|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Mike N
a Cross Country Rider
from Alice Springs, NT, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lightest brake on market for any setup any system (except cable brakes from the early 80's), Simple, Effective, Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Nil | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 5, Deore combo shifter/lever | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, X.0 RD & shifters, X9 FD, Avid Speed Dial Ti | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to keep V brakes instead of disc to keep weight down and also didnt want to spend a fortune buying a new wheel set. Swapped from stock Avid 5 V brake due to cheap appearance and constant noise. Also saw seeing my rim progressively being worn away despite cleaning the pads all the time (probably just the pads & not the brake itself. Differences: LX a little lighter, better finish, brake shoe is longer. LX has MASSIVE stopping power, as much as my mate's mech disc setup. AND, there is absolutely NO NOISE. I considered XTR V brakes but they were a lot heavier due to more moving parts (parallel lever system). LX were sweet and simple and I am so glad I made the right choice. I could have bought these brakes for a lot less on eBay but wanted to support my local bike shop | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike N
a Cross Country Rider
from Alice Springs, NT, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lightest brake on market for any setup any system (except cable brakes from the early 80's), Simple, Effective, Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Nil | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 5, Deore combo shifter/lever | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, X.0 RD & shifters, X9 FD, Avid Speed Dial Ti | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to keep V brakes instead of disc to keep weight down and also didnt want to spend a fortune buying a new wheel set. Swapped from stock Avid 5 V brake due to cheap appearance and constant noise. Also saw seeing my rim progressively being worn away despite cleaning the pads all the time (probably just the pads & not the brake itself. Differences: LX a little lighter, better finish, brake shoe is longer. LX has MASSIVE stopping power, as much as my mate's mech disc setup. AND, there is absolutely NO NOISE. I considered XTR V brakes but they were a lot heavier due to more moving parts (parallel lever system). LX were sweet and simple and I am so glad I made the right choice. I could have bought these brakes for a lot less on eBay but wanted to support my local bike shop | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zac
a Racer
from Omaha, NE
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mining trails throughout Medicine Bow National Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bike Master Cycling and Fitness | | Strengths: | Cost effective, easy to use, install, and adjust. As much power as you need without getting complicated. Perfect for cross-country. | | Weaknesses: | Wouldn't be suited for heavy-use nor intense downhill. However, use with ceramic pads and rims dramatically improves performance in these situations. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Juicy 7, Shimano XT discs and V-brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC, XT drivetrain, Crossmax SL ceramic wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Used with XTR ceramic pads, the power-to-weight ration is unbeatable. For a cross-country racer looking to cut weight and keep power its the easiest way to go. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don MacMillan
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Reasonable v brake system still stops when wet | | Weaknesses: | not very good stopping power, no where close to disk brakes. can make quite a bit of noise | | Bottom Line: | This is a ok system but i do not reccomend it for anyhting above cross country | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edouard Gonnet
a Cross Country Rider
from France
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Streak'x | | Strengths: | Assez puissants, faciles à regler avec usure lente et progressive des patins. | | Weaknesses: | Le poids excessif, patins d'origines bruyants et un peu trop dures pour l'hiver et la boue. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano STX rc | | Bike Setup: | KHS ALite 1000. | | Bottom Line: | Une bonne paire de freins pour qui aime le matériel fiable et n'aime pas regler tout le temps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | The brakes, pads | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bottom Line: | These brakes came stock on my mtb, let me tell you they are the worst.
#1 The pads literally just destroy your rims. Nasty sandpaper sound that is later followed by the nasty metallic sound which tells you pieces of your rim are embedded in said pads.
#2 The brakes are cheap and plasticy
Don't even test your brakes with the pads on it. Your rims WILL get damaged. Insist a swap out for these brakes if you get them stock. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel Silva
a Weekend Warrior
from Viseu, Portugal
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Monte Crasto | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | the paralelogram sistem, they always worked... They are very good wile new(except they make weard noises)
| | Weaknesses: | wen they are new(and with the stock pads) they make a metal noise this is because the pads are shi... like a rock, bahh..
wen they ave several miles theyr braking power decreases a bit and they get a litle gripped and flex, some guy told me tu use a brake booster but y will not buy it... | | Similar Products Used: | deores | | Bike Setup: | scoot yz3 2004 :) with a marzocchi mx comp air :D front brake lx disk brake and lx v-brake at the back..
| | Bottom Line: | They inspire confidence, never failed to me, are pretty, cheap, they don't give you problems but wen they get used(after many many many miles) they will decrease a litle the braking power nothing that would deseave a new ones | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kiran Lerner
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything super technical | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | Cheap (got from a friend for free)
Good stopping power
Easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | Colour is so-so
Durability | | Similar Products Used: | XT, Avid, Hayes, Deore | | Bike Setup: | Who cares?! | | Bottom Line: | Way easier to adjust than cantilevers, and the stopping power is better. After two years of weekend use I was doing my overhaul and the spring mechanisms (part of the parallel-push system) were shot. Maybe I need a separate freeride bike. Also broke the head off the screw that holds the cable. Considering I've seen their cantilevers last 5-10 years I'd expect better from Shimano. Maybe that's how they're getting the price down.
The levers are flexy, they're far to reach (compared to XT & hydraulics) and the swing action is annoying (a wide arc instead of straight back like hydraulics). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kai
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | doesnt matter | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | when they work, they seem to brake well...not that great, but well enough... | | Weaknesses: | they;re miserable POS'S that break when removed. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD7's (much much better) | | Bike Setup: | GT single speed | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are terrible. They do they're job, but after about a year of doing their job, theys top doing it. The tension screws stop working and the breaks simply wont retract, more dragging with these than improperly set up disc brakes!!! There are two metal plates that rotate independently and the tension scre that's attached to one simply does not engage to bottom ring, making it impossible to properly tension the brakes. parallel puch really doesnt do much besides make these brakes incompatible with older forks and rub more. Try Avid single digit 7's if you want to feel what a real v-brake should feel like, smooth even braking, that consistently works...Is it just me or are shimano products really starting to suck? These brakes cost too much for being a big heap of.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap to buy. Compared to my old cantilevers, these v-brakes offer a lot more braking confidence. | | Weaknesses: | Pads wear out fast | | Similar Products Used: | None. These are my first v-brakes. | | Bike Setup: | '95 Cannondale CAD1 (replacement frame for my original '91 Cannondale Chameleon which broke), mainly Shimano Deore components, Mavic X221 rims. | | Bottom Line: | After using cantilever brakes since 1991 I finally upped my spec to v-brakes 3 months ago. I'm considering getting discs in 2017 :) I was amazed at the increase in braking performance, gone was the long-pull squishy feel of cantilevers, transformed to stop-on-a-dime braking by the v's. Maintenance is easier and cheaper, cable replacement now means only 2 new cables instead of 4. I can't complain about them really, they cost less than I was anticipating and seem well designed. Perhaps the levers feel a little 'cheap' mainly because they are a lot smaller and lighter than my old Dia-Compe plastic-levered cantilever ones. My only quibble is with the pads, rear to be specific, which are wearing at an alarming rate. I'm about to fit my 3rd pair in 3 months! I cycle a lot on the road in the wet, and I think the road grit is wearing them out fast. Perhaps I should look at other pads, maybe Kool Stops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrik Skolling Möller
a
from Stockholm
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | Great with paralellsystem which boosts the break power... | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | "old" XTR, Ritchey RED,Scott comp ... | | Bike Setup: | Rear LX,front Deore... | | Bottom Line: | I'v seen a few complans about Shimano breakpads but mine works fine. When they're worn out I might upgade to Coolstop since they've got such good reviews...I had Scott Comp V's earlier an LX are alittle better ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gera Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Naga, Cebu, Philippines
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the one in the mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | good braking power, strong enough to flex the frame, affordable. | | Weaknesses: | its stock pads makes metal to metal noise and can ruin the rim, a bit heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, LX/XT gruppo, FireXC, Manitou Six | | Bottom Line: | im very satisfied with this product. it's easy to adjust and its powerful. this brake is perfect for riders on a budget but still performance conscious. weight freaks will shun this stuff for it's a bit heavy. im giving it 4 flamin' chilis for its performance and affordability. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
owen fackrell
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | south downs way etc | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$44.00 | | Purchased At: | merlincycles.co.uk | | Strengths: | price
colour
stopping power | | Weaknesses: | none (but have never used the stock pads) | | Similar Products Used: | avid 3
alvio
stx rc | | Bike Setup: | giant atx 860 full lx throughout rock shox forks | | Bottom Line: | this brakes are v good
the price i paid included the leavers arms and cables for both front and rear so a bit of a bargain
they manage to flex the rear trangle and my front forks
never tried the stock pads put cartridges from new
the sandy mud round here means that i go through pads fast but after spending time setting them up in the first place it is now very easy to just change the cartridge and i off
must gat a brake booster for the rear brake.
if you like me can only run v's and arn't weight concsious
then you should get these.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Frary
a Weekend Warrior
from St Nazaire, France
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Savenay | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reaction cycles.com | | Strengths: | Light, "parallel push" is powerful even in wet/muddy conditions | | Weaknesses: | Probably the stock pads which are a bit pants but can't fault the brake system. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD3 that came as stock - don't even go there! | | Bike Setup: | Trek8000, RS Sid Race, LX-GOLD V's, Hutchinson Mosquito Air Light tyres (see reviews), the rest is stock. | | Bottom Line: | Certainly a good upgrade from the Avid SD3s and I won't be going back! If you want to loose more weight go to XT or XTR but I reckon only good discs could rival stopping power under normal conditions. You'll probably want to change the pads from the start to get the best performance.
Price is certainly a bonus too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nikolas
a Weekend Warrior
from Greece
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Very good stopping power,shimano reliadility,relitively cheap | | Weaknesses: | Shimano pads suck,a bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | none as good | | Bike Setup: | gt pantera,lx-xt,judySL | | Bottom Line: | The shimano pads are nogood for any kind of ride.I gave them back to the shop(had previous experience with them).I now have a set of swissstops and they rock.Also tried out coolstops-same thing.This brakes are so powerful i had to istall brake boosters to stop them from bending the frame while braking.(along with avid sd levers)I tries also arches,magura discs,hayes disks and NONE of all that had the same power or durability over use even in very wet conditions.Excelent choise.if you are looking for something lighter go for xt or xtr but the stopping power of theese babes is unmached | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Clements
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Lenah Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | On Bike. | | Strengths: | Nice Brakes! Poor pads (Kool Stop are the go!) Parallel Push is awesome! Great feel at the lever. | | Weaknesses: | Dont like the levers. They will be replaced with some Avid SD 7 or XT asap. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR. | | Bike Setup: | AVANTI Aggressor. Full LX/XT. Shimano Wheels, Manitou Skareb Elite fork with lockout. Easton stuff and Specialized tyres. | | Bottom Line: | Great Bkakes. Stop on a dime with new pads and new levers!
Buy em! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HIHO
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | UP Highpoint down Ridgecrest. (NORRIS) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Looks, Easy adjustment, Power. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Promax | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300, LX components, Race Face Crank(old skool taper) UN72 BB, Panaracer Fire Pro XC tires. | | Bottom Line: | They stop. Not a huge difference in the cheap Promax that came on the bike. I have the LX shifter/brake lever combo and they work well together. I haven't used them in wet weather so that might be where they stand out. I am going to get some different pads, these seem to get noisy. The pad angle looks good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hunter
a Cross Country Rider
from Casselberry, Fl
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | online somewhere | | Strengths: | no problems | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Avid | | Bike Setup: | Trek Hardtail with Full Shimano XT 9spd system, Race Face Cranks, Mavic D521 rear/Sun O degree front rim, Ringle headset, LX V-brakes, Avid 1.9 levers, Kore stem, Titec riser bars, RockShox suspension seatpost, RockShox Judy Race fork, Primo pedals, ODI grips. | | Bottom Line: | I really decked out my bike last rebuild but decide to stay with basic V-brakes. I am happy I did because these have done fine. There is plenty of adjustability and when done right, these brakes have not failed me. They are simple and thus give a firm feeling at the lever. If you are looking for trouble free good performance but can't make it to disc until later, This is your brake set-up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tomp67
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any narrow path | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Good Looks, easy intallation, easy to adjust great breaking
| | Weaknesses: | I have heard the stock pads are butchers( replace before even riding) | | Similar Products Used: | Promax | | Bike Setup: | 03' Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | Great V brake for the buck,awesome adjustability, great modulation.... go with cool stop pads... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from sweden
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Fantastic construction, fantastic break capacity, very easy to adjust. Great bite in the breakers, as good as disc-brakes! | | Weaknesses: | none! | | Similar Products Used: | Disc-brakes.. there are no similiar v-brakes that can match this awesome product!! | | Bike Setup: | Merida Matts comp, LX/XT overall. | | Bottom Line: | Best v-brakes ever made and that ever will be made! You never reflect over these brakes, they just do the job in all conditions! I never had any problems with it and will never have any problems!! There´s such stopping-power in these brakes, use to race down steep hills in a speed of 60 km/h and at the bottom is a car road, pull the handles and the bike stop:s you immiediately.
This is product is so trustful, why go for expensive disc-brakes, when there exist v-brakes that have the same breaking-power, and also are cheaper, lighter and are easier to adjust and service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leon
a Weekend Warrior
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Rožnik | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Very good braking performance in dry conditions, very cheap. | | Weaknesses: | To long braking time in rain or mud | | Similar Products Used: | / | | Bike Setup: | Merida Kalahari 550SX | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes for greenhorns and sunday bikers. And also best non-disc brakes available.
Beginners: Buy them! You don't need disc brakes so buy these!
Evrybody better than beginners: You probably don't read this review :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince radimant
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | wakefield | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performancebike | | Strengths: | - 3 wave adjustment
- inexpensive, but powerful
- Shimano | | Weaknesses: | - no way
- for those you have hurt their fingers using the levers...come on...GET REAL! | | Bike Setup: | I have recently upgraded my font levers with lx levers and with LX v-brake, the two combinations do a great job of braking power, in all terrain conditions. | | Bottom Line: | great descent levers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ont
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Smooth powerful stopping, easy to adjust brake pad because it move parallel to the rim! | | Weaknesses: | hmm... make noise sometimes... | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Disc, Haynes Hydro, XTR vee | | Bike Setup: | Norco Nitro | | Bottom Line: | Awesome vee brake, comparable to disc in dry weather. Discs are better in wet conditions but the LX is still quite powerful. I would recommend for anyone who wants great trouble free vee brakes on a budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC,
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Beaverdam South Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$44.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa | | Strengths: | braking power, improved modulation over base brakes | | Weaknesses: | nothing yet | | Similar Products Used: | old cantilever brakes on older bikes, deore v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Rockhopper A1 FS Comp w/upgraded XT drivetrain, Duke XC fork | | Bottom Line: | Whoa mommma!-these puppies stop your bike on a dime when needed. Instead of going with a disc set, I opted for these, knowing that I'll probably shell out a good deal for a new full-suspension bike a few years down the road with all the bells and whistles. They've been wonderful, worth every penny ($44 for a front/rear set). I really notice a difference between the parallel-push V-brakes (like these) vs. lower-end models where the pad moves along an arc, therefore, not engaging the rim completely unless you're really squeezing. I agree with the other posts, though, that you'll want to pick up new pads along with the brakes, because the Shimano pads are pretty poor. A great buy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger Ramjet
a Weekend Warrior
from Gungalin, ACT, Oztrayleeyah
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere dark, with lots of kangaroos | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Spocks Spokes | | Strengths: | sheeet, how good are these baby's? get yourself a rear brake booster, decent pads and you have a plenty cheap heap powerful brake set. Why spend $$$ on discs? same clever design as XT | | Weaknesses: | unbeleivably crap stadard shimano brake pads | | Similar Products Used: | rear foot on tyre; six pot calipers with carbon rotors; parachutes. | | Bike Setup: | sub 19lb full suspension dirt-jumper with lots of cool stickers, spokie-dokeys, bell and lime green rims. | | Bottom Line: | ok go on then buy your hydraulic discs, god knows you'll need them as you pounce around the streets. For those of us who pay taxes and dont live with mum, this is the supreme affrodable choice. excellent for cross country - cheap and reliable, stell cable require no maintenance - heaps of power. 5 fried brains for these life savers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ddanj
a Weekend Warrior
from Hell
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | Lots of power
good modulation
Cheap
Same parallel push as on XT and XTR | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | all around | | Bottom Line: | Great breaks for the price... amazing lock up power and modulation... I would recommend these to anyone who wants to improve their breaking by %100 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Glover
a Cross Country Rider
from Sturbridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Snow | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | -Inexpensive
-Great breaking power
-Strong
-Long lasting | | Weaknesses: | -Crappy stock pads | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Custom Cannondale M400 frame, LX Group, Mavic 517's, Easton EA50 Riser, Nashbar pedals, Rock Shox Psylo XC (Sweet Fork!!!!!!!!) | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line, these breaks are great. I used to have an old Cannondale M500 with the LX V's. I rode them for at least 3 years on that bike, and they were the best part of the bike, except for the frame. I didn't have any problems, and i only had to adjust them a few times.
Also...........
Buy Kool Stop break pads when you buy these breaks, it makes the whole experience much more enjoyable for rider and wheeles!
DON'T LISTEN TO THE JERKS THAT RAG ON THESE BREAKS!!THERE GREAT!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vince radimant
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performancebike | | Strengths: | Parrallel-Push Linkage: Stabalizes braking response and extends pad life.
- inexpensive
- powerful
- reliable
LX v-brake is a great upgrade.
Brass Pivot Bushings: Reduce wear while assuring a smooth and precise action.
| | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Lx drivetrain | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Schwinn Rocket 88 stage 4: Full-suspension. | | Bottom Line: | I recently upgraded my terrible front v-brakes with 2002 Shimano LX v-brake and I noticed right away the difference. The Brakes handled very well in all terrain types even though I use cheap brake levers (which I will upgrade later!) and I have more confidence to push my bike a bit further knowing I can rely on my Shimano to do its job.
I recommend them to those who are looking for an inexpensive, but noticeable upgrade for their MTB.
- Do not pay attention to NEGATIVE comments made by ANTI-Shimano customers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Dreimanis
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, SA, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Narrow Neck - Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Elliots - Adelaide | | Strengths: | - Parrallel linkage seems to work well
- Fair bit cheaper than XT and XTR | | Weaknesses: | - Original pads
- Not quite as stiff as XTR | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, Avid, Tektro | | Bike Setup: | XT levers, ZAC 19 rims, KoolStop dual-compound Thinline Pads. | | Bottom Line: | First up, if and when you buy these, also buy a decent set of pads. The Shimano pads just don't cut it, although they do manage to cut up your rims.
The parallel linkage seems to do a rather handy job of aligning the pads, although it does make the whole assembly a little chunky.
After installing without a fuss, and getting the KoolStop pads they work fantastically. The only fault I can find is that they're not quite as stiff as the XTR brakes in the mounts, but then that's why you pay less. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stinky
a Weekend Warrior
from that there place over there
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | down my pants | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100000.00 | | Purchased At: | willybees.com | | Strengths: | this there peice of poop really works well i think welll i dont know cuz i never really licked them or bitted em cuz there metal and that my hurt my teefers. | | Weaknesses: | they hurt my nipples | | Similar Products Used: | them over there | | Bike Setup: | old monky stomper | | Bottom Line: | these hurt my nipples but im gonna give em that there 5 flamiiiiin crapers for my poop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
oscar
a
from Regensburg, Germany
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Zweirad Stadler GmbH | | Strengths: | high stopping power | | Weaknesses: | pads, spring squeaks | | Similar Products Used: | not really: Shimano Altus canti-brake and other Cantis | | Bike Setup: | Dynamics Eagle FS, RS SID rear, Judy XC, Shimano LX/XT, IRC Mythos XC 2,1, ZAC 19 rims and LX hubs | | Bottom Line: | Came with my bike and they stop like no V-brake I´ve ever tried, and are even stronger then all discs I´ve tried. They look quite nice and have a smooth feeling when pulling the brake lever, unlike some other, more expansive ones, I´ve seen in bike shops.
Need quite much space because of the parallelogram-mechanism.
Like them! But I will change the pads...they are too hard!
Would give 5 Chilis with better pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Collin
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis MN
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the one I'm riding at the moment | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Great Price
Great stopping power
Awesome levers | | Weaknesses: | What are these pads made of......Tin? | | Bike Setup: | '98 Rockhopper frame..various other parts over the last couple years......and these brakes! | | Bottom Line: | Good value but c'mon. The stock pads sound like they're scraping away my rim wall. I upgraded to some ritchey pads and they're sweet! Get the brake set for ~$50 and buy some other pads with the order. Don't even try these until you get new pads. I swear they left scrapes in my rim...DAMN! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon Ghenter
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff AZ
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | yes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | linkage wears out too quickly
a little heavy for my taste
pads that came stock are abominable
springs wear out really quickly | | Similar Products Used: | disks
Avids
Promax | | Bottom Line: | I feel like I got $20 worth of life out of these brakes. They performed okay, but having to adjust them every couple of rides got anoying. Do yourself and your rims a favor and replace the pads before you even install them. My experience has proven to me that avids work a lot better, and the SD 5's are about the same price as these are so I would recomend going with the avids. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh DeWeese
a Weekend Warrior
from Sandy Oregon
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | ones with big rocks to jump & hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | These brakes deffinently look good, they have great stopping power, the parrallel push linkage is sweet, and they won't cost more than your bike!! | | Weaknesses: | They flex a little and you need to adjust the springs to their max tension even for thin wheels, if you have wide wheels I don't know if they would even work. | | Similar Products Used: | My stock promax brakes. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp FS, 2001 Rock Shox Psylo XC, a rear Sun Rhino Lite XL rim with Deore LX hub, bontrager seat and the rest is stock. | | Bottom Line: | If you feel that spending your weeks pay on a pair of brakes is a waste of money get these. They are inexpensive, look beautiful, work good, and will last a long time. If you have wide wheels you might want to check to see if they will work though. Overall I would say these are the best deal there is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | it looks pretty | | Weaknesses: | absolutely no stopping power. reliability issues. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 1 | | Bike Setup: | cannondale hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I was desperate for more stopping power over my avid SD 1 v-brakes. I read a couple reviews and the price was right on Jenson, so I bought a front and rear set. The rear set broke as soon as I put them on the bike. Jenson sent me another rear and they broke after two weeks of riding. Stopping power was poor. Effort was high. Shimano's pads wore out after three weeks of riding. I couldn't understand why my brakes were grinding my rims after only three weeks.
Lousy quality control
poor pad life
I went back to my old avid's with new set of Aztec pads and they work beautifully! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andreas Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Radsport Rösch Munich | | Strengths: | In fact, design, low weight. | | Weaknesses: | Product quality | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX 99, XT99, XTR99, Magura 10th Anniversary, Magura Quick Silver | | Bike Setup: | DeKerf Generation 96, XTR/XT drive train, tune/Mavic Whizz Wheels, Ritchey WCS Stem, | | Bottom Line: | Yeah, I don't know where to put down my review for the Deore Brakes 2001 of Shimano, so I've put it in here. Well, I thought, I'd put some nice retro style V-brakes without parallelogram mechs on my Dekerf, and the Shim Deore in silver finish looked beautiful. The more so, since the 99 LXes performed quite well on my wife's Trek 790. The thing didn't work out as I've thought. The springs are too weak by far even if preloaded to the full. And the brakes arms waggle on their sockets like the tail of an excited dog. So keep away from these Deore Brakes. If you have a delicate frame such as an ultralight Cromoly, try out some other V-brake; a xtr, e.g, strengthend by brake boosters and Nokon Trac Pearls do the trick (I 've these on my Trek 9900 OCVL 99, have a VERRRRY dry pressure point with nearly no hysteresis at all). If you own something with reliable brake sockets, try out a Magura (with the Magura boosters, to be sure). This is best. I have them on my Hot Chili Zymotic hardcore alum hardtail. I just change the pads from now to then, and else I leave them alone, except of thinking how God came to invent these Maguras. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Speed
a Racer
from Kansas
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Rip you off BikeStore!!! | | Strengths: | These are excellent barakes very well done and nice look too!! They are power full as hell!!! I weigh 210 pounds and my back wheel still flies up when I tap the breaks!! | | Weaknesses: | NONE!!! accept for the fact that it rubs against my rim but Im about to chang my forks and rims so maybe they wont rub anymore! | | Similar Products Used: | Other V brak and crap. Alivio and some other wierd brake!! | | Bike Setup: | Suped up sportsbike!! | | Bottom Line: | PERFECTION CAN BE SO EASY TO ACHIEVE!!!!!
I love these brakes!! they are powerful and light!! They do the Job!!! The stop at the tap of the lever!! these are beautifyl brakes!!! I can't deny it!! I give it 5 flamming Money Turds!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sodajunkie
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Durham forest and adjoining areas | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Cheap
intial set up easy
great stopping power at first | | Weaknesses: | Pads really suck (must change asap)
| | Similar Products Used: | tectro, avid disk, diacomp. | | Bike Setup: | have several bikes | | Bottom Line: | Don't bother bying these. I was really impressed by the stopping power and the set up at first. But now the springs have lost all their tension so the pads just sit on the rims. I mostly ride with disk and only bought these for my winter beater. I think I'll spend the money on Avid their disk are the best. They must be able to buid a v. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bag
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came off of my K2 full-suspension bike, after I upgraded it to XT V-brakes | | Strengths: | -Very precise direct feel.
-Simple design, no little parts to break or wear out like my XT parallel-push V-Brakes.
-They stop quicker than my XT V-brakes, even with the same pads. | | Weaknesses: | The M-system brake pads that came with them were terrible. They were hard as a rock and didn't grip enough to the rim when stopping.
I put on a set of yellow Kool-stops and they made all the difference. I can pretty much stop on a dime now. | | Similar Products Used: | XT; Formula Disc; regular cantilevers; other cheap-o's | | Bike Setup: | Nishiki Rx700 hardtail, RST Aerosa AT forks, Mavic 231 rims, Alivio hubs, LX rear derailleur, LX crank, STX front derailleur and brake levers, LX v-brakes. | | Bottom Line: | -Good, solid feeling brakes, although upgrading to Kool-stop pads are a must. I didn't care much for the shimano brake pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jean-Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Beauport, QC Canada
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hydro Powerlines, Mt-Ste-Anne | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | -awsome breaking power (even more since I use Mavic517 with ceramic2)
-feel very smooth on the levers but with a direct action
-less pad wear
-incredeble effiancy in water(still not as much as disk)
-easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | -not found yet | | Similar Products Used: | normal V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000, XT-LX setup, mavic517, bomber Z3 100 | | Bottom Line: | Best brakes for the price. You don't need more (like XT XTR systems) than that. They do a great job and once adjust you will not touch them again(unless you take them off).
Instead of spending cash disk , keep it fok buying LX brakes
and other bike parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | They stop the bike. They're better than Deores and cantis. | | Weaknesses: | I have definately outgrown these brakes. They are the biggest pain to adjust and get to run drag free, without squealing, and with the right lever feel. They don't pull enough cable, so its hard to get them to work with my wide (rhyno lite rear) rims. Also, when taking the tires out there isn't enough clearance, so they get moved. They are slightly better with the addition of cartrige pads, but then so are any brake. Last but not least, they have developed slight play in both the levers and the brakearms | | Similar Products Used: | cantis | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Norco nitro, Z4 alloy, LX group, riser bar, WTB motoraptor 2.4 on a sun BLsomething rim front, Kenda Kinetics 2.35 on a rhyno lite rear. | | Bottom Line: | I wish i wish i had disk mounts. Some avid mechs or hayes hydraulics would be sweet. Its really muddy here sometimes, and one long ride is enough to destroy the braking power with the lx's, requiring long cleaning and readjustment. I don't feel that the barrel adjusters do enough. It's hard to get them centred properly. UGH, i don't like these. However, i'll have to live with them so i can save up for a specialized enduro, complete with hayes.
bottem line: do yourself a favour and skip these. if you must run v's, for the money, go avid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Colts Neck, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything offroad | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | online at universalcycle.com | | Strengths: | Gteat brake so far. Better than the pieces of sh t that came with my bike. | | Similar Products Used: | stock | | Bike Setup: | Raeigh M80 with LX all the way around. | | Bottom Line: | Great brake so far. It feels good to be able to stop when I need to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepp er
a
from montreal canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | (off friends ) | | Strengths: | -they dont flex at all , unlike xt xtr or other parralel push brakes which rely on frame flex to output power
-they cost nothing .
-great lockup
-they are so cheap they can be "disposable brakes " lol
-work as good , and when properly setup , better then lotsa highend brakes | | Weaknesses: | -if you arent careful and often remove the brakes and re-install them , the pivot system will f*ckup
- stock pads are crap | | Similar Products Used: | lx 8 and 9s brakes
xt 8 and 9s brakes
xtr brakes
magura hs 22
magura hs33
hayes 6inch and 8inch and purple dh
deore brakes
diacompe, acera
avid 2.0 , 1.0 , 10 ,25's ar40 and ar50
numerous others | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick (12 inch )
rockshox judy xc (better then my crappy xvert e )
lx brakes with cartridge pads
avid 2.0 levers
flite
rhyno xl
irc missle 2.25 and intense 2.25 xc tires
xt 11-28 8s cassette
etc etc | | Bottom Line: | these brakes are my personal favorite. because i am nearly broke paying for my bike , which isnt built up yet , i plan on running a set of these brakes. this will be my 5th and 6th set of these brakes. 3/4 of the brakes i mentioned before, i've owned. and so far , these are my fav v-brakes .just get a nice set of levers, set em right , and get the best brake pads you can. it's great for when i can't get maguras or hayes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Clements
a Weekend Warrior
from Monmouth, Oregon
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Dallas mountain trials for local | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Santiam Bike shop in Salem | | Strengths: | Tight gripping, good strength, Easy to negotiate between breaking resistance for trails and stunts. Stay clear and don't clog as easy as most | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than their partner XT and XTR. The looks are just a preference, but look kind of tacky on my bike. The dark doesn't match the Red and White. | | Bottom Line: | Teh bottom lines is this. Besides my off time riding I'm a college student who works a bike patrol summer shift for a local police department (yes, I favor mountain bikers.. It's not my fault) The city gave us '99 Trek 7000 when they first came out. LX came as stock. I got so used to it that my breaks on my personal bike became a nusiance. I upgraded to them and the combonation of the LX levers and V-breaks were outstanding. The only problem is that they make almost a metal grinding sound against the rim which I found to be normal. Constant cleaning of the rims and pads keeps this noise down. Definitly worth the price. If your not a serious Pro racer LX is the way to go. Anything above it is just running the race for the lightest. You won't notice a real difference in performance. LX is good for those who love to get out and have some serious fun, or recreational racing. $90.00 is the lowest I found it for as a set. Most places are offering over $100.00. I put it on myself, but had to get it adjusted because I didn't do a well enough job.
I'm giving it a 4 only because I don't have the experience with the XTs or XTRs to give it a 5 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mateusz
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | wolf's trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | 2nd hand | | Strengths: | powerful braking, very cheap, reliable. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavier than XT V's or XTR's, not eye catching, lol | | Bike Setup: | true north custom made frame with mixed components and z1 drop offs. | | Bottom Line: | I dont believe it's worth buying anything higher than LX when it comes to v-brakes, uless you're on a diet******* Never had any problems, neither with the calipers nor with the levers******Next step up, disc brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Crazy Bit#$
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -Cheap
-Good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | -Complete bi$ch to adjust
-Too many pivots(mud wears 'em out)
-Crappy pads leave black slime all over the rims
-Fade | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 2.5 and AR 40,XTR(demo'd for a week) | | Bike Setup: | These brakes came with my Santa Cruz Chameleon.They were part of a LX-level parts kit I ordered off the Internet. | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes at first(or when they were PERFECTLY adjusted),but after wasting countless hours trying to set up the damn things when I could be riding,I just gave up and installed Avid 2.5's(which I have since transferred to my Surly).I sold these and kept the servowave levers(which work great).
Just not worth the friggin' hassle!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sam bear
a Cross Country Rider
from south africa
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | karkloof classic | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | hattons cycles pietermaritzberg south africa | | Strengths: | These brakes are on my training bike, have been for three years and are great. Forget what reviewers have said about the length of the levers etc. They are great for the price. | | Weaknesses: | They require continued adjustment. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 1.0 | | Bike Setup: | Kona, XT, Selle san marco, Marzochi, Maxxis etc | | Bottom Line: | This is agreat mid priced brake and well worth it just remember to take a screw driver and Alan Key to your ride/race to adjust. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kcklein
a Weekend Warrior
from Fayetteville, AR USA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Memorial Park (pre-save the trails campaign) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria | | Strengths: | cheap, work like you'd expect, easy setup | | Weaknesses: | look cheap and generic, not the lightest but my ego can handle that | | Similar Products Used: | avid's, magura disc | | Bike Setup: | early '90's leflech carbon/steel frame (one of a kind, very tight), 2000 mars C, mostly XT, except for random schit I replace w/ | | Bottom Line: | These are '98 models I got online. I think they were advertised at 192g. They're a lot more than you'd expect out of a cheap V, (but I guess they weren't cheap originally), but nothing outstanding. They're real ugly, two big chromy arms on either side of the rim. They do have serious stopping power and lock out, but there's enough play that you're not likely to flip. Overall, They're damn nice brakes even though they look like they're from Wal Mart. 5 chili's for the value, 4 overall because they're so ugly they'll bring down the value of your house. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
weather expert
a Weekend Warrior
from iowa
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | heard a lot about the pads...wait to find out for myself | | Similar Products Used: | lx canti's | | Bike Setup: | '96 xcaliber, z2, lx shifters, brakes, fr der, xt rr der, wtb wheel set. | | Bottom Line: | cambria is selling these brakes dirt cheap so i bought one set and put em on my bike. up to now they are working fine, providing decent stopping power. but i haven't ridden off road yet so i can't say how they perform in more rigorous conditions.
in response to Jeff below, nope the springs on my brakes aren't that strong. i guess if you put on a good booster they'll be fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vermont
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Tight Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Erals (Used bike sale) | | Strengths: | Indestructable, Bomb proff, Great braking Power when ajusted correctly. | | Weaknesses: | A litte on the heavy side. | | Similar Products Used: | Promax, Shimano cants | | Bike Setup: | Z3 light, Lx,Xtr comb | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes that are bomb proof only had a problem when I got the bike. It was used and not well mantian after that they have worked perfict ever since. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort collins, Colorado
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wathan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop i work at | | Strengths: | price, stopping power, crisp | | Weaknesses: | pads | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro, LX canti's | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F-500 LX/XT components | | Bottom Line: | Im writing this review to ask a question to see if this is a common occurence with these brakes. The spring in them is so powerful, that when i squeeze the brakes fairly hard, i can get the triangle to bend up to an inch back and forth. I noticed this about a month after i put these on. Before that, I had no complaint with these other than the pads. If this is pretty common, and frames havn't been cracking under pressure, then great...im just kind of paranoid. But in the case that it has happened...please e-mail me or right a review and tell me about it. I don't want my frame to give out on me while im riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Stock | | Strengths: | -Cheap
-Easy to maintain
-Excellent, excpet when really wet | | Weaknesses: | -Stock pads
-Generic versus an XTR or disc | | Similar Products Used: | LX, STX cantis on older bikes | | Bike Setup: | Zaskar, custom other than the breaks | | Bottom Line: | They are cheap,functional, so easy to maintain and decent weight but you have to get rid of the stock pads. They don't work as well as hydraulic discs in wet weather but the conditions here can be really dry in the summer. The less complicated something is the less it breaks. This is the only component I have not swapped on my bike. As long as it works well I won't upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bjorn
a Cross Country Rider
from the icy north
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Strengths: | Awesome braking pwr and feel. Cheap! | | Weaknesses: | "Slippery when wet"
hard to tune
| | Similar Products Used: | LX Cantis, XT Discs, Old Maguras, Suntour U-brakes(!) | | Bike Setup: | Steel hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Great break! You can´t beat the price. I upgraded from my old LX Cantis - the improvement was worth every peso! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Cary, NC
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | New Light | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Light; Strong; Durable; Easy to set up | | Weaknesses: | Not flashy - like that's a weakness | | Similar Products Used: | center pull cantilevers; tektro crap; xt V's | | Bike Setup: | All three bikes set up with '98 LX V brakes | | Bottom Line: | What more can you want. Cambria had '98 LX-V's on sale for
$15 per set so I put them on my newest ride along with Avid 2.0 levers. These breaks are powerful, simple and, when equiped with cartridge pad holders, a breeze to maintain. Worry and rattle free brakeing whenever needed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kane
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Powerful, reasonable price, easy to install, progressive (with softer pads) | | Weaknesses: | Original Pads, bought the lot one week, bought new pads the next, the origignals already had cut into my rim sidewall | | Bike Setup: | LX gear, topgun forks | | Bottom Line: | Great value, reommend them for anyone who is out for a bit of fun who needs the power, but not the expense of XT, but change the pads before you even leave the shop, would give htem 5 chillies except for the pads, an easy thing for shimano to fix | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap, high quality, look cool | | Weaknesses: | Didn't work on an older frame | | Similar Products Used: | Avids, STX-RC V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Moab, almost all LX | | Bottom Line: | These are really good brakes for the money. I like how they look, the blueish color looks really sweet. These brakes stop real nice and the pull feels good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rod
a
from cortland ny
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | they are heavier than xt or xtr but............. no sqeal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mine are the 2000 model and i think the extra weight might be takin out some of the squeel and im usin the stock pads as well. I did toe out the pad so that helps too | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Stephens
a Cross Country Rider
from Northville, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Ypsi Cycle | | Strengths: | These Brakes are very powerful! They are also a good value. | | Weaknesses: | Power that I am not used to, can't slam on these like I could with my others! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M-50 | | Bottom Line: | If you still have cantilevers, break down and buy a set of V-brakes. The LX's are great brakes, and won't brak the bank. I got the arms, levers, and cable for $120.00. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse Puaokalani
a Cross Country Rider
from Tacoma, WA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Skookum Flats | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bicycle Shop | | Strengths: | They stop extremely well, and there is no squeeking. They look nice on the bike as well. | | Weaknesses: | The brake pads are nothing like the XTR's. You have to set the brakes when ever you get new pads. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX canti's also Shimano XTR V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Proflex full suspension | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are the best brakes for the buy. In my opinion I wouldn't buy the XTR's unless I had a ton of money(I'm in college). They make my bike that much better. I believe I made the best purchase I've ever have. I think these brakes are for even the best of riders who don't want to spend the money on there brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Chattanooga, TN
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Low cost | | Weaknesses: | Cheap construction, weak pads, breaks easily | | Similar Products Used: | avid 2.0, sram | | Bike Setup: | Marin Hawk Hill, bomber xt_levers, avid 2.0, yada yada yada | | Bottom Line: | There are better alternatives to these crappy brakes. Avid are much more sturdy and are built better. These things have plastic parts. They belong on huffys at kmart. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich, Germany
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great modulation, good price | | Weaknesses: | Pads are eating eating rims | | Similar Products Used: | Deore V-Brakes, XT V-Brakes, DiaCompe V-Brakes, STX Cantis | | Bike Setup: | in use with XT Levers on Alex alloy-rim and Mavic X517 (2 wheel sets). Fork: RS Judy Race 100mm | | Bottom Line: | They are replacing my XT-Brake at front because of squealing.
Pads changed to red Ritchey cartrigde pads (cartridge from XT Brake).
Great break with parallel mechanism and extrem good performance at dry and wet conditons with better modulation than XT. And the best - it's silent, absolutely silent!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Griffin Jones
a Downhiller
from Mill Valley
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tamalpa | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, strong, sweet-looking. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 10, Promax V's, Shimano XT, 2000 LX, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Azonic DS-1 Dual Slalom, Z1-QR20 fork (5"), Mr Dirt Gizmo chainguide, XT derailleur, Specialized flatties, Azonic Pyramid Double Wall risers, Avid and XT brake levers, '97 LX V-brakes, THE front fender. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes rule. I set them up with Kool Stop pads three years ago, havn't even had to adjust them since. They modulate perfectly. I don't think that I would take XTR brakes over these even if I could get them for free! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick Do Trong
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada, quebec
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hard packed on the Mount-Royal | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | These brakes look great compare to those Lx from 1999.
They offer quite good modulation...the parallel push system does have its advantage: even wear of brake pads and Awesome braking capability.
Linear spring is clever but simple.
Aluminum 6001 . | | Weaknesses: | The pads that comes with it must go!
I'm planning to buy new cartridge pads... | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Blue( the best ever)
Tektro V's
Shimano Cantis
| | Bike Setup: | Oryx HTA 250 deore and deore XT | | Bottom Line: | The DEORE LX brakes are the numero uno for what u pay. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian Reeves
a Cross Country Rider
from Farnborough
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The 'Twisty Toad' | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Parrellel Push.
Nice Looks.
Cheap. | | Weaknesses: | None none to me as yet! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Cantis | | Bike Setup: | Custom | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes, especially for the price! Superp stopping power - better then any non-hydrolic brakes i've used!
Keep them clean and well maintained and they'll be fine! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Koss
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland oh
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | looks good, shimano name, good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | return spring isnt too strong | | Similar Products Used: | XTR V's | | Bike Setup: | KHS frame manitou SX-ti mavic 217 rims | | Bottom Line: | good for the buck | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor Wu
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | - relatively light
- better stopping than cantis
- don't look half bad
- short settling in period | | Weaknesses: | - none | | Similar Products Used: | - STX-RC V-brakes, STX-RC cantis | | Bike Setup: | - hooked the brakes up on a cheap bike
- not good enough to even describe :( | | Bottom Line: | The bike originally came with cantilever brakes and these new ones really beat the hell out of them. They have never squealed on me, even when I got the rims wet. They've consistently pulled my 36-pound bike to a stop again and again without breaking on me. A word of caution: if you just put these brakes on a bike that originally had cantilevers, don't jam them too hard; your bike might flip over and/or you'll get really hurt in your favourite spot. But I can't really blame the brakes for that. Five flaming turds overall!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Urbe
a Cross Country Rider
from Ljubljana
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Baronova pot-Ljubelj | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | cheap, great stopping power | | Weaknesses: | for that price you pay, is there any? | | Similar Products Used: | XT cantis | | Bike Setup: | giant atx 950 | | Bottom Line: | I was glad to see LX V-brakes with parallel push mechanism and the price. I don't need to pull on them so hard as I did on cantis.
Some people complain about squeeling? I never heard any squeel. I am using mavic 217 and sun cr17a rims and brakes perform as they should - without any squeel.
If you are tight on budget, don't hesitate - buy them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seam
a Cross Country Rider
from Canton, GA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They stop my bike. Lots of adjustments | | Weaknesses: | None that i have found | | Similar Products Used: | textro junk | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M80 (sort of, the frame is the only thing that is stock) | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work very well. I have not experienced any of the squeeling that the folks below me talk about. I would recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spencer L
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lots of support for them. Easy to get parts. Lots of AfterMarket pads. Inexpensive. Stop well. | | Weaknesses: | Squeal, Squeal, Squeal. Did I mention they are noisy? | | Similar Products Used: | No other similar V-Brakes. Have had LX Canti's before without any of the problems. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Super-V 1000, LX/XT parts. Avid 1.9 levers | | Bottom Line: | I have tried myself, and had others try to adjust brakes including 3 separate shops to no luck. They always squeal. I put on several different pads including Kool Stops, no different.
I am switching to Avid ArchRival 40s. I can't stand the fact that I sound like a Dead Cat coming down the hill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a
from Bedfordshire
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Easy to set up and adjust | | Weaknesses: | Pads | | Bike Setup: | Marion Atack Alpine | | Bottom Line: | The dogs bollocks, stops on a penny. Really easy to adjust even on the trail, no problem if a wheels goes out of true either, the adjustment screw actually work. The only downside is the LX pads they eat rims so bin em. Great value. No chillies for the pads, five the levers and cants etc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sierra Pete
a Cross-Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
Boggs Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Easy set up. Works well
Cheap @ $25 | | Weaknesses: |
100g heavier than Avid 25's.
Original pads suck. | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid 25's on my No. 1 bike, a Kona Explosif. | | Bike Setup: |
My second beater bike. A ridged '94 Trek 920, built up with current LX stuff. A great singletrack and travel bike for non- serious riding. | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes. They work well, are quiet-no squeal. I replaced the original pads with Avid rim rangler's, cuz I've had bad luck with Shimano pads. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erin
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Price, Parallel push, easy setup | | Similar Products Used: |
98 LX, 99 XTR, Avid 1.0, Avid 2.0, Avid Arch Supreme | | Bike Setup: |
Dual Suspension, Walking beam rear | | Bottom Line: | This has got to be one of the better buys on v-brakes; bought the front and back for $17 each. I used Avid 2.0 levers and the brakes work great. I'm really impressed with the Shimano 99 brakes, both the XTR and LX for the ease of setup and stopping power. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Albuquerque
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
trail 365 - Sandia Mtn. foothills | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
these brakes will stop you!
Great feel and control
Not mushy | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Dia Compe V733 (sucked) | | Bike Setup: |
Rockhopper FS | | Bottom Line: | These brakes can't be beat for the money. My only complaint (also true for the Dia Compes) is the stock pads are HARD! They were picking up bits of aluminum from my rims and scouring the hell out of them. If that problem sounds familiar, just replace the pads with Kool Stop pads - they're softer and will work much better and won't make any damned noise! Otherwise these are great brakes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neo
a Weekend Warrior
from Norway
Date Reviewed: November 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Sørmarka (Norway) | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Rocks!! Not to expensive | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Bottom Line: | A VERY good brake, wich I am very satisfied with. People who think they suck havent put them on right... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Weekend Warrior
a
from bc
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Bottom Line: | These brakes suck! they squeel so damme loud. They do not slow me down. I used to have cantilever brakes and they worked better! I am now swiching to magura. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
IAM
a Downhiller
from MKT HARBOROUGH, LEICS
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
WOBURN SANDS | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
SIMPLE 6000 SERIES ALUMINIUM CANTIS (NO PARALLELAGRAM) | | Weaknesses: |
A LITTLE BIT OF PLAY | | Similar Products Used: |
AVIDS RANGE
XT
UNBRANDED 'V'S
CODA | | Bike Setup: |
96 CUSTOM SARACEN DUEL
7005 ALU, 96 JUDY DH
LX, TIOGA, L&M, RIGIDA- DP22 | | Bottom Line: | PART OF MY 96 CHRISTMAS LIST WHEN THEY HAD FIRST
COME INTO THE COUNTRY. EXCELLENT DESIGN, SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE. NO SEIZING OR SQUEAKS DUE TO NOT HAVING A PARALLELOGRAM AND THEY STOP ON A DIME WHEN PROPERLY SET UP...(READ THE INSTRUCTIONS).
THE ONLY FINICKITY PROBLEM BEING A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLAY ON THE PIVOT POINTS!-BUY SOM, WELL, DONT BUY THE NEW (99) ONES NOW, LIKE I HAVE! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Yim
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Bottom Line: | The first thing you'll realise is these brakes and levers look GREAT. They're easy to install and unlike the cheaper acera or alivo brakes, once you put them on and adjust them, you won't have to adjust them again for ages. The modulation out of these are great and mine don't squeak. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sarnia, Ontario
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are a steel for the money. They look pretty good too. The only down side to them was the loud scraping sounds I'd get under heavy braking and the extremely quick wearing of the pads. I mean it's pretty well flat where I live and I went through the pads in less than 1 season. When I replaced the pads with some Kool Stops however, the scraping was cured and the pads are still going strong. If you get a pair, replace the pads ASAP and save yourself some trouble. By the way, they stop great and I love them. 5 chilies for them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: August 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lake Grapevine | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
powerful, easy to install | | Weaknesses: |
none yet | | Similar Products Used: |
nada | | Bike Setup: |
Schwinn Badlands | | Bottom Line: | I decided to dump the archaic catilever brakes my bike came with and installed these. These things rock!! I no longer have to use my entire hand just to slow down on trails, now it only takes one finger to stop me dead in my tracks! They have a gun-metal blue anodize, so they look cool too. It only took me $90 to replace the brakes, levers, and cables on my bike - a heck of alot cheaper than XTR's. I'd recomend them to anyone. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mooch
a Cross-Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
parralell push design | | Weaknesses: |
pads make a scraping noise when applied heavy force. scrapes bits of aluminum off rims | | Similar Products Used: |
shimano v-brake,
altus cantelevers,
xtr | | Bike Setup: |
Mongoose hilltopper frame, xt and lx components | | Bottom Line: | good for the money you pay | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Parallel push concept | | Weaknesses: |
Pads | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano XT V-brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized Rock Hopper FS with LX hubs and Mavic 517 rims | | Bottom Line: | For $21 each, I expected these things to produce more stopping power than cheaper Dia-come V-brakes that came with my bike, but they didn't. I gave it a time to wear in but all it gave me was squeal every time I use the brakes. I've tried two of my friend's bike both with Shimano XT V-Brakes on and what a difference they made! I'm going to change mine to XT. I regret that I waisted my money on LX when I could have gotten XT s with a few more bucks. LX's parallel push concept is there (good) but the performance isn't. For those of you who read this review, don't make the same mistake I made. Get XT or better and you will be glad. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oli
a Weekend Warrior
from Tenby
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
rad air ones | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Progressive, powerful,
smooth lever action, miles better than 98 model | | Weaknesses: |
can sometimes feel mushy and is fiddly to set up so it doesn't squeek | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura Raceline
Pro Max V brake
Shimano 98 DX and LX
XT v | | Bike Setup: |
Marin HT, Risers, RST 381sm | | Bottom Line: | Very good brakes but people used to instant lever pull - stop type brakes may find them to be a little bit too progressive. Also they bend out seat stays on my bike and on the GT Zaskar. They look like the canines reproductive system | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Rock Garden | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Budget Price, Plenty of Power, Reliable | | Weaknesses: |
Take a while to wear in.
No pivot problems so far, but I'm still wary | | Similar Products Used: |
XT v's
XTR v's
Magura HS22
Formula hydro disk | | Bike Setup: |
Avanti Agressor, Mammoth rims, Rst Mozo forks | | Bottom Line: | Excellent trials brake. It took them a while to wear in, some pad changes, a few lever changes and an added brake booster, but now they work sweet. I'm running Tektro levers, brake booster on the rear and koolstop pads. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
single | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
everything | | Weaknesses: |
absolutly nothing | | Similar Products Used: |
vee's | | Bike Setup: |
boulder 550
rst 281 | | Bottom Line: | These are the best brakes! My friend wants to buy them off me, they are simply that good. My old brakes never used to flex my fork. Can't say enough about these brakes | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from New England
Date Reviewed: July 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Snowmobile trails | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
will flip you over handlebars easily!!! | | Weaknesses: |
none at all | | Similar Products Used: |
cati's | | Bike Setup: |
MOtiv cro-mol frame
lx everything
mavic rims
dh wild gripper rear tire hahh | | Bottom Line: | these brake are awesome!!!! got them from supergo.com for $69.00 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Strong
Cheap
Light relative to more costly alternatives | | Weaknesses: |
Pads | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid, XT, XTR, Mag's | | Bike Setup: |
Jamis, z2, Thudbuster post, Rhyno Lites | | Bottom Line: | If you already own these, scrap the LX pads and pick up some replaceable XT ones. I got a really good deal from Cambria (inventory blow-out sale). A better, lighter set up. 5 plus for value, 1 minus for being Shimano...Net 4 flaming carcasses. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaromir
a Cross-Country Rider
from Prague, Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
down the hill | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
stop you whenever you want
look cool
pretty cheap | | Weaknesses: |
PADS SUCK | | Similar Products Used: |
STX
Tektro | | Bike Setup: |
Mongoose IBOC 0G, Marzocchi XCR, XT components | | Bottom Line: | The brakes are wonderful, but the pads really suck. Use the brakes and by Kool stop pads. Nothing is gonna stop yur bike better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from connor Maine
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Behind my house | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Work really GREAT!! | | Weaknesses: |
None! | | Similar Products Used: |
Xt-v and Xtr-v brakres | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y-3 | | Bottom Line: | worth the cash, work as good as there way more expensive siblings, look decent and really work well. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vernon, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
technical ones | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
fairly light
good stopping power
easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: |
scraping noise when heavy braking is required. | | Similar Products Used: |
stx rc
avid 1.0
2.0 | | Bike Setup: |
giant boulder 550 | | Bottom Line: | I bought these brakes to replace my old ones that I have no idea what they are. When I get a new bike these brakes are going on the new one they are simply that good. And hey, if you can get them for $80 Cdn., who wouldn't buy them? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Racer
from Woodland, ca
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
just as good as the previous XTR's | | Weaknesses: |
NONE | | Similar Products Used: |
Other v-brakes | | Bike Setup: |
deore loaded | | Bottom Line: | great brakes | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Mirtschin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Hawthorn East
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
These are one of the best budget brake systems around. I can't say enough of them! | | Weaknesses: |
They weren't around last year! | | Similar Products Used: |
'97 XTR V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Giant ATX 870 1999 model | | Bottom Line: | If you need new V-Brakes, and you need to stop, buy these! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Antioch, CA
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Ridge Tr. | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Simple, cheap, nice finish. | | Weaknesses: |
Crappy pads. They make a scraping sound and pick up bits of aluminum from your rims. The pivots are a little sloppy, but at least the arms center consistently (unlike the Diacompes they replaced). | | Similar Products Used: |
Diacompe 737 V's. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Killer V-HT. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because the new ones had parallelogram linkage. These are the simple ones with no linkage to wear and rattle and cause pads to squeal. They have vertical springs which make pad adjustment easier. Combined with my Avid Ultimate V levers, they stop with very little hand force required; great on long descents where you have to get on the brakes all the time. I give 'em only 4 stars because the pads suck. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from seamorebns@aol.com
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vultures Knob | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
+FAIRLY easy to adjust
+Great stopping power
+Simple
+Light
+Cheap | | Weaknesses: |
+Makes the brake cables stretch about 1 inch every ride | | Similar Products Used: |
Misc. other brakes | | Bike Setup: |
Pacific Riptide
Steel fork
Alivio Levers
Shimano cables and housing | | Bottom Line: | These brakes do their job best when its dry, but they do an admirable job even in wet weather. Keep your pads fresh and you won't have to adjust them too much. Thought about going to Maguras but I'm just going to try some different pads to see which I like and I'll probably stay with these. Good about of power and fairly smooth in adverse conditions.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Mueller
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Great power | | Weaknesses: |
cable streatch.
I don't like the way that they feel, but the power makes up for it | | Similar Products Used: |
Magurak- John talkaks | | Bottom Line: | Great breaks but I don't like the way they feel. I have avid levers that are longer then the usual Shimano levers so it's a little easier on the wrists after a long ride. Unless you go to hydros or something like disks you won't get around the cable issue. But at $500 a pair Tomaks are a little out of my price range. For just over $100 they're the best thing you can do to your bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sunsik
a Cross-Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
victor falls | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
power, modulation, | | Weaknesses: |
set-up, like to fall apart, like to go out of adjustment | | Similar Products Used: |
stx-rc, xt, | | Bike Setup: |
v-link, coupe delux and FS-ti | | Bottom Line: | I like these brakes when they are adjusted correctly, the weather is good, and there is no mud. A problem that I have is that the pads like to go out of adjustment and rub my tire casings. This really pisses me off because either the pad hangs off the bottom of the rim or it rubs my tire (sun CR-17A). Another thing is that when I took them off my bike, they exploded and I suddenly had a bunch of parts all over the place. But seeing as how I don't take them off much that one is forgivable. | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
