Shimano 105 BR-5600

Price Paid:  $50.00 at Parker International

Favorite Ride:
Any ride out of the wind!

Bike Setup:
K2 MOD 3. Mixture of 105 & Ultergra components. Bontrager Race Light wheels and Conti 4000s tires.

Summary:
I bought these brakes because I wasn't happy with the Tekro brakes fitted as original equipment. It's like chalk & cheese! They look very similar & weigh the same but that's the only similarity! The Shimanos are superb. Powerful, easy to modulate and totally effective. As a bonus the brake pads seem to last much longer.
They make riding in the wet tolerable rather than being a nightmare.

Strengths:
Powerful.
easy to modulate.
Consistent braking.
Long lasting brake pads.
Look good.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Tekro

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
Stock 2007 Cannondale CAAD9 Optimo 3, which means:
CAAD9 frame with FULL 105 setup, and WH-561 wheels.

Summary:
I got nothin' to compare these breaks to, but I have read and heard plenty of stories about brakes not having any good stopping power. People often speak like this about stock breaks on a bike when said brakes are a house brand, or non-branded breaks. These 105's however, work excellently. I never doubt that they'll bring me to a stop or slow me down in a pinch.

I do a ride twice a week that goes down one of Austin's more notorious hills (Adirondack Trail). At the very bottom of this decent is a stopsign, one that you really do need to stop at. It's never a problem. I've slowly applied the brakes the whole way down, and I've flown down and not braked until the very end. Either way, they work great.

Strengths:
-They do exactly what brakes should.

Weaknesses:
None. Some people might knock them for being heavier than Ultegra or DA brakes, but that's ludicrous. If weight matters to you, then don't buy brakes that you know are heavier than others.

Similar Products Used:
None...being that this C'dale is my first road bike and I am still using these stock brakes, I have nothing to compare it to...so take my vote of 5 as simply a statement of my utter and complete confidence in these brakes' ability to bring be to a complete stop every time I might need them to do so.

Price Paid:  $75.00 at Findley Lake Sportin

Favorite Ride:
Presque isle and Edinboro

Bike Setup:
BMC TT03, 105, Dura ace, FSA

Summary:
Great brakes for the price, I've used the Dura ace 7800 and Sram Force, and these 105 work great. If you are not interested in weight and a little less svelte looking, compared to dura ace, then these breaks will be great for you. They came on my TT bike, work smooth and are powerful, and still look good. Just can't go wrong with Shimano.

Strengths:
Great stopping power

Weaknesses:
They are not Dura ace, if any.

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace, Sram Force, 6500 ultegra