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Submitted by
jumpflight
a Cross Country Rider
from manila, philippines
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | La Mesa ecotrail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | strong braking capability. good play and control. This is my first hydraullic brakes after replacing my stock mechanical brakes. I've noticed the difference dramatically and made me more confident during steep downhills. Appreciated the single finger operation which gives me more control on the handle bars. | | Weaknesses: | kind of plain looking | | Similar Products Used: | upgraded from stock avid mechanical brakes | | Bike Setup: | giant anthem, with sram components. X9, stylo 3.3 | | Bottom Line: | A bit pricey but the performance is worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
buzzy248
a Cross Country Rider
from Aberdeen, WA USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Old Town Bikes, brak | | Strengths: | Control, power, | | Weaknesses: | ? | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Prophet2 2008 | | Bottom Line: | This is my first set of disc brakes but I think they are pretty damn good. Previously rode XTR V brakes on a Klein hard tail and these are quite a step up from those. Took the bike in to the shop for the free tuneup after purchase on Friday. Went for a ride on Sunday and thought the brakes were dragging, they must have missadjusted them. I readjusted after the ride and they are great now. I think they have good power and good control. Problems probably come from improper assembly and setup by the shop or individuals installing them.
I would actually like to get a set of Formula Oro K24's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob kubicki
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | timberland | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | JBL | | Strengths: | soft lever, lots of power, | | Weaknesses: | squeal when wet | | Similar Products Used: | bb7 | | Bike Setup: | giant reign, rock shox, truvativ, syncros | | Bottom Line: | out of the box, they work fine. Similar to my bb7 but with softer levers and added power. easy to set up. haven't had any problems with them. They started to squeal when I rode in the rain. I would recommend them. The split clamp design makes it easier to change handlebars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
blk mrkt
a Weekend Warrior
from rocky mtn house
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | what i can find | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$164.00 | | Purchased At: | all sports | | Strengths: | powerful.looks nice.lots of play in the lever.easy to bleed | | Weaknesses: | wroks better sometimes better then other.not alot of adjustments.craps out lots but is faxable eaily | | Similar Products Used: | hayes9.juicy three | | Bike Setup: | blk mrkt .357, 06 dj3,juicy 5 front juicy 7 rear,mavic 325 rims,cromo 3-piece crank | | Bottom Line: | juicy fives can be a hasel cause they will crap out on you but they will fix them selves but if they dont they are easy to fix they re reallly strong and have alot of play in the lever mefor you lock your brakes they are trust worthy over all i think they are a great brake | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ironhorse66
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Rabbit Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Chek ( Pro dea | | Strengths: | easy setup, good discs, effortless bleeding with the syringes (i trimmed my hose out of the box and rebled it in 20 mins.) good power after just 1 rides. self adjusting pads help set up brake and make removing the rear wheel less dangerous (no rebleeding necessary) | | Weaknesses: | none at all | | Similar Products Used: | hayes 9 | | Bike Setup: | norco 416, single speed, dh bars, fsa impact headset, race face evolve bb, hussefelt cranks, stype rims, k rad tires, juicy 5 rear brake only, 06 marzocchi drop off 1 | | Bottom Line: | best brake i have ever ridden besides avid code. super easy to set up and awesome power almost instantly. good rotor as well. easy as hell to bleed. what is this with people complaining about the brake gripping too much? thats is wat brakes are for. if u dont want it to lock up, dont pull so damn hard. (DUH). awesome product and i only payed 90 bucks cuz i pro deal it att work ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
endo-boy
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmont CO
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Hall Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Village, Bou | | Strengths: | Stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Noise, bleeding | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 08 Enduro SL Comp | | Bottom Line: | I had a problem with them right from the start. The brakes where not properly bled from the factory (Specialized) and lost power / faded to the point where I had no effective breaking left. I returned to my LBS twice before they got it correct. I insisted that they bleed them out until the 'found'the bubbles, which they did. Not properly set up, they work well. I hope that is the last of my problems with them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kinga
a Downhiller
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | DH | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Strengths: | Modulation, power, lever feel | | Weaknesses: | DOT fluid, AVID fluid supplied with bleed kit is rubbish | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes nine, shimano mech discs | | Bike Setup: | Norco 6, Gaint DH comp | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are simply excellent. I ran them for 18 months on my norco 6, all mountain style riding, was stoked with them from day one.
I recently bought a new set for my DH bike with 8 inch rotors and was initially dissapointed. From the box they were spongey.
After a few bleeds I couldnt get them dialled in, the lever kept pulling almost to the bar.
As I had used the pitifully small amount of fluid supplied with the bleed kit by doing two or three bleeds I bought a new bottle of good dot 4/5.1 Mobil disc brake fluid.
After one bleed with thte new fluid the difference was immediate. The brakes bled alot better, and the initial bleed of air in the syringe worked alot better too. The lever instantly became rock solid and worked a treat.
THese brakes rock, I have seen alot of bad reviews here but honestly I cant see why, they have fantastic modulation and immense power. For the price they are a great brake system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Racer
from Fresno, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Tri-Sport | | Strengths: | Everything, so much better than Hayes. | | Weaknesses: | None. Everyone that's complaining about noise, needs to shut up about it and the people that said there's no way to fix it, are liars. Run Shimano rotors and you problem is solve, now everyone needs to shut up about noise. Cleaning the pads always helps too. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Stroker, worst brakes ever made, they are inconsistent and feel terrible. The lever is horrible. Don't get those. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized pitch. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are the best, they stop, they're quiet with Avid and with Shimano rotors, Shimano rotors help greatly, but you cannot go wrong with Avid. For the idiot who said it makes too much noise on a long descent, try letting off the brakes, don't always hold or drag them. These brakes are killer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dmanj
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | whiitier Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | some guys house | | Strengths: | very good braking power, easy to bleed, great modulation, easy to align | | Weaknesses: | very noisy, takes time to wear in the pads, no pad adjustment | | Similar Products Used: | hayes HFX 9's, hayes soles, lots of mechanical brakes | | Bike Setup: | 243 DH, truvativ holzfeller cranks, howitzer bb, marzocchi 55r, e13 srs guide, odi grips, juicy 5 brakes, etc. | | Bottom Line: | these are good brakes for the price. they are easy to maintain and they are very powerful. excellent brakes for anybosy looking into getting hydraulic brakes or for people who dont want to spend a pile of money on their brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
erich
a Racer
from gainesville, fl
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | Loud, hard to keep properly aligned, necessary yearly rebuild. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | These are average brakes. They were really loud on the bike they came on. I swapped them onto another bike, swapped the roundagon rotors for G2's and the warbling is tolerable. What is not tolerable is the fact that Avid no longer sells a caliper seal overhaul kit. These seals need to be replaced yearly, however Avid now only sells the complete overhaul kit. What's the difference? $12 vs $35(each caliper)...I thought $12 for 3 o-rings and a piston seal was bad, but $70 a year to keep ok brakes functioning...no way! This goes for all Juicy brakes...I'm buying another pair of XT's | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
canyonbruce
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharp Bicycles on bi | | Strengths: | I'm not sure there are any strengths. I'd go back to my vbrakes if I didn't feel obligated to get these things working. I'm not sure why Fisher would put junk like this on their bikes. | | Weaknesses: | Chatter, Grabbiness after 3 rides on new bike. The chatter is annoying, but the grabbiness is scary at high speed. My dealer said I rode the brakes too much, but what else are you going to do on steep descents? | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Hifi Deluxe 29er | | Bottom Line: | If you are getting a new bike, ask the dealer to remove these and install Shimano or any other brand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
abikerider
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Hole In The Ground | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | OEM on bike | | Strengths: | Good stopping power, good system for bleeding brakes.
| | Weaknesses: | Noisy, sticking rear caliper piston, sticky rear lever, but I eventually fixed the rear brake. Did not find any mechanics competent enough to fix the problem so I had to do it myself! | | Similar Products Used: | It's my first bike with disk brakes. | | Bike Setup: | medium 2005 Epic Comp Disk with longer 100mm stem, Salsa motoace 11 degree flat bar, eggbeaters, and Terry saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I had the rear brake need work 3 times. Had the caliper replaced, had the whole rear brake assembly replaced, and had the rear caliper piston/seal cleaned, all under warranty. Each time it seemed to work but then after a few rides the rear pads would start rubbing to the point that it was unrideable due to drag. At the same time the lever for the rear brake would feel sticky; it would move slowly back to the forward position when released instead of snapping in place. Before I decided to replace the brake I decided to rebuild the rear lever and caliper with new seals myself. After doing this and bleeding the brakes the lever still had that "sticky" feel. I finally stumbled upon the fact that the little set screw that holds the pivot pin for the lever pivot in place shouldn't be tightened all the way. Once I loosened it slightly the lever felt like new. (Thanks Avid for not stating this in the directions!) Other than needing to bleed it once more after the rebuild it has been trouble-free for a dozen rides so it is "cured". It doesn't even rub the disk at all. I suspect that my bike shop may have put the wrong brake fluid in and damaged the seals or the seals were defective on the original and the replacement brakes. I'm just happy to have my bike rideable for the summer. I hope this helps others with the same problem. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Chesboro | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | OEM with GF HiFi | | Strengths: | I have not idea, other than perhaps they do end up stopping the bike? | | Weaknesses: | Can't tune properly. Once you get it close, and ride for more than 20 feet (literally), you have to try to re-tune. Noise. Mine don't seen to grab too well. I have to use 2 fingers to slow down. On my other ride (with Hayes), it's a one finger deal. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes 9 Hydraulic | | Bike Setup: | GF HiFi Deluxe ('07) | | Bottom Line: | I am not impressed with these OEM brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Chesboro | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | OEM with GF HiFi | | Strengths: | I have not idea, other than perhaps they do end up stopping the bike? | | Weaknesses: | Can't tune properly. Once you get it close, and ride for more than 20 feet (literally), you have to try to re-tune. Noise. Fade. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes 9 Hydraulic | | Bike Setup: | GF HiFi Deluxe ('07) | | Bottom Line: | Look, I never thought there could truly be much difference between brakes. I've used Hayes mechanicals on bikes with no problems. I've also used Hayes hydraulic with no problems. However, I purchased a GF HiFi Deluxe which came with the Juicy Fives. Well, it rubbed right off the bat. I figured, no problem, I'll just tune them. Yea sure, that's what I'll do. What a pain. It still rubs on the front and back on each revolution. Really bad. I will have to upgrade or sell the bike. Not useable. Oh well.
I hate to be so negative, but..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Stahlke
a
from Fairbanks, Alaska
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | American Summit | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | stopping power | | Weaknesses: | grabby, noisy, pads too close to disc causing rub | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | I hate these brakes...irritatingly loud on long descents, dangerously grabby on steep slopes. The slightest extra pressure on the grip will send you head over heals. The constant squealing takes takes the joy out of bike riding. The dealer says there is no way to silence them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Parman
a Cross Country Rider
from Oshkosh,Wi
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Oshkosh Cyclery | | Strengths: | Seem to be good stoppers - lever reach more prone to stay in place than the hayes brakes I had. Modulation is acceptable though there is defiantely a difference in lever feel from the front brake to the rear. | | Weaknesses: | Bleed required right from the start. I ride with the levers fully extended and the lever could be pulled right to the bar. The front brake got worse over a couple days and could eventually be pulled to the bar as well. (this was over a course of a week and a half, two rides) | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes (Hayes Hydraulic Disc, 6" rotors) that came stock on a 2003 Giant NRS 1. | | Bike Setup: | 2008 fuel ex, 15.5 | | Bottom Line: | I really don't know what is out there that may be better - but given what I know now, I would have likely requested to see other options. Brake bleeds in wks 2 and 3 of ownership don't reflect well on setup from manufacture. If they took shortcuts here, who knows where else. Count me disappointed for now, but with plenty of time and patience to have the product become favorable in my opinion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Dudley
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis/Phoenix
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came on my StumpJumper | | Strengths: | Good stopping power, fast or slow. No fade in heat or cool weather. | | Bike Setup: | StumpJumper Comp | | Bottom Line: | I love these brakes. I have been through a set of pads and am currently on my second set. I ride in Indiana conditions and out in Arizona in sandy conditions and have the same performace. I have had no trouble with squeaking or any other problems listed below. As with any disc brake setup car or bike you need to keep your rotors clean of any chain grease or grim. I clean my rotors after ever ride with a grease cutting chemical and never have problems. I would recommend this product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick B.
a Downhiller
from Jackson, WY, USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | good modulation, excellent stopping power, easy to bleed. | | Weaknesses: | noisey discs, but easily fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | hayes 9's, stroker trails. | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz chameleon, manitou nixon, shimano drivetrain, raceface cockpit. | | Bottom Line: | great breaks. i dont know why people dont like them, maybe some bad seeds ruining the reviews. these breaks have great modulation. They lock up nice also when you need them to, around those tight corners and when other people come flying up the trail at you! I used these breaks on my xc/trail/all mt. hardtail and they work great. I get going fast and these brakes work well at high speeds, even with 6 inch rotors. I have not experianced any fade either, which i heard is a problem on some longer decents.
all in all a great break for the price. very affordable for what you get. I would recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick B.
a Downhiller
from Jackson, WY, USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | good modulation, excellent stopping power, easy to bleed. | | Weaknesses: | noisey discs, but easily fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | hayes 9's, stroker trails. | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz chameleon, manitou nixon, shimano drivetrain, raceface cockpit. | | Bottom Line: | great breaks. i dont know why people dont like them, maybe some bad seeds ruining the reviews. these breaks have great modulation. They lock up nice also when you need them to, around those tight corners and when other people come flying up the trail at you! I used these breaks on my xc/trail/all mt. hardtail and they work great. I get going fast and these brakes work well at high speeds, even with 6 inch rotors. I have not experianced any fade either, which i heard is a problem on some longer decents.
all in all a great break for the price. very affordable for what you get. I would recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adi b
a Weekend Warrior
from bucharest,romania
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | great stoping power(major improvement from mechanical),very easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | loud when wet | | Bottom Line: | great brakes,buy them if a little noise doesn`t bother you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a Cross Country Rider
from houston, tx
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | walnut creek, austin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | sun&ski | | Strengths: | low maintenance, work in wet and dry conditions, great feel, excellent modulation | | Weaknesses: | some noise when in muddy conditions | | Similar Products Used: | cantilever, V-brakes | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Specialized Stumpy Comp FSR | | Bottom Line: | My first set of discs- came stock on the Stumpjumper. An incredible improvement over V-brakes! Haven't had any of the major issues discussed here. Maybe I'm just lucky that this set was prepped right at the factory. Just replaced the original pads with a new set of organic pads (better modulation, less noise than sintered) after one year of use. Did notice that sanding the pads with 220grit after regular use seems to smooth out the feel and reduce noise, squeeling etc... No complaints other than pads are a bit pricey (21.00-pair)considering how small they are. Ride on!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spencer Fish
a Weekend Warrior
from Riverside, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | DC-10 @ Mammoth | | Duration Product Used: |
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