Avid Code Disc Brake Review - BikeRadar

I've got a set of Codes and they were fantastic in the Alps particularly on the long descents where the two years previous I cooked my Hope Mono M4's (Which I still got on another bike). I'm also a 15 stone rider and probably ride/drag the brakes too much. Also I found the modulation and power outstanding. Hence I would also really question this review...not really sure what more a brake can do.

Got to be honest, I think the low score is justified.

The factory bleed on mine was shocking, out of the box they were stupidly low on power. I'd hazard a guess and say the test set suffered the same problem.

Lucky for me, I've got a bleed kit already so I soon sorted that. It seems to be a common problem with Codes, and at this price level, it really shouldn't be!

Also, the tri-align system is designed for no reason other than to make users have a psychotic episode.

In short, I'd only buy them if you can get them cheap, and dont mind the fact you will probably need to bleed them before using them.

Every experience I've had with my 08 Codes tells me this review is both right and wrong. Modulation on the stock organics seems pretty good, with a bit of rampup. Although considering I race competitively, I rarely get very far into the stroke, and the few times I've used the full stroke in a hard braking situation I've found enough power to stop my 190lb body + 45lb Giant Faith2 easily, and with so much power I've locked the front wheel on moderate slopes.

Weight is an issue, but not that big of one to be honest. I find the excess power to make up for the excess baggage you have to haul around. The biggest issue I've had are a stripped bolt hole on one brake (half my fault, but I'd love to see steel inserts at a small weight penalty, considering I was only going fingertip tight), and the fact that the pad contact adjust doesn't have a very large adjustment range. Combine this with a long lever swing, and even with it fully adjusted out the piston bottoms out in the stroke just a few mm's from your knuckles. This means I have to run the lever literally on the tip of my finger in order to take full advantage of the stroke range.

So the things that Avid must fix on the 2011 codes (which look fantastic) are the weight, modulation, pad contact, piston stroke and if SRAM would please, a stronger bolt hole for the more ham-fisted installers among us.

Perhaps this test says more about the company's QA processes? I have been running codes for two years on my Coiler. Countless UK trips and looking forward to my third year in the Alps :-) and I have had absolutely no braking issues with these pads. The only issue is its occasional ability to lose pressure randomly (not whilst riding!). A quick bleed and all is good again. Regards setting them up, come on, I am not a mechanic yet i can set them up very easily inside two minutes. Perhaps not the best but definitely not deserved of two stars.

If it is useful, our groups experiences in the Alps

Hope Mono - Died (old)

Hope Vs - excellent (new)

Shimano xt - excellent (lighter rider and bike - and the best mechanic!!)

Codes - Excellent

Hayes HFX - Good enough but suffered brake fade on long descents

Keep up the good work :-)