Which brakes

simonroberts

Hi all

New here and liking the forum. I have been away from mountain biking for quite a few years but getting back into it now and embarking on a custom build.

I am looking at brakes and the engineer in me says Hope, mainley because of the UK designed and manufactured and machined look. I dont what to just dive in and buy hope without considering other options so what are peoples recomendations.

Keys for me are performance but also weight.

Thanks in advance.

nicklouse

Formula Oros.

simonroberts

Damn that was quick. Why formula's - had a bit of experience with those and a real pain to bleed.

supersonic

Have many satisfied users on these forums. Good value, light, good adjustment and reliable.

M6TTF

Avid elixirs for me. Really powerful and not touched then since I fitted them - brilliant

simonroberts

I have looked a little at Avid's and they look quite good. I could really do with hearing some real world opinions though as to the technical merits of all. Not just makes but also models.

All opinions greatly recieved.

Thanks

Simon

simonroberts

So whats the main difference between Elixirs and Juicy's.

Sorry if the questions seem dumb but been away from mtb'ing for ages.

nicklouse

not much.

not as good as they used too be.

Since Sram changed producer the quality seems to have suffered.

HandjobDan

the Elixirs have a tapered lever reservoir, that's meant to increase braking power with little input due to the fact the fluid is being forced into a gradually smaller space as it nears the hose.

Well that's as far as I understand it anyway.

ride_whenever

The elixirs seem to be a lot better than the juicies that i've tried...

Brakes i've used:

Hope mono mini (180mm/160mm) loads of fine control, a touch lacking in absolute power deal with heat really well though (two sets used)
Avid elixir cr carbon, 160mm, loads of power, just enough control to prevent faceplants! No real opinions on heat handling, haven't really cooked them, great adjustability.
Juicy 7, lack of feel, bit wooden and underpowered (180mm rotors)
Juicy 3sl, as above, less adjustablilty.
New deore, good power, very very wooden, noisy.

Probably prefer elixir over hope, but not much in it tbh, got elixir on the inbred because they're white, hope on the 456 because they're tarty.

simonroberts

Many thanks for informative replies there, they are very helpful, just what I am after.

Any more views before I go off and buy some elixir's? I guess the next questions would be which elixir's

The Northern Monkey

saints or formula the one if you want POOOOWWWWEEERRRRRRRR!

warrerj

+1 for Formula Oro

Can't fault my K24's

Exept for one point the tiny clip on the pin that holds the pads in is very fiddly. I've bined mine and use a spot of thread lock on the threads of the pin instead.

M6TT F

nicklouse wrote:

not much.

not as good as they used too be.

Since Sram changed producer the quality seems to have suffered.

rubbish - there's hardly any similarity between them. Taperbore technology for starters. Pad swap far simpler with Elixirs too.

simonroberts

So what is the difference between the following on CRC site.

Elixir 5 £104.99
Elixir CR – Tungsten Lever £109.99
Elixir R £79.99

Thanks

canada16

I love my 2009 XT's

Everytime I hit the brakes I almost go over my bars... LOL

Best brakes I have had, really powerfull and they look sweet

Johnny Chimpo

I just picked up some avid elixir cr carbon's from Merlin, got them for the grand sum of £230.

I am pretty new to all this biking stuff, but from my point of view they are a million times better than the old giant mph 3 brakes that my bike came with!

Cant obviously compare them to hope's or any others as these are the first set I've bought, but I can say for the money they were welll worth buying.

llamafarmer

nicklouse wrote:

Formula Oros.

+1 Awesome brakes and Merlin have had them stupidly cheap lately.

The Spiderman

llamafarmer wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

Formula Oros.

+1 Awesome brakes and Merlin have had them stupidly cheap lately.

Sold out now,unfortunately.....

M6TTF

simonroberts wrote:

So what is the difference between the following on CRC site.

Elixir 5 £104.99
Elixir CR – Tungsten Lever £109.99
Elixir R £79.99

Thanks

elixir 5 is new for this year and is essentially last years Elixir R - can't adjust angle of the banjo at the caliper - the 2010 elixir R now has this feature (filtered down from the CR)

the CR has bitepoint adjustment.

simonroberts

Nice one - thanks

simonroberts

Elixir CR's on order