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I'm currently planning a custom hardtail build and stuck at choosing brakes. I have Sram RS on my full sus' but I can't say I'm super impressed and quite fancy a change. I've been looking at the Formula Cura. There seems to be some conflicting reports on them, with some saying they match the power of 4 pots and others than they lack umph. Does anyone have first hand experience of them? Bit of a bargain or a false economy?
cura 4 pots coming v soon
If they're anything like my Formula R0 they will have bags of power for a 2 pot brake. Like face melting...
I'd give them a go, 4 pots on a hardtail seems overkill in my experience.
I'm not entirely sure I need 4 pots and the price is a factor as the build cost is starting to get a bit higher than planned. Plus the polished version looks good!
That was my thoughts dmw536 . I guess it will be a little bit harder to get pads etc but they do seem right for a hardtail.
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I've got Curas. Had The Ones years ago. Don't think they're as powerful. They are very consistent which is what I was after coming from m8000 xts.
I've done Alps trips with shimano 2 pots and I'm out here now with the Curas. I tend towards top to bottom runs lasting ten minutes or more. I weigh 80kg and they're on an enduro full suss bike with 203 rotors front and back. Back home in Scotland I was riding enduro events on 180 rotors just fine out here they've needed a little bit more.
I think they're a very good brake.
If it's any help my R1s have been excellent, a 2009 set and a newer one (2011?) Also, a set of 2013/4 The Ones. All very reliable and plenty powerful enough, would recomend Formula generally, although not tried the ones in the OP
I also experimented with matching xt levers with the cura calipers. That gave the same clamping force as saints - proper face melting.
As standard they are definitely not as powerful as a top performing 4 pot dh brake. They're probably less powerful than a perfectly working 2 piston shimano. I've just had too many occasions when shimano brakes stopped working perfectly so I've found curas to be a very good compromise.
The lever free movement is quite low. They bite quite a long way out from the bar hence the experiment with shimano levers.
Thank you Andrew/Peaslaker. Having convinced myself they're what I want realised they're currently pretty hard to get hold of over here. I've found a good price (£220ish) inc. rotors from an Italian place on the popular bidding site but that in itself makes me a little nervous. Perhaps I should stick with what I know and get more SRAM RS or have a punt on Hope for a change, though that means a lot more questions!
Is it worth looking at Magura if Sram and Shimano are out? I’ve not had them, but always fancied a set of MT5’s but got a bargain on some guide r’s when I was buying brakes for my hardtail a few months back. The MT trail are the same front brake I believe (4 pot) but has a 2 pot rear as they think it gives better feel / doesn’t need the same power as the front.
A quick google found a pair of trails at £188 at Evans or individually for £80 at CRC. Assume both with no rotors.
I'm not anti-Shimano, just a little concerned by the stories of wandering bite points etc. Magura are certainly an option too. There are some cracking deals at the moment.
Really it's just a case of not being overly impressed with SRAM RS on my current bike.
I have just fitted a set of Cura's to my Smuggler, although I haven't had a chance to ride them yet. I am changing from Sram Guide RSC's as I have been having issues with consistency and since its been hot, sticking master cylinders (they are going back for warrenty now), my plan is to ride the 2pot ones, if I feel I want the 4pot version (I am 110kg+) I will move the 2 pots to my rigid 29er.
Another really good feature they have is the quick connect on the caliper end, so if you have internal routing you would be able to connect and disconnect without bleeding. The only thing worth keeping and eye on is that the rear brake hose comes as 165cm which if they were going onto a big bike might be too short.
Check out Bikester, They have the Cura's for around £77 each, I had a 15% discount code which meant I paid £145 for a pair of brakes and some fluid! I am running them on the Galfer rotors I already had.
I'm a big fan of Formula brakes.
Had R1's which were very good and now on R0's which have been completely reliable and have a stonking amount of power (and control/modulation). There's another rider in our group who has also had no issues with his 2 pairs of R0's.
I do like the look of the Cura 4 pots so may give them a go when they are available, in September by all accounts..
I was looking at Bikester but they only seem to have the front. Are the calipers the same? I think the levers are. They're for an XL frame so if I'm going to have to buy additional hose anyway it's not the end of the world to buy 2 fronts.
Yes. Same front and rear.
When did you look on Bikester? they definitely had both front and rear when I ordered mine. Just bare in mind that new hoses (if you wanted to keep the quick disconnect coupler) are quite expensive.
Also with regards to buying an extra hose, my Smuggler is an XL and the length was OK, actually a little long but I have taped it to the dropper lever cable so its nice and tidy.
Just to add more to the debate, the only issue I ever have with my Formula ROs is that every time I come to change the pads the pistons will not return far enough to get the disc in and I end up having to undo the bleed nipple and letting a bit of excess fluid out. Really weird and it works every time I change a set of pads (twice so far in the last few weeks). Any one else had experiences like this on Curas or others?