Shimano CX70 cantilever?

[stevep33]

Does anyone have any anecdotal thumbs up or down thoughts on the Shimano CX70 cantilevers that Riv sells?  Are they powerful? non-squealy? work when wet?

The Rivendell website writeup is favorable and they look nice. 

[John Speare]

Thumbs up.

 

Easy as pie to set up.

 

Feel perfect – b/t squishy and firm – to me.

 

I do wish there were a tad more space b/t the pads and the rim for proper cross sludge, but the braking is so good and feels so right, I’ve forgiven them for that.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/jEaESbOkG_oJ.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[stevep33]

Awesome.  Thanks!

[bionnaki]

how do these compare to BR-R550s?

On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 3:23 PM, stevep33 <stev...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anyone have any anecdotal thumbs up or down thoughts on the Shimano CX70 cantilevers that Riv sells?  Are they powerful? non-squealy? work when wet?

The Rivendell website writeup is favorable and they look nice. 

[John Speare]

I’ve not set up the R550’s but I’ve ridden them and they’re the brake that made me buy the CX70, which ahs a similar fixed straddle cable set up and geometry.

 

W/out looking/comparing the two, I’d guess the 70’s are shimano’d – nicer finish, and slightly lighter – than the 550’s, but it’s possible they could be a different geo.

 

If you like brakes where you squeeze the lever all the way through to modulate, then you’ll dig these brakes (both 550 and 70’s). Set up properly, the levers don’t bottom out, but you get a full handful of braking to skid.

 

If you like more of the v-brake feel, where you’re instantly grabbing/stopping when you grab the brake, then you may not like them as much.

[Michael Hechmer]

I have no experience with these but they look so much like the 550s that I can't believe they don't have all the problems the 550 did.  I set up a pair of those with Ultegra levers and found set up very difficult and breaking power, even with salmon pads, mediocre.  The levers required so much travel that the pads had to be placed almost on the rims.  For this kind of money I would suggest you spring for Paul's, which are a breeze to set up, offer great stopping power, and will last as long as Grant's frame.  The one feature RBW trumpets, that they use short pads and open up wider is nice, but not as nice as stopping on a dime when you need to.  If I couldn't afford the Paul's then I buy the Tektro hi profile brake.  Harder to set up, won't last as long as Paul's, but will stop your bike when you need them to.

Michael

[newenglandbike]

No doubt the quality of Paul brakes is top-notch, but, why would Tektros not last as long as Paul brakes?     Is there something about the material/aluminum used, or the design?    Also, in what way are Tektros more difficult to set up than other cantilever brakes?    In my experience, while different cantis may require different spring tension or a higher/lower hanger, they're pretty much all the same level of difficulty to dial in.

[Garth]

Yeah .. there's no evidence that the Tekrto won't last as long as any other brake.  I'm still using a Shimano BR-MC70 wide profile cantilever from the early 80's.  Hardly pretty or fancy, they just continue to work well and will as long I'm alive:)  Setting up any and every canti is an art form .... no matter the brand :) If you want super simple use v-brakes!

[Michael Hechmer]

While the hanger for the Tektro brake is pretty, it is considerably fussier to work with.  Tektros are more difficult to center and fine tune.  I first tried disassembling and trying different holes but ultimately ended up bending the spring and offsetting the hanger.  I don't believe the Tektro parts are as durable, and when when you need a replacement part... well forgedaboutit.  Still, for the money, they're a good brake, but I wouldn't pay more than twice that for the Shimano.  I would for a Paul brake.

[bionnaki]

I've had good luck with BR-R550s with switching out the wide washer on the inside with the thinner washer from the outside (as per shimano's instructions) so the pads arent so close to the rim...and then pulling the brake cable down until the levers feel smooth and even...and the brake action feels right to me and modulates well. If these brake pads are so close to the rim, the brakes will not work very well.

On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 5:11 PM, Michael Hechmer <mhec...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have no experience with these but they look so much like the 550s that I can't believe they don't have all the problems the 550 did.  I set up a pair of those with Ultegra levers and found set up very difficult and breaking power, even with salmon pads, mediocre.  The levers required so much travel that the pads had to be placed almost on the rims.  For this kind of money I would suggest you spring for Paul's, which are a breeze to set up, offer great stopping power, and will last as long as Grant's frame.  The one feature RBW trumpets, that they use short pads and open up wider is nice, but not as nice as stopping on a dime when you need to.  If I couldn't afford the Paul's then I buy the Tektro hi profile brake.  Harder to set up, won't last as long as Paul's, but will stop your bike when you need them to.

Michael

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/Uf8VR1kQXdgJ.

[John Speare]

And to make it Riv—specific, here’s the CX70 on a Legolas:

http://tinyurl.com/3veblmp