Planet X Ultra Light CNC/Forged brakes - weights & opinions

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Devon
Posts: 782
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/BCP ... e_calipers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/BCP ... e_calipers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone got any experience with these? They seem to offer a fairly good weight-to-price ratio.

by Weenie


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astranoc
Posts: 442
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 11:43 am

by astranoc

Too many threads on this Devon, please look:

https://www.google.ie/search?q=site%3Aw ... etx+brakes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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jekyll man
Posts: 1570
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:23 am
Location: Pack filler

by jekyll man

They're too light, and float off into the ether..... ;-)
Official cafe stop tester

Devon
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Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

Very good 8)

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LouisN
Posts: 3510
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

jekyll man wrote:They're too light, and float off into the ether..... ;-)


:lol:

:)

s
i
u
o
L

Zigmeister
Posts: 938
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:09 pm

by Zigmeister

Yeah, this have been covered before.

Pros: Light.

Cons: Cable clamping setup allows cable to slip under higher brake lever force. The mechanism crushes/frays the cable at the clamp point, as cable slips under lever pressure this causes braking to be reduced, not good. No idea what they were thinking with this terrible neanderthal design.

Quick release, doesn't really quick release if you run your pads close to the rim. You need enough space due to the poor lever design to allow the brake pads cantilever first against the rim before the release will pop and open up the brakes. That is great is you like your pads 4mm from the wheel on each side to allow the lever to close, then open. But, I run my pads closer to the rims, just removing the wheel between rides was a hassle every time.

If they would just build this brake, with the traditional and proven cable clamping and quick lever adjustment like SRAM/Shimano and others use, I would switch back to them. Until that time, just using my Red brakes. They work, the quick release system is golden/proven, and my brakes cables aren't destroyed.

Devon
Posts: 782
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

Thanks for the report. I use Campagnolo so have the more sensible lever operated release so that shouldn't be an issue. Will look into the cable fraying issue though, thanks.

fposse
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:09 am

by fposse

They look cool, work fairly well, and don't weigh a lot, but that's about it. Nothing amazing about them. Just like Zigmeister said the cable clamp is pretty stupid and ruins the cable once you've tighten the bolt. Had the CNC version on my main roadie but i just decided to let my singlespeed inherit them.

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nickf
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:34 pm

by nickf

Yes cable stops sucks. Overall great calipers nice and stiff.

stevec1975
Posts: 552
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:37 pm
Location: London

by stevec1975

Zigmeister wrote:Yeah, this have been covered before.

Pros: Light.

Cons: Cable clamping setup allows cable to slip under higher brake lever force. The mechanism crushes/frays the cable at the clamp point, as cable slips under lever pressure this causes braking to be reduced, not good. No idea what they were thinking with this terrible neanderthal design.


Never had a problem with this, all cable clamps crush the cable by design.. If you setup you brakes correctly there is no issue..

RiverCityKid
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:03 pm
Location: Kansas / New York

by RiverCityKid

I don't know much about how they get the material to be black or red, but wouldn't the silver colored ones be lighter than say the black or red? Or is it anodized or colored in a way that doesn't increase the weight? Here is the link for convenience http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BCPXFOR/planet-x-ultra-light-forged-brake-calipers

Thanks

budgetweenie
Posts: 47
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:33 pm
Location: Louisiana USA

by budgetweenie

The color comes from a dye applied as part of the anodizing process. The anodizing adds no weight, it is an electrochemical process on the surface of the metal. The dye is only a few molecules thick. The silver ones are also anodized, to prevent corrosion.

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J00P
Posts: 93
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:11 pm

by J00P

There are 2 versions of the planetX brakes,
[1] CNC version spec'd weight 205g
[2] forged version: spec'd 225 g
(at half the price of the CNC brake)

my forged brakes:
Image

stcact
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:33 pm

by stcact

I've got the 201gr cnc'd gold version. As for the color, anodizing will not add a measurable amount of weight to the brake set. Setting them up is easier than some would lead to believe. If you got Any mechanical skills, it won't be a problem. I'm 150lbs kitted and there is more than enough stopping power. Keep an eye on them, if they go on sale get the cnc'd ones.

RiverCityKid
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:03 pm
Location: Kansas / New York

by RiverCityKid

Thanks for all your help guys, I just didn't know what exactly the anodizing process meant and I appreciate the pic of them on the scale. I'll be saving weight (36g) even if they come in at 242 and money over the set of SRAM Red brakes I just sold so I think I'll be happy with these!

by Weenie


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