Best / favourite / best made Canti brakes from 90ies

[ferrus]

1st gen’ Record OR are probably the best I’ve used (the original ones with the ‘thrust-bearing’ type pivot)

The original Boulder brake is a solid and powerful design, better than the Onzas whom they licensed the design too thanks to its tighter construction. It doesn’t crack either, being 7075 alum.

I also love Gravity Research Pipe Dreams, but that’s just an aesthetic thing and I can’t say they worked any better than most others. Likewise Paul Stoplights ..but they sure look cool.

 

[ibbz]

1st gen’ Record OR are probably the best I’ve used (the original ones with the ‘thrust-bearing’ type pivot)

The original Boulder brake is a solid and powerful design, better than the Onzas whom they licensed the design too thanks to its tighter construction. It doesn’t crack either, being 7075 alum.

I also love Gravity Research Pipe Dreams, but that’s just an aesthetic thing and I can’t say they worked any better than most others. Likewise Paul Stoplights ..but they sure look cool.

How about Kona Curve ? Or curve ?

 

[legrandefromage]

Anything Old and wide

 

[ferrus]

Never used the curves Ibbz. I don’t think most of the CNC/boutique brakes are really an improvement over Shimano, Dia Compe et al performance wise. It’s mainly about the pleasure of ownership and maybe a bit of weight saving.
A few definitely worked really well though. Others less so..

 

[ibbz]

Anything Old and wide

Frogleg cantis haha
Or Mafac

 

[ibbz]

Never used the curves Ibbz. I don’t think most of the CNC/boutique brakes are really an improvement over Shimano, Dia Compe et al performance wise. It’s mainly about the pleasure of ownership and maybe a bit of weight saving.
A few definitely worked really well though. Others less so..

Aesthetics !!!
There are some CNC looking diacompe @kingoffootball has them - with holes
What’re they called ?

 

[jimo746]

Aesthetics !!!
There are some CNC looking diacompe @kingoffootball has them - with holes
What’re they called ?

Didn't Tektro make something similar?

I do like Dia Compe 987's, also available in various colours, and they actually stop your bike!
Black Shimano LX with M-System pads always impressed too, stealthy ...

There are far fancier & more intricate marvels of cnc out there, but most don't work any better, and many perform worse.
You pays your money....

Edit: you can't really talk about the Ying of cantilevers without including the Yang of brake levers.... There were some pretty Pooh brake levers around....

 

[ibbz]

Didn't Tektro make something similar?

I do like Dia Compe 987's, also available in various colours, and they actually stop your bike!
Black Shimano LX with M-System pads always impressed too, stealthy ...

There are far fancier & more intricate marvels of cnc out there, but most don't work any better, and many perform worse.
You pays your money....

Edit: you can't really talk about the Ying of cantilevers without including the Yang of brake levers.... There were some pretty Pooh brake levers around....

There’s a nice thread and discussion on brake levers
But couldn’t find one on the brakes

 

[ferrus]

There’s a bunch of pic’s of the Boulder canti’s here. It’s a fab brake, much nicer than Onza HOs..
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/boulder-brakes-sold.378833/#post-2811694

 

[foz]

I quite like the Suntour XC Pro's with SE rear, as said they work well when set up but are more fiddly than others... 19mm cone spanner required! I am thinking of swapping to something more modern that require less tools, and have a road style cartridge pad (instead of the standard canti post type) for ease of swapping pads