Skip to main content

Avid Elixir 3 brakes


AVID’S ELIXIR 3 is low on features but high on control for its cost. It uses the most basic ‘humpback’ Elixir lever body and a fixed-hose calliper that has to be aligned using pain-in-the-arse cup and cone washers. It runs on less heat tolerant DOT 4 fluid too, though you can upgrade to DOT 5 easily enough.

You do get a two-bolt clamp for easy bar fitting though, along with the latest, quieter, pulse-free HS1 rotor to keep weight reasonable. Avid’s unique close-in lever pivot gives a natural sweep that boosts adequate power and improves already decent feedback levels.

Bleeding is OK if not brilliant, and the basic Elixir lever has always been the most reliable. It’s a decent high control, low price XC/trail option. There’s no brake-only option though.

WEIGHT 442g
POWER 100Nm

PRICE: 148$




Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

READ MORE >>

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>