Submitted by
surlychad
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn, WA, USA Date Reviewed: September 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Stopping power
Weaknesses:
Some could say that they are heavy?
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, magura, avid
Bike Setup:
Surly Instigater, Marzocchi 55, Saint wheels, deraileur, and brakes, slx cranks
Bottom Line:
I used to run hayes exclusively. Then I purchased a bike with the saint brakes on it and thought I'd give them a try before I replaced them. I'm glad I did. I won't ever switch back to Hayes or any other manufacturer. I'm not a big fan of the shimano brake pads but if you switch to the ebc red pads they rule.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mrmut
a Cross Country Rider
from Dugo Selo, Croatia Date Reviewed: February 28, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$430.00
Strengths:
Power on-demand.
Weaknesses:
Sometimes yon need to lube the pistons and work them a bit.
Similar Products Used:
Practically everything. Hayes, other Shimano discs, Tektro, Avid.
Bike Setup:
Orange P7 2005, Fox Vanilla 130 RLC.
Bottom Line:
Buy them. Don't expect Magura Gustav performance, tho also don't expect Magura Gustav rubbing.
New Saints (810) are probably much better. 50% increase in power is reported, and that could come in handy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
freerider#1
a Downhiller
from Cali Date Reviewed: September 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
NorthStar
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
local BS
Strengths:
Great stopping power. 1 finger to lock them. Excellent precise feel through the entire range. Solid as the rocks I ride over. Very nice finish and very durable. If youve seen any of my vids on utube you know how I abuse my gear. westcoastfreerider
Weaknesses:
They can only be used with saint hubs, so the initial cost to install is higher than others.
Bike Setup:
IH 7x7. all saint components. marzocchi forks dt swiss wheels fox shock
Bottom Line:
These bad boys are proven. if you want the best stop looking and go for it you wont be dissapointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Coburn
a Downhiller
from wellington Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
eskdale nats track
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
pennys with my bike
Strengths:
they stop me when working good
Weaknesses:
there is always somehting wrong with them as soon as i got them they went down to the levers and then went to bleed them and had tons of air in them then i wood good one going to then the other one would crap out then my level ceased up and now doesnt pump any fluid through
Similar Products Used:
the way u bleed them simular to my old hope m4
Bike Setup:
dh0 glory eg fox forty rc2, saint cranks saint brakes, xtr derailer, dhx 5.0, ex729 rims and dt swiss 440 hubs
Bottom Line:
????
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
T
a Downhiller
from SoCal Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
They're simple. Once you set em up, they're good to go. Easy to take care of
Weaknesses:
expensive
Similar Products Used:
Hayes (most models), avid BB
Bike Setup:
Demo 9
Bottom Line:
It's tough to know what to think when you read some of these reviews. Some people completely contradict others in their reviews. A big problem is that in most of the reviews you read, the author has only used the product a short time. The majority of the time, less than 6 months. It's also tough with brakes because you don't know who is reviewing them. Is it some 120 lb cross country guy who rarely goes downhill and has doesn't really even know how to ride, or is it someone who has legitimate skill and charges it?
I weigh 215 lbs and ride a demo 9. I spend a lot of time in Mammoth, Ca riding expert only downhill trails (at least that's what the signs say). I spent years riding with Hayes brakes. I learned to completely rebuild those things, and set them up correctly. I had to bleed them after every solid day of riding. Pad replacement was a frequent event. I spent a lot of money buying replacement pads, master cylinders and brake fluid. Two years ago, I threw in the towel with Hayes and bought a set of Saints, just because I heard good things. I canned the Hayes setup off my demo, took my time and put the saints on. I made sure they were set up right and honestly, they are on a whole other level. They don't fade (like Hayes), the lever actuation point doesn't change minute by minute (like Hayes) and they require a fraction of the maintenance.
If you're looking at getting these brakes, I don't think you can go wrong. They have been great for me. Anyone who says Hayes brakes are great either doesn't know how to ride, weighs as much as a 10 year old girl, or rides cross country with no significant descents (sorry, but the truth hurts sometimes).
I can't give these a perfect score, cause nothings perfect.
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Submitted by
Mick
a Weekend Warrior
from Oldham, Lancs Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dalbeatie
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Chain Reaction
Strengths:
Great power, good modulation.
Weaknesses:
Lever is a bit narrow, heavy, metal pads overheat, pads run too close to the rotors and any kind of warp is a major problem.
Similar Products Used:
Formula k24, Hope M4.
Bike Setup:
Kona Dawg
Bottom Line:
Good brakes. Strong and easy to set up. No problems with adjustments. Good price. I think they are heavy, especially compared with Formula or maybe Hope. The levers feel a bit narrow for me. Get a big rotor or else they will glow and pump up, mine do a lot. Also I get quite a bit of pad drag on the back too which makes the problem worse.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Slabaugh
a Racer
from Hayden, ID Date Reviewed: May 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Excellent stopping power, noise-free (unlike Avid), good reach adjustment, touble-free after bleeding, easy to find small parts at LBS, simple to shorten hose, single block caliper design, great engagement feel, easy one finger operation (even downhill).
Weaknesses:
Narrow levers.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 5, Avid BB5, Hayes
Bike Setup:
Turner Six Pack. Marzocchi Z1 Light, DHX Air, Saint crankset, Crank Bros Mallet, Answer Pro Taper, 07 SRAM X.9, Panaracer Fire FR 2.4, Saint hubs, Sun Rhyno Lite, WTB Laser V Pro Gel.
Bottom Line:
These are the best hydraulic disc brakes I have ever used. The most positive thing I can say about any bike component is that I don't think about it. I had a crummy experience with Avids constantly announcing themselves by warbling, squealing, and developing sticky pistons.
Based on the MTBR reviews and individual recommendations, I bought the SAINT brakes for a new All Mountain ride I was building. Even though the 6-bolt rotors are readily available, I went with the Saint centerlock hubs and centerlock rotors.
I'll never go back to Avid. In fact, I bought another 6" Saint/XT brake set for my XC ride. These brakes are whisper-quiet, held the bleed great, and engage with a solid feel that I have not experienced on othe brakes. They stop with one finger, front or rear. After realizing that I left the brake hose too long, all I had to do was buy another olive and pin, take a boxcutter to the hose, and hammer the new pin into the hose. The brake didn't even need to be re-bled.
Count them: 5, FIVE flaming jalapeños for Shimano.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
walton brush
a Downhiller
from portland, oregon, usa Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
goats gully
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
river city bicycles
Strengths:
These brakes have awesome a strength to weight ratio, they have great modulation yet are still extremly strong.
Weaknesses:
i learned the hard way to make sure you buy non-centerlock rotors, I was stuck with my old hayes rotors.
Similar Products Used:
magura louise fr, juicy seven, hayes mags, hayes nine, shimano xt, hayes el camino, hope 6 ti,
Bike Setup:
specialized big hit, 888, swinger 4 way, saint cranks, atom lap trail pimps, saint brakes
Bottom Line:
buy them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Danny Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Ireland Date Reviewed: March 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
ChainReaction
Strengths:
Good power to weight ratio. value for money. easy to set up and plenty of power and feel.
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
This is a very good brake with enough power for any application but with plenty of modulation. It's straight forward to set up and adjust and the rotors are substantial enough not to bend or warp easily and the weight is good too. Also the price means good value for money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: December 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
universal
Strengths:
Power, modulation, simple pad change, color
Weaknesses:
metallic pads
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 7, Shimano 555 & 515
Bike Setup:
04 Enduro with tons of stuff and things
Bottom Line:
These brakes work great. The only problem I ever had with them was at Downieville. They overheated on the long decents and made harsh braking sounds. At the top of the second run I swapped the metallic pads out, and put resin ones in. All my problems disappeared. They were now quiet and never faded, plus I had more stopping power.
Setup and bleeding is easy, you can change the pads without removing the wheel too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Dolores, CO, USA Date Reviewed: December 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Kokopelli Bike and Board
Strengths:
Power, style, set-up
Weaknesses:
way too little clearance between pads and rotor, mineral oil froze in extreme cold.
Similar Products Used:
Been using BB7's for years, but I've worked on them all.
Bike Setup:
Surly Pugsley 1sp for winter riding.
Bottom Line:
Although the shimano discs have been awesome to work on in the shop; easy set-up, great power, long lasting, etc; I was disappointed that the Saints didn't cut it for true winter riding. After a 1/2hour ride I had brake drag I could feel while padalling and even just squezzing the brakes in the shed with temps in the teens made the pistons stick. I can only point to mineral oil as the culprit on these cold days. additionally, I wish there was a way to set the pistons farther away from the rotors as it was impossible to set-up the brakes without the rotors tapping. I put the BB7's back on with the 8" Saint rotor in about 10 minutes and haven't had a problem since. Come summer I may give the more powerful Saints another try, but they didn't work for me in the winter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rogier
a Weekend Warrior
from Netherlands Date Reviewed: December 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bikepark Winterberg
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Strengths:
Never let's you down, always works
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Kona Dawg Dee-Lux 2006 with Mavic Crossmax Xl Disc wheels
Bottom Line:
I had these brakes put on the bike when i bought it, because from the reviews on mtbr it was clear that the Hayes (standard on the bike) where not realy trustworthy. The reviews on the Saints where good. And so they are!
Where others (Hope, Hayes, Avid,...) started fading, leaking, sqealing, blocking or stopped working at all on long freeride descents, the Saints simply kept working fine like nothing was going on.
Just make sure that you replace the standard 6" rear disc with an 8" one, because the 6" can get too hot on long descents. When it happened to me the brake didn't stop working, but started making some noise and dosage was getting poor. After i put the 8" rotor i never had any such experience ever again, not even on some lovely >1h non-stop freeride/downhill descents where you had to be braking practically all the time in order not to be rocketed into the ravine with out of control speed...
Bottom line: The Best for freeride and (light) downhill. (i have not done extreme downhill, so i don't know how they would perform then)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Notion
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006
MuddyFox Huck, DHX5.0 Mojo Tuned, 888RC2X's, Saint gear/brakes (GET THE REAR MECH NOW!!)....
Bottom Line:
MODULATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On my XC bike, I had Magura HS33's, effectivly a 26" disc, offering TONS of modulation, I never thought a DH 8" Disc and Caliper could have very nearly as much as the HS33's had. AND STILL retain all the stopping power a DH bike requires. Magical these things are. Never thought I'd be able to pull rolling endo's this easy... Amazing... And with a little more lever pull, I can lock the front wheel at any speed if I want to... This is on the metal pads too, don't waste money on Resin, they just last shorter with no real benefits becuase the Saint system has been designed so damn well!
In the UK, these are the cheapest DH/FR set-up you can get. HOW DID SHIMANO DO IT! Only £200/$350 - $400 for the whole set! I use Deore XT DH 6 bolt rotors so I can use any hub's I want. They work as good as the center-lock rotors. If you think you need the Saint Hub's, which are probably fantastic as well, you DONT! Any hubs, Deore XT 6 bolt rotors...
Mineral Oil is a god send pretty much... I've never heard of anyone boiling Mineral Oil, and I haven't myself, and it is 20x better than DOT Fluid, your brakes seals last forever and you can poor a bottle of this stuff in your eyes and it might itch for a few mins... Saves yout precious paintwork unlike DOT Fluid too!
Everything about these babies says YES!
Don't bother with anything else... Ever... Shimano have dont the Saint set VERY, VERY well...
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Submitted by
steven
a Weekend Warrior
from adelaide Date Reviewed: August 22, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
chainreaction cycles
Strengths:
fantastic modulation, awsome power, clean and subtle looks.
Weaknesses:
none except rear hose too long.
Similar Products Used:
dice whiplash, hayes hfx-9, deore cable discs.
Bike Setup:
specialized epic with pike 454's and hope wheelset.
Bottom Line:
the feel of these brakes is almost spongy but thats only because they dont have the on/off feel of other hydro's. after only 10mins of bedding in i could lift the rear wheel with one finger whilst sitting on the seat! powerful to the point of hazardous if you are not used to them and the modulation is unlike anything i have tried. it takes no effort to get exactly the level of power you need from these brakes. they dont look as flashy as hopes or avid juicy's but they are cheaper, look clean and work flawlessly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Wagner
a Weekend Warrior
from Cranbrook, B.C. Date Reviewed: August 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
anything I can ride to
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Funhogz
Strengths:
Nice heat dissipation, no vibration, resists warping makes that awesome sounds of bubbles popping while brakeing slows my 190lb ass down in a hurry on mechanical calipers
Weaknesses:
center lock only, so it costs a little more works perfectly with the Hone hubset for a lot less than the Saint group. Not worth using on Mechanical brakes with resin brake pads, gotta use semi-metallics or else wicked brake fade
Similar Products Used:
Hayes cable 8" - hydro 6" various old school brake systems
Bike Setup:
2003 Brodie Bruzza 17" Marz DJIII's Hone hubset /w Saint rotors Mammoth hoops Maxxis Minion 2.35 F&R with freeride tubes Lotsa burly goodies to set up a 17" for a big guy
Bottom Line:
a good if not one of the only options for center lock rotors in any reasonabe price range. brakes look as good as new after getting cooked countless times. requires tedious cleaning for all of the cross drilling to keep them working well enough for me on mech brakes
4 stars for value lose one for C-L only 5 orverall for being excellent at what they do
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vivian Nguyen
a Weekend Warrior
from utah Date Reviewed: July 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
porp rim
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Great looks, very well made, easy to center. pistons easily retract, strong! Quiet and reliable as well as powerful.
Weaknesses:
There is a bit too much modulation if that is the right word. What I mean is you squeeze the lever just a bit to get it to brake. On technical descents with lots of drops its hard to keep the right pressure on the lever. A jolt and squezzing the lever too hard can send you over the bars.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HD hfx 9
Bike Setup:
enduro expert saint hubs, cranks, ect,
Bottom Line:
Very good brakes, they work very well. There is a learning curve when comming from other brakes such as hfx 9. More than enough power for riders at 175 lbs. Get them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver BC, Canada Date Reviewed: May 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Oil Can
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Not noisy, very powerful. Cool rotors!!!:D
Weaknesses:
Expensive!!!
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Avids
Bike Setup:
Switch S3
Bottom Line:
They are unbelieveable brakes and are so easy to maintain. Unfortuatly they are very expensive and you have to have the saint hubs to have the saint rotors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Downhiller
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: February 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Narbethong
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Come with bike
Strengths:
Everything about these brakes are execellent, great modulation and power.
Weaknesses:
None at all
Similar Products Used:
Hayes 9,
Bike Setup:
2006 Norco shore one 888rc2x DHX5.0 syncros everything saint 8
Bottom Line:
Great brakes just get a pair and you will see.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
zac
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara Date Reviewed: February 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Ramero, or coldsprings
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
LBS VP
Strengths:
great modulation, air feeling when you go for the brakes, great strength
Weaknesses:
none at all buy them they are the best brakes out there
Similar Products Used:
hayes mag 9
Bike Setup:
the best stinky in the world, if you think you have one better send me a pic
Bottom Line:
these are great brakes, super strong, and almost maintenece free, if your thinking about them stop and buy them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Woodhaven, NY Date Reviewed: December 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Ergonomics. Levers have a nice shape and fit next to Shimano and SRAM shifters nicely on the bar. Pads are replaceble without having to remove wheel. Easier and safer to bleed than Hayes (uses mineral oil). Increased modulation over Hayes but just as powerful. Reach adjustments don't creep out of adjustment. Caliper has adjustable exit angle for the hose. Discs seem to stay true better?
Weaknesses:
Modulation comes at expense of lever feel, which seems kinda spongey (not an issue when riding). Harder to get replacement parts (most bike shops stock Hayes). Pad retraction seems less than Hayes.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX9, HFX Mag
Bottom Line:
I got these to try something different when issues came up with one of my Hayes brakes. First off, I really like how they designed the calipers. The brake pads are easily removed without having to remove the wheels but are quite secure being held in by a shoulder screw type "pin" and C-clip (won't unscrew totally if it does loosen) and the angle where the the hose exits can be adjusted which can allow cleaner cable routing (no big loops). Bleeding is much easier than Hayes IMO, and it seems easier to get both brakes to engage the pad with the same amount of lever throw. Mineral oil vs DOT fluid might be an issue for some, but I haven't boiled either before and mineral oil is safer to handle. In the parking lot the lever feel seems somewhat spongey, but on the trail this translates to increased modulation (more lever throw range), where as Hayes felt more solid, but were also more sensitive and easier to lock up accidentally. Maybe I've just been crashing less or maybe it's the increased number of spokes, but my discs seem to be less warped than when I had Hayes on which is nice cause the pad retraction doesn't seem as good (tighter clearances, more likely to rub). Also the reach adjustments haven't moved on me unlike Hayes which needed loctite or teflon tape. As you can see, for all the good points, there are some bad points including the fact that most bike shops don't seem to stock Shimano parts. However, I think this is a solid alternative to Hayes brakes. Higly recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a
from Philadelphia, PA Date Reviewed: December 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bike Line Montgomeryville
Strengths:
Braking power, ease of installation
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Avid Juicy 7
Bike Setup:
Intense Uzzi VPX, Marzocchi 66 SL, Saint
Bottom Line:
Very powerful brakes. I'm 210+ with gear, and ride very aggressively. These are the best brakes I've ever used. Excellent stopping power and modulation. The installation was the easiest of any disc brake I've ever installed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon
a Downhiller
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: May 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Harper Mountain, Kamloops
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Great modulation, ease of bleeding
Weaknesses:
Power fade over long descents to eventual loss of braking
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX Mags, Shimano Deore 525
Bike Setup:
RMX with Monster T,
Bottom Line:
A big guy (200+) with a heavy bike did not bode well for these brakes. Long descents where I needed to be on the brakes constantly resulted in power loss and then complete loss of power at one point (fortunately it was at the bottom so able to ride it out). After that experience, I cannot trust these brakes to stop me. Switching back to Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Downhiller
from Australia Date Reviewed: May 19, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Powerful, look good, never had any problems
Weaknesses:
Noisy at times
Similar Products Used:
Deore hydros, hfx9 (crap)
Bike Setup:
SGS World cup, 04 888r, saint brakes, ex823 wheels
Bottom Line:
These are awesome. Very strong, great for Downhill. Weight is respectable
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BigLarry
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: April 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Reeds
Strengths:
Handles my 300 lbs (with gear) down long steep decents in hilly CA.
Weaknesses:
Slight squeal only after deep stream crossings. A little squeal with metalic pads down hills in wet weather.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX Comp 6" discs
Bike Setup:
Heckler with XT Hubs, XM321 rims, Marz AM1 fork with standard QR, Shimano XT M765 Dual Control shifters/brake lever
Bottom Line:
I'm maybe 265, or close to 300 lbs with gear. My Hayes 6" disks would smoke and completely fade out on steep decents over 1500'. I had to use my feet (like "Flinstones") to stop before going over the edge of a switch back. I could pull my brake levers to the bar and the bike would move freely underneath me. (EEK!!) After a few minutes the Hayes cooled down and recovered. I had to stop every 1000' (for a brake break) on descents from then on. I was trying to figure out why my Hayes 6" rotor was always warping out of shape - in retrospect it was from heat, not from dinging. I had nasty squeals coming and going all the time with the Hayes.
With my Saints, the biking got so much better. NO FADE IN THE LEAST! No rotor warping! Great modulation! Great stopping power! Much less squealing - almost never but a little more with metal pads.
Note the Saints are essentially the same as the XT 8" disc brakes. The only difference is color and the rotor's hub centerlock system being a bit bigger for the Saint hubs. But the price is almost the same too. I use XT hubs just fine with the different XT centerlock rotor.
The 8" disc brakes can be used with Standard QR (rather than 20 mm axle) if the manufacturer approves. I have Marzcocchi AM1 fork and they allow 8" disks since the diameter of the fork is over 30 mm (32 actually).
I also love the Shimano Dual Control levers. They work precise and have a nice feel to them. The Rapid Rise allows me to shift under power without breaking the chain. I had to rotate the levers more horizontal than down so as to reach it with my fingers when I'm off the back of the bike (on very steep down hills) with my arms extended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
reymond singson
a Weekend Warrior
from manila, philippines Date Reviewed: April 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
various
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Compact, no rotor rub, fade free, quick breakin time, nice modulation and feel. POWERFUL and not noisy when wet
Weaknesses:
replacement rotors are expensive. have to purchase levers individually
Similar Products Used:
hayes mags, XT 4 pots, Avid BB7 mechs, hopes
Bike Setup:
2004 Schley Switch (yes the brown one), 66 RC and karve saddle, full saint including levers, RF diabolus Cockpit, Maxxis Tires, Mavic Hoops, and lx shifters on its last legs
Bottom Line:
These are the best brakes out there right now. I thought the old 4 pot xt's were the best, but these raise the bar. I just didnt like the fact that I needed to scrounge around for a good set of levers for these brakes. at the price shimano was offering they couldhave thrown in the saint levers (which are also great btw). The funny thing about these brakes is they actually gave me confidence to be "off" the brakes more often - as I know they will be there once i need to slow down :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Oliver
a Downhiller
from Old Lyme, CT Date Reviewed: January 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
bluff point.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
these brakes are awsome!
much better modulation than my hayes 9's, and thyre just as powerful
Weaknesses:
nome what so ever!
Similar Products Used:
hayes hfx 9, avid mech, shimano mech
Bike Setup:
02 norco team DH, w/ bombshell merilyn 8, hadley hubd wraped with mag 30's, and some other stuf
Bottom Line:
danm good brakes, u dont have to run the centerloc rotors any rotors will work ven if thyre not shimano
also i couldnt find any shimano mineral oil so i went to my bike shop and they said u can use generic mineral, so i went to the local walmart anf got 16 oz bottle for $1.67 and it works great
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
drew
a Downhiller
from armstrong Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Jims
Strengths:
powerfull, i'm a pretty big guy and these things have no problem
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
hayes feels like cr#p compared to these. you dont have to run saint hubs, just get some regular shamino rotors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emil
a Weekend Warrior
from Aarhus, Denmark Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
pole-position-parts.de
Strengths:
Very good stopping power and at the same time very good modulation. I have a set og Gustav M brakes on another bike, and they are easyly as powerfull and almost as easy to modulate. Also the brakes are extremly easy to set up and bleed.
Weaknesses:
Well, none really. The rear brake squeeals sometimes, but I´m trying to remidy that, and I´m making progress. And YOU DO NOT NEED THE SAINT HUBS!!!! just go buy yourself a pair of old XT 203mm discs. They work just as fine. I even got the XT discs instead of the centerlock-ones when I bought them, no problem....
Similar Products Used:
hayes, magura, avid, hope
Bike Setup:
heckler in light freeride mode (soon to feature a PIKE)
Bottom Line:
very nice brakes. I doubt you´ll find a better brake for the same amount of money. Just make sure you don´t get the brake/shifter combo levers. I for one absolutely hate the way they work. But the brake i awesome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Zoobkoff
a Downhiller
from Nelson Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004
Ther is none, unles u get the brake stock in which case u get the shifter brake combo, its weird
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
888r, manitou six way swinger, shimano saint derailleur
Bottom Line:
This is the best brake u will ever use, once u ride one trail with this brake, u will never want to back to your old ones, these r brakes that Hayes cant even come close to.........AMAZING
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon Hill
a Downhiller
from The Netherlands Date Reviewed: August 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Easy to set up Unsurpassed power and modulation sileny
Weaknesses:
Need to buy hubs to accomidate rotors, not so good if you allready have wheels Lever/resivour set up not included
Similar Products Used:
Hope mono m4
Bottom Line:
Big bang for your bucks. If you're building up a bike or don't mind building a new wheel then buy them. Otherwise I'd go for something from hope, hope kicks ass.
For those who are curious, I tested this brake rigorously over a two week period at whistler mountain bikepark. They're so worth the money
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Submitted by
Nick Slim
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: July 15, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
uk
Strengths:
These brakes are superb - they have just done 8 days in the french alps on various downhill courses and there were no problems period. setup and leave. havent even changed the pads yet.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
hope m4, shimano xt, magaura
Bike Setup:
cannondale gemini dh, dorados
Bottom Line:
shimano are the best bike company buy there brakes they work every time
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Isaac Guerrero
a Weekend Warrior
from Springfield, VA Date Reviewed: July 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
The Bike Lane
Strengths:
You hit the brakes, and you stop
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
First time ever using disc brakes
Bike Setup:
Heckler with Saint group, Z-1 FR forks, Mavic 729 wheels, with Maxis High Rollers 2.5 tires, Tru vative bars
Bottom Line:
The truth is that these brakes are awesome, but then again, these are the first set of nice brakes that I have ever had. I'm 6 ft 4 in and weigh 260lbs, and I love to go down hill. If these can stop me they will be more than sufficient for you. I have already gone through one set of pads, in 3 months, not sure if that's normal or not, but $25 a pop for brake pads, I hope they last a bit longer. These brakes are great for wet or dry conditions. I highly recommend these brakes to any one considering it, the only thing I do not like about the kit is that there is no flexibilty on choosing your hubs. But I can't complain about that, b/c the Saint hubs have also been outstanding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Downhiller
from Montréal, Québec, Canada Date Reviewed: May 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Bromont
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Friendly LBS
Strengths:
MODULATION!!! Really easy to install and bleed, sleek looking calipers and rotors. Also inexpensive, comes with metallic and resin pads, really good lever shape.
Weaknesses:
None find except that I'm stuck with Saint rotors as I'm using the 6 bolts rotors...
Similar Products Used:
Hayes mag HD
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle shockwave 9.5, Dorado, saint brakes, raceface/mrp/XTR...
Bottom Line:
The best brakes I ever used. Nothing comes close to the modulation and control you get with those. You do have to get used to the lever feeling that isn't like Hayes. You don't get the same "solid" lever feel on the bike stand, but once on the trail the modulation and power is WAY over Hayes. Just be sure to sand the rotors and the pads before using those, it will shorten the break-in period. Mine only took 4 runs to get 200% more power. Will they get even better? Only time will tell!
The best brakes you can buy!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Downhiller
from Reno, NV Date Reviewed: February 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
anything going down
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
cambriabike.com
Strengths:
Great stopping power, solid & stiff feel, easy set up, solid single peice caliper makes them nice and tough and adds to the stiffness, look great too.
Weaknesses:
none really, but if you are going to use saint stuff you will most likely have to use all the saint components because these brakes only work with the hubs and so on
Bike Setup:
2002 Rocky Mountain RM9 with Mavic D321 rims, panaracer FR 2.4 tires, saint hubs brakes and deraileur, ird black lightning chain and cassette, mr dirt chain guide, XT levers and shifter, race face cranks bottom bracket handlebars and seatpost, azonic seat and pedals and a marzocchi super t pro up front.
Bottom Line:
The new Saint components are amazing. these brakes are sweet. They are relatively inexpensive too. I say relative because you have to run Saint hubs too. It's worth it. Theses brakes can be used with the Shimano XT or XTR hydraulic levers and mineral oil only. I know I am glad I bought the stuff and you will be too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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