| Product: |
Mountain Bikes - General Tips & Comments |
| Date: |
11/10/03 (2221 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Fantastic Stopping Power
Disadvantages: None Really
I rode a friends bike with disc brakes and was very impressed with the performance of them. Unfortunately as my frame and forks did not have the relevant mounting points things were not looking good for upgrading my bike. Then I found the Magura HS33 Hydraulic Rim Brakes. These brakes work in a similar way to conventional brakes but are hydraulic rather than cable driven.
I searched the Internet and found a complete set for a little under £100. I paid my money and waited a few days for the package to arrive. The set included everything required (except the tools) to fit both front and read brakes in one box and even include brake boosters to stop your frame bending (they are so powerful that can see the frame flexing if you don’t use the booster).
They are straightforward to fit as long as you follow the instructions. The most difficult stage is the shortening of the pipes from the levers to the brake pistons. Even this is fairly straightforward with a sharp knife. (just be careful not to operate the brake lever until you have reassembled everything). Once all the components are attached it is necessary to set up the brakes. This can be a little tricky but is not too difficult.
Then off you go (or actually stop!). The brakes are much better than cable brakes, and although not as good as disc brakes, are still extremely effective. The manual warns you that you will experience increased wear on the wheel rims, although I haven’t noticed this to be a problem (well not yet). As the pads wear down you can adjust the brakes using the thumb wheels on the levers, these move the pads inwards to reduce the amount of travel in the lever before the brakes start to operate so you can keep them feeling great without fiddling around. The brakes require much less effort to operate and are far more controllable than cable brakes. One downside is that you will get through your tyres much more quickly if you aren't careful!
As they o
perate on the rim rather than a disc you will still suffer from problems associated with mud on the rims when riding off road. However there a number of different pads available:
Black - Standard pads
Grey - Standard pads designed to work better on anodised or ceramic rims
Kool stop – Better stopping power in dry conditions.
Green Frog – Better stopping power particularly in wet conditions.
All in all a good buy, shop around and you should get them for under £100 – try www.chainreactioncycles.com and they even deliver for free!
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