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Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Weaknesses: | This is strictly a vanity complaint but they are a bit of an eye sore. Functionally, however, they're the shiz! | | Bottom Line: | These things rock if you're using V-Brakes. My hardtail C'dale was experiencing some serious flex on the seat stays each time I hit the rear brakes. After the boosters were installed, my braking ability was VASTLY improved. And the flexing was all but eliminated. I'm a 170lb rider and an admitted weight-weinie, so installing disc brakes on either of my MTBs is out of the question. But if you're looking to add breaking power, I highly recommend these boosters. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan F.
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, TEXAS USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere that has dirt! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay.com | | Strengths: | Works great to minimize the flex on my seat stays when applying my V-brakes (XT). | | Weaknesses: | NONE! | | Similar Products Used: | NONE! | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Litespeed Tsali-XT Group,Titec 118 Ti Handlebar,Frogs,Judy SID,KING Ti bottle cage,Salsa Brake Brace&Syncros Ti post. WT approx. 23 pounds ;) | | Bottom Line: | As many people know, titanium is flexible, but hard to break. But with this flexibility, it makes braking harder, but not allowing enough force to clamp down onto the rim. The Brake brace re-enforces the brakes to help bring my ride to a stop. I would recommend this to any one that still uses V-brakes and even more so for the Ti riders out there.
It is one of the best piece of equipment that I purchased in a long time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland Oooooooohio
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | its strength | | Weaknesses: | makes the brakes really hard to work on and I can't take my rear tire off easily | | Bottom Line: | Makes a good thing even better. Light, cool looking, and improves braking power. No flex whatsoever | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountains of TN
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | They work, completely eliminated the flex I was experiencing, improve braking power | | Weaknesses: | make it hard to get my big fingers in there to adjust stuff on the brakes | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Corsair, RS Duke SL, LX v-brakes | | Bottom Line: | Well, bought the front one because my front brake was squealing on me, and I obviously wanted to stop that (was due to flex in the fork), and then I was toying around with my bike, and noticed that the rear end was flexing more than a Mr. Universe contestant. Well, I quickly contacted Universal cycles and got them to add another one onto my order, and what can I say, they work, they do what they are supposed to do, they increase braking power, stop frame flex, and aren't too heavy. Warning to people w/ fat fingers, it makes adjustments a little bit more difficult, but it is worth the trouble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnny Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from kaneohe, HI
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | AEbike.com | | Strengths: | **THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE CARBON VERSION**
I bought it at a great price, MSRP is 55 buckarooskies.
The carbon looks way cool plus is lighter than the Al version. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | never had to use before | | Bike Setup: | Surly Karate Monkey, Salsa rims, Avids SD7, Thomson post, Truvativ 180mm SS Crank, Surly rigid fork, WTB stealth pedals, easton stem | | Bottom Line: | After a few weeks my rear brake became mushy and squeeled like a banshee. i tued everything inaginable, cable reroute, cleaning rim, new pads and none of that worked. finally i bought the Salsa Arch-de-treoomph. what a difference. the first ride out the squeeling was gone like as uncle bob at the family reunion. As far as power woo-doggy! now it truly is a single digit brake. the feel of it is incredible. i would highly reccomend. this products endurance has yet to be seen, however none of its reviews suggeast that it will fail anytime soon. so no worries.
i give it 4 for value b/c i got it cheap, but you might not. and five overall b/c of its looks, weight and working as advertised. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Grande Cache, AB
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeroom.com | | Strengths: | Looks sweet
Does the job
No cutouts (easy to clean) | | Weaknesses: | Paint durability? | | Similar Products Used: | Tecktro | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Pantera | | Bottom Line: | I decided to run a rear v-brake on my new Pantera frame, and to my dismay, the beefy stays visibly flexed with healthy applications of brake lever. I needed a booster that complemented the looks of the frame - the black Salsa was perfect.
It's pretty hard to make a bad brake booster - it's probably the least tecnologically complex part on the bike. The Salsa's solid, wafer-thin design works, and is much easier to clean than the thicker, cut-out Tektro I use on another bike. The price was totally reasonable, too. Recommmended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gera brian
a Cross Country Rider
from naga, cebu, philippines
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | which one? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | sleek and slim design, light, stiff and sexy too! | | Weaknesses: | product is light but the hardware is a bit heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | tektro brake boosters | | Bike Setup: | gt zaskar, LX/XT gruppo, FireXC, Manitou Six fork | | Bottom Line: | this product is great! no more frame flex and my brakes stops better now. im giving it 4 flamin' chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark A. Lohnes
a Cross Country Rider
from Skagway, Alaska
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | West Creek Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Stiff, curvy looks, Carbon | | Weaknesses: | While the brace itself is light, the hardware is heavy.
| | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel w/full XTR, Chris King, Titec, Syncros, Mavic | | Bottom Line: | These braces really help the rear end...now the modulation is much crisper and the power is more than up to the task. On the front, the brace tightened up the fork flex and while the modualtion increse was not as pronounced as the rear, the stopping power definitely was. All in all a worth while upgrade that gives me more confidence and control. Combined with XTR levers and v brakes, I can stop as nearly as well as my friends with disc's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom C.
a Racer
from Pleasant Hill, CA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Super stiff!!! Sharp-looking!!! Priced rite!!! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7300 w much upgraded gear. XTR brakes, XT F/R derailleurs, LX Octalink crank etc!!! | | Bottom Line: | I bought this booster to stop the #@$%&*$#@ squealing of my XT brakes. It is the only thing that worked!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MIKE NONCHEN
a Cross Country Rider
from pickering ont ca
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 3 rox | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | bay cycle sports | | Strengths: | works well, eliminates flex and brake squeel. | | Weaknesses: | heavy, ugly | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 02 raleigh tarantula | | Bottom Line: | very good product, my seatstays used to flex at least 3/4 of an inch on my el cheapo allu frame. Now my bike stops better that my friends ride that sports speed dial 7's
A MUST BUY!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kamaaina
a Weekend Warrior
from Oahu, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeFactory in Honolulu | | Strengths: | Super stiff construction. Slim design. Wouldn't say that it's the best looking booster but "form-follows-function". Good hardware with different thickness spacers to adjust clearances for different brake calipers. | | Weaknesses: | None so far except did they have to make the "SALSA" emblem so big? I will definetly scrape off the SALSA word and the two "pickles"......will look a lot cleaner without them. | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar "CarbonFiber" booster......(ha! ha!.....I think these were made by the same people that make JELLO). | | Bike Setup: | Shinamo XT parallel-push brakes, RockShox Judy fork. | | Bottom Line: | These boosters really stiffen-up the frame and fork. It still flexes a little when you grab the brake levers hard but by then you'd be skidding anyway. More of a value than buying the Shimano carbon booster which is twice the price of a Salsa. Brake system feels a lot more solid; cables don't feel like rubber-bands anymore. 5 flaming pickles for these boosters....they get the job done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jaxx
a Racer
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the one in the mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | jesonson | | Strengths: | stops frame flex,i now have a rear brake! | | Weaknesses: | dont let anyone tell you it looks cool. this is the one thing i hate on my bike it covers my beautiful xt brakes, looks sooooo cheasy, but it works | | Similar Products Used: | first brake booster | | Bike Setup: | giant atx88o | | Bottom Line: | this thing works,pitty its sooooo frickin ugly | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from The Mountains of Tennessee
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | which one, it is hard to narrow it down | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Imediate difference is noted, pumps up the braking power of any brakes | | Weaknesses: | Kind of makes it difficult to access the noodle on end of the brake cabel housing and to manuever it(especially if you have fat fingers like mine | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Corsair, XT/LX, Duke SL | | Bottom Line: | I bought these for both the front and rear as I noticed squealing from both my front a rear brakes. Being that my bike is Ti this came as no surprise for the rear, but I figured the Duke, which is just now one year old would hold up better. Oh well, I now have the Salsa boosters on and have noticed a significant difference. I have left many a skid marks in the sharp corners of downhills as I have gone bombing down them. Not that I intended to do so, but momentum and inertia of a guy my size is a powerful thing to overcome, and these brakes do wonderfully to do so. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kai Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Root trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Works perfectly as advertised.
Noticeably eliminates all flex from braking | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude. Avid SD7 V-brakes with Shimano XT levers. | | Bottom Line: | You wouldn't think that the fat seatstays on the Klein Attitude would be flexing and robbing you of braking power, but they were. I threw this bad boy on the rear v brake and instantly all squeal disappeared and the brakes took on a noticeably firm, direct feel. These do the job intended and do it well. I shoulda got one for the front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bubba
a Weekend Warrior
from Valpo
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Westville | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | beyond bikes | | Strengths: | Does what it's spose to | | Weaknesses: | Should have got one for the front, too | | Similar Products Used: | an allen wrench to tighten the brakes | | Bike Setup: | Old steel hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Back brakes used to feel kind of mushy (Cane Creek with Avid Levers) because they were so strong the frame flexed. They feel really smooth now. A little heavy, but it works and was easy to install. I only paid $20 for mine, so I don't have the usual gripe about price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | SJR | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclopath | | Strengths: | Eliminated frame flex. Improved braking. Carbon weave looks sharp. Light weight. | | Weaknesses: | Price. $40 seems steep for such a simple product. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | VooDoo Bizango, XT Build kit, SXR Fork. | | Bottom Line: | My rear brake was non existent until I bought this. I had never owned a steel frame, and had no idea that linear pull brakes could flex the frame so much. Now I cannot visually detect any flex and the rear brake is 100% stronger. Previously, so much of my braking came from the front that my rim would heat up to the point that the tire bead would slip and break my valve stem practically every ride! I cannot imagine why a bike company would put v-brakes on a steel frame and not provide a brake booster. This product has given new life to my ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a
from Santa Fe, NM USA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | South Boundary | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Paul's Bicycle Way of Life | | Strengths: | Strong, sharp looking, pretty good finish so far | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy and pricey for what it is | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Team Marin, XT, Raceface, Time, SX-r | | Bottom Line: | This is a good product if it is what you really need. I have not noticed enough of a difference to offset the cost, but maybe that's just because my frame is kick-ass and doesn't bend . See if you can borrow one first before purchasing it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Califa del Sur
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The long and winding kind | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Works as advertised - reduces frame flex. Aluminum inserts in carbon booster are clever and should extend the life considerably. Looks kinda space-age and spiffy, for whatever that's worth. | | Weaknesses: | None noted so far... | | Similar Products Used: | First experience with a brake booster... | | Bike Setup: | RM Blizzard, XT brakes/shifters/drivetrain, Thomson stem, King headset, RaceFace ISIS Turbine crankset/BB, Salsa post, WTB saddle, Salsa booster, WTB Laser XC wheelset | | Bottom Line: | NOTE: This review is for the Salsa Carbon Arc...
The product works as advertised - there is a noticeable reduction in frame flex with the booster attached. Didn't really notice a change in braking power, but then again I'm not exactly bombing down ski runs or hucking off scarps either. I think this is a good add-on for anyone on a steel-frame bike for reducing the flex in the rear triangle.
Hmmm...since this increases the power of V-brakes, I wonder if it will shorten the life of my rims...?
The aluminum inserts are a clever idea - the wrench at my shop noted that his Shimano carbon boosters had a tendency to crack that my Salsa booster should avoid. Time will tell.
Bottom line: If your frame flexes due to your linear-pull brakes, buy one.
Five sizzlers jalpeno poppers for living up to its billing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | town and country cyclrey | | Strengths: | it's nice lookin....thats about it.. | | Weaknesses: | doesn't really work...or does it?? i couldn't tell | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Kona race lite | | Bottom Line: | if ya wanna spend between 20 to 35 bucks on something..buy this. Otherwise buy some Ride-on cables.. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Poison Spider Bike Shop, Moab, UT | | Strengths: | does it's job, good looks as always with a product from Salsa | | Weaknesses: | pricey | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Carbon Fiber booster | | Bike Setup: | Specialized HT, RockShox SID XL, XT drivetrain, Kore Elite stem, Syncros post, Easton Scandium DH bar, Cane Creek S5 headset, Mavic X517/XT wheelset, Tioga Factory DH 2.1s | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this booster in Moab after a day of putting up with brake squeal on the Slickrock. It eliminated frame flex on my aluminum frame and stopped the brake squeal. It's good lookin and not as industrial as the Shimano product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sterling
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Moraine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA.com | | Strengths: | Cheap and solid | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F500 | | Bottom Line: | Seatstays used to flex greatly until this was installed. Allows better power transfer to the rim. If you're in need of a little extra braking power this will do the trick. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rider-H
a Weekend Warrior
from H-town, Texas
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Strengths: | Sturdy
Does its job
Easy installation
Quality hardware | | Weaknesses: | Dorky sticker | | Bike Setup: | Super secret bike setup that cannot be talked about | | Bottom Line: | No more brake squeal. I really can't feel the difference in flex. I guess it's doing what it is supposed to be doing.
If you are looking for inexpensive boosters, give these a try.
5 burning Habernero peppers for stopping the brake noises. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Grimes
a Cross Country Rider
from Thurmont, MD USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | stong, looks good, works well | | Weaknesses: | price is a bit high, but hey, what the market will bear... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | mesa le | | Bottom Line: | before installing teh booster, you could see the seatstays flex almost an inch without supertorqing the lever, braking was iffy at best that way. Put the booster on, compliments the looks of the rig, and lo and behold, almost no frame flex, and the stopping power is incredible as compared to before. Honestly, even if you can't see flex at your stays, and don't mind the little more weight, run em on whatever you got, ass long as it's v brakes, it will make em work better, getting a set for my specialized rockhopper pro, can't see flex, but know it's there, that and I am planning on going to xtr v's, so mas more power over avid 10's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SingleSpeedy
a
from Canal Fulton, Ohio
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | VULTURE'S KNOB !!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Works nicely and looks OK too. | | Weaknesses: | Price. Heck, the metal probably only cost as much as the stupid sticker did, so how they can sleep at night after gouging folks like this I DON'T KNOW. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing. I liked the Salsa so I blew my allowance on it. | | Bike Setup: | Well, all you really need to know is I have a Homegrown with XTR brakes and boy did my seatstays flex! | | Bottom Line: | My seatstays BARELY flex now, so this thing works VERY well but happens to be overpriced by about $15 or more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Emil
a Racer
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Works. | | Weaknesses: | Price! | | Similar Products Used: | none. | | Bike Setup: | Marin Eldrige grade, stiff fork. XT/XTR V Brakes | | Bottom Line: | Hmmm, let's see Marin kindly triple butted my fork, so it's very supple. Now I'll just mount these V-brakes, and watch the fork FLEX!
Waited too long before buying these boosters (like 2 years!) which don't elimnate flex, but certainly bring it to a minimum.
The FEEL is fantastic, still the blue Ritchey pads are slow to get a grip, but always pull through in an emergency. Saved my bacon, so Salsa gets five little steamy piglets: | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from virginia
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | strong | | Weaknesses: | Way overpriced
Bulky
Made overseas
Cheesy decal
Heavy (relatively speaking) | | Similar Products Used: | AC brake booster | | Bike Setup: | '99 Fisher Kaitai, RF Turbine cranks, Time ATAC Alium pedals, Bontrager Comp seatpost and Race bar ends, Terry Mens Liberator saddle, Icon Durante stem, Avid AR50s with 2.0 levers, LX front derailleur, Panaracer FireXC tires, RF Tapor-lock BB | | Bottom Line: | Works well for both braking and reducing flex; but so do many other, less expensive boosters (like the AC). I couldn't justify blowing $32 for 3-beer-cans worth of aluminum made overseas (the profit margin on this bad boy must be about $31.75 . . . thanks Salsa, nice totally unnecessary rip-off). The logo isn't even laser-etched; it's a cheesy sticker. Do yourself a favor and grab an AC booster; it's cheaper, lighter, works as well, looks better, and is made in the States (as opposed to a country where human rights are unheard of). It gets an overall 2 hot mamas 'cause it does work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | strong, comes in black, good mounting system, effective, keeps mud off my rear brake | | Weaknesses: | a little pricey, a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Odyssey ti booster | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Lucky Strike, '99 SID XC, '99 Avid Arch Rival 50 brakes | | Bottom Line: | Really, really good product. Unlike the Odyssey booster I tried, I have never had any brake squeal while using the Salsa booster. Pretty impressive for a guy who weighs 200 lbs., huh? Apparently somebody at Airborne forgot to tell the frame designer that v-brakes cause seat stay flex, because without the booster I feel like I'm using canti's again. I doubt I will ever own another mountain bike that doesn't use Salsa's booster.
Yeah, it's a little expensive (I paid $65 for the pair), but the quality is unparalleled. Steel is truly real. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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Submitted by
KAAB
a Weekend Warrior
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$ 30.00
