floyd0117

I'm looknig at the Gran Compe 610, from VO. They are gorgeous, come with VO pads, and look like the offer good clearance, and seem to generally be regarded as pretty good brakes. These are brand new, $170 total, which is a bit outrageous. I also found a set without the VO pads for ~$120.

Also, the Shimano 500 center-pull. These also look pretty nice, and are, as I understand, pretty good center-pull brakes. I would of course upgrade the pads, probably KoolStop. These are less than half the price of the Gran Compe, at ~$50 for a pair, not including the price of new pads.

People have also said that Mafac made the best center-pulls. To be honest, aesthetic is important to me, and the Grand Compe and Shimano center-pulls just look so much better than the Mafacs. But I can also get the Mafacs for pretty cheap. Edit: Mafacs actually don't look so bad. I like the Mafac competitions I think. I have read they are hard to set up, though, and I'm also not crazy about the post-style pads.

Which would you get? Something else? I think I'm leaning toward the Shimanos.

This is going on a touring build, so it is important that these brakes be robust, and offer as much clearance as possible.

SCRcat6

Shimano 500? Didn't they stop making those in the 80's? You aren't comparing 30+ year old brakes to brand new VO's are you?

rmfnla

HATE Mafac brakes, and I'm not a hatin' kinda guy...

Elvo

TriRig Omega

SSRI

Nice, a friend have those on his rig, nice brakes but they remind me of these classics. You wont get anymore clearance compared to side pulls

Elvo

They open up to 32mm so you can probably run 28mm

floyd0117

I need to fit 32mm tires plus fenders

floyd0117

Yes, it's a fair comparison when trying to weigh quality against price.

SCRcat6

I don't see your logic there at all, but that's ok, I don't need to. I was only asking because I thought maybe you had a source for new Shimano 500's.

floyd0117

What do you mean you don't see my logic..? They're both center-pull brakes, so they can be compared. Obviously the VO's are much newer and higher quality. But then again, the Shimano's many still get the job done just as well with some new pads, and cost way less. There, I just compared them in a meaningful way.

vwchad

Another option for you:


https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...erpull-brakes/

vwchad

Newer does not necessarily mean better.

floyd0117

these do look nice, looks like the modern version of the mafacs. But it doesn't look like they are offered as a bridge mounting brake. they require braze ons

SCRcat6

What is it you want?......'new and high quality' or 'just get the job done for minimum cost' ?

It's not meaningful that new specialty brand VeloOrange brakes cost more than ordinary 30+ year old used Shimano's, it's just plain obvious.

My logic would decide what market I was in or at least what budget I had, and then make comparisons.


But like I said before, I don't need to understand your logic.

Hiro11

Beautiful, well engineered but megabuck, luxury option:
Paul Racer Centerpull Brakeset - 15135

noodle soup

They might work well, but those are hideous.

katzenfinch

Would Dia-Compes work?

Dia-Compe Mod 750 Centerpull Brakes - 15111

vwchad

I think that because they share so much with the Mafacs, that you may be able to use the bridge mounting plate from a set of Mafacs to make these work without the braze ons. Just a theory though.

waters60

If they are really necessary sure, but there is a reason the world moved on from center pull: they suck! Be sure to try them before coming to an intersection. If you are used to side pull brakes you will be surprised.

Doge

Bought those.

Doge

I think these are the best.

Hiro11

That's just like, your opinion man.

floyd0117

Nearly every single opinion I've heard on this subject says the opposite as you. Center-pulls have higher mechanical advantage, and better stopping power than sidepulls. They provide more clearance than sidepulls, period. They seem to have went out of fashion simply because of fashion, and not logic.

And to be clear, I do like my side-pulls. I have one old DiaCompe single pivot, which works well, and one one modern Tektro dual pivot, which works great. But neither of them provide me with the clearance I need.

rekmeyata

I didn't read all the posts due to time constraints so I may be repeating what someone else said.

But the best center pull brake in my opinion belongs to Gran Compe Aero Gran Compe model that had ball bearing pivot points, it made for a lot nicer action, superior modulation, and a better feel than any other center pull brakes ever made.

The Campy Delta's (or also the similar Modolo Kronos), while a very beautiful looking brake caliper had reliability issues due to the internal components and they were heavy, despite all the fancy complicated internal workings they didn't work well at stopping and thus they were deeply flawed.

floyd0117

I'm having trouble finding even an image of the Gran Compe Aero center-pulls. Have a link?