Brake advice

jakesurf

Hi,

After a crash my bike (Boardman Pro HT 2010 model year) has come away unscathed except for snapping the rear brake lever from the main lever and reservoir assembly. The brakes are Avid Elixir R. As it appears that these are no longer available, it looks like I'm going to have to replace the complete brake, therefore:

1) Other than looking on ebay for a second hand lever, is this the case or can anybody point me to where I might get a new lever assembly from.

2) If I replace the brake what would everybody recommend? I've heard good reports about the Shimano Deore units but would this be a step backwards compared to my current brakes?

3) Would it be advisable to replace both brakes or should I be okay running a different back brake to the front brake?

Thanks for your help.

ej2320

Personally I'd get the Deore, it's probably more hassle and cost repairing the lever than it's worth

What makes you think the Deores are a step back? They essentially use the same system as the XT equivalent and in my opionion are far far better than the avids

You don't have to replace both brakes but it would look slightly odd

I've been running SLX brakes now for 5 months and I haven't exactly been kind to them.. But they've been faultless, very reliable and prefect straight from the box without bleeding

cooldad

£35 from CRC for Deore - probably cheaper than the bits for the Avids.
And excellent brakes. Obviously as I use them.

dusk

I would buy a front Deore and switch the non broken Avid to the rear

mcnultycop

I'd buy a pair of Deore and flog the Avids.

rockmonkeysc

I went from Avid X0 to Deore and it certainly wasn't a step backwards. The Deores are a little heavier but better in every other way.

jakesurf

Cheers all for the advice, think I'm going to go for the Deores from CRC for £35

IDave

Could someone please explain the Shimano brake spec levels to me?

What order does it go in? What extra features do you get?

swod1

IDave wrote:

Could someone please explain the Shimano brake spec levels to me?

What order does it go in? What extra features do you get?

It goes in deore, slx, deore xt, xtr and then you have free ride/downhill spec zee and saint brakes.

For the money a lot of people highly rate the deore brakes, newest model are m615 for value and stopping power.

cooldad

IDave wrote:

Could someone please explain the Shimano brake spec levels to me?

What order does it go in? What extra features do you get?

SLX and XT get a little lighter, and have tool free reach adjust - Deore takes a fraction of a second with an allen key.

IDave

And what do the Mxxx labels mean?

cooldad

IDave wrote:

And what do the Mxxx labels mean?

The model numbers.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/brak ... -05-p-app1

rockmonkeysc

cooldad wrote:

IDave wrote:

Could someone please explain the Shimano brake spec levels to me?

What order does it go in? What extra features do you get?

SLX and XT get a little lighter, and have tool free reach adjust - Deore takes a fraction of a second with an allen key.

I always thought tool free reach adjustment is a bit pointless. I set mine a year ago and haven't adjuted it since.

cooldad

I had it on my previous brakes - used to fiddle with it a lot.
Now I haven't and also haven't adjusted the brakes since day 1, so it probably is.