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Gorilla brake booster

MSRP $ 20.00
Weight
# of Reviews 18
Average Rating 4.44/5
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Description:Gorilla brake booster



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    Submitted by jbird a from Madison, WI, USA
    Date Reviewed: February 14, 2006
    Favorite Trail:Street
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:Cambria Bicycle Outfitter
    Strengths:Light and looks cool
    Weaknesses:A little flex, not much though.
    Similar Products Used:None
    Bike Setup:Planet X Zebdi, XT V brakes, Velocity Deep V rims, yada yada...
    Bottom Line:I ride trials and can't lock my V-brakes without a booster. I may eventually switch to maguras, but in the mean time I find my XT's with a booster to be an acceptable compromise as long as I keep my rims clean. The booster definitely reduce frame flex to a minimum.

    I bought one Gorilla booster about 6 months ago and just bought another today. So I guess that says something. Price is nice, looks cool, weight is acceptable.

    I recommend this booster for anyone with V-brakes.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Martin a Cross Country Rider from SAN MARCOS, CA
    Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Ortega Trail
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:came with the bike
    Strengths:?
    Weaknesses:?, maybe weight
    Similar Products Used:none
    Bike Setup:96 Klein Attitude Comp
    Bottom Line:I just came across this section and just realized I had Gorilla boosters on my Klein years ago. It had XTR V's and let me tell you, even the avids mech disks that are on my NRS now are still no match to those brakes.
    Now I am thinking it could be because of the boosters.

    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Gordo a Weekend Warrior from Bellingham, WA
    Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
    Favorite Trail:911
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:Traded a friend
    Strengths:Strong, works well
    Weaknesses:a bit harder to disconnect brakes
    Similar Products Used:none
    Bike Setup:K2 animal, Bombers, Rinolite rims
    Bottom Line:The booster well, I have used it on both my F/s and hard tale and it has increased my braking power. In dry conditions my rear break is near disk proformance. I am sorry to hear that others have been hurt by this product. The edges on mine are smooth.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by derek a Cross Country Rider from fed way
    Date Reviewed: December 26, 2001
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Strengths:Look good, work well, light
    Weaknesses:HUGE
    Similar Products Used:none
    Bike Setup:Jamis Duarngo
    Bottom Line:It works great. I couldnt lock my brakes. Now i can. I ove theblue look. They rae just a little to bulky
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Green Iggy a Weekend Warrior from Berkeley, CA
    Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Very light and inexpensive, they work
    Weaknesses:Still allows some flex
    Similar Products Used:None
    Bottom Line:These may not be the stiffest brake boosters out there but they work. If I press very hard on the brake levers I can flex them, but this level of effort is way past lockup in real riding. My brakes are very powerful and responsive now thanks to these boosters. I am very satisfied.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Melvin Flatis a Weekend Warrior from San Francisco, CA, USA
    Date Reviewed: January 22, 2001
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:Universal Cycles
    Strengths:Very light, mongo tire clearance, the least expensive.
    Weaknesses:Very light, mongo tire clearance, the least expensive.
    Similar Products Used:DKG Strongarm
    Bike Setup:'99 Fisher Tassajara, XT V levers, Sram 9.0 brakes
    Bottom Line:You get what you pay for. These boosters DO increase braking power "noticeably." However, they are constructed of 1/8 in. THIN STAMPED ALUMINUM PLATE. I am able to pull and flex this product with my bare hands. My rear stays still flex visibly with this product. The problem: 1/8 in. THIN STAMPED ALUMINUM PLATE is not very rigid. These things probably weigh (w/o mounting hardware) about 30 grams, compared to 60 to 80 grams for other models. Also, the mongo tire clearance is detrimental to rigidity. This product should have less tire clearance, i.e, be physically smaller, and be thicker. AND, YES, you can shave your face with these things. You WILL have to file the edge off, unless you like riding with exposed razor edges on your bicycle.

    On a side note, if you are considering the DKG boosters because of their nifty mode of mounting which uses eccentric cams that cannot slip, don't worry. These boosters, which use only the mounting bolt friction to secure them, do not slip.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: I wish I had gotten some heavier brake boosters, such as AC, or even the TekTro. If I had seen this product in person before I bought it, I wouldn't have bought it. It's a wimpy "booster."
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Mike a Weekend Warrior from Knoxville, TN
    Date Reviewed: December 3, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Beech mtn ?
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:lbs
    Strengths:it works
    Weaknesses:they are ALL to expensive-except the "Trace"booster ?$20 & up seems expensive for these things!
    Similar Products Used:n/a
    Bike Setup:Azonic DS1 /Manitiou Spyder 3" /Rhino front wheel/Azonic 1.5" risers/Marin 6061 32r cranks/>A/C upper guide >dcs tensioner /Deore v-brakes /XT shifter,r der./platforms /
    Bottom Line:yeah- round off the sharp edge .nice look & function .it works .v-brakes with this work killer.everyone should use booster's!
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by lyle a Cross Country Rider from vancouver
    Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:cambria
    Strengths:light, cheap, does what it's designed to do
    Weaknesses:like the man says - the edges are sharp
    Similar Products Used:none
    Bike Setup:2 wheels 1saddle etc...o yea, it's a cro-moly frame hence the need for some help with the rear brakes.
    Bottom Line:i had some spongyness (if that's a word) with my lx-v rear brakes. put this little guy on and it's all good, but i think that there is some merit to the idea that the booster did cut the guy's leg, 'cos it is pretty sharp. so if you buy one you may want to dull the edges a little with some emery cloth or a file.

    i give it 5 leprechaun bonfires for value because how can you beat 15 bucks, and 4 overall due to the ginsu knife aspect.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Dave a Cross Country Rider from Washington
    Date Reviewed: October 16, 2000
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Durability, cost, clean looks.
    Similar Products Used:Most -- I've been riding for 18 years
    Bike Setup:GTs -- STS 1000, Zaskar
    Bottom Line:I feel sorry for the fellow below that cut his leg in a crash. I would not bet that the brake booster was the culprit(sp?). I have used these boosters on many bikes, over many years through numerous accidental dismounts of all sorts - have experienced no personal damage directly attributable to the boosters - and have otherwise found them to be a reliable and solid to superior performing product. If you are looking for boosters - don't get caught up in the "high price hype" of others, buy these -- but for one review this product would be at a 4.9 or thereabouts -- what does that tell you.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Alex Long a from Missoula
    Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Snowbowl Lookout
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Strengths:cheap
    Weaknesses:Weak, did hardly anything to prevent frame flex. Main problem however, is how sharp the frickin thing was straight from the shelf. Took a spill off the back of my bike and sliced my leg open as I was sliding off. Took 8 stitches to get the skin back in place. Crappy product and at the same time very, very dangerous.
    Bike Setup:heckler X
    Bottom Line:Don't support a company that doesn't take the time and is to cheap to make sure their product isn't as sharp as a razor blade! Not to mention the piece of crap didn't really increase braking power or reduce frame flex noticeably. I would give the product no chili if possible.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Jay a Weekend Warrior from Pennsylvania
    Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000
    Favorite Trail:American Standard
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $16.00
    Purchased At:BMS
    Strengths:Everything
    Weaknesses:NONE YET!!
    Similar Products Used:Salsa
    Bike Setup:Cannondale CAD3 frame build up, mavic rims, mixture of Xt and XTR components, all the goodies
    Bottom Line:Gorilla boosters are very good for the money, they work well in all aspects and get the job done cheap...so get out there and buy one for your ride!
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Alfonso a Cross Country Rider from Oakland, CA USA
    Date Reviewed: July 13, 2000
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Strengths:Lightweight, inexpensive and sharp looks
    Weaknesses:absolutely none!
    Similar Products Used:Salsa
    Bike Setup:Specialized A1 custom hardtail
    Bottom Line:The bottom line is GET IT. No matter how good a frame you've got, your rear brake AND seat stay could use some help from this simple, yet awesome addition.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Gak Low a Cross Country Rider from Sunnyvale
    Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Saratoga Gap
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Simple and it works, Light
    Weaknesses:None
    Similar Products Used:None
    Bike Setup:Marin Rift Zone, SX-R,
    Bottom Line:Help tame the major rear triangle flex in the Rift Zone. Works well. Paid $18
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Von a Cross-Country Rider from Philomath, Oregon
    Date Reviewed: July 29, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    North Ridge
    Duration Product Used:
    3 months
    Strengths:
    Cheap, Nice Looking
    Weaknesses:
    None
    Similar Products Used:
    Home made stuff
    Bike Setup:
    Relaigh MT-200 w/MACH 5
    SX & KWE suspension seat post
    Bottom Line:Easy instructions for the do-it at home type. Blends in well with all colors. And huge difference in my braking power stopping my 235 pound clydesdale size frame.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Bill a Cross-Country Rider from Danvers MA
    Date Reviewed: June 24, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Lynn Woods
    Duration Product Used:
    6 months
    Strengths:
    No more frame flex!
    Good price-$20.00
    Weaknesses:
    None
    Similar Products Used:
    Tektro Beefer
    Bike Setup:
    Schwinn HomeGrown
    Bottom Line:This is the best booster for the money, at 20 bucks you can't beat it.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Rammhoff a Weekend Warrior from Germany
    Date Reviewed: June 18, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Lago di garda
    Duration Product Used:
    more than 3 years
    Strengths:
    -5 years old and still kickin
    -old-school-looking
    -cheap
    Weaknesses:
    uhm..
    Similar Products Used:
    AC, WTHC
    Bike Setup:
    Zaskar, Manitou X-Vert, WTHC- Rockring, Proshift V-brake front Trailborn-brake rear machine-tech-no-V-brake-levers
    Bottom Line:I use them front and back and they never disappointed me. They increase breaking performance dramatically especially while using V-brakes and no-V-brake levers!
    The bulky design rules!
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Mikko Mellin a Weekend Warrior from Finland
    Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    more than 3 years
    Strengths:
    Good look,cheap...
    Weaknesses:
    none in THREE years
    Bike Setup:
    Dacon frame,Marzocchi DH3 fork.
    Bottom Line:I`ve been using this booster for three years now
    and there really isn`t notting more to say than this booster is good and eliminates the frame/fork flex if there even is it,enough good for me!!!And it was affordable enough to me to buy it,so i bought it and im very happy!
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Weird Beard a Weekend Warrior from Smalltown, PA
    Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    my girlfriends happy trail
    Duration Product Used:
    less than 1 month
    Strengths:
    low price, basic looks, really take the edge off my Maguras
    Weaknesses:
    not a big enough name for some(posers), looks too basic for others(bigger posers)
    Similar Products Used:
    none
    Bike Setup:
    '96 Specialized StumpJumper A1 with '98 Manitou SX-R, and '98 Gary Fisher Kai-Tai with Judy XC'98. both using Magura Raceline D
    Bottom Line:very good product for the price. after a broken mount on the old Judy C's, i decided to fork out some money for a pair of boosters. believe me, if you are using any kind of Hydraulic brakes aside from discs, GET BOOSTERS! even if your fork and/or seat stays arent flexing that much, they are still flexing. big improvement over stock without boosters. anyway, to me, a booster is a booster. who cares if its Carbon Fiber, Aluminum, or Steel. they all do the same job, some a little better than others, but the key is that they are all good at what they do.
    thats the bottom line
    Overall Rating:5






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