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Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fantasy Island | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Nice looking | | Weaknesses: | Heavy
Microadjustments
Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Avid, Cane Creek DC, Deore | | Bike Setup: | Iguana with XT/XTR/Thomson Elite blah, blah, blah | | Bottom Line: | Nice looking brake levers but they're heavy (250g), the microadjustments are useless, and way too expensive for the quality. I bought them to complement my XT brake calipers (which are very nice) thinking they would be equal in quality. Yeah, I got suckered by the sales gimmicks and 'XT' logo. I replaced them with a pair of Cane Creek Direct curves that were 75g lighter, almost $50 cheaper & work just as well.
I wouldn't recommend them unless you can get them new for $40 or less. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XT user
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Quite cheap, adjustment, it's xt | | Weaknesses: | None so far... | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro crap | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded Kona blast | | Bottom Line: | I got a pair of these for 20 bucks. And they are much better than the crappy tektro levers that came on my bike. Anyone who wants good performance for less money than xtr should buy these | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Racer
from london
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreaction | | Strengths: | changing mechanical advantage during use | | Weaknesses: | on my third set after breakages | | Similar Products Used: | avids, shimano lx | | Bike Setup: | giant mcm, 23lbs | | Bottom Line: | I saw a lack of knowledge about the mechanical advantage gained by the roller on this website. you take out the plastic spacers and the roller moves down the lever as you pull it, increasing the mechanical advantage. you can set it up so that this only happens once the brakes hit the rim. result: incredible power and quick movement towards the rim or good rim clearance.
disadvantage is that its not cheap to have to replace them after you spin the bars in a crash. they are also lighter than most at around 160g a pair, competing with avid mags, which also bend apparently. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Fenter
a
from Austin, TX usa
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything with huge drops | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bicycle sport shop | | Strengths: | They stop when they are new. | | Weaknesses: | They break and bend quite easily, plastic design?? | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap plastic | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 2+ full custom job | | Bottom Line: | I used these levers for about 6 months now, and I find that after falls, the case on the lever tends to bend, impairing the braking function. This has happened now on both my front and rear levers. What is the deal with the plastic casing on the xt shifter\lever bundle? I have switched to the LX shifter\lever bundle with no plastic pieces . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walter Guan
a
from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hmm... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Butter smooth, stiff, Really Ergonomic, Light. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | promax | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, SD Mag, XT levers, Judy race with total air, Deore... | | Bottom Line: | This are a cool set of levers! They are awesomely comfortable and ultimately smooth (with SD Mag. Smoothest in my area)! Light! Way better than the ProMax they replaced. Quite tough too. Not bad price @ 40 a set. Too bad the XT brakes are a TRUE NON-PERFORMER... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ernesto freyre
a
from miami, florida
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | oleta park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | Strong, easy to maintain power. | | Weaknesses: | UMMMMM I cant think of one. | | Similar Products Used: | LX | | Bike Setup: | ALL XT parts, easton bar, thompson stem and seat post. | | Bottom Line: | reasonable price, works great and very little maintainance. Also not very heavy. I have fall and crash few times, so far it has not broke. I appreciate XT parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | Broadway Bike Show | | Strengths: | Hey, they're XT. Not flashy, but they get the job done, and in my case, the price was right. | | Weaknesses: | None that I know of | | Similar Products Used: | Avid, LX | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX-R, Sun-Ringle wheelset, ESP 9.0/XTR/Avid 7 | | Bottom Line: | They're good levers. Unless they break, there is absolutely nothing worth complaining about.
BTW... did the guy posting on 7/3 REALLY give the product a bad rating because he crashed and scratched his top tube?
That was one of the funnier things I've ever read.
~ride on | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Dreimanis
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, SA, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Narrow Neck - Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Elliots - Adelaide | | Strengths: | - Strong and durable
- Light weight | | Weaknesses: | - A bit pricey for what it is
- Not as nice feel as Avid or XTR | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Tektro, Avid, XTR | | Bike Setup: | Deore LX V-brakes, Kool-Stop dual compound pads. | | Bottom Line: | They seem a little pricey for what you get, but sill have good feel, although not quite as sweet as XTR or Avid. The cable adjuster seems a little flimsy, but it hasn't broken on me yet. Not bad, but not fantastic either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Toti Cunha
a Cross Country Rider
from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Brazil trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Weight, good power and look. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't come with boots. | | Bike Setup: | All XT, Easton CT2 carbon seatpost, 2002 SID SL, KHS Alite 2000 frame | | Bottom Line: | Great levers for the price, powerfull and nice look.
Why do not come with boots to protect the scrow brake cables? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennisd
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Brockville | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle world | | Strengths: | -Light
-Great modulation
-Durable
-Easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | -Expensive
| | Similar Products Used: | STC-RC, STX, LX, Avid, Deore | | Bike Setup: | These are the newer (silver) editions. | | Bottom Line: | Great levers. Nice and short, just the way I like them. They have the best feel since the STX-RC stuff I've been using for a while on my older GT. Much better than the Deore stuff that came with my Enduro sport.
I guess you can hate Shimano for whatever reason, but I go with what works. These levers, paired with the XT V-brakes work extremely well. I would recommend them to someone who is performance oriented and willing to pay for it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J.R. A Freerider
a
from State College,PA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$52.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Great Power | | Weaknesses: | Has a little friction. Not as smooth as it could be. Price | | Similar Products Used: | LX levers | | Bottom Line: | Is a good lever. These are actually lighter than the XTR's!!! They cost a lot less too.They have just as much power. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max_Bike
a Racer
from New-Brunswick CANADA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | UNB Wood Lot | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Suuuppper Light and they feel stable and smooth | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX,Shimano STX-RC,Avid 1.0L,Avid SD 1.9,Avid SD 2.0 | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 with Shimano XT Deraileurs, 2000 Shimano LX Crank set,2000 Shimano LX Brakes,VP Clipless pedals,Bomber Z.1 Drop Off Fork | | Bottom Line: | I think this is the sweetest levers. Just about as good as XTR. Anyone should get them!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mack Daddy
a Cross Country Rider
from Broomfield, CO
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | betasso preserve | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Craftmanship
Adusment
Preision
Weight | | Weaknesses: | cable entry set-up
smoothness | | Similar Products Used: | Lx's, Deore, Avid's, Trek P.O.S. brakes, alivio canti's | | Bottom Line: | These kick my stock brakes butt. I can stop on a dime with these things. The only problems are that they sometimes get a little sticky. The adjuster knob also started to cut my cable housing. Besides that, they are sweet to ride with. I really like the small levers. Buy yourself a pair | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: November 3, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Ape Canyon | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Modulation
Price
Workmanship | | Weaknesses: |
Adjustment blocks are kinda cheesy | | Similar Products Used: |
Avids
XTR
Hayes
Others | | Bike Setup: |
Curtlo | | Bottom Line: | What the heck do you want? They are cheap, light enough, durable, and easy to get. Sure! They are an ounce more than the $150 levers, but for the dough they rule. Plus, the have a really nice feel. I do like the XTR's adjustments better than that block set up though. Great deal. Oh, yaw, you bozo's, if you crash them they could break (welcome to MTBing). We break stuff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brady
a Cross-Country Rider
from St.Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: July 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Look good. | | Weaknesses: |
I went down real easy and the lever rotates around my bar. The aluminum scratches the shit out of my aluminum bar. The bar then brakes right where the scratch is and nearly KILLS me. Aluminum on aluminum is a BAD idea. Also, the lever is way too short like they purposely didn't want it to work well with my Gripshift shifters. That pisses me off. | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid, | | Bottom Line: | Watch it when you go down on them. When aluminum is bent, its gone. Don't try to bend it back because it will break twice as easy next time. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Machinist
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Moab | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
none | | Weaknesses: |
where to start | | Similar Products Used: |
alot | | Bike Setup: |
AMP frame and fork | | Bottom Line: | The following is a quote from E-zam(below) I don't know why people whine about weight on a product that costs less than $30. Go figure. If you're a weight weenie, pry a few more skins out of your wallet and go buy something lighter. What a novel concept!! Sheesh this guy doesn't have a clue about buying USA made components. I have gotten deals on lighter better US made components for a few skins (hippie throwback for paper money I guess)$40 for usa made,plus, I kept the money in the US.
What a novel concept?! What a moron you are E-zam. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross-Country Rider
from Hershey, PA
Date Reviewed: June 22, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Mt. Gretna and Lamb's Gap | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
It's XT
smooth action | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Trek OCLV | | Bottom Line: | It's a great V-brake lever; what else can I say? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
E-zam
a Cross-Country Rider
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Dakota Ridge, Deer Creek | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Simplicity, quality | | Similar Products Used: |
XTR, Kooka Racha | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y22, VooDoo Zobop | | Bottom Line: | These inexpensive levers are reliable and work very well in conjunction with XT V's. They do what they're supposed to do and require little if any manitenance. Shimano products are, for the most part, very well thought out and well made. They are also relatively inexpensive (except XTR of course). I don't know why people whine about weight on a product that costs less than $30. Go figure. If you're a weight weenie, pry a few more skins out of your wallet and go buy something lighter. What a novel concept!! 5 steaming mounds. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Beverly Hincel
a Weekend Warrior
from Costa Mesa
Date Reviewed: May 19, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
They are ok. | | Weaknesses: |
Not American made. The weight is a full 33% than the replacements I put on after these bent. | | Similar Products Used: |
LX, XTR, Paul, PB... | | Bike Setup: |
I had 'em on a Schwinn with a Judy XC fork. | | Bottom Line: | I would use these in a pinch...but wouldn't want to. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Modulation, power | | Weaknesses: |
strength | | Similar Products Used: |
sram 9.0
older xt | | Bike Setup: |
caad 3, xt, sram xtr | | Bottom Line: | These levers work well with my xtr v's but the strngth just isn't there. Twice in the past coupla' months I've had some crashes that ended up bending the crap out of my front lever- hello trashcan. The power's nice but I'm goin back to sram- at least they won't bend. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Jordan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Madison WI
Date Reviewed: May 5, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Moab | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Ummmmmm it beats department store level components. | | Weaknesses: |
The pivot is not as smooth as I like and it has excessive play. | | Similar Products Used: |
Too many to list but I like Paul's. | | Bike Setup: |
Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | I just don't care for these levers to much but they might work well if you have a no-name brand that needs replacement. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Linden, MI
Date Reviewed: April 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Quality feel. Quality ergonomics. | | Weaknesses: |
None. Well, maybe just that the adjustment screws don't adjust in far enough. | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid Speed Dials | | Bike Setup: |
'97 Jamis Dakar full suspension. Basically XT equipped, including XT V-brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Perfect. The fit, feel and function are solid and reassuring.
The feel, especially compared to the Avids, is like holding a pair of Craftsman pliers after a holding a $2 Taiwan piece. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby
a Weekend Warrior
from Hampton, VA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Waller Mill | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light, good ergonomics, adjustable | | Weaknesses: |
a bit excess play | | Similar Products Used: |
Avid 1.9 & 2.0 | | Bike Setup: |
GF Joshua F3, RShox Deluxe rear w/Manat. Se-X forks | | Bottom Line: | upgraded my Kona hard-tail from Kona brakes w/canti's to XT's & loved them. They work wonderfully w/the XT V's on my currint ride a GF F3.... lots of stop force, nice feel inthe hand. I've heard several conplaints about them breaking easily... haven't done it in any of my stupendous digs as of yet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G
a Racer
from SAN DIEGO
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
WORKS WITHOUT COMPROMISE | | Weaknesses: |
NONE SO FAR | | Similar Products Used: |
DIACOMPE | | Bike Setup: |
HT | | Bottom Line: | WHAT MORE COULD YOU POSSIBLY ASK FOR IN A BRAKE LEVER? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie
a Racer
from nova scotia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
anything with dirt | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
works
smooth
has ajustment
looks stealthy | | Weaknesses: |
1mm of play | | Similar Products Used: |
LX
STX
STX RC | | Bike Setup: |
norco magnum
bomber Z3 | | Bottom Line: | These are good levers. I think they look good and I like the feel of them. Thet have lived through some pretty bad crashes and hard smashes to the frame I had the shifter brake lever combonation.
They feel like a preformane part compered to crappy stx rc. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a Cross-Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
smooth | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
xtr | | Bottom Line: | i loved this brake levers but unfortunetly i have to switch because the shifting pods there connected to are broken. 5 CHILLIS! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Hansen
a Cross-Country Rider
from Milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: March 20, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Chukanut Ridge | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
DESIGN: Ergo! The are true one or two finger levers. Shapely. | | Weaknesses: |
The only thig that does not work as it implies is the modulation adjustment, it is not as smooth as it could be. | | Similar Products Used: |
Diacomp SS-7, Older XT--Servo Wave. | | Bike Setup: |
Serrota T-Max w/ a Rock Shock Judy XC | | Bottom Line: | I really like the design of these levers: they are solid, shapley and nicely adjustable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bicky
a Cross-Country Rider
from Montana
Date Reviewed: March 14, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Nunya | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
cheap | | Weaknesses: |
cheap | | Similar Products Used: |
XTR, Altek, Avid SD 2.0,m-600, LX, etc. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Super V-!000 | | Bottom Line: | These came as standard equipment on my wifes new Cannondale super V-1000. Right from the start, the rear brake lever made a clicking sound. After some inspection, the problem was found. The tabs that hold the barrel end of the brake cable were too far apart and needed to be squeezed closer together to obtain the proper fit.
I, otherwise, was not impressed with the cheap (rinky-dink) look and feel of this lever. I would change the lever, but seeing as how it is a one peice unit with the shifters, the change would be a little more complex than I would have hoped. because they have not been tested that much yet, I'll give them the benifit of a doubt and give them 3 turds, which is actualy kind on my part, because I prefer quality machined parts and despise Shimano. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrei
a weekend warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
THey are CHEAPER and LIGHTER then xtr, no fair they even work beter. They don't lookas cool but who cares, they work!!!
I've heard stories that they break, I had them for a year, downhill, slalom, and XC WORK perfectly. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rohan Macky
a downhiller
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Got these with the new Avid arch canti's. THEY ROCK!!! Bucketloads cheaper than XTR, but guess what? They're actually lighter than the XTR levers. Go figure. I have them set up on a slalom frame, and the feel of the short levers, and the response is wicked. Avid have some good canti's, but stick with shimano for the levers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a cross-country rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
XT rapidfire SL levers/shifters came stock on my K2. They worked great w/ my XT V's. I recently upgraded to XTR V's- a match made in heaven. I get the great power of XTR brakes + levers as light and strong as XTR without the play i've heard XTR levers get. The only downside is that I don't get the two extra power adjustments XTR levers get... too bad. However, I still haven't used more than two anyway. 5 chillys from me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis
a cross-country rider
from Auburn, CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I can't say enough about the '98 v-levers. After coming from cheap cantis, these are wonderful when combined with my 98 xt v-brakes. More that enough power and easy to adjust. Two finger design is great, and weight is low. Go get these levers if you want power and performance cheap and light. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a cross-country rider
from Boulder co
Date Reviewed: February 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had these levers for some time now and at first they were great, then they got this weird clicking sound in the rear brake when I pull the lever( I also have XT's in the back) I do not know how to fix it, but I do like the fell of the lever. XTR is better | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a racer
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: January 23, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These levers have excellent action, but will break when slammed into the ground.
I was very unimpressed with the metal of the brake lever body (the black part). After breaking I noticed many voids, the typical pot metal look.
Nevertheless, I ended up picking up a spare pair from a friend and are still riding them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric FAUCON
a weekend warrior
from STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Date Reviewed: January 20, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had my XT levers for 2 years now, and they're still as they were new ! No play, no malfunction. Good look compared with these plastic looking ESP levers, light. As we say in France, Que demande le peuple ?, which approximately means What more could you ask ?. 5 chilis, 'cause they saved my life many times !
I'm XT addicted ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keven Macgowan
a weekend warrior
from Rancho Palos Verdes
Date Reviewed: January 20, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Great lever!! I have owned them for over a year now, and have not
developed any play. They have lots of leverage, and pull. I like
the fact that you can adjust the amount of torque that you want.
I have mine set to the lowest setting, and still can send myself
over the bars!! The price was also right(around $39).I definetly
recomend these to anyone running V-brakes!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent
a cross-country rider
from Knoxvlle TN
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Been running LX levers for the past few years but I just built my dream bike last month and bought the XTs for dirt cheap. Man o man is there a huge difference. Not only do these things stop on a dime they are serveral grams less than XTR levers. I could not imagine a lever with any more sheer stopping power under extreme condtions. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bret
a cross-country rider
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought a bontrager Race-Lite which had XT levers on it. I took a very slow fall and the lever hit me in the chest. I was not bruised but the lever snapped in half. I figured it was a fluke-- after all, this is XT level stuff. Well I did some checking and found out that it wasn't a fluke at all. The mechanic at my local shop said he had seen a dozen broken in exactly the same way. He said a couple had been broken in panic stops just from hard gripping. Ok, I know the market wants light componants but the sick thing is that busting one of these inferior levers requires you to replace the whole damn set-up includig the rapid fire shifter. We're talking more than $100 to fix a lever that shimano knows breaks frequently. How do they get away with it? Well, what else are you gonna buy? I don't know about everyon |
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