Mavic SSC Brake Calipers Reviews

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Sausalito or Nice oh well I live in MN

Bike Setup:
All steel 90's Coppi. 10 Speed record, 11 speed r. derailleur is compatible! Open Pro's. Still/steel isn't that light but neither am I.

Summary:
Purchased used with used pads. Even with the used pads they are far superior to the Ultegra I transformed from. My all steel Fausto Coppi ain't the lightest beast on the tarmac but I converted everything to Record for vanity/heritage reasons, save for these brake calipers. Like everyone else has stated - lighter than normal record and dura ace, (not that that fits my interest overall), but kill DA and Record in performance, even with used pads (kool stops coming). I'm not a light cat at 6'4" 235, my big ass needs to come to a halt and these recognize that issue 100%. Two days ago I took a decent at my max. speed ever; 48.6 mph and low and behold there's a freekin squirrel that jumps into but not over my path of all days. S#*& you not these things slowed me brisk enough to control my way around this blocker in no time flat. If you can find them, get 'em, should satisfy everyone except maybe the shooting for sub 15 pound group. Cheers to the SSC's!

Strengths:
-Dig the color and little cheap yellow decal.
-Hold their adjustment like a champ.
-Stop on a dime unlike my old Cuda.
-Inclement weather? What inclement weather?
-I honestly appreciate and respect a product these days.

Weaknesses:
-Yeah, not as light as the cheaper single pull Cane Creek 200sl's but ever try stopping with those? Holy cow did I hit the clutch instead of the brakes?
-Would be nice if you could say "made in France"...but you can't.
-Hardware, Ti maybe? I'm really forcing it.

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace, Record Ti, Ultegra, Shimano 600, on and on.

Price Paid:  $70.00 at Chainreaction

Favorite Ride:
Cumbria

Bike Setup:
Roberts Compact Audax, Chorus/ Centaur/ Dura-Ace Mavic Open Pro rims, Conti rubber.

Summary:
Superbly finished calipers. Extremely smooth in use, with great feel. Buckets more progressive power than Campag Skeleton brakes. Compact and a snap to fit.

Strengths:
Powerful, very stiff, easy to fit, first time perfect alignment with rims, light enough for all but the sick of mind. Very good deal at $110/ £70

Weaknesses:
Ensure power is applied progressively to the back brake to avoid wheel locking...but you do have to apply power very sharply for this to occur. In normal circumstances this is not a problem.

Similar Products Used:
Campag Skeleton

Price Paid:  $189.00 at Amazon.com

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mountain

Bike Setup:
1987 vintage Vitus 979 bonded aluminum frame
Cane Creek SCR-5C compact aero levers
Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow saddle
Shimano Sora front derailleur
Shimano Tiagra Triple chainring
Mavic Open Pro rim
Nashbar 7 spd. Huge Gear 12-34 freewheel
Shimano Tourney Megarange rear derailleur
Mavic SSC dual-pivot caliper brakes

Summary:
All I can say is WOW. These blow away the Shimano, Campagnolo, and Spidel brakes I've used in the past. Rapid, effective stopping power w/o dangerous skidding. It's almost like having antilock brakes! I've never had such perfect stopping power in a caliper before! If you're like me and ride fast on steep hills, this is the brake for safe and effective stopping power.

Strengths:
Lightweight for a dual pivot caliper
-Fast, smooth, safe stopping power
-Accepts standard brake pads
-Far cheaper than Campagnolo with better performance
-Easy setup
-Easy and stable adjustment
-EXCELLENT modulation
-great aesthetic look

Weaknesses:
-No quick release- Requires quick release levers (Cane Creek / Campagnolo)

Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Campagnolo
Spidel

Price Paid:  $150.00

Bike Setup:
Synapse Frame and Fork
Record/Chorus 10 mix
Ksyrium Elite Wheels
SSC Brakes

Summary:
When looking to make the switch from Shimano to Campy, I knew that I wanted these brakes. I ride for recreation, but I also ride for transport, and in busy traffic knowing you can stop on a dime gives me confidence and keeps me alive. They still amaze me everytime. I pull on the levers, and I cannot believe how fast i come to a stop. Modulation is great, weight is very competitive, and braking power is tops. could not be happier

Strengths:
stopping power
modulation
competitive weight
unique?

Weaknesses:
competitively priced, but that does not mean cheap
if you wanted to cut grams anywhere possible, you could find lighter brakes

Similar Products Used:
cane creek, stock cannondale

Price Paid:  $120.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
Highway 12 Utah

Bike Setup:
Cannondale Optimo
FSA compact - mountain roads 9000 ft elevation
Campy Group
Neuvation Wheelset

Summary:
I agree with all of the other reviewers - weight is similar to Campagnolo Record. Stopping power is superb. There is some question about the stopping power of the super lightweights that are extremely expensive. Somewhere I read that brakes should be the lightest that will safely stop you. These are in that category. I ride mountains with steep downhills and these are safe and light. When you don't have to think about a part - like a bad fitting shoe - then you are there. These are in the "wow this works great category." I weigh 162 and my bike is 15 lbs 12 oz.

Strengths:
Low Cost when compared to high end brakesets
Great stopping power
Simple design
Easy to set up
Brakes stay adjusted nicely

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Campagnolo
Shimano