Strengths: Massive power in the dry, easily controlled by a two finger lever. On the lever is an adjuster barrel, to move the pads closer or further from the rim, much like the adjuster barrel common to V-Brakes. Once set up, you can almost forget about them, as the hydraulic oil doesn't clog up like standard cables. The pads last a lot longer than V pads too. Easy to bleed to.
Weaknesses: Can be a right pain to set up. The new Evolution adapters for the 2000 range has made it easier, with grooves to align the pistons, as opposed to the wedge from previous models.
Overall: For around £100 these are top quality brakes. They aren't just for trials riders either. I use mine for DH, and have ridden some mucky conditions as of late, not had a single problem. There's not annoying drag like on discs either. Buy some!
Strengths: Bomb-proof, incredible stopping power in all conditions, Set them up and never think about them, again.
You can have near-disc-like stopping ability with out having to buy new hubs/wheels/.
If ur tempted buy mechanical discs, stop right there...get these instead...its cheaper at about £100 for a complete set, and probably better power than mech discs, which I see as false economy.
Choice of colours, so you can trick up ur bike that little bit more!!
Weaknesses: they are real muthaf*****s to set up, but once done you'll never have to touch them.
Not as much mud clearance as with discs
Overall: Top flight brakes, that will never actually break themselves!!!
'next best thing to a decent pair of hope hydraulics'
Strengths: looks powerful enough to stop a no.12 bus
Weaknesses: stressful to set up
Overall: major powerful.but because ive only just had them, i dont have much of a detailed opinion about them,but i'll give them 5/5 for the power and the looks of them
Strengths: They can lock the wheel up, you can ease them on, very powerful, they look great, if set up properly they are some of the best brakes you can buy.
Weaknesses: Very fiddely, bit too expensive, not too great in wet conditions, bolts round off very easily.
Overall: A very good brake, just worth the money but extremely fiddely.
'these brakes will change the way in which you ride'
Strengths: quick to respond very powerfull in any condition whether it be wet or dry.
Weaknesses: can be a pain in the arse to set up but once done they are basically maintainence free
Overall: at first i thought the brakes where a bit crap because compared to my previous hydraulic disks they didnt seem as good however with the pad wear adjust system it makes thing perfect for your needs say if you need it to be extremely quick then wack up the ajust and go
Strengths: i've riden them in all conditiond and they seem to be pretty bomb proof, no amount of water will affect them and they even work well in think clingy mud
Weaknesses: as soon as u get um u have to get a bleed kit aswell to fit them with no bubbles in the lines.
finding a bleed kit for under £20 seems almost impossible u realy must get one straight away
the pads are expensive and the standard pads just dont seem to work in the wet it feels like your using canties.
seting up your maguras will take forever and most probably drive u round the bend but they do seem to stay put once youve done it (so long as you make sure every thing is really tight.
the brake boosters are very flexy my advise is to make your own out of a sheet of stainless steel(thicker = stronger)
Overall: U wont find a more powerful rim brake but as with all mountain bike equipment it's overpriced for what it is and u will have to fork out on the bleed kit straight away. in my opinion they could have bundled the bleed kit in with the brakes, but so long as u put it all into prospective and think howmuch a decent set of disk brakes will cost u and it dosent seem to bad at all
Strengths: Very good power and modulation. Wide range of pads available. 5 years leakage warranty.
Weaknesses: Some may find them hard to set-up. Spares and fluid is expensive. Soft bolt material.
Overall: These have to be the best rim brakes out there for trials. Used by the likes of Martyn Ashton and Lance Tippe, they do the job well. Very well. Some people say they are hard to set-up, but if you take the tyres off and take your time, and have lots of tea on stand by, its very easy. Once set properly, the standard pads on a wet, unground rim will clamp as good as a set of XTR V-brakes in the dry. The modulation is good and prdictable, you get a good feeling back through the lever so you know exactly the right pressure to aply. Something to watch out for when setting-up: the bolt material is quite soft, so be carefull not to damage them when tightening. The Magura RaceLines are excelent value for any serious trials rider.
Strengths: good brakes for wet and good modulation.
Weaknesses: my front brake has had two leaks from the piston in the lever and the back one has had one leak, to be honest i am not happy with these brakes and i am now going to get some avids cos my mate has them and they are great.
Overall: they are good when they work and not being repaired