Submitted by
Pablo56
a Weekend Warrior
from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales Date Reviewed: August 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Torpantau
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Good stopping power, front brake excellent.
Weaknesses:
Rear brake very poor and cannot be used, no immediate explanation for poor rear performance.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes MX2 mechanical
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR XC Comp
Bottom Line:
If the brakes actually worked as they are supposed to I guess they would be very good. To date I have not been able to use the back brake due to bad vibration and noise, that vibrates througout the bike so bad I have to release the brake. Front is good, but I'm annoyed that this is affecting my downhill work. Levers are good and well positioned. Prefer mechanical any day.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adept
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest, Hungary Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Hungary
Strengths:
It is strong, enough for my 100kgs, maybe a 180cm disc would be nice for me. When I pulling, down from the hill it isn't get hot easily.
Weaknesses:
If you use it in the city long time, it is start to make a little sound. You can go that fast, to warming up the brakes without a hill...
Bottom Line:
I offer without doubts... Good prize, nice look, good performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adept
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest, Hungary Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Hungary
Strengths:
It is strong, enough for my 100kgs, maybe a 180cm disc would be nice for me. When I pulling, down from the hill it isn't get hot easily.
Weaknesses:
If you use it in the city long time, it is start to make a little sound. You can go that fast, to warming up the brakes without a hill...
Bottom Line:
I offer without doubts... Good prize, nice look, good performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
torre
a Downhiller
from fresno california Date Reviewed: August 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
willow creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
stevens bike shop
Strengths:
they have no strengths at all
Weaknesses:
u either dont brake or u lock out
had to bleed them lots over time they start to get lots of play in the trigger
Similar Products Used:
nothing is this bad
Bike Setup:
08 big hit 1 juicy threes double track wheels
Bottom Line:
they suck
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
glorycoree
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton, CA Date Reviewed: August 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tamarancho
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Disc Brakes. Disc is better than any other. That's about all the product has going for it.
Weaknesses:
I feel like there is no in between. Either you are going full speed ahead or you are locking out. I crashed hard on my first ride on my new bike with these and I bent the rotor badly. After that there was no braking. We bent it back and they are working alright now. They feel cheap. The control is flimsy.
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 5
Bike Setup:
Giant Cypher Fox RL, Float rp2.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line.. these brakes are better than rim brakes, however, they do not compare to Avid brakes. I'm using these for now, but fully plan on switching them out to Avid brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gavin
a Racer
from New zealand Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Extremely cheap brake, cheaper than any other discbrake on the market.
Weaknesses:
Terrible lever position which puts the lever far too far out from the bars (and im 6 foot tall and have really big hands.) and very little power and no modulation, you just yank on the levers as hard as possible and expect to vaguely slow down sometime in the distant future.
Similar Products Used:
hayes 9's, juicy 3's, juicy 7's, juicy 7 ultimates, magura marta SL. avid bb 5 mechanicals.
Bike Setup:
Specialized p2
Bottom Line:
Not flash performance, no much needed adjustment to cure dreadful design. absolutely no feel.
A terrible budget brake that i dont even believe is powerful enough for most off road use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Metalcat
a Downhiller
from Belgium Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Winterberg
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Good modulation, don't fade quick. Good braking power. Easy setup. Look well
Weaknesses:
For downhill and single finger braking, not enough power. They don't come near the Avid code's with regard to sheer braking power.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Code, Louise FR, Louise Carbon BAT
Bike Setup:
Big Hit 1 with 888RCV
Bottom Line:
These are good brakes. I'm swapping them over to my All Mountaine because with the 203 rotor they will perform very well there. However, for downhill I do not recommend these. The Avid Codes are way better in that area.
Value rating 4 because they are wrather cheap and yet good brakes
Overall 3 because even with the 203 rotor they are IMHO not usable for DH
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
george eccleston
a Weekend Warrior
from branston england Date Reviewed: June 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
follow the dog cannock chase
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$296.00
Purchased At:
merlincycles.com
Strengths:
amasing stopping power they look amasing and are grate value for money
Weaknesses:
no problems apart from front hose was to short
Similar Products Used:
avid jucie 7 and 5,s shimano xt hope mono mini formule oro k18 and k24
Bike Setup:
saracen mantra2 2007 custom wheels witch i got with brakesWheels - Deore disc hubs handbuilt with stainless steel double butted spokes and Mavic XM117 black disc rims 203mm rotors. sdg belair rl saddle truvative firex team crank dmr v8 peddles shimano alveio shifters stock bar and stem and seat post. mantitou axle comp 120mm travle forks
Bottom Line:
grate brakes amasing price amasing power i think that they are the best brakes on the markit for the price and if they brake i will buy anoter pair. if you are thinking about buying them my advice is go to merlincycles.com and buy them
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gabe Santos
a Downhiller
from Concord,CA Date Reviewed: May 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
blackoak trail or devils elbow
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
stock from bike
Strengths:
i love how smooth they are and the look of the blackish color i also love you can adjust the length of the lever and how light they are
Weaknesses:
i don't know how to adjust them but other than that they are perfect
Similar Products Used:
Magura julie,avid juicy 7, hayes 9
Bike Setup:
i have a giant trance x2 its all stock except i got red alex rims a 203mm rotor Michlen A.T on the back Truvativ DH raiser bars and a short DH stem
Bottom Line:
BEST BRAKES EVER!!! if they are cheap get them and love them
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen
a
from England Date Reviewed: May 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Commuting home (don't ask)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Merlin Cycles
Strengths:
Stop wonderfully, do not fade. Modulate as well as my SD7's. Got the lot with wheels for $300. Lightweight with 160mmm discs.
Weaknesses:
Took a long time to bed in.
Similar Products Used:
First discs, but a lot of v's
Bike Setup:
Merlin Malt 1, Tora 302 Solo Air. Lx cranks and r/d, XT f/d, gripshifts. Deore wheels, FS bars and stem. Most of the rest from Trek 920.
Bottom Line:
They work, and if you can find them cheap they are a bargain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
savagemann
a Downhiller
from Bay Area CA USA Date Reviewed: April 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Nubian Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
ebay $90.00 per wheel
Strengths:
Great modulation. Sweet lever design reminds me of my favorite BMX levers from way back in the day. Easy to adjust the lever pull with an allen wrench. Sweet grey color. Comes with complete bleed kit, and a bottle of hayes DOT fluid. Plenty of stopping power with these puppies.
Weaknesses:
I just wish they came with the adapter to mount to fork/frame......come on Hayes!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Juicy 7's, Hayes Nine, Avid BB7, Tektro IQ
Bike Setup:
BMC Superstroke with Fox RP2, Manitou Nixon Super Air Plus, Strokers 180mm front 160mm rear, LX cranks w/outboard BB 22t-32t-bash, LOCO WHeelset 20mm TA, X7 shifters, X9 med cage rear D, Sunline V1 AM stem 65mm, Sunline V2 bars 50mm rise, Peaty lock ons with silver clamps.
Bottom Line:
Took a bit to bed the pads in, but once I did they work really sweet. My fork was leaking some oil, and it got on the front rotor, so I rebuilt the fork and cleaned the rotor with alcohol, removed the pads and burned them off with a small torch and all was good. I'm a big guy at almost 300lbs all geared up and ride pretty aggressive and these brakes stop me really well....never have I felt like there wasn't enough power, and they modulate perfect with a 180mm up front. I ride aggressive All Mountain, but if I start leaning more towards downhill I will go with the 8 inch rotor up front and 7 inch back. I haven't needed to bleed them yet, but might do that soon, just to upgrade the DOT fluid and change the pad clearance on the rear a tad. The grey color looks sick with my frame, and I really dig the lever design. Top Notch!!!!!!!! Might upgrade to the carbon version and put the Rydes on my second bike, but either way I'm sticking with the strokers for a long while. Dig em!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil Mishaga
a Downhiller
from Camp Pendleton, CA Date Reviewed: February 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Stock
Strengths:
Stops on a dime!! Did not have to adjust them at all. Brakes don't fade. Had no problems at all!
Weaknesses:
NONE!!!
Bike Setup:
Stock reign X2
Bottom Line:
Great brakes that have no failed or given me any problems! The pad rubs a little on the rotor in the front but doesn't cause any drag what so ever. The brakes came with the bike so i did not install them but i ride about everyday for almost a month now and they haven't needed any maintance or anything.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Solihull, England Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
coed y brenin
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Awesome stopping power, great feel, thick discs, look very Gucci, wider pads...
Weaknesses:
Take a while to dial in but worth the effort. Also like a squeal when wet and is a good idea to give them a rinse when going through some muddy stuff..
Similar Products Used:
None, upgraded from Tektro!! Great intro into hydraulics though and cant see me needing anymore for a while...
Bike Setup:
Carrera Banshee with Fox RLT 100, Fox Float R rear shox, Hayes Stroker Ryde 208mm F&R.
Bottom Line:
My first foray into hydraulic brakes after being bitten by the MTB bug and upgrading my whole bike with the aid of Ebay into a pretty serious bit of kit, magaged to get these at half the retail price!
Read alot about Hayes before i purchased these but at half the price for a brand new set couldn't buy better and i have to say that if you do dial them in and set up properly, (take a bit of time), i cannot possilbily see how you would need anymore stopping power unless you delight at being launched off with every pull!!
For me they are perfect and the difference from my previous 'brakes' is a 1000% improvement you just have to give them some TLC and look after them....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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