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Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail of tears | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | adrenaline | | Strengths: | Great price, outstanding performance! Magura modulation. Mineral oil is nice to you | | Weaknesses: | I can't come up with one | | Similar Products Used: | All the mechanicals, old style julies | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575, Marzocchi AM1, RP3, ... | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the newer '05 model. Awesome breaks. The LBS guy was in shock at the stopping power and feel at the lever. I've never regretted the purchase. They've never let me down in any weather. Buy some they're worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Nitake
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Similar Products Used: | Coda (now these things REALLY suck), Hope (these really DON'T suck) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll, Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | The master cylinder finally wore out and wouldn't hold a bleeding. Lever went to handles w/ no braking like there was a lot of air. Turns out if you have a white master cyclinder piston (plastic), the new version (aluminum) is a warranteed replacement. Thanks to Magura and LBS for pointing out that to me and making it happen.
I replaced both brake lever assy's and that did the trick. Now I have plenty of stopping power, but noticed 2 things:
1) you have to double pump. Not too annoying as it will
still work w/ one pump. But still, this sounds like a
common problem to just live with. Maybe I'll try
re-bleeding. PS. If it doesn't cost you too much, have
the shop do it. It's pretty messy if you don't have the
right tools like the nipple that screws into the
caliper. Otherwise, it's not too bad a procedure. Glad
they don't use DOT brake fluid. Very corrosive and
shock oil (mineral) doesn't sting when it goes in your
eyes when the bleed hose pops out and spews because you
were too cheap to buy the bleed kit :-).
2) the sound the brakes now make (new pads) just cracks me
up it is *SO* like bubbling boiling oil spilled on 2
mating cats mixed in w/ a grinding noise where I'd
expect to see through the rotors at the end of the day.
Works fine like it always has, but I'm entertained by
the noise just to see exactly what *WILL* fail when it
finally does provided I'm still there to see it :-)
These brakes are OK. They do the job and if you're not too picky there's no need to get new ones. But I still have my eyes on a set of Marta's. I believe they are much better because they have wavy rotors. Anything w/ wavy rotors has got to be good, right? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
philip marlowe
a Cross Country Rider
from ma
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | nice modulation and good stopping power as long as they don't leak | | Weaknesses: | requent caliper leaks, fading | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore hydraulic (recomended), magura marta (will see) | | Bike Setup: | cannondale hardtail | | Bottom Line: | this product should not be on the market in it's current state. have been told by my lbs that caliper leaks, as i had back and front, are not an exeption with these brakes. magura should have an eye on their quality contol! got some kind of deal to get them replaced with martas - in exchange for money, which they do not deserve! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Central OR
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 99 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Makes Magura money. Looks good. Comfortable lever. | | Weaknesses: | Not having any real strenghts. Weak power that feels different every time I get on the bike. Waaaaay to weak for trials (especialy the rear) | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Avid mech, etc | | Bike Setup: | At first on my Capriolo 5 trials, now on 03 FSR XC, both with nice components. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes have pissed me off from day one. No power right out of the box. I bought them for my trials bike but they put me on my ass so many times I had to put them on my XC bike (although trials kicks XC ass any day). Caliper started leaking after 1 month. Pads got saturated so I had to replace them and send in the caliper. Came back with air in the lines. They have been pro bled multiple times, and continue to suck. The bottom line; F these brakes. They are almost too weak for XC riding, and unpredictable as hell. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Tauranga, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Woodhill, Auckland, New Zealand | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with second hand bike | | Strengths: | Light, good power, good modulation | | Weaknesses: | None found yet, though the lever looks flimsy, looks that it might snap in a bad crash | | Similar Products Used: | hayes hydro, avid cable | | Bike Setup: | Craftworks DHR 205, Stratos S8, Hayes Hydro Front, Magura Louise Rear, mavic rims etc etc | | Bottom Line: | Even though my bike is 40 pounds, in conjunction with my 8 inch hayes on the front they work very well and are effictive at slowing a dh bike at high speed, they are light too which is a good thing as i freeride too and do tend to ride up hills, so making my bike as light as possible without comprimising performance is a good thing | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from NW indiana
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | cpx | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$169.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | honestly, they are better than my oe v-brakes(barely) but that's about it | | Weaknesses: | recurring caliper leaks
squeek like crazy
not nearly enough power
lock up if overheated (sometimes)
no lever if overheated (other-times) | | Similar Products Used: | oe avid v-brakes
hayes hydros
| | Bike Setup: | 02 enduro w/junior-t, vanilla rear shock, 8" hayes hydro frt brake,raceface cranks,singletrack wheels,xt drivetrain,and that useless magura louise rear brake.
| | Bottom Line: | had a pair of louise's on this bike and after two warranty calipers the front started leaking again. trashed it and bought a hayes hydro. i never really realized how bad the magura's were until i started riding the hayes. the rotors warp after every race, the calipers either lock up or fail completely(i am using the royal blood) please don't tell me they're set up wrong or need to be bled, that is not the case. even when they are working at they're best it takes two fingers to actually make the rear wheel skid or come to the point just before skidding. te pad adjustment is easy, but, after every ride they are out of adjustment again and i frequently have to stop and adjust them during a ride because the damn things start dragging on the rotor and squeeling loke pigs. i could go on but i think everyone gets the point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from North Van b.c.
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bobsled (Mt Fromme) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | John Henry Boxing day (Cnd$$) | | Strengths: | The feel is great. power is ok.
Uses mineral oil. | | Weaknesses: | Lever.
| | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hyd.
Hayes hmx 1 mech.
Formula XC i still have it on the rear
Shimano Hyd + mech sucks no power horrible feel | | Bottom Line: | If u want somethin powerful get Hayes Hyd.
XC use this one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a Racer
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good power in all conditions
Great lever modulation or feel
Light
Simple to install and setup once you read the manual | | Weaknesses: | Levers are easy to brake and expensive to replace
parts are difficult to find
parts are expensive
non-centering system requires constant attention
continual squeel and vibration even after break-in period
| | Similar Products Used: | CODA Expert disc
Hayes Hydraulic | | Bottom Line: | Get something else. Try Hope or Hayes.
The Louise is a good performing light XC disc brake. They have a great feel and are easy to install and setup.
The plastic and aluminum levers snap off VERY easily and are $30 a piece to replace. Finding parts for these brakes is difficult and expensive. Maintenance on the brakes is continuous to keep the pads adjusted properly since they are not self-adjusting. Me and several people I know have had major issues with leaking requiring replacement, bleeding, and rebuilds. Due to poor parts availability you will have to wait so don't plan on riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allister
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta-GA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Currently-Bull Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good Power mixed with really good Modulation and ease of maintenance. 5 year leak proof warranty. Don't have to change fluid as Magura says you don't gotta. I'll trust them on this one.
| | Weaknesses: | Some Brake pump on extended downhills but I've never had these lock up on me. Some free running drag, but nothing a 4mm hex can't fix on the trail in seconds. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid CPS Dics
Hayes Hydraulic
Magura Gustav
Shimano XT
| | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz SL 00, Psylo SL 02, FOX RC 00, Magura Discs 01, Sram hubs F519 Rims 01 | | Bottom Line: | Good controlled overall power and modulation. As powerful as a Avid Discs but light years ahead on modulation. Some slight brake pump, but nothing to take away from overall performance. I found that the Hayes and the Shimano's were much harder to modulate than these. The 2002 are dual piston and self adjusting. I have the 2001 Single piston version with the manual adjustment pads and I like these brakes just fine. Magura is on the move. Now if I can get my hands on some Marta SL's.
I don't know why ZAP hates Magura so much, I think these brakes are really good for aggressive XC riding. If you're into Downhill I would recommend a self adjusting caliper like the 2002. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Or.
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Forrest Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easily modulated braking power, great performance in wet conditons. | | Weaknesses: | They tend to go through pads at a pretty healthy clip. I should qualify that by saying I have almost exclusively ridden the bike in the mud since I got it this fall. I'm also a bit over 200 lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | I made the quantum jump from cantilevers to these. I tried out a friend's bike with Hayes brakes; they seemed like they were either off or on without a whole lot in between. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel 1000, fully stock. | | Bottom Line: | The 2002 Louise brakes were spec'd on the bike. They excel at everything from rapidly hauling me down from high speed to precice braking on steep, technical sections. Technical service and support is outstanding. I had a problem with one of the rear pistons dragging a bit; they aggressively and promptly addressed the issue and solved it to my complete satisfaction. Impressive product, impressive company; two big thumbs up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Leurs
a Weekend Warrior
from Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Houffalize, Belgium | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$380.00 | | Purchased At: | Rijwielpaleis Bilthoven | | Strengths: | - Twin piston with automatic pad adjustment (2002 model)
- Easy to setup (just read the manual before you start)
- Aluminium levers
- Great performance | | Weaknesses: | No technical weaknesses experienced so far, somehow they just seem to be a bit more expensive here in the Netherlands. The price payed is for both front and rear brake. I could have gotten them slightly less expensive via an online shop, but I like the above mentioned bike shop and their customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | - V-brakes
- Magura HS33 | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 900 frameset / Marzocchi Z1 Drop-off / Mavic 317 / full XT / Kore. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes perform excellent! After one bike tour they make me forget my good old HS33's. I didn't have the intention to go disc brakes until I tried Magura Julie brakes installed on a friend's bike. I got quite impressed; I didn't expect those "budget disc brakes" to outperform my HS33's. And the Louises are even better. For most Dutch cycle tracks you don't really need *that* much brake power. However, since I go to Belgium (Ardennes) and Germany (Eifel) for mountain biking quite frequently, and spending my summer holidays in countries like Switzerland or the Czech Republic, these brakes will be used to their full extent. Most likely I'll install endurance brake pads when these need to be replaced. That will pay off under Dutch winter circumstances (snow, lots of mud, even more mud, sticky mud, slippery mud, stinking mud, etc.). For now, I’m a happy Magura addict!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Taupo, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 42nd Traverse | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Second Hand, brand new though | | Strengths: | Great Power, Modulation, Construction.
The new levers (2001) actually work and are better than hayes, shimano etc. Beutiflully light. | | Weaknesses: | Not really any but if you want to get to the nitty gritty the lack of automatic pad adjustment can be a slight pain. | | Similar Products Used: | Coda Expert Discs. V's and have had a bit of a play with hayes and shimano. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Cannondale F2000sl. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work. I got the 2001 model and the new lever (aluminum) and reservoir have improved the brake alot. The brakes dont come on quite as strong as the Hayes but for anything other than downhill or north shore thats a good thing. The modulation and feel is light years ahead of anything else i've used and the pads wear is satisfacotry. You can get endurance and race pads now which have different compounds.
Just a tip when setting up. Do it yourself because the bike shops are generally to lazy to read the manual properly and so you consequently get brakes that dont work to well. Its easy enough, all you need to do is find the correct spacing and bolt them on because they are pre bled, but that seems beyond my local bike shop.
For anyone who doesnt mind doing a bit of adjustment every now and then these brakes are a great buy. Dont buy them if your a downhiller or possibly a freee rider. Do buy them if your looking for great working brakes for xc use | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
markus brueggemann
a Cross Country Rider
from unkel, gemany
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | e-bay in germany | | Strengths: | a huge disc brake with no problems at the sh... weather conditions in germany. simply to handle every time. | | Weaknesses: | in the 1999 version you must take a look at your brakes after every trip, because the disc must run clear between the pads.Thats the problem of manualy adjusted pads | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore v-brakes. good, but i need a lot of pads in cause of bad weather | | Bike Setup: | kinesis hardtail, marzochi bomber2, shimano 9, | | Bottom Line: | Sometimes the riding here is very wet and muddy in the spring and autum. this was a good brake for me. take a look at the new produkts at www.magura.de, the will be better now. no manual adjust pads.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Tromp
a Cross Country Rider
from Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in the woods around Apeldoorn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Hoekman Tweewielers | | Strengths: | Great power and modulation | | Weaknesses: | Relatively high pad wear | | Similar Products Used: | Magura Clara 2000, Formula MD 1 | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC Team, Rond 2 Stroke S, Race Face cranks and stem, SRAM 7.0/9.0 drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Very impressive set of brakes. A total relevation after the Magura Clara's. Those are really budget. I got the Louises a bit cheaper under guarantee as my Claras wore out in the master cyclinder within 8 months. Never mind, these are much better. Lever feel is much better and there is so much more stopping power. The rear can do with endurance pads, but putting a set ofperformance pads in the front caliper makes it into an impressive beast.
Bedding in the pads is totally different from Clara to Louise. Clara only got power when the pads were properly bedded in, With the Louise, lockups happened instantly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramstein, Germany
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Phatty 50 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | s-tec sports | | Strengths: | Modualtion, wet weather stopping power, light weight, adjustable reach levers, more power than v's, customer service | | Weaknesses: | quality of constuction, not as much power as two piston systems, manualy adjusted pads, mineral oil for fluid, if you turn the bike upside down air can get into the system, lever play | | Similar Products Used: | Hope mini | | Bike Setup: | RM element race, hugi 240's, mavic 317, syncros post, monkey light bar, SRAM plasma shifters, Z2 sport, sid rear, AC cranks, hope mini discs, and other stuff | | Bottom Line: | This brakes work well for cross country riders. They are a little weak for freeriders. They can't handle long downhills because the pads don't adjust so you have to stop and manualy adjust them. After about 4 months of use the right lever started leaking, I had it serviced and it just got worse. Magura did send me a new lever right away but I have had enough. The rear brake has been bled 4 time since I owned it and it has cost me six weeks from my bike. I bought hope mini's and they are fabulous. I can do everything my self on them with no special tools. They do have great customer service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Forsyth
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Carl's local | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Decent stopping power in the wet, nice modulation | | Weaknesses: | Pads. Pads wear terribly fast in the wet and they are very expensive. Alignment of brake rotor and caliper. Lever broke. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Diamondback XR-6 | | Bottom Line: | The most important thing to be aware of is what you are getting when you buy these brakes. The extremely fast pad wear ( I measured 0.5 mm wear in a 30 minute ride ) means pad adjustment often. This is a real pain during a race. The cost of new pads (50-55 Canadian) is hard to swallow. In fairness to Magura, they sent me a set of pads when I e-mailed their support line about the problem. However, the problem did not go away. I went through 3 sets of pads last season. The riding here is very wet and muddy in the spring (and sometimes all summer).
Also, I have an on-going problem were every time I remove a wheel I need to re-adjust the brake pads when I put the wheel back in the frame. This is the problem with non-self adjusting, fixed caliper brakes.
I have had a problem with the brake level also. The small spider on the master cylinder that holds the ball of the lever broke, so the lever is always flopping out of the pre-set position. I have really small hands so this is a problem for me.
An average brake for an average price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockport
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pennines | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Great stopping power, low maintanence, lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Plastic levers, setup is difficult at times (like putting the wheels back on the way they were after a puncture) | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Low spec, the best thing on it is these brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Powerful (you can lock the front wheel at almost any speed, although I wouldn't advise it!!)
Seem quite expensive on their own although I got mine on a complete bike (Carrera Hellcat FS which cost £600) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | I love em all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Strengths: | Good power, easy to set-up and adjust, respactably light for disc brakes. | | Weaknesses: | They squeal like a banshee, but this can be solved. | | Similar Products Used: | V-brakes of all shapes and sizes, Hayes Hydraulic Discs | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Santa Cruz superlight, XT/XTR mix, Marzocchi Z.1 MCR, 2001 Louise Discs | | Bottom Line: | When I built up the aforementioned bike, I decided to go ahead and get discs. These are the first discs I've owned, but I've ridden Hayes on a few occasions too. So far, I have been very pleased with these brakes. It seems that for 2001, they have eliminated the pump-up issue. These brakes stop very very well, unless you are doing some serious DH, I couldn't imagine needing any more power. Shortly after burnishing, mine started to squeal pretty bad, there was no loss of power but the squeal was annoying. I took off my pads and sanded them lightly with a fine grit sandpaper, and voila! no more squeal. Overall I would say that for all-around XC riding, these are a wonderful product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Great stoping ability | | Weaknesses: | levers | | Similar Products Used: | xt, xtr discs | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | Very good brakes haven't had any problems with them. They could give you the alum. levers with the initial purchase. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodstock Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Maintenance free. Product support. The Magura Cult! | | Weaknesses: | Slowish rear lever return on the older pre-2001's. | | Bike Setup: | Seven Sola. Rond-Magura Air fork. Magura Pro hubs. | | Bottom Line: | I've had this brake for close to two years so I feel qualified to give an opinion.
This brake, for XC use, is excellent - great single-finger stopping power and great modulation (YOU decide when the wheels will lock!)
My brakes have been totally maintenance free since I fitted them - except for pad adjustment which is quick and easy.
As Ketchup Man below states, these brakes, if on a factory bike, will not be set up properly. Get the manual (paper one or downloadable one) and take the time to set them up dead-on 100% perfect. It's an easy job (two bolts and a few shims) which pays off handsomely.
My brakes are noise-free - except sometimes when I go through lots of water and any noticable "pump" is either caused by silly people doing their "hey look what I can make these brakes do" in the parking lot or the result of poor setup and adjustment. I know this as I speak and deal with hundreds of Louise owners around the world.
The new 2001 Louise (I'm testing a set now) have the potential to be an even better brake than the pre-2001's. The levers have totally changed and some of the design features are for the better.
Don't even consider Louise if you're a downhiller as they are a pure XC brake. Get Gustav instead.
Great brake, great company and tons of support. See my Magura Cult Homepage if you don't believe me -
http://www.execulink.com/~dtierney/wmc/Magura/contents.htm | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TRON
a Cross Country Rider
from Potter, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Thorusa | | Strengths: | Easy set up, awsome power. Solid feel, no fade. | | Weaknesses: | The way it fits in with Shimano shifters. | | Similar Products Used: | V's and Canti's these are the first discs I've run. | | Bike Setup: | 92 Klein HT, 98 Judy w/englunds, XT drivetrain, XT hubs, hs22 rear brake louise front brake. | | Bottom Line: | I run my brakes moto-style so I had to call magura to see if they would trade me levers. They asked me to send in my louise and they would send me a Rear lever and front caliper. They did in record time. I quickly installed the front disc. Adjusted it in less than a min and was running. Yes is squeals a bit, but I am very very pleased with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marko Klopppenburg
a Weekend Warrior
from Maassluis
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | urban | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Mammoet | | Strengths: | Strong braking in al conditions
| | Weaknesses: | the lever is to weak when you have the normal lever
buy the aluminium lever | | Similar Products Used: | Gustaf-M | | Bike Setup: | beone Hyper one XTR crank the rest XT with a magura Hs33 on the back and a louise up front with a gustafM hub | | Bottom Line: | this is a realy good braking system for not so mutch money
i have just it for 2 years now for some DH and urban assualt and it never let me down !
so if you want a good brake go get this one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Phila., PA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissahickon/French Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$149.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance w/price match | | Strengths: | Ease of set-up, Famous Magura tech support, Super adjustable, Super dirctions, Stopping power | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Disc, Magura rim HS-33's, Avid Mags V's, Shimano V's | | Bike Setup: | Jamis steel F/R hardtail with 100mm Bomber and all the carbon and hit-tech goodies. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because of the tremendous past experience with Magura products. Warranty issues, small parts orders, and tech support was great. Stop just as well as my friends Hayes system but has better adjustment possibilities. I am using it in the front with a HS-33 rim in the back. Super combo. Go Maggies! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Many | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Stopping power, thats what it is all about. Easy to adjust and maintain. | | Weaknesses: | Discs warped when new after bedding in, easy to straighten discs by hand if you spend time getting them true. | | Similar Products Used: | Two hour ride with Hayes hydraulic, nice but not as much power as my Maguras. | | Bike Setup: | Votec FS (came with Maguras)
Now fitted to Intense Tracer | | Bottom Line: | Very happy with complete braking system. Once pads and discs have been run in (discs trued) it is only a minute to adjust pads for excellent power and modulation. If pads are adjusted correctly you will never have to pump lever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Kodiak, Alaska, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | locally | | Strengths: | Ease of maintenance, stopping power, adjustability, lever feel, looks pretty good to boot | | Weaknesses: | Initial setup, hard to change hydraulic cable housing length, some squeel initially when wet | | Similar Products Used: | just old cantilevers (never again!) | | Bike Setup: | Manitou hard tail, all XTR, Judy XC long travel | | Bottom Line: | Huge step up from cantilevers. Can't compare them to V-brakes; never tried them riding. I got the Magura hub with them and Magura seems to think you don't need a rotor spacer when you use their hub with their brake. Wrong. I ended up having to stack a bunch of washers under the brake mounts to move the brake inboard enough to get the rotor not to rub. Stupid, but not the end of the world. Everything since then has been pure pleasure.
When they are wet (from riding through wet grass or really deep puddles) they squeel for a hundred feet but then dry very quickly. No fading for XC riding. They are very consistantly powerful, with nice modulation and lever feel (I have the aluminum levers). Pad wear rate is still a questionmark. Overall I am thrilled with the things. One finger braking even for panic stops. Just beautiful.
Giving 4 chilis because I have yet to compare them to a lot of other brakes... could be some even better ones out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The ketchup Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | rattlesnake trail (a cedro peak trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Awesome braking power. V-brakes have nothing on discs. With my disc specific frame, and rims, the brake system actually comes out to be lighter than an XTR V-brake system.
| | Weaknesses: | Brake pads are really expensive if you ever screw them up and have to replace them. Only non-idiots can figure out how to set them up properly (which means no albuquerque bike mechanic knows how to work on them). | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Vbrakes
Avid 2.0 (i liked these more than xtr's and they're like 30 or 40 dollars cheaper) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD4 mountain frame, Full XT drivetrain. Coda expert crankset, hubs, handlebars, seat and seatpost. Panaracer XC fire pro 1.8" tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you get these brakes stock on a bike, and they are not working good as soon as you get them, that means whoever set them up for you is an idiot, and probably isn't experience with discs. When I got mine, I had to double pump the brakes to get any stopping power, then I tried adjusting them myself and ended up getting too much drag while not braking. The problem was that the idiots who set them up didn't have any clue on how to work on disc brakes. I finally read every single word in the manual, figured out that they had the wrong amount of spacers, and then had to completely readjust the pads.
Now that I have them set up correctly, they work 100 times better than any set of rim brakes. Complete drag free ride.
The only time I get drag is when I put my wheel on crooked. I've had to adjust the pads once due to wear, but that's after 9 months of usage. If you're tired of having low power v-brakes, and want true 1 finger braking...get some of these, and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The ketchup Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | rattlesnake trail (a cedro peak trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Awesome braking power. V-brakes have nothing on discs. With my disc specific frame, and rims, the brake system actually comes out to be lighter than an XTR V-brake system.
| | Weaknesses: | Brake pads are really expensive if you ever screw them up and have to replace them. Only non-idiots can figure out how to set them up properly (which means no albuquerque bike mechanic knows how to work on them). | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Vbrakes
Avid 2.0 (i liked these more than xtr's and they're like 30 or 40 dollars cheaper) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD4 mountain frame, Full XT drivetrain. Coda expert crankset, hubs, handlebars, seat and seatpost. Panaracer XC fire pro 1.8" tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you get these brakes stock on a bike, and they are not working good as soon as you get them, that means whoever set them up for you is an idiot, and probably isn't experience with discs. When I got mine, I had to double pump the brakes to get any stopping power, then I tried adjusting them myself and ended up getting too much drag while not braking. The problem was that the idiots who set them up didn't have any clue on how to work on disc brakes. I finally read every single word in the manual, figured out that they had the wrong amount of spacers, and then had to completely readjust the pads.
Now that I have them set up correctly, they work 100 times better than any set of rim brakes. Complete drag free ride.
The only time I get drag is when I put my wheel on crooked. I've had to adjust the pads once due to wear, but that's after 9 months of usage. If you're tired of having low power v-brakes, and want true 1 finger braking...get some of these, and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Johnson
a Racer
from Shelburne, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Catamount | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | 11/11/96 | | Strengths: | Great brake. Fast stopping power, Low squeakage, Easy maintinance | | Weaknesses: | i've encountered none | | Similar Products Used: | Coda | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll 3000, full XTR, Lefty ELO | | Bottom Line: | These are the best. I have had no problems with them, and they are soo much more powerful than other brakes. Go with these. They're Great! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Çaðrý Eröge
a Cross Country Rider
from Istanbul/Suadiye/Turkey
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Belgrad Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | GOod stopping in all conditions,lightweight,works well | | Weaknesses: | A bit hard to set up,noisy in wet conditions,brake pads are expensive,brake levers are plastic | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes FH,Shimano LX,XT,XTR V-Brakes,Coda Expert Disc | | Bike Setup: | Scott Intoxica'00 with full Shimano XTR | | Bottom Line: | My Intoxica came with Magura Louise Disc Brakes.Firstly I hate them because it was very noisy and works not well,after 1 month it startes to work well without noise in most conditions.Although it squeels in wet conditions,it's powerful like Hayes FH. | |
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$ 200.00
