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NEW Hayes Dominion T4 (F) T2 (R) Carbon lever Mountain Bike brakeset - $275 (South Mountain)
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These brakes are pricey when new, MSRP is $800 plus tax for complete set of these lightweight heavyweights.
I am a systems tester, and had the same brakes on my Revel for 3 months. I have them NEW for $275ea side.
The trimmed version of the well regarded Hayes Dominion A-series. The performance of the T-series is identical to the A-series since the hydraulics are identical, only the titanium and carbon fiber elements make them a whole lot lighter.
I have learned that the best brakes for me are the ones that have the fewest things to not like about them. Good brakes transparently and consistently do the same thing every time we use them (out of mind), it is only when they scare us do we take notice. Here is a list that shows how these brakes in the top 5 industry wide, and top 2 for me. I have used no less than 10-12 different brake technologies in the last 20 years, and 20-30 different brake pads.
Why are these special?
1. The big one, hand fatigue and arm pump. The ball bearing lever pivot, light return spring and teflon glide ring master piston makes these handles the easiest to actuate, less than 6 oz finger force to bite point. This brake holds that title. Most brakes, like Code RSC, are closer to 20oz, or worse, over 2 lb for the Maven. That is just to make pad contact, before any actual braking. Hayes light touch is a characteristic of these brakes that the user will never be conscious of UNTIL you try brakes that are not designed for true single finger freedom. All force goes into braking, not overcoming inefficiency. The result is less hand, finger and arm fatigue.
2. CARBON FIBER brake lever shaped by Reynolds an ergonomic improvement over most designs. Bare handed riders never experience a cold lever.
3. Titanium hardware.
4. Highly machined for lowest total weight, 253g for T2 handle hose and caliper.
5. K2 Brake hose is well known as the stiffest, especially important for the rear brake with longer run to avoid squishy lever feel due to ballooning.
6. Highest hydraulic leverage, 20% higher than shimano.
7. The surface area of the T4 brake pad is 24% greater than 4-piston shimano. The T2 pad has only 7% less area than shimano 4-piston. The T2 directly compares to 4-piston power, but with improved feel.
8. Modulation best described as aggressively linear, unlike Sram, which are either binary (rsc) or unaggressive (r)
9. No moving bite point.
10. Ratings show lowest maintenance, highest reliability, in class.
11. The only brakes with crosshair caliper alignment screws, which adds sanity to the task of pad-rotor spacing.
12. Highest power to weight ratio among all braking systems, except trickstuff.
13. 2 caliper bleed ports, easier to remove a caliper bubble.
14. Can be gravity bled using a shimano funnel.
15. T2 pads are TOP LOADING. This is a huge convenience, no removing the wheel to adjust or replace pads.
T4 front, T2 rear for better braking balance.
Most people will be more than happy with T2 Front and Rear, or for a more balnaced and more powerful T4 front only with T2 rear. This will provide the best proportioned (balanced) enduro brakeset, since the front tire provides 2-3 times the traction and braking of the rear tire during hard deceleration. This is also how motorcycles and cars are designed. Putting a T4 on the rear is just overkill in most cases and loss of traction control is often the result. Note the recommendation for different pads on the rear, this is because the semi-metallic pads have a lower friction coefficient and are more modulating. Again, for better F-R balance.
Whatever your preference, these brakes are best for any lightweight build where peak performance and modulation is required with the lowest finger force.
NEW IN BOX set for just $499, $200 less than the bike shop. Want 4-piston on the rear? Add $50.
I-10 and Chandler Blvd
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