Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Lemond Tete De Course, Campy Record.

Summary:
If you are looking for the ultimate stopping ability for your bike then the Mavic CCS has to be it. It is actually too much power in many ways. I find myself just using the back brake for most general stopping purposes simply because both together is ridiculous.
I have yet to decide if the crazy braking power is good or bad. Good in that you can stop in an instant at any speed. Bad in that such power has a limited range of modulation.
But there is no question that brakes do not and should not be any more powerful than this.
I matched these with a Campy system and therefore really like the lack of a quick release lever.

Strengths:
Ultimate bike stopping power, great looks, easily replacable common brake pad catridges.

Weaknesses:
Any brake, well any bike part for that matter, at this price point should have stainless hardware. Because of that it loses a star for value.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano single-pivots, Shimano 105 dual pivot, Cane Creek SCR-5.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at I work in the shop -

Favorite Ride:
Kuota Kharma/Record

Bike Setup:
Kuota Kharma
Record gruppo except Mavic Brakes, Zipp QRs, FSA Ti-carbon BB
DT RR1.1 rims, DT Evolution spokes, Conti GP 4000,GASS Moki Stem, Ritchey WCS bars, Specialized Alias saddle, ITM Millenium seatpost, Speedplay X-2, Bontrager carbon bottle cages.

Summary:
REALLY happy with these. I'm not a fan of the differential campag brakes and these cost less, weigh the same, and fit my riding style better than anything else I have tried.

Strengths:
Price, weight, ability to retrofit aftermarket brake pads, looks, THAT return spring, ease of adjustment, feel.

Weaknesses:
Not a weakness as such, but made in Taiwan, not France. It says on the box, in tiny letters. I don't think they need to be ashamed of this.

Similar Products Used:
Dura-ace 7600, Athena monoplaners, 600 single pivots, Record and chorus dual pivots, 105-6 dual pivots.

Price Paid:  $130.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
The 1/2 ironman loop

Bike Setup:
Specialed S-works, full dura-ace 10, mavic brakes, cinelli bar, mavic/ king wheels

Summary:
I put these on my road bike to try something different. I use Shimano, so it is kinda lame there is no quick release. But- it is ok shimano users! Just adjust your cable so it is loose enought that you can turn the cable barrel at the caliper to open the brake a bit and slip your tire out. No big deal. A small inconvenience for having great brakes. Hey- it takes you 45 seconds to remove the wheel. But, you have great brakes for a 3 hr. bike ride. Sounds good to me! The brakes have a great finish on them and adjustments are nice. Brake pads are on par with dura-ace. The first time I pulled the lever while I was doing about 28mph going downhill approaching a turn, my jam dropped. It had great modulation and it felt like my bike now had ABS brakes. Ultegra would have just slowed and then skidded the rear wheel, especcially without working the front brake at the same time. The Mavic is far more powerful, similar to a v-brake for a mt. bike. I do not know if zero gravity would be worth the money after trying these. They perform great.

Strengths:
Finish and modulation

Weaknesses:
Lack of availability (I never see these anywhere), and no quick release

Similar Products Used:
Dura-ace, Ultegra

Price Paid:  $135.00 at ebay

Bike Setup:
chorus ergos

Summary:
A great set of brakes. No complaints. As many others have said, these brakes are light, powerful, reliable, and responsive. They cost less than Chorus but work just as well, if not better, than Record. They don't have a quick release, but I don't see this as a problem because I use Campagnolo Ergos.

Strengths:
light, powerful, reliable, responsive

Weaknesses:
In terms of looks (black) and function (no quick-release) they mix better with Campagnolo components. This of course is only a weakness if you ride with Shimano.

Similar Products Used:
Chorus and Record brakes, Shimano Dura-ace.

Price Paid:  $130.00 at eBay

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR Composite 2, Daytona 10s shifters, rear derailleur, Speedcific 30mm rims laced to Speedcific hubs, 20/24 spokes, Michelin Pro Races, Mavic SSC brakes, SLR saddle, Thomson Masterpiece seatpost, Easton EA50 OS stem/bar.

Summary:
in terms of stopping power and modulation, on par with Record 10, definitely better than Ultegra 9. cheaper than Record 10. looks roughly as sexy as Record 10.

Strengths:
best value for money for all the top-end brakes.

Weaknesses:
no quick release on brake - bad for Shimano users.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra 9, Record 10, Zero Gravity SS.