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Average Rating
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4.74/5
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# of Reviews
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35
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MSRP
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$ 179.00
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Weight
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More Products from Formula
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Description:ORO K18: Powerful, Lightweight, and Affordable!
-Lever:
Flip-flop lever design.
Removable lever clamp – no need to remove shifters and grips for lever removal.
Patented inline open system reservoir which makes for a super compact lever design.
Polyester braided hose for increased expansion resistance.
Zinc plated fasteners.
-Caliper:
Post mount style calipers w/adaptors. No little shims to mess with: Quick and easy adjustments.
22mm pistons for the most stopping power of any 2 piston brake (testing done by Bike Germany in conjunction with a German University).
Quick and easy pad replacement.
Vented Caliper for increased heat dissipation.
Zinc plated fasteners.
-395g with 160mm rotors, IS adaptor and all fasteners included!
-Add 32g for 180mm rotor and 62g for 200mm rotors.
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Submitted by
aphex2k
a Cross Country Rider
from Wolverhampton UK
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Cannock Chase | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Purchased At: | Velosave ebay | | Strengths: | Amazing power using the 160mm rotors. Standard Formula pads aren't great in UK riding conditions but a switch to some quality sintered pads and the power is there whatever the conditions. Lever feel is superb - not just off/on like some brakes, you can actually feather your braking. When you need to stop, you will. These inspire confidence and you begin to leave corner braking to the last minute because you know they will bite if you need. | | Weaknesses: | They are a bugger to bleed... Especially if you lose the bleed nipple o ring! It's tiny. Be careful. | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Julie, 08 XT, Avid BB5, Avid Juicy 5 | | Bike Setup: | Pipedream Sirius hardtail with Revelations @ 120mm | | Bottom Line: | Well, that's it. I'm converted. Will certainly be buying Formula again if and when the K18s die. Just put a 180mm rotor on the front and the balance is perfect.
Buy buy buy! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniël
a Cross Country Rider
from Antwerpen, Belgium
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | local trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | looks, braking power, price | | Weaknesses: | leaking calipers | | Similar Products Used: | magura HS33 | | Bike Setup: | Rock shocks, Mavic, Selle Italia, thompson, truvativ, shimano XTR, Schwalbe and now Magura Marta brakes | | Bottom Line: | nice product but the maintaining is very high | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick Carney
a
from Esopus, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Taconic 909 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Does everything a disk brake should do... and very well at that. Price is right too. | | Weaknesses: | Recall on a screw on the lever. If it's not tight enough, it could result in lever failure. Don't know why they issued a recall though, maybe some freeloader took a shot at a lawsuit. All you have to do is tighten the screw, if it even needs it. Common sense, not a sign of a bad product. | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Hydraulic Rim-brakes, Shimano XT disk. | | Bike Setup: | Kelley Steel Hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome brake, stop you fast, never any squeeling, no problems at all. They look pretty sexy too. Unless you don't have a problem dishing out over 200 bucks for a brake and rotor, you probably won't find anything better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Morten Andreassen
a Weekend Warrior
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Korsvol-Grinda | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | This brake gives me the confidence to improve my DH skills whilst not having to worry about fade or lack of power. | | Weaknesses: | Slightly weak lever. | | Similar Products Used: | Only v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Locally made make- Diamant, model Oppenheimer ( xt gears, Manitou Minute Elite fork, Manitou spv Swinger Coil, Stylo cranks ) | | Bottom Line: | The only criticisms I could find about these brakes on this page was that the levers can break, & the front lever on mine got irrepairably pulled out of the plastic innards on the first ride. But in all fairness, I hadnt adjusted the levers far enough away from the handle ends. These little beauties let me discover and push the limits of my neophyte skills with a feeling of confidence in their stopping power ( even when I was on DH sections with only the back brake whilst I was waiting for my new lever ). All in all I reckon I agree with the praise heaped on these here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$135.00 | | Purchased At: | mtnhighcyclery.com | | Strengths: | Cheap, really powerful, great factory bleed, upgradeable to Formula's top of the line stuff. | | Weaknesses: | ??? | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Mag HD G1 and G2, Avid BB7, deore hydro | | Bike Setup: | Brodie Thumper, 66 Light, DHX 5.0, assorted heavy freeride things | | Bottom Line: | This is an amazing brake. Before riding it I replaced the pads with the sintered version and this thing is a beast. (That's what the Bianco uses to make it a "DH" brake.) Exactly the same mechanicals as the Bianco, but 100 bucks cheaper. If the hardware starts to corrode you can upgrade that for 20 bucks, if you have to you can get the FCS kit too, and you can out the 1 finger lever on it if you want. Plus the shiny black finish looks the best IMO.
So for about 150 bucks I got this brake, 200mm rotor/adapter, and the sintered pads. One good CO ride and it was broken in and kicking the $#!T outta my Hayes. Not even funny how much better it is. Great modulation and you can go over the bars with one finger. No fade on 3 mile CO descents. Buy this brake! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
guitargonaut
a Weekend Warrior
from Beckley, WV
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Solid feel, great stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | Not really a weakness but the levers are large. Because of this it took a couple of rides to get them adjusted to my liking. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid BB7 | | Bike Setup: | Stock Cannondale Rush 5. I'm upgrading as I break or find the product I want. | | Bottom Line: | Big difference in feel over the BB7s. I realize I'm comparing a mechanical brake to a hydraulic brake but some of the differences aren't where I thought they'd be.
These brakes deliver when it comes to better control. They seem to stop my 215 lbs. better than the BB7s as well. I expected more of a difference in feel but other than the "harder" feel of the levers I can't tell much of a difference in that respect.
Where these brakes really shine is on the extended downhill sections of trail one might encounter from time to time. (In my case a 3.5 mile, 1600 ft. vertical drop) Since the brakes react faster to the levers, I can pulse and alternate between the front and rear wheel keeping wear and temperature down lessening fade. When I did this with the BB7s - they would reach a point where it was hard to feel them engage.
I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Not too expensive, great quality, excellent value for those of us who log less than 50 miles a week.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a
from Mammoth Lakes, CA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Power, superior modulation, low maintenance, very reliable. Plan ahead and have spare pads on hand before you need them. Sintered pads are the way to go when your replace your pads. I weigh 225 pounds, down from 255 when I got the brakes... And these K18's are doing a great job of stopping me on 180mm rotors and long steep descents, 1500 to 2500 feet over 2 to 4 miles of travel. I replaced the factory organic pads with sintered metal, and it's made the brakes even better, quiet! | | Weaknesses: | Organic pads can get noisy if overheated. These brakes will point out other weaknesses in your braking system, like having tires not suitable to the current riding conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Magura | | Bike Setup: | Bionicon, Truvativ FireX, 2006 Sram X-7, Performance K-18 w/sintered metal pads, Schwalbe Big Betty and Fat Albert on DT Swiss hubs and hand laced Alex FD20s. | | Bottom Line: | Durable, reliable, superb factory customer service here in the USA, just a great product for the price. All mountain worthy without all the bells and whistles of their higher models. Easily upgradeable, just add the K24 adjusters and it's a K24, add sintered pads, and it's a Puro, without the steep price tag. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nate
a Weekend Warrior
from denver, co usa
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | hall | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | It took me 3 months of searching and scourring for the best budget brake and I have found it with the k18 they blow my hayes and avids and maguras out of the water hands down | | Weaknesses: | lever broke on hard impact but formula usa took care of me and I was on the trail by the next weekend
not very many distributors yet | | Bike Setup: | 2007 stumpy fsr, mavic crossrides, | | Bottom Line: | If you have the coin buy them
Great customer service
looks are amazing
modulation is like butter
power is so controled it is the ultimate trail brake | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TODD
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat.com | | Strengths: | Power, set-up, looks | | Weaknesses: | Lever clamp is a bit thick causing me to adjust my shifter/brake lever position. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid BB7, Hayes something another. | | Bike Setup: | Gman, Fox 100 RLC, XTR, velocity/Hope, etc.
| | Bottom Line: | I bought the brakes due to the reviews posted here and the fact that Formula has representatives that frequent mtbr.com. I've seen them help a couple folks and think that's a classy thing to do. Fortunately, my install went better than planned. The brakes don't drag and provide way more power than my BB7's ever did and they aren't even broken in yet. Definitely some of the best money I've spent on my bike in a while. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricardo Cardoso
a Weekend Warrior
from Sintra, Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Sintra | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay - France | | Strengths: | Smooth, accurate and... huge power!!! Very easy to assemble. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | not so similar: Avid BB5 (Mechanical-Disc) | | Bike Setup: | Hardrock Comp Disc - 2006 | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are just as good as everybody says! I've bought my pair based on the these reviews... god bless that day! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albertinho
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb, Croatia
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything with a good climb and descent, and a beer inbetween. And before. And after. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Maraton | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Julie 180/160mm | | Bike Setup: | KTM Ultra Flite 2007
Marzocchi MX Pro fork
Formula Oro K18 brakes
SRAM shifters
Deore/LX parts | | Bottom Line: | My stock Julies weren't strong enough to stop me on rough and steep trails, and I had problems with one finger braking, while having a lack of hand grip on rough trails with two finger braking. So I came here to find the best brake and saw Oro's superb ratings. Couldn't believe one brake is so much better than other high-end brakes who have mixed ratings but I chose to trust and bought a pair, both rotors 180, and woohoo! The reviews on this site are all true, this is THE brake! It's really as good as everyone says. Good looking, light, ergonomic levers that fit right between the joints on the index finger and you just squeeze as needed, great dosing of endless power, no fading. They have long levers so I put them first and then the SRAM shifters on the outside, and now my index finger fits to the end of the lever nicely. And you will never need two fingers on this baby...
Recommendation? Get them! You won't be sorry in any way. They are at least twice as powerful than my Julies were. I stopped falling off my bike when I got these because I now feel more confidence and control no matter what the trail puts in my way! And whenever I look at expensive bikes, I always think "...and then I'd remove these brakes and put my Oros on it!" :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nikki Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | Very good braking and feel. The levers are a good shape. Adjustmenst are very good. They are simple to put on and adjust. Completely reliable. Light weight. Nice looking brake. Easy to replace the pads. Formula pads are strong and last well. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Avid Hayes and Shimano. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Epic | | Bottom Line: | Just briefly I am very pleased with thsi brake and my set up is 180x160 discs. There is no shortage of grip with this set up and the feel is very good. I know where the pads are by the lever feel and I can feather the brakes or lock them with using just one finger even on a steep slope. They are simple to put on and adjust. They are light, they are very reliable and to top it all they are a nice looking brake. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jess
a Weekend Warrior
from ON Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Strong braking with plenty of feel. Light enough to race. Very reliable. Ease of set up. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono Mini, Hope Mono M4, Shimano BR-M755 XT. | | Bike Setup: | Norco EXC1 | | Bottom Line: | had no difficulties setting up this brake, none tuning it and none using it. Its Light enough to race and the braking is very strong with all the necessary modulation that you need. A good solid and well made set up. I would certainly buy it again with no hesitation. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gud Williams
a Cross Country Rider
from Britain
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Gwdyr Forest north | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Mail Order | | Strengths: | Good quality for the money with a lot of power. In fact very powerful one finger braking and a lot of modulation at 180 F & 160 R. Very good price, nice and light and it looks good. Set-up is no problem and no problems with tuning. Bed-in quickly | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono, Hope M4. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 3 | | Bottom Line: | I am happily pleased with this very good value brake. I fitted the set-up in no time and tuning it was a cinche. Bedded-in quickly and the power levels are mega. Good lever feel and very nice modulation on this. More powerful than my Hopes and more reliable and cheaper and the weight is low. I do not like to have to mess with my bike gear all the time. I like to get good stuff, fit it and forget about it because it just works. And this does that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Conrad Rimstein
a Cross Country Rider
from Upeer State N.Y
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | light, very powerful, very well controlled, adjustability, lever feel and reliability. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | This is the way to go for strong and controlled braking. No fuss with instalation and the levers are well made and ergonomic. Light weight unit and easy on the maintenance. Had no dependability issues and would buy them again. Very good brake. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guytano Centini
a Weekend Warrior
from Torino, Italia
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Pomedes, Dolomites. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Powerful and high modulation. Light weight for speed and very easy to attach and adjust. Reliable and so low maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | No Product Weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono Mini 180x160, Hope M4 180x160, Magura Louise. | | Bike Setup: | Specialised Enduro Comp. | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good powerful strong brake. The high modulation means that it can use all of its great power with plent of control. It can handle long hard descents and even though the brake rotor gets hot it does not fade what so ever. This is a very reliable brake and all that is required is a pad change when necessary. This is the entry level Formula brake it it has been much more powerful and reliable than the Hope ones which have cost me more money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Corcoran
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | On Line | | Strengths: | A lot of power, plenty of brake feel and good lever feel, nicely made, strong and look good, very dependable, low maintenance, did I say very powerful? | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Avid, Hope. | | Bike Setup: | Kone King Kikapu. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is that this is a very, very good brake that delivers loads of power and nice feel. I can easy feather them to a very controlled stop or just go for the grunt like hitting a brick wall. Much more feel than Hayes or even a touch better than Avid Juicy's which are very good. Either way stopping power is all there. I fitted them very easily and basically have had no maintenance issues in over 12 months of hard riding many of them in rain and mud. So I think this is one of, or maybe even the best set up out there. You can pay more but that is just to get the weight down and these are not heavy to start out, very good value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Shannon
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K.
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed-y-Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Powerful and well modulated. Decent weight and very reliable. Very simple to install and the adjustments are straight forward. Plenty of rotor options. Good price. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Mag Plus, Hope Mono Mini, Shimano XT and Deore 555 and 535, Magura Julies. | | Bike Setup: | Spec FSR 2003 | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brake.
Very simple to install and the adjustments are straight forward. Very powerful and very well modulated. Really well made and well designed. I have had not trouble at all with this system front and rear and am very impressed with it. My experiences of my Hope Mini brakes were constant adjustment to avoid pad drag, particularly on the rear and basically poor power (especially compared with these)....whereas this Formula is fit and forget. I am going to buy some K24s next. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ade
a Cross Country Rider
from Conwy, North Wales
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Cycles | | Strengths: | Look the biz | | Weaknesses: | Total brake failure | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono Mini's | | Bike Setup: | Marin Wolf Ridge, Fox Talas, Fox shock, Sram X-9, Maxxis Tyres | | Bottom Line: | On the first ride out on these the pin which links the lever to the reservoir managed to detach itself resulting in total failure of the front brake. Sent back to the UK importers who tried to say it was my fault and nothing to do with a faulty brake. Fortunately those good guys at Chain Reaction came to the rescue. I'm sticking with Hope from now on, at least you know there gonna work. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Padraig Hogan
a Cross Country Rider
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | A powerful and well modulated brake.
Very good standard of finish.
Very reliable and easy to attach and adjust.
Light weight.
Good rotors.
Vast range of rotor options. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono, Deore 525, Shimano XT. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brake and enough power to stop a train. Plenty of useable power because the modulation is so good. I attached this set up in minutes and did not have to file the forks or frame. Very easy to line up. Light weight for the power. All in all an excellent brake and it was a good price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Ledger
a Weekend Warrior
from N.W.England
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed-y-Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | At 180x160mm rotor size....Very powerful and good modulation. Light but well constructed. Very dependable. Easy to fit. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Mono Mini, Hayes Sole, Magura Marta SL. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Marin Mount Vision | | Bottom Line: | Superb stopping power from these and exceptionally good modulation to go with it. They are light enough to race and are well constructed. They have been very reliable for me and were very eays to place on the bike. They are very good value to at a sensible price. I am very satisfied with these and would not hesitate to buy them again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mick
a Weekend Warrior
from Dumfries. Scotland
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Ae | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Weight, power, feel, levers, finish, engineering, reliability, user friendly and straightforward engineering. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | Excellent set of brakes.
I use 180x160 and the power levels are simply incredible. One finger can lock the front brake and the back....but the modulation is extremely good so that control is no problem. This is a very well engineered set of brakes with a lot of thought having gone into the design and manufacture of it and this is clear in superb operating and reliability. The brakes are also very light and have that amazing quality finish that only the Italians seem to be able to create. Its like a top fashion item but it totally works!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerry Lynch
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland.Or
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The next challenge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Weight. Power. Modulation. Reliability. Set-up. Finish. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | Excellent brakes and a must try for anyone who is less than 100% happy with the brakes that they are using now. Weight, Power, Modulation and finish are just excellent. With the 180x160 set-up I can do pretty much anything with total confidence and leave the braking to the last minute. Plenty of lever feel and progressive bite gives me so much control over the technical stuff and with plenty of grunt. This system is sophisticated and powerful at the same time but totally reliable. They also look fantastic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doc
a Downhiller
from co
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Strengths: | Great modulation and great power. The pad installation system is also very well thought out. Cheap for what you are getting. | | Weaknesses: | In cold weather the lever doesn't return fully, but it's fine on most rides | | Similar Products Used: | hayes hfx-9 and avid bb-9 | | Bike Setup: | downhill sled | | Bottom Line: | These are my new favorite brakes. They just have such a nicer pull than any other brake I've ever tried. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Y2KC
a Weekend Warrior
from Warsaw
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.extreme-shop.com.pl/ | | Strengths: | Weight, power, modulation
| | Weaknesses: | organic pads | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes HFX, MAG Grimeca System 12, Avid BB7 | | Bike Setup: | Merida/XTR/XT/DTSwiss/MAvic/Ritchey | | Bottom Line: | I've nothing to say. FOrmula Oro is the best brake ever.
For me the best thing in this brake is 2 finger lever which has perfect form.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirt Dagwood
a Downhiller
from Marin County, CA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | super strong
light
good looking lever
great lever feel | | Weaknesses: | front brake squeaks like crazy after upgraded to 7 inch rotor with 3 ride old pads. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes HFX9, Hayes Mag Plus, Formula ORO K24 | | Bike Setup: | Commencal Meta 5.5 #1 STOCK w/ KING HS | | Bottom Line: | Formula makes the industries sickest brakes. Their cheapest brakes are still better than anything Hayes makes. They have brakes from good solid brakes (K18) to super highend XC (puro) and highend DH race (bianco Minaar signet). I have the ORO K18 on my Comee and K24 on my DH rig. If the single piston is strong enuogh for the worlds fastest DH racers then they are more then strong enough for me. Plus, they feel super nice and look sick too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garry Bayford
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckingham, England
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Afan Forest, Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Power, modulation, weight. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Commencal Meta 5.20. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are great and parts are getting easier to find now. Gold sintered pads give the best mix of power and longevity.
I made a big mistake when changing brake pads and over-tightened the stud that the pads ride on. This cracked the caliper which thankfully I spotted before I neeeded to use the brakes in anger.
So be warned and only tighten the stud lightly. ukbikestore.co.uk supplies a whole set of spare parts for these brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tomas
a
from Gothenburg, Sweden
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | actionsports.de | | Strengths: | Easy setup, brake power, price | | Weaknesses: | Organic pads wear out rather quickly | | Similar Products Used: | Hope mini's, Magura Louise + FR, avid mech | | Bike Setup: | All mountain style bike | | Bottom Line: | This review is for a 2006 Formula K18 180mm rear brake.
After three months of use in mainly wet and muddy riding conditions the impression of the brake is: excellent value!
Initial setup was quick and painless to get it centered without rub. Brake power is more than enough for AM use.
Only one thing about the organic brake pads, they won't last long if you ride in muddy conditions. But what organic pads last long anyway? Will try the "gold sintered" version next time.
The price of the K18 is also very good=low (at least in Europe) when comparing other disc brakes on the market.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alessandro Rossi
a Cross Country Rider
from Genoa,Italy
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$327.00 | | Purchased At: | Grancia di Lainate | | Strengths: | very modulable and powerful | | Weaknesses: | difficulty to set up | | Bike Setup: | |
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