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Submitted by
justjoshnya
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Ozark, Missouri
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Four Winns, Lake of the Ozarks State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Oz Cycles | | Strengths: | Easy pad changing. Easy bleeding. Nice lever feel. Mad stopping power. Tough. Good modulation. Good rotors. | | Weaknesses: | weight. But hey can't beat the cheap price on these things and they are tougher than lighter weight other branded brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | avid Juicy's , maguras, hopes, mechanicals of several kinds | | Bike Setup: | 08 Trek Fuel EX 8 custom build | | Bottom Line: | THese are awesome brakes. Great stopping power and modulation. I was a bit sad to read other bad reviews on these brakes. As a professional bike mechanic, having worked on these and several other brands, I came to the conlcusion that all of the bad reviews written about these brakes came from super amature mechanics. #1- THe directions that come with the brakes are some of the best. #2- They are the easies to work on-easiest to bleed and change pads. Setup is easier because there is more space between pads for rotor. Sometimes you do have to use a disc brake mount milling tool on fork and frame however to even out the tabs, but this is the frame and fork manufacurer's fault, not Hayes. #3- noisy brakes are caused by improper adjustment or contaminated brake pads. This can happen to all brakes. Pads are contaminated by hands touching the rotor and getting skin oil on them. Also by chain lube and degreaser, soap. Road Grime from transport. Anything but water and dirt contaminate the pads. Noise can also come from improper torqued caliper and rotor bolts. Bent or warped rotors need trued or replaced to eliminate rub. If you crash(most of us do from time to time) you can bump a caliper causing need for adjustment. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jhomper
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Ranger Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Reliable. Easy to fix. Easy to bleed if you follow the instructions and have patience. | | Weaknesses: | Simple. No very adjustable. Modulation is okay. | | Similar Products Used: | Juicy 7 | | Bike Setup: | Titus Motolite. Hfx 185 in the front and 160 in back. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work well. I have used the 160mm rotors for 2+ years and then switched to 185mm in the front. They are simple to repair and replace. I have ridden them thru rain/mud, cold/snow, desert condition, etc. They can also take a beating. My old bike frame is now retired but the brakes are still in service on the Titus. They are predictable. Frequency of pad changes are usually variable. If I do lots of climbing with subsequent 2000-3000 feet descents, they will wear out faster but no more than 1 pad change a season. Pads are quiet to me after I learn the art of aligning the calipers and straightening the rotor if it gets hit. This is a great brake to get introduced into the hydraulic world. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerbil1976
a Cross Country Rider
from United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Cwmcarn | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | They do work, well kind of. They have also been relatively maintenance free (but see below). Initially, they seemed okay... | | Weaknesses: | ...but not for long. After bedding in, they may start to work, but usually not before I've overshot the mark I was aiming for. Gripping the brake level leaves me wondering just when I'm going to stop. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope C2s and Hope M4s | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rock Springs 2007 | | Bottom Line: | The low braking performance MAY be down to my weight (106kgs) and so if you're a lighter person, they MAY be good for you.
Stupidly, I sold my Hope C2s (still going strong after 6 years) to friend when I purchased the bike and has be laughing at me for the last year. The last year has been filled with incessant squealing/rubbing brakes despite shop help, lack of "belief" in the brake, and no fun.
Just bought a pair of Hope M4s. By comparison, never will I go back - I would actively consider having no brakes over these for all the good they do. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
campisi
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | All of em | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Strengths: | Great stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | Bar clamp has to be torqued like a mofo before it grabs well enough to stay put. I like to adjust mine so they rotate in a crash rather than break and these are hard to get just right. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 8"rotors front and rear. | | Bottom Line: | I like these brakes just fine. The best thing about them is that I can buy an ENTIRE side for $80! Something breaks? No problem $80 gets you a whole nother brake INCLUDING a set of pads AND a fricking rotor. Jeesus what more do you want. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tychodog
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Little RIver Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | These were stock on my Jamis XLT 1.0 and for two years they were great - smooth, powerful, quiet, great feel. | | Weaknesses: | And then....it has been hell. Front and rear pads rub. Ignore everything in the Hayes manual or any blog that offers a solution. The problem can't be fixed - the pistons don't retract properly after they've got some wear and tear on them. After endless disassembly, reassembly, banging 10 mm box end wrenches trying to get the pistons back in place, and having the rubbing appear after 30 minutes of riding, I'm trashing them - they suffer from a serious design flaw - in the long run, these things are crap. Complete crap. Once the rubbing sets in, and riding on a hot day only makes it worse, you'll be carrying the bike out. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid BB7s - great, great brakes - OK, do they feel like hydros? No, but they are RELIABLE!! | | Bike Setup: | '05 Jamis XLT 1.0 stock as a rock - but have replaced front and rear derailleurs, chain, chain rings, cassette - lots of miles and too many falls. | | Bottom Line: | Only buy them if you are going to dump the bike onto some poor sap after a year or two. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tychodog
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Little RIver Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | These were stock on my Jamis XLT 1.0 and for two years they were great - smooth, powerful, quiet, great feel. | | Weaknesses: | And then....it has been hell. Front and rear pads rub. Ignore everything in the Hayes manual or any blog that offers a solution. The problem can't be fixed - the pistons don't retract properly after they've got some wear and tear on them. After endless disassembly, reassembly, banging 10 mm box end wrenches trying to get the pistons back in place, and having the rubbing appear after 30 minutes of riding, I'm trashing them - they suffer from a serious design flaw - in the long run, these things are crap. Complete crap. Once the rubbing sets in, and riding on a hot day only makes it worse, you'll be carrying the bike out. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid BB7s - great, great brakes - OK, do they feel like hydros? No, but they are RELIABLE!! | | Bike Setup: | '05 Jamis XLT 1.0 stock as a rock - but have replaced front and rear derailleurs, chain, chain rings, cassette - lots of miles and too many falls. | | Bottom Line: | Only buy them if you are going to dump the bike onto some poor sap after a year or two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kenny-------------
a Downhiller
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | price point - where | | Strengths: | -if there were any strengths then I wouldn't be writing this review | | Weaknesses: | -lever is weak and eventually snaps
-the internals i.e. the retaining clips and rings inside the lever body form a piece of abstract art when the portion of the lever that is inside the lever body seperates from the actual lever housing and when you go to squeeze the brakes the insides become all mashed leaving you high and dry on the trails.....
-squeal like there is no tommorow
-cheaply constructed (looks like the paint and logo was applied with a brush)
-break at the worst possible time
-hard to find replacement parts for the internals
-no modulation what so ever
-shall I go on.........
| | Similar Products Used: | not hayes nine that's for sure | | Bike Setup: | 2005 shore, avid code, totem solo air, mag 30's, ck hubs | | Bottom Line: | do not under any circumstance by this brake, the brake itself is good at breaking but not the type of braking you want. Don't let some bike shop sales man sucker you into buying this save your money and buy some avid juicy's. This is about the cheapest brake you can buy from hayes other than their mechanical line so don't expect much in the way of performance from these brakes. Bottom line if you had to chose between using hayes nine's and your feet, you'd be better off braking with your feet...I'd give it a lower rating but the lowest I can go is ONE FLAMIN' CHILI! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kingjonny13
a Cross Country Rider
from tonbridge, kent ,england
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Very good power, look great | | Weaknesses: | do require a bit of mantainance. and have to be setup well | | Bike Setup: | claud butler cape wrath frame.
shimano deore chain set
rockshock forks
Hayes nine xc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes !!!!! a good match for avid juicy 3s | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
epxhammerhead
a Cross Country Rider
from watkinsville, ga
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | ft yargo, winder, ga | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | don't ever buy from | | Strengths: | provide braking | | Weaknesses: | rear brake has HOWLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and has from day one.
embarrasing to ride with others, scares the wildlife. | | Similar Products Used: | xtr v brakes | | Bike Setup: | niner emd9 | | Bottom Line: | suck!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rodolfo pereira
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | I would say price is probably the biggest strenght. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough power and heats up too easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Sole, AVid juicy seven | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper, Shimano XTR and XT | | Bottom Line: | I would't buy them again. Not good enough for big and long hills.
It get hot too quickly and braking becomes a challenge. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Racer
from san diego
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | they work (sort of) | | Weaknesses: | hooks up too far down, heavy, clamp gouges carbon bars, not great power or modulation, constant dragging | | Similar Products Used: | hope mono mini pro | | Bottom Line: | I am a bit picky with bike parts so if you don't care about weight, and are looking at a decent break for cheep will work. They can chirp a bit with the stock pads however the EBC Reds seem to help the power, control, and noise. If you are looking for a deal on them beyond has the 10th anniversary edition for $80 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joseph warren
a
from cherry valley
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | bogart park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | fade, leaking compleatly going out not staying aligned and neading bleading monthly | | Similar Products Used: | avid 3 | | Bike Setup: | fox shox jamis xt components | | Bottom Line: | if you are a rider that has money to pay for line and bleeding every month go ahead. but you just want to ride and not try to keep these things working dont get em | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with my kona | | Strengths: | Very solid feel while breaking, great modulation. | | Weaknesses: | rubs if not setup properly | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kona cinder cone | | Bottom Line: | These breaks have a very good feel over V-breaks and mechanical disk breaks, they have a much more direct and solid feel while breaking during all conditions. I trust them on the steepest descents.
I had the usual problem of the rubbing from time to time after riding, I would simply adjust the caliper so that they would not rub and then they where fine for a month or two.
I feel this is a good entry level system for someone wanting to upgrade to hydraulic disks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Swisgar Swiggle
a Cross Country Rider
from Mordhaus, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | De breaks is the Greatests! I likes the semi-metalic compuonds cuse they are mostly-metal. | | Weaknesses: | I have to be carefuls sos I donts crush them. I have extremelys strong popeye arms! | | Bottom Line: | I had some problems with a sweaking sounds. Keeps the round turney things kleean and you wont have no problems. Sometimes a calipoer cups can get stickys, and wont gos back all the ways. Cleans them and lubes its with brake fluids, but donts get any on the pads or you will suffer from brutal crashings! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john rynders
a Cross Country Rider
from rochester ny usa
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | F.L.T. Mt.Morris | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came on my bike | | Strengths: | Strong, easily modulated, very little fade even on loooong downhills.Pad changes are very easy as is allignment once you figure out how the mounts work. | | Weaknesses: | pads wear out fast,especially when riding in wet conditions. Ive been through about 6 sets. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid mechs. (also great product) | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575, Bontrager wheelset, truvative cranks, XTR transmission, egg beaters. | | Bottom Line: | I dont normally submit reviews but after reading all the negatives I felt compelled to put in my 2 cents. I love these brakes. I ride ALOT and never have been let down by the Hayes 9s that came on my yeti. As far as pad rub noises go, I havent noticed it any more than with the avid mechs on my Rocky Mountain. Caliper alignment is a snap. Just loosen the calipers grab a handfull of brake then tighten the calipers while still squeezing the lever. Works every time for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan
a Cross Country Rider
from quincy, ca
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | hole in the ground | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | haven't failed yet | | Weaknesses: | pad rub | | Similar Products Used: | avid mechanicals | | Bike Setup: | Giant trance 2 | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are maintenance hogs, the pads are too close to the rotor and alignment is too critical. All disk brake rotors warp to some degree and there is nothing you can do about it except use headphones or get v- brakes. Dont spend too much time obsessing about it. Go for a ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny Balli
a Cross Country Rider
from Seabrook TX USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | dannybal@msn.com | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bay Area Cycles | | Strengths: | They modulate great | | Weaknesses: | The dreaded pad rub. I have tried everything to center the calliper and have even taken it to the shop twice. These brakes are crap!!! | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 2 | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy these brakes. Everyone I know that has owned them has had similar problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Excellent stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Unreliable | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC2 | | Bottom Line: | These brakes have excellent stopping power but are horribly unreliable. I have had one problem after another with them. I have taken them to three different bike shops and none of them have been able to make them run without the pad rubbing on the rotor. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve h
a Weekend Warrior
from courtice
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | dont know name | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | love them godd power good modulation and they look awsome | | Weaknesses: | sqeeks a lot in the front brake but no other problems so far | | Similar Products Used: | first set of disk brakes | | Bike Setup: | stock 07 kona stuff [dark green almost black | | Bottom Line: | great brakes look great black lever [sick!!]
i really like how when u let go of the levers they pop back really quickly and dont stick. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin
a Weekend Warrior
from Marin, California
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Loma Alta | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | at least they work, sometimes... | | Weaknesses: | Really hard to align, very bad power and feathering, they break really easily, they are worse than my friends v-brakes, even in the mud! | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6700 (05') | | Bottom Line: | Ever since i got this bike 2 years ago, after numerous tries, my my LBS and myself, i haven't been able to align them. my LBS said my rotor was bent. they bent it back straight. and now, my rear rotor comes off like halfway through every ride, so i got to get off my bike, hike up(or down) the trail, get my rotor, collect all the screws, and then spend 15 minutes putting it back together, aligning it and cleaning it! Now, my LBS says that one of my Pistons ruptured, and that its been like that probably when they got the new bike, with them on them. Don't buy these brakes!!! treat yourself to some Shimanos, or Avids!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matta
a
from cambridge ontario canada
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | taylor fuels | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | bike store | | Strengths: | great stopping power, looks cool with the v8 rotors, easy pad change | | Weaknesses: | if not set up properly they suck, always pad rub on the rotor, drives you crazy | | Similar Products Used: | first hydro | | Bike Setup: | stp2, s-type, argyle 318, husselfelts, ss kit | | Bottom Line: | nice brakes for the price, get them professionly set up and theyll run smooth like butter | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matta
a
from cambridge ontario canada
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | taylor fuels | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | bike store | | Strengths: | great stopping power, looks cool with the v8 rotors, easy pad change | | Weaknesses: | if not set up properly they suck, always pad rub on the rotor, drives you crazy | | Similar Products Used: | first hydro | | Bike Setup: | stp2, s-type, argyle 318, husselfelts, ss kit | | Bottom Line: | nice brakes for the price, get them professionly set up and theyll run smooth like butter | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Simi Valley Ca
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Compatible with shimano lx shifter levers and good stopping power. Bought the front and rear set with 8" rotors and it feels great. | | Weaknesses: | The set didn't come with the post mount that I needed to attach it to my manitou fork | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | raliegh xt 3500 | | Bottom Line: | A great set of breaks for a good price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dalton Pike
a Weekend Warrior
from australia
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | flying high | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stock on 07 kona stuff | | Strengths: |
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$ 149.00
