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Shimano XT V-Brake (2003)

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Reviewed by 8 BikeTrials.com users - Write your review


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2 Reviews
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Sun Nov 02 2003
Reviewed By: andrew gosline (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
3 Months

Strengths
Modulation, Parallel motion

Weaknesses
Weight, max rim size, bushing wear

Similar Products Used
Avid 2.5's

Review
These are great V brakes, there is no doubt about that. Their applicability to trials is somewhat questionable. I had them on the rear, and found them great for a while. They modulate much better than any other V brake I've tried.

However, the parallelogram setup has lots of extra joints with bushings, and they wear out and get all loose. Another big minus is that because of all the extra linkage, you can't get these on a large rim. I have a 2001 Norco Team Trials, and it was next to impossible to get these brakes to work with an Alex DX32 because it is so wide.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Sat Jun 26 2004
Reviewed By: Alex (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
1 Year

Strengths
inexpensive, work well (with tar)

Weaknesses
cable play, don't quite lock things up as stiffly as i need for trials (without tar)

Similar Products Used
HS33, XTR, Arch supreme, sd7, canti

Review
these came stock on my old xc rig (which was my first trials machine).. and they worked fairly well. i ended up getting these cheapo boosters from tektro or something to slightly decrease the flex and common flaws of cable brakes. but all in all, if i hadn't bought hs33, these would have easily served their purpose.

in lots of ways, they're better than hydros -- near zero maintenance, they're light, strong, cheap... its the budget buy!
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Mon Sep 15 2003
Reviewed By: Scott (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
2 Years or more

Strengths
nice strong braking power...if used with tar

Weaknesses
starting to fall apart

Similar Products Used
Other V-brakes

Review
I have had the set for over 2 years....i think for about 4 years...i have been using them for trials for the past year, they held up for about a year of trials...but now they are falling apart
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Thu Jan 01 2004
Reviewed By: Roby.K (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
2 Years or more

Strengths
good feel, strong , adjustable.

Weaknesses
Too much linkage, the bolts begin to loosen.

Similar Products Used
avid V's

Review
If you put these XT v's on the rear with a grind or tar and sticky pads they are awesome. They very rarely slip if not ever. You have to set the brakes up with a very wide stance so that they get good leverage. If the set up is too skinny you don't get much power.
As the other guys said after a year or two(depending on how much you ride) the linkage in the brake will get loose and stopping power will be lost.
But good V brake, worth the money.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Tue Mar 09 2004
Reviewed By: Sweezey (anon)
Rider Level: Advanced

Used Product For
1 Year

Strengths
strong braking power, silver color, light

Weaknesses
after about a year they began to fall apart.

Similar Products Used
None

Review
Great Brakes when NEW.

Rear: Take time to setup, but a big pay out with power performance. Clean the break and cable often (2-3weeks). After one year the brake seems to loose stregnth. Im switching over to HS33's.

Front: Great Brake, setup time minimal, after one year brake is still great.

Tip.
If you run a wide rim, rearange the spacers on the brake.
I was using XT brake levers from 98' for the rear, ands I was using XTR brake levers from 93' on the front.
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1 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Sun Mar 21 2004
Reviewed By: jay (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
6 Months

Strengths
lots of power, good looks

Weaknesses
squeal

Similar Products Used
lx v's avid arch rival 50's

Review
these brakes are kick ass however if any one can tell me how to stop em honking id be grateful you cant get em to shut up
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Thu Jun 10 2004
Reviewed By: Jason (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
1 Year

Strengths
Modulaton and strength

Weaknesses
Many joints losen over time and reduce power

Similar Products Used
Avid SD's

Review
I've used these brakes for over a year now (on the rear) and with tar, I've never had a real problem slipping. Only real problem I have had is that I cant fit them on a wide rim. I have a D 521 and that works fine but with big plaz pads and a DX 32 or something like that they dont fit.
If your riding a skinny rim with tar theese are the way to go. Great preformance with good value...
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Tue Jul 26 2005
Reviewed By: Nathan Turner (anon)
Rider Level: Intermediate

Used Product For
2 Years or more

Strengths
Smooth, Powerful, Adjustable in many ways

Weaknesses
Springs wear away slowly

Similar Products Used
XT-R

Review
Used this product for about 5 years (dirt jumping 3 years and trials 2) front and rear. However the rear recently had to be replaced because a spring snapped while trying to bend it as the allen bolts were rounded
A very good buy, XT-R's are of course slightly better however
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