Dion Lewis
Brakes are the most important component of your bike. Therefore, you must have the best rim brakes on your rim wheel bike. However, finding the right rim brake that matches all your requirements is not as easy as it sounds. That is why we have written this article so that you get to choose from the top rim brakes available in the market right now.
After extensive research, we have compiled this list of the 12 of the finest rim brakes that are being manufactured now. We have tested the brakes ourselves and so you can rest assured that these rim brakes are of the highest quality & performance.
A comprehensive buying guide for Rim Brakes
What is a rim brake?
Image Source: blog.mapmyrun.com
Rim brakes use their wheel’s rim as the braking surface. After the brake lever is squeezed the bike’s speed is reduced as the braking pads are pressed on to the rim. Rim brakes are widely used in city, BMX & road bikes. They are popular due to their effortless mechanical structure and because they are light in weight. Two of the most preferred types of rim brakes are cantilever & caliper brakes. Both of these types of rim brakes are great in terms of their quality and performance. With that being said, they each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Also, they are appropriate for different types of bike riding activities. You will rarely see any rim brakes on mountain bikes. However, some mountain bikes are equipped with a rim brake called V-brake.
1. V-Brakes
After V-brakes were introduced, they really enhanced the performance of tour bikes, hybrid & off-road bikes. V-brakes are still an excellent option even though most bikes come with disc brakes now. When the brake cable is pulled, the two long arms of the V-brakes provide exceptional braking power. Also, V-brakes are known for performing well even in extreme weather or road conditions. V-brakes are quite simple to install and assemble. However, you should ensure that the brake levers are well-matched otherwise it can lead to poor performance. Also, most V-brakes have cartridge style brake pads, therefore replacing the pads is very straightforward.
2. Cantilevers
Cantilever brakes are quite similar to V-brakes. However, they have a straddle cable between them. When that is pulled in a vertical direction the brakes become activated. Cyclocross riders prefer cantilever brakes over V-brakes as they provide great performance and do not get jammed with mud. Cantilever brakes are not very straightforward when it comes to the installation process. But they are worth the trouble because of their performance. These brakes also come with cartridge style brake pads. As a result, they offer a quick and simple replacement. Even though most new cyclocross bikes come with disc brakes, you can still find older models fitted with cantilever brakes.
3. Calipers
There are many different options you can choose from when it comes to caliper brakes. However, the most common one you will find is the dual pivot caliper brakes. The dual-pivot brakes have two key parts. These brakes not only offer immense stopping power but also offer incredible control. They are very popular among professional riders and they are also quite easy to install and maintain. Dual pivot caliper brakes also offer excellent aerodynamic gains and that is why they are the prime choice for many in the cycling community.
Image Source: bikesonrobson.com
Features of Rim Brakes
1. Brake Pads
The brake pads are attached to the ends of the brake’s two arms, and when you pull the brake lever, the brake pads rub against both sides of the rim and therefore the bike slows down. There are two main types of rim brake pads. They are:
- Non-cartridge pads:
These are the most basic types of brake pads and also the most affordable. They consist of a rubber block along with a braking surface and a threaded metal post. The brake pad is mounted on the arm by the use of the metal post and is located on the opposite side.
- Cartridge pads:
Cartridge pads consist of a metal shoe that has replaceable rubber inserts. Cartridge pads are better in terms of performance when compared to non-cartridge pads. This is because cartridge pads offer more braking power as the metal shoe is less susceptible to flex than the rubber block of non-cartridge pads. They are an easy upgrade to your bike which can help you enhance your braking performance. Cartridge pads may be sold as a package along with posts, pads, and shoes, or as individual rubber inserts.
2. Brake Modulation
Brake modulation is how efficiently the braking power is impacted by the position of your bike’s brake lever. It basically means that your bike will stop according to the amount of pressure you apply on the lever. A bike with high brake modulation will slow down gradually if you apply a slight amount of pressure. However, if it has low brake modulation then the bike might stop instantly with just a slight pressure on the lever. Rim brakes offer much better modulation when compared to disc brakes. Some brake systems allow you to improve the brake modulation by balancing the adjustment between the lever piston and the caliper piston. This enhances the brake modulation even more and gives you much better control of your bike.
3. Bike Compatibility
You must make sure that your new rim brakes are compatible with your bike. To install your new V-brakes, you must check that the forks, wheels, and frames are compatible. When mounting your V-brakes or other cantilever brakes both the frame & forks will require bosses that the brakes will be attached to. These bosses are threaded metal ends that are located on the frame’s fork legs and seat stays. There are adaptors if your frame or forks does not consist of these bosses. Also, and this is perhaps the most important of all, the rim of your wheel must have a braking surface. It is also important to note that disc-only wheels will not be compatible with your rim brakes.
Caliper brakes on the other hand are of two types. They can either be single-pivot brakes, in which both brake arms pivot at one point or dual-pivot brakes, in which one arm pivots at the center point and another at a side point. While single-pivot caliper brakes are much lighter in weight, dual-pivot ones are capable of exerting much higher braking power. Caliper brakes for road bikes are generally mounted along with a bolt that threads past a parallel hole on the frame.
4. Long-drop Brakes
One of the most important factors that you must consider if you are purchasing a new set of caliper brakes is the amount of ‘drop’ the brakes have. This is especially important if you are getting the brakes for your touring bike or your winter trainer. The amount of drop basically refers to the arm length of the brakes. This is because commuting, touring and winter training bikes are compatible with larger tires that measure 28 mm and above. Therefore, the arms of the caliper brakes need to be long enough to go around the tires and be able to get to the rim. This will also enable them to be used along with mudguards. Therefore, if this is the case for you, you should avoid standard drop brakes and go for long or deep drop caliper brakes for your bike.
Our top pick(s)
Out of some of the selected finest rim brakes, we have chosen the Shimano Dura-Ace Calipers as our Overall Best Choice because of its impressive design, tremendous braking power, and smooth shifting.
Exceptional design, immense braking power, tremendous shifting | Overall Best Choice
The Shimano Dura-Ace Calipers is the best rim brake you can buy right now. Its attractive design will surely make heads turn when you are riding your bike out on the road. It has excellent braking power and shifting. Therefore, you will be able to slow down or stop your bike with ease. Also, as it can accommodate larger tires, you can ride very comfortably and steadily even on very tough terrain. You can buy this brake caliper set without any hesitation as it comes with a great warranty backed by Shimano itself.
- Model: BR-9100
- Best For: Road Biking
- Material: Steel
- Brake Type: SLR EV Dual Pivot
- Reach: 51 mm
- Rim Width: 20.8 – 28 mm
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Mount Type: Standard
- Weight: 326 grams (pair)
A quick look at our selected list of the finest rim brakes for you:
| Brakes | Weight (grams) | Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| Shimano Dura Ace Brake Calipers | 326 | 95 |
| Campagnolo Record 12 Dual-Pivot | 317 | 92 |
| Shimano Ultegra | 182 (front); 178 (rear) | 90 |
| TRP Caliper Brake Set | 160 (front); 158 (rear) | 89 |
| SRAM Rival 22 | 300 | 88 |
| Miche Performance Brake Set | 325 (pair) | 87 |
| Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake | 270 | 86 |
| Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilever | 129 (front/ rear) | 85 |
| SHIMANO Ultegra Direct Mount | 340.7 (pair) | 84 |
| Bike Brakes Mountain Bike V-Brakes | 386 | 83 |
| Shimano BMX V-Brake | 184 (rear) | 80 |
| SRAM Apex Caliper Set | 308 (pair) | 78 |
12 best rim brakes you can buy today
| Brakes | Preview | Model | Best For | Material | Brake Type | Reach | Rim Width | Maximum Tire Size | Mount Type | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano Dura-Ace |  | BR-9100 | Road Biking | Steel | SLR EV Dual Pivot | 51 mm | 20.8 – 28 mm | 28” | Standard | 326 grams (pair) | 95 |
| Campagnolo Record 12 |  | Record 12 | Road cycling, Time Trial, Triathlon | Aluminum | Dual Pivot | 28” | Center Bolt | 317 grams (pair) | 92 | ||
| Shimano Ultegra |  | BR-R8000 | Road cycling, Time Trial, Triathlon | Aluminum | SLR EV Dual Pivot | 51 mm | 20.8 – 28 mm | 28” | Center Bolt | 182 g (Front), 178 g (Rear) | 90 |
| TRP Road Caliper |  | R879 | Road Cycling | Forged / CNC machined 6061-T6 Aluminum | Dual Type | 39 – 49 mm | 27 mm (Maximum) | Short Reach Caliper | 160 g (Front), 158 g (Rear) | 89 | |
| SRAM Rival 22 |  | Rival 22 | Road Cycling | Forged Aluminum Arms & Stainless Hardware | Dual Pivot | 39 – 49 mm | 29 mm (Maximum) | 28” | Short Reach Caliper | 300 grams (Pair) | 88 |
| Miche Performance |  | Performance | Road, Triathlon | Lightweight Alloy | Dual Pivot | 41 – 57 mm | 27” | 325 grams (Pair) | 87 | ||
| Shimano V-Brake |  | BR-T4000 | Trekking | Aluminium | V-Brake | 700C | 270 grams | 86 | |||
| Avid Shorty Ultimate |  | Shorty Ultimate | Racing, Cyclocross | Forged Aluminium | Cantilever Brake | Post Fork | 129 grams (Front/Rear) | 85 | |||
| Shimano Ultegra | No products found. | Ultegra 6810 | Competitive Riding | Aluminium | Direct Mount Type | 51 mm | 19 – 26 mm / 19 – 28 mm | 28” | Post Fork | 340.7 grams (Pair) | 84 |
| Bike Brakes V-Brakes |  | Liteone V-Brakes | Most Bicycles including Road, MTB & BMX Bikes | Aluminum Alloy & Plastic | V-Brake | 386 grams (Pair) | 83 | ||||
| Shimano BMX V-Brake |  | BR-MX70 | MTB, BMX | Aluminum | V-Brake | 26″, 650b, or 700c | 184 grams (Rear) | 80 | |||
| SRAM Apex |  | Apex | Road Biking | Forged Alloy | Short Reach Road Caliper | 39 – 49 mm | 28” | 308 grams (Pair) | 78 |
1. Shimano Dura-Ace: Exceptional design, immense braking power, tremendous shifting | Overall Best Choice
- Model: BR-9100
- Best For: Road Biking
- Material: Steel
- Brake Type: SLR EV Dual Pivot
- Reach: 51 mm
- Rim Width: 20.8 – 28 mm
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Mount Type: Standard
- Weight: 326 grams (pair)
- Sleek Design: The Shimano Dura-Ace has a very aesthetic and sleek design that will just fit in with your bike and make it look even better. Also, the design features less gap between each of the arms which allows for more convenience out on the road.
- Braking Power: This rim brake offers amazing braking power. It enables you to have more predictability in terms of braking and also offers a linear braking curve which allows you to have a better contact feeling while slowing or stopping your bike.
- Excellent Shifting: This Shimano rim brake comes with improved shifting than its previous models and also has better shift lever ergonomics. Now you can shift much more smoothly and quickly.
- Wide Tire: These brakes are compatible with wider tires and therefore you can enjoy better clearance and comfortable riding no matter how rough the road gets.
- High Rigidity: Made with steel, these brakes are highly rigid and offer the perfect amount of stiffness. They are also quite durable.
- Color: These Shimano Dura-Ace rim brakes are available only in Black.
- Warranty: Shimano provides a limited warranty of 3 years along with the purchase of this product.
- These rim brakes are a bit expensive compared to other options out there.
- Some customers have reported that the finish starts to wear off after a while.
The Shimano Dura-Ace Calipers is just one of the best brake calipers out there. First of all, we have to say just how amazing these rim brakes look when they are mounted on the bike. It really does improve the overall appearance of the bicycle. We have used a lot of Shimano calipers and we have to say that these Dura-Ace brake calipers feel much lighter and stiffer than all the others. Also, the performance is absolutely top-notch. With these brakes, you will experience a smooth ride where slowing or just stopping your bike is as seamless as it can get. It provides the perfect combination of weight, braking performance, and stiffness. Also, don’t worry about these brakes getting locked up. No matter how heavy you are, you can’t get them to lock up without a serious effort. Therefore, if you are planning on upgrading the brake calipers on your bike, you can’t get anything better than these rim brakes.
Shimano Dura-Ace Calipers
2. Campagnolo Record 12 Dual-Pivot: Aerodynamic, excellent performance, orbital adjustments
- Model: Record 12
- Best For: Road cycling, Time Trial, Triathlon
- Material: Aluminum
- Brake Type: Dual Pivot
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Mount Type: Center Bolt
- Weight: 317 grams (pair)
- Aerodynamic Design: These fantastic rim brakes feature an aerodynamic design that makes them perfectly suitable for road cycling, time trials, and triathlon racing. Also, the front brake lever of the brakes is sealed to offer enhanced aerodynamic performance.
- Incredible Performance: The Campagnolo Record 12 is a redesigned model that provides exceptional braking power and superior modulation. Also, the dual-pivot points come with sleeve bearings for the best power transfer and low friction.
- Alloy Construction: The Alloy construction of these rim brakes allows it to both provide sturdy & stiff performance while also being exceptionally lightweight.
- Orbital Adjustments: The brake pads are of great quality and they provide orbital adjustments to be made so that you can install them easily. It also helps to reduce the noise created while braking.
- Braking Distance: The amazing rim brakes come with an optimized rubber compound to provide reduced braking distances in any type of weather or riding conditions.
- Color: The Campagnolo Record 12 is available only in Black.
- Warranty: The manufacturer provides a warranty of 2 years along with the purchase of these rim brakes.
- The price of the Campagnolo Record 12 is higher than that of its competitors.
The Campagnolo Record 12 Dual Pivot Brakes is widely popular in the cycling community for its reliability and performance. The dual pivots on the front and rear offer superior braking power. The dual-pivot design provides a much better grip on both arms to produce more clamping force on the rim’s brake track. Also, the bearings at the pivots offer up a super smooth motion. Campagnolo upgraded this model from the previous ones by providing clearance for 28” tires. These brakes will aid you in building up your lightweight dream bike, without any fear of slowing down on the steepest or even the longest mountain descents. Also, these excellent rim brakes feature superb ergonomics. It will provide you with an amazing and fulfilling riding feeling. Setting these brakes up on your bike is also fairly easy. So if you are currently searching for a new set of dual-pivot rim brakes, the Campagnolo Record 12 will provide you with everything you need!
Campagnolo Record 12 Dual Pivot Brakes
3. Shimano Ultegra: Aesthetic design, dual-pivot brakes, SLR-EV technology
- Model: BR-R8000
- Best For: Road cycling, Time Trial, Triathlon
- Material: Aluminum
- Brake Type: SLR EV Dual Pivot
- Reach: 51 mm
- Rim Width: 20.8 – 28 mm
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Mount Type: Center Bolt
- Weight: 182 g (Front), 178 g (Rear)
- Linear Braking Curve: The Shimano Ultegra Brake Calipers provides a linear braking curve that offers a lot of predictability and direct contact feeling along with much better linearity while braking.
- Aesthetic Design: The brake calipers feature a very aesthetic design that is quite appealing at the very first glance. This attractive and modern design will definitely suit your racing bike.
- Dual Pivot: Dual pivot brakes will vastly improve your braking performance. They provide a lot of stiffness and less slack when you press on the brake lever.
- SLR-EV Technology: This is an innovative technology developed by Shimano. It employs a brake design with a short arm. It also consists of two bearings and one roller. This allows it to provide superior braking power and modulation.
- High Efficiency: The calipers come with stabilizers between the axles which helps to reduce deformation and improves braking efficiency.
- Color: The Shimano Ultegra Brake Calipers are available only in Grey.
- Warranty: Shimano provides a limited warranty of 3 years along with the purchase of this product.
- There is no cable or housing included in the package and so you have to purchase them separately.
The Shimano Ultegra Brake Calipers will provide you with great stopping performance. You will be able to use this with complete ease and also get instant response from the brakes. Also, they provide a simple installation process and the brakes themselves are quite easy to adjust according to your preferences. There are narrow gaps between the arms of the brake calipers. This not only helps to lower its weight but also improves the aesthetics of the brake unit. These brakes are of excellent quality. They are also capable of accommodating wide tires, upto 28C in size. This is a major advantage as wider tires perform very well on rough and tough roads. Another benefit of this feature is that you can easily fit or even remove your tires thanks to these brake calipers. And so, if this is the type of brake caliper you are searching for, you should get them before they run out!
Shimano Ultegra Brake Calipers
4. TRP Road Caliper: Lightweight, dual-pivot brakes, reach adjustability
- Model: R879
- Best For: Road Cycling
- Material: Forged / CNC machined 6061-T6 Aluminum
- Brake Type: Dual Type
- Reach: 39 – 49 mm
- Rim Width: 27 mm (Maximum)
- Mount Type: Short Reach Caliper
- Weight: 160 g (Front), 158 g (Rear)
- Lightweight: This excellent brake set is very lightweight as the front brake weighs only 160 grams and the rear brake only 158 grams. This makes them very easy to use and enables them to not have an impact on your overall bike weight.
- Dual Pivot: Dual pivot brakes will vastly improve your braking performance. They provide a lot of stiffness and less slack when you press on the brake lever.
- High Quality: This brake set is built with forged or CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel hardware. Therefore, it ensures the highest quality, rigidity, and durability.
- Reach Adjustability: This amazing brake set offers quick & easy adjustment of the lever so that you can use it according to your style and convenience.
- Cam Style QR: This brake set comes with a quick-release with a cam style mechanism to allow it to be removed quickly and without any tools.
- Color: This TRP Road Caliper Brake Set is available only in Black.
- Warranty: TRP offers a two-year warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and/or workmanship from the date of original purchase.
- This brake set will not be able to fit 28C tires.
The TRP Road Caliper Brake Set is just what you need to enhance your racing experience. That’s not all, they are also great for your daily commutes or just regular road biking. You will realize how amazing they are on your very first ride. It provides an excellent & firm braking response. They work very well with SRAM levers but will also go well with any type of road levers. Also, it will look great on your bike no matter what your build is. Another great part about this brake set is that they include two sets of brake pads for both alloy and carbon rims along with the package. The TRP road calipers are very smooth and easy to modulate. So if you are planning on getting a new pair of brake calipers for your favorite road bike, get these and enjoy a whole new riding experience.
TRP Road Caliper Brake Set
5. SRAM Rival 22: Versatile, solid build, SwissStop pads
- Model: Rival 22
- Best For: Road, Mountain, Cyclocross & Triathlon
- Material: Forged Aluminum Arms & Stainless Hardware
- Brake Type: Dual Pivot
- Reach: 39 – 49 mm
- Rim Width: 29 mm (Maximum)
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Mount Type: Short Reach Caliper
- Weight: 300 grams (Pair)
- Multipurpose: The SRAM Rival 22 Brake Caliper can be used for a variety of cycling activities including road, mountain, cyclocross & triathlon. So no matter what kind of riding you are interested in, these calipers have got you covered.
- Solid Build: This brake caliper is built very well. It is built with forged aluminum arms and stainless hardware to give it a solid and sturdy build.
- Exceptional Finish: This amazing caliper comes with a grey & black anodized finishing which not only gives it an attractive look but also makes it durable.
- Braking Power: This brake caliper offers immense braking power. The dual-pivot design vastly increases the braking power and also enhances the progressive feel that you will experience while braking.
- SwissStop Pads: These pads are made up of rubber and perform very well especially in wet or extreme weather conditions.
- Color: The SRAM Rival 22 Brake Caliper is available only in Black.
- Warranty: SRAM provides a two-year warranty that is applicable from the date of purchase according to their warranty policy.
- Some customers have reported that the bolts of the brake caliper started rusting after a while.
The SRAM Rival 22 Brake Caliper offers everything you need to meet your versatile cycling endeavors. These brake calipers can be installed very easily onto your bike and making adjustments is a completely effortless process. The best part is once you are done adjusting them, they stay exactly like that. You will not find them loosened or unadjusted. Our test ride was very successful. The brakes performed very well and offered incredible modulation which was not only efficient but also linear. Also, the brakes offer a lot of predictability as they respond well to an increased force applied at the levers. The swiss stop pads are a bonus as they provide smooth stopping power as well. Therefore, you can buy this pair of brake calipers and easily set them on your bike to enjoy the tremendous performance while riding.
SRAM Rival 22 Brake Caliper
6. Miche Performance: Affordable, great stopping power, excellent adjustability
- Model: Performance
- Best For: Road, Triathlon
- Material: Lightweight Alloy
- Brake Type: Dual Pivot
- Reach: 41 – 57 mm
- Maximum Tire Size: 27”
- Weight: 325 grams (Pair)
- Light Build: The Miche Performance Brake Set is built with lightweight alloy and therefore the pair just weighs about 325 grams. These brakes will help to keep your bike light.
- Affordable: You can get this amazing brake set and all of its convenient features at a very affordable price compared to other options out there in the market.
- Stopping Power: Like some of the other brakes in this article, these also come with a dual-pivot design. The pivots are treated with heat and capable of providing efficiently modulated stopping power.
- Great Adjustability: The brake calipers come with a forged 57 mm drop with 16 mm of adjustability which lies between 41 and 57 mm. This also allows it to give ample clearance for mudguards.
- Durable Parts: The brake calipers come with steel chrome-plated screws and nuts and keep them in place once they are adjusted and bolted in.
- Color: The Miche Performance Brake Set is available only in Black.
- This brake set cannot accommodate bike tires of the 28C size.
The Miche Performance Brake Set is quite popular in the cycling community for its high quality and affordable price. They are a great choice for cost-conscious audax and winter bike builds. The rich gloss anodizing on our test pair looked classy and very durable. It looked absolutely amazing on our road bike. The braking has proved impressive with excellent modulation and runs even while swooping into long, wet, and winding descents. The original pads have relatively soft compounds and provide an adjustable angle. So if you want a great pair of calipers without spending too much money, this is the perfect choice for you!
Miche Performance Brake Set
7. Shimano V-Brake: Long brake arms, incredible power, noiseless | Best Value For Money
- Model: BR-T4000
- Best For: Trekking
- Material: Aluminium
- Brake Type: V-Brake
- Maximum Tire Size: 700C
- Weight: 270 grams
- Great Value for Money: You will get unbelievable braking power at such a reasonable price and that is why this brake set offers the best value for your money.
- Excellent Design: These brakes are built with an efficient design that requires low operating forces and is the ideal choice for trekking.
- Arm Length: The brake calipers come with long arms with a length of 107 mm. This allows it to offer more space for the mudguard. A mudguard prevents the buildup of mud in the brakes.
- Tremendous Power: The brakes offer high braking power which comes along with excellent controllability. Therefore, you can ride and brake with full confidence.
- Noiseless: The Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake provides smooth and quiet stopping power. Therefore, you will not be bothered by any annoying noise when you are riding with your bike.
- Color: These brake calipers are available only in Black & Silver.
- Accessories: This package also includes brake pads, a metal noodle, and a rubber boot.
- Warranty: Shimano provides a limited warranty of 3 years along with the purchase of this product.
- You need to buy additional mounting studs to fit these brakes on your bike as they do not come with the package.
The Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake is a very efficient and powerful mountain bike rim brake. They are very easy to set up onto your mountain bike and they are guaranteed to provide more stopping power than the brakes that originally came with your bike. This is because this is the best quality v-brake for MTB. These brakes can lock up the rear wheel with very little effort but still provide controlled braking. Also, the brakes have strong retracted springs and have adjustment screws to set them not to rub the wheel. The pad adjustment is easy and well-executed. The bottom line is that they provide rock-solid braking, no squealing or rubbing pads, and most importantly a safe bike for riding. Highly recommend these brakes if you are thinking about replacing or upgrading from what came on with your bike.
Shimano Mountain Bicycle V-Brake
8. Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilever: Lightweight, NC machined arms, center-pull design
- Model: Shorty Ultimate
- Best For: Racing, Cyclocross
- Material: Forged Aluminum
- Brake Type: Cantilever Brake
- Mount Type: Post Fork
- Weight: 129 grams (Front/Rear)
- CNC-machined Arms: The CNC machined arms help to reduce weight while the open design promotes mud clearance and prevents mud from clogging up the brakes.
- Center-Mount Pads: The center-mount pads allow for their height to be adjusted. These pads along with the concentric hardware make for easy setup.
- Center-Pull Design: The special center-pull design of the Avid Ultimate cantilever braking system is especially recommended in case of either short-pull mountain or drop-bar road-based levers.
- Cable Fast-Release: The cable fast-release opens the brakes up for fast, and hassle-free wheel removal or replacement.
- Color: Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilever Brake is available only in Black
- Accessories: The package includes an alloy straddle carrier with cable. Furthermore, the road-style replaceable cartridge braking pads, along with an inline barrel adjuster helps in making necessary adjustments even on the go.
- Some customers expressed that they would like an instruction manual to be included with the package.
The Avid Ultimate Cantilever Brakes are the best cyclocross cantilever-brake out there in the market. It has incredible braking power especially in dry conditions and it also offers high brake modulation without which the braking power would be meaningless. While it may be true that the brake performs well along with the Shimano’s brand new brake levers which come with a longer cable throw, these cantilever brakes actually give their best when used along with an SRAM lever or even an older Shimano lever. These cantilever brakes are compatible with both wide or narrow arms. We gave them both a shot and we preferred the narrow profile for both the front and back brakes as it offers more power. So get these amazing cantilever brakes while you still can!
Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilever Brake
9. Shimano Ultegra Direct Mount: Integrated design, dual-pivot brakes, fantastic brake shoes
No products found.
The Shimano Ultegra Direct Mount Brake Calipers are highly recommended for their great performance and control. You can install these brake calipers on your bike all by yourself. The cable tension can be adjusted easily and the brakes grab onto the rim very well. The brake pads can be adjusted in all three dimensions. You may notice that initially, the pads don’t mount parallelly on to the rim very well. But you can adjust it to do that. After adjusting you will be able to get the whole pad within a few millimeters of the rim. They perform in a very smooth and quiet manner. The stopping power and modulation that these brake calipers offer will surely enhance your performance and help you get ahead at your next race. So get these brake calipers and upgrade your bike’s braking performance!
No products found.
Shimano Ultegra Direct Mount Brake Calipers
10. Bike Brakes V-Brakes Set: Multipurpose, great build, easy installation | Budget Choice
- Model: Liteone V-Brakes
- Best For: Most Bicycles including Road, MTB & BMX Bikes
- Material: Aluminum Alloy & Plastic
- Brake Type: V-Brake
- Weight: 386 grams (Pair)
- Multipurpose: These brakes will provide superior performance no matter what type of bike riding you are into. They are compatible with most types of bikes including road bikes, MTB, and BMX bikes.
- Build Quality: This bike is of very high quality as it is made up of aluminum alloy and plastic materials. Therefore, it is very sturdy and durable.
- V-Brake: V-brakes add no strain on the hubs or spokes. As a result, they are quite easy to maintain and replace. Also, spare brake shoes and braking components are easily available in the market.
- Simple Installation: These brakes offer a very quick & easy installation process. Therefore, you can get them up and running in no time.
- Budget Choice: This is the most low priced brake set in this article and one of the most affordable ones available in the market. And so, these amazing brakes are our budget choice.
- Color: These brakes are available only in Black.
- Accessories: The package also includes brake pads, brake boot, brake noodle, cable guide, rubber covers, and lock screws.
- The gate of the cable guide of this brake caliper is way too narrow.
- The brake pads are not of very high quality.
The Bike Brakes Mountain Bike V-Brakes are a very versatile and reasonably priced brake set that will surely meet all your cycling requirements. They are very easy to set up and adjust. Specifically, the springs are quite smooth and evenly proportional which makes them very easy to adjust. The company provides a lot of extra items in the package that are very helpful. You will find that stopping with these brakes is very quick and smooth. The brake pads are quite soft and yet the performance is still upto the mark. So if you are looking for a budget-friendly upgrade to your bike that will improve its stopping performance and is reliable, then you should definitely get these fantastic brakes.
Bike Brakes Mountain Bike V-Brakes Set
11. Shimano BMX V-Brake: High strength, superb brake pads, cartridge brake shoes
- Model: BR-MX70
- Best For: MTB, BMX
- Material: Aluminum
- Brake Type: V-Brake
- Maximum Tire Size: 26″, 650b, or 700c
- Weight: 184 grams (Rear)
- High Strength: This brake system is manufactured with lightweight and high strength forged aluminum. This enables the DXR rim brake to be the ideal choice for BMX racing.
- V-Brake System: V-brakes do not apply any additional stress on the hubs or spokes. This allows for less maintenance and replacement of parts. In addition to that, spare brake shoes and braking components are easily available in the market.
- Excellent Pads: The Shimano S70C type brake pads are of great quality. They offer excellent performance and very low noise.
- Cartridge Shoe: The brake shoes come with a cartridge system that makes it much easier to replace the brake pads and does not disrupt the brake shoe set.
- Tension Adjustments: The brake comes with a spring tension adjuster which enables it to always keep the brakes centered for better-stopping performance.
- Color: The Shimano BR-MX70 BMX V-Brake is available only in Silver.
- Warranty: Shimano provides a limited warranty of 3 years along with the purchase of this product.
- The Shimano BR-MX70 BMX V-Brake is only applicable to the rear brake system of the bike.
The Shimano BMX V-Brake is used only as a rear brake and is the best choice for taking your BMX riding to a whole new level. This brake is quite light and provides a smooth and effortless pull. The stopping power is just fantastic and will allow you to brake conveniently and with total control. The brake looks amazing too. Your friends and BMX riding buddies will instantly recognize the large DXR logos on the brake. Overall, they are a great option for upgrading your rear only brake on your BMX bike. So what are you waiting for? Get it today to experience the best BMX riding with this outstanding brake.
Shimano BMX V-Brake
12. SRAM Apex: Exceptionally lightweight, very adjustable, SwissStop brake pads
- Model: Apex
- Best For: Road Biking
- Material: Forged Alloy
- Brake Type: Short Reach Road Caliper
- Reach: 39 – 49 mm
- Maximum Tire Size: 28”
- Weight: 308 grams (Pair)
- Well-Built: Manufactured using forged alloy, these brakes are quite lightweight and yet very sturdy. They are also very durable due to their high-quality build.
- Dual Pivot: The brakes are equipped with a dual-pivot design that enhances the braking power, modulation, and progressive feel when you hit the brakes.
- Great Adjustments: These brakes offer a lot of adjustabilities. It will allow you to make external centering adjustments. It also comes with a high-quality barrel adjuster.
- SwissStop Pads: The SwissStop pads are composed of rubber. These pads offer a low wear rate, superior linear brake response, and smooth, quiet performance. Also, they perform very well in wet conditions.
- Convex Washers: There are convex washers on the brake shoes that offer toe-in brake adjustment and easy alignment.
- Color: The SRAM Apex Brake Caliper Set is available only in Jet Black Gloss.
- Warranty: SRAM provides a two-year warranty that is applicable from the date of purchase according to their warranty policy.
- The brake shoes are not of very high quality.
The SRAM Apex Brake Caliper Set is a lightweight and powerful brake set to empower your next riding session. The brake set can accommodate large wheels which is a huge plus point as not brakes can do that. Apart from that, they also have a very high quality and great looking finishing that will surely make your bike stand out. The brakes are also super easy to set up and adjust according to your own preferences. You can get it up and running in under an hour and take it out on the road for a quick spin. So if you are looking for a set of brakes from a well-known brand that offers great performance and also comes with a reasonable price tag, then the SRAM Apex Brake Caliper Set is the perfect match for you!
SRAM Apex Brake Caliper Set
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are rim brakes going away?
Ans.: Most rim brakes are much lighter than disc brakes. In addition to that, they offer incredible stopping power & linear brake modulation. They also allow for flexible fork blades that decrease suspension losses. This allows you to control your bike’s speed more comfortably. Yes, most new bikes coming out these days are indeed fitted with disc bikes. But rim brakes still provide reliable and powerful performance. It still has a respectable place in the worldwide cycling community.
Q2. What is the difference between rim brakes and disc brakes?
Ans.: The main difference between rim brakes and disc brakes is that in rim brakes, the braking force is applied by calipers on the outer edge of the rim. On the other hand, disc brakes shift the braking surface away from the rim and on to a rotor. Also, rim brakes are lighter, less costly, more aerodynamic, and require less care than disc brakes. However, disc brakes offer much more braking power, better heat transfer, and offer more precision. You can watch the video linked below to find out more:
Q3. How to take care of rim brakes?
Ans.: First of all, you should check your rim brake pads and the inner cable regularly for wear and tear. Second of all, if your brakes feel gritty while you are riding, you should apply some Teflon based oil on your brakes to make them smooth again. You can watch the video linked below to know more about rim brake maintenance:
Q4. How to adjust your rim brakes when you are riding on the road?
Ans.: If you are out riding on the road and see that your brakes are not working properly, you should immediately get off your bike, try to find out what’s wrong, and make some quick adjustments to fix it. Firstly, you should take a look at the barrel adjuster and if it is adjusted properly. Secondly, check your brake pads for wear. Also, check if your brake pads are in the correct position or not as they can sometimes get misaligned while riding. You can watch the video linked below to know more about making roadside adjustments:
Conclusion
We hope we could guide you and give you proper advice on how to choose the best rim brake for your bike. If you feel like you don’t want to go through the hassle of finding a rim brake set for yourself, you can choose one from this article. We can assure you that you will not regret it. With that being said, best of luck with your new purchase and we hope you have a great time with your brand new brakes. Thank you for reading this article. Take care!
Shimano Dura Ace or ultegra rim brakes can easily accommodate 32 mm tires when the frame is designed accordingly.
Any reputable custom frame builder can do this..