buying new brakes, need advice

[marlopez]

it's time to get new brakes for my dh bike. i can get a pretty good deal on avid juicy's, magura (id get gustavs), or any hayes.
cany you guys give me input on these brakes and which i should get.

juicy's: ive ridden the juicy's 7s and they are soo strong. is the only difference between the 7's and 5's the contact point knob? if so, is that knob really worth it?

gustav's: i never rode this and i heard they are super strong, and have a lifetime warranty and according to magura you dont have to bleed them for 5 years or something.

hayes - i dont realy care for these much. if there is anything special about hayes, let me know.

i was also looking at formula brakes. www.formula-brake.it ive seen them but don't know much about them and don't know how much i can get them for.

thanks for your help

[Rafael-DH]

Cant go Wrong with the Juicys!

[SXtrailrider]

Have you taken a look at the saint brakes? Either way don't get magura, i heard that their customer service is horrible from many, and if you need replacement parts, they are hard to find since most stores don't Carry them in stock.

[sinisteridge]

Have you taken a look at the saint brakes? Either way don't get magura, i heard that their customer service is horrible from many, and if you need replacement parts, they are hard to find since most stores don't Carry them in stock.


the gustavs are acaully argued as the best brake for dh. so dont

discredit them at all. they are so powerfull that you can let go of the

brakes while on the straits or ne thing else, then when u get to a

turn u can just tap the brakes and u slow down enough to take tight

turns. the powerfull-ness and the reliable-ness of the brakes shaves

a ton of time of your time if u are racing. the fact that they are so

powerfull alows you to forget about modulating and holding the

brakes the whole time, and worry about more important things

during the run.

[zmtber]

saint also have great power to them, not the most, but they do have it.

[dexter]

avid j's for life

[bballe336]

Have you taken a look at the saint brakes? Either way don't get magura, i heard that their customer service is horrible from many, and if you need replacement parts, they are hard to find since most stores don't Carry them in stock.

Don't talk out of your ass. I emailed Magura before I even owned any maguras (I am still waiting on them(in shipping)) and got a response an hour later. To me thats pretty good for CS. Any store ordering from BTI or Quality (which is almost every bike shop in the country) can get you Magura parts. And Maguras are easily the most powerful brakes available and they modulate very well if you want them set up that way.

[RaID]

personally i think the Juicys win hands down over hayes
and i would be buying them out of the 3 choices.
More powerful and you can modulate the power very well.


I only tried Magura brakes a few years ago and there was no doubt they had loads of power however you couldnt really modulate it. It was an on/off feeling. Dunno what the current models are like.

My vote Juicys

[gangstamaxx]

I dont know about gustav's but I really dislike the juicy's. Just couldn't stand the feel of them. I have ridden pretty much all hayes. I have never had any problems with them at all, from the 9's all the way up to mag's. They may not be the newest and hottest thing but there realiable and powerful. Hayes would be my reccomendation...safest bet

[TheMontashu]

Have you checked out the new formulas? They are alot like the avids only the work better. Formlula designed the avids and there new braked are basicly avids 2.0. They have WAY more power, and modulate realy well. As well the throw adjustment is way easyer and tucked away on the inside of the lever away from rocks.

[zmtber]

i say by mine

[Jimmy_Pop]

I just got new 05 Gustavs and have another set in shipping now for another bike. I cant wait to ride them. Those calipers are massive and the brake pads are damn near 2-3x's the size of the hayes pads & the two pistons are about the diameter of a nickel. Im really looking forward to these brakes saving my arms this summer. I like the idea of having MORE brake than probably necessary rather than just barely enough.

[DirtyMike]

I would have to go with juicy's myself. As far as teh contact point adjustment??? Well if your like me and Like both side feeling Exactly the same... Then yeah its worth it. Avids warranty is awesome. Other than that i would say check teh saints too

[Mike Buell]

Maguras are Bad ass, Gustavs or Luise FR.

[SXtrailrider]

I understand that gustavs are powerful, i even heard to powerfull, but Yes If you need work done to them, it isn't as easy as hayes or hopes.

[SPrider]

all i know is the Magura Louise FR's have more than enough power for any dh i have ridden, don't fade(6 top of garbanzo to bottom of mountain runs in a row), in my opinion the best modulation hands down because of the radial mastercylinder, stiff one piece calliper, different compound brake pads, plus being one of the lightest brakes out there, you can't go wrong with any maguras

[marlopez]

do u think the louise FR's would be good in place of the gustavs?

the only hayes brakes i would consider are the El camino's. any feedback on these?

i rode juicy 7's and they had loads of power. i felt like they had the on/off feeling that many of you describe about the gustavs

[bballe336]

I understand that gustavs are powerful, i even heard to powerfull, but Yes If you need work done to them, it isn't as easy as hayes or hopes.

ANY shop can work on them. Most shops have the right tools and bleed kits to work on every manufacturers brakes. You really don't know what you are talking about.

[spacemanspiff06]

yeah, maguras are bitches to bleed.
go with the saints or the J-5's

[keeping_it_real]

Hope Mono4's with floating rotors & braided line as stock?

[DH biker]

More info on the formula's guys?

[SuspectDevice]

In descending order of the brakes I've spent enough time on to make an informed decision
Magura louise fr - nearly as powerful as gustavs, considerably lighter and use standard adaptors
Gustav- hands down the best feeling brakes ever, but heavy and require non-standard adaptors. My choice for this year

Saint/xt/juicy- these are all awesome brakes, and I think the Saints could rule with more tuning (goodridgelines, galfer pads), but they lack the sheer power of either magura offering
hayes Mag's/9's- best power/price ratio, but i'm sick of master-cylinder problems. I like the lack of modulation, but other people hate it.
Hope m4's- incredibly expensive, too much modulation
El Camino's- expensive, no power, bad lever feel with too much modulation

[Secret Squirrel]

Hope Mono4's with floating rotors & braided line as stock?

I think you mean floating calipers....cause if your rotor is floating, you did something wrong on the build-up....

The only floating caliper I know of is on the Magura Gustavs, it completely eliminates brake drag. The only time the brake pads rub is if you actuate the lever! I ride Gustavs on my DH bike, and they modulate just fine. I'm riding 04's and they've been through some stuff!! I've replaced the pads once (Mid-season 05) and I'm replacing the rotors for this season...figure 2 racing seasons in the NW is enough for any piece of metal that helps me stop...

Go with the Gustavs, it'll set you back a few bills (Like 300 plus a wheel...unless someone really likes you) but they're worth it. Also, when you go to bleed them, it doesn't take the paint off or burn the hell out of your hands cause it's mineral oil....

Interesting side note: A friend of mine recently set-up the Gustav calipers with Louise FR master cylinders and blade assemblies on one of his bikes. If there's one thing I would change about my set-up, that would be it....it felt awesome! But, alas, I shall have to wait...:nopity:

[marlopez]

right now im leaning toward the juicy 7's or 5's. but magura isn't totally out of the question. the thing about the gustavs are the price and the massiveness of it, im not sure if i need that much stopping power.
i like the louise fr's but the lever looks bulky. the reason im buying new brakes is b/c i crashed and thrashed the brake lever body so i figured i might as well get new brakes. from the way the magura levers look, they look prone to being mangled--more so than the low-profileness of the avids



Interesting side note: A friend of mine recently set-up the Gustav calipers with Louise FR master cylinders and blade assemblies on one of his bikes. If there's one thing I would change about my set-up, that would be it....it felt awesome! But, alas, I shall have to wait...:nopity:

why do u like that set up?

does anyone know of having issues w/ the levers on the maguras?

[sam_little]

I think you mean floating calipers....cause if your rotor is floating, you did something wrong on the build-up...

You seem trustworthy and very full of knowledge on this subject. On another note, should I get married?

[bikenweed]

the reason im buying new brakes is b/c i crashed and thrashed the brake lever body so i figured i might as well get new brakes. from the way the magura levers look, they look prone to being mangled--more so than the low-profileness of the avids

Dude, I rode Brian's V10 and Blur, both Avid J7's, and they rock. However, I have seen him wreck several times and bend the poop out of his levers. On both bikes. They seem to bend a ton. I've bent Shimano levers, but very little. Baggs wrecks Hayes levers, but then again, that's Baggs. I think you should get Gustavs just because they are huge and waaay more moto, and then I'll find out if they're good or not. Eitherway, it's good to see you're still riding, and not breaking ankles!

[marlopez]

Dude, I rode Brian's V10 and Blur, both Avid J7's, and they rock. However, I have seen him wreck several times and bend the poop out of his levers. On both bikes. They seem to bend a ton. I've bent Shimano levers, but very little. Baggs wrecks Hayes levers, but then again, that's Baggs. I think you should get Gustavs just because they are huge and waaay more moto, and then I'll find out if they're good or not. Eitherway, it's good to see you're still riding, and not breaking ankles!

my shimano levers have been bent millions of times, i finally bought the dangerboy replacements, those are fine but the lever body is bent now. and ya im still riding, i raced fontana yesterday. and i saw u got a demo 8 again. cool

[Secret Squirrel]

You seem trustworthy and very full of knowledge on this subject. On another note, should I get married?

Um...yes, you should...maybe the chick will put you in your place...

why do u like that set up?

Well, I have the Louise FR's on my FR bike and I absolutely luv the feel of the Louise's levers, the Gustav lever bodies and blades just feel different (not in a bad way though..)
The Louise lever body and blades just feel more "positive" in regards to relaying the feel of power. The Gustav's just plain slow you down fast!!
The Louise's have enough stopping power for my freeride/enduro bike & me, cause it's less weight than my DH bike. I'm sure that if you're not 250lbs and 6'7" like me, that the FR's would be perfect for ya....it's less money and they're waaaay lighter than the Gustav's. I just require them cause I like going fast....which, when you're my size, becomes an issue when you want to stop quickly....

I've crashed a few times with the Gustav's....none the worse for wear...I'm not prone to bending levers...but then again, I make a point of not putting my handlebars near many nasty wrecks...Take that for what it's worth...

[E.T.]

Louise FR are the best brakes out there right now. They have ton's of power, great modulation, and are very light. They are one of the few things that I bolted on my bike and have had ZERO issues with throughout the entire season. Using any other brakes (in my opinion) is a waste of time. It just kills me though that people will hop on whatever is new and un-proven because their favorite racer uses them. Try out these brakes for yourself and I garuntee that you will love them. Any other brakes are just a waste of your time...

[E.T.]

yeah, maguras are bitches to bleed.
go with the saints or the J-5's

Wow!!! You must be very educated to post such a thoughtful and informative thing. Magura's are some of the easiest brakes to bleed, not to mention they come pre-bled from the factory. If all you're doing is shortening the lines it is the easiest bleed I have ever done. I have also helped a friend bleed them from scratch and they were very simple to bleed. They have a very nice bleed kit too that makes the job simple. Oh, not to mention once you bleed them you never have to do it again. Unless you are a re!

[marlopez]

Louise FR are the best brakes out there right now. They have ton's of power, great modulation, and are very light. They are one of the few things that I bolted on my bike and have had ZERO issues with throughout the entire season. Using any other brakes (in my opinion) is a waste of time. It just kills me though that people will hop on whatever is new and un-proven because their favorite racer uses them. Try out these brakes for yourself and I garuntee that you will love them. Any other brakes are just a waste of your time...

so you use the louise fr's on your dh bike. if so, why didn't you choose the gustavs? how do u like the levers, my big concern is the durability b/c i definitely bend levers
you ride for magura right?

[E.T.]

The main reason to go with the Louise FR's is weight. They are about 1/2 of a pound lighter overall than the Gustav's (1/4 Lb per brake). Don't get me wrong though, if you don't care about the weight the Gustav's outperform the Louise FR's anyday. They have TON's of power but with even better modulation than the FR's. The performance advantages of the Gustav's are very noticeable. The other reason I didn't run them is that they didn't have a set-up for the Fox 40. Whereas the FR's could bolt up with any 8" rotor and work flawlessly (with the 160mm front caliper). They now make an adaptor for the Louise FR's to fit a 210mm rotor up front with the Fox 40. I would assume that they have also made an adaptor for the Gustav's to fit a 40 but I am not sure. If you don't run a 40 than it doesn't effect you.

Yes, I am sponsored by Magura and I am very lucky for that. I used to run Hayes (Jr. X year, Uggh!) than I went to the 4-piston XT's (semi-pro year) and then I heard alot of good stuff about the Magura's (from very knowledgable people) and contacted them about sponsorship. They went out on a limb and helped me out my first year as a pro. I had a great first season as a pro and look forward to riding their products again this coming season. Even if I wasn't sponsored by them I would still be running their brakes. I've wasted enough time with poor performing brakes, and I will never do that again. You'd be amazed how much faster you can go when you have all that power and modulation at your fingertips. It's a true confidence inspiring product that allows you to go that much faster. Also a huge arm/finger/hand pump reducer which helps big time.

As far as the levers let my experiences speak for themselves.

Ride time: 9 months of hard riding (US Open, Tunnel Trail, Deer Valley, Idaho, WHISTLER!!!, Snowmass, West Virginia, Vermont, Mammoth, Santa Cruz, Pacifica, etc...)
Number of crashes: ??? Plenty
Number of bent, messed up, or broken levers: ZERO
Friends with same brakes: 3
Number of friends bent, messed up, or broken levers: ZERO

The levers have held up the best out of any brakes I have ever seen. Sorry for the long comment I just absolutely love their products and don't want to see somebody go through the same things I had to with crappy brakes. Hope this helps you with your decision.

[marlopez]

thanks for the feedback. that definitely helped me out.