Do not use if you want to stop,; use only to slow down. Make sure you bring a pair of ear plugs after the 5th use.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Felt, Fox fork
Bottom Line:
Plan on replacing these as soon as possible. Be very scared when riding downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hawk78
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ditchling Beacon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good selling point for a bike to at least look like its got breaks!!
Weaknesses:
They may cause death!
Similar Products Used:
Old tea bags!
Bike Setup:
HT
Bottom Line:
My old Dia-comp 986's worked better back in the 90's than these! I decided I'd stretch the old downhilling muscle earlier in the week and while enjoying a fast root covered trail I started to think breaking would or should be an option if I dont want to mount a tree as I gleefully pulled back on the old back break leaver I sh*t myself as the oil plug just flew out and spunked all over my front tyre!! I ended up in the tree with a face full off mud as stressed out so much I locked the front break!! Kinda funny in a way but to be honest wot a load of rubbish these things are!!! Wish I'd read the reviews first!! More fool me eh!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmskrsly
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate New York Date Reviewed: May 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
the one going downhill
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
...
Weaknesses:
plug on lever body, single piston design
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 7, Mechanical
Bike Setup:
Black diamond single
Bottom Line:
My XC bike has more power than these. They would be alright, but whatever you do, DO NOT PUT THEM ON A DH BIKE! My god, they offer enough power to stop someone light like me, as long as you clench them to death. By the end of the day I had severe arthritis. I made the mistake of using them over and over again on a DH mountain. Oh, and the plug on the brake lever body will pop off after a crash and then you've got no brakes; electrical tape will fix that though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joesomerwill
a Weekend Warrior
from devon Date Reviewed: May 16, 2009
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
ummmm:/
Weaknesses:
JUST ABOUT FRIGGIN EVERYING!!!
Similar Products Used:
v brakes. at least they give more power
Bike Setup:
Marin B17 (awesome bike btw) hayes sole brakes (terrible) dmr v12 pedals (also good)
Bottom Line:
Youd of though that hayes, the creator of such brakes like the Hayes 9 and the ace, would have know at least a thing or two about making such components... however when they made the sole they forgot just about eveything!
While the theorie is good, (take the hayes 9 master cylinder, strip it down a bit and plug a shiney new caliper in the other end) this diddnt really work. Primarily because of two things;
firstly this new calliper has only one piston. While this weight saving option may sound good it realy dosnt cut the mustard. The single piston results in uneven pad wear, rotor warp andlow power.
The seccond reason is that the striped down lever lacks all the features of the full size 9 lever. like broad bearings and larger reservoirs.
Other reasons that i loath these brakes is the looseness of the bleed bungs on the master. These are intolerably loose and using them on anything more than an xc ride will have them ejaculate hydralic fluid all over your front tire. This means that you loose all breaking when you need it most and i have had to resort to taping them in with gaffer tape while i wait for my replacements to arrive (hope m4s(: )
While i havnt heard any of the squealing that other reveiwers have i have had them... 'bubble' is the only way to describe it. When i brake it sounds like boiling water (if a little less voilent:/) this is extremly weird and i have no idea why it happens...
And my final complaint is the speed at which these brakes succome to lever rattle. Now while some may not find this annoying, i do. to fellow trail users it must soud like christmas has come early and that santa and his slay are charging down the trial towards them ( i say charge because the brakes DO NOT slow you down and this is getting exedingly dangerous as the trails that i ride are mostly surrounged by gorse and brambles, not the most desireable shrub to ditch in:/ and now it is coming up to summer these bushes are getting sharper and bigger by the day)
I think the nicest thing that i can say about these brakes is that their.... not finnished yet... at all...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
drivinjoe
a Weekend Warrior
from Bothell, WA, USA Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Lots of brake fade in heavy use. One finger breaking only works on flat ground not going fast. Stupid "cork" on the reservior pops out. I lost the front brakes on the first ride. Lost the rear brakes yesterday. Worthless.
Similar Products Used:
My feet on the ground.
Bike Setup:
2007 Kona Dawg
Bottom Line:
These are my first set of discs. I'm sorely disappointed. I've had to dump the bike a few times because these brakes couldn't stop me. My old V brakes worked better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob the 9999999999th
a Downhiller
from washington dc Date Reviewed: February 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
everything with jumpes
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$43.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
everything was great (!!!) whith this brake when i whanted to brake I ,kind of, stoped imideadly...
It ownes!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
nothing
Similar Products Used:
I used so many I can´t name ém...
Bike Setup:
I got a kona dirt bike
Bottom Line:
this brakes is the best brake EVER!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erikober
a Downhiller
from FoCo, CO Date Reviewed: October 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The A
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
They can stop....sometimes.
Weaknesses:
Poor power. The hose burst. Lever design is not made for 1 or 2 finger braking.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano saint. Hayes Stroker Trails. and others.
Bike Setup:
Singlespeed hardtail with LOCO's, '08 Dirt Jumper 1, Hayes stroker Trails, LX cranks. DB stem with Truvativ bars
Bottom Line:
Do not buy these brakes. They will break in some way. These are the worst brakes Hayes has made, but other than that other Hayes products are great. Even the front brake hose burst while i was riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthias Eklund
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester, NY Date Reviewed: October 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anything except crazy climbing
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came stock my 06 Kon
Strengths:
hmmmmm...........NONE
Weaknesses:
Everything else
Similar Products Used:
Lots of mechs, V's, Juicys, and Hayes 9
Bike Setup:
manitou nixon, gravity bars, nokian tyres.
Bottom Line:
These are the sh*ttiest hydros around. The adjuster on my pads froze up, they squeek like hell, and they don't even stop u!!!! If these came stock on your bike, upgrade now!! These brakes are not worth it. Saving for sum Maguras.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
AndrewThommo
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: September 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
My one
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Cell Bikes
Strengths:
Was good for city runs until I started cycling on trails.
Weaknesses:
Well it failed. I think the reservior cap came off and then as I pulled the brake lever, it started squirting like a water pistol, which I thought was funny.
Similar Products Used:
I upgraded to one Juicy seven for the front when I changed fork.
Bike Setup:
Cell bikes bike, pretty basic. Upgraded to Manitou Minute air forks.
Bottom Line:
It failed. But would have been good if I just kept riding to uni in the city.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thrillseeker123
a Cross Country Rider
from Buford,GA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bull Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Brakes are good when they are working
Weaknesses:
Needs big improvement...after 5 mounts problems started to show. Reservoir cap got busted on the front first then on the rear it's sucked. I was on the trail and need to ride next 8 miles only on one brake.
Bike Setup:
Stock K2 Zed 4.0
Bottom Line:
Brakes are o.k. as I said when they are working but that's about it... to many problems!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DC
a Weekend Warrior
from BC Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Pidherny
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Northern Hardware
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Consistency, power, pad life, basically everything you want in a good set of brakes.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT (2007), Hayes HMX-1, Juicy 7's (which replaced my Soles) and various V's.
Bike Setup:
2007 Norco Six 3, ODI's, Avid Juicy 7's, DMR Headstock stem and V12 pedals.
Bottom Line:
These brakes weren't too bad in the beginning but they were nowhere as strong or consistent as my XT's with 6" rotors on my other bike. They quickly got worse and provided inconsistent performance with severe fading on moderate downhill runs. I recently replaced them with the Juicy 7's and the improvement is night and day. If you have these on your bike look to replace them with something else. My Hayes HMX-1 cable discs were at least as strong and far more consistent. The pad life (although subjective) was discouraging with less than 2 months between pad changes (by constrast my XT's are still going strong in the same conditions).
Bottom line: Not recommended for any style of riding due primarily to their inconsistent performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dlyrdr
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins, Co. USA Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Evening ride around Horsetooth
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Lee's Cycle
Strengths:
Pretty good for the first 4-5 months
Weaknesses:
Brake failure without warning!!! Difficult to bleed. Company is impossible to work with.
Similar Products Used:
First hydraulic setup, came on bike factory
Bike Setup:
'07 GF Tassajara, Manitou 100mm fork no other mods
Bottom Line:
Front brake failed without warning! I thought it just needed to be bled, but I couldn't get the bleed kit to work very well. Took it to the shop, still didn't work. Waited a month for a lever from Hayes, and didn't fix the problem. Lee's cycle was great and just replaced the front brake with a Juicy five. Seems to working 10 times better than Hayes ever did, despite a little bit more squealing. Basically, these brakes worked okay for the first bit and then became a serious safety liability! Stay away from these brakes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
STEVENSAN
a Cross Country Rider
from BC Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
they protect the shifters
Weaknesses:
Poor stopping power,pain to bleed and the screw that tightens it to the handle bars didn`t really tighten. The fluid medium DOT 3, not the most user friendly stuff
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
kona hoss.dirt jumper forks
Bottom Line:
They were adequate for the first few months, then they started to give me nothing but ploblems. I never knew for sure what was going to happen when I squeezed the levers. It was kind of like weak anti-lock brakes, they just kind of slowed you down. I didn`t have confidence in them going down big hills. I swapped them out with shimano BR-535s. It`s like night and day
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kikapukikapu
a Weekend Warrior
from Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
The Hub - came stock
Strengths:
Easy to adjust. Marginally better than good Vs. Reliable (Ie not needed much maintenance)
Weaknesses:
They are ONLY just better than good Vs. Big descents seem to kill them (you'll need to adjust the pads at the bottom). Guessing they are pretty heavy. Everything stock on my Kikapu DLX seems heavy!
Bike Setup:
Stock Kikapu DLX bar upgraded tyres and brakes.
Bottom Line:
I knew these were one of the weak links on my bike, but it was a steal so I could accept an upgrade was coming. If they come stock you can live with them, but dont consider buying them on their own, even though they are cheap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Deano the Machino
a Weekend Warrior
from brisbane qld australia Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any that makes me happy
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came stock
Strengths:
Better than nothing at all i guess
Weaknesses:
spongy,fiddly,noisy and inconsistent just to name a few
Similar Products Used:
Dia comp tech 99 u brakes
Bike Setup:
Basically stock 07 I-Drive 7 2.0
Bottom Line:
These were my first ever hydraulic disc brakes,i was really excited to harness the so called raw power of the hydraulic disc brake. I must admit i was more than a bit disappointed. I remember setting up my old u brakes on my mirra 540 air that ran rings around these brakes. The front ones are pretty good but the back ones seem a little bit soft and i dont see any pad adjustment at all. But apparently these brakes are pretty bad so im hoping the Avid Code 5s im buyin will give me that "holy **** these are powerful" feel i want so much :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MrSynthpop
a Weekend Warrior
from Southampton Date Reviewed: July 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any long distance
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Stock on bike
Strengths:
Stop you better than mechanical units and works in the wet unlike v brakes, cheap and relatively cheerful
Weaknesses:
Noisy, need to clean and adjust fairly often to reduce the noise, boils if you hammer it downhill, not all that great compared to high end hydraulics,
Mounted on my Hardrock with Marzocchi GF2 fork and Deore/xt throughout.
Bottom Line:
Not a bad set of budget hydraulics and better than the lower/medium end mechanical systems, demands care and attention, not great for anything other than XC/trail work and don't expect to be doing much downhill before you cook them. Modulation is iffy at first but improves with adjustment and care. They work but don't buy if you are too lazy to maintain them, seem to get really poor reviews as people get them with their entry level bikes and then moan when they have to put some effort in.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lebikerboy
a Weekend Warrior
from North Van Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
There aren't any.
Weaknesses:
Power, modulation, reliability, you name it and the So1e hasn't got it.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano,Avid,Magura, etc.
Bike Setup:
2006 Norco Fluid 2, which is my wife's bike.
Bottom Line:
When we purchased this bike for my wife the only component on the bike that I was concerned about was the brakes. My concern was justified. I've never seen a set of brakes that were crappy right from the start and definitely didn't get any better. Luckily my LBS is a good one so they swapped out the So1e's for some Shimano's and now life is good.
For anyone who says these are good brakes (and I know there's a few reviews to that effect), can you show me one decent 2008 bike where they've been spec'd as OEM?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from winnipeg, mb, canada Date Reviewed: June 16, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
woodcock cycleworks
Strengths:
good for beginners, as i progressed i realized how bad these brakes are
Weaknesses:
squeak like a mother, just slow you down they dont stop you
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
kona scrap w/ pike
Bottom Line:
if this comes stock on your bike try to make it one of the first things you upgrade.
whatever you do don't upgrade to these brakes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Moscow, Russia Date Reviewed: June 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
From forest on grandmas and dogs
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Velomir
Strengths:
They looks like they are real.
Weaknesses:
When you try to brake - they moan. or Squeal - pick up what bests. Afrer year they screams the same. Every time BEFORE ride you have to test all screws on it. else - prepare to crawl to a hospital AFTER. oh. they tend to die suddenly.
Similar Products Used:
Large number of V's - they were better!
Bike Setup:
Atom FR3 '2005 (Atom is kinda Russian like brand - at least the bikes has not sqiuare weels)
Bottom Line:
In early spring of 2007 i came to a bicycle shop. Sale!! sale!!! You can get a disk-hydro-brakes full suspension bike just for 500 USD! We tried to sell it for 1000, but none was so stupid for a two years. Maybie, you will be the that poor-man trying to get a bike looks-like-real? Of course, it was not told, but it was the plot of salesman.
After having several crashes of old merida fireball's ('2000) brakes, wheels, rear suspension, - i expected that nothing can be worse. (Atom Fr3 looks like Iron Horce Ignition, but with sram 5 - sram7 shifters, and our hero - hayes sole.)
After 2 months, my rear brake went off. When i looked close on this system, i guessed that screw in lever lost its position. OK, after working on dying merida, it was easy deal. A PRECISION screwdriver helped a lot. A week later, 100 Km after. Same problem. Damn! why do i have to carry a special screwdriver to fix my bike ewerywhere? Soon, i realized that one screw was only top of an iceberg...
From a second day of usage, the brakes started to produce a lots of noise. I cannot pick correct word. Seems like you had run ower a hedgehog, it lasts on your weels, when you ran ower a doesen of squerrels. Add a kitten for taste. Maybie, if you get old grandma's car, made in 1970's which stood in a garage for all years, the braking sound will be the same... when it do some work. When you have a car, it can take some KM (10-20) to make brakes work without a noise.
I got alcohol 70%. After an hour riding, the brakes noise came back. I got 100% isopropyl alcohol. And won another hour. Changed pads. after a day, screams returned. It was puzzling me, but i left on these. It works? yes. Works better that old 2000-year tektro V's? NO! what-can-i-do? Vot-Ki-Nai-DU (russian). Will i find some vodka....- supply for my brakes? stupid idea. I Left it as is.
Rider with a presision screwdrewer set, wearing civil clothes (just not to look like an idiot, when brakes fails somewhere again and you hawe to walk home with helpless bike) with ISOPROPYL alcohol in his pockets... can you imagine it?
Screws. I had problems with screws on levers' fasteners and the regulation screw from 3rd month. on front and rear brakes. they all tend to unscrew. sadly to say, i hadn't fallen off this bike at all. My brakes didn't allow me to run fast. So, what's the matter of failures? - i don't know.
A year had pased. 1500 Km on my odometer. After a 3 months of well (3 of 5 points) work, my front brake started to... fade away. I press on lever. does not work. I press with a force. it creaks. speed? nothing generally changes. Some wild dogs was injured because of my brakes and big hills. Lucky, they haven't an advocat.
Somehow i got home... I get off front wheel... pressing the lever, i noticed strange behavior. left pad cames to right.. Stop! how does it do? in slow-motion, please... Mammy! mummy! ass-with-ears!! Left pad comes to right at a little angle. What does it mean? all the force you send on brakes is used not to stop the disk but to clasp "Free" one end of left pad to right. Removing pads. unscrewed from right completely. This is it. Piston came wry. in some poit of it was 2.5 mm to opening. on other - almost 4 mm. The force brake can produse, just lost it way to work. Reasons? 1500 km... I had enough. Just decided not to get ANY hayes components at all. If they mae that so bad, i cannot rely on them.
Today i tried to bleed the system, to make sure that i did all my best.. To bleed the system i had to unscrew one nipple on the caliper... And it took wery, wery STRONG linking to caliper. Because of anti-ice reagents! I can only drill it off. Dead end. Dead for "Hayes So1e"
Anyway, tommorow i will spend all my year sawings on pair good brakes, juicy 5 or 7, i mean.
**** ___________________________________ You can ride it for 1-2-3 motnths, ONLY if you DO like your new bike. After what, you'll HAWE to get or Avid BB5 (funny, but they work MUCH better), or spend some lots of money on a real disk hydro brakes.
DO NOT buy it for any money, at least you're not a bike-bdsm fan!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Quebec, Canada Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Simple design for all I know
Weaknesses:
Pads wear off easily, levers have to be constantly adjusted, adjustments to caliper must be made frequently
Similar Products Used:
V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
Norco Six 3 2006 Stock
Bottom Line:
I've used these brakes for 1 year (meaning 1 summer of 4 months here in Quebec) on a light freeride bike, doing freeride (no light here). I weight 180 lbs and my bike roughly 43 lbs, total: 223 lbs to stop when needed, and theses brakes don't do the thing at all!
For the first year it was ok, didn't go fast so didn't have to brake all that much. But now starting my second year of use I find out that they need an awful lot of adjustments all the time. I even had to take a chairlift DOWN the mountain once because I didn't thrust them on the way down.
Invest a little more and spare yourself the trouble
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Sharpe
a Weekend Warrior
from Orillia Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hardwood Hills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great stopping power.
Weaknesses:
Rear brake has a tendency to make a chattering sound.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HMX-1
Bike Setup:
06 Enduro
Bottom Line:
I don't understand how some people here say these don't have stopping power. The only thing I can think of is they must have applied WD-40, or some other lubricant to their brake pads, or, the levers were not adjusted properly. I am 160lbs, on a 35b bike, and have never needed to use more than my pointing finger on both front and rear levers. For the price they are excellent. Of course, if you have money to blow, go buy Juicy's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Payland
a
from Piraeus Date Reviewed: May 22, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
their color is black...i think
Weaknesses:
no stopping power
Similar Products Used:
foot
Bike Setup:
kona cowan
Bottom Line:
i don't do much xtreme DH and stuff but these brakes nearly cost me days in the hospital.a friend gave me these for free to change my shimano m525 brakes..not for long.these brakes WONT STOP YOU!i pulled the levers with all my strength and with minimum speed,and they still counldnt stop me. S**T!!my shimano looked like 6-piston GRSXR 1000's brake to them.holy s**t!dont worth the money even if they are free!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mazekwon
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came With Bik
Strengths:
Good, Enough, well broke within a couple months
Weaknesses:
Always having to adjust the lever, some people don't know this and i wouldn't of either, there is a 2mm hex key in the lever to adjust the position of the handle, if it bounces it losens up which brings it closer to the handle which in turn doesn't fully compress the calliper so that is why people often don't think there brakes are working. FYI, doens't change the fact that it sucks, and my line burst simply while using them
Bike Setup:
Schiwnn Rocket Pro, Drop Off Triple, Manitou Rear shock, Mavic rims, WTB Raptor tires
Bottom Line:
Adjustment is tedious, brakes are alright, depends on what you want to spend you could get better, and you probably should, after all brakes are VERY Important
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from USA Date Reviewed: April 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came stock
Strengths:
they stop you, look alright I guess, none others
Weaknesses:
these were my first discs, so when I first got them I was praising them. Now, the realization has dawned on me that these things are crap. They squeek real loud, you have to pull em to the bar to make yourself stop unless you are going real slow, and I dont weigh that much so thats saying something. They shudder pretty bad, which makes me really nervous( I think it is the brakes, if it is the headset i'm in trouble...). I am most likely going to upgrade.
Similar Products Used:
V-Brakes
Bike Setup:
Marin Palisades Trail, Marz MZ Race, Shimano LX rear derraileur , deore front, hayes sole
Bottom Line:
Not worth it. Scary. I would say if you are doing really light XC riding, they would be okay. Not good for a heavier rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Denis
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: February 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Fairly powerful when they work, have some modulation, cheap...
Weaknesses:
Had the same problem as described by Robert Hamer! Firstly the bleeder plug of the rear brake went missing when my bike was being serviced by the bike shop causing all brake fluid to leak out and had to wait for components to be ordered in to fix problem.
Then 2 weeks later I was riding down a hill when suddenly without warning my front brake failed instantly and i lost all braking power from my front brake. Had to lock up rear brake and slide 20 metres to stop.
Definetely now will not recommend these brakes or any Hayes brakes.
Prior to these incidents, brakes were always loud and making a grinding, vibrating noise when braking. (These are new brakes remember). This is the reason why I initially took bike back to bike shop.
I have lost all confidence in these brakes. While they are powerfull when they work they can fail suddenly without warning - TAKE CARE.
Similar Products Used:
V-Brakes and Cantilever Brakes
Bike Setup:
Apollo Enduro '08
Bottom Line:
Came stock with bike. Don't rely on them, if you are doing serious cycling, these brakes won't cut it. Only for slow flat trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Hamer
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, FL USA Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Oleta
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Came With The Bike
Strengths:
When they work they work great. When they fail they collapse totally without warning
Weaknesses:
I have had these for less than 1 month and both the front brake failed and the rear brake failed on seperate occasions. I was told that the master cylinder failed on the first one. The same failure appears to be the culprit again. I was also told that the people at Hayes said I was braking too hard.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar stock out the door
Bottom Line:
Run for the hills...maybe you should walk. I would not recomend these to anyone. When these brakes fail there can be no prior indication. Both brake failures resulted in off trail crashes on otherwise novice-intermediate trails of flat terrain. Hayes had the incredible audacity to tell the shop that I had used the brakes to hard which is an amazing thing given the distance I was from them at the time of the failure. They must have a crystal ball or a paid subscription to google earth. Both brake failures appear to be identical in nature (the bleeder plug on the lever falls out preventing compression at the master cylinder) My shop repairs them for free and includes bandages which is a nice touch. Anyone have this type of failure?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from texus Date Reviewed: February 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
XC
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
DJ Ryder
Strengths:
Great stopping distance,worth the money. Great feel of the brakes and levers. Reccommend to all!
Weaknesses:
Have to pull all the way into the bar
Similar Products Used:
Hayes 9, hope mono m4, v's
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hardrock 07 with marzocchi bombers
Bottom Line:
If you are new to offroad biking these brakes are for you! I love them and i have been riding offroad for 6 years. These may be entry level disc brakes but they are brillant!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dylan thayer
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington Date Reviewed: February 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
MY DIRT JUMPS
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Looks cool alright weight pretyy long lasting pads
Weaknesses:
single piston noisy
Similar Products Used:
hayes 9 avid code couple others
Bike Setup:
Azonic steelhead, azonic outlaw, dirty chrome cranks, hayes brake, Marz drop off 2 fork fireeye components
Bottom Line:
good brake for the money but no to good
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shiz shizz
a Weekend Warrior
from australia Date Reviewed: January 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
bakyard
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
well they slow you down pretty quick and theyr not noisy
Weaknesses:
they dont lock up even if u sqeeze real hard
Bike Setup:
2007 kona scrap-----SICK
Bottom Line:
dont buy them there are better brakes on the market for the same price
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ammar
a Downhiller
from Lake Grove Date Reviewed: January 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Diablo
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
good braking for about 2 years
Weaknesses:
They need to be adjusted constantly, leak fluid all the time.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 5
Bike Setup:
Giant AC, Full Custom FR/DH
Bottom Line:
Well, these brakes came with my bike, and I initially had no problem with them. Keep in mind that I weight only 137 pounds. I even took these brakes too diablo for the whole day. Had no problems, until recently. Aftet about three years of use, something has gone wrong with the front brake, and it's gone to shiit. They can not lock up while going down hills, or even road riding! My old v-brakes worked bettter!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nz downhiller
a Downhiller
from new zealand Date Reviewed: December 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
vic park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
trade me
Strengths:
they have none at all
Weaknesses:
every thing but mostly stopping power
Similar Products Used:
avid bb5
Bike Setup:
gt chucker 1.0 with marzocchi drop off triples and sun rim singlen track
Bottom Line:
not a very good brake no stopping power would rather have avid bb5
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grant
a Downhiller
from Albuquerque, NM, US Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
North Course
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
realitivly cheap, better than some v breaks
Weaknesses:
Not enough stopping power, lack of adjustability, I weigh 210 lbs and they can't stop me for crap even on flats.
Bike Setup:
Kona Hoss xt/truvative 100mm hardtail 6" discs
Bottom Line:
These just aren't worth is I had mecanical 6" discs on my Giant and they had a deal more power than these. Don't buy them, unless ur riding the dirt road by the ditch, and if they come sotck on your bike upgrade ASAP!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
luke *********
a Downhiller
from barrington illinois USA Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
alpine/
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came stock on bike
Strengths:
nothing it looks ok w/ the bfl lever witch is what i have, i getting code 5's and im putting them on my xc bike w/ 8 inch rotors so there a little more powerfull
Weaknesses:
everything
Similar Products Used:
rim brakes on my sisters trek 3700, walmart brakes avid bb5
Bike Setup:
2006 specialized big hit 1, have some of theese and getting some in a couple weeks avid code 5's, super t or junior t, aznic strip, e 13 , crank bros 5050 fox van r nokian tires, pretty sweet ride
Bottom Line:
the suck dont buy em unless your doing xc riding and you dont have enough money to but juicys
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: December 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Better in the wet than V's
Weaknesses:
everything, no power at all. My old no name V's on non straight wheels stop better in the dry. Need adjustment all the time
Similar Products Used:
none first discs I've had
Bike Setup:
Stock 2007 Kona Scrap
Bottom Line:
They are crap and don't stop you when going down hills. Upgrade as soon as you can.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mr. t
a Weekend Warrior
from n. van b.c. Date Reviewed: November 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
my freinds
Strengths:
thanks to these brakes i am now the worlds fastest rider seeing as they take about 3 hours to get you stopped
Weaknesses:
never work and need constant adjustment not to mention lack of modulation but its not like your going to need it because all you can do is slam the levers to the bars and hold on for dear life
Similar Products Used:
hayes 9,mag,mx3 juicy 7
Bike Setup:
my freinds kona scrap
Bottom Line:
me and my freinds often ride each others bikes and i was riding my friends scrap when i went to reach for the brake lever nothing happend??? the same day the same friend was riding my bike and grabs the front brake then goes flying foreward and sacks himself on the stem and then comes up to me and says how are your brakes so good??? my brakes arnt even that good (i have mx3s witch are the worst brakes ever besides soles)due to thisand my friends constant anksting over these things (constant adjusting ,bleeding and one time the thing even blew up on him)i am going to only recomend them to people who get their pleasure from sacking them selfes on other peoples stems and people who want to see what its like riding brakeless
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyrone Rutherford
a Downhiller
from Dorchester,Dorset, England Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007
Favorite Trail:
George n Zippy (Balndford Bike Park)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
Great Stopping Power, My front brake has 8" disc and it stops very quickly, if i put on both brakes at the same time as hard as i can the rear 6" disc will lock up but the 8" font disc stops me fast and with no lock ups
Weaknesses:
6" disc brake no so good and bleeding them isnt great fun seriously hard work
Bike Setup:
Felt Straight Shot, Marzocchi Z1 Drop Off 4, WTB Speed Disc xl rims with Felt hubs.
Bottom Line:
For the money great brakes, if you want cheap hydrolic brakes then go for these although the 8" disc are better There are alot better hydrolic brakes out there and i would suggest you to buy them if you have more money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ywain ap Rhys
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Roydon Wood
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Cycle Experience
Strengths:
I would have said "Value" but.....
Weaknesses:
not when the things are so crap that you have to go out and buy another pair immediately afterwards cos the Sole is so crap.
Similar Products Used:
My first discs, so only Vs
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 3
Bottom Line:
Hayes Sole came with the bike and worked fine when I tested it however since then it's shat the bed. The rear one's fine, but the front just doesn't have the power. It's pretty sketchy when you're hammering down a hillside and have to stop at the bottom when you hit the fronts and nothing really happens. It's weird cos the back one works fine when I hang my ass over the back wheel to make it grip. My single speeder has LX v-brakes and levers and that works far better than Hayes Sole discs.
I'm changing to some Juicy5s as soon as I can afford it.
Don't waste your money on them. If you're buying a bike with them on, either; A: don't buy it B: include new brakes in your budget.
Who should buy this? No one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lloyd
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, AU Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Ruffey Lake Freeride
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Super Cycles
Strengths:
Doesn't lock up often when doing steep dirt trails.
Weaknesses:
It locks up when it shouldn't.
Similar Products Used:
-
Bike Setup:
2005 Brodie Cyclone with standard setup
Bottom Line:
Good only for XC riding
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Taylor
a Downhiller
from Oxford Date Reviewed: September 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fort William
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
NONE
Weaknesses:
everything: brakes stopped working after a few months, i even went into a car when riding one handed and relying on my front brake, needs constant adjustments, crap stopping power, etc.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes9 Avid Juicy
Bike Setup:
Specialized p2 custom
Bottom Line:
This breaks are positively the WORST brakes i have ever used!! Whether beginner or pro, whether looking for a cheap hydraulic or a decent hydraulic, avoid these like the plague!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria BC Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Goldtream Bikes
Strengths:
None really
Weaknesses:
only single piston so not much power
Similar Products Used:
Avid mx1
Bike Setup:
Kona Scrap
Bottom Line:
These brakes came with my bike and I have hated them since I bought the bike. My friend has some avid mx1s that work way better than these. I've tried new pads, cleaning the disc, nothing seems to help. I am upgrading to some avid juicy 5s.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nat earl
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: August 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anything with jumps
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
if adjusted right their alright, levers
Weaknesses:
they constantly have to adjusted, today i was cleaning my bike and then when i flipped the bike back over the rear brake was coming back all the way to the bars, i had to take it to the bike shop and get it tightened it took them an hour
Similar Products Used:
V's
Bike Setup:
Garyfisher bitter single speed
Bottom Line:
Crap, im looking into new brakes, shimano saint or hope mono trial. Only get them if they come with your bike, then upgrade ASAP
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
da
a Downhiller
from sn pedro Date Reviewed: August 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
p.v.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
wheel world
Strengths:
none. came with the bike
Weaknesses:
everything else. these brakes: squeal fade and more importantly don't work.
Similar Products Used:
v brakes
Bike Setup:
06 big hit stock(for now)
Bottom Line:
i would never recomend these brakes would not keep them if free.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mitchell g.
a Racer
from alfred,Maine Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
bradbury mt.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
cape-able
Strengths:
these brakes have absolutly no strengths.
Weaknesses:
where do i start they sqweak,pistons don't stay adjusted to the way u want them,barely stop,have to pull the levers in pretty far for them to get the maximum stopping power(which is very little). The worst thing about all of hayes hydro. brakes the suck so bad when u have to bleed them. I can do 4 0r 5 shimano hydrolic disc brakes in the time i can do 1 hayes hydro's.
Similar Products Used:
avid juicy seven,incredibly better than my hayes.
Bike Setup:
gary fisha tassajara disc w/bontrager set up and shimano deore shifting system and avid juicy seven's
Bottom Line:
if u have had these brakes for more than a month i don't kno how u can do it. They were the worst things ever. i was thinking about temporarily going down mechanical disc brakes till i got the money for a great pair of hydro's. if u are looking for a cheap very low end hydros get these if not don't even look at hayes disc brakes to much of a hassle to deal with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacob
a Downhiller
from Terrace BC Canada Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Terrace Dirtjumps
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Mcbike
Strengths:
They're cheap. Pads
Weaknesses:
Pretty much everything. THe lever sucks, hydrolic fluid is always coming out. Calipers suck, they break all the time. Brakes are not reliable.
Similar Products Used:
mehcanical disk brakes
Bike Setup:
'06 kona scrap
Bottom Line:
THe brakes worked good for the first month, and then i started getting problems. They never worked for more than a month. Lucky i get free service and Mcbike rocks, or i would never have brakes. I've fixed these things like 10 times, and only one works now. THe one thing that is good is that the pads last. They lasted over a year and i ride alot. I would not recomend these brakes at all, go for hayes 9's or juicy fives. The braking power is weak even when they are working. Stay away from them, stay far, far away.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jaal
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Galbraith mt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Solid feel, no maintenance, lasting pads.
Weaknesses:
Could be a little more powerful, but never really a problem.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes mechanical discs
Bike Setup:
Iron horse warrior le 2006
Bottom Line:
Decent and cheap hydraulic disc brakes. Waaaaaay better than hayes mechanical brakes. Really nice and solid lever feel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mathew
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: June 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
When properly adjusted decent stopping power
Weaknesses:
EVERYTHING else. Bad leaks, constant weakening, in need of constant adjustment
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS stock
Bottom Line:
I would not recommend these. I have to adjust them on average every few rides even on city trails. I have had to have both my brakes sent into Hayes for warranty because the seal on the fluid constantly leaks. Even after warrantee they are losing their power. Unless you really love to tinker with brakes I wouldn't touch these with a 10 foot pole. If I didn't have access to free regular brake maintenance I would be up a creek. If they fail again I am replacing them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adrian Ramos
a
from México City Date Reviewed: May 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
xc, freeride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
local store
Strengths:
I think they work very good, even I have´nt try many types of disc breaks, this ones feel very potent, they work fine even in rainy weathers. much better than any v brakes I have tried (they are a lot more)
Weaknesses:
I think some parts look a little cheap
Similar Products Used:
hayes nx9 avid juicy 5
Bike Setup:
trek 6700, lx, xt
Bottom Line:
I do recomend them as far as i have ride with them that has been like 6 times. I think they are awsome for xc and freeride, I dont know why other users put so bad grades on them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rachel Chadwick
a Cross Country Rider
from Mona Vale, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
That's a secret
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
E-bay
Strengths:
When frequently and properly adjusted and maintained these are very smooth and stop you just fine.
Weaknesses:
The pads easily come out of alignment, i.e; every time I have to remove the wheels and, less often (due to unplacable causes), on the trail. Then they whine and grab at the disc, the pads need adjusting (in three points)and the whole brake system needs to be tuned over. This applies to both front and rear. This is more of a generic problem for these kind of brakes, bit you kinda need to wind the pads all the way in when replacing either wheel, otherwise the edge of the disc will easily knock the inside pads out of the casing. But then you were going to need to adjust them one the wheel was back in anyway...
Similar Products Used:
Had V-brakes before these. Have Hayes Mags and Hayes HFX-9's on the downhill bikes.
Bike Setup:
Race XC.
Bottom Line:
If I was a bike mechanic these would be okay, if not a little annoying due to the frequency that they need attention. But for myself, whose mechanical aptitude is somewhat, um, limited- these are PISSING...ME...OFF! Put it this way- this is also my commuter bike, and I've just had to organise a lift to work today. NOT HAPPY.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from G Date Reviewed: May 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
work great. easy and smooth pull. they lock up fine
Weaknesses:
every time i take off the wheels i need to adjust the brake pads
Bottom Line:
i like them alot
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan
a
from aussie Date Reviewed: April 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
GAY! but is cheap, fine for XC pads do last!
Weaknesses:
GAY! dont lock up, wont stop you i had retro U brakes that worked this good! barely skids big W v brakes are better came on a full DH/FR bike (WTF GIANT) stay slow and u may be safe cheaper to replace unit than buy pads which are like 1/3rd of price for these tiny little things!
Similar Products Used:
HFX-9, Nines, Diatech anchor, Avid 7
Bottom Line:
GAY GAY GAY GAY! cheap bcos braking doesnt exist xc brakes NOT ANY THING ELSE oh and the adjuster screw WONT STAY PUT
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Inners or Fort Bill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
None what so ever
Weaknesses:
Power, modulation, levers and very bad drag
Similar Products Used:
Cheap v-brakes are the only ones that compare, avids and hopes are in a totally different league.
Bottom Line:
AVOID THESE LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Boner (Kiara)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with the bike
Strengths:
cheap.....good beginner performance
Weaknesses:
Well...after using it three months, it started screwing up...the brakes would lose effectiveness even after changing break pads...
Bike Setup:
Gt Avalanche 1.0 Stock
Bottom Line:
I believe this brakes are good for beginners as it comes with alot of bikes these days. The only problem with it is its heavy maintenance, which is irritating at the beginning, but you get used to it. It definitely offers a bang for the buck, costing no more than 45USD, but be prepared for the hassles...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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