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Submitted by
NA1NSXR
a Cross Country Rider
from Tustin, CA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Solid performance | | Weaknesses: | No adjustability | | Bottom Line: | I have used these brakes for more than 10 years now, and they have served me well. They have always provided reasonably strong braking power that I have come to expect from v brake systems. I have taken care of them this last decade, and made sure they were properly adjusted (toe angle is just a crutch to eliminate noise, optimally setup v brakes use very little to no toe angle). No sqeaks or loss of power, and they make only minor noise in the nastiest conditions. I have equipped them with many different pads over the years and I find the original Avid ones to be excellent but fast wearing, therefore the majority of the time I have been using Kool Stop pads which have only a tiny bit less power but last a lot longer.
I am overhauling my bike with a new build kit and I have decided to go with new calipers and levers for the updated design and adjustability. I think the SD10's are really great brakes for the money though. A lot of people complain about noise and lack of braking power but all V brakes use the same general design and the contact surface (pad) is changable. Those problems are usually due to poor setup. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Piedmont, NC USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Uhwarrie Mtn area | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Predictable response | | Weaknesses: | None noticed at present | | Similar Products Used: | First v-brake | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher sugar w/Mavic UST wheels and Conti Explorer UST tires | | Bottom Line: | I recently installed the new Aztec pads and followed Zinn's expert advice to use a paper clip in the pads' installation to provide the proper toe-in to mitigate some very annoying squeaking of the rear pad. With this upgrade, the brakes are working well. The bike looked like it had some pretty serious use when purchased; replaced the crank and bottom bracket. The brakes don't show adverse response to the previous user's arduous exhibiton of the bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on Schwinn MOAB | | Strengths: | Stopping power, lever feel, levers | | Weaknesses: | Adjusting the pads requires you to hold the pad with one hand while adjusting (same for the LX at that time). Tightness of the pad is limited to the amount of pressure and stabilization you can provide to the pad as you are tightening it. Pad tightness is an issue for lower end brake models I think. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, SRAM 9.0 | | Bike Setup: | Steel X-cal with Mavic 221's, Fisher front hub, LX rear. | | Bottom Line: | I'm thinking that XT, XTR or SRAM 9.0 brakeset would be better - obviously (they cost more!). I tried out the SRAM 9.0 and the pads had some concave washer type things that really locked the pads down on both sides of the brake arms, damn! If the assembly fell apart when you were working you had hell to pay. But, you could get a strong adjustment that couldn't easily knock the pads out of whack. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Northboro, MA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | These brakes are the best i have ever tried. All of my friends try them compared to theres and they are so much stronger. | | Weaknesses: | My pads squeak a little after some lube got in there. | | Similar Products Used: | Crappy v's, crappy coda discs, much crap | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper Pro: stock | | Bottom Line: | These are the best v brakes Ihave tried but my friend is getting some arch rivals so who knows. I use these for moderate freeriding stuff and they work great. my only complaint is that the little plastic cover on the cable splits. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | University Campus or Tapeworm | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Elliot Bay Cycles | | Strengths: | They look alright, The front lever feels really good, they were good for 6 months. | | Weaknesses: | Uhhh, after a while they just didn't really......stop. Rear brake lever feels like a piece of poo. Pads suck serious boo-tang. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Avid SD 10's | | Bike Setup: | 2000 17" Kona Cinder Cone, 2001 Marzocchi Z3 Coil, XTR derailleurs, XT shifters, Blackspire Ring God. Sun Rhyno Lite XL's and Truvativ Hussefelts coming. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes kinda suck. But on the brighter side, they don't suck that much. I mean if you are on a budget and don't ride trials, in sick amounts of mud and rain (we get alot in Seattle) then these brakes might suit you very well. But if you are like me, ditch them and buy some higher level avids and boosters or Hydraulic disc brakes. Ride safely, wear a helmet, have fun and bike to work (it saves gas). | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodstock, GA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountaintown Creek, GA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | AJ Barnes | | Weaknesses: | Adjustment screw on rear brake stripped with no pressure at all -- just like a dozen other reviews below. Cheap, pot metal. | | Bike Setup: | Came stock on my 2000 GF Sugar 3. | | Bottom Line: | Buy something better than this brake. Might be inexpensive, but cheap is a better way to describe. Cheap made this a bad value rating also. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris venett
a Cross Country Rider
from fort braagg cal usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | harisson street house | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | a friends house | | Strengths: | nothing these brakes suck. | | Weaknesses: | every thing. they dont work the springs bend, they go out of allignement and they just suck. | | Similar Products Used: | dog poop | | Bike Setup: | 98 gary fisher hkek | | Bottom Line: | dont buy these brakes they suck. if they come stock on your bike that would be the first thing you should change. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shaun
a Cross Country Rider
from cincinnati
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | harbin park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | cheap, simple, easy to service | | Weaknesses: | not east to fine tune, maybe too cheap | | Similar Products Used: | none yet | | Bike Setup: | 00 sugar 3 stock w/velociraptors | | Bottom Line: | they work fine and dandy and have plenty of stopping power, but they do have a few problems. I stripped the screw on the rear brake after fiddling with it. I know how to adjust brakes, but it was just a weak screw. Also, the pins that hold them apart was hard to adjust and it was too close to the rim for comfort. The front brakes are fine so far and have required minimal adjusting. I am putting xt on the back only. I hear too much about squealing on the front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andy
a Weekend Warrior
from pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Jim Thorpe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | kizer gave `em to me!!! | | Strengths: | S-I-M-P-L-I-C-I-T-Y!!!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | can't find it yet | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT V-brakes, Magura hydrolics | | Bike Setup: | I use them in conjunction with a set of bontrager ceramic mustang(Rear) valiant(fr.) | | Bottom Line: | when I bought my `98 K2 it had crappy STX V-brakes & levers, after complaining they upgraded me to XT. this may have been a mistake! after a few months they were loose & rattling, which caused them to squeal louder than Ned Beatty in "Deliverance". the only remedy was to toe them in so much they barely stopped me.
a buddy gave me these brakes & levers since he had XTR stuff on his kona. they have been great. along with ceramic wheels the bike stops as well as any disk setup, even in mud & snow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Budd Lake, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Deer Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | my friend | | Strengths: | Great stopping power...Great all around brake for the price...Durable..Light | | Weaknesses: | back brake seems to come out of alignment easily but no other big weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX Brakes | | Bike Setup: | `00 Access Alu frame,manitou mars c fork and LX build kit, Rolf Dolmite wheels | | Bottom Line: | A great brake for the price if your into racing and not big on cash these are the brakes to buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Atsugi
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | sagami river | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Pad Wear | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Voodo with Mars C fork and Shimano XT components | | Bottom Line: | This break set rocks! For the money they cant be beat. I weigh 210 and have no problems stopping, even on long down hills. If your on a budget I don’t see how you could beat these breaks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Douglas Powell
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterford, Mi. USA.
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | island lk rec. stoney, pontiac. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Stiff.\, smooth operation, | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | tektro, | | Bike Setup: | I have them on two bikes. Mongoose sx4.5 Rigid bike. that i ride in the winter on the road. also a diamond back responce rigid bike set up for the road simalar to cannondales new bike the bad boy | | Bottom Line: | can't beat the price 14.00 each. sure beats tektro. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zachary Wright
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Beer run in Coole, CA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Inexpensive and gets the job done. | | Weaknesses: | The brakes break down. The alignment of the brake does not hold up to constant use. I had my break and had the adjusting screws strip out. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano's XT V-brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher: Hoo koo e koo | | Bottom Line: | They may break down and not stop great all of the time if you don't constantly tune them, but hell they lasted 2 years before I started having major problems. At the time this brakes were better then Shimano's V-brakes. Now, these brakes are cheap enough to be changed every season, but I would save my money and buy better brakes. If you need inexpensive V-Brakes that will hold you for a while and don't minded tuning them after every ride these are your brakes. The alignment of the brake does not hold up for very long so be careful and check before you ride because it is a very painful lesson I learned too late. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guy harrington
a Downhiller
from derbyshire
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ENTHOVENS | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | stanley f's | | Strengths: | ok good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | not much movement | | Similar Products Used: | avid magnesiums | | Bike Setup: | psylos, quake 7,soon hopes | | Bottom Line: | good but could do with adjustments to them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Bianchi
a Cross Country Rider
from Farmington Hills, MI
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Stoney creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | From a friend | | Strengths: | Great power *compared to my old no name sloppy as sh*t brakes*, good looks | | Weaknesses: | Pads suck, kinda heavy | | Similar Products Used: | sloppy sh*t | | Bike Setup: | Nowhere Near Stock Trek 800 sp | | Bottom Line: | I am a 180 lbs rider using these breaks, and i'll tell you,..no complaints here. i got them cheap from a friend, they work very well. no squeaking, i have to really get used to these to keep from endoing cuz they're much stronger than my old brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clint W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo Cali.
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Oh, so many. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Rock and Road | | Strengths: | Easy to set up. Thats prety much it. Oh, they dont make any noise. | | Weaknesses: | Strength! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT,XTR | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR, wheels are about the only stock thing, and the seat post (which is on its way out) | | Bottom Line: | Two big problems with these breaks.
1) They flex like a spagetti noodle. You have a hard
time putting any power into them.
2)Big fade. You start out at the top of the hill at your putting any type of real power into them.
normal lever posision, by the time you reach the bottom of even a mild decent, you have the lever pulled to the bar. Sorry Avid, two chilies for the attempt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Cross Country Rider
from NH
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Brook | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | from a friend | | Strengths: | Cheap, simple, works, no paralell push | | Weaknesses: | no paralell push, the springs wear out after a while (a long while) and one of the pins broke | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshow disc (don't get me started) | | Bike Setup: | Marin Indian Fire Trail (snapped recently) and a mish mash of stuf. Icon, avid brakes, XTR levers, marzocchi Z-3 Lite, etc... | | Bottom Line: | Very good, simple brakes that work well. They are not fancy which could be good or bad. I use these with XTR levers for bike trials and XC when set up well they are very effective, so stopping power really isn't a problem. This is in the dry. They give what can be expected in the wet, although wet weather performance is mostly dependant on pads (I think.) They don't squeel, which is very nice. They probably won't last forever and ever but they last long enough and the price is fairly reasonable. Now I only with someone would make a brake just like this, except with stiffer return spring and beefier brake arms those wouldn't flex at all or get any weaker over time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Woeldern
a Weekend Warrior
from Swdeden Visby
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hangmans hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came stock on one of my previous bikes | | Strengths: | Good looks and cool becouse not shimano:) | | Weaknesses: | Their is no power in them compared to shimano v-brakes (XT) | | Similar Products Used: | lots shimano XTR, XT, LX, Stx-RC, Alivio.
Avid 2.0, avid arch rival 50 (very good) | | Bike Setup: | TREK 7000 (not any longer) | | Bottom Line: | They are nice but they don`t work if you are in a hurry, more like cruising brakes :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Similar Products Used: | Tektro 824A(decent but are nothing compared to Avids) | | Bike Setup: | I demo'd a Rockhopper A1 Pro with these brakes(wow!) | | Bottom Line: | HOT DAMN,these are pretty strong!A medium-hard pull causes the wheels to lock on-demand(as in FRIGGIN' RIGHT NOW!!Don't underestimate these!!).A hard pull almost throws you off the damn bike!THESE ARE NOT FOR BEGINNERS--they are very sensitive(like all Avid SDs)and demand careful use!
This notwithstanding,they do what good brakes should do--stop you immediately without fuss.
All the Avid models except for the more expensive models go through their stock pads pretty quick.No biggie--just get a good set of hard aftermarket pads and you'll have it made.
Good stopping power,looks awesome,not much flex,cool locking noodle,cheap,etc...THESE ARE A 5-CHILI ITEM!!
Best entry-level brake on the market.Wish I had some!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
spo dawg
a Weekend Warrior
from ann arbor, mi
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson usa | | Strengths: | cheap, easy setup, decent asthetics | | Weaknesses: | none for the price | | Similar Products Used: | no-name v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | stock Trek 6500 | | Bottom Line: | The brakes area great upgrade for those of you riding round on the no name crap that comes with many mt. bikes. The stopping power is better, the feel is better, and overall a more consistent performer. I paid $18 a piece for these brakes and got the levers set for $9 (from Jenson USA). XTR snobs may look down on you, but the fact is these brakes work well and are a great value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MIke Orr
a Weekend Warrior
from Redfield
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any i can ride | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good trusting break, quick stopping power nice looks.
| | Weaknesses: | Not always nice looks with some bikes, and spring tention is a bit high, but nothing really noticeable to me. | | Similar Products Used: | LX V's, alivio canti, diacompe canit's, tektro v's, no name brand v's | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trek 7000 | | Bottom Line: | Out of all the brakes I have tested, these have got to be the best. The have good consistent power the comes quickly, almost grabby at times. The springs are a bit stiff, but that is ok for me. The LX v's I used to have didn't push as much power with the same amount of effort. I like the way these look on my white 7000 too. I give them a 4 value and a 5 overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince
a Cross Country Rider
from New Windsor, Maryland, USA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Whites Bikes | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | These have been the worst V-brakes I've ever used. The spring tension is high and after only 2 weeks of using them they developed an extreme amount of free-play. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT and LX V brakes | | Bike Setup: | diamondback V-link 3.0, manitou sx-le fork | | Bottom Line: | Junk, don't waste your money. Shimano LX V-brakes are a better buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clay Buckalew
a Cross Country Rider
from Marietta,GA,USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | soap creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | price, looks , stopping power, fairly light | | Weaknesses: | PADS!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | shimano lx v | | Bike Setup: | crmoly frame(voodoo),avid 1.0, stx-rc, manitou sx-d | | Bottom Line: | A great brake with great stoppin power. I'd recomend buying this brake if your a light cross country rider. Not a 275 lbs downhiller. The only real weekness is the stock pads are way to soft. I recomend replacing them after you see what I mean. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Grimes
a Cross Country Rider
from Thurmont, MD
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | good looks, dtrong, fairly light, work adequetly | | Weaknesses: | will not stay centered, fade pretty fast ,stock pads way too soft | | Similar Products Used: | shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | stock rockhopper pro | | Bottom Line: | these brakes will do the trick, but on long decents, hang on, also be ready to clean your rims after every ride. I have used better stopping brakes, and will be upgrading, as soon as budget allows, also, become familiar with setting tension springs, these absolutelly will not stay centered for more than two pulls of the levers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos Oliveira
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very simple, very powerful, excellent quality/price relation | | Weaknesses: | Maybe They Could come with better pads. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore/alivio brakes | | Bike Setup: | lx/xt avid brakes | | Bottom Line: | They do have the brake power, but they could be better.
Anyway it's a good investment for your money sopecially if you don't have plenty of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Langdog
a Weekend Warrior
from Lenoir City,TN
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Haw Ridge Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The brakes work very well when setup right.Inexpensive(great value).Quality | | Weaknesses: | squealy brakes when wet sometimes and if not setup perfectly. | | Similar Products Used: | no namers,shimano stuff | | Bike Setup: | '99 Fisher HOO KOO E KOO | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are a good bargain for the beginning rider. they have the perfect amount of stopping power and are easy to setup. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Mitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Weare, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Clough State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good stopping power, works well all around | | Weaknesses: | can squeel a bit when u go through water or mud, easy to lock up wheeles may be good may be bad | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | standard Haro EX2 1999 | | Bottom Line: | I like them but am looking at getting disk brakes. I like these brakes they work great, but I go through so much mud they are chewing up my rims and do not like that, although I am looking to stay with Avids | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Huey da duck
a Weekend Warrior
from B.C, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Cheap, work better than cantaleavers, dont squeel when wet decent when wet | | Weaknesses: | weak for v-brakes | | Similar Products Used: | old rusty cantalevers with very worn brake pads and | | Bike Setup: | 99 sasquatch | | Bottom Line: | Better than cantalevers so all of you people who are complaining about the weakness when wet go try a pair of cantalevers, if you are still not happy then go spend $700 for some disc brakes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Meech Lake decent | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Look nice
Work pretty well when dry
CHEAP | | Weaknesses: | Squeal like a b!tch and don't work when wet | | Similar Products Used: | No name V-brakes
Old Shimano canti's | | Bike Setup: | '00 Kona Caldera (read my review) | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes when dry, bad brakes when wet. I can lock my front wheel on pavement when they are dry, but can barely stop when wet, and you let everybody in a five mile radius know your there from the sound. Work OK for now, but I will probably upgrade to an Avid Mechanical Disc when I change my hub | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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