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Submitted by
Hikmer
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Romero Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Hazards | | Strengths: | Cheap and well reviewed. Local store had them in stock and recommended them for replacement to OEM | | Weaknesses: | Installation, which isn't the fault of Kool Stop but Cantilevers are a pain to install. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M 65/T | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M-400 | | Bottom Line: | Old Raleigh M-400 bike which has lasted me for years. Thought it was time to add new brake pads. The old ones were leaving black marks and gouging the rims...and they didn't stop very well. Bought these as a replacement and some steel wool to clean the rims. I completely overhaulded the brakes and pulled them off and got all the dirt out. I adjusted them to be really tight since they seemed very loose. They squeeked really bad at first, but I figured out I had the front ones on backwards. After that they seem great, really big improvement. Can stop on a dime now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
François
a
from Quebec, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | * They really work.
* Outstanding in the wet.
* They don't seem to be wearing unduely fast.
* No rim-is-getting-eaten noise.
* Easier to ajust properly thanks to the plow tip thing.
* Long alloy posts, should fit just about any bike.
* Salmon version are the best pads I've tried so far. | | Weaknesses: | * Unduely(?) more expensive then average, but worth it.
* Kool-Stop sells inferior non-salmon versions of theese pads. | | Bike Setup: | The downhill bike has Deore LX front and generic v-brake rear.
Other two bikes in my story are cantilever (Eagle2 material) | | Bottom Line: | My first experience with black Eagle2 pads was on my Miyata 600GT touring bike. The thing has brakes that worked ok for cantilevers, but with the Eagle2's the bike got really good brakes. I can lock both wheels on dry pavement, and they're above average when it's wet.
Then I read somewhere about salmon version of theese pads beeing better still, so when one of my buddies asked me to do a brake job on his bike I did it w/salmon Eagle2's. Well I'd worked on his bike before, and his brakes always sucked no matter what, bad rims? But with salmon Eagle2's they became more then sufficiant to throw you over the handlebar, but insufficiant to lock the front wheel. I know that can sound weak, but it was a very substantial improvement for this bike.
I've since gotten myself a full set of Kool-Stop Mountain salmon pads for my downhill bike, loving them! Dry braking power is comparable to hydro disks, but modulation is not as good and they obviously need ajustments more often. Even in the wet I can lock both wheels on pavement without first drying the rim, but I really have to want it.
Keep in mind that I use my bikes as vehicles, so the pads may or may not work well in mud or whatever.
If you're a commuter, get salmon Eagle2 pads for cantilevers and salmon Mountain pads if you have V-brakes. Take the time to ajust them properly and I bet you'll be sold on theese as much as I am. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phillip
a Weekend Warrior
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | blueskycycling.com | | Strengths: | Kool Stop Eagle 2 threaded post brakes. Stops great - first time I've had to worry about going over the handlebars in years. Cheap. Very adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | Rather thick - barely enough room to install on my 25-year old Univega (but enough). Had to let the cable out even though I just took off brand new Shimano pads. Unnecessarily long installation bolts - I'm tempted to hack saw them off. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, Matthauser. The Matthausers were great when new, but got old and lost effectiveness. The Shimanos were no better than the ancient Matthausers, even new - very poor stopping ability. | | Bike Setup: | old Univega Gran Turismo touring bike. | | Bottom Line: | Stop great, no squeal. Very happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ScHwEiNhUnD
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the Bluff | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Good all around pads, low price, quick break in, great wet performance, slow wear! | | Weaknesses: | not too many | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, like steel wool on your rims, wore out so easily, bad pads | | Bike Setup: | Giant ht, sun, pana. fire XC | | Bottom Line: | buy these pads, keep em clean, stop fast! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Koslowski
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Play it again sports | | Strengths: | Excellent stopping ability it all conditions: dry, wet, hot, cold, it doesn't matter. Outstanding longevity. When used properly and replaced timely, will cause no damage to rims. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can find. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano break pad - absolutely awful. Tore the crap out of the first set of rims I had. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek XO cyclocross, stock except for tires and wheels. 105 wheels, Specialized nimbus armadillo 700x38 tires. | | Bottom Line: | I originally bought shimano break pad, which were terrible. Poor stopping ability and ate my original wheels. My LBS steered me toward the Eagles, and they proven outstanding. I ride regularly in all conditions, and these have proven excellent. The first set I bought lasted nearly a year. The work well in all conditions. I haven't found a better value in break pads anywhere. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Cook
a Weekend Warrior
from Lyons. OR USA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | hmmm... not really one in specific | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | RC PLUS | | Strengths: | well.. i took my precious time adjust my kool stop thinlines (v's) and wheel so they were perfect, and i think their strengh would be their ability to piss you off. | | Weaknesses: | where do i start... I couldnt figure out which way to install them so I went online to find the correct way. after i rode on them i could only endo if i was standing up. Then they started to squeak like hell and move around and rub on my tire. The second they hit water they were pointless. | | Similar Products Used: | My stock padds, ProMax (v) | | Bottom Line: | THIS IS A MUST READ
I only had these breaks installed on my bike for one day. ONE DAY. It was so embarising having a nice bike and then your all thanks, and hit your front breaks and they squeak like hell. ANYWAY>>> i tried to give them a second chance so i called my local bike place thingy and asked for every way to make them so they wouldnt squeak. in that process i got a little more strengh, and the squeaking stoped for about a minute then it was worse than ever before. So i got pissed, and my friend looked at his OLD Pacific Bike and laughed and said it had V brakes... I took a closer look at those pads, and the seemed to be worthy of a try. so i installed those pads and the squeaking stoped, and the power went WAY up and they are soo much smoother stopping than the thinlines. You can endo SOOO much harder and for less $ than the thinlines.
Bottomline, dont waste your money on Kool Stop Thinline V brake pads when you can get better pads for half the cost. By the way, that pacific bike also had ProMAx v brakes. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PRODUCT | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirksville, Missouri USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesource.com | | Strengths: | best value I have ever seen for rim brakes..dangerously powerful stopping ability..threw me going under 5 mph first time I grabbed them. | | Weaknesses: | none unless you consider throwing you off a real weakness | | Similar Products Used: | shimano M system, generics, avid rim wrangler 2 | | Bike Setup: | bridgestone MB-6 shimano alivio calipers on front avid shorty 6 on rear | | Bottom Line: | Best value I've seen. Period. They stop better soaking wet than my old stock shimanos stopped dry on a good day after a good cleaning | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | good power
all-weather | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano pads | | Bottom Line: | these pads rock. they work in all conditions; wet, muddy, dry, u name it. I love these things. Plus, I've been using them for about 1,000 miles of hard braking and wet weather (in winter) and I still have plenty of pad to use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Weekend Warrior
from WA
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles West | | Strengths: | Geat stopping power, it didnt work well with my cantlevers but it works great with other systems | | Weaknesses: | nine | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | StockTrek 6000 | | Bottom Line: | Great product for the money | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Jenkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Denison, TX
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Waterloo Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | www.performancebike.com | | Strengths: | Sheds mud and wet sand | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | shimano, generic from walmart | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M45. ATAC pedals, lots of of upgrades | | Bottom Line: | No skeeek, improved braking in all conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Weekend Warrior
from Springfield, SC
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Strengths: | -Stops Great
-NO Squeal
-Wears Good
-Front of pad sheds debris from rim. | | Weaknesses: | -had to use spacers to get it to sit on rim right. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Wranglers | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | These pads are A1. I have used these pads in most situations. They stop great. I weight 220lbs so this is a good test. The little feet that clears debris from the rim works good. I have not seen any excessive wear. I had to add a few spacers to get them closer to the rim. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Federico Alban
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, Costa Rica
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Strengths: | Cheap. Great stopping power in any weather condition. Fast and clean. | | Weaknesses: | SKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK (need I say more) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M-System | | Bike Setup: | Alivio | | Bottom Line: | Need very efficient braking, that stay clean and don't mind some skeeeking... These are the pads you want. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sal D
a Weekend Warrior
from East Haven
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | corkscrew | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | Long lasting, good stopping power, stays clean | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | shimano LX,Aztec | | Bike Setup: | Klein pulse comp hard tail | | Bottom Line: | The best I found so far... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Works awesome in all weather, good stoping power | | Weaknesses: | squeaks a bit | | Bike Setup: | 1999 gt sts-xcr1000 , rock shocx sid sc's and fox in the rear | | Bottom Line: | Awesome product and for $14.95 you cant loose | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | good stopping power, more rim-friendly than Shimano, Wear well | | Weaknesses: | Shrieking Squealing and Screaming. Stupid plow-tip. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M-system | | Bike Setup: | Yes. It's set up. | | Bottom Line: | Amazing that some folks claim these pads CURED their noisy brakes! My experience is the exact opposite. These suckers just WAIL. The harder the stop the more they yell! YES I know how to adjust brakes. Fortunately the noise doesn't bother me. I'm fairly hard of hearing! Other than that they work fine. Good stopping power and decent wear. Rim wear is good compared to Shimano M(etal-eating)-system. The little plow-tip is idiotic though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Edmonton River Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Doesn't leave black crap on the rims | | Similar Products Used: | Dia Compe | | Bike Setup: | Norco Road Custom Rebuilt | | Bottom Line: | Amazing!!!! You don't believe me buy some.
Excellent gripping, easy to adjust, and looks great.
I found very little residue left over . They also work well in wet conditons. Spend the extra cash and buy some. For 20 bucks you can't go wrong.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony L
a Racer
from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wrandees | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | works good in all weather, works great | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | avids, no name pads, shimano, | | Bike Setup: | 1998 CCM Cliffrunner w/99 Rock Shox Jett XC LT, Shimano LX components | | Bottom Line: | the product is good I like them alot then my cheap shimano pads I will rate this good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DaWobbler
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | RoughGo - Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Follow up review of LX pads 3/27/00 after changing to KoolStop | | Weaknesses: | Since they no longer destroy my rims like the LX pads, I'm back to buying abstract art instead of hanging my rims off the wall, Since they dont make grinding noises fellow riders dont jump out of my way anymore, nobody eyes me dubiously, nobody mutters squid, bozo, knucklehead as I pass. I actually stop now before crashing into tree's so no more war stories, bandaids, nor sympathetic kisses from beautiful blonde bombshell bystanders. Boy do I miss those LX pads.......
| | Similar Products Used: | A foot in the spokes | | Bike Setup: | Proflex Beast | | Bottom Line: | Truth is...I like Shimano componentry, I've had a great deal of success with both the LX/XT lines and I fall down a lot, I'm chronically lazy and refuse to wash my bike until I cant see the seat through the mud. LX V's are great brakes and a great value for the money.. but you must MUST use these pads to rep the benefits.. I think I paid all of 20 bucks for a set front and rear. The reviews below really say it all.. Kudo's to KoolStop for a truly excellent product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mick Jolly et.al.
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mount Wellington | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Great price
Great pad in Wet and Dry conditions
No heat fade on huge decents | | Weaknesses: | None to speek of NO the should come stock with all Shimano Vees. | | Similar Products Used: | Crappy grinding rim destroying Shimano CRAP!! | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Giant ATX 860 Judy C | | Bottom Line: | These Pads are bloody wonderful. When coupled with a power adjuster on my STX-RC levers ammount to very easy Lock up. Have a very grippy compound and in rain tend to work well. Also don't have the build up of crap that Shimanos have. The pads come in Kool colours which is awsome if you are that way inclined. Get some!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Apex, NC, Denmark
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm building right now | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price
Work well in all conditions
Not as much brake crud as shimanos
Very durable | | Weaknesses: | Can't out them on my truck... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX
Ritchie Reds | | Bike Setup: | 97' Klein Attitude w/ LX brake arms | | Bottom Line: | They work - plain & simple. As some have already pointed out, they don't seem to work quite as well in extremely sloppy/wet conditions. But not many pads do for that matter. I have the black pads, and they are superior to the shimano pads in every possible way IMHO. Quite honestly, I can't tell a whole lot of difference between them and my old Ritchie Reds. I heard some riders bash the Ritchies while heap praise upon the Koolstops - and I thought they were made from the same compound. Oh well, I like them and highly recommend them to anybody who doesn't have disc brakes or ceramic rims. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Empty -B
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | That one the council dug up to PAVE on the weekend! (F&*%Wits!) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They'll pull you up reeeel quick...
Last an eternity.....
reasonably priced | | Weaknesses: | they don't like the wet stuff "AS" much (still work OK in my experience though...)...
| | Similar Products Used: | Usual Shimano pencil erasers... (UUURRRGGGHHH) | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Barracuda Comp (with added goodness these days) | | Bottom Line: | These things will turn your squeaky, annoying and rusty old brakes that you were going to spend all your hard earned dough on replacing into hardened stoppin' machines...
Strap'em on and revel in the G's you feel every time you use them!
Damn! I can ONLY give'm 5 chilles!
A TOP PAD!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirthead
a Weekend Warrior
from TN
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | loooooong life | | Weaknesses: | ummmm, let's see, they make it hard to get really fat tires off the front of my bike.(more surface area) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano and Dia-Comp crap | | Bike Setup: | Cuda,Manitou,Dia-Comp,stlxt | | Bottom Line: | These pads rock. Watch for the set-up w/ cants, get those straddle cables as close as possible to the tire. Use the index finger only and laugh @ the people who upgrade into V-brake hype. Use the black or the grey, these are not fashion choices, the material is different. Black is the best all-around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Connor
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | No squealing
No fade
good price
No aluminum fragments embedded like LX pads | | Weaknesses: | Do not stop as well as LX pads when wet/snow covered. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock LX cani pads. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 970/Judy XC | | Bottom Line: | Great dry weather performance, wear well.
Poor wet/snow braking compared to LX, however.
Great value for price/performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from country
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
excellent stopping power and no noise | | Weaknesses: |
ummm, none that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: |
Stock Shimano LX pads | | Bottom Line: | The best pads for the money in my book | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, TN
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lock 4 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Cost, little or no squealing, no brake pad buildup on wheels. Cool colors to match any bike. | | Weaknesses: |
None as of yet. | | Similar Products Used: |
Original Shimano's | | Bike Setup: |
Older Raleigh (with cantilever brakes.....aaaaarrrgghh!!!) | | Bottom Line: | It's like 4 wheel disc brakes on a car, they will stop you on a dime! Be careful with that front brake on your first ride after installing them! Without a doubt, 5 flamers!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Works like a brake pad should | | Weaknesses: |
They weren't stock on my bike. | | Similar Products Used: |
Lame-ass Shimano | | Bike Setup: |
98 Tequesta with Indy XC | | Bottom Line: | Oh so much better than Shimano! They stop, don't squeal when set up right, and don't grind the crap out of your rims. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross-Country Rider
from Yonkers, NY
Date Reviewed: July 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Graham Hill | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Really Good Stoping Power. | | Weaknesses: |
Pads are longer than my Shimano ones, so they interfere with my fork when I use the quick release to take the wheel off. Still get black residue on my rims. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano | | Bike Setup: |
94 GT Tequesta, 97 RockShox Judy SL | | Bottom Line: | Excellent Pad, Definate improvement over my Shimano stock pads. Very Happy with them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony_demanuele
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Carlos CA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
I put these pads on my friends bike with xt cantilever brakes and the worked great, he almost endoed the first time he used the front brakes - way better than Shimano | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano pads | | Bike Setup: |
1992 GT Zaskar - XT | | Bottom Line: | Great Pad | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Cross-Country Rider
from ohio
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
vultures knob | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Hmmm....They grip like a pit bull!!!Great pads, definately worth the money.I ride a green trek so i got yellow suspension fork and yellow pads. They look so good they make any bike look better | | Weaknesses: |
None that i can think of,but if any occur i will re-review | | Similar Products Used: | |
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