New 2002: 2-finger lever blade with integrated reach adjust. The black anodized caliper features an enhanced shock durability with a long lasting finish.
Tech features: No compromise fully hydraulic disc
brake with a dual piston fixed caliper featuring
automatic pad wear adjustment. Slotted steel rotor
with 180 mm diameter front and 160 mm rear.
Composite brake lever (master) with silver anodized alloy lever blade.
Submitted by
Brentwoodrider
a Cross Country Rider
from Livermore, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Good stoping power
Weaknesses:
NOISE NOISE NOISE & no bleeder screws
Bike Setup:
2001 Cannondale F700
Bottom Line:
They work great until they heat up and the air in the system(that I cant get out due to NO BLEEDING SCREWS!!!!)expands and they squeek like heck and drag. They are tough to adjust as well. Thay also squeel under moderate pressure. Otherwise ok for stock brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jap
a Cross Country Rider
from Nijmegen, Netherlands Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Private buyer
Strengths:
Very reliable, stopping power. Never leak, super reliable (ad yes, I know I said that already.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Deore, deore mechanicals, mph
Bike Setup:
nrs3
Bottom Line:
Super stuff. Never had any problems with them. They brake good, don't overheat and don't make noise. Pad tend to wear a bit fast though, or is that my riding?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trevor
a Racer
from Santa Cruz Date Reviewed: April 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
can't tell you
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Cycleworks
Weaknesses:
everything
Bike Setup:
07 hekler
Bottom Line:
they suck a whole lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Rintoule
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: February 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Manly Cycles
Strengths:
Generally reliable. 5 year warranty with great after sales service.
Weaknesses:
Lever travel becomes a little excessive as pads near the end of their life.
Similar Products Used:
V brakes. Avid cable disc.
Bike Setup:
2005 Trek
Bottom Line:
The front Julie was an upgrade on my prevoius Fisher Sugar. The rear Julie was bought for my Trek Liquid frame. Plenty of power - I generally only use my index fingers for braking. On long steep Blue Mountain downhill sections two fingers are needed but brake fade is minimal even when the pads are HOT. Lever travel gets a little long as pads near the end of their service life. Despite the water and sand around Sydney I get good pad life. The front Julie's master cylinder started leaking after 2 years service. Full points to Manly Cycles and Magura for quickly providing a new replacement master cylinder unit including lever. Overall they have been excellent brakes with excellent after sales service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Warp2003
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico City, Mexico Date Reviewed: October 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Chiluca
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Great modulation, excelent price. Loaded with features (self-adjusting pads, lever reach adjustment, twin pistons, etc)
Weaknesses:
Tricky to set-up (but no more than your average disc, ecxluding Avids) A bit short on power IS only as standard (corrected in '03)
Similar Products Used:
Avid Mechanical 160mm, Shimano Deore 515-LA 160mm
Bike Setup:
Giant Warp DS2 '04 upgraded to discs. The rest is stock or budget stuff.
Bottom Line:
Excelent brakes for those under 160 pounds. I bought the bike used and the brakes were trashed but held a lot of punishment from previous owner. They're still going strong.
I'm 145-150 (depending on gear) and I have enough with these brakes. Nice power, but not impressive as you'll find yourself using two fingers on the lever. The redemption of these brakes is the awesome modulation they have. The wheels just roll over muddy stuff. My rear suspension is supposed to stiffen and squat under hard braking but the Julies don't amplify this tendency but rather mask it a little bit.
The brakes start to bite as you press the lever but to get full power you need to get really medieval with the lever. Full power is more than sufficient though (ie... OTB if you depress the lever too violently).
Bleeding and servicing is easy and Magura and Magura Cult have extensive and detailed literature.
Service from Magura is top-notch. Jimi is the man. Spares are available thru magura from caliper to washers.
Only for organic pads (or semi-metallic with VERY LITTLE metallic compound - again, organic only is better) and several brands make pads for these. Still the same pads since '01 thru '05 which is a good thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dylan
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Johnson Lake loop, Banff AB.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
THIS IS FOR THE '05 MODEL CHEAP!!! Larger front rotor, wavy rotors look awesome, works awesome.
Weaknesses:
Just recently started "buzzing" under hard braking, like I could feel every wave in the rotor. It started doing this after a few really hard stops (bent a manitou black in the progress) It does not act like the buzzing makes it grabby or anything, but it vibrates through the bars. It'll probably go away with time.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX2's, tried the 9's and old Avid BB5's
Bike Setup:
hardtail, Black elite (soon to be replaced) deore/alexTD17 wheels, Julies, RF evolve, lx......
Bottom Line:
I love em! Dirt cheap! I think they are the cheapest hydraulic out there and they still have tons of power and modulation. Coming from the hayes mechanicals which were on/off and unpredictable these were a huge upgrade. I think they are about on par for price with the better mechanicals out there. Like I said above these things are strong enough to bend a manitou black without even locking up. I probably should not have turned so hard while braking down a steep with good traction - my bad. The only drawback is their weight if you count grams. I think they are about 100-150g heavier a set than the hayes 6" or 6" avid juicy's. I'm about 225lb down the trail, and these brakes have plenty enough power for me. I'll be building a full suspension this winter, and these are going on it. Also, once I got them broken in and set up properly, they don't drag at all. Highly recomended cheap stuff. Mountain Bike Action magazine did a 2000 dollar trailbike shootout in the september '05 issue and the GT I-drive had these brakes, and everybody liked them there too - they liked them better than the more expensive hayes 9's by the sounds of it. I would have went for the juicy 7's if I had more cash at the time, more bells and whistles, and they can be found quite cheap online now. The julies work really good so I'll keep em for a while.
Bottom line: perfect for your budget trail bike build, not for weight weenies, probably not the best choice for lift acess riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dennis
a Racer
from batangas, philippines Date Reviewed: October 10, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Bottom Line:
the best part of my bike great performance best stop great handling no trouble to repair
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bûcheron
a Weekend Warrior
from Geneva, Switzerland Date Reviewed: October 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Salève
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Reliable They brake very well once broken in Cheap 180mm front and 160mm rear rotor to distribute brake power
Weaknesses:
a wee bit heavy
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise FR, Hayes 9, Hayes Mag, Deore mechanicals
Bike Setup:
BMC Golddigger
Bottom Line:
These are no-nonsense brakes that do what they are supposed to do, and do it very efficiently at that, considering they are some of the cheapest hydros available. About the 5 year warranty, it's written all over the manual that comes with them, or all over the Magura website, that the warranty only works for registered users and for users that have only used Magura - made brake pads. No 3rd party pads. That is the reason for somebody's anger down below... He just didn't stick to the warranty terms.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Gainesville,Florida Date Reviewed: September 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Santos in Ocala,Florida
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat.com
Strengths:
low priced,the rotors can be used on the new 2005 Julies,great for Florida weather and good in wet weather.THEY NEVER LEAK unlike Hope disc brakes.Very strong rotors.
Weaknesses:
Ugly,brake pads wear out fast
Similar Products Used:
Hope Mini,Hope Mono Mini,Magura Louise.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F800 with lefty fork,Mavic 819 UST rims,Magura XC rear hub,Maxxis Larsen TT Ust Tires,Race Face Dues X-ype Crank,With XT drive train and SRam PC-99 Chain.
Bottom Line:
I got over 3 years use before they just started to fall apart but I am very happy with them. 3 years is a long time for brakes that were only $200 for the set! I love Mgura products. I now use Louise 190 front and 180 rear. I plan on buying the new 2005 Julies for my new Klien!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PhillyGTA
a Weekend Warrior
from GTA Ontario Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
oem
Strengths:
The most important ..very Realiable ..good power , but I am only 150lbs. Rode them thur dust to snow and anything in between , no issue to speak off and stop me ever times.
Weaknesses:
Small dealer network. Hard to find good pads.
Similar Products Used:
Avid cable BBDB7 , also very good brakes.
Bike Setup:
Full Susp.Cannondale , use it from XC to stunts , very strong platform and I think money well spent.
Bottom Line:
Overall very good brakes , I believer the German have enough pride in them to make any thing real crabby..
These brakes are fuss free and realiable , I think people ditch them because Magura did not spend enough money on marketing in bike rags or shows.
If your bike comes with them , I say give it a go.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
samid
a Weekend Warrior
from croatia Date Reviewed: June 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Strengths:
reliability,smooth lever feel,solid stopping power
Weaknesses:
a bit heavy (480g),plastic lever body(not the lever though),but for the money paid you`ll soon be forgeting that
Similar Products Used:
v-brake,shimano deore mechs
Bike Setup:
kona nunu 03,lx,mz bomber,dt,mavic...and...ah yeah-julie
Bottom Line:
JULIE 05 review: My first hydro,it was either julie or hayes nine...but went for julie couse of magura´s so praised quality,and hayes9´s unreliability... Great break for me couse i mostly ride XC,nice feel and enough power for allhillriding except serious DH... So far no squelling,loss of power or any problems at all...what can i say--get one!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Freitag_Firestarter
a Weekend Warrior
from Kaiserslautern, Germany Date Reviewed: April 5, 2005
Excellent stopping power for the price, very sensitive and easy to control. Occaisonally a loud squeal comes from the rear brake, but I think this is more of a problem with the brake pads because it only happens after I clean the brakes. I weigh 195lbs and stopping on a dime from 30mph is no problem. I have rode on this setup about 150 miles or so, and I'm very impressed and happy with my purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Feri Tivadar
a Cross Country Rider
from Slovenia Date Reviewed: February 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
the Mura Forrest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Elan bikes
Strengths:
cheap, good, reliable
Weaknesses:
on the first there was some squezing
Similar Products Used:
V-brakes, mechanic disc's
Bike Setup:
bike Focus Black Forrest 2004 with setup: XT/LX, Magura Julie, Ritchey parts, Suntour Axon fork
Bottom Line:
It is my first hydraulic disc brake and I enjoy it a lot. I tried my friends mechanic disc's Haxes and they sucks. Julie is reliable, I bought it a year ago, and have No Problemo's..Only the first two weeks there were some squezing noises, but they dissapered after. I put a lot of biking-stress-pressure on this disc's but they survived it. I only cann say- buy it, try it, and enjoy..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roberto
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico, D.F., México Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
hmm.... disks?
Weaknesses:
They squeal if not clean. I wasn't impressed with theyre braking power.
Similar Products Used:
v-brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jeckyl 800, pretty much standard.
Bottom Line:
Got them on a used bike, so I don't really know how it was driven, but they kept making noise until I took them to my LBS and they changed Pads and bleed the stuff.
Now that I changed them, they work, but I'm not very much impressed by them. Let's see how they work out.
I think as they work, the difference over my other bike with v-brakes is on the all-weather brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason sperling
a Cross Country Rider
from vt Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
stopping
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
v brakes
Bike Setup:
tomac revolver
Bottom Line:
If you know how to do the little manual adjustments (pulling the rotor toward the side thats rubbing and squeezing the lever a few times slowly to reset the pad actuation) these things just keep going without any issues. These are my first disc brakes but I seriously could not imagine upgrading. They work as well as brakes can work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Banff
a Racer
from San Jose, CA, USA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Black Lakes Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
forum
Strengths:
Great modulation and brake power. I was surprised by the one finger braking with this brake!
Weaknesses:
Plastic lever. Only available in Black.
Similar Products Used:
Formula B4 Pro Hayes
Bike Setup:
2002 k2 Razorback 4.0 EA70 bar and stem. LX drivetrain. Julie brakes.
Bottom Line:
These brakes were a great deal that I couldn't resist. You really don't notice the weight, but the improvement over my Hayes HMX-2's was phenomenal! Once you go hydro you never go back!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Scarborough, N Yorks, UK Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Secret trail in local woods
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Cheap. Better than V's (when working)
Weaknesses:
Magura's pads last 2 minutes when used off-road, very difficult to stop them squealing and rubbing, shocking attitude of Magura warrantee dept, poor performance and modulation compared with proper systems (e.g. Hope, Shimano).
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT, Hope Mini Mono
Bike Setup:
Heavily upgraded Spesh Rockhopper
Bottom Line:
Do not buy these brakes! They seem cheap compared to the competitors but you will spend the extra money and more on pads and having them set up and re-setup to try and keep them working. After 2 and a half years of trying to keep them working they failed completely and my LBS sent them back to Magura for a service. Magura refused to repair them under warrantee cos I had used 3rd party pads. Their attitude over the phone was appalling as well. I have now bought Hope Mini's - miles better than the Julie's ever were. If you buy these and they go wrong be warned - Magura's 5 year warrantee isn't worth the paper its written on. If you look at most of the reviews above that give high marks - they are comparing them with rim brakes. Fair enough, they are better than when they're working but you'll spend a fortune keeping them that way if you ride in British conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bobby
a Cross Country Rider
from Graniteville, VT Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
camp johnson
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
the ski rack
Strengths:
stop on a dime. good modulation.
Weaknesses:
a little drag. plastic drums? what's that about?
Similar Products Used:
v-brakes. that's it.
Bike Setup:
c-dale F700
Bottom Line:
i'm lovin julie. i really like that i don't have to worry about stopping with these. i never feel like i'm going to toss over the bars, but always feel like i can stop.
i did stick one blade to a tree one day... that was the end of that blade, but the folks at magura were good enough to sell me another....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Coventry Date Reviewed: June 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Afan Argoed (all), Wales
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
Broadribbs
Strengths:
Price - $85 each is approx 1/2 of hope / hayes systems Stopping power - i'm not small and I can always lock the wheels when I get scared and grab the levers!
Weaknesses:
Not great in the wet but once you've cooked the water off the disks they recover pretty quickly. Not as precise as the hope minis I've tried
On a budget they're great. If I had to replace them and had the cash i'd go for Hope Minis for the crisp stopping power.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cory Whitesell
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Date Reviewed: May 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Incredible stopping power.
Weaknesses:
Brake pads drag (no resistance, but noisy). I assume this is inherent in hydraulic brake systems.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper
Bottom Line:
I had been stuck with cantilevers up until this purchase. The very first ride a buddy stopped in front of me and I instinctively squeezed the brakes and over the bars I went. Now that I an used to the stopping power, I will never return to anything else.
A few months later while riding down the side of a mountain in Kananaskis, the discs lost their temper because I was riding the brakes all the way down. They started glowing red and I stopped so they wouldn't fold up and send me down the mountain without my bike. Since then the discs wew very prone to pitting and picked up a lot of crud. Changed the discs and that cured it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Tan
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, New Zealand/KL, Malaysia Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Rotorua redwoods/Bukit Kiara
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Adventure Cycles, Auckland
Strengths:
Cheap, light, and they stop you.
Weaknesses:
Plasticky lever body (minor gripe, really)
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, YDOpen, Deore
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler, Fox Vanilla 125, Deore/XTR, etc.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are excellent. They are fully capable of locking up my wheels with one finger stopping. Not much modulation, but that's the way I prefer it. As with all other hydraulic systems, do your research and bleed your brakes carefully as per instructions, and you're good to go! I also believe they're much cheaper than most other models.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
IAN PARKER
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: March 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Devils punch bowl
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
on bike
Strengths:
Works fine most of the time.
Weaknesses:
They seem to be sensative to wet and muddy conditions as I have problems with the pistons failing to return and brakes rubbing.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Specialized rockhopper FS Pro Disc
Bottom Line:
Discs are a must for the type of riding I do in the UK winters and these have been great most of the time. I am disapointed with the problem of sticky pistons and pad wear. I've had to work the pistons back and forth [to clear the crud of them no doubt] when fitting new pads or they do'nt return. I would buy discs again but they will be Hopes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ade
a Weekend Warrior
from birmingham Date Reviewed: March 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
streets
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with giant atx 860, now on the rear of my '03 kona stuff
Strengths:
price, excellent performance in dry conditions. pad wear in not too fast. very quiet
Weaknesses:
squeaks in the wet and performance suffers a lot.
Similar Products Used:
shimano m475, hope m4
Bike Setup:
'03 kona stuff (see my review on the 'stuff' for full specs)
Bottom Line:
great brake for the money. if well bled, there is hardly any excess travel on the lever, it locks out very well. The stock magura pads are also very good and perform well, but dont wear too quickly either.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Montréal, QC, Canada Date Reviewed: March 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Black Forest, Germany
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
ABC Cycle et Sport
Strengths:
Smooth operation, powerful, light, came free with the bike...
Weaknesses:
Plastic levers, sensitive to dirt and winter weather (salt, sand)
Similar Products Used:
Hayes comp
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper hardtail
Bottom Line:
These brakes were powerful and smooth. When I picked up my bike I told the guy at the store that my last bike was running canti's; he kind of laughed and warned me to go easy with the discs or I'd go over the handle-bars. I went flying 4 days later. I loved these brakes, great modulation and smoother than the hayes brakes I'm running now.
That was the good news. The bad news is that about a year after getting the bike I rode through a 2 foot deep mud puddle and they were never the same. One of the pads jammed and guys at the store couldn't fix them, so they were toast. Apparently they also don't do well with winter weather. All in all I liked these brakes, and if you're not planning to be playing in the mud full time or touring around Montreal in January, I'd definately recommend them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrea
a Cross Country Rider
from North East Italy Date Reviewed: February 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hills
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Came with the bike
Strengths:
Good stopping power, excellent modulation.
Weaknesses:
As pads wears on the action on the lever begans mushy
Similar Products Used:
Martas
Bike Setup:
2002 C'dale jekill 700 mainly stock.
Bottom Line:
The brakes works great with minimal maintenace, but needs to have new brake pads to maintain the best performance. I replace them 2 times a year, and live happy after. Every seasson I'll change the oil also. Excellent performance and no problems at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joshua Grant
a Downhiller
from Scotland Date Reviewed: January 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Anything that can't be ridden
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
www.chainreactioncycles.com
Strengths:
Being a DH rider with no money these low end brakes slow me from 60mph to 0 with little effort. They are stopped me from crashing and being bed ridden many times. If you need mre braking power which you won't you can get different pads for then, including pads that cope with mud conditions better. If you set these brakes up like the manual says and you not a tols idiot you should be able to then they work as well as HOPE and Hayes, don't believe me buy some.
Weaknesses:
They have no weakness don't believe me buy some and prove me wrong but make sure you spend the time and wear them in and set them up properly.
XT shifters and mechs, DMR, Tioga, RockShox, Raceface, Azonic, Fox
Bottom Line:
If you got loads or money or not why waist money on more expensive brakes that don't work much different if at all, when you can get these brakes. Set them up well and they will reward you from day one. Don't be an idiot and get oil an the discs and complain that they won't brake and they squeal, your an idiot how can you expect them to work. I can't say how much they have rewarded me and saved me. BUY SOME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Vancouver, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: January 17, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Stock on Cannondale F800
Strengths:
Cheap. Excellent stopping power.
Weaknesses:
Cheap. Ridiculous to align. Stock brake pads burn out quickly when drag is present.
Similar Products Used:
None, first discs owned
Bike Setup:
EBC Gold Pads
Bottom Line:
Hassle from Day 1. 3 Weeks of dealer 'adjustments' and i still burnt out the first set of pads in under 4 weeks. I commute daily (30-40kms) and i expect gear to work. I dont want to spend my day off tweaking a sticky piston that didnt like getting wet the day before. If i'm fortunate enough to be able to afford Hayes in the future then it'll be a no brainer. Front caliper was flawless in its action from day 1, but the rear caliper was even replaced by the store at my insistence after its refusal to have equal piston travel. New caliper isnt any different, with the same issues. If you have the time to sit with the bike playing with alignments & sticky pistons, then buy them. Otherwise save your money and get yourself the Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chip Schick
a Weekend Warrior
from Williams Lake BC Date Reviewed: January 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
All of Them
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Cane on Bike
Strengths:
Great Power, Easy Modulation, Maintenence Free
Weaknesses:
Pads Wear Fairly Fast
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Hydros and Avid Mechanicals
Bike Setup:
RM Edge, DJ 1 and many other Upgrades
Bottom Line:
Great Brakes! I have had these for 3 years and other then the front one getting bent in a full speed impact to a cement barrier, they have been maintenence free. I just kinked the front brake line in a crash for the first time, have never broken a lever or had any noise problems. They do tend to have a bit of drag but nothing excesive. These are great brakes for a great price!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff D
a Weekend Warrior
from Staten Island, NY, USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere there is dirt
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Came on 2001 Raleigh M800
Strengths:
Great stopping power in wet or dry. Pads last a long time, and for me they never squealed, not a peep.
I took the Julies off my 2001 Raleigh M800 before I sold this frame and installed them on my Giant. The rear brake started dragging unbelieveable this year. Been to my LBS 2 times and bleed these brakes 3 times. They seem to be ok for a few rides after bleeding then start dragging again. This is not a slight drag. A Magura mechanic who said that they were installed correctly, attempted to fix my rear brake at a Pedros festival last summer by re-animating the pistons in the rear caliper. Worked for 3 rides, and now back to dragging. Sent Magura an e-mail and they said they are going to send me a return authorization. Still waiting for return authorization. Stayed tuned. Bottom line, I think these are good brakes, good for most riders. They are very light. I think I just got stuck with a defective rear caliper, and Maguar is hopefully going to do the right thing here. If not, Avid Mechanical disc's will be on Giant in the spring.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Southeastern USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Very good modulation and consistency. Durable pads, good long-term performance.
Weaknesses:
Apparently some folks have problems getting them set up correctly.
Similar Products Used:
Gustavs, Hope E4, Avid
Bike Setup:
MTB Tandem.
Bottom Line:
This is for the Tandem version of the Julies. We use these brakes on MTB Tandems and they work very well. They don't have as much power as the Gustavs do, but enough to do the job. I set the all our bikes up myself by making sure the disc mounts are milled correctly and the brake shimmed correctly. Sometimes they need 1 bleeding, sometimes they're fine from the factory. If the brakes aren't set up correctly, you will get a soft lever and much less power. If they are set up correctly, there aren't too many brakes out there that can compare for power and consistency! I suggest those with problems have a decent mechanic set the brakes up correctly. Hard to be the value of these brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Iain Rathie
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia Date Reviewed: November 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
poo-shooter/4.5
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Supercycle Brisbane
Strengths:
When they are working properly they provide well modulated, consistent and powerfull braking
Weaknesses:
Have had never ending problems with rear brake: persistent rubbing (despite constant attention to proper cleaning, disc straightness and alignment); constant squealing (despite previous mentioned maintenance); requirement to 'pump up' - have had two workshop bleeds and still comes back almost straight away
Similar Products Used:
First and only disc's used
Bike Setup:
2002 Cannondale Jekyll 800 - stock except for 2003 LX cranks and eggbeaters
Bottom Line:
Despite the problems - i'll take these over V's any day.
I can handle the rub and pump up issues - but the squealing really affects the Karma of our group night rides.
Will persist with them (in the workshop at the moment trying a few things) 'cause i cant afford to replace 'em.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeffery Bergeron
a Weekend Warrior
from Frisco Co Date Reviewed: October 31, 2003
Favorite Trail:
too many
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Old Town Bike Shop
Strengths:
still thinking about that
Weaknesses:
Loud loud loud
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F700
Bottom Line:
ever since i've had these brakes, they've caused me problems. i think they are mad at me because i am always yelling at them. they are constantly squeeking and complaining, and not just a little bit either, they are deafening... the noise it self ruins the ride for me, your can probably hear them 10 miles away - and now the pads are constantly rubbing on the rotor. the bike shop is sick of seeing my face... i've spent more time in there than on the trail it seems. as soon as i get the money, i am going to try some "avid juicy 7's"
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
T D
a Weekend Warrior
from hungary Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Jánoshegy :)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Speedmetal
Strengths:
Good stopping power, good looking, not too high price
Weaknesses:
I broke my lever so it was another 100$ coz I couldnt buy just a lever, I had to buy the set. PLASTiC SUX HARD
Similar Products Used:
Just V-s
Bike Setup:
Merida Big Air Elite, Rock Shox Duke XC U-turn fork, Shimano Deore front, XT rear derailleur, Deore hubs, Ritchey wheels
Bottom Line:
For easy freeriding it is good. Get it, if u dont take big drops.
Coldfire
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Smoothie
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Quirk Creek
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Poor power, no modulation, frequently FAIL!!!
Similar Products Used:
XT V, LX V
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Instinct: Stock except for Good/Evil Grips
Bottom Line:
I have taken these to three different dealers for adjustment and had many a ruined rides due to brake failures. Bottom line they just don't work. Got my RMA and sending them back (FINALLY!)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephenson Kid
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockford Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Great braking power
Weaknesses:
I messed up the rear brake and had to get new brake pads and rotor
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
All over north Texas
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Supergo, came on 2002 KHS FXT Comp
Strengths:
Ridiculously low price, awesome power, 180mm front rotor, amazing modulation, problem-free, reliable like a belt buckle, handsome (IMHO), low pressure, uses harmless mineral oil, come pre-assembled and pre-bled, five-year no-leak warranty.
Weaknesses:
Maybe a little heavier than the lightest disk brakes.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
2002 KHS FXT Comp, latex tubes, Rohloff chain.
Bottom Line:
Here's the real bottom line -- if you set up the brakes properly, like the manual and web site say, you will be rewarded with the most incredible anchors imaginable. Be advised, proper setup includes shaving the paint off the mounting bosses on the fork and rear triangle, trueing the rotors by hand-bending as necessary to insure flatness, utilizing the supplied 0.2mm mounting shims as necessary to insure the calipers are centered over the disks, and subjecting each brake to at least 30 hard high-speed stops before considering them broken in. I followed all of these steps, and my brakes have never growled or squealed or rubbed or seized, ever. And I've been using them for a year now. And regarding the issue of the plastic levers breaking during a crash -- here's another piece of advise from the manual/website -- don't tighten the lever assemblies to the handlebar so firmly that they can't rotate if subjected to severe forces, as in a crash. I adhere to this philosophy and have been repeatedly rewarded with levers that were rotated on the bar during crashes, but unharmed. Regarding the statements by a few reviewers that the brakes are actually too powerful -- let me say that I had no problem training my fingers to effectively modulate the force I apply to the brake levers. I can brake as lightly or as firmly as I wish. These brakes feel like a fine set of automotive high-performance brakes. They can be played like an instrument. They give me a whole added level of control over my ride. There are many things about my bike that I like very much (it made this website's Hall of Fame), but I must admit, I like my brakes the best. Bravo, Magura!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robby
a Weekend Warrior
from Neeroeteren,Limburg,Belgium Date Reviewed: July 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Bike shop Diest (Belgium)
Strengths:
Stopping power,durability,price.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Cube ltd3,XT front & rear mech,magura black comp suspension.
Bottom Line:
I've had no problems whatsoever.The stopping power is excellent,much better than my v-brakes.my Julies have never squeaked not even when wet.But when riding through wet mud they tend to make a grinding noise which goes away after braking a couple of times.I've had a couple of pretty heavy crashes and all the plastics seemed to hold up perfectly.I don't know what you have to do to break them,maybe ram a bus.So if you're looking for great disc brakes for little money,Julies are the ones!I give them four red bananas.(Nothing is perfect!)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ross
a Cross Country Rider
from Forest Grove, OR, USA Date Reviewed: July 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Porccupine rim, Moab
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
good stopping power, never fail, always work.
Weaknesses:
the self adjusting feature sometimes changes dramatically, but not that bad.
Similar Products Used:
Avid mechanicals
Bike Setup:
Jekyll 800,egg beater pedals, all that good stuff.
Bottom Line:
If you have broken the levers from pulling them, then you messed something up. These brakes are made to stop without to much effort, so don't pull so hard! no one i know with the Julies have any problems that they didn't do to it themselves, and we ride hard.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh
a Cross Country Rider
from PA Date Reviewed: July 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
anything w/ dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Mountainside ski & sport
Strengths:
These brakes are AWESOME. This is my first disc set, and I can see why hydro brakes are so popular. What is this talk about poor performance and no modulation??? Obviously they got lemons. I like the one finger braking, and the brakes have never once squealed in protest to my "truckstops". I like the look of the levers, and the alloy handles (added bonus)
Weaknesses:
None.........can you believe that??
Similar Products Used:
nothing compares. All hail german quality!!!
Bike Setup:
Stock Diamondback DBR XTS
Bottom Line:
Get these brakes if you want stopping power like no other. It honestly feels like someone dropped the anchor!! I have alloy levers on my bike, so I'm not worried about the frailty of plastic. I would recommend this set (or any other Magura disc set) to anyone who wants stopping power for low dough. I think it's quite unique in the fact that it has a 7" front rotor when others offer 6-8".
Here's how strong these brakes really are. A friend and I were riding home after a 6-7 mile ride (. Everything was going fine until his bottom bracket decided to call it quits right in front of me!! Needless to say, that I pulled the clampers hard hoping to stop in time. I shouldnt have been worried at all. The minute I tapped those binders, the Psylo compressed, the back tire skipped (3x) and I came to an abrupt halt. I was sold on hydros from that point on. As i said before, if you really want bang for your buck, get a set of Julies. You won't be sorry. Period.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wayne
a Downhiller
from huntington beach Date Reviewed: July 5, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
sea schwinn
Strengths:
cant think of one
Weaknesses:
plastic lever, plastic lines, plastic everything
Similar Products Used:
avid
Bike Setup:
specd enduro
Bottom Line:
these brakes are terrible, cheap lines and levers make for a poor feel. I was dumb enuff to buy the al levers for $50, now the lever doesnt flex, but the bike still has no power, feels like something is gonna break. I left the one on the back on and got an avid mech in front and what a difference, as soon as i get the coin the rear julie is getting dumped for another avid.
if you really like MOUNTAIN BIKING and not board walk cruising stay away from these brakes, thell be your weak link in a solid setup.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
General
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Spokane
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
They work
Weaknesses:
Plastic lever blades
Similar Products Used:
Older Maguras
Bike Setup:
KHS FXT Comp
Bottom Line:
I finally broke one of my brake levers (seems to be a common). I e-mailed Magura, and they responded immediately, offering to send me a new one... free of charge, under warranty, no questions asked. I'm not sure what type of customer service others have gotten, but I couldn't have asked for better.. Thanks Magura!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jens
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
bikebuster
Strengths:
stopping power
Weaknesses:
If they are not keept entirely clean the pads will start to "hang"- I experienced that they actually blocked the rear wheel when I had to brake hard. Weight. Pads wear down VERY quickly. Discs gets uneven rather fast..
Similar Products Used:
none...
Bike Setup:
Principia MSL PRO, XTR 2003 V-brakes (changed to V-brakes), Cross Max wheelset
Bottom Line:
I wasn't really pleased with the disc-system, and after consulting my dealer I descided to go for the V-brakes instead (you see THAT WORKS!!). In my opinion the cheaper sets of disc-brake systems cannot be compared to the more expensive v-brakes. To quote my dealer: "a well adjusted pair of V-brakes are MUCH better than a pair of (cheap) disc-brakes...".
I tried it and wasn't pleased - I have freinds though that would would never go back to V-brakes. I guess its a matter of opinion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
César
a Cross Country Rider
from Asturias Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere at Picos de Europa
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Power. Power. Power. Power. They allow your forearms rest in downhills. ALWAYS stops (sometimes more than you'd wish...), even in mud, water, dust, no matter where you try, and it does as quick as your tyres allows it...
Weaknesses:
Rear brake. Unless you ride on a road, or weight more than 600 lbs, I think it is unuseful; the enormous braking power will block your rear wheel everytime you pull the lever, even if you do it slightly.
Similar Products Used:
Firs pair of discs; I've tried out xt and xtr in V-brakes.
I cannot understand how people can say "it sucks", or "no power, no modulation"... It makes me believe they haven't tried out those brakes. If there is something you can make sure is that they do their job...and do it amazingly. I'm not a downhiller, but sometimes ride at 30-40 mph, and the only thing I'm worried about Julies is not to pull the lever thinking I wear my old V's; if your tyres resist, you'll become a new kind of bird, but most of the times front wheel will slip, so you won't be able to get all the incredible power to stop that Julies can give to you. They brake long long enough for a XC rider, or even an occassional downhiller. Till the moment, no screech, no fading, no deception at all. (Read the manual: brake 30 times from 30 km/h to zero...) The only ¿deception? as I said in weaknesses, rear brake is -for me- quite unuseful; I weight about 150 lbs, and I'm unable to avoid blockin' rear tyre each time I brake. About maintenance, still no problem at all (short time with them...); make sure a good bike mechanic get them installed, and start learning to brake again. Of course, don't even think to get these hydraulics discs without a good fork on your bike. If you want a non expensive pair of discs with more power to brake than you probably will need, get yourself these ones and "wellcome to the brake people".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josep Vicente martinez
a Cross Country Rider
from Barcelona, Spain Date Reviewed: May 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Power, modulation, low manteinance and price.
Weaknesses:
Perhaps the wieght
Similar Products Used:
Formula b4
Bike Setup:
LX/Deore, RST gila TL.
Bottom Line:
This are my first disc brakes, but I can say that they are better than any other V brake. After the first kilometers, they work really well. They are very powerfull, and you only need one finger for brake in any situation. They are a little bit heavy (470gr), but it does'nt matter if you are not a proffesional rider. The price is another good point.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Birk Larsen
a
from Bozeman Date Reviewed: May 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Mechanic
Strengths:
Cheap...
Weaknesses:
cheap...these brakes are hard to get the "squish" out of them, and they are just not good brakes even when you get them right.
Similar Products Used:
hayes, hope, avid...
Bottom Line:
All of the magura brakes ar quite possibly the worst brakes out there. they are the most difficult to bleed, most difficult to set up, and quite possibly the worst brakes to work on in general. i have been a mechanic for over 10 years, and since i have been working on and setting up these brakes, they have been nothing but trouble.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cameron
a Cross Country Rider
from Atl, Ga, USA Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
an awsome pair of brakes
Weaknesses:
none that i can see
Bike Setup:
Cannondal Jeckyl 800 with Lefty on front Fox on back XT rear LX Front, Magura Julie's on front and back
Bottom Line:
These are my first discs and i love them. they have saved my life on numerous occasions and provide some serious stopping power for cheaper than the Hayes. all in all i would recommend these to any one and they just plain rock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christen
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Marselisborg
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
Excellent stopping power, reliable, big frontrotor, cheap
Weaknesses:
plastic?! haven't had any problems yet, but it looks kinda flimsy. Magura pads wear quickly. not exactly light.
The first day I rode my bike, my riding buddy told me that he was very impressed of my downhill speeds, considering this was my first ride. This was because of the Julie brakes, I was never, and have never, worried if the bike would stop. It' simply amazing. A month later my buddy bought the same bike with the same brakes, and he was stunned, he swore he would never use rimbrakes again. I give them 5 chili's because they never let me down, ant because I'm sure that if I had bought Vee's I wouldn't have had as much fun as I have.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Christie
a Weekend Warrior
from Chester UK Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Betwys-y-coed
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Halfords
Strengths:
Came with a bargain of a bike, good stopping power when working
Weaknesses:
Really cheap quality, they rub all the time (especially if you have taken the wheels off and on). weak materials can't take the slightest impact let alone at the speeds these bikes are designed for. Utter cheap rubbish and customer service was totally poor. First tried to blame me for tinkering with them before they even had looked at them then refused point blank that they would ever lock up -
Similar Products Used:
XT V's, Hope Mini
Bike Setup:
Hellcat full susp, xt, Mavic rims, Maxi tyres
Bottom Line:
They rubbed from the moment I bought them no matter what I tried. Completely seized up when out on a local trail causing me to stack face first into the deck. Really flimsy levers broke and sh*tty reservoir caps popped off like they were on a can of pringles. Magura now deny any fault with the brakes and say I need to spend £192 quid to replace the levers. Understandibly I told them where to go and am now paying £240 for a whole new set of Hope mini's and would suggest everyone else does the same
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Whitney
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington DC Date Reviewed: April 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Very strong, stopping power excellent, never faded during extended braking periods
Weaknesses:
Horrible sticking problems, pads rubbing against discs constantly, bleeding nightmare, simply too much maintenance required
Similar Products Used:
Avid mechanicals
Bike Setup:
Bad Boy
Bottom Line:
These are very effective brakes, but simply made me too angry, too often, through their refusal to align themselves properly over time. During my year of complimentary service, my LBS got sick of seeing me come in to have the pads re-distanced from the disc(can't blame them.) They said they'd not had a good experience w/ Julies, but perhaps my pair were worse-than-normal lemons. Regardless, switched them out for a pair of Avid mechanicals, and the Avid's unbelieveable ease of use/adjustment more than makes up for the extremely small performance difference. 3 chilis for effectiveness tempered by unreasonable frustration caused by upkeep.
Silent. Powerful. Dependable. Feed it with mud (a LOT of it)/snow/water/sand. Not a single problem. It works sub zero (gone around 5..10 below) without any difference. Mine has the aluminium levers. Won't EVER go back to Vbrakes. Some time it rattles a bit, but a slight pull on the brakes realigns and quits noise.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
KTM pro XCA1
Bottom Line:
Dependable and powerful. No regrets. My friends tested and been impressed. Can't believe people here complaining about power and modulation. Mine works same as my Volvo SW. Said all....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Leicester, England Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
no decent tracks near me!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Julies Cycles, Leicester
Strengths:
Superb power, work in any weather conditions (as far as I know), consistant braking performance.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Hope Mini
Bike Setup:
Marin Nail Trail, Pilot SLs, Magura Julies
Bottom Line:
These disc brakes are so good, I prefer them to my Mini (yes, only one) on my second bike. They never fade, never squeak, always work. Many other reviewers have commented that the plastic levers are a major weakness. I think they are excellent, and certainly warm up quicker than my aluminium Hope lever on a cold day! The fact that they can be pushed away from the rider slightly is an excellent design feature, as it makes it much easier to move between gripping the handlebars and hauling on the brakes. I used them to slow me from over 30mph on a downhill section to a standstill, and they have developed no loss of power, no noise, and have stopped me in about half the distance it took my Mini and V-brake combo on my other bike. They are nothing short of incredible.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brendan
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle area Date Reviewed: March 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Good stopping power but that doesn't outweigh the negatives.
Weaknesses:
STICKY PISTONS! This has been a constant problem with these brakes. The fix recommended by Magura works only temporarily. Hard to adjust alignment.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra
Bottom Line:
Don't buy these brakes! I commute on this bike and have had constant problems with sticky pistons. This causes the pistons not to retract so they drag on the rotor. Magura has a recommended fix for this but it only works temporarily (a few days or so in my case). Also, I have had problems getting these brakes properly aligned.
I will be replacing these brakes in the near future with a pair of Avid BB mechanicals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonas Östlund
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
came with the bike
Strengths:
Extreme stopping-power, modulation, brake lever flexes when bike hits the ground instead of snapping.
Weaknesses:
sub-zero function not too good... have to press really hard to get a full stop.
Similar Products Used:
shimano Deore hydralics
Bike Setup:
Focus Black Forrest
Bottom Line:
I like these brakes... they seem to be stronger than the Deore, and they don´t squeal when wet... stopping-power above 0 degrees C. awesome...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Boone Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
nope
Weaknesses:
these things blow. pads wear out in a month, no modulation, no power, fade out under long hard braking, have to be bled all the time...they just suck. ride hayes
Similar Products Used:
nope
Bike Setup:
RM edge, jr t, blah blah
Bottom Line:
these things blow...buy hayes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from The Netherlands Date Reviewed: February 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Local Bikeshop
Strengths:
Fairly cheap. Simple design. Good braking performance. Reasonable modulation.
Weaknesses:
Durability is very poor. Lots and lots of problems with sticky pistons (i.e. your brakes work constantly). Magura is aware of this, but their proposed solution is cumbersome, takes time and works only temporarly (i.e. problems re-occur after appr. two rides). Corrosion on brakepads. Brakes setup is sensitive to mud and low temperatures (sub zero).
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper, RS Duke Race, Mavic X 317
Bottom Line:
Cheap disc brakes that won´t last long when used frequently. Maybe suitable for people that use bike only in fair weather conditions and less than say once a week. Otherwise would not recommend buying the product in view of the serious and repeated problems with sticky pistons. I have read more reports of people having similar problems with their Julies.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trevor M
a Weekend Warrior
from Windsor, ON, Canada Date Reviewed: February 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
modulation (compared to v-brakes)
Weaknesses:
PLASTIC. The composite brake lever snapped on the first ride. The replacement part (for the same plastic part that was likely to break again) was 120. A whole new, 4 piston disc brake from Grimeca was only 20 more!
Similar Products Used:
Grimeca System 8 (the replacement)
Bike Setup:
2002 KHS, Julie's are stock brakes
Bottom Line:
If being used for very light off-road or commuting, then yes, they probably would last. But anything that a real MTB'er would do, they brakes can't compare. In my opinion, they were only used as advertising for the KHS. KHS wanted a disc brake bike for a cheap as possible, and the Julie was the perfect match, regardless of actual brake quality. Consider these brakes and fancy, more modulative v-brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Toni Salminen
a Weekend Warrior
from Turku, Finland Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
XC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Awesome breaking power, even in -25 celsius with winter tyres. They don't squeek!
Weaknesses:
None so far. I'm scared about the composite material on bars when riding on wintertime. Propably very fragile...
Similar Products Used:
-
Bike Setup:
Wheeler 7900 (2002) factory setup.
Bottom Line:
Really arsch-kickin' efficient and cheap disc brakes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a
from meeeeow Date Reviewed: January 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
this is a brilliant disc brake, it works as well as an xt but is way cheaper.
Weaknesses:
they havent been given the praise they deserve
Similar Products Used:
Louise, xt, hayze etc
Bike Setup:
my front wheel on a pair of forks and rear on my frame, that sums it up well
Bottom Line:
dont think because these are cheap they lack power, these work really well and dont need anything done to them to keep them working well, bottom line ? buy them
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mundi
a Cross Country Rider
from tauranga Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002
a tad heavy but then i could loose a few pounds instead
Similar Products Used:
avid mechs,xt lx v's.
Bike Setup:
avanti barracuda, rock shox judy '01'xc,"julies",deore groupset,ritchey headset.
Bottom Line:
awesome. one finger braking in the toughest of terrain, i can endo at will, havent tried them in any conditions other than dry and dusty as hell but they handle that without a single missed beat. im never going back to anything other than hydro, even if its not magura, anything else is inferior.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Fremont, Ca Date Reviewed: December 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
Easy to set up, 7" disc up front.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Bike Setup:
2002 Giant XTC SE1, Mavic X3.1, Shimano XT group, Rock Shocks SID, Thompson stem and seat post.
Bottom Line:
Very nice brake system for its price. Good braking feed- back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eric eller
a Cross Country Rider
from damascus, virginia, u.s.a. Date Reviewed: December 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
hey, let's not get personal
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
mtn. sports ltd.- bristol, va
Strengths:
strong, very strong
Weaknesses:
squeal, squeal, squeal. don't ride in the cold-no modulation
Similar Products Used:
none yet
Bike Setup:
scalpel 800 w/ ultra fatty, xt group, mavic disc rims, with some coda parts & velociraptor rubber
Bottom Line:
i bought the bike in june and since then it has been in the shop more times than it's been on the trail(for brake work!). the guys at the shop hate to see me come in because the brakes are always in need of adjustment, they are either too soft or too stiff(levers), no consistancy on when the pads will engage(scary). i have not had any problems from my bike shop or magura in fixing them but when i get the money i will be purchasing either hayes of xt hydro brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dorkpants the brave
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, AUS Date Reviewed: November 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Massive stopping power, great modulation, solid build, twin piston requires little maintenance.
Weaknesses:
The plastic levers may be damaged in a fall, but don't know yet.
Bike Setup:
'02 Cannondale F800 - great bike :)
Bottom Line:
These brakes are amazing. I cannot imagine any situation where you would need more stopping power in dry, wet or muddy conditions. Modulation is superb, far better than grabby V's.... I'm really impressed. The '02 model Julies are a lightyear ahead of the older, single piston Julies which deservedly received criticism. The current model simply rules!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hans Verschoor
a Cross Country Rider
from Utrecht, Netherlands Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Amerongen
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Rose, Germany
Strengths:
Good braking properties.
Weaknesses:
Screeching at the first drop of rain. Just try to moisturize a dry brake with CLEAR tap water and listen ....
Similar Products Used:
Magura HS33, but no other disc brakes so far, but that will change as soon I've got the money for it.
Bike Setup:
Fishlips frame, RockShox Psylo SL, RockShox saddle post, Selle Italia saddle, Shimano XT, Magura Julie, Mavic CrossRoc's, Schwalbe Jimmy tyres.
Bottom Line:
BAD, BAD service or better: no service at all. I tried to reach Magure by e-mail over and over agian, but they(deliberately?) refused to answer. It looks like they skip "nasty" messages. Magura service SUCKS !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Savard Francis
a Weekend Warrior
from La Tuque Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Freeride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Roule vélo La tuque
Strengths:
Très Bon produit ses pas chère en plus de couté 210$ Canadien
Weaknesses:
The best low price
Similar Products Used:
grimca
Bike Setup:
Gt agresssor 2.0 custom headset fsa orbit xl,bomber 100mm, disc brake magura julie rear brake shimano,rear lx derailleur Lx,rims sun rims mamoth avec des rayons dt alpine 3,pogner fun ,potence radical ingot,pedalier lx avec platte north shore ect...
Bottom Line:
Achetez vous ca
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bart elias
a Cross Country Rider
from ghent, belgium Date Reviewed: August 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:
most unflat places in france
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Strengths:
follow up on previous review -power -sturdiness (no more platic lever on '02 model)
i smashed into the asphalt on a road downhill at +/- 30km/h. my bike hit the ground on its side. the one side pedal has taken most of the hit, the rest was taken by skewers an brake lever. everything survived nicely, even me with a 30cm pizza on my hip ;-)
Weaknesses:
-power -weight the ONLY reason i could ever see in upgrading these brakes is weight, for 100g lighter brake i could go for a hope mini. that would cost me about twice as much as the julies cost. so u decide, if 200g front+rear brakeweight advantage justifies spending 200$ more. another weakness in my case is, if i would want to be a better driver, for the moment i should go back to my trusty v's. i can not drive and brake as accurate yet as with the v's, because when i squeeze the lever as hard as with the v's, i get twice the braking power. this frightens me somewhat. u have twice the braking power, that does not necisarely mean u stop twice as fast. u have to be a far better doser than with v's to get the same accuracy in braking. now i still have to be afraid to do nosewheelies witht the disc's, that was not of much concern on the v's, it was also possible, but u'd have to concentrate hard on pulling one. i am not a good wheelie driver.
Bottom Line:
from where i stand, the brakes can only get better as i learn how to dose the lever accordingly. but that could be true for all disc brakes. the only thing u have to consider is: -weight savings / money
the quality and power are not an issue, they are available in abundance.
i can't see how i could not give it a 5 in value, because its dirt cheap and works like a good disc brake should. i could deduct 1 for relatively high weight. but it is unrealistic to be the cheapest, lightest, and good performance. if that were the case then there would be no more other disc brake systems sold.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DH LAZ
a Downhiller
from berkshire Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
trailbuzz
Strengths:
great breaks magura, for something that did not cost too much the stopping power is unreal. im 196 lbs and these could chuck me over the handel bars with out trying to hard.....also they say their not for DH use but they have been through "aston hill" and that is no small slope ,and they were fine
Weaknesses:
they could do with alloy lever bodies and adjusters on the lever as they only have grub screws to make adjustment"never mind make some like i did"now i have on the go adjustment........loads better and looks better
Similar Products Used:
grimecas disks, tryed my mates hope c2.........even he was impressed by the stopping power...and tryed v brakes
Bike Setup:
CBR karve, magura disks,stratos helix expert shock,customized rst high 5 forks,STXRC gears and levers,halo combat wheels,tioga DH tyres
Bottom Line:
definatly worth buying these brakes......im gonna get the braided hoses for them because they deserve it.....well done magura....another satisfied customer
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jackson Hutchison
a Weekend Warrior
from memphis,tn,u.s.a. Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
womble
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
stops good,no warping
Weaknesses:
plastic lever body,the fluid leaked out of the front brakeafter about six weeks,
Similar Products Used:
shimano vee's
Bike Setup:
2001 stock bianchi superbee
Bottom Line:
good brake good power but the lever is plastic
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daz
a Weekend Warrior
from Rocky, QLD, Australia Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Tuckers
Strengths:
Modulation, stopping power. Extremely impressive.
Weaknesses:
Flex in plastic levers. Stack it, bike landing the wrong way, results in snappage.
Similar Products Used:
Pro Max mechanical?? Not really in the same league
Bike Setup:
Stock standard Avanti Barracuda.
Bottom Line:
AWESOME brakes. I dunno about hardcore downhilling, they don't recommend it, i can't see it not being suited though, these things will stop anything from what i've seen. By the way, if you get oil on the pads, cook them in the oven at 250 C for about an hour, and then use wet and dry sandpaper on them to get rid of the now burnt residue. Works perfectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Hanover, NH, USA Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
MODULATION. No one has yet mentioned this. These brakes are not only powerful, but they also allow for much better modulation than any V-brake I've ever tried. They are less "grabby" but still stop you just as fast if not quicker.
Weaknesses:
maybe they weigh more? Oh. Also, on the road if you are stopping sometimes they vibrate. Not a squeel but a deep vibration. I have never felt this on the trail.
Similar Products Used:
XT and Avid V-brakes
Bike Setup:
Cannondale f800 with some upgrades
Bottom Line:
Wow. They work super well on the trail. I have more control than I know what to do with. Mud has no effect on them, they consistently perform effortlessly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Haydyn Phillips
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
karrimor at Coed-y-Brenin
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Birkinhead cycles
Strengths:
smooth, powerfull the lever is excellent and provides plenty of control. And u can use it downhill........
Weaknesses:
didnt come with all the fittings......besides that none
a kik-ass brake way better than my v's if uve got 65quid buy em
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bart elias
a Cross Country Rider
from gent, belgium Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
de broe / lokeren
Strengths:
more power than my former XT/vbrakes. this means that on nasty fast trails (roots,pits,...) u can hold the brake lever with one finger. this means more control on your handlebar. overall, more controlable braking power. guess no strengths that a disc brake of another brand wouldn't have. it also has a price tag that other brands don't have; so comparing: same features, same performance, half the price...
Weaknesses:
none really, maybe...don't expext that when an LBS installs the product, that it is fine tuned.
Similar Products Used:
only v's
Bike Setup:
scott strike cfx-200 / stock
Bottom Line:
continuing on the so-called weakness. my LBS is very biased towards the hope mini's. the LBS-guy was telling me how a customer also had julies, and how the customer 'had' to replace 'em with mini's because them julies squealed so loud. that mentioned i decided to do some research. i was reading the ask rc piece on www.mbaction.com. when ppl complained about disc brake squeal; rc always said: 'after purchase, brake 'em in (30 full speed stops per brake)'. that way the matter from the pads get evenly distributed on the rotor. i read the manual pdf on magura site, same solution mentioned. when i get to my LBS to pick up the new bike; i ask him about the braking in of the disc brakes solving the squealing problem. the LBS-dude falls out of the sky (belgian saying), saying its the first thing he hears about it...
all in all, my brakes don't squeal; RTFM works sometimes, lol.
2ndly: the front brake dragged some against the rotor. i had to insert some additional washers(spacers).
as a general saying; trust the LBS, but be prepared to do some background research, it never hurts to use the good ol' brain. don't be afraid to read a product manual, everything u need to know about the julies to make sure they don't squeal is in there. if the brake drags when u are not applying braking force: that is not normal; play some with the spacer until u get it right.
i give the product the highest rating; i can't blame the product for the errors the LBS made when installing them. that means if u flame a brake for squaling or drag (not automatically for this product); RTFM, then complain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Cruz
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood CA. USA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Bear Mountain, 2000 ft mostly downhill.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Jax Bikes, Long Beach
Strengths:
Greatstopping power. I'm 240 pounds, the Julies have no problem going down hill! Much better than my V XTRs. Great performance at a nice price.
Weaknesses:
Front is noisy at times, but not a big deal compared to their every day performance.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
Speciallized RockHopper Comp. Rock Shock Judy.
Bottom Line:
Not recomended for down hill? May be, but these are plenty good for what I do. They seem better with every ride. Best investment I have done in a long time, I just wish Nasdaq was as predictable! Thanks Magura.
Frank Cruz.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fernando Biagioni
a Downhiller
from Dresden, Germany Date Reviewed: May 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The streets are my playground...
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Bikeland 262
Strengths:
hell yeah, seriously, these brakes surprised me. Lots of people have been talking bad stuff about old magura´s brakes but I´m sure that this time they´re absolutely wrong. These brakes rule. It really stops with 2 fingers. and it comes with a 180mm disc on front yeahhhh. And Magura has 5 years waranty. and the 2002 Julie model comes with aluminum levers not plastic like the last one. Full power. hell yeah
Weaknesses:
none for sure.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes purple, Hope 04, Prostop, Magura Louise, Magura Gustav M.
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR DH tuned. XTR set, Magura Big Ego front suspension and Magura Julieeesssss
Bottom Line:
Well, If you want some wonderful brakes for an excelent price, here it is. It´s thousand times better than any mechanical disc and even hydraulics and you pay a lot less for it. This brakes can stop you riding 50km/h in less than one meter. They don´t recommend it to downhill riding BUT it really works also for downhill. Actually I´m just one of those that doesn´t really have a good downhill track near my house so as I said, the streets turn into my playground. buy these brakes. You won´t regret it. thanks Magura. :-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Sheffield, UK Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Halfords, UK on 2001 Hellcat
Strengths:
Amazing stopping power, much better than my old canties or my mates cable disk/V brake combo. Can pull stoppies until the front wheel skids - on tarmac!
Weaknesses:
weight? cost of pads? none really. plastic levers have been flamed before but i've never snapped one!
Similar Products Used:
none. would love a set of hayes anyone offering?!?!
Bike Setup:
stolen :-( was 2001 Hellcat from Halfords with big tyres and lots of bounce.
Bottom Line:
If you were looking at getting new V brakes or canties, stop. if your bike has the holes and you've £140 to spend get these. you will NOT look back!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adrenaline junkie
a Downhiller
from Kalispell, MT Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
you would like to know
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
for brakes and levers
Strengths:
one finger stopping power. and good stopping power that is.
I will never go back to v-brakes. I had the avid brakes that came stock on my cannondale and the back brake pads wouldn't stay on and once they got wet, well you know...
Anyways. Disk brakes in the most succinct description: One finger stopping power which never changes, even when wet.
Didn't have the budget for Hayes, or Shimano, but I have no complaints. Worth every penny.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Golding
a Downhiller
from Essex England Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hockley Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
pauls Cycles
Strengths:
Incredible stopping power, good progressive feel, no fade ! Canstop a 14 stone man going 30 mph in about 3 foot says it all really and when they are wet and muddy they seem even better LOL
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Hayes cable discs
Bike Setup:
Giant xcr Mammoth nrs
Bottom Line:
Great brakes better than cable activated Hayes would love to try .......... Hopes...Shimano......Hayes Hydraulics......Coda....Middleburns.......Pace ... to compare !!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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