WildBill

I know there have been some silly posts in the past few days poking fun at upgrading parts to be "faster". But I have a serious question.

I have an RX100 / 105 setup on my '94 Allez. The brakes are RX100. I am told RX100 components were basically rebadged as 105 with a new finish back when 105 debuted and are better than Tiagra components.

These RX100 brake calipers have the adjustment knob, and look very similar to my newer Ultegra on my other road bike. Is the only advantage to upgrading to Ultegra or DA strictly weight savings? I guess what I'm wondering is, are the higher / newer grades built any better, or stop any better?

To be honest I cannot tell any difference between my RX100 brakes on the '94 and my Ultegra on the '04...but I may be missing something too.

Just looking for "upgrades" to budget out this year...

steveknight

if you want better brakes go with campy datona or the next one up (the same thing) they pretty much the strongest brakes out there.

WildBill

would they work with my shimano setup? I assume they are independant of the drivetrain so it shouldn't be a problem?

baxtefer

do campy brakes have quick releases? i thought they were built into the lever.

steveknight

forgot about that. I just let the air out (G) with 25 tires it was no biggie. but that was a ltitle isse. but I wanted the most powerful brakes and they are it.

Lectron

The time's you're really in need of a quick release is when you have a flat.

Uh.... Whait. The air's allready out then. Hm...........

sydney

REALLY?? Why??

sydney

You can throw money away if you want, but better pads are alot cheaper, and leaves more beer money.

sydney

Gimmie a break.I have several sets of Chorus DPs and can't tell the difference between them and anything decent from shimano. Pads make more difference than the name on the caliper.

don d.

Brakes are really a last stop upgrade unless you are looking to save weight. Still, they are non-rotating weight so not all that critical.

Quick releases were designed for removing wheels when the tire is not deflated and for rapid wheel changes in competition. The replacement wheel's tire is already pumped up when it is inserted into the frame, remember?

Patriot

You wanna know a little secret. There are two good sets of brakes out there that work very good, and weigh the same or even alot less than Ultegras.

1. On Ebay, you can often pick up a set of used Cane Creek 200SL calipers for around $75. They weigh about 240g, ,and work very well.

2. If you are really on a budget. There is another set made by Tektro, called the X/RX40 model, and they are the same weight as Ultegras. But, they only cost $40 brand new at www.chucksbikes.com. or www.airbomb.com

I recommend them for a lighter caliper for people on a budget. Happy riding.

CAAD5AL

Patriot, are those the "no name" ones I see on so many retail bikes (like, 105 everywhere and then brakes that look just like shimanos but totally blank?)

Patriot

No, they are not blank. They are actually a differant name brand, just not popular like Shimano and Campy. Did you see them on the websites above? They are a standard caliper that work just as good as the others, and have the same weight, but they cost alot less. They weigh the same as Ultegras, but cost alot less than 105's. Can't beat that.

Also, I have heard nothing bad ever reviewed about those brakes. I personally don't have them on my bike, because I built an expensive carbon bike with Zero Gravity brakes. But, if I was to build a less expensive bike for my wife or kids, those are definitely the ones I would go for. Much cheaper and the weight is really a bonus for the price you pay.

I really think most Shimano and Campy components are WAY overpriced for what you get. But as of yet, no one has decided to make higher end components for a lower price. Believe it or not, the higher end components cost only a few dollars more to manufacture than the cheapies. But, because they are better, you pay major premium on prestige, name and marketing. Alot of the price is also engineering. The company needs to make up for its cost of developement with its high end components.

sydney

I got my 2 pairs for $40 a set because someone apparently wasn't too thrilled with them. Being a relative lightwight,they work well enough for me. I have even heard people gripe about the lighter DA calipers not working as well for them as ultegras. I use whatever falls out of the junk box and have no issues with anything of reasonable quality. Single pivot 105 and 600s are my favorite.

BlazingPedals

IIRC, in the days when 8-speed was king, RX100 used to be the component level immediately below 105, and the lowest 'decent' level IMHO. They started incorporating more steel and less aluminum into each successive level down from there. Is the RX100's spot filled by Sora now? Anyway, you'd get better finish and lighter weight by upgrading, but don't expect better performance.

sydney

Actually, the finish on rx-100 stuff was fine,and many including myself liked it better than the cheezzzzy greenish goat puke paint on on the 105 stuff of the same vintage. The calipers were functionally identical to 105.

baxtefer

why not just get better pads?

WildBill

In answer to just getting better pads...what do you guys recommend? Kool Stop, Avid, etc? Right now they are the stock pads.

As far as component levels go...that's interesting. I was told by the LBS that the RX100 was phased out by 105. They said other than finish they are practically identical. I guess the reason for me to upgrade to say Ultegra is not for weight savings, but for durability. If the RX100 crankset can take the same abuse and isn't easily broken, then I guess I can stay put with it.

operator

Basically you're looking for something to blow money on. I'd do it on... beer.