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Frankenbrakes and brake improvement discussion

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toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,857
5,227
Australia
You've sold me. Actually it would be an easy sell if I didn't already have Shimano rotors, adapters, and bleed tools/fluid.
Well the rotors and adaptors should work fine anyway? The $7 bleed cup and $2 bleed syringe will have to be written off, but you could probably sell those for 50% of their initial value to minimise the loss there. Worst case scenario a very small, localised workshop fire and then claim the bleed kit on insurance.

On a serious note, the new Cura looks fantastic and solid. Sure they're not cheap, but they're way cheaper than buying a set of Shimanos, nearly dying due to bite point variation, binning the Shimanos and then buying the Curas.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,933
16,537
where the trails are
I own both Curas and Cura 4s ... they rule. All my Shimano brakes are going.
The Shimano 203mm adapters don't jive with the Cura 4 caliper. The caliper doesn't clear by just a >< touch.
 

ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
893
292
Well the rotors and adaptors should work fine anyway? The $7 bleed cup and $2 bleed syringe will have to be written off, but you could probably sell those for 50% of their initial value to minimise the loss there. Worst case scenario a very small, localised workshop fire and then claim the bleed kit on insurance.

On a serious note, the new Cura looks fantastic and solid. Sure they're not cheap, but they're way cheaper than buying a set of Shimanos, nearly dying due to bite point variation, binning the Shimanos and then buying the Curas.
That little stick thing for the cup should definitely fetch some dollars.

I'll probably wind up with the Curas. Just wish they were a little easier to come by in the US.
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
17,358
14,190
Cackalacka du Nord
ordered a 2 pot cura for the rear last night...will do a 4 pot on the front when it’s time if i like the 2 pot...i guess that’s not frankenbrake news but i’m lazy
 

vinny4130

Monkey
Jun 11, 2007
457
217
albuquerque
Well as I talked a friend of mine into the new Hayes brakes and he also said the lever feel is very light, intitutive is what we agreed on. His feelings are that out of all the brakes he has tried the Hayes are his favorite so far, and this guy has had them all the list of brakes he has tried is long. I’m pretty sure he is using organic pads and I am using metallics. I get some howling but not a lot and I wonder if maybe it’s because I set the brake slightly crooked with the set screws or metallics. It isn’t something that bothers me to much. I have’t had a full back to back downhill runs with them which I wanted to do before I comented about them but the winter weathe has other plans. I 100% recommend them! But some people will hate them and I can understand that, I have not used a brake system that feels like the new Hayes. Also sorry to hyjack this Franken-brake thread but some here are the only ones that have had any interest. If the Hayes had the bleading edge on both like sram calipers but on both sides still, they would be about perfect.
 

Flo33

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2015
2,139
1,367
Styria
@vinny4130 how would you describe the modulation they offer, rather linear or progressive like servo wave Shimano? Can the lever be set close to the bars?
 

Happymtb.fr

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2016
2,074
1,442
SWE
Can the lever be set close to the bars?
Speaking of that, this adjustment seems to be quite limiting on the Cura. I briefly check a 2 pot set from a riding buddy, he had the lever all the way in and the bite point was quite far from the bar by my standard. I like to have the bite point around 10mm from the bar and his was more 20 to 30mm...
The extremely short stroke felt nice tho.
 

Flo33

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2015
2,139
1,367
Styria
Speaking of that, this adjustment seems to be quite limiting on the Cura. I briefly check a 2 pot set from a riding buddy, he had the lever all the way in and the bite point was quite far from the bar by my standard. I like to have the bite point around 10mm from the bar and his was more 20 to 30mm...
The extremely short stroke felt nice tho.
Agreed.
 

Kurt_80

Monkey
Jan 25, 2016
491
420
Perth, WA.
I own both Curas and Cura 4s ... they rule. All my Shimano brakes are going.
The Shimano 203mm adapters don't jive with the Cura 4 caliper. The caliper doesn't clear by just a >< touch.
How do the Cura 4s compare to Saints, especially in terms of power? I'm a big fan of my M810s, aside from that teeny little issue of a wandering bite point...
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,933
16,537
where the trails are
How do the Cura 4s compare to Saints, especially in terms of power? I'm a big fan of my M810s, aside from that teeny little issue of a wandering bite point...
I have years on 810 and 820, and just got the 4s a couple of months ago, but I'll call the overall power equivalent, with shorter throw and a firmer feel. Initially I felt that would result in less modulation but nope, it was just getting used to the feel at the lever.

edit: also, ZERO issues with variable bite point.
 
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toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,857
5,227
Australia
Speaking of that, this adjustment seems to be quite limiting on the Cura. I briefly check a 2 pot set from a riding buddy, he had the lever all the way in and the bite point was quite far from the bar by my standard. I like to have the bite point around 10mm from the bar and his was more 20 to 30mm...
The extremely short stroke felt nice tho.
I used to bend the levers on my old brakes to get the right bite point. I know it's brutal and heresy, but is that an option with the Cura?
 

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,494
4,218
sw ontario canada
I think I'm going to go MT7 over the Cura4.
Everything I read says the MT7 has better modulation and is not down on power.
The other thing is that the Cura reportedly has a very tight bit point that does not work as well with people like me who tend to ride their levers a bit. So a bit more freeplay for me is a good thing.
Not overly big on the plasti-crabon, but it seems to be holding up ok.
They now have the lever shape sorted, and it can be run very close to the bar.
Maguras I have had in the past have been flawless, can't say the same of others....

Curas sure are sexy though...
 
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jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
17,358
14,190
Cackalacka du Nord
oh, so NOW i say i’m gonna get some curas and NOW everyone starts pointing out negative things about them. THANKS O’RIDEMONKEY!

i’m sure, since i’ve been happily riding death-trap xt’s for probably a decade, that it’ll still be an improvement. right? RIGHT?!?!
 

vinny4130

Monkey
Jun 11, 2007
457
217
albuquerque
@vinny4130 how would you describe the modulation they offer, rather linear or progressive like servo wave Shimano? Can the lever be set close to the bars?
Modulation is high, like TRP it’s polarizing. Not like Shimano at all. I don’t think I can answer liner vs progressive as far as how brakes feel unless we agree on what that’s like. I would say progressive brakes have modulation and liner do not eg. Shimano, but maybe I’m wrong in this thought processed. Hayes do not seem powerful first set up. The lever can be adjusted to pull close to the bar. Upon initial setup my coworker was stationary pulling the lever, so hard for his first feel I was nervous about my decision watching the lever move through the stroke, however this is had to do with how little effort it takes to pull the lever in. The surface area of the pads are massive and take a more time then other brands to bed in. The lever geometry is pretty spot on for me I like the hook of the lever and how it swings, I don’t think any one would need to bend the levers to achieved lever placement.

TLDR
Modulation. Lots
Lever to the bar. yes
Powerful. Yes
 
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Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,933
16,537
where the trails are
hey Shimano frankenbrakers .... any interest in these old M755 levers, WITH fancy Dangerboy levers?
Found 'em in box, last time there were used was waaaaay long ago but they worked fine then. You'll need the brake lines with the 90* fitting at the MC too, but those should be out there somewherz.


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StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
hey Shimano frankenbrakers .... any interest in these old M755 levers, WITH fancy Dangerboy levers?
Found 'em in box, last time there were used was waaaaay long ago but they worked fine then. You'll need the brake lines with the 90* fitting at the MC too, but those should be out there somewherz.


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These are super reliable, I use them on winter bikes, they never let me down.
 

disassemble

Chimp
Nov 19, 2018
1
0
I recently gave up on the M9000/M820 combo I had been running for a few years, so I took one of the calipers apart. Disregard if you already have the exact measurements.

Do you happen to have to piston & oring seal measurements? Actually need reference for a set of M640's but I'm thinking I can subtract the difference.

Having really bad luck with the shimano levers + wandering/no bite point. Have a set of old mini-mono hopes laying around so was thinking of converting the shimano calipers to use dot fluid with EPDM seals and hooking up the hope levers.
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!