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Submitted by
yakuza
a Downhiller
from Belmont CA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | C'mont | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | pink bike | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | no stopping power, they are really loud when you tap them lightly. | | Bottom Line: | If you have extra money get better brakes. Good for street riding and cross country but if you like going fast dont get them | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vitaly K.
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel, Haifa
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | kona dealer | | Strengths: | very simple brake. has no problem at all. need no maintenance at all. passed without leaking many crashes, part of them because it didn't stop. | | Weaknesses: | my weight is about 95kg ant it just has not the power to stop me. | | Similar Products Used: | have v-brakes before and should stay with it. | | Bike Setup: | deore lx | | Bottom Line: | good brake for simple city bike. i am going to put it on my girlfriends bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Artis
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodland Hills, Ca
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Wheel World | | Strengths: | Calipers adjust with an allen wrench. | | Weaknesses: | Noisy rotors. Rotors need to be burnished with emery cloth every few rides to reduce noise. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes FX-9, Avid BB-7. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Anthem-3. | | Bottom Line: | Came with the bike. In a year and a half of hard riding, these brakes have performed as well as any brakes I have used. The rotors start "singing" after a few rides, but a couples of swipes with emery cloth quiets them down. The calipers can be adjusted with an allen wrench without having to remove the wheel. I have used Hayes FX-9's in the past, but they were so much trouble I got rid of them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred Smith
a
from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Kellevie | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock | | Strengths: | No Significant mechanical problems. Easy to Adjust. Never needed to bleed. | | Weaknesses: | Lack of stopping Power is the main weakness. Also the pads seem to glaze over very quickly on a decent decent, rendering the brakes almost useless. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Dawg 2007, Basically stock | | Bottom Line: | Nothing special. Easy to use and adjust and never have had to bleed them, but they lack real power, especially for a hydro. They glaze over WAY to quickly. Average. Probably better to save up a bit more and upgrade to a better set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spencer M
a Weekend Warrior
from Hamilton
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | King's Forest/Felkers Falls/Valley Park loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Pierik's Cycle (came with Kona Cinder Cone) | | Strengths: | cheap
relatively easy to adjust
great stopping power for "back country" riding
better than most rim brakes and some mechanicals
| | Weaknesses: | brake components loosen easily through use on trails
brake performance fluctuates (sometimes good, sometimes bad, depending on rider's maintenence)
| | Similar Products Used: | avid BB5s | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Kona Cinder Cone, all stock | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are great for the average rider who likes to have fun and let off some steam on the back country trails in the neighbourhood. Stopping power is more than enough for going down steep downhills or for when one needs to stop on a dime at moderate speeds. Everything is easily adjusted, although some parts like to come loose soon after they are adjusted, but that's a minor setback. I would not recommend anyone who rides their bikes hard (ie downhill, freeride, etc, etc) to use these brakes. Not quite enough power for those applications. In all, I think these are great entry-level hydraulic discs, and those who want a taste of what they're like should try these out | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XC Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Not much.
Easy set-up? | | Weaknesses: | Very poor braking power
Lever design is poor (just does not feel 'right/comfortable')
Horrible modulation | | Similar Products Used: | XT V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: | K2 Zed 4.0 SRAM 9.0 | | Bottom Line: | This is my first set of hydraulic disc brakes, and was very excited to finally have the power and modulation of hydraulics. Man, was I wrong... These brakes (I have both front and rear) really do not work as advertised. If I was Hayes, I would take it off the market ASAP rather than tarnish their brand like this. I'm going to have to look for another set of brakes before I hurt myself out on the trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Collin
a
from Rochester, NY, US
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Slightly reduced braking power when wet. Quite loud when wet as well. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Reign 3 2005, stock parts | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work pretty well. Only problem I have had with them is that the brake line leaked once.
They work, that is really all that matters for the average person. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob p
a Weekend Warrior
from ohio
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | not sure | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | none this brake sucks so bad its not even funny
some people say u get wat u pay for but this aint the case | | Weaknesses: | i had these brakes for 2 weeks and guess wat just guess i go out for my 5ith ride and im goin down a hill and my front brake line exploded!!!!! can u belive that they blew-up and it got brake fluid everywere wrecked my awsome paint job and oh man was i pissed,brand new bike too and the front brake sucked anyway so now i got new hope brakes and they are tanks!!
| | Similar Products Used: | none they suck so bad
if u buy these brakes purposly u are duh!! | | Bike Setup: | kona scrap | | Bottom Line: | garbage!!!!! i wish i hadent boughht them they suck ,but i love my new hope brakes they rock | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a Cross Country Rider
from New Brunswick
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bungay's | | Strengths: | Cheap and you get what you pay for. | | Weaknesses: | Worst brakes on the planet. Bleed every 10Km. For Crying out loud. | | Similar Products Used: | bb5, BB7, Juicy 3, Juicy 7, Hayes HFX | | Bike Setup: | Super fast! | | Bottom Line: | Sucks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harry
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Powerful brakes, no noticeable fade after heavy braking, brake levers very robust, lots of feel | | Weaknesses: | Noise and vibration. Especially rear brake not so much for front. They are loud, making rattling and grinding noises. | | Similar Products Used: | V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Rockshox Dart 2, Sram x9 / Shimano XT, Hayes Sole (Apollo Enduro 2008) | | Bottom Line: | Despite the noise and vibration issues, these brakes are
powerful and thus good value for money if you are looking for entry-level hydraulic brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve G
a
from Maple Ridge, canada
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Imperial Cycles, Burnaby,BC | | Strengths: | None when used for any length of time | | Weaknesses: | Pistons seize,no installation adjustment, no easy wear pad adjustment, no good. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore M485 | | Bike Setup: | Kona Dr Dew | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are crap. They came installed on my new Dr Dew and were my first discs, let alone hydraulic brakes. I thought they were great for my daily 15 mile commute. Then after less than a few hundred miles they caused trouble. Adjustment was hard to make (yes, these have to be adjusted manually like mechanical brakes, however there is no lever adjustment dynamic tuning). Then they started juddering under firm braking to the point I was in fear for the integrity of the forks! The LBS diagnosed that the brakes were not set properly on the rotor and the friction area was interrupted by its rotor supports...anyway there was NO adjustment possible with this one part system. Everything was functioning so no comeback to the manufacturers just bad,bad design. Shame on Hayes for producing such a poor product. Kona's 2008 Dr Dew doesn't use brakes anymore - they have Shimano M485 instead (I had to pay for these myself for my 2007). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Da Goat | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cycle Solutions | | Strengths: | Works well, one finger stopping. Easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | Bleed plugs come lose - I taped mine. You have to read the manual to learn how to adjust the moving pad and the fixed pad. Also the tiny lever screw will keep backing out making it seem like you are loosing power - just add locktite | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Kona Dawg | | Bottom Line: | Came stock on my Dawg. I'm very happy with these brakes. Plenty of adjustments to fine tune the feel, you just got to learn how to do it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian T
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwich
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bluff Point | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Mystic Cycle | | Strengths: | STOPS!! | | Weaknesses: | Chirps | | Similar Products Used: | V-Brakes | | Bike Setup: | Kikapu Deluxe "Custom"Race Face,XT,Thomson,Panaracer,WTB,Fox... | | Bottom Line: | These are Great Brakes,No Problems at all Except for the ocassional Brake Chirp.No Leake No problems | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
First
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Moors | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | No maintainence required other than occasional pad adjustment. | | Weaknesses: | Supplied rotors can judder at low speeds with heavy braking, probably due to the ventilation holes design. May need to add/subtract shims to keep pads close as they wear (beyond the scope of normal adjustment). The 'So1e' name sucks, reminds of a sweaty shoe insole or something. | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT, Fox TALAS RLC, Raceface, Thomson, Kenda, Spinergy, etc. | | Bottom Line: | These came on a cheap bike I purchased a couple of years ago. Since then that bike has been very much transformed into a totally different and far better (and more expensive) bike. What I haven't changed yet strangely enough is the Hayes So1e brakes as, given the list of most necessary upgrades I've felt I needed, the brakes have not been high on the list as they've worked fine enough for me during the almost 2 years I've used them. These brakes are turning out to be about the last major part I change as I'm only now looking into replacing them, though not because I really need to, just that I can easily afford something more bling/trick that probably matches better the standard of the rest of my bike. I'm actually a little concerned a move to Hopes or similar may prove to require more effort to maintain than these Hayes have to date.
I think some reviews here must be unfair at times given that people are often comparing these to much more expensive models. Given their price, and from experience, I believe they can at least be a very decent upgrade for anyone that may still be using V-brake designs as an entry-level hydraulic disc braking system. They're the kind of brake you find supplied on a £450 bike, not a £2000~ one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Helge
a Weekend Warrior
from Heidelberg, Germany
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Serpentine Sulgen-Kläranlage Schramberg | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | together with Giant Trance 3 | | Strengths: | robust, simple, quiet | | Weaknesses: | low brake power with 160 mm discs, pressure point floats with wearing of the pads, fast pad wearing (especially in wet conditions), on/off behavior (poor precision and feeling), some construction details make an engineer shiver (smal grub screws for fixing the passive pad carrier), | | Similar Products Used: | Hope, Magura HS 33 | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 3 2006 | | Bottom Line: | The sole is a cheap hydraulic brake, and it behaves cheap in some way: On the one side, it is a robust, reliable system, on the other side, there are the weak points I listed above. It is a clear step down from my old 185 mm Hope system mounted on my Giant xtc team in terms of braking performance, feeling and precision, but this comparison is not fair in some way if you look for prices. I don't know any other low entry level disc brakes. I'm changing to an Avid Juicy seven.
If you're looking for a cheap brake giving constant brake performance even in wet conditions, it may be an alternative to the plastic Julie or some mechanic discs. If your big, a single trail lover and someone who needs feedback and fine precision from his brakes, you may look somewhere else - and spend some more money, maybe. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rory Brown-Kerr
a Downhiller
from Aberdeen, Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Laggan Wolftrax/Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Edinburgh Bicycle ( Came with Bike) | | Strengths: | Solid enough new, Cheap, Levers | | Weaknesses: | Power fade far too quickly, brake squeaks FAR to much even in dry weather, needs constant attention, caps pop off causing fluid to leak on the trail, rotor wobbles violently when braking heavily | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Louise 07 8" | | Bike Setup: | Factory set up Specialized Hardrock 07 | | Bottom Line: | Ok for riders who dont need to brake too much, quite good if brand new but i think you will be in the garage alot trying to keep your brakes in working order, quite disappointed really.. good start but a very poor finish, in my eyes you should save up and get a set of proper brakes i recommend Magura/Hope
hope this helps, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Zurich, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The rotors. OK braking for at least one ride. | | Weaknesses: | Constant need to be adjusted. Set-up lasts for one decent ride eg 1500m XC descent. "Wooden" feel at the lever. | | Similar Products Used: | V-Brakes, Formula Oro K18. | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche 1.0
| | Bottom Line: | These brakes are rubbish, requiring adjustment with tools after each decent ride to get the levers away from the bar. Stopping power is OK when set-up, but the the lever feel is wooden without much braking force modulation. Having to use shims and washers to position the caliper is not acceptable. I gave up and replaced the front end with a Formula Oro K18 kit. A highly recommended change.
The Sole does not belong on a MTB that is to be used off road. It would only be acceptable on something like a city bike requiring light brake use only. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
felicia
a Downhiller
from hunter,NY
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | HunterMtn, Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | They would work really well for the enormous tricycle my Grandmother rides in Florida | | Weaknesses: | the plugs pop out causing your hydraulic fluid to leak out all over the trail and lose your brakes, nobody carries the plugs,and you have to constantly adjust everything | | Similar Products Used: | hayes nine, avid juicy | | Bike Setup: | giant faith
| | Bottom Line: | Upgrade as soon as you can because talk to any mechanic and they'll tell you what I learned the hard way- these brakes suck! my friend has these same brakes on his Giant Anthem x-country bike and has gone thru the same problems!so they're not good on x-c either! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William
a Cross Country Rider
from raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | crabtree | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | part of build kit | | Strengths: | Not many if any. Callipers do adjust easily. pads clean well.
| | Weaknesses: | Stopping power quickly fades. Levers are ridiculously long. Brake will not hold compression (period) | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Kona stinky, 888vf 200mm dual crown | | Bottom Line: | This product works great on first ride, but quickly fades to zero stopping power. Ran through two sets in one year's time. Put local bike shop generic brakes on bike to get through the weekend, and felt like $40 quads beat the soles hands down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik P.
a Weekend Warrior
from Thurmont, MD ~ US
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Can't say I've seen any. | | Bike Setup: | Bought a leftover '05 Giant AC ~ these were the stock brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Rode the bike 4 times, totaling probably LESS than 5 miles. Cylinder somehow blew out in the housing. Took it back to the shop I bought it at & they're having it replaced. They can offer NO EXPLANATION as to why this would've happened other than to say it was "common" with the Soles.
Needless to say, EXTREMELY disaapointed with the Soles right now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Oakland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Chapparrel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust, Good stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | You have to adjust them before every single ride, and they get out of adjustment really easliy. They also squeak like hell when it's wet or for no appearent reason. | | Bike Setup: | '06 Specialized Enduro | | Bottom Line: | These brakes have good stopping power and are really easy to adjust, which is a good thing because you might have to when they start rubbing for absolutely no reason on the trail. They aren't completely horrible, they are good when they work, but I'm going to upgrade to Juicy 7s as soon as I get the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan
a
from denver co
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | apex | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | stock | | Strengths: | easy to tune with just one 5mm allen wrench, cheap cheap cheap | | Weaknesses: | levers are to long and take your whole bar up, really weak for a hydraulic brake, fade fast into nothing, your better off using your feet to stop | | Similar Products Used: | deore, hfx 9, juicy 5 | | Bike Setup: | giant reign | | Bottom Line: | save your money and buy a good pair I have learned my lesson and shall be purchasing formula k18s | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harlow Hickenlooper
a Racer
from Frenchlick IN USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | backyard | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Hayes & Strength is an oxymoron! | | Weaknesses: | Cheap metal, poor workmanship, poor design | | Similar Products Used: | BB7, BB5, J-7 | | Bike Setup: | 4x | | Bottom Line: | Bottomline, yes they are. Any OEM that would put these on other than a big-box store's bike should be questioned - in court. No one other than sidewalk riders should buy these or any bike they come on. As a matter of opinion a parent that buys a bike for their child with these brakes on them should be reported to child protection services. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
First
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good price, sturdy levers, simple design, effective, reliable (to date) | | Weaknesses: | Can be tricky to setup correctly | | Bottom Line: | I was a bit concerned as to the quality of these due to their price when I bought them (along with the bike they came on) though they have proven to be solid and reliable for me now after nearly a years use. I had to use a couple of washers on the rear caliper to be able to centre it to the disc correctly though this hasn't been a significant issue. They require tweaking a little bit now and again to keep the pads close to the disc (as they wear) but this is very easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Stopping power has been spot on, working fine in the hot dry, cold wet, dirty, long downhills, etc. I can rely on these safely with just one finger on each lever during tricky sections. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a
from San Antonio
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt. Cibio | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | GT | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Poor Quality, levers fall off and can not be tightened enough to hold | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Jucie 5, BB7 | | Bike Setup: | GT Ruckus | | Bottom Line: | Save your money until you can buy a real set of brakes. You're better off dragging your foot than using these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe biondo
a Cross Country Rider
from long island
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky point | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stock | | Strengths: | very affordable, low maintenance, strong stopping power | | Weaknesses: | None at all so far. The rotors have stayed tight, no fluid leaking good levers | | Similar Products Used: | Avid V brakes, Shimano Mechanical disc | | Bike Setup: | 2006 GT 5.3.0 | | Bottom Line: | After reading the reviews I did not expect them to work so well.They need to be set just right from day one. If you know how to make the proper adjustments they will be almost silent and work very well. Nothing better for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan Nickell
a Downhiller
from old shasta, nor cal, usa
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | chiminy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | chaingang bike shop | | Strengths: | good stppping power.(sometimes)cheep | | Weaknesses: | hoses hink too much. constantly have to be adjusted wich isn't cheep.noise and i ran the lever into a handrail on accident while riding in my house and blew a piston. the repairs would cost more than its worth so i bought all new avid bb5 | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock giant ac | | Bottom Line: | there all right if you know to adjust your hidros all buy your self if not dont buy them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Saint Paul
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Simple design | | Weaknesses: | rotors a little flimsy | | Similar Products Used: | Avid bb7, Hayes mag, v-brakes etc... | | Bike Setup: | Scott Voltage 0.5 | | Bottom Line: | Basic disc brakes. People with adjustment problems probably have other problems as well. I just needed to install the correct spacing washers between the frame a nd the brake and I have not had to do any adjusting other than a slight tweak every other week to turn the fixed pad in a touch=NORMAL. 4 flamin' turds across the board just a basic brake that is better than v's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pebble
a Weekend Warrior
from NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Hydro Disk
Works
Simple to maintain | | Weaknesses: | Single Piston
IS Mount
Levers - bit long | | Similar Products Used: | These are my first set of hydro brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Trance 3, 1x9 speed with thomson post & stem, race face deus bar, ethirteen bashie, soon to put on a straitline inner plate, michelin hot s tyres, tora 130mm fork. | | Bottom Line: | They took a while to dial in when they were brand new - adjusting for good braking power & no rubbing, it was a good way to familiarise myself with them anyway. I have found them to be pretty simple and don't take much up keep - have adjusted the non moving pad probably a couple of times since the initial set up.
Going from my specialized two finger linear pull brakes the hardest thing to get used to was the long levers, that's really my only gripe. Better levers would go a long way with these brakes (like dangerboy etc), nevertheless I have found one finger braking still to be sufficient. Recently moving the brakes inboard (ie Grip shifter brake) is an improvement.
Have not experienced any bad performance, an occasional squeal due to mud or dust but it goes away pretty quick during use.
I would say they are a great starting poing and budget hydro brake, of course there are better products out there for those who need more performance and braking power - if I was to upgrade I'd be going straight to Furmula k18's or k24's. Hydro's are so expensive I can't really justify upgrading from what seems to be a working and trouble free system that I have at the moment (the Soles). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Armidale
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | St Helena's | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Can actually stop the bike.
Still work very well in the wet. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't stop it very well and makes a lot of noise while it tries.
Needs almost constant adjustment to prevent disks rubbing. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Alias '07 | | Bottom Line: | If you've never used disks before these are a good start but they're not good enough to keep.
You'll most likely replace them pretty quickly just because you'll want brakes that work properly and don't need constant adjustment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
al
a Cross Country Rider
from dfw, tx
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | simple, strong, no rub when set up properly, fairly quiet, inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | rotors pulse slightly, a bit finicky setup. inherent weaknesses of single-piston design: must adjust non-moving pad occasionally | | Similar Products Used: | hope, el camino, Mags, | | Bike Setup: | tiawain special | | Bottom Line: | stock item on $600 dual suspension Mongoose, so can't complain about the price! these are direct-mount brakes, no adaptors, and you must face the IS tabs and use spacers if to center the calipers properly. Once set, no issues. Just have to adjust the non-moving pad occasionally, which takes 5 seconds with an allen key.
Power is great, hauls 250+lb load down quickly! inpervious to weather: been in 110F summer, 20F winter, pissing freezing rain, u name it. Occasionally squeals, but STOPS.
Lever feel is ok, not much modulation, more on/off, maybe overly powerful. Have not tried different pads, this might help.
both rotors pulse and wobble slightly, but not enough to be a big concern.
Great budget disk system, highly recommended for the price point. much better than any rim brakes in bad weather.
Another plus: EASY to find and CHEAP parts! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pierre Casal
a Weekend Warrior
from St CYR
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | st cyr | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | fizzbikes | | Strengths: | good stopping power, easy to install and adjust | | Weaknesses: | weight is 464gr in postmount version could be less | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes HMX-2 mechanical brakes, Avid mechanical disk brake | | Bike Setup: | Decathlon 6.2 2003 | | Bottom Line: | The power isn't too bad for a single piston setup in fact better than mechanical disk brakes because the transmitted power between fingers and pads is superior than with mechanical disk brakes.
A good choice for every one who's looking for good XC disk brakes at lowest price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dejan
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Stops the bike, hydraulic system, pretty powerful when needed. | | Weaknesses: | Fornt rotor squeals when braking and the back one clicks. Front pitson is too far away from the rotor, tried adjusting but because of the rotor wobbling, the pad rubs when it gets too close... The right lever gets about 1cm from the bar just so i can stop. | | Similar Products Used: | None, first disc brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Giant Alias | | Bottom Line: | Not the best brakes but are good enough. I've had the brakes for about a weeks now and ther are many problems with the front rotor but hoping to get it fixed soon (free service/ break-in period) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
loren bolton
a Weekend Warrior
from great falls, montana, usa
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | big sky ski resort | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | kniker biker | | Strengths: | good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | require a lot of matainance(adjusting the levers after every ride) | <
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