26
Aug
Brake Even: Avid X0 Hydraulic Disc Brake Review
By Scotty Mac
I was a relatively early adopter for mountain bike disc brakes. My first bike with non-rim stoppers was a 1999 Gary Fisher X-Caliber that I bought brand new.
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Its brakes were more than adequate for my purpose, but I have distinct memories of a clunky lever and on/off “modulation.” The shortcomings were evident, but that introduction to the world of disc brakes was a positive one. I’ve never been without a disc brake-equipped bike since.
As you might imagine, things have progressed a bit in the disc brake industry over the last fourteen years. Power and modulation have increased, along with near-infinite adjustments for lever reach, brake pad contact, and all-in-one shifter/lever interfaces. System weight has come down too, to the point that the minor penalty in heft over old-skool rim brakes is massively outpointed by the increased performance. It’s just not even close.
The problem with all this is actually a good problem to have, and that’s the sheer variety in the brake market. The number of legitimate players involved in the industry is immense, and all tout discs that have enough clamping force to stop the Earth’s rotation, and remain fade-free while doing it! Well, maybe not the Earth, but when you’ve read one hyperbolic marketing pitch, you’ve read them all. I recently faced this problem of choice as I was finishing the build on my single speed. I wanted a fairly light system with good power and pleasing aesthetics. I was okay with spending a decent chunk of change to get all those attributes, but I wasn’t going to throw a second mortgage on the house, either. Enter the Avid X0 Hydraulic Disc Brake, in silver.
I’ve got around 900 miles on the system so far, with 800 coming since January of this year. I subjected them to racing abuse in the Gunnison Growler half-marathon and the high-speed descents of my hometown eight hour race. I’ve ridden them when it was cold enough outside that being at home under the blankets in front of a fire might have been preferable, and subjected them to mid-90’s heat. So did I get my money’s worth?
I’ll tell you, it wasn’t love at first stop. Those brakes straight H-O-W-L-E-D on my first serious ride with them in place. It was, frankly, a little embarrassing. Back at Ascent Cycling, I mentioned to Clay that they tended to squeal whenever I even thought about using them, and he got to work. The washer system that Avid uses to mount the caliper on the bike frame has a very narrow tolerance for how tight they need to be, and this proved to be the culprit. After taking a torque wrench to the brake mounts, the noise receded and allowed me to focus on the system’s capabilities.
What emerged from behind that initially loud, crass veneer was a very good system indeed. Stopping power is excellent for a cross-country brake, and there’s no appreciable fade. The lever has a nice bend to it, and the carbon fiber lever blade is nice to look at and touch. These things matter. There’s enough adjustment to get the lever reach dialed for my medium-sized hands, and having the ability to put SRAM shifters together with the company’s brakes (SRAM owns Avid) on the same clamp is a nice touch. I mean, you know, for those of you who have gears. Lucky ducks.
During the last time I had the bike in for maintenance, the AC guys noticed I needed to have the brakes bled. While they were performing the procedure, they found a piece within the lever responsible for controlling the lever movement had broken, and called Avid about the issue. The shop wasn’t sure when it had occurred, whether I had caused it during one of my many few “off the bike” excursions or if it had happened while it was in the bike stand. Sight unseen, no questions asked, Avid did a warranty replacement of the whole rear brake for me, with no hit to my wallet. The company’s customer service is impeccable.
Ultimately, that’s what sways me. There are more powerful stoppers out there, and there are quieter stoppers as well. There are simpler systems, cheaper ones, and lighter ones, too. But very few brakes can combine all those features like the Avid X0 brake, and almost none of the other companies have the quick turnaround and customer-centric mindset of the people at SRAM. When dealing with issues that inevitably come about, having a company like that behind you is priceless, and for me at least, is the icing on the brake cake.
Mac out.