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Magura
HS-33 Tomac, Raceline, Quicksilver
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Submitted by
sean
a Racer
from new jersey
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | rt 15 bicycles | | Strengths: | Lasts forever, incredible stopping power, excellent modulation, almost zero maintenance, super easy to change pads. | | Weaknesses: | it's getting a little tougher to find parts in america. | | Similar Products Used: | ss-7 cantilevers, hs-11, koski v-brakes, avid v-brakes, magura marta, avid bb-7, avid juicy carbon | | Bike Setup: | karate monkey, rigid. | | Bottom Line: | i have a few sets of these. the one i'm currently running has been in constant use going on TEN years now. TEN. i haven't bled the lines since i installed the brakes and cut the hoses to length. the front has had a kink in the hose since the first week, but it has not affected it. they have over 15,000 miles on them, and have been used for trials, xc, commuting, messenger work, long distance touring, endurance racing, xc racing, skatepark. they've been on two different bikes and have outlasted countless parts. i find the kool stop salmon pads to be the best for all around riding. i run discs on my current xc/endurance racer, but the karate monkey with these brakes is my back up race bike and still sees plenty of use, and saw near daily use up untill this summer. these are STILL a viable alternative to disk brakes, and have superior lever feel to and equal if not better stopping power than v-brakes. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester, UK
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | UK Online - can't remember ! | | Strengths: | Zero maintenance (after initial set-up), loads of stopping power, conversation point, no maintenance, fantastic customer service, value for money, no maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Tricky to set-up initially - you need good quality tools and loads of patience. Not really designed for 2.3 inch tyres (but you can just about get away with it).
The manual could be better written - especially the instructions for bleeding ! | | Similar Products Used: | Various brands of v-brakes. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Specialized FSR-XC, Rohloff speedhub, Marzocchi Marathon S Coil forks, 2.3 inch continental vertical pro tyres. | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic brakes. I've had the one set for nearly 6 years, and had it fitted to 2 bikes and three different forks.
Only two things have gone wrong with them (despite the years of complete neglect). These were:
1. A split in one of the hoses. Using the Magura HS-33 service kit, I replaced the hose, refilled the system, and was ready to go in less than an hour.
2. One of the evolution mount bolts broke whilst I was undoing it to transfer the brakes to my latest set of forks.
I emailed Magura UK asking if I could buy some more bolts from them - and within a week, Tony Barton had sent me 4 new bolts at no charge. Impressive customer service - thanks guys !
I've considered buying disk brakes due to the reduced wear and tear on the rims, but I've never had a rim split whilst using the HS33 (unlike when I ran v-brakes), and at just £100 for a complete set of HS-33's I cannot justify using anything else.
If you want the performance and low-maintenance of a disk brake, but at a much lower cost, then go for this brake. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Fenner
a Weekend Warrior
from Bath / Bristol England
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Isle of White has loads | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay - secondhand | | Strengths: | POWER, durability, lack of service, Look cool. | | Weaknesses: | My red Ltd Edition HS33's, look a bit pink compared to my red frame, due to sun bleaching. But hey I bet David Hastlhofs shorts are going pink by now too. Snapped the leaver adjuster, so replaced with bolt, looks ugly but saved me £20, and does the job. | | Similar Products Used: | HS11's, Hydrolic disks, Brabhus ceramic's on my car. | | Bike Setup: | Handsome Dawg, Marz.Bomber Z4's, Anomeba bars, Club roost, FSA etc etc Trials setup.. | | Bottom Line: | These are secondhand E-bays, looks like they have been working hard, chipped up but still fully working, I have HS11's on another bike, so used to the setup.
Ensure you fit these corectly and they will give you years of maintenance free riding, the stock black pads work OK, but last almost too long, Im bored give me something to fix.
Green frogs will come out in the winter.
These brakes are so powerfull, they should fit them to Juggernalts, not just bikes, Im tempted to upgrade my Car to Magura's. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hillary Corwin
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that points down and has big airs | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Bought off friend who was going to discs | | Strengths: | They're tough, I've yet to break one. They're not too terribly heavy stock, mine have a huge custom machined plate, so they weigh a little more. Great stopping power in both wet and dry conditions, was pretty impressed at how well they shed Texas mud (it's more like clay...). | | Weaknesses: | Pads aren't cheap. Never used the stock pads, I hear they aren't too wonderful...Cool Stops work quite well, though. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Mechanical Discs, Shimano XT's...1001 BMX brakes... | | Bike Setup: | Gack Trail Mod, Manitou Dorado SC, King Headset, Hadley SS/Mammoth wheels, IRC Kujo's, Primo Powerbite cranks, Primo Tenderizer pedals, Profile/Kink 3/16" drivetrain, etc. | | Bottom Line: | These are the best brakes I've ridden. They are also my first hydraulics.
The lack of maintenence is wonderful. No cables to lube and strech out, only had to mess with 'em once, and it was pretty painless (new rims...different width).
I didn't know rim brakes could bite down in mud and rain, these enlightened me to the possibility.
They're tough, I ride a lot of urban assault and dirt jump, and am not always wise about the things I attempt. As a result, the lever's taken some serious beatings. It's not broken yet. They look sharp, and aren't too expensive.
Very nice brakes for bikes w/o disc mounts...
Complaints about this product probably stem from improper setups. I know that at the very least those who are complaining about leaking put theirs together improperly...
If you're planning to ride down a mountain at 60+ MPH, don't buy this brake. If you like to stop quickly, but don't need the braking power of an Italian automobile...these work just fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey
a Weekend Warrior
from Stadskanaal, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Strengths: | Design, great brake power | | Weaknesses: | It's hard to adjust them. | | Bottom Line: | Brake power is very strong and the design is very nice. These brakes are the best options for you if you don't want to use disc-brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc W
a
from Oxford UK.
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Brecon Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good modulation, awesome stopping power, work well in both wet and dry (if your used to V's!), easy to change wheels, value. Quiet operation. | | Weaknesses: | Can be a bit of a fiddle to set up, but you get used to it. The manual I had was not very clear and miss'd vital points about setting up! like the fact the EVO mounts are reversable and if you do that it move's the brake body/pads closer to the rim which on certain bike's make's it easier to set up, only a small problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid & Shimano V's only | | Bike Setup: | GT hardtail | | Bottom Line: | These are amazing rim brake's in my opinion, maybe not as simple as V'S or quite as easy to maintain, but the performance gains out weigh the negative's. And if you like me and not ready for disc's then the HS33 make a good alternative to V's. I mostly use these for aggresive cross country riding. Getting them set up well is vital for good performance, its worth checking out Magura's website for tips on set-up. Kool stop brake's work better than stock pads, and although wet braking is not as good as dry, its still the best wet performing rim brake I have used. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ollie
a Weekend Warrior
from Dorset, UK
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Included on 2nd hand Cindercone | | Strengths: | Excellent power and modulation, maintenence free, quiet operation, on the fly pad adjustment and quick releases | | Weaknesses: | Fiddly to set up, but once done they don't need doing again | | Similar Products Used: | Deore/LX V's, Avid SD-3's, Hope Mono's/Mini's/C2's | | Bike Setup: | Cindercone, Magura Tomacs, Mavic X138's, WTB saddle, LX mechs/shifters, Panaracer Fire XC's, Marzhocchi Z3 Flylights. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brakes, only viable option between V's and expensive hydraulic disks. Much better than cable discs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bis
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Marin, sunny Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | belting in all weather, cool colours, | | Weaknesses: | fiddly if your not used to them | | Similar Products Used: | Julies :¬( | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale H/Tail, Bombers, Azonic Headlock, Truvativ XC Riser Bars, Shimano Deore LX, Mavics with 2.1 Panaracer XC's | | Bottom Line: | Superb brake set, excellent in any weather, reliable, easy to service and look after when you have fiddled with them once, very important to install correctly first time!!!!! or your problems will mount up ride after ride, you will not have any problems if installed right the very time!!!! Mine are coming upto a 1000 miles, no problems so far apart from some new pads (£20.00) in next few months, greenfrogs are good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hulls Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Big Bike Chain | | Strengths: | Superior to linear brakes, once set-never look at them again til it's time to change pads, not all that heavy compared to cable brakes. | | Weaknesses: | If you aren't mechanically inclined, you are in for a long haul of no fun unless you pay a shop to set them up. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, V's, cantis', center pulls | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kilauea, XTR drivetrain w/Sachs 9spd shifters, Raceface, Mavic Cross wheels, Manitou | | Bottom Line: | The biggest bang for your buck in stopping power (for rim brakes only). If you want better, go with mid range or higher discs. Read all instructions throuroughly and then go to the magura cult online for more info before you even pick up a wrench. Setup is crucial, but when you get it right, you never have to touch them again except for pad replacment. Superfast wheel removal, modulation beyond belief, haven't had any problems with mud or wet yet so not sure about those complaints. Don't like the routing with the heat shrink tubing, but it works and the setup could be easier, but I can't fault them for this since working on anything worthwhile takes time and knowledge. If you can adjust deraileurs or repack a wheel, no problem ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Capel
a Downhiller
from uk
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything freeride wiv big dropins | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | autovouge | | Strengths: | easy as hell to bleed, modulation, fit red koolstop pads and they'r easily as good as any 165mm 2pot disc system ive tried, good pad wear, bla bla bla... | | Weaknesses: | weight, tricky to setup unless you've used 'em before. pad wear adjusters can break. boosters are a MUST. | | Similar Products Used: | xt v's (eughhhh!)
hope c2's & m4's
hayes hfx mag's | | Bike Setup: | they'r on an old fisher joshua ZO at the moment | | Bottom Line: | cheap rim braks that with the right pads put much more expensive brakes to shame! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt G
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | I have had the Magura HS-33 for about 2 years and can't find any flaws. The main complaints I have herd are "they are to expencive" or "they are hard to set up". Yes, they are a bit expencive,but they are worth every cent, no cable to streth, easy to change pads, and extreamly progressive. If you read all the instructions in the manual and read the tips on the net they shouldn't be hard to set up at all. Maguras are good for every condition and every style of rideing. Once you try them you will never let them go!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme Finlayson
a Cross Country Rider
from Aylesford, Kent, UK
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed-y-Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | www.wiggle.co.uk | | Strengths: | Stopping power, modulation. Very easy to change the pads. | | Weaknesses: | Slightly heavier than V-brakes. Some say they're pricey, but at £95 for a full set, there are much more expensive and less well performing V-brakes around. The heat shrink hose fixing isn't ideal, the optional hose guides are a better idea, but not easy to get hold of in the UK. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Arch Rival 40, Shimano LX. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Muni Mula, USE Shock post, Shimano LX/XT, Mavic X517 Ceramic rims, Hope hubs. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work superbly, and the control is outstanding. The contrast between these and cable operated V-brakes is amazing. I tried spinning the back wheel with the bike on a workstand and bringing the wheel to a halt slowly with the original V-brake. The lever travel was jerky, and the wheel stopped suddenly (newish LX brake and new XTR cables). With the Maguras fitted, and the same test, the free spinning wheel can be slowed down very gradually with the lightest touch on the lever. It makes the difference between controlled braking and rear wheel lock-out on slippery descents.
Initial set up could be tricky for the inexperienced. The first one took me 1 1/2 hours, the second one 30 mins. When you've done the first one and got a feel for it the second one is much easier. The fitting instructions are very clear, concise and well illustrated - It's well worth taking the time to read them properly a few times before opening your toolbox. Fix the mounting washers to the brake bosses with silicone sealant. That way you won't lose them later when you have to take off the quick release to fix a puncture.
Take care when cutting the tubing, and follow the instructions for this to the letter. I did and found the brakes didn't even need bleeding afterwards.
Changing the wheels is a fairly simple affair; with the tyre deflated, undo the quick release mount, slide off the cylinder with the booster attached and hey presto you can get the wheel out. When you refit, just get the brake block at the right height on the rim, hook the booster over the nut on the fixed side and do up the release. Just remember to wait until the wheel is refitted before inflating the tyre again. Personally, I think it's easier than a tyre change on a V-brake, what with all that fiddling to free the noodle.
All in all, a superb piece of kit, with little ongoing maintenance in contrast to my V brakes which needed adjustment after almost every ride. A serious alternative to disc brakes if you can't afford them or like mine, your bike doesn't have disc mounts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabe Gibson
a Cross Country Rider
from LEEDS, W YORKS, UK
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tong to Fulneck public footpath ( @night) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | trails bikes uk | | Strengths: | German build quality,durable, excellent stopping power,good modulation,works well in wet. | | Weaknesses: | standard brake pads wear out fast. No bleed kit supplied with set. diffucult to follow instructions. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kahuna 02, full xt, judy tt forks,magura hs 33s, kona standard head set, planet x beam me up stem (blue), crud guards. | | Bottom Line: | Before My brakes arrived I perused over this forum and became a little aprehensive by the amount of people reporting installation problems. This was not the case for me. I am relativly inexperienced when it comes to being a cycle mechanic but these babys where easy to install and set up. Anyone reading this forum contemplating whether to buy them or not, listen:
*Easy to install
*Excellent stopping power (dry & wet)
*Look the dogs gonads
*costs £25 for them fitted by a professional.
*£00.00 if u do it yourself.
*Deflate or remove tyre when fitting them.(correct clearences etc)
*Naturally leave the actual wheel rim on.
*For correct clearance place a thin piece of metal/card board under each pad then set the blocks flush against them.
*tighten all nuts and go test.
*proceed to local area and hit some dirt.
cheers,
GiBBo
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Bump | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Alley | | Strengths: | power, modulation, maintenance-free, adjustable lever take-up, weight(relative to discs) | | Weaknesses: | set-up, weight(relative to V's), fragile hardware | | Similar Products Used: | V-brakes, Hayes discs | | Bike Setup: | Klein hardtail, Manitou X-Vert Air, Bontrager ceramic rims w/Phil hubs. | | Bottom Line: | The bike noted above is the third bike I have owned in the last four years. All these bikes have had the same set of brakes! Not the same model, the same set. In each case, the only work I have ever done besides setting them up is replace the pads, which is a less than 30 sec. operation. I agree completely with all the 5-chilied reviews regarding the power and modulation these brakes provide. I weigh about 190lbs., and ride fairly technical singletrack. Around here, almost all the riding is very steep and also muddy much of the time. In my experience, these brakes have nearly the power of discs, with better modulation(a fair trade for me).
I also agree that these can be a real pain to set up. Allow at least 2-3 hours, and then only if you have previous bike wrench experience. Do not attempt installation if you don't have a high degree of patience. Having said that, the pay-off is definitely worth it. I have replaced some of the light aluminum mounting bolts with steel ones from the hs-11 kit after breaking them. This is probably due to the repeated retightening necessary during the initial installation and the fact that they have been reused on multiple bikes. Hint-take your tires off the rims, much easier to set the pads parallel and at the correct distance. I work in a bike shop, and have installed a few sets, and I still need to set aside an afternoon for the job.
Speaking of rims, if you can afford a set of ceramic rims, they likewise are worth it. Power and modulation are improved, and you won't toast your wheels nearly as fast. In muddy areas, regular rims do suffer increased wear. A rear booster is definitely required, I myself haven't felt the need for a front booster with my X-Vert. I give these brakes the highest rating, both for performance and value(due to their durability). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
oscar
a Cross Country Rider
from regensburg
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | H&S bike-discount | | Strengths: | power, looks nice (raceline yellow on a black bike), 5 years guarantee, no wires, no DOT-brake-fluid | | Weaknesses: | weight?? (if you are really interested in 200gr)
not as powerful as a Louise FR :-)
expansive, but they are worth it | | Similar Products Used: | shimano LX V-brakes, some cantis by shimano and others | | Bike Setup: | 01 Dynamics Eagle, Judy XC, SID, HS 33, Rigida ZAC 19 rims and Shimano LX hubs, Flite, Mythos 2,1 | | Bottom Line: | these are really nice Brakes! They aren´t much more powerful than my former V-brakes, but its enough in all stuations. The real difference is that you feel what your brake is doing.
If you need oder want the power of a fat disc-brake, then forget it of course. But for all others it´s one of the best brake systems, that you put on your bike and forget.
Be warned about the installation!! I needed some hours...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Rabe Munich | | Strengths: | s.b. | | Weaknesses: | s.b. | | Similar Products Used: | s.b. | | Bike Setup: | s.b. | | Bottom Line: | Amendment: optimal set-up of Maguras:
Use them ONLY with brake boosters front AND rear. They are nearly useless without boosters. Use Carbon booster (Muddy e.g.) instead of stock ones, saves nearly 100g.
Install them with steel mesh lines instead of the stock plastic ones: looks nicer, the lines are fixed bomb proof (remember this very carefully: 1. fitting inot line: when having shortened the lines to appropriate length, the fitting has to be screwed into the line on the shortened end of the line. Only the last turnings will catch the outer nut, too. 2. fitting into brake and lever: the fittings are of two different types. One side of the line is a fixed connection, the other screw can be turned without turning the line. First, fix the fixed side. When having postitioned brakes and levers in the final position, fix the other movable side of the line onot brake and lever.
Dump the stock spacers. Buy suspension spacers front AND rear (can be fixed with a screw).
Buy ceramic rims the next time you'll have to change rims.
When installing the brakes, remove the tires. Don't do installation in a hurry. Read instruction very carefully. Bleed the brakes twice when you've finished installation (this implies that you have to buy a bleeding kit, too).
If you are not a skilled bike mechanic, let the shop install these brakes. Installation of these is NOT easy.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | rabe munich | | Strengths: | Performance, low maintainance, durability, looks | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XTR 96, Shimano LX 98, Shimano Deore 01, Magura 10th Anniversary | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9900 OCLV 98 Frame, Mavic x618ceramic, tune hubs, Moots post, Shimano XTR drive train, IRC Mythos redwall | | Bottom Line: | An old fan of Magura rim brakes, I ripped them off my TREK in favour of Shimanos (tried both XTR and Deore), just to save some weight. Man, how fast did I reinstall those Magura babies. There is nothing like these Magura brakes, to be sure. And I am in doubt whether this includes most disks either. The forces on spokes, rims and fork must be tremendous with disks, much higher than with rim brakes, and I am quite confident that we are in for some nasty surprises when the now substantial number of bikes with disks have been in use for some years.
I have Mavic ceramic rims, so I use grey pads when it's dry and green ones when it's raining. Since changing pads is very easy, it is really worth bothering to change to the right pads for a long tour. When you are a skilled bike mechanic, you might install the babies yourself (keep in mind, that you REALLY have to strip the tires, if you want to succeed within a reasonable span), else let the people at the shop do it. Keep in mind, that THESE BABIES FUNCTION ONLY WITH BRAKE BOOSTERS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. Else you may even rip off your brake bosses. And don't open the oil circuit if you don't really know what you are doing.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DEVIN
a Cross Country Rider
from TEXADA ISL.B.C [CANADA]
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | THE BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | GREAT MODULATION,SIMPLE SET UP NO HASSELS | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | CANNONDALE SUPER V 800 | | Bottom Line: | I'M A HEAVY RIDDER,250LBS+ I HAVE ALWAYS HAD BREAKING PROBLEMS WITH CANTIES,OR V'S.NOT ANY MORE,THESE BRAKES WORK SO WELL IN ANY RIDEING CONDITIONS,AND I GET IT ALL THAT I WOULD USE NO OTHER.GREAT PRICE AT THE TIME OF PURCHES COMPAIRED TO DISK.LOW MAINTANENCE,HIGH PERFORMANCE.THEY ARE ADJUSTABLE ON THE FLY.BUY THESE YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yetibuster
a Cross Country Rider
from germany
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | XC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | germany/ffm | | Strengths: | Breaks with two fingers anytime. Easy to install. Quick tire changes (30 seconds). Quick change of rubber without tools. Very powerful (almost like disk brake). Breaks good when wet. Can be adjusted while driving.
Install an forget, they'll never disappoint you!
-No Problems on lightweight forks like SID (as I'm using) | | Weaknesses: | none (they are not as lightweigth as cantis but who want them?) | | Similar Products Used: | cantis/discs on test drives | | Bike Setup: | G-Zero Custom | | Bottom Line: | Almost all os my friends are driving those now. Five people of my friends who had other breaks changed to HS33. Everybody of them never had any problem in 5 years! In this time there went 2 bars, 1 stem, 1 frame and more...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phacops rana
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | power
modulation
hydraulic smoothness
on-the-fly adjustment that WORKS
| | Weaknesses: | see post | | Similar Products Used: | Marinovative
Shimano
Avid | | Bike Setup: | Yeti Ultimate. Steel with rigid fork. Campy Record OR drivetrain (haven't needed to change it in 11 years), Speedplay Frogs. | | Bottom Line: | These are the ultimate put-on-and-forget brakes. They work so well that you don't even think about them when you're on the bike. You fully expect them to work because they just plain work every time in all conditions. Great confidence inspiring brakes that will make you ride better.
They do, however, require proper set-up. This may take a while, and while some have said to take it to the local LBS, I did my own set-up and the things have worked from the get-go. If you do it yourself, remember not to touch the brakes or put them on until you have read the instructions enough times that you can memorize all the steps. This is extremely important, especially when it comes time to cut the hoses. This is not a rush job. Failure to do this will result in compromised performance. Given that, I still don't think that set-up was all too difficult. Time consuming, yes, but difficult, no. Instructions were perfectly acceptable and clear.
Also, the front really does need to be used with the booster. Even with a rigid fork there is a lot flex otherwise. The system is heavy, but who really cares when it inspires such confidence? It's not that you notice it on a ride or anything (and if you ride a steel Yeti hardtail with straight gauge tubing, what's weight anyways?). Changing wheels does take longer, but I don't notice that this puts a damper on my riding experience. It does, however, chew through rims. This is something that discs don't do, of course, but discs do need dished wheels, so every system has its compromise.
All in all, one of the best pieces of machinery to hang on my MTB. Only the Campy Record OR rear hub and bottom bracket can be said to be so perfect. Neither have had to be replaced, all have been working with the minimum of servicing, and all are spot-on reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adrian moss
a Cross Country Rider
from leek England
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | dimmings dale (oakamoor) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | secondhand | | Strengths: | the product itself. Never had a problem with them. Great x country in all conditions never needed any tweaking since i got the bike. | | Weaknesses: | not found any yet. wow i usually hate everything!! | | Similar Products Used: | not bothered, to good | | Bike Setup: | specialised fsr comp, rock shox judy,deluxe shocks, stout front hub shimano deore xt rear. | | Bottom Line: | great brakes about the only thing that stops me off road. fully confident that they will work in any conditions or situations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flynn
a
from Coventry, UK
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The urban trials scene in the midlands | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Some shop in Nottingham | | Strengths: | Hmm... Tough one, they look okay I suppose and... No, i'm sorry, thats all | | Weaknesses: | Hmm... Where shall I begin... Firstly, the bolts - we're not talking about the odd bolt here, we're talking every bolt to do with these brakes - they are all made from play-doh! Hmm... The boosters that come with these brakes, poor, to say the least, I think they are just for show and to rub against the tyre. The amount of time these brakes take to set-up is unreasonable. The standard (black) pads are safety hazards, they simply do not work. The lever tends to break and the brakes will often leak and I won't even start on what I think about the quick realeases! | | Similar Products Used: | - Diatech cable discs
- XT v's ('97 & '00)
- LX V's
- Cheap V's and canti's | | Bike Setup: | Cortina dual frame, full on trials set-up | | Bottom Line: | Well, on paper these brakes offer so much power but in reality the design just doesn't work... On a forum somewhere an argument was started about maguras and it appeared to me that most people who like their maguras have found that to get these brakes to work they have had to heavily modify them (new cables, oil, pads etc.) which shouldn't need to be done to a brake of this price, I will never trust a magura on my biie again, my LX V-brakes and black KoolStop pads do a much, much better job. If you're a little punk who wants serious injuries, these are the brakes for you! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | North Downs, Coed-y-brenin | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Excellent power, great modulation, confidence inspiring. | | Weaknesses: | B@stard to set up, clearance, bolts can round. | | Bike Setup: | Rock Lobster Team Ti, Mavic crossrides, Marzocchi Z2 light | | Bottom Line: | Used these for a month now, and they've been out in some serious (axle deep) mud. I was expecting their initially stunning performance to worsen considerably in England's best winter conditions, but they've proved me wrong. They respond to both the sticky stuff and wet conditions much better than V's, with only a little lost power. Mud clearance is an issue and the wheels are dificult to get out using the QR, but these are niggles that I'm more than willing to put up with in return for the best braking performance I have ever encountered.
They inspire enormous amounts of confidence, whether just scrubbing off a little on high speed sections or screaming to a halt in an emergency. You have absolute control over when you lock your wheels, and they have bags more absolute power than V-brakes (and even all but the very best disks in the dry).
However, you need to be REALLY patient when you're settng them up. It's not really that tricky, but I've probably now spent more than 24 hours in total over four weeks on setting them up and tweaking them - of course, if you run XT V's you'll have spent ten times this just trying to get them to stop squealing!! People who have complained about lack of power just haven't had that level of patience - if you don't, you won't get the most out of this brake. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carsten
a
from Somerville, MA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the city | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased |
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$ 160.00
