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Submitted by
sirtwist
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Cycle | | Strengths: | Great Price ($200 for complete front and back, levers and calipers all came assembled and apparently beld)
Strong braking
Stif level feel (after bleeding properly!) | | Weaknesses: | Factory bleed is rubbish, make sure you buy a shimano bleed kit and do the job properly (the proper kit, with the special clamp for the resevoir) then it feels great! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M575, which were rubbish
Avid BB5 and Hayes MX4 - both great braking power, but as with all mech's, constant adjustment required, which gets boring very quickly. | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper race bike | | Bottom Line: | These are brilliant. Don't buy the new M575, they're rubbish, I just sent a set back, and bought another set of M535 which as usual are amazing (third bike I've put them on now!). As good as Saint and XT in terms of power, and much cheaper. With a 180 rotor on the front, more braking power than I could wish for XC racing.
Bleed them properly though, they come "bled" but it needs doing properly straight away, otherwise they don't feel solid and powerful. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Z2adambomb
a Weekend Warrior
from Durham NC
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | it's a secret | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | power, modulation, setup options, price! | | Weaknesses: | thin shimano lines kink easily | | Similar Products Used: | juicy 7, hope M4 and mini, Hayes Mag, Magura Louise FR and Julies, Shimano XT and LX probably more | | Bike Setup: | Kona Coiler Primo, DHX 5.0 air, Marz Z1 RC2, Hadley/Arrow FRX wheels, XTR, RF cranks, Thomson stuff, LX hydro levers to Hone calipers, Hope 185mm machined rotors, avid 185mm PM adapters, metalic pads. | | Bottom Line: | For a lengthly review, please see my post under the LX brakes. These are the same caliper, just different paint job and metallic pads. I'm very impressed with the hone calipers. The metallic pad does make a good upgrade over the LX units, but all the modulation is still there. Power is very good and can be applied in a very consistent, progressive way. I would recommend running a purely round rotor instead of one of the wavy models simply for more consistent pad contact with the rotor. The combo of the round hope rotor with this caliper results in some serious power... it's not quite up to the M4 I had on previously, but it's much more usable if that makes sense. The M4 was more on/off, where the hone can be accurately feathered through the rough, yet offers enough one-finger power to do a front brake wheelie. I'd say the Louise FR's I've had were similar in modulation, but didn't offer as consistent of a feel and not quite as much power as the hones (I had issues with Mag's wavy rotor causing inconsistent feel). See the other review for info on the versatility of setup - a huge strength for shimano's brakes. Normally I like giving smaller, more focused companies like Formula business, but if you can get past the unimpressive Shimano LX or Hone label, these brakes will perform with the best of them.
PS: the $20 deal at performance didn't last long, but you can get them for $39 at jenson now which is still a great deal. I have them paired with the LX levers - a bit over $100 for a set-it-and-forget-it complete brakeset... pretty sweet! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Willi Coyote
a Weekend Warrior
from Bad Homburg, Germany
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | R + R FAHRZEUGE GMBH | | Strengths: | Great Modulation & Power
Easy to bleed, resize hoses etc.
Readily available parts & reasonably priced (pads, bleed oil etc)
Just a no hassle system.
good power, good value.
Mineral oil is far better to work with than traditional brake fluid.
| | Weaknesses: | Levers setup with Sram XO (or any other model) is not so good. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 7. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Prophet. Lefty, full XO and other goods.Mavic Wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Good all round power and great for xc and all mountain.
These brakes are virtually maintenance free.
Good price for good product.
If "Avid Matchmaker" for shimano was available ..... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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