Formula Oro K18

rasumichin

Hi

I'm lookinf or brakes for my pipedream Sirius frame which is waiting to be built up for a few month now.

I need brakes and a wheelset --> see http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12776950

I'm looking at formula oro k18 brakes at the moment, I do not look for alternatives, but for people who have ridden this brakes and want to share some information, because I could get them for a very good price.

In german speaking forums Formula brakes often seem to be quite troublesome, but as many many people all over the worls ride them I guess it can't be that bad.


What I want to know, is if these brakes will be suitable for relaxed All Mountain riding without big jumps or brainless shredding at a rider's weight of 100kg?
Are these brakes rather troublefree or do they need heavy maintainance?

Thank you for reading and answering

nicklouse

if you can get the K24s look on Formulas web shop for some deals.

the K18 can be upgraded with the adjuster to make them the same as the K24s.

Father Faff

100kg! That's some weight there. I'm 86kg and have K18s and they are very good when in fine order but I've had a few issues with the pistons sticking. After three years they are knackered so I have just bought some K24s to replace them for £140.

realnumber 1

I've had my K24's on for 2.5-3 years now and apart from changing pads and putting the lever back in after popping out when falling off I haven't had to touch them.

Stunning breaks with great modulation. They have taken everything I can throw at them from my local places like Lee Quarry/Calder Valley to a few days downhill at Lac Blanc. Not a hint of fade or trouble and still going strong....

I would spend the extra for the adjusters over the K18 imo.

nicklouse

Father Faff wrote:

100kg! That's some weight there. I'm 86kg and have K18s and they are very good when in fine order but I've had a few issues with the pistons sticking. After three years they are knackered so I have just bought some K24s to replace them for £140.

some weight. Not really.

Father Faff

Well, 100kg is about 16 stone so you may need more powerful brakes than the Oros like the Formula Ones. I am 86kg and have had them fade badly on big mountain descents but if you are not doing anything Alpine regularly then they should be good. They certainly have excellent bite and modulation. My particular K18s had a manufacturing problem - something inside them wwas corroded by brake fluid or something - so had to go back for repairs but newer Oros shouldn't have that problem.

rasumichin

Thx for answering

Well, I'm working on the 100 kg Issue and should be back to 90 or 85 at the end of Summer, but as I said, I'm no agressive rider, and the deore brakes I have used so far were always ok for me, though a little bit more power can't be bad.

Most of my riding happens in the small hills around Vienna, so there are no long descents, I never had a Problem with fading

nicklouse

Father Faff wrote:

Well, 100kg is about 16 stone so you may need more powerful brakes than the Oros like the Formula Ones.

never had a problem. with 160mm Oros. Or 180/160 or 203/203 I also have the Ones and not had any issues either.

The Northern Monkey

nicklouse wrote:

Father Faff wrote:

100kg! That's some weight there. I'm 86kg and have K18s and they are very good when in fine order but I've had a few issues with the pistons sticking. After three years they are knackered so I have just bought some K24s to replace them for £140.

some weight. Not really.

+1

stubs

Had a set never really got on with them just didnt like the feel too on or off. Then the front brake lever started to come back to the bar no matter how many times I bled them. A seal had gone in the master cylinder and I couldnt get spares though that could have been the UK importer (Propel I think) who were about as much use as a chocolate brake pad.

They are now in a cupboard gathering dust waiting for me to fix them and ebay them. Not my best ever purchase.

Father Faff

Yes, they sound like the older ones with the seal problem. Fixed now I believe. I also think the distributor has changed from Propel (who were crap) to Silverfish or Madison or someone who are better. But if you can get K24s like I did for £140 the set from Merlin then you couldn't get better at the price.