Submitted by
Langdog
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville, TN Date Reviewed: July 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Haw Ridge Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Caney Fork Cycles
Strengths:
Anti-compression housing and teflon coating combined make a very smooth cable.
Weaknesses:
Makes your friends feel bad about their crappy cables. :(
A little expensive?
Similar Products Used:
OEM's on other bikes, my Spesh came with these, but I replaced them when swapping from rim to mech discs
Bike Setup:
'05 Specialized Stumpjumper Hardtail with Avid BB7's
Bottom Line:
These cables are the smoothest I've tried. Compared to my friends mech disc cables, these react much quicker on the return and give you great feel. I've experienced very little or no stretch in the six months I've had them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frs1661
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$23.00
Purchased At:
blueskycyling
Strengths:
Attractive housing.
Weaknesses:
Lacked enough ferrules to do my bike. What are these POP ferrules? There's no instructions or explanation.
Bike Setup:
Avid BB7, SD levers
Bottom Line:
Wish they had given me enough ferrules to finish the job. I'd recommend you run full length housing, both for the increase in braking power and then you won't need extra ferrules. Braking power with these and the BB7's is excellent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Antonio
a
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Universalcycles
Strengths:
Very close to zero compression, buttery smooth, nice looking, relatively inexpensive for what they are.
Weaknesses:
No instructions for installation. I was left wondering whether to put the POP ferrule on the lever or on the caliper. After searching on the web, it looks like it is supposed to go on the caliper.
Similar Products Used:
Generic stuff (lots and lots of compression, much more drag)
Bike Setup:
Trek 8000 with lots of goodies.
Bottom Line:
Although I liked the simplicity of mechanical disc brakes (BB7), I was not very happy with the braking power. When I pressed the lever up to a certain point, everything was fine, but on hard braking, the generic housing start to compress and I got very little additional braking power. I entertained the idea of switching to hydros because of that. Fortunately (price of the hydros?) I decided to give a chance to the mechs and bought the Ripcords. That proved to be a very good decision. It makes a night and day difference. Virtually no compression (it still compresses just a tiny little bit) and lots of braking power I never dreamed of. Also, the action is buttery smooth. I don't know what was wrong with the previous reviewer, but something doesn't sound right. Defective product? I bet it was user error.
I don't know how long these cables and housing will hold. But even if I had to change them every year (which I highly doubt), it would be well worth over generic cables. Other compressionless cables kits may be more durable (I don't know), but I can't see how they can be better than these when new.
I'm going to knock 1 chili for the lack of instructions ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007
I've used several differnt cable systems over the years, but I've never had a brake cable set-up cause so much drag. The rear brake felt awful. I switched back to the Avid Flack Jacket and that cured the drag problem. These cables are middle of the road at best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashburn, VA USA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
wherever...
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
I don't remember anymore.
Strengths:
They lasted a long time and they never gave me any trouble.
Weaknesses:
None, really.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Pro-Flex 756, Manitou Black fork, Noleen NR-2 shock, Mavic rims, Shimano hubs, Michelin Jet tires, Shimano cassette, SRAM chain, SRAM shifters, Shimano derailleurs, Selle San Marco saddle, Easton carbon bars/seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I can't really find anything to complain about with these cables. I changed them a couple of weeks ago because I got a new fork with longer travel and my front brake cable wasn't long enough. In all honesty, I probably could have just kept using the rear brake cable, though it was starting to get stiff from age. Other than normal wear and tear, these cables never gave me any problems. If I hadn't gotten tired of the "bulletproof Kevlar" gimmick, I probably would have bought another set.
5 chilis for value, 4 chilis overall because they did eventually start to wear out. (5 is reserved for perfection.)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Glendale, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 6, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Red Box
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Local Shop
Strengths:
Lots! Zero compression in the line. It's wrapped in Kevlar, so I'm now bullet-proof. The ferrules look great. The color/finish of the housing is really cool. Teflon coated wires!
Weaknesses:
None really. Just be sure not to cut your peices to long.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Flak Jacket
Bike Setup:
SRAM X.9/X.0 Drivetrain
Bottom Line:
I run Avid mechanicals and could never get them to give me the power I wanted. I asked my local wrench if there was anything short if hydraulics I could do to improve the power and feel. He told me that he was turned onto these housings at Sea Otter and that for the money there was nothing better on the market. So, he ordered me a kit from QBP. Man, what a difference! I felt like Kirk asking Scottie for more power and man did he ever deliver! No more mushy feel in the lever and I swear the brakes are nearly as strong as any hydraulic system I've used. And this system is a lot lighter and much less expensive than the Nokon system I was also considering. If you want more power in your brakes, buy this system. It works!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mikey
a Weekend Warrior
from England Date Reviewed: May 8, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$11.00
Purchased At:
Ebay UK
Strengths:
Feels very strong and my cables move amazingly smooth now. Teflon coating which is a must for cables as far as I am concerned. Look great, better than the standard black housing.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Bog Standard Cable Housing and cables.
Bike Setup:
An OK 7005 Frame / Deore XT 2004 Rear D. / Deore XT 2004 Front D. / Rigida X-Plorer Rims on Bladed Spokes / Deore LX Rear Cassette / Truvativ Five D with Cromoly Trushift Rings / Deore LX Dual Control Levers / RST's / Jagwire Ripcord Cables and Housing / CC: Direct Curve 5
Bottom Line:
Well worth the price. I payed about £12.00 / $22.00 for the gear and brake housing. Braking feels much better on the release and falls back into position slighlty quicker. Gear shifting seems a little less effertless than before. Seeing as I have only had them for less than a month I was not able to give them a full test drive. My other cable housing split at the brake lever, these look like they are bulletproof. With the housing being Kevlar reinforced I should be able to safely say that these will never split like my others did. And even though I would need a few years to see if the cables hold up fine, the Teflon coated cables should last plenty of time and remane in near perfect condition. What I really like about this set is the furrels with keep mud and dirt out which is a clever design. Besides all that, these look GREAT on your bike, the metal woven effect looks much better than the boring black or grey cable housings. Anyone should buy these cables, especially if your if you need speedy shots of braking. 10 Flamin' Chilis!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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