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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver CO USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | er,er, | | Weaknesses: | Pain in the arse to set up,sticky when dirty or when it gets cold,as it sometimes does in Colorado. | | Similar Products Used: | All kinds over the years. | | Bike Setup: | Specialised Rockhopper Comp FS 98 w/various upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | I thought it was just me but after reading all the other reviews I realise I'm not a mechanical incompetant.These came supplied w/the bike and I've always had trouble with them.I was just here researching new brakes and thought I'd read reviews of the old ones.Glad I did,I feel much better now!I wouldn't buy these.They are fiddly and unnecessarily complicated. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, IA, United States
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | as long as it's dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | A small improvement over cantilevers. | | Weaknesses: | Everything! Difficult to adjust, mushy, poor spring design, flexy, and so on. | | Similar Products Used: | Dia Compe cantilevers (X-1), Shimano cantilevers (XT,LX, Alivio) | | Bike Setup: | ProFlex 856 | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't piss on these brakes if they were on fire (usually saved for enemies, but hey, if the shoe fits...). I bought these brakes as a set-front, rear, levers, and thought I was getting a decent deal. Boy was I ever WRONG! These brakes are so bad that I dug out my OLD SKOOL Dia Compe X-1s, that stop like a demon compared to these abominations of aluminum casting. I will never buy a Dia Compe product again. I can't give less than one flamin'chili, so that's the lowest I can go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Odette
a Cross-Country Rider
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
None | | Weaknesses: |
Everything | | Similar Products Used: |
Alivio, | | Bike Setup: |
Kona, aluminium frame, XT/ LX components | | Bottom Line: | Absolute rubbish. All I want is a light weight brake that stops. The first time I used them they stopped the bike, but their stopping power went down to zero in no time. They need to be set up before, during and after a ride, and still have no stopping power. I originally bought them based on the good reviwes, but I see that those who thought they were any good have changed their minds. I would love to give no stars! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
barbie
a Downhiller
from cansas
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
everything !!! | | Weaknesses: |
nothing | | Similar Products Used: |
shimano xt | | Bike Setup: |
trek 800 | | Bottom Line: | it s the best | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Morgan Hanson
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tolworth, UK
Date Reviewed: July 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Shere | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
None - literally, they bend like their plastic | | Weaknesses: |
Everything | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano LX
Avid 10,25,50 | | Bike Setup: |
SBC Rockhopper | | Bottom Line: | Bought the 'hopper for my girlfrind who's new to MTB's. Pretty good spec for the price only let down by these brakes which are frankly a joke. You can't center them with out one side dragging immediately afterwards, the pads are impossible to adjust and they flex like crazy. In combination with the equally crapy DP7 levers youd be better off riding into a tree than trying to stop using these. I complained to the shop we bought the bike from and they in turn complained to SBC WHO HAVE AGREED TO UPGRADE THE BRAKES at minimal cost (£5) to Avid 10. If these brakes came on a new bike COMPLAIN and ask for an upgrade, SBC are definetly aware of this problem | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete jansen
a weekend warrior
from rthcke
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
the best there are i think this one of teh eikhf lbflke ejflbhfelk jfjjfkj,ed hshsb jjj jjj kdjdjdld ldkdldlld fdjfofojf kdkjdk dlksfkf dldhlkfh lafsj
fnjjfj hjfjfj jfjfjfjf jfjfjjfjf fjjfjfjfjfjjfjf fsa;fasj fsafsj;asfjfsj;lfasjf ;lfsajjfs;lf ;f j s;lflfjlslfsl;asfj | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Studly Do Rite
a cross-country rider
from London, Uk
Date Reviewed: October 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I found these little horrors on my bike SBC Rockhopper, worked OK better than Canti's although very quickly started to deteriorate. Managed to find a fool I mean friend who wanted V'S sold them for £15 and the bought some XT V's which despite what anyone says I believe are superb.
Avoid Dia-Compe brakes full Stop (well not quite if you use them no Pun intended)
Cheers Studly! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron Ames
a cross-country rider
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I was thinking about getting a pair of these for my wife's bike. She has some old Scott Self-Energizing brakes (mush) that desperately need a change. I'm glad I found this site first. I will definitely forego the deal I found and save my cash for another brand. Interesting that the reviews were generally good at first, but now contain the word, SUCK more than anything else. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nate
a cross-country rider
from MN
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes suck...don't buy them, pay extra for LX's. they suck, they suck, they suck...unless you have half an hour to adjust them before every ride and in the middle of your ride. don't get them...less than one chili. f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big B
a cross-country rider
from The SFC
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I initially got these because I'm a poor student and I was looking for a good deal. In this case, you get what you pay for. I could tell a positive difference at first but it went downhill from there. These brakes fade out, don't look to great and are a (censored) to set up. I put on Ritchey pads hoping to solve the dilemna, but to no avail. I rode my friends bikes with XT-V's and they're a million times better! I'm taking these to the recyling center, I'm fixing on getting 10 cents for them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owen
a cross-country rider
from Amherst, Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i used to have these brakes. they really suck though. i have to say that i liked my alivo canti's more! what is this spring tension adjuster? the spring tension is shot after 3 weeks and the PLASTIC box which holds the spring is falling apart!!! i advise you spend the extra $$ for LX which kick theses butt!!! thanks to cambria bike i got all my $ back and spent it and some more on some LXs!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Xavery M
a cross-country rider
from PL
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got them with my Marin Palisades Trail '97 and NOW I won't buy anything signed by DiaCompe. This brakes are a totall crap :
- all direction moving brake pads(no matter how tight you will adjust them)
- plastic parts
- adjusting is even worse than my last cantis
There is only one thing nice - they have quite nice stopping powerfor the first 500 km on them.I have to replace them or I'll end my biking carrier somewhere on the tree.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnno
a weekend warrior
from Tasmania, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hmmm. . . . Interesting, these. Hard to set up because the pads seem to slip around the arms. Horribly flexible. But, more powerful than cantis and cheap with it. For being cheap and fairly powerful I give them 3 stars, but when you have the money do what I did and replace them with Diacompe's XT-copy 757; you will not regret it. Rigid, easy to set up and POWERFUL. Make that 2 stars by comparison. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a cross-country rider
from Yorkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Yep, it's all true. My girlfriends bike has these on, and they're shortly to go in the bin. They take forever to set up, then only stay adjusted for about 10 minutes before one side totally stays on the rim. They stop OK I suppose, but they're a bit spongy, but that could be the matching crap levers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dewey
a cross-country rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Do you like brakes that need set up after every ride? If so buy these brakes... I wish I knew about this page before I decided to get these brakes. Everything that everyone is complaining about is exactly what I hate about mine. Set up takes forever, and needs to be done constantly. Simply tightening the bolt that holds the brake pad can change a perfect toe in.. to a toe out. These brakes suck! They are great unless you want to stop. If anyone is interested in buying these from me, I will give you a good deal. $30 for the set... I just got a new set of Koolstops too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a cross-country rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
All I want in a brake is three things, but it would be nice to have all five.1) It stops me controllably.
2) Reasonably lightweight.
3) Will last a while.
4) Reasonably priced. (hopefully)
5) Repairable. (hopefully)I found out that I almost get the three that I wanted with these brakes. I got #'s 1,2, 4, and part of 3. (Weighed in about 10g more than the LX's I looked at.)When I origionally purchased these, I put them on a FS frame, and they did the job. Pretty easy to set up, they gave MUCH greater stopping power, and were easy to control (once I got used to them). That they let me use traditional pads was a great bonus. The problems that I had with these started later. The stock pads that came with the brakes started to eat my front rim alive. Switching to a set of Richey pads I had laying around improved the feel, the power, and they no longer needed aluminum in their diet! Then the brakes migrated to the new bike. Upon setup there, the plasic that houses the spring has split. The spring still works, but it looks ugly, and is MUCH harder to adjust. (Cheap p.o.s.) I went and tried to get a repair part for this, and found that the plastic looks to be glued upon the brake arm itself. It canna be fixed Captian! The brake still works though.
Finally these brakes were a bargian! I got 2 sets new, (and one with Avid SD's) for the levers for under $100. Even with their problems, I'd have to reccomend them again because of the cost alone.When the Avids SD's drop to less than $25 a wheel, or the Shimmy LX's stop looking like crap, then these might lose another Chilli, but till then I still give 'em 4. (Would have been 3, but even with the plasic splitting, they still work, and I can't tell the difference by feel alone.)
| Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony D
a cross-country rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I had actually previously wrote favorably about these brakes when compared to my XTs. That did NOT last. After the first really good ride (up here that usually means, rainy & muddy) they just turned to mush. I must of done no less than 6 trail side adjustments. Here is where the lack of a linear spring really stood out (I notice the new ones have linear springs). I put these on my beater bmx bike. If you ride in anything other than dry hardpack or just love adjusting your breaks, get these. Otherwise, I think you can find XTs now for $25/wheel. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cronan
a cross-country rider
from vermont
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
once these brakes are dialed in they work fine, problem is, ya gotta dial them in every post-ride, sometimes evenduring the ride. my buddy says he has no problems now that he's installed brake boosters. i often find that i can pull the rear brake lever back to the bar after an hour or so of up and down single track. the front brake stays in pretty good shape, perhaps b/c of the shorter cable length? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a cross-country rider
from B.C.
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had these brakes for a year now and I have to say they work very well
as far as stopping power goes. With good pads set up properly they work just
as well as Shimano. I like the fact that they use regular cantilever pads so
they don't wear as quickly, but the set up takes a little more time and
patience than other side-pulls. One trepidation I had was the plastic spring
housing, and this was born out recently with the back of the housing breaking
so now I can't centre my brakes properly. If the spring housing was more
durable I wouldn't have a problem with these brakes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Mehof
a
from downhiller
Date Reviewed: March 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This product sucked!! The brakes failed me three times going downhill at 38 miles per hour. I was almost thrown off a cliff!! I will never use this product again. It was not worth the $100 I paid for them. They SUCK!!! I hate this company so damn much. I WILL NOT GIVE THIS BRAKING SYSTEM A GOOD REVIEW!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony D
a cross-country rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
First off, all V-brakes get minus one chilli due to the lack of a quick release. Plus one chilli for the 747s is the ability to run regular pads No parallel push, minus one chilli. I put these on my 2nd bike and have compared them side by side x/my XTs (both w/Avid 2.0s and Aztec teflon cables). I find the breaking power comparable. They ARE a bit harder to set-up than the XTs were, but if you have some experience, they aren't difficult. One tip, set them up as far out on the brake post as possible, this provides more leverage for the arms. The plastic parts do look cheap, but overall, I like the look of the arms better than the XTs. Bottom line, great stopping power if set up right, cheap price. No parallel push but the can run standard, longer lasting pads. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun Bond
a cross-country rider
from Shediac, N.B., CAN
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I had the VC757s (came with my '98 Giant ATX840). Their performance was sub-par, at best. The brakes, as well as the levers, felt cheap and performed likewise. However, they are cheaper to buy than Shimanos, so you get what you pay for! I upgraded to Shimano LX V-brakes and levers and the difference is amazing. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirk Wilson
a cross-country rider
from crossville, tn
Date Reviewed: February 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
not very satisfied with this brake- my old alivio cantilever's worked better. I switched to richey pads and that helped some but overall I think there are better brakes out there. richey pads ( at least the red ones) are the only way to go the only problem with them is they are noisy sometimes but they are real sticky.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenny Charles
a cross-country rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is an updated review for these brakes. They suck. I was just happy that I got these stupid things for 50 bucks. They are a pain in the butt to set up and they dont even stop when you pull the lever to the bar. Dia compe V-brakes suck. dont buy them no matter how cheap you can get them. I even bought cool stop pads for them and they still dont work. Besides for 60 bucks you can get real shimano LX V- brakes with cables and housings. Also they do this really neat thing. It's called stopping. By the way, I bought XT V-brakes and I am very pleased | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Thater
a racer
from America
Date Reviewed: February 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes are a rip off! I rate them a 0000000! They're a rip off because they get all rusted after a few weeks. So don't buy 'em! They are very bad! Fifty bucks for rust! Man O' Man! They are cheap. The old V-brakes work better! And they are only ninteen buck aroos! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a cross-country rider
from Huntington, W.V.
Date Reviewed: January 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
First things first, these brakes are very cheap!! I got them through Cambria with Dia Compe PC 7exa levers for $45, With that in consideration they have performed very well every time I have ridden. Of course they are not XTR's or even XT's for that matter but they do stop like hitting a brick wall. Yes they are a pain in the ass to set up properly but after you have spent nearly an hour swearing, riding them makes it worth the trouble. So if you are looking for a high end high dollar brake set look else where, but if you are loking for a good alternatitive to LX-v's and Tectro's joke of a v-brake these are an excellent choice. I realize this is not a lever review but the levers are worth the 45 bucks by themselves. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocky Parton
a racer
from Ft. Myers, FL
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
well i'm not a racer but that best describes my riding. i'm really a 15 year old
freestyler, but having been working in a bike shop for about a year, i know a
thing or two about v's. yeah there a bit annoying too install and there is lots of
plastic, but if you know what your doing and you don't be a wuss about it, there
fine. actually there great for 50 bucks. what i'm trying to say is (DAVID AND
CHRIS) is that there not sh-t. IF you know what your doing! however compared
to all other v brakes (like XTR's) i have to give them a 2. if your looking for good
cheap v's then these are them. but obviosly, IF your a heavy duty biker, there's better.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Birkin
a cross-country rider
from St Andrews, UK
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
One word sums up these brakes....rubbish.
They came as standard on my bike and I have nothing but trouble with them. I
was told buy the local bike shop that they're rubbish, I now agree. The only
thing to do was replace them with M600's which work far better, are considerably
smoother and don't take the best part of an hour to set-up. They didn't even
have a 135degree guide-pipe on the front brake.The only good thing I can think to say about these brakes is that the spring
tension is quite nice to adjust, but even then if the tension was turned-up too
much then the brake would have to be removed in order to reset the mechanism.In conclusion don't do it. It's only a shame I can't give them no stars.
-----
Since some reviewers seem to quite like these brakes, if you want a two pairs drop me a line. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BUZZMAN
a weekend warrior
from NJ
Date Reviewed: January 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes came with my COYOTE bike. They are a very good brake with
excellent stopping power. The levers are also DIA-COMPE PC-7-EXA and
work well with the brakes. As far as sponginess as suggested by the
previous reviewer, all they need is a little adjustment. I have
ridden my friend's bike which came equipped with the SHIMANO XT brake
and I have to say that the DIA-COMPE are just as good. Maybe even better
cosidering the price difference.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Manley
a cross-country rider
from England
Date Reviewed: December 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got these brakes when I bought my new Univega. Previously I had been using LX V's and these don't compare! They are absolutoly Sh@t!! I' ve got three different sets of V's and these are the worst, the best being the LX. Even the Tektero brakes out perform them. The problems:
1).They are a pain in the @rse to set up with the pads
2).There is too much plastic on them. (I had two pairs with badly moulded plastic housings).
3).The return spring system is naff! It's plastic and not very powerful
4).When setting up the movement of each canterliever the allen key system is useless!
5).They are spongy. You can't tell how hard you're braking. Even when you've made contact with the rims you can still pull the levers to the bars.
6).The are dull when riding with no real sensitivityThe good side:
1).Look coll with XTR finish
2).Brake blocks are soft( doesn't really count though)
I used them with both Dia Compe DP-7 levers and LX levers. They performed better with the LX. with some sort of feel and an OK return. But with the supplied levers they were Cr#p!!If you are considering buying V's buy the LX the are much eaiser to set up and adjust and the perform a hell of a lot better! If you can't afford LX buy the Tektero set 'cause these are alsmost as good a the LX but cheaper the only down side is the allen key adjustment wich requires a small allen key as opose to the scerw on the LX. Pair them with Shimano levers.If you already have them and want to improve them pair them with minimum LX levers.If you are considering them stop! If I could give them a lower score I would!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim T
a
from racer
Date Reviewed: November 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes rule errr I mean STOP. I liked my first set so much I went out and bought a second set for my wifes bike and at the low low price of 50 bucks a set I'll probally go out and get some for my BMX bike too.If you can set up canti's you can set this up with ease if not take them to a pro.I like em' | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Campagna
a cross-country rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The 747's have excellent power and the springs are easy to adjust if u know what u are doing. The are probaly higher quality than lx's and cheaper too. Excellent choice. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Per Herlev
a weekend warrior
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
My Marin Bear Valley '97 came equipped with these brakes. They have great stopping power and are very easy to maintain and adjust.
Greate brakes | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Real Kevin
a cross-country rider
from Springfield, Va
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought these for my uncle when I sold him my Cannondale, I test rode
them and they actually stopped the bike! I had Alivio Canti's on there
and all they would do is slow it down but these V's are awesome. A week ago I bought a Performance M-407 that came with:
True Temper Cro-Mo Frame
RST 381L Suspension Fork
Dia-Compe VC-747 V-Brakes
Sachs PowerGrip Shifters
STX drivetrainAll these for $429! These was an unbelieveable deal and I've been riding it ever since.
The brakes are the best improvment to a bike I've found in a long time. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenny Charles
a cross-country rider
from Memphis TN
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got set up with these for 50 bucks! The bads are hard to set up but you can use regular canti pads with them. They have the stopping power of shimano V brakes without those paper thin pads. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Hylka
a cross-country rider
from Joliet, IL USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is my first experience with v brakes and I can say there is life after Shimano. I have these paired with Shimano
LX levers, and they rock. Great power, easy to set up, and forget about it. Plus, they use regular brake pads (like they
use for cantis), not Shimano paper thin pads. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Wang
a cross-country rider
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Why did I buy these brakes? With my new fork, I was forced to buy v-brakes, and they were the cheapest v-brakes I could find. Also, the brand is fairly reputable. Plus Side:
-I think they look cool, and aesthetics count...
-Price (Supergo has front and rear set for fifty bucks)
-Can use standard brake pads, so put on some black Ritcheys
-They work like v-brakes should....very powerfulNegatives:
-It is @#$#$-ing hard to adjust the damned pads.
-The return spring is POORLY designed, and poorly built. Too much plastic in the spring housing! This made me question their durability at first, but it
has been a while and they still work fine.These brakes are worth your money. In my case, they were perfect. I just had just bought a '97 Judy w/o a cable hanger, so v-brakes were required. Having bought a fork, I obviously didn't have money for the best brakes.....Anyways, they work fine. And they're priced well. | | Overall Rating: |
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