Boast about your latest purchases here...

[capediver]

Sure thing...only had one ride @ Tokai to set, adjust and bed pads...so far feel very plush, no dead spot at the start of lever travel (bite point adjustment), plenty of power, fine control from feathering to full on grabbing discs....and quiet! Time will tell on this last though....

Will send further reports at the end of the week from slightly different testing conditions....Morzine, Chatel and Lets Get....

 So here be my review:

 

Disclaimer: This is my opinion, it is the opinion of me and the only opinion that I have and it belongs to me....

All tests NOT conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.

Objective: Do they work as advertised? ie hard-core, powerful, serious, good modulation, no overheating

Test Material: Magura MT7 (http://www.magura.com/en/components/bike/gravityseries/productdetailpage/?p=1522) with tool-less bite point and lever adjustment mounted on Magura 203 (F) and 180 ® disc pads.

All of this on a 2017 Giant Reign.

Science: NONE....no base-case, no methodology, and definitely no placebos...just like in real life...make it to the bottom!

Previous experience/Benchmark: SRAM Trail in same configuration in same test grounds under similar conditions

Test ground: Portes Du Soleil, France based in Morzine for 8 days solid riding.

Weather: 1st 4 days perfect, boiling hot to cloudy, last 3 days rain overnight/on and off during the day with mud in the forest sections.

Trails: 

France:

Morzine (Zore and Avoriaz), 

Chatel (Vink line, Le Vorachatax, Le Serpentine, People's Panorama, Ride Humble, Fluid, Rick Rack and more)

Les Gets (Main line and Jump Park with a return to Morzine via Retour Morzine enduro)

Linderets Blue and Red

Un-named off-piste trails (Locations protected under threat and fear of of death or struck by pestilence from the heavens.)

 

Switzerland: (Swiss National, Le Croset)....Morgins lift was closed sniff sniff

 

Performance:

Worked as advertised, and more...

 

 

PRO's:

• Great feel, excellent modulation, no initial dead space when pulling lever. 
• BIG HUGE, ENORMOUS stopping power. 
• Power comes on immediately.
• Quiet, except for a few seconds after washing the bike. Such a relief after embarrassingly announcing my descent using the SRAM's even in dry conditions.
• Easy to bleed.
• 4 pads means even contact and wear of pads. You can get a joined twin set that also fits and I have them in front.
• Light...not that it matters for me anyway
• Pad replacement - so easy, no fiddly springy thingy to keep therm apart, un-screw the mounting pin and slide them in, they are magnetic and click straight into place!]
• Look great on my bike...this is a subjective PRO!

 

CON's

• $...at the top end of DH type brakes but I did get them special!
• $....replacement pads...was paying between €20 - 25 per set (up to R350) of originals...may be cheaper in SA?
• Pad (organic) use is high, higher than the Trails I used before. After 2 days of solid, steep, long downhills, the back set needed replacing (dry conditions)

Not really a CON/More an inconvenience

• OEM unit comes with 2 finger lever...these tend to be too far away from the grips at their closest setting...a biggie if you spend up to 10 minutes trying to slow yourself down! I swopped these out for the HC single finger model which are easy to retro fit and had tons more leverage and sat closer to the grips.
• Brake fluid - need to use Royal Blood - not so easy to get in SA. Can use other mineral oil but you will have issues with claims.
• Pads - not a common stock item in SA
• When ordering pads...they can be confused with the type 7 pads which are for series 2, 4, 6 and 8. Weird I know but MT7's use Type 8 pads....!
• Should be used with Magura brake disc rotors...this is because they actually require a thicker disc...Magura Storm discs are 2.0mm thick, most others are 1.8mm. They will work with other rotors but you lose a little of the bite point adjustment as the rotors and pads wear
• The bite point adjustment is only 5% of full travel of the pistons...so a little hard to really feel. The SRAM Trail adjustment was always immediately obvious and took up a lot of pad wear adjustment
• The new HC levers, although having far more adjustment distance bringing them closer to the handle bars, are not tool-less and the tool-less set-up on the 2 finger levers cannot be transferred across...so some fiddling on the trail to get them exactly right.

Failures:

TBH: The only hiccup I had was loss of power at the end of Swiss National...go Google it! or check out the video here: 

 

This only lasted for a few minutes and some lever pumping brought it back...

Cause: I took my bike in to the mobile workshop at the bottom of Chatel lift for a quick bleed....at the first pump, two bubbles of air popped out. 

Lesson learnt: After initial installation especially when fitting to internal cable routing (which entails disassembly of the hoses) and a short period of running hard, it's suggested to re-bleed the brakes. Also, if old fluid is used that may have been exposed to air for too long, the fluid (mineral oil) can absorb water vapour which can create air bubbles when braking for long periods and fluid heats up...conditions that were very definitely present going down Swiss National. After the bleed, no issues at all.

 

Overview/Conclusions:

GET SOME, don't ask...just DO IT, borrow money, take out a loan, beg the Finance Director...(all very irresponsible actions to finance our toys, I know).

Get spare pads when you can.

RIDER: The problem of fade after Swiss National I consider a once off and could not be repeated after the re-bleed despite my best efforts coming down the Avoriaz road from Zore at full tilt.

 

BONUS non-test results:

We ran into the Magura head rep in Les Gets during the PDS on day 1 of the test period where they had a stand in the main road...this guy...he personally accompanied me to one of his local outlets, got replacement pads and the shorter HC levers at 50% then took me back to the stand and had the mech there fit the new pads and levers and after seeing I had a Shimano 203 up front, swapped it out for a new Magura 203 from his bling box at the princely sum of two beers (procured from the nearest cafe/pizza joint and aptly brewed locally with water from Mont Blanc!)

BIG up to Magura France!!

 

 

Here endth the review.......

[nonky]

My new bike 

 

Sparta Delphi 

 

Steel, 28" wheel, single speed, back pedal braking, 60cm with a rack and mud guards. 

 

€199 

 

Sparta Delphi.jpg

 

The perfect bike to roam around Amsterdam. 

 

those riser bars are very 2017

[Eugene Brown]

Arrived on the flossy last night.

 

SLX 7000 brakes

Dura ace 9sp bar end shifters

and these...........

 

all for less than 50% of the SA prices!

Those are lekker tekkies! From CRC? How was the sizing compared to other brands (in case you've had other brand shoes before)?

[Sepia]

Those are lekker tekkies! From CRC? How was the sizing compared to other brands (in case you've had other brand shoes before)?

They are better than I thought.  Wore them around work today and they are like slippers.

Used other Shimano shoes which became a bit tight after riding many miles everyday.  Went a size up and they seem perfect with a wide toe box.

Purchased from Evans which were cheaper than CRC. 

[Pure Savage]

Not for us per se, but we found it on gumtree, hustled up some bucks among us and are going to fix it up before handing it to some one who needs a bike to work!

 

 

These things are built like a tank!

 

#qhubeka #buffalo #builtlikekevin

 

[Eugene Brown]

They are better than I thought.  Wore them around work today and they are like slippers.

Used other Shimano shoes which became a bit tight after riding many miles everyday.  Went a size up and they seem perfect with a wide toe box.

Purchased from Evans which were cheaper than CRC. 

Thanks so much for the answer, good to know

[Eddy Gordo]

 

 So here be my review:

 

Disclaimer: This is my opinion, it is the opinion of me and the only opinion that I have and it belongs to me....

All tests NOT conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.

Objective: Do they work as advertised? ie hard-core, powerful, serious, good modulation, no overheating

Test Material: Magura MT7 (http://www.magura.com/en/components/bike/gravityseries/productdetailpage/?p=1522) with tool-less bite point and lever adjustment mounted on Magura 203 (F) and 180 ® disc pads.

All of this on a 2017 Giant Reign.

Science: NONE....no base-case, no methodology, and definitely no placebos...just like in real life...make it to the bottom!

Previous experience/Benchmark: SRAM Trail in same configuration in same test grounds under similar conditions

Test ground: Portes Du Soleil, France based in Morzine for 8 days solid riding.

Weather: 1st 4 days perfect, boiling hot to cloudy, last 3 days rain overnight/on and off during the day with mud in the forest sections.

Trails: 

France:

Morzine (Zore and Avoriaz), 

Chatel (Vink line, Le Vorachatax, Le Serpentine, People's Panorama, Ride Humble, Fluid, Rick Rack and more)

Les Gets (Main line and Jump Park with a return to Morzine via Retour Morzine enduro)

Linderets Blue and Red

Un-named off-piste trails (Locations protected under threat and fear of of death or struck by pestilence from the heavens.)

 

Switzerland: (Swiss National, Le Croset)....Morgins lift was closed sniff sniff

 

Performance:

Worked as advertised, and more...

 

 

PRO's:

• Great feel, excellent modulation, no initial dead space when pulling lever. 
• BIG HUGE, ENORMOUS stopping power. 
• Power comes on immediately.
• Quiet, except for a few seconds after washing the bike. Such a relief after embarrassingly announcing my descent using the SRAM's even in dry conditions.
• Easy to bleed.
• 4 pads means even contact and wear of pads. You can get a joined twin set that also fits and I have them in front.
• Light...not that it matters for me anyway
• Pad replacement - so easy, no fiddly springy thingy to keep therm apart, un-screw the mounting pin and slide them in, they are magnetic and click straight into place!]
• Look great on my bike...this is a subjective PRO!

 

CON's

• $...at the top end of DH type brakes but I did get them special!
• $....replacement pads...was paying between €20 - 25 per set (up to R350) of originals...may be cheaper in SA?
• Pad (organic) use is high, higher than the Trails I used before. After 2 days of solid, steep, long downhills, the back set needed replacing (dry conditions)

Not really a CON/More an inconvenience

• OEM unit comes with 2 finger lever...these tend to be too far away from the grips at their closest setting...a biggie if you spend up to 10 minutes trying to slow yourself down! I swopped these out for the HC single finger model which are easy to retro fit and had tons more leverage and sat closer to the grips.
• Brake fluid - need to use Royal Blood - not so easy to get in SA. Can use other mineral oil but you will have issues with claims.
• Pads - not a common stock item in SA
• When ordering pads...they can be confused with the type 7 pads which are for series 2, 4, 6 and 8. Weird I know but MT7's use Type 8 pads....!
• Should be used with Magura brake disc rotors...this is because they actually require a thicker disc...Magura Storm discs are 2.0mm thick, most others are 1.8mm. They will work with other rotors but you lose a little of the bite point adjustment as the rotors and pads wear
• The bite point adjustment is only 5% of full travel of the pistons...so a little hard to really feel. The SRAM Trail adjustment was always immediately obvious and took up a lot of pad wear adjustment
• The new HC levers, although having far more adjustment distance bringing them closer to the handle bars, are not tool-less and the tool-less set-up on the 2 finger levers cannot be transferred across...so some fiddling on the trail to get them exactly right.

Failures:

TBH: The only hiccup I had was loss of power at the end of Swiss National...go Google it! or check out the video here: 

 

This only lasted for a few minutes and some lever pumping brought it back...

Cause: I took my bike in to the mobile workshop at the bottom of Chatel lift for a quick bleed....at the first pump, two bubbles of air popped out. 

Lesson learnt: After initial installation especially when fitting to internal cable routing (which entails disassembly of the hoses) and a short period of running hard, it's suggested to re-bleed the brakes. Also, if old fluid is used that may have been exposed to air for too long, the fluid (mineral oil) can absorb water vapour which can create air bubbles when braking for long periods and fluid heats up...conditions that were very definitely present going down Swiss National. After the bleed, no issues at all.

 

Overview/Conclusions:

GET SOME, don't ask...just DO IT, borrow money, take out a loan, beg the Finance Director...(all very irresponsible actions to finance our toys, I know).

Get spare pads when you can.

RIDER: The problem of fade after Swiss National I consider a once off and could not be repeated after the re-bleed despite my best efforts coming down the Avoriaz road from Zore at full tilt.

 

BONUS non-test results:

We ran into the Magura head rep in Les Gets during the PDS on day 1 of the test period where they had a stand in the main road...this guy...he personally accompanied me to one of his local outlets, got replacement pads and the shorter HC levers at 50% then took me back to the stand and had the mech there fit the new pads and levers and after seeing I had a Shimano 203 up front, swapped it out for a new Magura 203 from his bling box at the princely sum of two beers (procured from the nearest cafe/pizza joint and aptly brewed locally with water from Mont Blanc!)

BIG up to Magura France!!

 

 

Here endth the review.......

vlcsnap-2017-06-25-23h34m23s832.png

 

Awesome, thats more or less what I thought about them too. Just didnt get a set etc etc. But from everything I have read, they are supposed to be great in the stopping department.

I fully agree re. pads, fluid etc.

 

Thanks for the feed Mr Capediver!!

[Johnny Lawless]

Some new wheels for the Jeffsy...Arch MK3 on Hope 4

[ChrisF]

Thanks to the "Tour de France" special at Evobikes - https://www.evobikes.co.za/components/computers/garmin-edge-520-gps.html

 

 

 

 

 

PS - took the last one off their shelf, new stock arrives next week

[Hairy]

Finally got a post mount for the 203mm rotor ...... it was a great price too ex. Eddy Gordo ..... a cup of coffee and a handshake!

 

Awesomenessssss

[ChrisF]

Not often people are HAPPY about the purchase of something as mundane as a waterbottle ....

 

Spent weeks searching for THIS :

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANKS to the gents at EVOBIKES !!  NICE to deal with people that actually takes a request serious, even if it is for something as small as this ..... or should I say ESPECIALLY when they take such an insignificant request serious and make an effort to help.

Edited July 6, 2017 by ChrisF

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Some new wheels for the Jeffsy...Arch MK3 on Hope 4

IMG_1627.JPG

IMG_1629.JPG

One question.... Why Arch and not Flow!?

[Johnny Lawless]

One question.... Why Arch and not Flow!?

 

 

Lol, I'll copy/paste my answer to the exact same question in another thread:

 

I really think the Arches are the better fit for this bike. To me this is an all rounder and not a DH sled. Besides, at 26mm internal diameter these are a real nice width (in fact they're wider than the previous generation Flows) and quite a bit lighter than the Flows. Also, Stans designed the MK3 Arches with Enduro in mind and the Flows for DH...it's real step up from the previous gen Arch Ex. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I like wide rims and had Arc 30's on my previous bike but I really do buy into Stans's "WideRight" philosophy and for my preferred tire widths too wide rims do not feel right.

Edited July 6, 2017 by Pyka

[Johnny Lawless]

One question.... Why Arch and not Flow!?

Or let me put it this way...

 

[Eugene Brown]

Or let me put it this way...

 

IMG_1630.JPG

Very good info, thanks for posting! How many of us run wider than 2.5 tyres? Will be interesting to see how the new generation Arch rims hold up, compared to the last generation "fragile" Arch's

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Very good info, thanks for posting! How many of us run wider than 2.5 tyres? Will be interesting to see how the new generation Arch rims hold up, compared to the last generation "fragile" Arch's

Except that flows take "2.35 up". And are stronger and more Enduro friendly. I'd say the arches are more for the weight conscious trail rider rather than all mountain / Enduro. That's where the Flows shine. The weight penalty is, after all, minimal

 

Oh. And 35mm internal running 2.35s and they're flippin amazeballs.

 

Still great wheels, mind.

Edited July 7, 2017 by Myles Mayhew