Avid 6 Cants

[Stoeger]

It's time for new Cants, Performance has these on sale for $35 (and free shipping) so I'm thinking about getting them. Are these a good Cant for 'cross bikes? Here's the confusing part from the product description: "Powerful and innovative short-arm brakes that uses side-pull technology and convenience in a road-lever-compatible design" Side-pull technology? Huh?

[xthugmurderx]

$35 is just for one. you need two for a bike. they're the same as the shorty 4's with different brake pads (cartridge). they're real nice for the money.

[chimivee]

Shorty 4s can be found new on eBay for the same price, for a pair.

[Stoeger]

I have a Scott SE on the rear so I only need one fro the front, $35 seems like a decent price, just wanted some feedback on them.

[Jack's ABC]

I've got a pair of Shorty Sixes set up on some Sintema Muddy Carbon forks and they 'chatter' like crazy. To be true as soon as the pads wear and I don't have the maximum toe in set they squeel like pigs. Have a look through the forums here to see if these brakes will be chattery or chatter free with your forks.

[i_r_beej]

I have Shorty 4's fitted with Kool-Stop's dual compound MTB. Pads. On my bike-- steel frame with aluminum fork-- i get a little chatter, but a heck of a lot less than i did with the stock Avid pads.

So.. these brakes perform at least as well as any of the cantis i've used in the past (back before linear-pull brakes and discs).

If you can get a set of Shorty 4's do it. With the exception of the color of the arms and the pads they ship with the 4's and 6's are THE SAME. The 8's have some Ti hardware, but the arms are still the same geometry and material. Pfft.

[isotopesope]

my 6's gave me extreme chatter and squealing with the stock pads. i replaced them with some non-cartridge black koolstops and gave them about 2mm of toe in, and now they work great. this initially was on my aluminum frame with an aluminum fork. i've replaced the fork with a full carbon one and the brakes still are working well.

i built my wife's soma doublecross with the 4's. the stock pads are actually working fine so far, though she's not an aggressive rider... also, that soma fork is BEEFY, which might help with any possible chatter issues.

[damocles1]

I have Avid Shorty 6 brakes on my Las Cruces. Set-up properly, they don't squeal or chatter. The key is getting someone to set them up who knows WTF they are doing.

I changed to KS salmon pads and the braking power increased. They are good brakes and a good deal @$35.

[KeatonR]

If you can get a set of Shorty 4's do it. With the exception of the color of the arms and the pads they ship with the 4's and 6's are THE SAME.

Except that the 6's let you change pads within the cartridge, whereas with the 4's you have to replace the whole cartridge -- which seems to mean that you have to set them up all over again vs. just slipping in a new pad. Right?

[CaptMatt15]

Yes, but the first time you buy new pads, just pick up some cartridge ones (which cost like.. $3 or $4 more) and you're golden.

[Stallionforce]

I have the Avid 6's. I've had a hell of a time cutting back the squeal. Eventually I got some koolstop cartridges and the black/salmon pads. That cut it down quite a bit, especially with a toe-in to the rear (a "toe-out"?).