Do any of you actually use DELTA brakes??
 

Yes, many words have been written about their design, and how they are heavy and not even aero.

We see them sell for $400+ on eBay all day.

And, they are in MOMA's permanant collection of industrial design of the last century.

I keep finding sets. generation 4 and 5 which fixed (??) the modulation or lack of issues.


So, do any of you actually ride with them? Do they work nicely? Do you trust them to do their job?

Thanks.

Not to stop with I imagine...more to reflect the sunlight.

If the OP is referring to Campagnolo, they're going on 4 decades of controversial brakes. Legendary.

(Ps. Yes, use a third gen version Camp. Delta. They don't fair well with rain and dust getting into the insides. More tedious to setup, though work fine. Love the aesthetic.) (Pss. Also have Weinmann Delta type 531. Lighter in weight, simple, avg. in setting up yet still takes more attention. Once set, no fuss. Maybe I'm more lucky than others, but they work superior.)

Mine work just fine.

I trained and raced on five-pivot Deltas in the late 1980s and had no concerns whatsoever. I largely used them with 22mm wide Omega Strada XL clincher and Sigma Strada tubular rims which I think work better than the narrower 19-20mm rims of the era.

I’d use them again in a flash if I could find a similar late-generation set in rider quality at well under USD400-

If I did I’d ditch old, dry and hard original black pads for new Kool Stops or somesuch…

Mine too

Mine too.

When they arrived I did consider them interesting.
a definite different aesthetic.
maybe more at home on a Carbon fiber framed bike.
they went against my view of simple and straightforward.

the later Monoplaners - subordinate group were more interesting.

the dual pivots were a better answer a few years later for power and modulation
then they went all hidden pivot fasteners.
too fancy in assembly.

Delta and AX lunacy.
 

As someone else mentioned they don't like the rain. Perhaps Kool pads would help but Delta pads are unique to the design
Funnily enough the Dura Ace AX (the direct competitor of Campy's Delta gruupo) also don't like the rain.
Legend has it the two manufacturers got together and agreed they'd both go broke if the continued with so much extra machining of parts and both groupsets were discontinued.
Sunbeam did a very similar brake caliper in the 1930s! They don't like the rain needless to say, nor the dry either but hey-ho.

The Shimano AX dura-ace brake was a number of years before the Campagnolo Delta.
not really a direct competitor.

Shimano had evolved to the 7400 side pull brake- probably the direct step beyond of the Record Brake- plastic spring glides on the arms, slight ratchet feel to the eccentric quick release- same basic wheel guides- equal in finish.
I think even had the toothed washer to help hold the centering adjustment.
the Campagnolo patents had run out basically.
the good ideas were free.

AX brakes had been binned before Deltas even hit the market and were available up until the early 90's.

​​​​​​I'm on my second set. The first was back in the day, and I was happy to get rid of them at that time.

I have a pair on my Masi GC, and while occasionally the squeal, they work fine. They are finicky, heavy, overengineered and a great conversation piece. If it is all about performance, look elsewhere - monoplaners are better. But as a period piece, they are great.

As pointed out above the Record 'Delta' came out when the AX was ending. I didn't like cutting the brake lever cable so close to the retaining nut on the Delta brakes. I couldn't figure out a way to avoid this without the cable end scraping on the tire. I will have to check but I believe the AX has more room.
The rear derailleur on the AX is genuinely weird whereas the Delta derailleur has lots of seemingly unnecessary metal fairings - nothing wrong with that,bit like a 59 Cadillac but I don't think it particularly aero.The bare wired AX was supposed to be more aero than a outer/inner cable arrangement but the mind boggles.
I did see you can buy Kool Stop pads, they will definitely help the poor stopping performance of both calipers.

No. They're so bling, I wear mine around my neck when I go clubbin'.

Around your neck.
 

One problem in the UK is you daren't leave a bike with a Record groupset anywhere unsighted , as it wouldn't be there when you got back to it.

Around your neck.
 

One problem in the UK is you daren't leave a bike with a Record groupset anywhere unsighted , as it wouldn't be there when you got back to it.

Currently only running one of my sets.
Not the Weinmann set.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...143072db9.jpeg

I had a bike with a pair of Deltas.

They sure looked cool.

Used mine for 3 weeks in the Alps this summer and they got me home safely on a ride over to the water last evening. The modulation is a little different under heaving braking at that took a little getting used to on long descents the first day, but that's a bit like riding a bike with different geometry. Within a few minutes you tend to adapt.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2ae5f3cc40.jpg

I'm running 3rd gen Deltas on my Montello. Braking performance is nothing to rave about. I rate them as just acceptable. I think people are dissapointed because they expect a large improvement from the expensive price and then tech forward design of the calipers.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1a67c849fc.jpg

I also run Weinmann Deltas on my ALAN Carbonio. They brake just about as good as the Campy Deltas in, but I think they can be easily improved with better/bigger brake pads, as the stock brake pads are so small.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eec6020e61.jpg

Both brakesets would not be my choice for long fast descents down mountains. I would trust my Monoplanars more for that type of riding.

I've got a fancy pantographed set on my Somec, I've got Kool Stop pads in mine which were a big improvement on the stock ones but still perform not quite as good as the later double pivot Campag brakes. They work fine though and are works of sculpture as much as they are brakes. As mentioned cabling and set up is fiddly and you'll need a 3.5mm hex key to tighten the cable, and there's no 3.5mm hex keys on any multi tool I've ever seen so you'll need to find one of them.

Still so much controversy. Shimano vs Kitchenaide vs Amana vs Doc Johnson.

3.5 allen wrench. Who's great idea was that??

Sounds like some of you ride with them. Fiddly set up and all.
I thank you for your responses.

I could careless about heavy or aero on my one remaining vintage Campagnolo groupset but when I need a panic stop I want it. Dual-pivots hold their centering better, actually have modulation and the all important stopping power so are on bikes I ride and my remaining Deltas only go around the block.

AX and Delta
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...66b0fa61c9.jpg

My 1984 Holdsworth 'Italia'.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87e9df7160.jpg

Below the front cover lurks many problems.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4721af24b9.jpg

I like to have a pig's tail on the end of my cables and unlike the Delta the AX allows that, whereas the Delta is a SOB. Surprisingly the big axles on the pedals for the AX is the only discernible improvement I find for the both the Campag and Shimano groupsets. Makes you wonder why they stuck with the traditional 5/8".