Clarks CRS C4 Brakeset review

This Clarks CRS C4 Brakeset has been one of the products I have been most excited to test for a while. Did they disappoint? Let’s find out… Brand: C …

By ben_haworth

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Clarks CRS C4 Brakeset review

What would be good is a comparison to some competitors – Sram G2 / Shimano 4 pot / Sram Code / Hayes Dominion / TRP Slate / Hope E4 etc.

How do they compare for power / modulation etc?

The other issue is with the callipers. There is very little clearance between the rotor and the pads. You may find that any slight kink in the rotor seems to result in uncorrectable brake rub. I can understand low clearance for a nice instant bite point, yet this here does seem to just cause unavoidable issues. A bite point adjustment would’ve been a nice addition to the set.

Unless I’m missing something, bite point adjust hasn’t impacted on pad clearance since the days of the Hope C2. It just adjusts the position of the lever / master cylinder. Pad clearance is mostly down to how the caliper seals deflect and recover their shape.

Yup. The designers could have chosen more pad retraction and more free stroke to go with it, but no free stroke adjustment will change that.

These brakes had been out for a while on eBay in several colours and brand names that you’ve never heard of and for a lot less money too. It usually works the other way around, Chinese knock offs of big brands, this time it’s established brand sticking their name on Chinese catalogue brakes.

These brakes had been out for a while on eBay in several colours and brand names that you’ve never heard of and for a lot less money too. It usually works the other way around, Chinese knock offs of big brands, this time it’s established brand sticking their name on Chinese catalogue brakes.

Yeah it might make sense if they were half the price – so you had a UK-based warranty, but there are plenty of good brakes available for £200/pair these days.

While there are plenty of brake-sets at that price point, few are 4 pot and come with all the rotors and everything else you need.

While there are plenty of brake-sets at that price point, few are 4 pot and come with all the rotors and everything else you need.

I just paid £65 for a set of Tektro 4 pot with Magura discs.

While there are plenty of brake-sets at that price point, few are 4 pot and come with all the rotors and everything else you need.

In addition to those Tektros above, there’s also TRP Slate EVO 4-pots: RRP £105 per end but avaiable cheaper than that, inc ~£115 a pair (exc rotors) from Radsport bike shop via eBay.