No Neil, they're not not my friends, they're mine, and they're sh1t.
;-)

Wonder what's wrong with them, Kato?

well on the current set, the bolts that hold the caliper halfs together have been cross threaded. The caliper halfs don't join together properly because they sit p1ssed so I get the brake fluid leaking out of the caliper, onto the discs.

I ordered a set of the new Hope Mini Mono's when I picked my Julie's up on Saturday

I have Julies on my rock lobster - I cant say I have used them a vast amount but they seem fine, nicely weighted levers, good feel and plenty of stop - I havent put the miles in yet so cant say on longevity or reliability.

Sounds like they need to go straight back again then. I wonder what it is about brakes that have silly things like this go wrong? This sounds just like Luke Deacon's thread from last week on Hope Minis.

i have the 'dreaded' resin levers on my louise discs which i've had since '99. if these are so bad i'd love to have some alloy lever ones because mine are currently brilliant. Never one problem in about 5000km without needing a service yet. I weigh 95kg and they stop me as fast as the tyres allow, they can also be set up for bite point and power and lever reach. PERFECT. if they really are £35 i'm gonna get some more incase these ever do break. So good in fact i'm just in the process of fitting them to my new patriot to replace the current hope c2's.

I would keep away from julies. Mine siezed up really badly in the winter as the cold weather ruined the cheap rubber seals. and the resin levers were rubbish. Get deore.

I bought a Marin Alpine Trail back in March of this year. It came with Magura Julies.

I would like to add my name to the list of happy customers. I have always found them to be powerful, responsive and reliable (so far).

I would rate them most highly in the value for money stakes.

Anyone had problems with the 2003 model Julies?

My problems are all with '03 Julie's that came with my Whyte

Cheers for all the above comments chaps. I've got me a pair of Julies now and I can't wait to use 'em. Just need to get some disc specific wheels now...