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BLACK

Avid SD-5 V-Brake

$22.00

(2)

Item # 710542

REI Members get back an estimated $ 2.20 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

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This high-performance brake has forged aluminum arms that are stiff and don't weigh a ton.

The Force Vector Alignment™ design reduces boss movement and ensures that more energy reaches the rim
Oversized linear spring provides postive centering with less tension, resulting in a lighter action
Overcoat™ boot stays on noodle and prevents debris from contaminating the inner wire
DIN-approved one-piece pads outperform and outlast most others

Imported.

Item 710542

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Avid SD-5 V-Brake Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Avid SD-5 V-Brake

4.5

(based on 2 reviews)

Reviewed by 2 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-2

Jul

2008

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Serious stopping power on the cheap

By deprogram

from Seattle, WA

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Install
Fade- Free
Great Stopping Power
Quiet

Cons

Adjustment Screws

Best Uses

Mountain Biking
Road Biking

Comments about Avid SD-5 V-Brake:

I bought a set of these and a set of the Avid SD-7s, and compared them directly to see if the SD-7s are really that much of an upgrade. Well, they are definitely an upgrade, but the SD-5 is still a great direct-pull brake.

The biggest differences I noticed:
- Shoes. These have bolt-on brake shoes, as opposed to the cartridges of the SD-7. They provide a softer lever feel, and slightly less stopping power. On the other hand, they are much quieter than the 7's out of the box.
- Cable boot. You have to slide the boot off the noodle to unhook the noodle from the brake arm link. This is hard on the rubber.
- Spring adjusters. These have a Philips head. I find these (as opposed to a hex head) are more prone to slipout and stripping. I guess it makes it possible to do adjustments away from home when you don't have an Allen set handy. Of course, that's probably when the adjusters will get damaged.

Still, this is a fine brake for the price of a good set of pads. Paired with a good set of levers, the improvement over traditional cantilevers is astounding. Do yourself a favor, and upgrade.