Killing two birds with one brake kit...?

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Fact:
My do-it-all hard tail has Hayes Soles (2006 bike, so atleast 2 years old Hayes).
Hayes Soles suck a whole lotta crap.
Hayes Soles on a factory bleed, thrashing around FH is frankly pretty dangerous on a bad day, hilariously risky on a good day.
I have Code 5s on my big bike.
Code 5s with 203mm discs for a 125lb rider kicks ass! :D

Want:
Upgrade my Hayes to a brake at the Juicy 5-level performance.
Possibly more pimp brake set-up on the big bike (it's going through it's end of season upgrade).

Maybe:
Get the less expensive Elixir R (without the pad-contact adj. thingie).
Mate the Elixir levers to the Code caliper to get Avid Code: E :D
Mate the Juicy 5 lever from the Code 5s to the Elixir R caliper and throw it on hardtail.
Big bike brake set up is stronger and lighter due to Elixir lever's newer taper-bore design and stronger cyclinder capacity.
Hard tail's brakes are better because...well, almost anything is better than Hayes Sole. :confused2:

Opinions? Additional ideas?

[eloach]

I have J7s with 203s on my Reign and I can't imagine needing more, but I have not made it to Shed Shuttles yet. The level of control you have with larger rotors is amazing.

You can usually get J5s/7s for next to nothing at PricePoint this time of year (although I have not looked lately). It might make sense to just pick up a pair. It would make for a fast, easy upgrade.

My 2005 Reign came with Soles. Certainly one of the worst hydro breaks ever made. Get ride of them. Trying to bleed or work with them is almost a complete waste of time.

[jabberwocky]

I'd just look for some previous year Juicy 5s. They can routinely be found for under $100 each online, and the design hasn't really changed for years.

Yeah, Soles are absolute garbage. Nothing redeeming about those brakes, except that they eventually stop the bike, kinda.

[mark w]

I think they were supposed to be named Hayes Sloes...as in sloe-ly coming to a stop over the course of a day or so. Or perhaps for their Sloe braking response.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

The noise they (Soles) make while braking is what I can honestly describe as slushy water boiling in a kettle...? I mean, if I'm coming down a slope at FH, it's pretty much a 50/50 chance I might wash out and crash even before I get anywhere close to the turn.:rolleyes:

[oldskoolbiker]

Phil,

Here is a suggestion that will be plenty good brakes for you, and it's only $129 shipped.

Get two of these:
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR604C00-Shimano+Hone+Br-M601+Disc+Brake.aspx

and these:
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BL604C00-Shimano+Lx+Bl-M585+Brake+Levers.aspx

That will give you a full set of brakes (except you'll have 8" centerlock rotors). Just use your existing rotors (they work fine with Shimano brakes) and sell the centerlock ones to make the price cheaper.

Also I saw the LX calipers on sale a performance for $40 with an additonal 15% off. So you could get those and only get the levers off Jenson.

I can assemble and bleed for you. You'll probably need to cut the line and re-bleed even if you get pre-bled brakes as the brake line length is never right.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Here is a suggestion that will be plenty good brakes for you...

Thanks, that looks to be a really good deal. However, I just stumbled onto some '08 Juicy 5s for $59 a pop. :D I think I might jump on that instead.

[oldskoolbiker]

Thanks, that looks to be a really good deal. However, I just stumbled onto some '08 Juicy 5s for $59 a pop. :D I think I might jump on that instead.

Where would that be?

[rciracing]

Thanks, that looks to be a really good deal. However, I just stumbled onto some '08 Juicy 5s for $59 a pop. :D I think I might jump on that instead.

Is that the Juicy 5's @ Full Cycles? Thats a great deal - I'd call to make sure they have them in stock. I have one Juicy 7 - new in box for $10 more. I bought Elixir R and was so impressed I just bought the Elixir CR's. If you have money, I would suggest those.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Yup Fullcycles.com. Since I saw the deal posted on MTBR I'm sure their stock's all gone by the time you finish reading this post. If they still have them by the end of today, I'll get'em. If not, I'll see about those Elixir Rs.

[rciracing]

Get them if they have them. Not to take away more business from my shop, but they also have a great deal on LX shifter pods.

[tsunayoshi]

The noise they (Soles) make while braking is what I can honestly describe as slushy water boiling in a kettle...?

I was going to say something about your brakes at LH the other day...now I know why they sounded like they did.

[mark w]

they sound that way because he uses them too much :P

[Dr Phil mmkay]

they sound that way because he uses them too much :P

There might be some truth to that statement. :)

[halfinch]

Yup Fullcycles.com. Since I saw the deal posted on MTBR I'm sure their stock's all gone by the time you finish reading this post. If they still have them by the end of today, I'll get'em. If not, I'll see about those Elixir Rs.


thanks for the intel. sweet deal.

[rizetech]

don't mess with the codes for sure - those are epic brakes.
juicy 5s are a winner too - elixir is super nice and sexy looking too, but it's new so it costs more and j5s are no laughing matter, they're still an awesome brake. I know guys who do DH (not racing, but all day shed runs, etc.) on juicy 5s/7s with no complaints! i say get the juicys and never buy hayes again. terrible terrible brakes...