FSA Afterburner brakes

FSA ARE NEW to brakes but have released two for this season - the uber-expensive K-Force and the more affordable Afterburner here.

The squat, angular body means it's an impressively solid feeling brake. Reach and bite point dials are built in, but like most contact point adjusters, the latter doesn't make much difference. The cam assisted 'Quick Draw' actuation means fast initial contact and the braking feel is firm and immediate rather than soft and squeezy. Actual stopping power is relatively weak though. While the brake price is average the separately supplied rotors (20$) and brackets (12$) are great value whatever brakes you're running. Because it's brand new we've no long-term feedback on the Afterburner, but we've had no trouble in the past few months.

WEIGHT 443g

POWER 87m/s^-2

PRICE 260$

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.

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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.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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