[Closed] Langster brake upgrade

Shimano 105's on mine. Work well, much better than the Tektros.

Nice. Are you still running the tektro levers?

I've got 105s on mine - they're a bit better than the Tektros, although to be honest I never found them as bad as people make out. (I only replaced them because I got them covered in road salt and forgot to hose it off, so they corroded solid - oops.)

I kept the levers, they're by far the nicest shape levers I've ever used.

when I had my langster I just changed the pads to dual compound aztecs

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/aztec-aztec-road-insert-plus-compound-brake-blocks-prod20499/

made a big difference and cheap to try - also keep you rims clean

Thanks for the replies.

I'm happy with the levers if I can improve modulation with a better calliper. I switched the pads for something supposedly quite good last year with only a marginal improvement (that might have come from the better cables actually). I may give the aztecs a go though.. haven't used aztecs since my pre V-brake days!

I'm liking the look of the 105 callipers, those or some Rival callipers which Wiggle have at a good price.

I've put a set of these [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=33384 ]Mavic SSC brakes[/url] on my fixie/SS, for £70 a pair they're bloody good value, and they have a nice feel to them in conjunction with Cane Creek TT200 levers...

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Using a decent cartridge system with a metal back and good quality pad insert should improve them quite a bit.

The tektro brakes already have a proper cartridge system with a metal back. Those Mavic brakes look and sound great. I wonder if they're appreciably better than the Sram Rival brakes which are currently £49 a set. These look to be the best value buy at the moment.
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The tektro brakes already have a proper cartridge system with a metal back

Yes but the material they use for the pad insert is rubbish...

for less than a tenner you should give some new inserts a go... best value

I've never noticed a difference in power using say Sora/Tiagra and upwards calipers (on decent levers).

Nor the stupid "costs more with no benefit" cartridge pad systems.

+1 for fitting a decent pads such as Kool stop or Ashima, make so much difference to a rim brake.

However... if you do want to go for a set of the Mavic's i have a pair for sale, they need pads but i found them to work better than any shimano brake i tried.

+2 for fitting decent pads. Just fitted Swissstop pads (green) to my cross bike and am astonished about how much better they feel.

As for metal cartridge style, I've never been able to feel much difference, but hve noticed that they tend to squeal less.

I got a 2nd hand decathlon cheap thing, with plastic brakes. They were useless, so I quickly upgraded to tiagra. They were never that good, but I never had anything to compare too. I then bought a new road bike, with ultegra 6700 brakes. The first time I used them, I came to a complete stop about 20m behind from where I was expecting to stop, and I was only going slowly. They are fantastic. If I get on my old road bike its like its got no brakes at all in comparison, its scary.

The ultegra ones are really brilliant though, I really recommend them.

RM Are you caomparing like with like - i.e. dcent levers and cables?

Meaningless if not.

+1 on decent pads.

Same cables on both bikes I think, ultegra levers on the new one, not sure what the levers are on the older one. How much difference can a lever make?

The pads I replaced the tektro ones with were [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2955 ]fibrax[/url] and in retrospect may not have been much better than the tektro ones. Think I'll go for a set of the [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kool_Stop_Dura_Ace~Ultegra~105_Pair_Of_Cartridge_Inserts/5300005952/ ]Koolstop[/url] pads. The first review on Wiggle says "Brings Tektro Brakes up to Scratch". heh. If it doesn't do the trick then I guess I'm in the market for new callipers. Stato, how much do you want for the Mavics?

How much difference can a lever make?

A LOT!

Koolstop salmon or black?

I upgraded my Langster to Ultegra calipers, which were lovely. I could see the Tektro calipers flexing when I rocked the back back and forward with the brakes on. I also bought Cane Creek levers - I wasn't unhappy with the Tektro levers as they are a nice shape, but one got badly scraped in a crash - the Cane Creek levers were more expensive than the Tektros and I was somewhat disappointed to find they are IDENTICAL except for the dimpled rubber hood :(. Stick with the Tektro levers.

As for metal cartridge style, I've never been able to feel much difference, but hve noticed that they tend to squeal less.

cartridge system is not about improving performance, but ease of replacing work brake materials... no need to reset pad position with cartridge and a quick slide out and slide back...

Koolstop - salmon

Stato, how much do you want for the Mavics?

Id take £40 as they need pads and the back nut (to attach to fork/frame)
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickyelsdon/5015524496/in/photostream/ ]PICS[/url]

Id take £40 as they need pads and the back nut (to attach to fork/frame)