I'm looking at the Gran Compe 610, from VO. They are gorgeous, come with VO pads, and look like the offer good clearance, and seem to generally be regarded as pretty good brakes. These are brand new, $170 total, which is a bit outrageous. I also found a set without the VO pads for ~$120.

Also, the Shimano 500 center-pull. These also look pretty nice, and are, as I understand, pretty good center-pull brakes. I would of course upgrade the pads, probably KoolStop. These are less than half the price of the Gran Compe, at ~$50 for a pair, not including the price of new pads.


People have also said that Mafac made the best center-pulls. To be honest, aesthetic is important to me, and the Grand Compe and Shimano center-pulls just look so much better than the Mafacs. But I can also get the Mafacs for pretty cheap. Edit: Mafacs actually don't look so bad. I like the Mafac competitions I think. I have read they are hard to set up, though, and I'm also not crazy about the post-style pads.

Which would you get? Something else? I think I'm leaning toward the Shimanos.

This is going on a touring build, so it is important that these brakes be robust, and offer as much clearance as possible.