| |
Submitted by
Jerry
a
from La Verne, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks, Ease of set-up, stopping power and SUPER LIGHT! | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | Who really cares? | | Bottom Line: | I will admit it. I bought these because the reviews are great but also because they look hot.Yes, I wanted the orange-rust color. Thought they would look good on my bike and they do! I put them on and expected excellent results and they didn't dissapoint. They truely are single digit. They modulate great even with my Shimano levers. Not really thrilled with the Rim Wrangler pads though. They seem to work really well but I've read that they are hard on rims so I will change to Koolstop. But this is on item that really works and is light!These definately get the gighest ratings. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexandre Miranda
a Cross Country Rider
from Brazil
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | perdidas ("lost"), adeus mamae ("goodby mom") | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Tripp Aventuras | | Strengths: | Good power and adjustments on the fly. I think it is light but never put on a scale. | | Weaknesses: | After 3 years the entire setup have broken.
Warranty dont replace none. | | Similar Products Used: | xt | | Bike Setup: | full xtr minus brakes | | Bottom Line: | The brakes came with my bike. I'll try avid ti or xtr now (after another break off). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve B
a Cross Country Rider
from Notts, England
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Derbyshire | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisurelakes | | Strengths: | Great stopping power, easy set up | | Weaknesses: | Corrosion during winter months due to road salt | | Similar Products Used: | xt,xtr | | Bike Setup: | Scott Team Issue, XTR, Dura-Ace | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are very light and easy to true and maintain. I have run them for nearly three years but every year during the cold seasons they fur up with white salts around the fitting and contact points. When cleaned down, pitting is evident, and once this erosion has started it is difficult to eradicate. Brakes have become so gnarled that I am now concerned about their strength!I have now switched to Avid Single Digit Ti's as the main body is not Magnesium and they are of comparative weight. I have also had similar problems with the Easton MG60 Mag stem! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henri von Steen
a Racer
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsitsikama forests | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Very Light!! They weighed in @ 149g. Very good stopping power. Ditched my XTR V-brakes for them. They stoped just as good and is much lighter. | | Weaknesses: | Bushings a bit loose, but it does not affect performance. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XTR V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Giant MCM TEAM with ROCK SHOX World Cup 2004 and Mavic SL wheels | | Bottom Line: | Very light very good brake system. The best I ever used for X-country. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chillihead
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland, Perthshire
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress (Boundry) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Light as you like, no flex, period. | | Weaknesses: | Non | | Similar Products Used: | XT, ugly. | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar race | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that these brakes are faultless, unless the fact that they are no longer made is a failing.
My main comment here is that the level of customer service offered by Avid is awesome! I thoght that I was lost after crushing one arm of the brakes against a very nasty boulder. I broke my leg in 4 places and.........in 4 different ways.compound, greenstick, communated and spiral! The brakes however suffered one stripped thread on the spring tension adjuster. Tried to get spares in the UK always met with the same comments, contacted Avid, was sent, without asking new screws and adjusters! Hats off to AVID Anyone need replacement parts use their tech guy LonnieT really these guys deserve quality adulation! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ruinane
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Stops on a dime. Easy to adjust. | | Weaknesses: | Until I got a front shock to keep my wheel on the ground I was afraid to use my front brake because it was so powerful. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore cantilever | | Bike Setup: | Stock 1993 Kona Lava Dome, 1988 Marzocchi z2 atom bomb | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brake. Easily adjustable. Can fine-tune it to rider preferences. Stops you quick. Light. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from winnipeg
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | lightweight. consistent, strong stopping power. easy to install. | | Weaknesses: | occasional squeek when wet | | Similar Products Used: | SD3.0's | | Bike Setup: | 2001specialized m4 | | Bottom Line: | These brakes rock. I got them new off of ebay. They are easy to install (it took me about half an hour total), and believe me, i'm no technical guru. I immediately noticed a difference over the SD3.0's. They stop on a dime, flex less, and have required no adjustments since putting them on my bike. I highly recommend these brakes. 5 flamin turds all around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walter Guan
a
from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hmm... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikepro (LBS) | | Strengths: | Power, modulation, weight and to top it of, it looks way COOL! | | Weaknesses: | rear flexes a little | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, SD Mag, XT levers, Judy race with total air, WTB motoraptors... | | Bottom Line: | This is a damn superb brakeset! Tried my friends XT's and this set of brakes almost doubles its power(now he uses SD Mags)!Beats the power of XTR's. Good price too(65 a pair). Ultra light! Rear brakes not powerful enough(compared to Maguras) but its so much lighter and cheaper so i'm not complaining. Get this(Every one! unless you're planning to go discs), its superior to XTR's(and cheaper).
FULL FLAMING CHILLIS! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
d white
a Cross Country Rider
from CO
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Strengths: | stopping power, lightweight | | Weaknesses: | none really. the noodle can rub a little on the arm when used during fork/shock actuation, but not a problem. I just put a clear-coat sticker in the area to guard against future surface abrasion. | | Similar Products Used: | XT nonsense, first generation Avids. | | Bike Setup: | all kinds of stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Have not had any problems with these brakes in nearly two years of riding. They are very strong stoppers and I trust them implicitly. I have two pairs: The copper ones on a Titus Racer-X and the grey ones on a Jamis Komodo. I won't ride anything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff
a
from Nevada
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | One last followup to previous info. Add a BIG customer service strength | | Weaknesses: | Same | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Y bike w/upgrades (M517 XTR, Stylo Team, Bontrager, RFace, SID Race, Cane Creek, etc) | | Bottom Line: | Talked to the Avid Tech guy. Outstanding customer service!!!! The info is: Mag out of production for 2 years. Spec on bushing play is 2mm at end of arm (where cable/noodle bracket atchs). Zero play like XTR or Avid Ultimate uses a different (better) bearing setup. You should be able to get the bearing play back to less than 2mm by using a slightly thicker washer available from Avid but have to push out the pressed end cap to install - not a problem using a hex wrench "drift". OK, more flames because of outstanding Avid customeer support and an easy fix to the bushings - And all the previous strengths. Don't know about downhill but a great brake 4 XC riding; using with Avid 2.0L levers and WTB dual compound inserts. Way to go Avid... ride on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
don
a Cross Country Rider
from redlands, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | santa ana, angelus oaks | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | amazing stopping power, smooth breaking, no squeaks, low maintenance, easy installation | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | xt, duke xc | | Bottom Line: | i got these brakes slightly used from ebay. i bought the levers brand new off of ebay also (good prices). i highly recommend these breaks for xc riders. i went from center-pull to the avids and the difference of breaking power was tremendous. i had to find other methods to strengthen my grip, 'cause the avids take very little grip stength. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from City of Lights
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Diamond | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergone | | Strengths: | Same as yesterday's posting. This is a followup. | | Weaknesses: | Like before, bushing play | | Similar Products Used: | STX, XTR 951, generic (alloy) | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y | | Bottom Line: | This is what the world is anxiously awaiting, brake weights, direct from the USPS lobby digital metering scales, totally unscientific random sample size of 1:
Avid Mag rear brake, new out of the box, total with pads and hardware (bolts, noodle, overcoat) is 159 grams.
XTR 951 rear brake, as new/never run, "out of the box", total with pads and hardware is 198 grams.
(My old OEM generic somethings-worked OK-are 235 g total)
Ratings still the same even though Mags aren't quite as light as I thought. $89 retail!!! YGBSM. Wonder if there's a way to tighten up those bushings on the SD Mags.... Calling Avid in the morning. By the way, like the guy below said, the instructions are really doggie poo. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegas NV USofA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO | | Strengths: | Lightweight. Looks really good w/magnesium finish, cartridge pads | | Weaknesses: | bushing slop | | Similar Products Used: | STX, Generics, XTR 951 | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y - All overkill upgraded xcept brakes | | Bottom Line: | Cool brakes, cart. pads, lightest I've had a chance to try, finish is exceptional. Problem is that the bushings, brand new, ie just installed them, have as much slop/play as the old worn generics that were on the bike. Called Supergo tech and it's unknown to them; so will return to Supergo. Have a new set of rims and don't want to put a "loose" set of calipers against them. I checked out the mtbr of brakes and these rate very high??? Anyone know if maybe Avid started a new assembly line somewhere and they just haven't tightened up the tolerances? Or seconds? Or if these brakes, or all SD except Ultimates are like this and it really isn't a problem? Don't know whether to go back to XTR or try SD-7s. Anyone out there bought a set of SD-7 lately and checked out the bushings for play when installing? Incidently, I pulled the XTR brakes off my other bike and put them on this one just to make sure I wasn't missing something; and NO bushing play at all, completely free pivoting but no front to rear looseness -NADA!!!
By the way, since I had everything off both bikes on the rear calipers, I weighed the complete setups (including hardware) and the SD Mags are about 60 grams lighter. Weight difference is in the arm assemblies as the hardware (noodles, allen bolts, etc) shows about the same for each brand. Since my scale isn't calibrated for absolute grams, (difference should be good) I'll stop by a calibrated scale tomorrow and post another review if this weight difference is off by much. Where's my weight weenie tranquilizers... Don't seem to have very good luck with Supergo stuff so giving up on them. Firey flamer rating is ok for value since strengths (see above)are there and paid $30 for each brake - great posers; but only 2 fiery chunks for overall as I wouldn't run that loose a setup on a good ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roscoe
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Jones Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$95.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bike | | Strengths: | Light; great stoppers; look good if that matters to you; stay adjusted and don't ever sqeal. | | Weaknesses: | Maybe a little flexy, but not noticable or detremental to their performance. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX (good brakes) and XT (crappy, squealing things) V-Brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Devinci Kingpin; RS Psylo SL; Mavic D521s; XT disc hubs; Tioga Factory DH 2.3s; Easton Scandium bars; Thomson stem and post; TruVativ Hussefelt DH cranks; XT drivetrain; Salsa goodies. | | Bottom Line: | After two hard years of using these brakes, all I can say about them is awesome. I have recently retired them as I have gone to dics, but they will remain on my other bike, as they are by far the best stoppers in all conditions. They never squealed and had great modulation at the levers (XTs). They work great and if you can find them on sale, pick up a set and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from New York
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$58.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light-weight, strong, very low maintenance, beautiful, ridiculously grippy, NO Squeak!! | | Weaknesses: | A little dear, but you get what you pay for... | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized brakes, center-pull brakes | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hard Rock A1 FS, Thomson post, Specialized Pro Saddle, Titec Pork Rinds, Airborne skewers, and of course Avid mag brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This is truly a benchmark product, and is definitely worth buying if you are willing to spend the money and search for them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
notaFred
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissackon Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Light. Really light. Easy to install and setup (if you know your brake systems). | | Weaknesses: | The installment directions and advisories were photocopied and basically illegible; even the diagrams and pics. The photocopies weren't even aligned on the page so I got about 2/3 of the directions. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Avid (disk), Hayes, Hope | | Bike Setup: | Does it matter..? | | Bottom Line: | I was able to score both brakes and AD-7 levers for less than $100, including 2nd day shipping.
Installation took about 30 min. total time, including test ride.I just used common sense when setting them up on the bike, since the directions weren't even fit to be a coaster for my drink.
These brakes are strong. They stop very well and the levers have a massive amount of adjustment built into them. Do they stop like disks? No way, but this is the closest you will come to the disk power for $100 (for both wheels).
Excelent modulation and 'feel' come from these brakes.
I gave them 4 chili's because of the directions (or lack of). I am glad that I know about parallel-push brakes. If I didn't, I would have to have a shop install them. Even if I had to go to a shop for installation, it would still be a good deal .. not a great deal ... a good one none the less ..
If you have stock parallel-push brakes, this is a great upgrade.
If you have cantilevers, maybe you should buy a new bike by now .. BWAHAHAHA
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CLayton
a Downhiller
from Ontario. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Epic ride | | Strengths: | Amazing stopping power, loooks and reliability so far... | | Weaknesses: | price! but who cares | | Similar Products Used: | xtr, xt | | Bike Setup: | 01 scab, dirtjumper 2, .... | | Bottom Line: | These brakes will stop you quick. i recomend them to everyone, they are a little pricey but ya... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seung
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego CA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Got them at supergo.com who's having a sale for them at $30 plus shipping of $7. I have the XT currently and they blow so hard I hate them. They sqeak like mad and embarass me. I can't wait to get the Avids since they are so simple, they last and they work instead of being fancy and crappy. I bought shimano XT rears a few months ago and they are beginning to sqeak and fade already. Don't know if it's just the pads. But I'm moving to these Avids from now on. Get the set for like $70. | | Weaknesses: | Don't know yet. | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F1000 | | Bottom Line: | Got a sweet deal on them. No more sqeaking from my XT front brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikey
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Light weight (160g including bolts, pads & noodle on a postal scale), killer stopping power & modulation. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD-5 | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Sugar 2, XT levers | | Bottom Line: | Wow, these are better than I expected. I got them cheap on eBay - $48+shipping, brand new. Seller was "elguapogrande" and has been selling new Avid Mag brakes & levers every week for the last month or two. I have 3 rides on them so far.
I just expected the 100g weight savings vs my Avid SD 5's and similar performance. But they stop SOO much better than the SD 5's. I even had new Koolstop Thinline pads recently on my SD5's, but these brakes with the Rim Wrangler cartridge pads are worlds better.
Stops fantastically, excellent modulation - each little bit of pressure on the levers produces noticably more stopping power, no fade. I just came down Mt Tam's Eldridge grade / Indian Fire Trail / Blithedale Ridge - 5 miles of continuous descent, and the brakes didn't fade at all - still had full easy power all the way to the bottom.
Though they've been discontinued by Avid due to plant safety problems manufacturing Magnesium, find them & get them while you can (eBay and Pricepoint have them).
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonds, WA
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with Stumpjumper | | Strengths: | Very light, easy setup, looks killer, simple design works better than others without a parallel push system. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 10, others | | Bike Setup: | '01 Stumpjumper with some cool stuff | | Bottom Line: | I work at a shop, and try out several different brakes each day. And I must say that, besides Avid discs, these are the best brakes I've ever experienced for power, modulation, and setup, rim or disc. Very very nice, and cheaper than XTR I believe (if you can find them). Lighter than the new Ultimates too. Just don't get the Mag levers as well, because they bend/break quite easily. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Ga
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | The | | Strengths: | no linkage to wear out, more of a "direct" feel between lever and rim, light weight | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, XT, XTR, | | Bike Setup: | '98 Stumpy, C King Race Lites, easton carbon lo-riser, pythons, race-face, etc. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes were such a big improvement that I will never go back to the big "s" I also ordered the SRP Ti bolt kit and it made these the lightest brakes as well-you wouldn't believe the difference in weight after you install the kit.These have been great and seem a little harder to keep in adjustment but that could just be me. They also needed some Macguyver work on the springs when I got them but I feel they're well worth the trouble. 4 chilies because of the minor tweaking to get them perfect which shouldn't be neccessary at this price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | Decent modulation and feel, but newer XTRs are better in both categories, and even though Avids are fairly easy to set-up, XTR has even simpler alignment set-up. | | Weaknesses: | Overpriced and overweight. Other than the infamous "light-weight," there's seems to be no reason that the brakes should have been priced as they were. To top it off, Avid has now switched their pad design to Shimano-compatible, and its not easy, at least in my experience, to find the first generation pads anymore. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, Hayes Hydraulic. | | Bike Setup: | Sola - XTR, Crossmax, SID. | | Bottom Line: | Save money and hassle and get the XTR and avoid the first generation pads unless you want to run around to all the local bike shops. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim S
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | light, strong, simple | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT (parallel push), Avid SD-7 | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Stumpjumper M4 Pro | | Bottom Line: | get rid of Shimano brakes and install high end avid brakes. Shimano parallel push is great in theory but the mechanism wears out to quickly and you end up with alot of play in the mecahinism. I'm a loyal user of numerous Shimano parts. I however prefer good Avid brakes levers as well as a SRAM chain with Powerlink. Its kinda tough to give these a value rating since I didn't pay for them individuall, they were OEM on the bike. A nice OEM I must say. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Milford MI
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | Light Weight, Incredible stopping power, ease of maintenance. Adjustability of the speed dial levers. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | I paid 80.00 for the maglevers and brakes complete off of Ebay. I think I got a great deal considering the cannondale expert brakes I replaced sucked. These have excellent modulation and feel and I have no noise to contend with. Avid obviously makes a great product and I am a convert. If you want v-brakes that will instill confidence and make you more consistent on the single track buy these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from Windsor, Ont. Canada
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$84.00 | | Purchased At: | Curtacy Bicycly | | Strengths: | Great stopping power
Really light weight | | Weaknesses: | I am suffering for EWS (Empty Wallet Syndrome)
Paint is chipping a little (no worrys) | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, XT, Deor, | | Bike Setup: | XTR/LX, Bomber shocks, RaceFace, Rockey Mountain Frame | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are really good. You pay alot of money but its worth every penny. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KOnian
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything off road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Copper colour! Very light weight! Very p |
|
$
