Paul component center pull vs. Dia-Compe 806 Dual-Pivot
12-05-22, 12:05 AM
#26
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12-05-22, 03:57 AM
#27
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I have a bike with Paul's Racer nutted satin silver brakes that I bought about ten years ago.
They work fantastic. I have them paired with some Cane Creek aero levers. I use 700c x 28 mm tires with 45 mm plastic fenders on that bike. Gobs and gobs and gobs of clearance. The fender edges are pretty much lined up between the pivots, so at the narrowest spot, and I have around 8 mm of clearance on each side, as I just measured.
I don't recall the reach, but on my Carlton I had been using some wrong-vintage sidepull Campagnolo brakes that could've used a few extra millimeters in the rear. I just didn't use them because it was my fixed gear bike. With the Paul's, the front brake pads are near the top of the slot and the rear are near the bottom. I imagine the bike originally had the two different reach Weinnmans that were common at the time.
What frame is that? I see you have the Pletscher style rear bridge but some fun looking headlugs.
I just found the invoice from almost 10 years ago direct from the manufacturer: $146 each. I had just moved to Silicon Valley and they were a present to myself. If I'd known that I'd be laid off within the month, I'd probably have used my Schwinn branded Weinmanns...
They work fantastic. I have them paired with some Cane Creek aero levers. I use 700c x 28 mm tires with 45 mm plastic fenders on that bike. Gobs and gobs and gobs of clearance. The fender edges are pretty much lined up between the pivots, so at the narrowest spot, and I have around 8 mm of clearance on each side, as I just measured.
I don't recall the reach, but on my Carlton I had been using some wrong-vintage sidepull Campagnolo brakes that could've used a few extra millimeters in the rear. I just didn't use them because it was my fixed gear bike. With the Paul's, the front brake pads are near the top of the slot and the rear are near the bottom. I imagine the bike originally had the two different reach Weinnmans that were common at the time.
What frame is that? I see you have the Pletscher style rear bridge but some fun looking headlugs.
I just found the invoice from almost 10 years ago direct from the manufacturer: $146 each. I had just moved to Silicon Valley and they were a present to myself. If I'd known that I'd be laid off within the month, I'd probably have used my Schwinn branded Weinmanns...
), here's what I've put on:700cx32 Gravelking slicks, 10sp 11-34 cassette, 146 $ is steep, but it's even worse here. A set goes for 200 $ w/o the hardware. It'd be a bit banans to spend 500 $ on just brakes for a "not that special" frame, just because it holds sentimental value to me
Last edited by Positron400; 12-10-22 at 09:53 AM.
12-05-22, 10:22 AM
#28
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I am going to be the outlier here and say that I would not pay a premium for Paul center pulls. I had them on the same bike, nutted mount and brazed on. In both case I felt they were less responsive than a nice set of dual pivot calipers. I have the VO dual pivot calipers on 2 bikes and they outperform the Paul's (IMHO) in every aspect.
The VO are also a good bit simpler to set up, simpler to live with if you make changes to your set up and do not squeal.
FWIW, Paul products I have tried and been underwhelmed by : Racer brakes (Long reach) Neo-retro Cantilevers, Touring Cantilevers and mini Moto's. They all work OK but not at at the "game changing" level that justify the extra cost. This is just my opinion/experience, not fact. Other's have used them and loved them quite a bit.
The VO are also a good bit simpler to set up, simpler to live with if you make changes to your set up and do not squeal.
FWIW, Paul products I have tried and been underwhelmed by : Racer brakes (Long reach) Neo-retro Cantilevers, Touring Cantilevers and mini Moto's. They all work OK but not at at the "game changing" level that justify the extra cost. This is just my opinion/experience, not fact. Other's have used them and loved them quite a bit.
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12-09-22, 03:24 PM
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Those Motobecanes are likely Weinmanns or Asia-Compe clones of Weinmanns and will work great and look great with these. I have them on my Motobecane.
https://www.porkchopbmx.com/scott-ma...d-vintage.html
https://www.porkchopbmx.com/scott-ma...d-vintage.html
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12-09-22, 05:23 PM
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I am liking this thread. Good info here, even though some of it is conflicting. That is not a bad thing. There are lots a variables in addition to just the brake caliper. One more variable to throw into the mix is the geometry of the straddle cable. With the Racers and Paul centerpull they can be adjusted to suite.
I am glad to hear that Paul's have a generally good reputation, considering their high price. I always like the Mafac racers even though I now don't have one on any of my bikes. I got to work on that.
I am glad to hear that Paul's have a generally good reputation, considering their high price. I always like the Mafac racers even though I now don't have one on any of my bikes. I got to work on that.
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12-10-22, 11:55 AM
#32
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I am going to be the outlier here and say that I would not pay a premium for Paul center pulls. I had them on the same bike, nutted mount and brazed on. In both case I felt they were less responsive than a nice set of dual pivot calipers. I have the VO dual pivot calipers on 2 bikes and they outperform the Paul's (IMHO) in every aspect.
The VO are also a good bit simpler to set up, simpler to live with if you make changes to your set up and do not squeal.
FWIW, Paul products I have tried and been underwhelmed by : Racer brakes (Long reach) Neo-retro Cantilevers, Touring Cantilevers and mini Moto's. They all work OK but not at at the "game changing" level that justify the extra cost. This is just my opinion/experience, not fact. Other's have used them and loved them quite a bit.
The VO are also a good bit simpler to set up, simpler to live with if you make changes to your set up and do not squeal.
FWIW, Paul products I have tried and been underwhelmed by : Racer brakes (Long reach) Neo-retro Cantilevers, Touring Cantilevers and mini Moto's. They all work OK but not at at the "game changing" level that justify the extra cost. This is just my opinion/experience, not fact. Other's have used them and loved them quite a bit.
Why bother? You have at least two perfectly functional brake set ups. If you want them and have the money, okay. If you want black-colored brakes, okay. However, it's not like you can expect any game-changing performance over what you have.
As a point of reference, I am perfectly happy with my Campagnolo side pulls. With new brake pads, they are easily modulated, and, if desired, they can lock up either or both wheels (I'm not sure why you'd want to do that but you could). It sounds like there are many others out there that can do the same.
If this is a hand strength or lever-reach issue, buying aero levers may be all you need.
Last edited by Bad Lag; 12-11-22 at 12:14 PM.
12-11-22, 05:46 AM
#33
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Quick update: Getting the Aero Levers was definitively the right call. Stopping power (even with my, at this point, quite used brakes) is very much improved. Thanks for helping me save on my expenses (i did get, as mentioned, a set of motobecane center pulls though, for when i feel like i wanna try those - but now it seems the headsets needs servicing :/ )
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12-11-22, 08:27 AM
#34
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Paul Racer M centerpulls on my just-delivered Hampsten (one year and 4 months in the making!). These are the finest brakes I have ever owned on a bike, bar none. If I had to do it again, I might get the black ones, to match everything else, but I'm very happy with them.
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12-11-22, 09:38 AM
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Paul Racer M centerpulls on my just-delivered Hampsten (one year and 4 months in the making!). These are the finest brakes I have ever owned on a bike, bar none. If I had to do it again, I might get the black ones, to match everything else, but I'm very happy with them.
12-11-22, 10:03 AM
#36
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I went through something similar a few months ago replacing the campagnolo "long reach" calipers on my Mclean for something less flexy. I considered Paul centerpulls but there was a shipping delay at the time, so I got dia-compe (gran compe) centerpulls from Velo Orange. They work much better than the campy, and are adaptable as nutted fitting as my bike takes. Plus less $ than Pauls. For the front cable hanger I got the rene herse, for the rear nitto.
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12-11-22, 03:01 PM
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