Submitted by
Ted
a Cross Country Rider
from S. Hadley Ma Date Reviewed: February 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Anything that's not flat or paved
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$28.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Lighter than XTR, Lots of cable pull for my Avid mechanical discs, Look cool. There simply isn't a better brake lever out there for the money I paid.
Weaknesses:
None so far. I'll probably get another set for my other bike
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT, Dia Compe
Bike Setup:
Rockhopper disc only, Manitou Black, Sun singletrack rims w/XT hubs, Velosiraptors, XTR,XT,LX. Strongarm II crank, Rattler brake cables/housing, etc, etc.
Bottom Line:
These levers are the best. It's just not worth it to spend twice as much or more for a lever that might be better. I've used them for a whole summer riding about three times a week. They've been covered in mud and washed off many times. They've been riden in extreme cold (0 degree) this past winter. These lever are for the budget and value minded buyer. There are better levers out there but it's more lucrative to spend that money on more important components that can make a bigger difference in your ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron McGraw
a Cross Country Rider
from Oil City PA, USA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Oil Creek/ Allegheny/ Sugar Creek trail system
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Price Point (these guys & Cambria are simply the best!)
Strengths:
Great modulation. Light weight. Smooth looks and good feel.
Weaknesses:
Flex is only slightly noticable. The grillon lever-blade kind of gives me crash-anxiety.
Similar Products Used:
Nashbar-branded Tektro, Avid Single Digit, Shimano Exage Trail M350
Bike Setup:
These levers with 2002 Alivio V-brakes, Titec Bars, MRX shifters, Kore stem, Profile bar ends, Diacompe Aheadset, Mutanoraptor tires, Weinmann rims, Formula hubs, Truvativ 5-D cranks with Syncros (outer), LX (middle), and stock steel Truvativ (inner) rings, Deore front mech, XT rear mech, Taya Relief chain, Nashbar cassette, Kalloy post with SDG comp saddle, Wellgo Smoothie DH SPD-style pedals. Mongoose XR-150 Frameset with Dynamount shock and Manitou Magnum fork.
Bottom Line:
They work. Outstanding modulation (compared to my 1995 Avids and 2002 Tektros). Only the slightest bit of flex (maybe I'm imagining it). Hopefully the plastic shell will hold its color (they are whiter than I am). The grillon blades don't inspire me with confidence, but heck, they haven't snapped yet. Weight junkies will love these things. They are high-end for a low-low price, look spiffy, and feel fantastic. If they hold up, they'll definately be worth the outlay.
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Racer
from Walla Walla Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
They're all good.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Light, nice looking, smooth, slightly flexy (yes, I like it), easy to set-up.
Weaknesses:
Flex (some people hate it), Grilon doesn't inspire confidence, they're white (bound to turn grey).
Similar Products Used:
These are rather unique, but I've used Shimano and Avid levers.
Nice product for the price. Smooth, lightweight, adjustable and great modulation in combination with the Gore Ride-On cables.
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Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Winter Park Colorado Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Tipperary
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Beavers Sports Shop Winter Park
Strengths:
Light weight and the best power and modulation I've ever seen
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
XTR, Avid
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept Pro XTR
Bottom Line:
Very powerful with a smooth lightweight feel. Takes a bit to get used to the light feel and modulation. But these brake levers stop you fast. Other reviews complain about lack of power. I suspect that there is confusion over a hard brake feel at the lever and power. These levers have incredible power at the lever and lots of leverage while maintaining excellent modulation. Soft feel at the lever = power at the brake. Hard feel at the lever means the brake has a mechanical advantage over the lever.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
jenonsonusa.com
Strengths:
lightweight, looks, feel!!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
XTR, Avid, Hayes
Bike Setup:
2002 Cannondale F3000sl w. SRAM 9.0sl R Der., Shifters, and Brake Levers....Race Face Next Cranks.....9.0sl hubs laced to Velocity Aeroheat.
Bottom Line:
I don't know what type of riders the other reviewers are, but these levers are perfect. If they feel flexy, then your not riding properly. Shape and texture are extremely comfortable!! All around a great product!
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Submitted by
CB
a Weekend Warrior
from WI Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
In the woods
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very good feel,works really good with grip shift.
Weaknesses:
Flex a little but nothing to whine about.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
9.0 sl levers, attack sram gripshift, xt rear derailer, alvio front(came with bike havent changed it)lx v brakes and so on and so forth
Bottom Line:
really nice levers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fonseca
a Weekend Warrior
from somewhere in the shenandoah valley... Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
They still look good when adjusted for reach. Fit my 9.0sl shifters great. Great adjustability, on par with avid. Very light. Take same size hex wrench as shifters (convenience).
Weaknesses:
Composite material does not inspire trust like aluminum. Takes longer to remove cables than with avid levers. Slightly flexy in comparison with Avids.
Good levers, a great buy at this price, but as a long time avid user they will take some getting used to. I bought avid speed dial mags earlier this year and just put them on a few weeks ago when I finally finished my bike, and after a few miles the right lever broke at the clamp!!! They were installed correctly with the small park torque wrench as well. I read the negative reviews of this but ignored them; never again! I'm sure avid will replace them though as their customer service has a great reputation.
Overall I like these sram levers. I have them adjusted most of the way to the plus sign; the toast piece may be nice for V brakes but for mechanical discs I do not like the ramp-up/down feel. These took some dialing in but now I can lock up the wheels at speed. They are, however, more flexy than the avid mags. I can't comment on durability. Value rating is definitely 5 stars. I will give them an overall rating of 5 as well, and post a follow up review if there are problems.
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Submitted by
Kurt Reincke
a Cross Country Rider
from Helsinore Denmark Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
roods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Roadbikeshop DK
Strengths:
Good looking, light
Weaknesses:
They are not stiff enough, when you breke real hard,they bend (they are made off plastic something.
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
