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Avid Flak Jackets

Average Rating 2.95/5
# of Reviews 88
MSRP $ 36.00
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Description:Bullet-proof Kevlar® mesh renders our compressionless Flak Jacket cable housing lighter, more flexible and impervious to thrashing. Ultralow-friction Teflon® coated cables make for smooth, effortless control. And the Shield-Lock liner slip over the Shield-Lock ferrules to seal the entire system from mud, grit and grime.
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    Submitted by dbruning a Cross Country Rider from Richfield, MN, USA
    Date Reviewed: July 7, 2008
    Favorite Trail:The Flow
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:REI
    Strengths:Matches Avid's Full Metal Jacket Brake systems.
    Weaknesses:After 2 and a half rides, cable housing shifted as in other post. This messed up my shifting and left me with a useless bike for the holiday on a mtb specific trip (thank goodness for the SS backup!) Problem as described in other accounts!
    Similar Products Used:stock cable housing (no problems after many installs and years (yes years, Avid!) of use.
    Bike Setup:Diamondback V-Link 3.o full suspension. Fox 90RL fork, Fox "custom" built rear shock by SHOCKSPITAL. XT/LX der, FSA crank, FSA carbon seat post, handle bar, thomson stem
    Bottom Line:Was hoping for the best and got the worst. I will replace with stock cable housing and return to REI under 100% guarantee satisfaction.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by joel a Weekend Warrior from uk
    Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:ebay
    Strengths:cable completely sealed off from the elements, very stiff outer
    Weaknesses:very stiff outer.
    Bike Setup:whyte 46
    Bottom Line:As stated these cables are Thick!
    You need sharp cutters before attempting to fit them. Once cut, I bent the outer by about 90 degrees between my fingers, this caused the wires running down the cable to poke out of the end. I then filled these back, and when I straightened the outer they disappeared back in to the sheath. I have had no problems with these cables and can only think people are leaving them too long, as when they flex the inner is trying to push out of the end, cutting them a bit shorter will allow them to flex and slide in to the ferrules. I had enough cable and outer in my kit to do the whole bike with some left over

    The only problem I have encountered on my bike is that I have a hinged drop-out on the rear, and the outer is so thick/strong it will not "kink" as the bike would like it to. I would also recommend some sticky pad protection where the cables may rub as the outer is very thick and could damage paint work

    I would definitely buy these cables again given the choice
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Daniyar a Weekend Warrior from Tucson, AZ
    Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Strengths:Smooth
    Weaknesses:Hard to cut, plastic sleeve started cracking after only 6 months, and most importantly, metal wire in this so called compressionless housing started poking through the ferrules that were supplied with these cables.
    Bottom Line:This is by far the worst cable I have even used, and has to be the worst product made by SRAM. At the very least they should have supplied steel ferrules so that they wouldn't brake under pressure from the housing.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by doug baker a Weekend Warrior from UK
    Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Kiroughtree
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:None!
    Weaknesses:As other reviewers have found,Cable outer pulls itself apart.
    Cheap red "sealing system" that doesn't work.
    Similar Products Used:Gore - Bring em back!
    Bottom Line:Must be some kind of inconsistency in manufacturing because these seem to work for some people, but Avid need to sort this out. Just wasted 23 hard earned english pounds, as these cable outers just pull themselves apart within a ride. Have been fitting cables for 15 years... like everyone else here i know how its done - this is definitely a fault with the product.

    Really badly conceived and constructed product, shouldn't be for sale.

    Don't even deserve 1 flaming turd.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Andrew Bass a Cross Country Rider from Albury NSW Australia
    Date Reviewed: October 30, 2007
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:Chain Reactions
    Strengths:It looks cool.
    Weaknesses:Just like all the other bad reviews the inner wires came out of the ferules and the result was inconsistent shifting. I used a brand new park tool cable cutter.
    Similar Products Used:I replaced the cables with Shimano XTR and the shifting is perfect
    Bike Setup:Giant Anthem 0 (2007) with Sram XO
    Bottom Line:I read the reviews after purchasing the product and would not have done so. Sram should take the flak jacket off the market.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Alex a Weekend Warrior from Rochester, NY USA
    Date Reviewed: July 19, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Hunter's Creek, Ellicottville etc
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $36.00
    Purchased At:online
    Strengths:Excellent ferrules and outer shield system.(though I wish red wasn't the only color..clear or black, and sell the ferrules and shields seperately! please!)
    Weaknesses:As other reviews described, the inner shield wires migrate out of the inner tube and jam into ferrules. Also had a piece of the inner teflon sleeve migrate into the rear derailler shifter pod housing!! I too thought this was a fluke and reinstalled sections after carefully trimming and opening the inner sleeve etc, I use Shimano pro cable cutters...but after 3 times I've had it. Too many ruined rides from bad shifts at the worst times! Enough! I switched to using some housing that came with XT pod shifters with the Avid ferrules and red tube system and this combo has been trouble free. I don't hose the bike down, I let mud dry then brush off or use damp rag. Have ridden in rain and still the tubes are clear. The Turner's cables run on top of the top frame tube so are exposed to everything (but still a better place than on the front of the downtube!)
    Similar Products Used:XT, Gore back in the day
    Bike Setup:04 Turner Burner, Mavic Crossmax ST's, hayes discs, XT pretty much everything else, Marzocchi Marathon S-eta fork, SS eggbeaters
    Bottom Line:I installed several cable sets to date, this is the first one to have these stupid issues of repeatedly migrating inner wires. The outer 'woven' wires are fine, it's the non-bonded 22 ga. wires which surround the teflon cable tube that are the problem! The Gore were the best even with the crazy 'creaking' noise they made...somebody re-issue them or fix the Flak inner jackets! I'm a reasonable guy but this is the definition of a 'defective' product.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Michael Spugnardi a Cross Country Rider from Grand Forks, ND
    Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Maah Daah Hey
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $17.00
    Purchased At:Online retailer
    Strengths:As easy to install as any cable set with the added advantage of keeping out normal grit and grime.
    Bottom Line:A great cable set for both brakes and shifters. I've been using them problem free for over a year and have no complaints.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Rogier a Cross Country Rider from Amsterdam-The Netherlands
    Date Reviewed: May 19, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Roc d'Azur
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:internet
    Strengths:Black
    Weaknesses:Durability, protection against dirt, merely everything I guess...
    Similar Products Used:Gore Ride-On, Mudlovers
    Bike Setup:Ridley XT Skareb MaguraHS33
    Bottom Line:Well, this was a once-and-never-again experience!!! What a crappy cable system! Only the mounting was OK, but then my worries about the cheap plastic BRIGHT RED cable covers became true: they absolutely do NOT keep the dirt out of the cable system (and after Gore-experience I know this is possible...)

    Moreover, every two weeks you have to adjust your gears (if you're lucky), because the cable housing starts changing dimensions due to some of the steel wires that start sticking out of the cable housing looking like an umbrella that did not survive a storm. I first thought I did not cut the cables properly or that I did not put the end cap on the cable housings, but the problem keeps occurring after installing new cable housings for three times already! (I use a Park Tool cable cutter which never gave me trouble with installing any other cable set!)

    I'm heavily disappointed and now consider buying either XTR or SRAM cable set (unfortunately, Gore has stopped producing the übergreat Ride-On series!). Boys and girls, save yourselves some misery and DO NOT BUY THIS CABLE SET!!!!!!
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Matt Daily Commuter a Cross Country Rider from Lost in Oklahoma
    Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
    Favorite Trail:"The Secret Sulfur Trail" - Don't Ask !
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $30.00
    Purchased At:Jenson USA, Ebay, LBS, etc...
    Strengths:Solid design, hard to wear out.
    Weaknesses:Unskilled riders who do NOT
    Similar Products Used:Shimano, Jagwire, QBP generics
    Bike Setup:Several, most custom/hand made, SS MTB with avid mech disks, Surly 1x1 DAILY commuter.
    Bottom Line:If you use the right tools and FILE THE HOUSING END AFTER YOU CUT IT, and SMOOTH OUT THE INNER OPENING BEFORE YOU STICK A CABLE INTO IT, it works fine. NO ISSUES. Cables are very attractive and bomb-proof. My objetion to almost all of these bad reviews is the lack solid, correct install proceedures. YES XTR/DURACE cables are EASIER to cut and install but keep in mind you are trying to cut KEVLAR (Bullet proof vests anyone), you just can't "melt the ends or trimthem with out some fraying, period. I USE THESE CABLES ON ALMOST ALL MY BIKES AND I RIDE EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH NO ISSUES !
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by RF a Weekend Warrior from NJ
    Date Reviewed: March 30, 2007
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:19.00
    Strengths:Seem to work good (for a while) look nice
    Weaknesses:inner cables split causing binding.
    Similar Products Used:generic cable housing with teflon lining (better)
    Bottom Line:This is a follow up to my review (a few down, my name is Ryan)

    I thought these cables were awesome, untill the winter came and I took my bike apart for a good cleaning. I even bought another set of flak's for my new bike. Then I found out the ends were 'fraying' and I couldn't even re-install the housings. This seems like it is a common problem. SRAM why don't you fix these? they would be an awesome cable set if they didn't come apart.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Scott a Cross Country Rider from NJ - Monmouth
    Date Reviewed: January 1, 2007
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:web
    Strengths:Exposed cable sleeve, nice amount of ferrings
    Weaknesses:Jacket wires WILL NOT stay in place, they creep out and cause endless trouble
    Similar Products Used:XTR housings
    Bottom Line:I used these cables for almost a year and loved em! Never had a problem. After a year of very regular use I started to notice a little trouble shifting. No problem, you should change your cables at least once a year anyway. I liked em so decided to buy them again. The second time, after only a few rides I noticed the inner lining wires start to poke out all over the place. I used the caps that came with the cable and installed them to same way as my first pair. Over the next few weeks I had to replace a few sections of the cable and was pretty much cursing the cables every ride. I finally gave up and purchased XTR cables. I don't know what happened between my first set and my last, but I cant trust these cables enough to suggest them again.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Paul a Cross Country Rider from Colorado Springs
    Date Reviewed: October 19, 2006
    Favorite Trail:CT - Kenosha to Breck
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $26.00
    Purchased At:Jenson
    Strengths:The brake cables work fine.
    Weaknesses:The gear cables are terrible. The cable housing sections that have sharp bends -- that is, from the shifter to the frame, and to the rear derailleur -- self destruct. The wires in the housing work loose and start poking out the ends, causing binding and no end of frustration. I thought it was a fluke that I had problems with these, but a buddy of mine had the exact same problem. Now that I have read the other reviews I find I am not alone. Sigh...
    Bottom Line:Why pay a premium for a product that will drive you crazy? Save yourself lots of frustation; don't buy the gear shifter cables.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Terry a Weekend Warrior from Durham
    Date Reviewed: October 5, 2006
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Chain Reaction Cycles
    Strengths:Good for about 2 months.
    Weaknesses:Very dissappointing. Thought it was just me, but these did not last long at all and gave me lots of problems with keeping my gears indexed. Hopeless in the UK muddy winter conditions.

    Ride-On Gore-Tex were the bees knees, but these seem to have been discontinued much to my dispair, so I will switch to Shimano XTR.
    Similar Products Used:Rode-On Gore-Tex
    Clarks (rubbish also)
    Bottom Line:Custom build Kona hard-tail.
    Custom build Giant VT 2004.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by gez mason a Cross Country Rider from england
    Date Reviewed: September 10, 2006
    Favorite Trail:chocolate pudding
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:crc
    Strengths:look very impressive. feel very smooth when first fitted.
    Weaknesses:metal inners are faulty causing quick failure.
    Similar Products Used:nothing this bad.
    Bike Setup:spes enduro expert.
    Bottom Line:I must be a real mug because when my first set failed i put it down to bad cable cutters so i bought a second set after 3 months and park tool cutters and they've failed again.When initially fitted they have the lightest feel of any cable i've tried, however after only a few rides round my trails the ghost shifting started accompanied by stiff action.Apon taking things apart for the second time to my horror about 60mm of the inner wires had come out on two of the rear mech sections and the mud does get in but gets "sealed in"!! Do not buy these cables, they should be banned and as another guy on here suggested Avid should refund all failures.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Ryan Ferraro a Weekend Warrior from North Jersey
    Date Reviewed: July 19, 2006
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:eBay
    Strengths:Product works exactly how it is supposed to. Looks neat.
    Weaknesses:None really, as mentioned before the "coctail stirer tubes" should come in diffrent colors.
    Similar Products Used:Stock cable housings
    Bike Setup:Good stuff, custom built.
    Bottom Line:I read the reviews before purchasing, and decided to buy them anyway. I figured I would give them a try. When I installed them, I decided to put electrical "shrink tubing" where there was any connection or splice, it seems to work perfectly, so far none of the tubes have budged. Also covering with shrink tubing solves the problem with the red tubes, I covered the entire tube so it is now black. You can get shrink tubing in other colors also.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Bill a Cross Country Rider from Dearborn, MI, USA
    Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $22.00
    Purchased At:PricePoint.com
    Strengths:The Kevlar Mesh housing looks really cool, and the "shield lock" prevents dirt from entering the cable housing.
    Weaknesses:THE WORST THING ABOUT THESE CABLES/HOUSINGS IS THE CABLE RUB!!! I use mechanical disk brakes and the cable rub on my head tube going toward my front brake is friggin' terrible! I installed these cables/housings on my new Jamis frame about three months ago and already my poor frame is scared for life; right down to the aluminum.
    The cable/housing kit is a bit expensive compared to XTR; also it's a little harder to cut compared to other housing. I used a dremel tool to ensure a clean cut, which worked well. The included "cable" seemed rather cheep to me, it frayed really easily, which isn't cool seeing that this cable/housing set costs more than XTR cable/housing.
    Similar Products Used:XTR Cables and Housing
    Bike Setup:Jamis Dakar XC Frame, Manitou Elite Black Forks, Fox Float R Rear Shock, Mavic XC 717 Rims, Shimano XT Disk Hubs (front & rear), Old School Shimano XT Crank, Shimano XT ES71 Splined Bottom Bracket, Speedplay Frog Pedals, Shimano XT Front Dérailleur, Shimano XT Rear Dérailleur, Shimano XT 9 Speed Shifters (front & rear), Shimano XT 9 Speed Cassette, Shimano XTR/Dura-Ace 9 Speed Chain, Avid BB5 Disk Brakes (front & rear), Old School Avid 1.0 Brake Levers, Cane Creek Headset, WTB Laser V Saddle, Avid Flack Jacket Housing/Cable (shift & brake)
    Bottom Line:BUY THE XTR CABLES & HOUSING!!! Don't waste your time with these guys. They do look cool, and they do prevent trail grime from penetrating into your housing, but the XTR cables/housing are much, MUCH nicer! Plus, if you value your fame, or should I say if you value the paint on your frame, use housing with a less abrasive coating. The included cables are cheep and fray easily, and this setup is a bit more expensive than the XTRs. One good thing about this set, if I remember correctly, is that the housing included is slightly longer than that of the XTRs... at least that's what the sales rep at Price Point told me, which bumps it up to a value rating of 2 chilis.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Erik Zimmerman a Cross Country Rider from SLC, UT
    Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006
    Favorite Trail:the crest
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:REI
    Strengths:Good looks, sealed system
    Weaknesses:high price, poor quality
    Similar Products Used:shop stock housing
    Bike Setup:03 Enduro, PIKE, RP3 all else pretty unexciting
    Bottom Line:After reading the reviews, I thought I'd give them a shot and hope for the best. The first week or 2 they were great, "silly-slick" as the box said. The the drama began. The wire supports began to push out at every end in any section of housing that had any degree of bend in it. It pushed out into my shifter internals, out through my rear derailleur gasket, everywhere. I'd take it apart, clip it down and hope for the best, only to be denied any shifting capability whatsoever in about a week. I've installed many cable systems, using housing a sixth of the price. I don't want to hear the "you don't know how to wrench argument". Bottom line, stay away from this housing system. Do not fall prey to the allure of the Kevlar bling factor!!!! Only one flaming turd for you, Flak Jacket!
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Brian a from Western Massachusetts
    Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:bluesky
    Strengths:They do just what they are supposed to, keep dirt out of your cables, and do not compress your cables.
    Weaknesses:None so far. Not a weakness but it would be cool if the (cocktail stir) came in different colors.
    Similar Products Used:shimano
    Bike Setup:Schwinn sram X.9 shifters + derailleur, vanilla rlc forks, vanilla r rear shock, FSA v-drive megaExo cranks, XT hubs BB7s front, and back
    Bottom Line:Bottom line is these are great cables that are a huge improvement over stock cables.

    A few people have had problems with the housings, but a lot of people havn't. If everyone had a problem I would say the cables were at fault, but since it is a few people with the problem, I tend to think something was not done properly when they were being installed. possibly the cables were not pushed far enough into the furrels.

    whatever the case may be.. mine work perfectly, I have had 0 issues with them, would reccomend them, and will get them again when the ones I have wear out.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Joe a Racer from Madison, MS
    Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $30.00
    Strengths:Very smooth shifting. Cable protected from elements and sweat.
    Weaknesses:Poor design of cable housing.
    Similar Products Used:Ride-on, Delta Aztec
    Bike Setup:Giant NRS, mostly XT with Formula B4SL disc brakes, SID Race(yuk), Hutchinson Pythons on Speed Dream wheels using Stan's No Tubes.
    Bottom Line:These cables work well right after they are installed but, and its a bid butt, the housing material slides over the wire reinforcement. This caused several problems. First I lost all shifting to a smaller ring on the front due to the wire getting stuck in the lumen where the cable is located. I had to use both hands and both feet to get the wire out of the housing. Not realizing at the time that this would happen on the rear I did not change the housing and went to a race. All through the race my rear shifting slowly got worse until I became reluctant to shift as often as I like and ended up blowing in the last lap and losing two places. After the race I took the rear cable apart and noticed again that the housing was contracting causing the wire to stick out of the ends. It did not get stuck on the rear but I lost shifting. That was enough for me so I replaced the Avid housing with some plain Shimano shifter housing but continue to use the tubing that covers the cable itself. So far this is working but it really is no longer a complete Flak Jacket set up.
    Ps: If any of you are wondering, I have installed cables many times so I know what I'm doing. I also use a Park housing cutter.
    Peace.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Ryan a from Oregon
    Date Reviewed: May 31, 2006
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $29.00
    Strengths:Much easier to install than lego style housings. Still silky smoother after two years of extreme mud, water, dust... Never needs adjustment.
    Weaknesses:Costs more initally than unsealed cables and takes 5 more minutes to set up, but both cost and time savings will be rewarded back over time.
    Similar Products Used:Gore, Nokon, Shimano Slick Stainless
    Bottom Line:I have put these on several bikes and have not had one problem. I have never seen them as a problem on any of my friends bike either. They make shifting so much smoother for so much longer than unsealed systems. These cables rock.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Deno a Cross Country Rider from Michigan
    Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006
    Favorite Trail:Yo Momma's
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Breakaway
    Strengths:Looks great and holds under all conditions.
    Weaknesses:Not the easiest to install.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano
    Bike Setup:Homegrown hardtail, Pushed Fox f80, Mavic Crossrides, WTB Velociraptors, XT 8 speed components, Onza Ti pedals, Easton Monkey Lites, Yeti grips, Thomson post, Selle Italia seat.
    Bottom Line:Awesome product...I rate it a buy.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jorgex a Weekend Warrior from Almada, Portugal
    Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:-extremely low maintenance
    -perfect shifting
    -low price
    Similar Products Used:standard cheap cables, gore ride on, nokon cables
    Bike Setup:Giant Escaper'92 (hardtail), SRAM rocket with deore(f) and XT(r)
    Bottom Line:Great shifting under all weather conditions unless there's mud in your drivetrain.
    With this product i forgot how to maintaince my derailleurs.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jorgex a Weekend Warrior from Almada, Portugal
    Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:-extremely low maintenance
    -perfect shifting
    -low price
    Similar Products Used:standard cheap cables, gore ride on, nokon cables
    Bike Setup:Giant Escaper'92 (hardtail), SRAM rocket with deore(f) and XT(r)
    Bottom Line:Great shifting under all weather conditions unless there's mud in your drivetrain.
    With this product i forgot how to maintaince my derailleurs.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jeff a Cross Country Rider from Rocky Point
    Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $30.00
    Purchased At:JensonUSA
    Strengths:fairly easy to install. very cool looking. basically eliminates cable trouble/maintenance.
    Weaknesses:none so far.
    Similar Products Used:stock generic cables/housings.
    Bike Setup:'99 Trek 8000, EC70 flat, thomson stem/post, Fox F80X, Sram XO triggers, Avid S.D. V's, Sette carbon barends, King headset, Bonty FS10 saddle, XTR hollowtech, XTR FD, XT cass, Sram XO RD, Sram PC99 Hollowpin, 'beaters, Bonty Mavericks and Revolt ST2s, LX hubs
    Bottom Line:i am very happy with this product. well worth the money and will buy another set for the next frame.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by LarryB a Cross Country Rider from Pennsylvania
    Date Reviewed: December 16, 2005
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Strengths:None that I can tell
    Weaknesses:Fist I'd liekt o say I know how to install cables. These cable housings have a very disurbing problem where the wires that make up the structure of the housing start to slide out. They slide out of both ends of every section. It happens less so on the straighter sections. I found one wire wrapped all the way around the shifter! Yeah, I let it go for a while but when I took them off for inspection, I never expected what I saw. It's an obvious defect in workmanship and after reading these reviews I can see it's really a faulty product in general. I'm surprised they've gotten away with it this long and I'm surprised it is still on the market. I Can you say "class action"? One of you riders out there must be a lawyer. Start lawyering up!
    Similar Products Used:Generic cables and you know what? They work a hell of a lot better.
    Bike Setup:They're cables and I maintain my bike. Remember, these cables are supposed to reduce maintenence.
    Bottom Line:They blow chunks. Spend your money elsewhere. I'd give them 0 flamin' chilies except that there's no 0 chili option.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Dan the Man a from WA
    Date Reviewed: November 26, 2005
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:They work and just like several have stated ITS HOW YOU INSTALL THEM THAT MATTERS!!
    Weaknesses:None - and I mean none!!
    Similar Products Used:Every other cheap cable made and full metals.
    Bike Setup:Klein Palomino