ph4nt0mf1ng3rs

I just want to know, does anyone have any experience with SRAM Apex Brakes?

How do they stop? Are they good? Can you give me a summary/review?

I have a SRAM Omnium/Truvativ GXP BB for my singlespeed, and am going to use the SRAM 500 SS brake levers with the SRAM APex brakeset (MAYBE). But before I buy, I wanted to know:

What sets these brakes apart from say your generic Tektros?

I asked this on SS/FG forum, but seeing that the brakeset is from a road groupset, id be better off asking the roadies.

Plus, its better to ask the question in two different forums to have a multiplicity of answers.

Additionally, anyone have any experience with the SRAM S27s wheelsets? Im looking for one of the rims by itself. Just by itself. I want to lace it to a track/ss hub.

ph4nt0mf1ng3rs

..........but. On SRAM website it says the S500 ss levers are fully compatible with Rival, Red and Force calipers. It didnt say that it was not compatible with Apex, but still.....wonder if they are compatible with Apex calipers.

UmneyDurak

Never understood a question "How good are brakes (insert name)". It's a mechanical device. You pull on a lever and through a cable it contracts the calipers. The main difference is in weight (doesn't effect performance) and in the brake pads, which can be swapped at will.

NathanC

I think they work just fine.

stedalus

This is true for the most part. But really bad brakes can have flexible arms, or a crappy pivot, or come out of adjustment easily. I've only experienced this with canti brakes, but I imagine the same holds for calipers.

ScottStr

Apex is new enough that a lot of their text doesn't mention it. Anything that's compatible with Rival, should be compatible with Apex. Of course, I'm wrong about a lot of things.

canam73

Yes, they will work with S500 levers. And adjusted correctly with good pads they will work as well as any other short reach forged dual pivot caliper brake.

telebianchi

Which would you prefer at 40 mph heading into a right-hand bend with a Ford F350 towing a horse trailer coming in the other direction cutting over the yellow line (he says while thinking of Harmony Church Rd in Loudoun County, VA)?


Actually, I would agree with you if you are talking going from 105 to Ultegra or even up to Dura Ace. But the OP is building a bike and sounds like they'll be buying new brakes. So asking if the Apex are good/better than another brand/model seems like a perfectly sensible question.

urbanknight

The bike is made up of mechanical devices. Some work better than others. As Stedalus said, a flimsy arm will affect it, as would the pivot point. It's just like car brakes. They are all strong enough to lock up the tires, but the better ones give you better precision, which in the end allows you to stop better (provided you know how to use them).

Shuke

Neither. I'd prefer

Psimet2001 

Yes - there are differences between brakes....just because one doesn't notice or understand doesn't mean those differences don't exist. Thinking along those lines we should all ride the same frame, components, wheels, etc.

Big difference in brake design is response - modulation - to weight. Some lightweight brakes lack modulation - so when you pull the brake they almost lock full on. Others allow so much modulation they seem telepathic and allow you to totally control everything going on. Flimsy arms make for squishy and not as responsive brakes.

Head into a crit corner at 30mph with 60 of your closest friends and watch the junior lock his brakes up....

Effective performance and racing is as much about proper braking as it is about conditioning. Ask any motorsports person and I am sure they feel the same about their sport.

ph4nt0mf1ng3rs

Thanks for the info guys.

Psimet2001 

Don't know that we answered it really. But - as of now i am not aware of any listed non-interchangability between SRAM levers and calipers among the road lines being currently offered. Apex intercompatibility most likely will not be listed on their site yet - still fairly new and there is a lot of documentation that would have to be updated - besides they are busy selling Zipp wheels right now.

In general I believe that the majority of the Apex line is recycled design from the initial rival group (alloy group). I have found little to now difference between the two in the specific components i have compared. Example - Cassette - they are exactly the same except for a slightly heavier lockring and a slightly heavier plastic spacer in the 1050 over the 1070.

The calipers should be near identical in performance and FWIW i have raced on Rival calipers for the last few seasons....although DA7800 are the shiz....

Danil ACE

Pick up a set of Rival brakes instead since it is cheaper. Apex commands a premium price currently because it is a brand new group.

guadzilla

There is a difference in how well the brakes grip, how they modulate, how they release, etc.

RacerOne

Apex are argueably 'better' since they have the centering screw that Rival lacks.

keisatsu

ooh ooh The left one!!! Am I right, what do I win!?

rat fink

I believe you are wrong. I bought my Apex for about $20 less Rival can be had for. Apex were about $50

I'm using Apex brakes on my training bike, which happens to be the bike I ride the most lately. I'm really picky about brakes. Even when I'm on a budget I try to get the best brakeset money can allow:

- Dual pivot
- has centering screws
- no play or stickiness
- relatively lightweight
- precise/good feel
- prefer to have QRs on the brakes

Two of my bikes use Ultegra 6600 brakes, and this is what I'm accustomed to. However, in lieu of Ultegra or better; say, on a budget, I would default to these Sram Apex brakes.

Some observations:

- They stop nearly as well as my Ultegras, and can be found even cheaper than 105s or Rival
- They are near identical to Rival. They even come with the Rival instructions.
- They are significantly better than an equivalent Tektro or Cane Creek.
- The stock pads are acceptable enough to use. Which can't be said of most other brands in that price bracket. I will wear mine out before bothering to switch to KS or Swiss Stops.
- they do flex (torsionally) more than my Ultegras, but not enough to hamper braking. Just enough that the arms rotate slightly under duress.
- The pads are not great in the wet. If you do a lot of riding in the wet, get Kool Stop Salmons. EX: Recently, I was riding on one mountain pass where I regularly see speeds of 50+ mph when dry. It was raining/snowing and the roads were slippery. I didn't feel comfortable going more than 45mph or so, and less than 25mph in turns. I almost overcooked several turns even then.

P.S. Brakes are usually the first thing I change when upgrading a bike.

urbanknight

Very good. You're correct that you'd be better off using a front brake than the rear.

telebianchi

UmneyDurak

Left, because it's the front brake.

UmneyDurak

Most of that in cars/motorcycles comes from pads/rotors... There are also hydrolics involved, so a tad more complicated then road brakes.

I did say weight is one of the differences, but I don't believe it effects the performance. The response and modulation is more of a function of brake pads, and hand control. Although I admit never used super duper light weight after market brakes, so maybe you have a point there.

Yeah the junior should learn to use the brakes, then again some of the older gents could also benefit from it. From what I have seen in crits.

ph4nt0mf1ng3rs

Didnt know this was a test XD. Heey. Whenever you're in SF, hit me up. Lets go city riding some day =]. its funXD

urbanknight

Yes, weight itself doesn't affect performance, but if a manufacturer obsessed with weight makes an arm with too little material, it will flex. This makes it difficult to modulate because you start squeezing the lever and applying the brake before any real pressure is applied. It's a minimal difference, but one I have definitely experienced. In my experience, all dual pivot Shimano and Campagnolo brakes perform about the same. The cheap no-name or low end Cane Creek and FSA brakes are very squishy and difficult to make small adjustments. The super lightweight ones like Zero Gravity also feel squishy.

That being said, I have never felt unsafe because of a caliper. You just have to leave a little more room for error with some if you're pushing the limits of speed and cornering. I have, however, had a pad feel so terrible that I wondered if I'd ever stop.

Kimmo 

What's the point of a centering screw on a dual-pivot?

It's easier to centre them by hand. The mounting bolt doesn't need to be too tight to allow this.

Also, star washers are pointless IMO.