Submitted by
Johnny
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
cambriabike
Strengths:
light, responsiveness, installation
Weaknesses:
still looking...
Similar Products Used:
XT, XTR
Bike Setup:
I use these with Avid Flak Jacket cables... perfect setup.
Bottom Line:
The brakes are easy to install, lighter than most others, you can get them cheap (cambriabike.com), they accent your bike nicely, etc, etc... I didn't have a problem with the edges on mine so I didn't have to do any filing. If you adjust the brakes correctly you won't miss the spring return too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mad Cyclist
a Cross Country Rider
from SW Herts, UK Date Reviewed: January 27, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Dartmoor, Morocco
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
FW Evans, London, UK
Strengths:
Eyecatching, broad lever, lightweight, easy to install (hinged clamp), good modulation (with XTRs),
Weaknesses:
That darn bolt that closes the clamp! Grr!
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR, Dia Compe PC7 EXA.
Bike Setup:
DNA Ti frame, XTR brakes, X-Lite XC handlebars, Planet X grips, XT thumbies (honest) with blue anodised mounts
Bottom Line:
This are lovely levers wich turns aficionado's heads. They look great and modulate well. OK, so thy don't have any modulation adjustment, but when was the last time you adjusted yours?! My only moan is the bolt that secures the clamp. It's at an awkward angle and it rounds of fairly easily. Apart from that, which is why I've deducted a chilli, well worth thinking about if you can get it at a knockdown price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rod Angler
a Weekend Warrior
from planet of New Orleans Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Hooper Rd
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Cambria (bought as part of set though)
Strengths:
VERY light weight. Along with Precision Billet's pads, provide very good modulation. Longer than many levers. Hinged bar clamp precludes removing grips & shifters, so super easy to install. Levers machined from aluminum blocks. Color choices (anodized). Few others own these, if you care about such things.
Weaknesses:
No spring return, relies on brake springs (but this keeps them light). This is a neutral thing for me, but some may consider a weakness. No leverage adjustment. Aluminum barrel adjuster needed to have threads chased, and was hard to rotate by hand.
Similar Products Used:
XT Levers w/ LX Brakes.
Bike Setup:
'98 K2/Proflex 4000 w/ carbon fiber swingarm. Rest irrelevant for this review.
Bottom Line:
Very simple yet elegant levers available in some good colors, anodized aluminum. Good leverage. Good modulation, but I suspect Precision Billet's pads are 70% of this, lever setup maybe 30% max. Super easy & quick to install.
Buy these if: 1. You want longer, very lightweight levers. 2. You don't need leverage adjustment. 3. You have reasonably strong brake springs and cables in good shape, and don't need return springs in levers. 4. Want better modulation (and want to move away from on/off tendencies of Shimano brakes and perhaps to a much lesser degree their levers) 5. You don't mind filing / sandpapering the machined-out rear side of the levers to eliminate very sharp edges left from maching process (these guys need to add some CNC code to radius this area). 6. Place a high premium on anodized aluminum colors and rarity.
3.5 ignited piles of roadkill, since they had sharp edges, and had no spring return and no leverage adjustment, yet excelled in numerous areas.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah Date Reviewed: September 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:
desolation lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Perhaps the best power and modulation on the market, in a package that looks sharp and is lighter than anything out there.
Weaknesses:
Finding them.
Similar Products Used:
Avid, Shimano, more Shimano, more Avid, and then a lot of miscellaneous less-memorables
Bike Setup:
2000 RM Instinct w/ Atom 80, Precision V-brakes (anodized black, real mean-looking with the polished cryofit arch-sweet!)
Bottom Line:
There are other brake levers that do alright, but I think these decisively outperform everything else in just about everything you could think is important. The only possible exception might be Avid Ultimates which currently cost three times as much and (of all things) actually weighs more. I'm far from being a weight-weeny but I appreciate a company that doesn't settle for just beating the competition in one or two things and breaking even in others. With Precision Billet you get the best of everything rather than having to settle. Even the shape is nice. If all that wasn't good enough you even get to pick the color. These levers flat out rule.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Haoming chang
a Racer
from troy mi usa Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000
Favorite Trail:
lots
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
awesome feel, super super lite, quite strong look pimp
Weaknesses:
the bolts are rather soft, the hinge clamp is flexy, the machined out lever cut me
Similar Products Used:
avid ultimate, xtr, xt
Bike Setup:
nasty fast spooky darkside
Bottom Line:
these are the best levers possible for vbrake- i run discs and magura rim brakes so i dont use them anymore- id suggest replacing all the buttonhead bolts w. regular square heads and wearing full finger gloves so u dont cut your finger on the inside of the lever when u crash- either that or dont crash- flexes when u really brake really hard, but thats when im doing trials- when u ride xc its not even an issue light as hell 114g, hinge clamp design is so useful, really awesome direct feel for your brakes, and they hadd some power too- buy them if you've got hte $$ to drop
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ace
a Racer
from Orinda, Ca Date Reviewed: November 28, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The BEST brake lever out there. Much better stopping power than Paul's and XTR. Very lightweight and smooth.
Weaknesses:
expensive $80 but worth it.
Similar Products Used:
XTR, Kooka, Real, Paul
Bottom Line:
Super braking power and smooth. Stop faster than XTR or Paul's. Very lightweight and smooth. extremely reliable
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darron
a Racer
from GA Date Reviewed: October 23, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Extremely strong braking power.
Weaknesses:
expensive $90 set
Similar Products Used:
Paul, XTR, XT, RealX, Kooka
Bike Setup:
Specialized M4 FSR Swork, Stock except for the PB brake lever and XTR crankset.
Bottom Line:
Tried and raced all the top line brake levers and we all race with Precision Billet. Why? like previous message, these the simply the BEST lever out there for the safest braking and control. Try XTR and Realx levers and then you will appreciated PB.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DrHog
a Cross-Country Rider
from Las Vegas, NV Date Reviewed: October 12, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Dry lake hills
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Lightweight, great feel, power
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
XT levers
Bike Setup:
ProFlex 857 with Crosslink, XTR brakes, Dave's wheels
Bottom Line:
I bought these levers after reading the reviews here, and the good reviews are true! I got them for $49, so press for that deal if you are catalog shopping. Installation was a snap, and they feel like they were tailor made for my SRAM shifter/XTR brake setup. I have never felt this much braking power, even with the old Maguras I used to own! These levers easily have enough power to modulate with one finger, but if you prefer to use 2, there is plenty of room on the lever. Nothing but sweet!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross-Country Rider
from Colorado Date Reviewed: September 20, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Super Light and strong Better than XTR
Weaknesses:
expensive
Similar Products Used:
XTR, XT, Real X, Paul, Azonic
Bike Setup:
Santa cruz xlight, 9sp XTR drive, XTR brakes with Precision Billet Levers, Chrisking, Superfly fork.
Bottom Line:
These levers are simply amazing. Superlight and it really ROCKS in term of stopping power. Much much better than XTR lever. Great combination with XTR brakes. Don't get me wrong, XTR levers are extreme great levers, but PB levers are the ultimate levers.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cooltop
a Cross-Country Rider
from arlington, VA Date Reviewed: June 22, 1999
I like 'em alot. have to be careful installing them so you and make sure the clamp is shut tight before turning the screw. These work much better than my XT levers did with my Non -shimno liner pull brakes. Finally, I got that feel and one finger action!!!There is little side to side play and the leaver itself seems more durable than the SRAM lever I almost bought to go with my new ESP set up. The levers fit well with the new ESP gripshifters and the anodized color is very sweet if your into that sort of thing! I have would like to have seen a better adjuster barrel but that might have increased their weight! I'll go with a very respectable 4 flamer rating because they could make a little improvement (not much) with a new version.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mousa
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: May 4, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Works better than any I've tried. Looks are cool as can be.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Paul... among others.
Bike Setup:
Boulton Jack Rabbit with a SID fork
Bottom Line:
Buy 'em, you won't regret it. They are smooth as butter.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Buddy Guy Hendrix
a Cross-Country Rider
from H.B. California Date Reviewed: April 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
The Maze at Canyonlands National Park
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Quality product(meaning it performs to it's specifications) Good to excellent modulation. Trick looking parts from the USA.
Weaknesses:
Price may be a concern to the average buyer so look for deals, Cambria has the best price I have found.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT, though I like the Precision Billet levers way more.
Bike Setup:
I ride a 97 Trek Y-5 Manitou Pro C fork(Soon to be replaced with a Precision Billet Bombshell fork or hanebrink XC (sticker)$hock.
Bottom Line:
I would recommend these for the rider looking to phase out Shimano out of the picture and upgrade at the same time.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MISANTHROPICAL
a cross-country rider
from ALASKA Date Reviewed: December 13, 1998
Bottom Line:
Not only are these ugly but they are faulty. My friend traded a set to me for a race face bb that I had layin around. The left lever snapped at the pivot point and I had to ride for 15 miles with only one brake.....fortunately for me it was the front brake lever that snapped...so I did not have to worry about going head over handle bars for using my brakes. It is a damn good thing I traded for these things....I'd never buy them they are bunk.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
engleim
a cross-country rider
from Springfield Mo. Date Reviewed: November 10, 1998
Bottom Line:
These Levers are Absolutely, and positively O.K. Not too shabby.....better than XTR better than Avid. The pivot is better than kookas which really sucks and they are stronger than kooka as well. These levers are nothing compared to Pauls or to Graftons. They are more bulky and awkward than the latter and they are not as sturdy feeling they don't have as strong as a pivot bolt as Graftons nor are they as adjustable. Also they aren't made of aircraft billet.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Roberts
a cross-country rider
from Tucson, Arizona Date Reviewed: August 4, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've been riding some fairly gnarly and Rocky terrain for a couple month's. I knew I really liked the shape and feel of the levers right away, but I didn't know how much I had grown to like them until I felt some XT Levers in comparison. Wow! Huge difference! The Proshift's have me VERY spoiled. I have them mated with a set of XT V-Brakes and they respond wondefully to differing amounts of brake pressure. They stop on a dime and they are incredibly light weight! Try 'em, you'll like 'em! These levers are worthy!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
carlo obillos
a cross-country rider
from toronto, ontario Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998
Bottom Line:
a near frictionless pivot, shapelier than your girlfriend, light as ass lint and a hinged clamp that means you don't have to remove your grips to suck on them. whee! bonus for working with canti and v brakes. no slop in the pivot. my only complaint is that they don't pull as much cable as some, so they feel a little mushy. take note: anyone who whines about this spends too much time playing with his bike in the garage, because if you feel mush while riding, you've just put yourself over the bars and broken your collarbone.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Anchorage Date Reviewed: April 19, 1998
Bottom Line:
I just bought these levers from Rick at RTR. They are awesome. They don't rattle like those trendy V-brakes, and at the same time double your braking power. Not only do they work well but they are light too! They are lighter than most of the levers you'll encounter, at a fraction of the price. Anything else could be summed up in one word. Huffy.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doc
a weekend warrior
from Anchorage, Alaska Date Reviewed: June 25, 1997
Bottom Line:
These levers and the brakes are great!. My buddy Pete and I just put a set of levers and brakes on his Specialized FSR and my Turner. I do not think you can top the price and quality of these and most of all they do not fade on long down hills and rattle like Shimanos do.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete Richards
a weekend warrior
from Anchorage, Alaska 99517 Date Reviewed: May 31, 1997
Bottom Line:
I just ordered A set of these gucci levers and brakes, and I can tell you just from my psychic ability that these beauties belong on my beast. Don't hesitate to buy these they are fabulous, as well as the front and rear derailleurs and I might also mention that I ordered these from the manufacturer and was very impressed by the personable service and the fect that I wasn't talking to a dork. So chop chop order up.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Folie-Dupart
a weekend warrior
from France Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
The new brake levers Proshift (Made from Precision) are a very good product. Pretty look (CNC), strong and very light (120g for the set). Two positions of spindel: One for V-break, one for cantilevers. With the proshift it's possible, one V-break in front and one cantilever in rear... with the same levers. The levers are very ergonomics. Good feeling !
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken Porter
a cross-country rider
from San Jose CA Date Reviewed: April 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
These levers fit perfectly and look great. The hinged mount is a great design so you don't have to take everything off of your bars to put them on! The pull is effortless, and the levers have NO friction between the lever and the pivot bolt. Great lever that works with a great brake from the same company. Highly recomended!!!
Overall Rating:
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