Best Rim Brake Calipers
02-24-14, 10:25 AM
#1
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chittenango, NY
Posts: 56,590
Bikes: Have two wheels
Mentioned: 169 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13711 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
2,504 Posts
02-24-14, 10:36 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 2,668
Bikes: 2023 Canyon Aeoroad CF SL, 2015 Trek Emonda SLR, 2002 Litespeed Classic, 2005 Bianchi Pista, Some BikesDirect MTB I never ride.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 647 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times
in
89 Posts
I like my DA 9000 brakes. Haven't ridden every single brake in the universe, so I can't say for certain "best".
02-24-14, 10:40 AM
#3
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
DA 7800 are the best I've used extensively.
The new Ultegra 6800 brakes feel pretty nice(but I have only tested them for a few miles).
The new Ultegra 6800 brakes feel pretty nice(but I have only tested them for a few miles).
02-24-14, 10:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,012
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Dura-Ace 98,000,000. But if you wait another couple millennia you can get the 'trickle down' in Ultegra level.
02-24-14, 10:54 AM
#5
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,835
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12768 Post(s)
Liked 7,680 Times
in
4,076 Posts
Pretty much any Shimano dual pivot works great!
Best single pivot: Dia Compe G, or G500 if you want something shinier.
Great power, Plenty of clearance for CX tires. Wrong side cable is kinda a bummer, though.
Best single pivot: Dia Compe G, or G500 if you want something shinier.
Great power, Plenty of clearance for CX tires. Wrong side cable is kinda a bummer, though.
02-24-14, 11:31 AM
#6
Aluminium Crusader :-)
Don't forget that the rubber can make a big difference. I bought some cheap, 'soft' pads a long time ago, and was very surprised about the difference.
I'm a Shimano guy, and I can't complain about any of the dual-pivot models. I can't tell the difference between my 7700s and 7800s.
That said, my short friend has very small, Campag-equipped bikes, and they both brake better than my bikes. This is either the brakes, or the tiny head-tubes (?).
I'm a Shimano guy, and I can't complain about any of the dual-pivot models. I can't tell the difference between my 7700s and 7800s.
That said, my short friend has very small, Campag-equipped bikes, and they both brake better than my bikes. This is either the brakes, or the tiny head-tubes (?).
02-24-14, 11:37 AM
#7
Fixie Infamous
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SF
Posts: 10,474
Bikes: 2007 CAAD Optimo Track, 2012 Cannondale CAAD10, 1996 GT Force restomod, 2015 Cannondale CAADX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Any upper-mid level caliper. Force or Ultegra, with KoolStops.
02-24-14, 11:44 AM
#8
Senior Member
Easy: Dura-Ace 7403. The old RX100 are as powerful without the nicer Dura-Ace hardware.
If you can find the long-reach RX100's and then fit them onto your wheels, then these are the most powerful.
I haven't tried the new DA9000. I cannot see the advantage of the new Dura-Ace linkage using the conventional single-bolt mount. But I can see how these could be a big improvement in terms of stiffness with the new 2-bolt direct frame mount.
Overall the worst road calipers: Dia Compe single pivots. These are a consistent blight on the bikes being wheeled into our local co-op. These get stipped off, disassembled and thrown deep into the trash so no one will ever use them again. Weak, flexy, cheap construction, awkward cable mounting hardware, and poor pads (even when new). A complete overhaul and the best pads in the world will not revive these. These have substantially inferior stopping power compared to any Shimano dual pivot brakes.
A pal of mine had a serious crash due to the pathetic stopping power of some Dia-Compe Alpha 5000's. These are supposed to be some of their better brakes. I stripped the brakes from the wreck of his bike and tried them myself using new levers, cable/housing and Kool Stop pads. Still pathetic.
If you can find the long-reach RX100's and then fit them onto your wheels, then these are the most powerful.
I haven't tried the new DA9000. I cannot see the advantage of the new Dura-Ace linkage using the conventional single-bolt mount. But I can see how these could be a big improvement in terms of stiffness with the new 2-bolt direct frame mount.
Overall the worst road calipers: Dia Compe single pivots. These are a consistent blight on the bikes being wheeled into our local co-op. These get stipped off, disassembled and thrown deep into the trash so no one will ever use them again. Weak, flexy, cheap construction, awkward cable mounting hardware, and poor pads (even when new). A complete overhaul and the best pads in the world will not revive these. These have substantially inferior stopping power compared to any Shimano dual pivot brakes.
A pal of mine had a serious crash due to the pathetic stopping power of some Dia-Compe Alpha 5000's. These are supposed to be some of their better brakes. I stripped the brakes from the wreck of his bike and tried them myself using new levers, cable/housing and Kool Stop pads. Still pathetic.
02-24-14, 12:50 PM
#11
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 32,996
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11966 Post(s)
Liked 6,632 Times
in
3,478 Posts
I got nothing.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
02-24-14, 12:51 PM
#12
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chittenango, NY
Posts: 56,590
Bikes: Have two wheels
Mentioned: 169 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13711 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
2,504 Posts
02-24-14, 12:54 PM
#13
Sapient
02-24-14, 03:50 PM
#14
Senior Member
The group-level brakes from Shimano, SRAM and Campy are all excellent.
I have to disagree, the best - as in, most powerful - single pivot brakes are the Shimano SLR brakes from the late 80's to early 90's (105, 600, Dura-Ace), the last generation before they introduced the dual-pivots. They don't have the clearance of the Dia Compes, but they are more powerful. That said, even the best single pivots are completely blown away by dual pivot brakes. It's just not even close.
I have to disagree, the best - as in, most powerful - single pivot brakes are the Shimano SLR brakes from the late 80's to early 90's (105, 600, Dura-Ace), the last generation before they introduced the dual-pivots. They don't have the clearance of the Dia Compes, but they are more powerful. That said, even the best single pivots are completely blown away by dual pivot brakes. It's just not even close.
02-24-14, 05:36 PM
#15
Senior Member
I'd be curious to see a comparison between hydraulic calipers (non-disc) and Dura-Ace.
02-24-14, 05:52 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: B.C.
Posts: 189
Bikes: ritcheys{2** rm blizzard Geo elrick drop frame and acollection of parts bikes in waiting
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A pretty center pull , old DC Gran Compe or the New DC 710 .Thats my vote .
02-24-14, 06:48 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhere in TX
Posts: 2,266
Bikes: BH, Cervelo, Cube, Canyon
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Tektro 926AL 80mm direct pull. 320g per pair, $24 per pair, will stop you better than any caliper brake.
02-24-14, 07:24 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Columbus, GA
Posts: 536
Bikes: 2014 Cervelo R5 Dura Ace,2014 Specialized S-Works Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
02-24-14, 08:06 PM
#21
LET'S ROLL
https://fairwheelbikes.com/kcnc-cb3-brake-p-5909.html
Just kidding ; I'm happy with my Ultegra brakes.
Just kidding ; I'm happy with my Ultegra brakes.
__________________
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
02-24-14, 08:12 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Bemidji, MN
Posts: 329
Bikes: Felt FC
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just added 6800's and really like them so far. They seem to stop my real wheel on the trainer very well.
02-24-14, 08:33 PM
#23
Senior Member
02-24-14, 08:40 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Bemidji, MN
Posts: 329
Bikes: Felt FC
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
02-24-14, 08:42 PM
#25
Senior Member