Cantis - quality brakes or squealing non stopping nonsense?

[ededwards]

Gus and I have had a frank exchange of views on the merits and demerits of cantis and although he is deeply misguided I'm wondering what the thoughts of others?

So, are cantis are the essence of retro or not? They often look pretty, are 'period correct' but can make excessive noise and unless set up with mystical skills they don't really work that well when the chips are down.

Anyone?

 

[Augustus]

I know I know, they are period correct and the very fact that they don't work very well etc etc makes them even more applicable to the retro ethos....


...but they are rubbish.

 

[jonnyboy666]

well they do suck but i do like em still, on the type of bike i fit them to now it doesn't matter that they don't work great coz those bikes do get ridden but not ridden in the more extreme xc or trail riding that i prefer. wouldn't like to do coed y brenin etc with cantis, or v's for that matter, modern brakes are amazing by comparison.

 

[rienster]

Not a fan either. Used them for years. They were noisy, needed constant adjusting (after just about every ride) and were just a pain in general. The only 'good' set I had were onza's but they snapped in no time.
I'm running v's now. First edition LX I believe. All I do now is change the pads when they're worn. Love em.

 

[Pickle]

V's - dont like them, dont see the point over cantis, ok they are on my bike but I prefer cantis.

Cantis - prefer them over v's, ok to set up, retro cool.

Discs - for when I want to stop! Superb power, genius invention, weigh far too much, look big and cumbersome.

Make of this what you will.....

 

[yo-eddy]

Somehow my XTR and Record OR Canti's allways worked very well, most of the other kinda s*cked big time,
For CC use nothing beats Magura HS33's, maybe not the prettiest but sooooo gooood :!:

 

[clockworkgazz]

They look great however they are not that great if you want to stop in a hurry- but whats the rush anyway? No-one will be able to see/admire your bike if you are going to fast.

Get some Magura's if you must but please step away from the discs- they are just wrong :evil:

 

[Tallpaul]

I don't see the issue with setup on canti's, maybe i'm just more patient

The one thing that makes a real differance for me is pads. Kool Stop Eagle II pads rock. There all condition compound is great for summer. I just fitted their dual compound pad to a bike and it works very well in really horrible wet mud, doesn't seem too bad on wear either

 

[ededwards]

Hmm, worrying that not only Gus is misguided.

I've got some XT lo pros with Koolstop pads on a couple of bikes and although I'm not quite sure how I achieved it they give fantastic performance. So, the ruling is that Ed wins

 

[JustKev]

I've said it before, Campagnolo Record OR are the benchmark for canti's. Look amazing, so easy to set up and enough stopping power to inspire confidence, even with a rider my size! M900 work okay with replacement pads. All the others are frankly rubbish.

Graftons look cooler though and are going on my two current builds!