Avid Single Digit 7

[whisperdance]

Hi 'Flexers!

Anyone tried the Avid Single Digit 7 Brakes?
In e-bay there is a guy that sells the complete set (cables included) for 53€.
Do you think is a nice deal?
I still have my '97 LX vbrakes and I was wondering if it was worth changing...

[Matno]

Haven't tried the SD 7's, but I have a set of SD 2's on my single speed and a set of SpeedDial 5 levers on my Proflex (with Avid mechanical discs). Both are very nice quality - the SD5 levers are definitely an improvement over the LX levers I had previously.

Regarding the brakes themselves, the SD series does not use a "true" parallel push design like the LX's, but you shouldn't notice a difference in power. The only difference between parallel push and some of the simpler "linear pull" brakes is that the pads wear unevenly if they're not parallel, and thus wear slightly faster. It's a very minor issue. Plus the Avid design is simpler, lighter, and probably stronger to boot.

Since the 7's are the high end of that series, as opposed to LX, which are lower end for Shimano, you'll probably notice that they're a bit "crisper" or cleaner feeling than the LX brake arms. I know even my XT V-brakes rattled a bit.

I also have a set of Avid Arch Rival 40's on my other Proflex, which ARE parallel push, and they are probably the best rim brakes I've used. Better than my old XT's, which were also parallel push, but heavier due to the arch.  I thought the MTBR user reviews on the Arch Rivals were super high, but the reviews for the SD 7s are even higher!

53€ sounds like a good price - especially if that includes the brake levers. Even if it doesn't it's still not a bad price. I paid more than that when I bought my first set of XT brakes with LX levers on a super close-out deal a while back. PricePoint.com has a deal for the SD7 Levers/brakes combo for usd $89 right now. I think that's pretty close to the same, but it doesn't include cables.

[will]

If Avid makes it, it's good. They have never sold junk.

(My job is in Product Management and Avid is a shining example of world class product management.)

For 53 euros I'd convert to low end disk brakes. Maybe even snag a pair of old Avid BB5's.

[whisperdance]

Well... I don't want to upgrade to discs because it's a proflex... Don't want to mar my "new old stock" crosslink carbon...
I wonder how the avid brake can compare to magura HS33...
I tried once a HS11 set of which I wasn't very impressed.
But for the price, the avid seems a good choice (and yes, it is the complete set).
Here is the link (text in german):

http://cgi.ebay.com/AVID-Single-Digit-7-Speed-Dial-7-V-brake-SD-7-Zugsatz_W0QQitemZ7221534847QQcategoryZ77581QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Cheers from Portugal, Ricardo.