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Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail of tears | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | adrenaline | | Strengths: | Great price, outstanding performance! Magura modulation. Mineral oil is nice to you | | Weaknesses: | I can't come up with one | | Similar Products Used: | All the mechanicals, old style julies | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575, Marzocchi AM1, RP3, ... | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the newer '05 model. Awesome breaks. The LBS guy was in shock at the stopping power and feel at the lever. I've never regretted the purchase. They've never let me down in any weather. Buy some they're worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Nitake
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Similar Products Used: | Coda (now these things REALLY suck), Hope (these really DON'T suck) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll, Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | The master cylinder finally wore out and wouldn't hold a bleeding. Lever went to handles w/ no braking like there was a lot of air. Turns out if you have a white master cyclinder piston (plastic), the new version (aluminum) is a warranteed replacement. Thanks to Magura and LBS for pointing out that to me and making it happen.
I replaced both brake lever assy's and that did the trick. Now I have plenty of stopping power, but noticed 2 things:
1) you have to double pump. Not too annoying as it will
still work w/ one pump. But still, this sounds like a
common problem to just live with. Maybe I'll try
re-bleeding. PS. If it doesn't cost you too much, have
the shop do it. It's pretty messy if you don't have the
right tools like the nipple that screws into the
caliper. Otherwise, it's not too bad a procedure. Glad
they don't use DOT brake fluid. Very corrosive and
shock oil (mineral) doesn't sting when it goes in your
eyes when the bleed hose pops out and spews because you
were too cheap to buy the bleed kit :-).
2) the sound the brakes now make (new pads) just cracks me
up it is *SO* like bubbling boiling oil spilled on 2
mating cats mixed in w/ a grinding noise where I'd
expect to see through the rotors at the end of the day.
Works fine like it always has, but I'm entertained by
the noise just to see exactly what *WILL* fail when it
finally does provided I'm still there to see it :-)
These brakes are OK. They do the job and if you're not too picky there's no need to get new ones. But I still have my eyes on a set of Marta's. I believe they are much better because they have wavy rotors. Anything w/ wavy rotors has got to be good, right? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
philip marlowe
a Cross Country Rider
from ma
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | nice modulation and good stopping power as long as they don't leak | | Weaknesses: | requent caliper leaks, fading | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore hydraulic (recomended), magura marta (will see) | | Bike Setup: | cannondale hardtail | | Bottom Line: | this product should not be on the market in it's current state. have been told by my lbs that caliper leaks, as i had back and front, are not an exeption with these brakes. magura should have an eye on their quality contol! got some kind of deal to get them replaced with martas - in exchange for money, which they do not deserve! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Central OR
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 99 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Makes Magura money. Looks good. Comfortable lever. | | Weaknesses: | Not having any real strenghts. Weak power that feels different every time I get on the bike. Waaaaay to weak for trials (especialy the rear) | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Avid mech, etc | | Bike Setup: | At first on my Capriolo 5 trials, now on 03 FSR XC, both with nice components. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes have pissed me off from day one. No power right out of the box. I bought them for my trials bike but they put me on my ass so many times I had to put them on my XC bike (although trials kicks XC ass any day). Caliper started leaking after 1 month. Pads got saturated so I had to replace them and send in the caliper. Came back with air in the lines. They have been pro bled multiple times, and continue to suck. The bottom line; F these brakes. They are almost too weak for XC riding, and unpredictable as hell. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Tauranga, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Woodhill, Auckland, New Zealand | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with second hand bike | | Strengths: | Light, good power, good modulation | | Weaknesses: | None found yet, though the lever looks flimsy, looks that it might snap in a bad crash | | Similar Products Used: | hayes hydro, avid cable | | Bike Setup: | Craftworks DHR 205, Stratos S8, Hayes Hydro Front, Magura Louise Rear, mavic rims etc etc | | Bottom Line: | Even though my bike is 40 pounds, in conjunction with my 8 inch hayes on the front they work very well and are effictive at slowing a dh bike at high speed, they are light too which is a good thing as i freeride too and do tend to ride up hills, so making my bike as light as possible without comprimising performance is a good thing | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from NW indiana
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | cpx | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$169.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | honestly, they are better than my oe v-brakes(barely) but that's about it | | Weaknesses: | recurring caliper leaks
squeek like crazy
not nearly enough power
lock up if overheated (sometimes)
no lever if overheated (other-times) | | Similar Products Used: | oe avid v-brakes
hayes hydros
| | Bike Setup: | 02 enduro w/junior-t, vanilla rear shock, 8" hayes hydro frt brake,raceface cranks,singletrack wheels,xt drivetrain,and that useless magura louise rear brake.
| | Bottom Line: | had a pair of louise's on this bike and after two warranty calipers the front started leaking again. trashed it and bought a hayes hydro. i never really realized how bad the magura's were until i started riding the hayes. the rotors warp after every race, the calipers either lock up or fail completely(i am using the royal blood) please don't tell me they're set up wrong or need to be bled, that is not the case. even when they are working at they're best it takes two fingers to actually make the rear wheel skid or come to the point just before skidding. te pad adjustment is easy, but, after every ride they are out of adjustment again and i frequently have to stop and adjust them during a ride because the damn things start dragging on the rotor and squeeling loke pigs. i could go on but i think everyone gets the point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from North Van b.c.
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bobsled (Mt Fromme) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | John Henry Boxing day (Cnd$$) | | Strengths: | The feel is great. power is ok.
Uses mineral oil. | | Weaknesses: | Lever.
| | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hyd.
Hayes hmx 1 mech.
Formula XC i still have it on the rear
Shimano Hyd + mech sucks no power horrible feel | | Bottom Line: | If u want somethin powerful get Hayes Hyd.
XC use this one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a Racer
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good power in all conditions
Great lever modulation or feel
Light
Simple to install and setup once you read the manual | | Weaknesses: | Levers are easy to brake and expensive to replace
parts are difficult to find
parts are expensive
non-centering system requires constant attention
continual squeel and vibration even after break-in period
| | Similar Products Used: | CODA Expert disc
Hayes Hydraulic | | Bottom Line: | Get something else. Try Hope or Hayes.
The Louise is a good performing light XC disc brake. They have a great feel and are easy to install and setup.
The plastic and aluminum levers snap off VERY easily and are $30 a piece to replace. Finding parts for these brakes is difficult and expensive. Maintenance on the brakes is continuous to keep the pads adjusted properly since they are not self-adjusting. Me and several people I know have had major issues with leaking requiring replacement, bleeding, and rebuilds. Due to poor parts availability you will have to wait so don't plan on riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allister
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta-GA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Currently-Bull Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good Power mixed with really good Modulation and ease of maintenance. 5 year leak proof warranty. Don't have to change fluid as Magura says you don't gotta. I'll trust them on this one.
| | Weaknesses: | Some Brake pump on extended downhills but I've never had these lock up on me. Some free running drag, but nothing a 4mm hex can't fix on the trail in seconds. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid CPS Dics
Hayes Hydraulic
Magura Gustav
Shimano XT
| | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz SL 00, Psylo SL 02, FOX RC 00, Magura Discs 01, Sram hubs F519 Rims 01 | | Bottom Line: | Good controlled overall power and modulation. As powerful as a Avid Discs but light years ahead on modulation. Some slight brake pump, but nothing to take away from overall performance. I found that the Hayes and the Shimano's were much harder to modulate than these. The 2002 are dual piston and self adjusting. I have the 2001 Single piston version with the manual adjustment pads and I like these brakes just fine. Magura is on the move. Now if I can get my hands on some Marta SL's.
I don't know why ZAP hates Magura so much, I think these brakes are really good for aggressive XC riding. If you're into Downhill I would recommend a self adjusting caliper like the 2002. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Or.
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Forrest Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easily modulated braking power, great performance in wet conditons. | | Weaknesses: | They tend to go through pads at a pretty healthy clip. I should qualify that by saying I have almost exclusively ridden the bike in the mud since I got it this fall. I'm also a bit over 200 lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | I made the quantum jump from cantilevers to these. I tried out a friend's bike with Hayes brakes; they seemed like they were either off or on without a whole lot in between. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel 1000, fully stock. | | Bottom Line: | The 2002 Louise brakes were spec'd on the bike. They excel at everything from rapidly hauling me down from high speed to precice braking on steep, technical sections. Technical service and support is outstanding. I had a problem with one of the rear pistons dragging a bit; they aggressively and promptly addressed the issue and solved it to my complete satisfaction. Impressive product, impressive company; two big thumbs up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Leurs
a Weekend Warrior
from Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Houffalize, Belgium | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$380.00 | | Purchased At: | Rijwielpaleis Bilthoven | | Strengths: | - Twin piston with automatic pad adjustment (2002 model)
- Easy to setup (just read the manual before you start)
- Aluminium levers
- Great performance | | Weaknesses: | No technical weaknesses experienced so far, somehow they just seem to be a bit more expensive here in the Netherlands. The price payed is for both front and rear brake. I could have gotten them slightly less expensive via an online shop, but I like the above mentioned bike shop and their customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | - V-brakes
- Magura HS33 | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 900 frameset / Marzocchi Z1 Drop-off / Mavic 317 / full XT / Kore. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes perform excellent! After one bike tour they make me forget my good old HS33's. I didn't have the intention to go disc brakes until I tried Magura Julie brakes installed on a friend's bike. I got quite impressed; I didn't expect those "budget disc brakes" to outperform my HS33's. And the Louises are even better. For most Dutch cycle tracks you don't really need *that* much brake power. However, since I go to Belgium (Ardennes) and Germany (Eifel) for mountain biking quite frequently, and spending my summer holidays in countries like Switzerland or the Czech Republic, these brakes will be used to their full extent. Most likely I'll install endurance brake pads when these need to be replaced. That will pay off under Dutch winter circumstances (snow, lots of mud, even more mud, sticky mud, slippery mud, stinking mud, etc.). For now, I’m a happy Magura addict!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Taupo, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 42nd Traverse | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Second Hand, brand new though | | Strengths: | Great Power, Modulation, Construction.
The new levers (2001) actually work and are better than hayes, shimano etc. Beutiflully light. | | Weaknesses: | Not really any but if you want to get to the nitty gritty the lack of automatic pad adjustment can be a slight pain. | | Similar Products Used: | Coda Expert Discs. V's and have had a bit of a play with hayes and shimano. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Cannondale F2000sl. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work. I got the 2001 model and the new lever (aluminum) and reservoir have improved the brake alot. The brakes dont come on quite as strong as the Hayes but for anything other than downhill or north shore thats a good thing. The modulation and feel is light years ahead of anything else i've used and the pads wear is satisfacotry. You can get endurance and race pads now which have different compounds.
Just a tip when setting up. Do it yourself because the bike shops are generally to lazy to read the manual properly and so you consequently get brakes that dont work to well. Its easy enough, all you need to do is find the correct spacing and bolt them on because they are pre bled, but that seems beyond my local bike shop.
For anyone who doesnt mind doing a bit of adjustment every now and then these brakes are a great buy. Dont buy them if your a downhiller or possibly a freee rider. Do buy them if your looking for great working brakes for xc use | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
markus brueggemann
a Cross Country Rider
from unkel, gemany
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | e-bay in germany | | Strengths: | a huge disc brake with no problems at the sh... weather conditions in germany. simply to handle every time. | | Weaknesses: | in the 1999 version you must take a look at your brakes after every trip, because the disc must run clear between the pads.Thats the problem of manualy adjusted pads | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore v-brakes. good, but i need a lot of pads in cause of bad weather | | Bike Setup: | kinesis hardtail, marzochi bomber2, shimano 9, | | Bottom Line: | Sometimes the riding here is very wet and muddy in the spring and autum. this was a good brake for me. take a look at the new produkts at www.magura.de, the will be better now. no manual adjust pads.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Tromp
a Cross Country Rider
from Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in the woods around Apeldoorn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Hoekman Tweewielers | | Strengths: | Great power and modulation | | Weaknesses: | Relatively high pad wear | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Clara 2000, Formula MD 1 | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC Team, Rond 2 Stroke S, Race Face cranks and stem, SRAM 7.0/9.0 drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Very impressive set of brakes. A total relevation after the Magura Clara's. Those are really budget. I got the Louises a bit cheaper under guarantee as my Claras wore out in the master cyclinder within 8 months. Never mind, these are much better. Lever feel is much better and there is so much more stopping power. The rear can do with endurance pads, but putting a set ofperformance pads in the front caliper makes it into an impressive beast.
Bedding in the pads is totally different from Clara to Louise. Clara only got power when the pads were properly bedded in, With the Louise, lockups happened instantly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramstein, Germany
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Phatty 50 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | s-tec sports | | Strengths: | Modualtion, wet weather stopping power, light weight, adjustable reach levers, more power than v's, customer service | | Weaknesses: | quality of constuction, not as much power as two piston systems, manualy adjusted pads, mineral oil for fluid, if you turn the bike upside down air can get into the system, lever play | | Similar Products Used: | Hope mini | | Bike Setup: | RM element race, hugi 240's, mavic 317, syncros post, monkey light bar, SRAM plasma shifters, Z2 sport, sid rear, AC cranks, hope mini discs, and other stuff | | Bottom Line: | This brakes work well for cross country riders. They are a little weak for freeriders. They can't handle long downhills because the pads don't adjust so you have to stop and manualy adjust them. After about 4 months of use the right lever started leaking, I had it serviced and it just got worse. Magura did send me a new lever right away but I have had enough. The rear brake has been bled 4 time since I owned it and it has cost me six weeks from my bike. I bought hope mini's and they are fabulous. I can do everything my self on them with no special tools. They do have great customer service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Forsyth
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Carl's local | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Decent stopping power in the wet, nice modulation | | Weaknesses: | Pads. Pads wear terribly fast in the wet and they are very expensive. Alignment of brake rotor and caliper. Lever broke. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Diamondback XR-6 | | Bottom Line: | The most important thing to be aware of is what you are getting when you buy these brakes. The extremely fast pad wear ( I measured 0.5 mm wear in a 30 minute ride ) means pad adjustment often. This is a real pain during a race. The cost of new pads (50-55 Canadian) is hard to swallow. In fairness to Magura, they sent me a set of pads when I e-mailed their support line about the problem. However, the problem did not go away. I went through 3 sets of pads last season. The riding here is very wet and muddy in the spring (and sometimes all summer).
Also, I have an on-going problem were every time I remove a wheel I need to re-adjust the brake pads when I put the wheel back in the frame. This is the problem with non-self adjusting, fixed caliper brakes.
I have had a problem with the brake level also. The small spider on the master cylinder that holds the ball of the lever broke, so the lever is always flopping out of the pre-set position. I have really small hands so this is a problem for me.
An average brake for an average price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockport
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pennines | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Great stopping power, low maintanence, lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Plastic levers, setup is difficult at times (like putting the wheels back on the way they were after a puncture) | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Low spec, the best thing on it is these brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Powerful (you can lock the front wheel at almost any speed, although I wouldn't advise it!!)
Seem quite expensive on their own although I got mine on a complete bike (Carrera Hellcat FS which cost £600) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | I love em all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Strengths: | Good power, easy to set-up and adjust, respactably light for disc brakes. | | Weaknesses: | They squeal like a banshee, but this can be solved. | | Similar Products Used: | V-brakes of all shapes and sizes, Hayes Hydraulic Discs | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Santa Cruz superlight, XT/XTR mix, Marzocchi Z.1 MCR, 2001 Louise Discs | | Bottom Line: | When I built up the aforementioned bike, I decided to go ahead and get discs. These are the first discs I've owned, but I've ridden Hayes on a few occasions too. So far, I have been very pleased with these brakes. It seems that for 2001, they have eliminated the pump-up issue. These brakes stop very very well, unless you are doing some serious DH, I couldn't imagine needing any more power. Shortly after burnishing, mine started to squeal pretty bad, there was no loss of power but the squeal was annoying. I took off my pads and sanded them lightly with a fine grit sandpaper, and voila! no more squeal. Overall I would say that for all-around XC riding, these are a wonderful product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Great stoping ability | | Weaknesses: | levers | | Similar Products Used: | xt, xtr discs | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | Very good brakes haven't had any problems with them. They could give you the alum. levers with the initial purchase. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodstock Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Maintenance free. Product support. The Magura Cult! | | Weaknesses: | Slowish rear lever return on the older pre-2001's. | | Bike Setup: | Seven Sola. Rond-Magura Air fork. Magura Pro hubs. | | Bottom Line: | I've had this brake for close to two years so I feel qualified to give an opinion.
This brake, for XC use, is excellent - great single-finger stopping power and great modulation (YOU decide when the wheels will lock!)
My brakes have been totally maintenance free since I fitted them - except for pad adjustment which is quick and easy.
As Ketchup Man below states, these brakes, if on a factory bike, will not be set up properly. Get the manual (paper one or downloadable one) and take the time to set them up dead-on 100% perfect. It's an easy job (two bolts and a few shims) which pays off handsomely.
My brakes are noise-free - except sometimes when I go through lots of water and any noticable "pump" is either caused by silly people doing their "hey look what I can make these brakes do" in the parking lot or the result of poor setup and adjustment. I know this as I speak and deal with hundreds of Louise owners around the world.
The new 2001 Louise (I'm testing a set now) have the potential to be an even better brake than the pre-2001's. The levers have totally changed and some of the design features are for the better.
Don't even consider Louise if you're a downhiller as they are a pure XC brake. Get Gustav instead.
Great brake, great company and tons of support. See my Magura Cult Homepage if you don't believe me -
http://www.execulink.com/~dtierney/wmc/Magura/contents.htm | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TRON
a Cross Country Rider
from Potter, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Thorusa | | Strengths: | Easy set up, awsome power. Solid feel, no fade. | | Weaknesses: | The way it fits in with Shimano shifters. | | Similar Products Used: | V's and Canti's these are the first discs I've run. | | Bike Setup: | 92 Klein HT, 98 Judy w/englunds, XT drivetrain, XT hubs, hs22 rear brake louise front brake. | | Bottom Line: | I run my brakes moto-style so I had to call magura to see if they would trade me levers. They asked me to send in my louise and they would send me a Rear lever and front caliper. They did in record time. I quickly installed the front disc. Adjusted it in less than a min and was running. Yes is squeals a bit, but I am very very pleased with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marko Klopppenburg
a Weekend Warrior
from Maassluis
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | urban | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Mammoet | | Strengths: | Strong braking in al conditions
| | Weaknesses: | the lever is to weak when you have the normal lever
buy the aluminium lever | | Similar Products Used: | Gustaf-M | | Bike Setup: | beone Hyper one XTR crank the rest XT with a magura Hs33 on the back and a louise up front with a gustafM hub | | Bottom Line: | this is a realy good braking system for not so mutch money
i have just it for 2 years now for some DH and urban assualt and it never let me down !
so if you want a good brake go get this one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Phila., PA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissahickon/French Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$149.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance w/price match | | Strengths: | Ease of set-up, Famous Magura tech support, Super adjustable, Super dirctions, Stopping power | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Disc, Magura rim HS-33's, Avid Mags V's, Shimano V's | | Bike Setup: | Jamis steel F/R hardtail with 100mm Bomber and all the carbon and hit-tech goodies. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because of the tremendous past experience with Magura products. Warranty issues, small parts orders, and tech support was great. Stop just as well as my friends Hayes system but has better adjustment possibilities. I am using it in the front with a HS-33 rim in the back. Super combo. Go Maggies! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Many | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Stopping power, thats what it is all about. Easy to adjust and maintain. | | Weaknesses: | Discs warped when new after bedding in, easy to straighten discs by hand if you spend time getting them true. | | Similar Products Used: | Two hour ride with Hayes hydraulic, nice but not as much power as my Maguras. | | Bike Setup: | Votec FS (came with Maguras)
Now fitted to Intense Tracer | | Bottom Line: | Very happy with complete braking system. Once pads and discs have been run in (discs trued) it is only a minute to adjust pads for excellent power and modulation. If pads are adjusted correctly you will never have to pump lever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Kodiak, Alaska, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | locally | | Strengths: | Ease of maintenance, stopping power, adjustability, lever feel, looks pretty good to boot | | Weaknesses: | Initial setup, hard to change hydraulic cable housing length, some squeel initially when wet | | Similar Products Used: | just old cantilevers (never again!) | | Bike Setup: | Manitou hard tail, all XTR, Judy XC long travel | | Bottom Line: | Huge step up from cantilevers. Can't compare them to V-brakes; never tried them riding. I got the Magura hub with them and Magura seems to think you don't need a rotor spacer when you use their hub with their brake. Wrong. I ended up having to stack a bunch of washers under the brake mounts to move the brake inboard enough to get the rotor not to rub. Stupid, but not the end of the world. Everything since then has been pure pleasure.
When they are wet (from riding through wet grass or really deep puddles) they squeel for a hundred feet but then dry very quickly. No fading for XC riding. They are very consistantly powerful, with nice modulation and lever feel (I have the aluminum levers). Pad wear rate is still a questionmark. Overall I am thrilled with the things. One finger braking even for panic stops. Just beautiful.
Giving 4 chilis because I have yet to compare them to a lot of other brakes... could be some even better ones out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The ketchup Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | rattlesnake trail (a cedro peak trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Awesome braking power. V-brakes have nothing on discs. With my disc specific frame, and rims, the brake system actually comes out to be lighter than an XTR V-brake system.
| | Weaknesses: | Brake pads are really expensive if you ever screw them up and have to replace them. Only non-idiots can figure out how to set them up properly (which means no albuquerque bike mechanic knows how to work on them). | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Vbrakes
Avid 2.0 (i liked these more than xtr's and they're like 30 or 40 dollars cheaper) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD4 mountain frame, Full XT drivetrain. Coda expert crankset, hubs, handlebars, seat and seatpost. Panaracer XC fire pro 1.8" tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you get these brakes stock on a bike, and they are not working good as soon as you get them, that means whoever set them up for you is an idiot, and probably isn't experience with discs. When I got mine, I had to double pump the brakes to get any stopping power, then I tried adjusting them myself and ended up getting too much drag while not braking. The problem was that the idiots who set them up didn't have any clue on how to work on disc brakes. I finally read every single word in the manual, figured out that they had the wrong amount of spacers, and then had to completely readjust the pads.
Now that I have them set up correctly, they work 100 times better than any set of rim brakes. Complete drag free ride.
The only time I get drag is when I put my wheel on crooked. I've had to adjust the pads once due to wear, but that's after 9 months of usage. If you're tired of having low power v-brakes, and want true 1 finger braking...get some of these, and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The ketchup Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | rattlesnake trail (a cedro peak trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Awesome braking power. V-brakes have nothing on discs. With my disc specific frame, and rims, the brake system actually comes out to be lighter than an XTR V-brake system.
| | Weaknesses: | Brake pads are really expensive if you ever screw them up and have to replace them. Only non-idiots can figure out how to set them up properly (which means no albuquerque bike mechanic knows how to work on them). | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Vbrakes
Avid 2.0 (i liked these more than xtr's and they're like 30 or 40 dollars cheaper) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD4 mountain frame, Full XT drivetrain. Coda expert crankset, hubs, handlebars, seat and seatpost. Panaracer XC fire pro 1.8" tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you get these brakes stock on a bike, and they are not working good as soon as you get them, that means whoever set them up for you is an idiot, and probably isn't experience with discs. When I got mine, I had to double pump the brakes to get any stopping power, then I tried adjusting them myself and ended up getting too much drag while not braking. The problem was that the idiots who set them up didn't have any clue on how to work on disc brakes. I finally read every single word in the manual, figured out that they had the wrong amount of spacers, and then had to completely readjust the pads.
Now that I have them set up correctly, they work 100 times better than any set of rim brakes. Complete drag free ride.
The only time I get drag is when I put my wheel on crooked. I've had to adjust the pads once due to wear, but that's after 9 months of usage. If you're tired of having low power v-brakes, and want true 1 finger braking...get some of these, and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Johnson
a Racer
from Shelburne, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Catamount | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | 11/11/96 | | Strengths: | Great brake. Fast stopping power, Low squeakage, Easy maintinance | | Weaknesses: | i've encountered none | | Similar Products Used: | Coda | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll 3000, full XTR, Lefty ELO | | Bottom Line: | These are the best. I have had no problems with them, and they are soo much more powerful than other brakes. Go with these. They're Great! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Çaðrý Eröge
a Cross Country Rider
from Istanbul/Suadiye/Turkey
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Belgrad Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | GOod stopping in all conditions,lightweight,works well | | Weaknesses: | A bit hard to set up,noisy in wet conditions,brake pads are expensive,brake levers are plastic | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes FH,Shimano LX,XT,XTR V-Brakes,Coda Expert Disc | | Bike Setup: | Scott Intoxica'00 with full Shimano XTR | | Bottom Line: | My Intoxica came with Magura Louise Disc Brakes.Firstly I hate them because it was very noisy and works not well,after 1 month it startes to work well without noise in most conditions.Although it squeels in wet conditions,it's powerful like Hayes FH. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul C
a Cross Country Rider
from Horsham, West Sussex
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kathmandu Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very Lightweight, good braking | | Weaknesses: | Very Flimsy, rear wheel brake pump, rattly levers, plastic levers break, pads wear quickly in wet conditions, Venhill Engineering poor service. EXPENSIVE SPARES!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Hope XC4 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900 Disc | | Bottom Line: | These brakes came as standard on the Dale. The bike shop had not set them up properly, but I got them working great. The brakes suffer from some basic problems:-
1.Crap levers - the plastic levers break easily, and spare aluminium ones cost £25.
2.Rattly levers - the levers sit in a "ball joint" at the reservior end - this is a badly made part that rattles
3. Rear brake pump - I think the brake hose is too narrow, or the return spring is too weak - I never got consistent brake lever feel.
4. Pads - these wear quickly, especially in the wet. Venhill quote ridiculous prices for spares
Eventually I got shot of them and bought some Hopes.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steen Go'e Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Copenhagen, Denmark
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything rideable | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Superb braking, and engieneering! | | Weaknesses: | Until now, after more than 1 years hard(legal) abuse...;-)
NONE! | | Similar Products Used: | Pretty most all kind of brakes! | | Bike Setup: | Specialised FSR DS! | | Bottom Line: | I'M BACK!!!... after last times review, i'm still a big afficionado about this bloody nice piece of equipment- the Louise disc brake system!
I've ridden this brake hard and consistent, for more than 14 months now, and haven't had a single problem with it yet!!.. and don't think i will!
I'm still on my first set of brakepads, they're are allmost half used up, right now, after more than approx. 3000 km's of rugged terrain and heavy braking, from little Denmark, Australia's Olympic MTB racecourse... Allright i admit, i jumped a lot of fences to ride that trail- and it was worth it!!...Believe me!!... and just returning from Germanys lovely Harzen region, last weekend... This brake has been my true companion, and noone can get me back on a v-braked bike ever again, Thank's Magura!
The tiny probs with brake squeal sometimes is acceptable, my system does it very rarely, and only in wet weather, it's allright though, no v- brake will ever perform like a disc, and they allways squeal- hot or not!
See you in the dirt ;-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ulrich Hansen
a Weekend Warrior
from Odense, Denmark
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Easy setup. Possible to re-bleed brakes easily. Easy pad-change. Lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Slow lever return. Plastic levers, buy the aluminum ones! | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD2.0, XTR, XT, Avid Tri-Align bla bla | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Chameleon (hardtail), Maggie Louise front, HS33 rear, XT, Middleburn, Hope, Judy Race etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes! Especially in wet or muddy conditions. Great - but not extreme - braking power. Unfortunately the lever can feel a bit mushy, since it's made of plastic. Fortunately Magura will supply you with aluminum levers.
The set-up is very simple and straight-forward. The pads aren't self adjusting, but VERY easy to adjust with a 5 mm allen key.
Also, the service from Magura is tops! Best service I have ever experienced. I work in a bike-shop, so I have a lot of references - believe me!
Buy it if you're either a: cross-country maniac, week-end trasher, freerider or dual-freak.
Don't buy them if you're: a heavyweight downhiller! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cadel Evans :-p
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lane Cove Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | - Beaut modulation
- Looks WAY cool | | Weaknesses: | - Braking power isn't fantastic
- Takes too long to set-up properly | | Similar Products Used: | None - my first hydraulic / disc brakes | | Bike Setup: | Y2K Cannondale F700
(so it's a Clara, but it's the same system anyway) | | Bottom Line: | Great brake - works brilliantly in the wet - superb modulation . . . fairly light . . . but took way too long to set-up properly & braking power is not brilliant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mundo
a Racer
from Rogers, AR
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Den | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Follow Review | | Weaknesses: | Initial Break in Period
| | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | F900Z | | Bottom Line: | I have now used these brakes for 3 months. The engineers at Magura have done well. I rode my first race in moderate huricane like conditions. Most of the other riders with rim brakes could not keep up with the inclement conditions. Excellent modulation and powerful stopping performance period. I love these brakes. Five more hell fire peppers for Magura. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sirko petermann
a Downhiller
from chemnitz
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | DS Stollberg/sa | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | 85% von hs44 bremspower, gutes finish, geringes gewicht | | Weaknesses: | hitzeanfällig ->dann fading, nach jeder tour belageinstellung | | Similar Products Used: | gustavM | | Bike Setup: | trekvrx mavic321d dnmrc3 150mm hi5130mmm xtr azonic roox
tioga 2.3DH | | Bottom Line: | kombiniere die loise mit formula adapter und ner 180 scheibe dann läuft sie gut | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mundo
a Cross Country Rider
from Rogers, AR
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Powerful Stopping | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900Z | | Bottom Line: | Bike came stock with disk. At first, they squeeled like 2 pigs, but; once I got the brakes fine tuned, no noise at all, just awesome flip you over the handlebars stopping power. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from WI
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Drag and fade free | | Weaknesses: | The levers, opt for the aluminum levers | | Similar Products Used: | hayes | | Bike Setup: | stock '99 Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | They are some of the best brakes that you can get. I suggest that you get the optional brake levers that you can get from the company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Petter a.k.a Rev.Allen Tigerhjelm
a Downhiller
from Helsingborg SKÅNE
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kulla-berg | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great power with good modulation. Light weight and works REAL well.
(NO MER SQUELLING RIM BRAKES) | | Weaknesses: | Not realy a weekness but the plastic levers are a little cheesy, for brakes this good. (get the aluminium ones) | | Similar Products Used: | Magura GustavM, Magura HS-33, Magura HS-22 | | Bike Setup: | Crescent Ilions (hard tail), with Bomber Z1 Dual, XTR/XT kit, ProTaper bars, RooX DH cranks | | Bottom Line: | (first id like to state that im no DOWNHILLER, im a Dual rider)
After reading some of the reviws below i was a little turned of getting these brakes, but when i finaly got them i changed my mind. As i dident get any washers it was a little fiddly to get the calipers positioned right, but i used regular stanless stell washers wich i got from the hardwere store and it works GREAT.i actually traded in my old GustavM rear brake and got these two sets of brakes insted, crap deal i hear you say! i say HELL NO! these brakes RULE and i would get them again for my next bike and for my next bike and so on...
(these brakes would score a total of 6 chillies if Magura suplied them with the Alloy levers directly) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Campbell
a Racer
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | North shore | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Exceeded my expectations for modulation, simplicity of installation, & maintenance is a breeze. It's levers are adjustable for reach. Stops soooooo dang well. Just how I imagined a brake should stop me. | | Weaknesses: | Wish I had it OEM on new bike, but it's still one of the least expensive brakesets to get. Can't say it would stop any serious rider in terms of cost in aftermarket. Self-adjusting would be nice, but the adjustment is simple and fast, no problem at all. | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT V's (squealers from he\\) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler, Z1 Drop off, XT/LX mix, Kujo 235's, Maggie Louise discs | | Bottom Line: | These brakes do everything I need them to, flawlessly, and simply. Maintence is almost nill, and as a certified dummy, even I can do it. I can't imagine ever riding without these brakes. They offer a level of control that allows total focus on the ride, so your skill level shoots way up right out of the box. If I ever made an upgrade that mattered most, these Louise's are it! My only regret is waiting too long, and trying to save $ by putting on XT V's 1st. Big mistake, just get some. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney
a Weekend Warrior
from Clagary Canada
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good stoping power. Adj very easly | | Weaknesses: | The pads are $55 Cdn wear fast | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 99 Cdale Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | This is a much better system then rim brakes. Way better in the wet and mud. I would never go bake to rim brakes they just don't compare! It takes just a few turns and the pads a set and good to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan
a Weekend Warrior
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Thur | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Braking Power in any conditions
Looking good | | Weaknesses: | Squeal when wet | | Similar Products Used: | None, came with my new bike | | Bike Setup: | C'dale SV700 | | Bottom Line: | Great, just great. No loss of power in any conditions. They brake like hell. And they look damn good. My bike got's them only at the front wheel, but the next upgrade for my bike is the Louise on the rear wheel. Louise, my Love!
And, not to forget: support from Magura is excellent. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a Weekend Warrior
from uk
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
no loss of power in the wet, no noise | | Weaknesses: |
lever has a slow return(pads are magnetically retracted) | | Similar Products Used: |
v brakes, no other discs | | Bike Setup: |
cannodale sv1000 disc uk spec | | Bottom Line: | When i first had the brakes i hated them, the squealed like a pig, and were not that powerfull. As they ran in, the power came but they still sounded like a heavy metal gig, people would wince at the fingernails down a black board sound. The problem was they had not been set up correctly by the shop, removing one .2 mm spacer at the front helped. Also the pad was not making full contact with the disc (imagine a partial solar eclipse) with the caliper position reset, and a few muddy rides under the belt the discs were silent, and powerfull. When properly set up the discs need no maintenance except for setting pad position, 10 seconds with an allen key! The only bad point is the lever retraction feels slow.Other wise these brakes have kept me smilling and safe wet or dry you get the same power, they are progressive so you can tell when they are about to lock up, the are lightweight, robust (survived heavy crash with no damage) and a joy to use compared to v brakes. Buy these brakes! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Teeters
a Cross-Country Rider
from Columbus,Ohio
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
velo-z | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
great stopping power | | Weaknesses: |
squeel like pigs
pressure build-up
$$$pads$$$ | | Similar Products Used: |
this is my first disc brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale SuperV900 (1999) | | Bottom Line: | My Cannondale SuperV900 came with Magura Louise disc brakes. After a year of hard riding here's my experience: The brakes have either squeeled like pigs or needed excessive brake lever action since the first day i rode the bike. I HAVE read and FOLLOWED all of magura's installation and tuning instructions and have not been able to stop the squeel without loosing brake lever resonse. The skilled mechanic at my LBS has not been able to fix it either. They stop great with squeel or stop great by pumping the lever without squeel. The pads are very expensive and tend to haze up after several days of grimy creek crossings. Maybe the next generation of disc brakes will be better... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Forestell
a Cross-Country Rider
from Mackenbach GE
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
Roudolben GE | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
stops FAST | | Weaknesses: |
Some noise
Some warping
Some pump up | | Similar Products Used: |
Lots of different Canties' and V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Super V 1000 Disc Euro | | Bottom Line: | Just thought I pop in and check the reviews (I'm board) I've had these brakes about a year now in muddy nasty central europe. Initialy I had ALL of the mentioned problems:
1. I swapped out the crap Gripshaft on my Dale' for XT's straight away, not only did I have the compatability problems mentioned but the kicker is one of the levers fit (it has a cut out in the back of the resivoir) but the other didn't, go figure. I tried to get this straightened out through Magura but they told me I bought the bike with gripshift and it works with that so tough luck I was not pleased.
FIX: Two weeks later I went to the world cup race at St. Wendle to watch the race and fire bomb the Magura booth (figurativly) but the guys there were great. They immediatly replaced the funky lever with a new one, gradis! I only wish these guys had been the ones I talked to the first time.
2. I had a real bad squeal problem (well acually the brakes did) I'd hit my brakes and people would run for cover, best trail warning horn I've ever had, really I used to use them for that all the time.
FIX: The guys at St. Wendle need I say more while they had my bike they threw some mojo at it and the brakes were quite..... for a while then it came back when I was riding easy and not mashing the brakes on and off. Talked to the Race techs at Honfelzzzdasdad (world cup)Beligum they said it might be the headshock fork, resonance or something, one more reason to dump the headshock so I did. I've had a SID XL for two months now and haven't heard my brakes since.
3. Pump up? yeah real bad
FIX: Guys at St. Wendle! They swapped out an internal return spring some where for a stiffer one and it's much better now. I still get some pump up if I let the pads wear down (had to adjust it twice now in 1500 muddy miles, not bad)
4. Warped Disc? yep
FIX: spin the wheel and lightly drag a magic marker on the disc to find the high and low spot and bend it back with your hands, if your a wuss Put a cloth over the disc and use an adjustable wrench.
5. Fat Boy? yep 200 some odd pounds of lovin'(plus 75 pounds of baby, trailer and family picnic, Dads got to pay his dues) haven't had a problem with these hualing my butt down from stupid speeds
FIX: Stop drinkin' beer and eating pizza; ain't gonna' happen' and I don't think even the guy's at St. Wendle can help me out here. Yes I've had some problems but nothing that hasn't been taken care of (thanxs St. Wendle guys) and yes I was of the opinion that the brakes didn't seem that much stronger than my old XTR V's, then the other day I test rode my wifes bike with my old XTR's on it and the Magura's win hands down. These are great brakes, if you have any problems try to get to a race or something where Magura has a booth, they'll probably hook you up, I love theses guys (I'll be back I'm getting all chocke up, talk amongst yourselves). Simple, easy to adjust buy em'.P.S. stop whinning about burning yourselves
FIX: Get the Guys at St. Wendle to smack you up-side the head, DON'T TOUCH THE DISC, any disc they are hot, here's your sign | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
noel buckley
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC.
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
constant power (and lots of it)
no fade
no drag
ease of setup (and adjustment)
stops in all conditions
works with international style disk mounts (sorry Hayes)
no maintenance
awesome support | | Weaknesses: |
original plastic lever blade breaks easily (can be changed in about 1 minute)
finding parts on short notice without ordering them can be difficult
inner (fixed) brake pad can vibrate and move a small amount (loctite fixes this)
works great with gripshift, but only OK with Shimano.
squeals when cold (ALL disc brakes do this) | | Similar Products Used: |
Hayes, Hope, Diatech, formula | | Bike Setup: |
Heckler, Rond Quake fork, Raceface, King (heavy pig at 36 lbs) | | Bottom Line: | For a first year effort the brake is pretty damn good. The biggest problem that Magura is facing is not the performance of the brake, but the fact that people don't know how to set them up properly. These brakes can be setup properly in about 1/2 the time of other brands. Whether one or two pads move against the disc is not important, the force of friction on the disc is still the same (study hydraulics). This is a good feature for a bicycle, as it eliminates drag - period.
The plastic lever blades where a bad call, but aluminum ones should be available soon, if not already. If your brakes are pumping up, then they're not adjusted properly. Mine did this when I first installed them, but then I learned to set the pads the right distance from the rotor (i.e. I read the manual) and I've never had a problem since them (over 11 months). The pads should just skip across the rotor when adjusted: they will setting in with in a few hard braking sessions.All discs have to be burnished before they develope proper braking power, even car brakes. The Louise is no different, nor are Hayes, Hopes, Shimano, etc... Generally, this takes 30-50 hard stops.Maintenance has been veritually nil, apart from the occaisional pad adjustment every other month. However, the pads wore quicker than I expected (I should really be using a DH disc brake for the style of riding that I'm doing).Do I think that there is room for improvement? Yep, for sure. However, NOTHING currently on the market works any better, and a few brands cost a LOT more. As long as you can spend 20 minutes reading and understanding the owners manual, you'll have absolutely no problem installing these brakes and getting solid, consistant performance out of them.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Milwaukie
Date Reviewed: December 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Excellent power
easy set up | | Weaknesses: |
had to file down back of brake resevoir to get it to work with my XTR shifters (thanks Thorsten)they're still squealing! | | Bike Setup: |
Ventana Marble Peak
XTR-Race Face-Chris King
Marzocci Z-2 | | Bottom Line: | I submitted a review a while back(about halfway) and have had some time to ride my new brake. Got the shifter thing figured out thanks to Thorsten from Magura. E-mailed him and got a response the next day(nice). The pumping up that other reviewers have spoken about is real irritating, one moment you grab some brake and the lever goes halfway to the bar, grab it two corners later and it doesn't come in at all. I suppose after awhile you would get used to it, but that's not how I think things should work. The thing also will not stop squealing, it's not a loud piercing squeal, but enough to piss you off after a few miles. I've tried the break in process, and figured it might go away after a while, but after 65 miles and two cyclocross races(yes on a 27.5 lb full suspension, I know I'm a freak) it's still there. I might try to unload this brake if things don't get better as the winter goes on, I've heard the new Shimano discs are pretty sweet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robin Fisk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Stroud, England
Date Reviewed: December 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of them | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
THese brakes do not squeal | | Weaknesses: |
Not for Chubbers (heavy people) | | Similar Products Used: |
No disks, but lots of Canti's | | Bike Setup: |
Cannodale super V raven disk | | Bottom Line: | I though my last review was strong on opinion and low on facts so here are the facts:Problem number 1:
I have adjusted my Louise brakes so that they bite after about 1/4 of the lever travel. The brakes were fine for about the first 2 or 3 rides. Then they began to pump up so that when I pull the level again within a couple of seconds the brake bites in less than a quater of level travel. I found this out on my favourite piece of twisty single-track, after about half mile the brakes were pratically rubbing all the time.Inspecting the brake, I found that the piston takes a long time to retract into the cylinder (I hope I am using the right terms). When I apply the brake again the piston had much less to travel so the brake bit sooner. I took the bike back to the shop and they changed the lever and caliper. The problem re-occured after a couple of rides, now I am stuck with it. I have tried emptying and bleeding the brakes after my bike shop had done the same. Nothing has made a difference.Problem number 2:
In the good old days, disk brakes on cars used to stop working when the disks got hot. Manufacturers got savvy to this and created disk brakes which still work when they are hot. In fact if you go to Le Man for the 24 hour race, at night you can see the disks on the racing cars glow red hot, as the cars brake for the corners. Magura have not quite cracked this problem. Magura are relatively open about this and their web page says rider and bike combination should weigh less that 100Kg. I think this figure is too high, as my bike and I weigh about 95Kg and the brakes get hot and fade quickly. So the conclusion is that if you are a little on the heavy side do not buy Louise. I was concerned that I may have fouled the pad with brake fluid when I bleed the brakes so I gave the disk a serious clean and bought new pads. It made no difference.Problem Number 3:
I have to adjust my brakes almost constantly. Maybe this is a symptom of problems 1 and 2. Brake fades, pull lever harder, wear pad quickly?.Problem Number 4:
The non piston side of the brake unscrews, due to vibration. Not a real problem, apply loctite.Problem Number 5:
Poor UK Support. Magura is imported into the UK by Venhill. They have a chap who is the Louise expert and is difficult to get (my bike shop told me this). Venhill also supply their own brand pads. DO NOT USE THEM, they are completely useless. If you have to use Magura Disks insist that your bike shop sell you magura pads.Problem Number 6:
The levers suck and do not fit well with shimano shifters. Am I missing somthing here or have Magura failed to check their levers work well with the western worlds leading bicyle transmission provider? Actually, magura have changed their newer lever mobels slightly to work better with shimano shifters. Look out for the V shaped recess on the underside of the reservoir.Good points:
I have never had any problem with squeal. If you adjust the lever to bite after about 1/4 of travel you get no drag, apart from on extreme corners, but hey, you get that with cantis too. Advice:
Maybe, if you are light you can run these disks and be happy (and other reviews on this site say good things about louise, maybe they are skinny riders) but if you are heavy you will be sad running these disks. If you do buy them watch out for the hot disks. On at least 2 occasions I have steped off my bike to climb a gate and burned my shins on the rear disk.I cannot recommend these brakes based on my experiance. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a Weekend Warrior
from socal
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
sunset ridge | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
great modulation, good stopping power | | Weaknesses: |
brake pumps up, rotors aren't true, squeals horribly when wet | | Similar Products Used: |
only disk i have ever tried | | Bike Setup: |
Ellsworth Truth, Z1, XTR Drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | these were the first disk brakes i have ever used and i am very disappointed by their performance. while the modulation is great, the brakes pump up and engage at different times. you really never can tell at what point of the lever pull your brakes will engage. the brakes also need readjustment every few rides. the rotors are not true so it is difficult to setup drag free. the kit was missing spacers that are supposed to come with it. the screws are so soft that they start stripping the first time you put them on. i've also had to bleed the brakes twice since i have had them. i just have had the worst experience with these brakes. almost every ride i wish i would have just bought v-brakes because they are at least more reliable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Duncan Weston
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vejle, Denmark
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Yorkshire | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Ajustabillity, braking power | | Weaknesses: |
Sealing, 1 moving pad, wearness, noisy, brake levers | | Similar Products Used: |
None, these were my first | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F900Disc | | Bottom Line: | After browsing the other reviews, I´m very sad to not beable to follow up on these positive reviews.
I´ve been very displeased with these brakes. Sealings are awfull. Just after two weeks of riding I had to refill the resevour, and which since then had to be done once a month, until I finally convinsed my dealer that the rear breking caliber was disfunktionable from the start.
Apart from this discs were bent after a coupple of months, wearness on brake pads was uneven and they never stopped sqeeking.
To give Magura a little credit, I must admit that praking power is very prowerfull and stil easy to control. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Dave
a Cross-Country Rider
from London, Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Too many to name | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Supreme power and modulation, light weight, install in minutes, 100% drag free, light weight, customer service to die for, squeel free performance. | | Weaknesses: |
None that I have encountered. | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura rim brakes, Avid V-brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Kona Hot, Rond/Magura Comp Pro 75 fork, Louise front disc, Magura HS-33 rear rim brake, CK disco tech hubs | | Bottom Line: | Firstly I know the policy says no personal attack but it deeply disturbs me that Mr. Fisk below could post a review like he has. It's painfully obvious that his brakes are set up incorrectly and he does not have the mechanical ability to correct that. If you are considering these brakes please disregard everything he has said because none of it holds true for properly adjusted Magura Louise brakes. Adjusting Louise brakes is one of the most straight forward things you can do on a mountain bike.Now as I mentioned in the product strength catagory Louise brakes are all of that AND a box of chocolates.....if you can imagine.Installation takes but minutes. There is a break in process don't forget that, it is very, very important that you break them in as instructed in the manual before you go for your first ride.Once correctly installed and broken in your Louise will preform flawlessly.As you have probably seen mentioned Magura offers THE BEST customer service and tech support in the free world. Thorsten from Magura USA is pretty much available 24 hrs. a day 7 days a week and if he can't answer your questions or get you the parts you need there are a number of mtbr.com regulars that can.Get yourself a set of Magura Louise disc brakes and be happy......PERIOD!PS - 5 flaming chilis is not enough. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robin Fisk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Stroud, England
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cotswold Way | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
None | | Weaknesses: |
Cronic Heat Fade
Pump up so bad you never know when the brake will bite
Poor support from Venhill in the UK | | Similar Products Used: |
XTR V Brakes on Mavic Cermic RIMS | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Super V Raven 1000 Disk | | Bottom Line: | Louise brakes are rubbish. I have to adjust them after each hour of ride time. On downhills they fade tragically. You never know when the brake will bite because they pump up so badly. I start to brake miles sooner then I used to because I never know if they are going to work. I accept that when they do work they are powerful but not any more so than say V brakes on Mavic cermic rims. And I frequenly burn my shin accidently touching the rear disk when I step off the bike during steep descents. I am going to take these brakes off my bike and either replace with Hope or go back to V brakes | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sid
a Cross-Country Rider
from Danville
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
any cool singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Great Modulation, Stops you in all types of conditions, Drag-Free, Very Cool Looking, Even Pad Wear | | Weaknesses: |
expenive replacement pads | | Similar Products Used: |
V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Intense Uzzi XC | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding the Louise Brakes for nearly a year and they kick ass. The only complaint I have is the cost of the replacement pads-- $30 a set. Also, as some other reviewers mentioned, put a drop of Blue Loctite on the threads of the wheel side pad adjuster to give the threads some BITE. This will prevent the pad adjuster from vibrating loose and causing you to double clutch the lever to get braking power. Once you have the pads properly adjusted, you should have drag-free performance and should only have to adjust for pad wear. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CDaleRider
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bellport
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Stillwell Woods...at least it used to be | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
great stopping power | | Weaknesses: |
Levers suck! | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F900Z | | Bottom Line: | Broke lever after a few rides, granted it was on a particularly hard crash, but the levers are some sort of plastic/resin material which makes them weak. Magura is supposed to becoming out with new CNC'd levers soon. Other than that the babies work in every kind of condition and are easy to modulate. Some squeaking, but thats minor. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Milwaukie
Date Reviewed: October 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Lots of power compared to V-brakes.
Easy installation | | Weaknesses: |
Incompatibility with my XT shifter
Not all the parts were included in the box
XT shifter | | Similar Products Used: |
These are my first disks | | Bike Setup: |
Ventana Marble Peak
Bomber Z-2 | | Bottom Line: | I was very excited to get my new brake, at first.
That night my excitement turned to frustration. When I checked to make sure I had all the parts that the manual called for I realized that the shim washers were missing. Finding washers that are .2 mm thick are not easy to find, especially at 10:00 at night, so I decided to mount the lever and run the tubing. That's when I realized that with my XT shifter pods where I liked them, the brake lever was sticking straight out the front.
Anyone who is considering buying these should make sure their brakes and shifters mesh together.
I was lucky enough to have a set of old rapidfire
shifters that fit, but I'm still not happy about having to use them.
Once I got past those troubles, the rest was a breeze. They only took about 45 min. to install, and make run drag free. Very cool looking too!
We'll see how they work tomarrow on their maiden voyage.
By the way, thanks for all the locktite and
break-in tips from other reviewers they helped alot. I'll submit another review after thrashing them for a while.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andreas Aakerberg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: September 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Powerfull, great modulation, lightweight, no drag, great look | | Weaknesses: |
Squeal in the weat, because of the lightweight design | | Similar Products Used: |
LX V's, Magura HS-33 | | Bike Setup: |
GT Pantera, Bomber Z2 B.A.M, Mavic X-317-Disc | | Bottom Line: | Great brake for the XC rider, easy setup, great stopping power, also in the wet, | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tanner
a Racer
from Zurich, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
any trail | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
breaking power
great modulation
not too expensive | | Weaknesses: |
plastic break levers | | Bike Setup: |
GT LTS, Marzocchi Z1, Shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | great break, but the plastic levers are worth nothing. They snapped off twice already in two crashes, that were not even that bad. These levers even look shitty! You absolutely have to go with metal levers.five stars for performance minus one for the shitty levers! Does magura test their products anyway? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob N.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Livermore, CA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Anything at Downieville | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Awesome stopping power
Great modulation
Caliper and rotor looks so cool on the bike
Extremely easy installation and adjustment
Absolutely drag free
Relatively light weight | | Weaknesses: |
Lever looks cheessy (Functionally, there is no problem) | | Similar Products Used: |
None. First disc set-up | | Bike Setup: |
Ventana Marble Peak with XTR/XT mix
Paul hubs with DS1 XC rims
RS Judys with Englund 85mm Total Air cartridges
Cane Creek rear shock | | Bottom Line: | Braking power is awesome when compared to XTR V-brakes. A light pull on the lever with one finger is all that's necessary to slow down. It takes a couple of rides to get aquainted with the new braking power. It's actually a little scary at first since you tend to grab too much brake. After a while, having them for long gnarly descents is a joy. No more brake fade. From out of the box, I installed and adjusted them in about 1/2 hour. If you follow the instructions, you can easily adjust the pads for a drag-free ride. The lever reach and the amount of lever pull can be dialed in to your liking. I like the fact that the brakes use 5 wt. shock oil instead of DOT brake fluid.Just like most people that switched to discs, I don't ever want to go back to rim brakes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeffj
a Cross-Country Rider
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
I like 'em all! | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Great modulation
Light weight
Easy pad replacement
Easy adjustment procedure
Well made | | Weaknesses: |
You need to double clutch the lever.
Needs loctite on threaded disc behind pad to keep it from adjusting itself. | | Similar Products Used: |
XT V-Brakes
Cantilevers | | Bike Setup: |
C-Dale Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | Are they good brakes? Yes. Are they the perfect brakes? No. Would I get them again? Probably. They definitely have the excellent stopping power needed for true one finger braking. Two fingers MAX! Save your strength for hanging on to the bars. Stopping power does not fade on long descents like rim stoppers can. The biggest problem with these brakes is that they need to be set up properly and maintained in a certain manner. One secret I have found is that they will not squeal if you quit washing the disc and pads. They need the dust in them to keep from squealing. Make sure they are adjusted using the instructions on their website. Use loctite on the threaded disc behind the pad. Make sure they are bled properly. Don't turn your bike upside and operate the brakes. You may need to true the disc by hand one time. Mine have not warped and do not rub, even after several nine mile fire road downhill runs. I weigh 245 lbs. so I wouldn't say they've had it easy. Your tires are the biggest limitation for stopping power. I now use Tioga DH 2.3's and love them up and down. There some teething setup problems with these brakes, but since my LBS figured them out, they have performed brilliantly. My only real gripe with these brakes is that you have to double pump the lever to get them in the range of usability. The first pump goes about a half inch from the bar and the second pump only goes in about that much. They action stays at that point until you let off completely for a few seconds. You then have to double pump the lever again. It's instinct now, but took a little getting used to. Anyone considering these brakes should know this going in. They really are good cross country brakes once set up properly. I would still rather have these than rim grabbers.
Good? Yes. Great? Maybe. Perfect? No. Final Rating: Four flaming steampiles for these binders. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Woodstock Ont Canada
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of them I've ever ridden | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Magura USA support. Smoothness. Modulation. Lack of maintenance. | | Weaknesses: |
Soft bolts holding rotor to hub. I switched to stainless bottle cage bolts. | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura HS-33 and 22 rim brakes. Avid T/A III's. | | Bike Setup: |
Seven Sola. Rond-Magura fork. | | Bottom Line: | I've had these brakes for several months now and have used them in all conditions. They have been totally maintenance free. I haven't even performed the easy pad adjustment for about 3 months. They are still drag free (anyone who says they drag just hasn't got them adjusted correctly). They do not squeal and do not leak. These things have all the power and smooth modulation that I need. Some people object to the carbon fiber lever but it's just fine for me. Flexy? - Not to me they're not. Heavy? - not really - my Ti Seven bike weighs 24.5lbs with Louise and the heavy Sachs Magura hubs.Great brakes. Great company. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DaleRider1
a Cross-Country Rider
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Smooth; excellent modulation; relative ease of set up. | | Weaknesses: |
fixed pad adjuster may need loc-tite on threads to stay in position in the rough | | Similar Products Used: |
Maguara HS22/HS33, XT V; LX V Arch50; Avid 1d; DiaCompe737s; | | Bike Setup: |
WildHare, XT equipped with HS22 rear brake. Weezie is on a Judy XL. | | Bottom Line: | PErforms with aplumb. I'm around 260lbs and this brake has superb modulation for technical, rocky DH where finesse is important. I've bought another for a new build. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arthur
a Weekend Warrior
from Morristown, NJ
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mountain Creek Ski Resort | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
weight (or so i hear)
relatively low price | | Weaknesses: |
drag (lots)
squealing under high-power braking | | Similar Products Used: |
avid 2.0 | | Bike Setup: |
cannondale super v 900 | | Bottom Line: | for my first disc brakes, i am happy for the way they perfomed. but i've decided to get something better. since these brakes have one fixed caliper, there is lots of drag, especially while cornering. if you've got the money, but full-floating caliper discs. but for their cost and their performance, they're good enough. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hakim
a Cross-Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Boppard Winter-Descend | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Breaking-performance
Opitcal appearance
Price | | Weaknesses: |
Tricky adjustment
Plastic lever
Magura Hubs
Lever is leaking | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura HS33
Shimano XTR V-Brake
Shimano XT V-Brake
Formula Disc-Brake | | Bike Setup: |
Votec C-9 FR
(To see at www.votec.de) | | Bottom Line: | I had some problems with the rear brake adjustment because it was squealing all the time. Now that this is solved I very content with the brake-system. The front brake did an excellent job from the beginning on. Only four stars because of air entering the levers, so that it´s necessary to bleed them after about three months. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roß
a Cross-Country Rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: July 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any, as long as it's singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Stellar modulation
One-finger braking
Easy setup
Easy adjustments
Light weight compared to other discs | | Weaknesses: |
Soft bolt metal on small bolts
Heavy compared to rim brakes | | Similar Products Used: |
Hope Pro disc (very short demo) | | Bike Setup: |
Ellsworth Truth, Manitou X-Vert R | | Bottom Line: | Phenomenal braking power and modulation are definitely the highlights of the Louise system, along with light weight (for discs) and relatively low price. I didn't think brake feel could get better than the Magura HS-33s on my hardtail, but I was wrong. As great as the HS-33 is, the Louise beats it. Especially noticeable on long downhills, where there is zero fade and zero pump-up at the lever. Nice job by Magura on this new product.Oh, and by the way, all this power and quality is backed up by the best customer service in the business, bar none. Call Magura, get help, get replacement parts, all ASAP. Thanks to Thorsten and the entire crew of outstanding support. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jess
a Weekend Warrior
from St-Hyacinthe Qc
Date Reviewed: July 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Great stopping power
Great modulation
No dragging | | Weaknesses: |
Weight (compared to V-brakes) | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y5 with '98 Manitou XVertR | | Bottom Line: | This is my first disc brake so I cannot compare it with others but the feeling is really better than my Avid 1.0 V-brakes with better modulation and stopping power... you don't have white knuckles when downhilling! If money was no objet I would have bought the Gustav but I am fully satisfied with Louise! I agree with Roß below. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MEAT
a Racer
from GAINESVILLE , GA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
CHICOPEE | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
STOPPING POWER, DRAG FREE, CONSISTENT | | Weaknesses: |
NONE YET | | Similar Products Used: |
CODA DISC, XTR V- BRAKE | | Bike Setup: |
CANNONDALE SUPER V RAVEN | | Bottom Line: | GREAT STOPPERS I WROTE THE SAME THING FOR MY CODAS, DO NOT WASH THE DISC WITH SOAP OR HIGH WATER PRESSURE. THIS WASHES OUT SMALL PARTICLES OF BRAKE PAD WHICH GETS IMBEDDED IN THE DISC, THESE SMALL PARTICLES OF PAD MAKE THE BRAKES STOP MORE EFFECIVELY. EVERY TIME YOU WASH THE DISC WITH HIGH PRESSURE OR SOAP IT REMOVES THESE PARTICLES AND THE BREAK IN PERIOD STARTS OVER. I AM 217LBS AND BOTH MY CODAS AND MAGURAS ARE ATLEAST 25% STRONGER THAN XTR V- BRAKES AND ARE MORE CONSISTENT. IF YOURS ARE NOT HAVE THEM CHECKED BY SOME ONE WHO KNOWS WHATS UP.HAPPY TRAILS. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
rutty rocky technical shit | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
they f***ing brake on a dime
awesome modulation
awesome hub
really nice rotor | | Weaknesses: |
that plastic lever is too flexy, and i'm afraid it could snap, although i doubt it.
I'll switch to new aluminium levers from Magura | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
'98 specialized fsr extreme
on a Judy Xl fork | | Bottom Line: | Awesome system, best bargain outthere for truly drag free performance.
I give it five chili's, but they'll have to replace those levers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steen goè ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Copenhagen,Denmark
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
everything rideable | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
the weight-or lack of it
superb brake power, and
easy set up. | | Weaknesses: |
the brake lever...
and the ugly flourescent
yellow colour. | | Similar Products Used: |
none. | | Bike Setup: |
1995 litespeed Obed-
with Sid Xc 63 mm, and
German made Tune front hub(156g- way light),and
lot of exotic stuff on-
board. | | Bottom Line: | The Gustaf M`s littlesister works...
this complete system- with the worlds lightest
disc brake hub(156g), is equal to a Xt 99´system,
in the weight division, but works much much better
and it doesn`t make a single sound, or ruin your
rims in bad weather, which we have in plenty, here in Scandinavia.
i will strongly recommend Louise, as your next date, if you are in need of a new update...
after 150 miles, they just becomes better and better, on each ride, and braking in took about 1
hour of parking lot work, so buy them before your
please, i wanna try a ride... buddies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Ease of installation. Ease of adjustment. NO DRAG!!! No squeal. Superb modulation. Ease of bleeding. Famous Magura tech support. | | Weaknesses: |
None found yet. | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura HS-33 and 22 rim brakes. | | Bike Setup: |
Seven Sola custom Ti. Marzocci Z2 fork. Magura-Sachs hubs. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are excellent. They are as drag free as Magura promised. They take 10 seconds to adjust and you yourself dial out the drag. The smoooooth modulation is perfect - as in all Magura brakes and the stopping power is enough to enable you to lock wheels whenever necessary. The famous Magura modulation lets you do this when YOU want to.
I will never go back to even their rim brakes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Camiel
a Weekend Warrior
from The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 23, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Brake superbly when set up right | | Weaknesses: |
In wet conditions, the pads wear so fast you have to re-adjust them during your ride.
Replacment pads are not cheap either.Hard to set up drag free.The brakes tend to pump up, e.g. the position where the levers catch shifts. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale SV1000 Disc | | Bottom Line: | Re-adjusting brakes halfway a two hour ride every week is not my idea of fun.
They may brake great in dry conditions, in rain and mud they are completely unreliable.I have always been very pleased with Magura's rim brakes and would go back to them immediately, if it wasn't for the missing mounts on my frame.2 chilis just because they do their job in that one month a year that it doesn't rain out here. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
drag free fade free | | Weaknesses: |
could have better levers | | Similar Products Used: |
hayes | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | could have better levers than those plastic ones. the plastic bends to easy. other wise the brakes are awsome. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MTBFreak
a Cross-Country Rider
from Finnland
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Very easy to set up and funktion is all right, no problems. And this brake is too easy to adjust?! | | Weaknesses: |
Lever reach adjust could be more adjustable. | | Similar Products Used: |
Never give away my diskbrakes. | | Bottom Line: | The price is in order with the quality of this product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob C.
a weekend warrior
from Sultan, WA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I took the big jump from a hardtail to the dual pogostick. C'dale Super V. It came with the love of my life, Louise. After years of fighting cant's and v's things have taken an incredible change for the better. These things are great!! The only drawback is breaking the suckers in. Takes forever for them to quit squealing. Check out the Magura web site and follow the links for some good tech advice. Damn fine stoppers, too bad about the crappy plastic levers. Go for the aluminum upgrades. 4 and a half flaming turds by my scale. Guess I'll call it five turds by this one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rusty
a cross-country rider
from ny
Date Reviewed: February 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
this brake works great,the only down side is the plastic,sorry,composite,lever
other than that instalation was easy as could be and after break in they stop very consistently.two words of advise;1st,buy the comp hub not the pro model(they are the same the pro is just more polished)that will save you 30$ 2nd,
put blue loc-tite on the pad adjusters. have fun! if the levers were alloy (they're available for extra) i'd give them 5 but composite means 4. | | Overall Rating: |
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