Avid is proud to introduce the new Elixir 9 Trail and Elixir 7 Trail hydraulic disc brakes. Together with X0 Trail, they form the Avid Trail Family, the key to more power and control with less weight and zero fuss. Each Avid Trail brake features monster all-mountain power courtesy of a new 4-piston, dual-diameter caliper design. And with weights dipping below 350 grams, each of these three models gives up nothing when it’s time to climb. With riders seeking do-it-all machines that can float up steep climbs, devour rough descents and go further and faster than ever before, trail bikes are becoming more and more capable. Braking performance is part of the progression. The Avid Trail Series is too.
| We launched this new family of Avid brakes with the X0 Trail model last year. The ideas and technology behind that brake were extremely well received, and we're excited to be expanding that type of performance into two more Trail models, the Elixir 9 and Elixir 7. - James Alberts, Avid product manager |
Avid's Elixir 9 and 7 Brakes Explained
Filmed and edited by MIndspark Cinema
First Ride - Elixir 9 Trail Brakes
We spent two days riding Avid's new Elixir 9 Trail brakes in Sedona, Arizona, and came away from impressed with their performance. This isn't a surprise to us, though, given that we have many months of solid riding on their more expensive X0 Trail stoppers. The three major performance talking points - outright power, initial bite, and modulation - seemed to equal that of their pricier brother, which is saying a lot given that the Elixir 9 Trails go for $169 USD compared to the X0's $234 USD buy in. The 9s carry the same adjustment features as well, with both contact point and reach being tuneable, although tweaking the reach on the 9s does require the use of a tool. We have always been big fans of proper sealed bearing lever pivots, a setup that yields next to no annoying lever flop in the long run, and the Elixir 9 Trails make use of a more run of the mill pin and bushing layout (The X0s employ bearings). That said, it does take quite a bit of use before one wears out their lever bushings.
If we needed to purchase a new set of brakes and had to decide between the $234 X0s and the $169 Elixir 9s, what would be choose? Given that the 9s go for $65 USD less per end than the X0s, the mere 10 gram weight penalty for each brake, and the matching performance, we'd likely end up with a pair of Elixir 9 brakes on our bike, if not the even more affordable 7s.
www.sram.com/avid
- something happened at SRAM/ avid past the juicy series...
As for avid reliability issues I ran a set of avid juicy 7's for close to 5 years without any issues at all, and currently on a set of elixr r again with no issues (touch wood).
These new brakes they look great.
I'm trying to be fair, but Sram has never been good at making unique/notable performing brakes. Yes they are fairly simple brake action, have a good bite usually/solid until fading kicks in, etc. I always believe that each brand has their strongpoints. Sram is good at shifting, some forks, etc, just not brakes.
after dealing with Avid's entire lineup at our shop, and seeing my riding buddy not riding his bike because his FIFTH pair of warranty brakes (XO Trail) from sram are LEAKING AT THE PISTONS, I will recommend shimano or or even tektro hydros over avid every time. GET IT FIXED!
Sincerely,
Wrench Monkey
I switched to saints - bleeding with minimum tools and easy as **** and it can stop a truck
Also many mechanics that complain about Avidbrakes just dont know how to set them up - once you know - beautifully easy. Ziptie brake pipe to frame so all the tension on the tube is gone. Screw one side fairly thight, use a feeler gage to set pad and disc perpendicular. Do the other pad exactly the same, screw tight. Check with gage, you`re set. After run in check if everything has seated.
A properly aligned Avid 1,2,3,4,5,xx.. is a correct design and works well and long: Cast body, cast plunger, decent sealing, okfittings. Just like in a racecar. Everything expands the same because materials are very similiar.
All brakes fade - if they dont and you don`t feel it - some designdecisions haven been made to unengineer this warning message. Dangerous. Some glitzy brakes do that - not good.
I run Avid 1, 3 and 5 and have Avidhydraulics for 6 years. Sofar I never had any problems apart from slight and manageable brakefade and a bit of discscream when they dry up. Stock-Pads are the wearpoint. Disks are always fine. That is how it should be.
I do not know why people don't like a wide market with many different implementations of braking systems because that is what it looks like with all this flaming againt a company which made affordable high tech brakes (this also applies to other things, not just the brakes).
You could buy smaller rotors which will save a bit of weight too, but might be more susceptible to overheating due to smaller mass. If you are using organic pads you might want to change them to sintered for less initial bite. Other than that I can't think of anything else.
Half these guys can't even set a derailleur cable , most are not mechanically inclined and should not be working in a shop to begin with
Save time, money, stress and go saint, hope
They are much much better, way more reliable. The only up side for avid is the looks, but not performance.... if your looking for looks not reliability avid is for you.
I will not purchase another avid product any time soon.
On every bike since I have had a set of the venerable Hope Mono M4's, and they suit just fine ^^
actually XTR is fine with for "agro am/dh" riding. I know a lot of people who do it. Top of the line power from Avid is Code, Top of the line for power from Shimano is Saint. That's why that would be a fair comparison. XO Trails are not as powerful, hence why XTR would be a better comparison. Is that too hard to comprehend?
and I'm actually older than yourself so nice try with the "pinkbike kids" comment.
Avid brakes fail so often it's not funny. Around the world Avid brakes are failing every day!