UPDATE: Click here for the final review on the Avid Elixir CR’s

Now that installation is complete and the first of many rides are done…it is time for an update on the Avid Elixir CR hydraulic disc brakes. I installed the 185mm rotors for the Avid Elixir CR’s on my Ventana El Terremoto 6.0. The Terremoto is a 6″ travel bike with the Rock Shox Lyrik Coil U-Turn and Cane Creek Double Barrel installed. This bike sees everything from shuttle runs to cross country epics, so it will be the perfect test mule.

Installation of the Avid Elixir CR Brakes

Installation of the new Avid Elixir CR brakes was a breeze. To my surprise, I did not have to cut the lines, so opening the Avid Bleed Kit at this point was unnecessary. Post mount disc brakes, like the Avid Elixir CR, are incredibly easy to install and adjust.

3 Easy Step To Disc Brake Adjustment

1. Spin the wheel.
2. Apply and hold the brake.
3. Tighten the bolts.

After that…you are off and running. For the installation of the Avid Elixir CR levers and my SRAM X.0 trigger shifters, I turned to the SRAM Matchmakers that SRAM sent in the kit. The SRAM trigger shifters have two mounting holes for inboard and outboard placement. I installed the Matchmaker mounting system to the inner most mounting hole to get the X.0 triggers as far towards the inside of the bars as possible. I like to have my shifting just out of reach so they do not contact my thumb during regular riding.

As you can see by the picture in the gallery below, the Matchmakers with the Avid Elixir CR lever and SRAM X.0 shifter makes for a very clean and painless install. Avid’s two bolt mounting solution for the Avid Elixir CR (like they use on all of their brake levers) makes for easy adjustment and take off without having to mess with the grips. Just about every manufacturer has made a move to this solution as of 2009.

During installation of the Avid Elixir CR brakes, you can also easily adjust the red banjo fitting on the brake caliper to line up the brake line with the frame. This is a great feature that I have not touched yet.

Adjusting the Avid Elixir CR Brakes

After the brakes were installed and the calipers were adjusted, I turned my focused to the levers for the first ever tool-free reach and pad contact adjustments. Reach adjustment on the Avid Elixir CR levers is controlled by the black knob located nearest to the lever body. With a simple twist, you can adjust your lever reach in and out without affecting the overall braking feel. The knob is somewhat difficult to turn by hand, but it is much easier than having to get out the Allen wrench every time. I also used this adjustment on the trail to fit my needs. This is a huge selling point of the Avid Elixir brakes.

After I got the reach where I wanted it…I needed to adjust how the brakes engaged the rotors via the pad adjustment (red barrel).  Twisting the red barrel adjuster adjusts the pad contact in and out giving the brakes more and less “on and off” feel. When adjusting this setting on the Avid Elixir CR brakes, make sure that you hold the brake line as it wants to twist with the adjuster. Once you get the lever feel how you want it…you are set.

First Ride on the Avid Elixir CR Brakes

For the first ride, we headed out to a local trail that had recently been reworked for some 20+ mile cross country action. I spent some time at home breaking in the pads and rotors (slow, downhill, constant stops over and over again without lockup) before we left so by the time we got to the trail…the brakes were ready. As you can see from my Avid Juicy 5 brake review, there were several things that I was going to watch out for that normally plague Avid hydraulic brakes.

1. Noise – Specifically the turkey gobble.
2. On/Off Feeling – Little modulation between full on and full off.
3. Power

Since the Avid Elixir CR brakes are marketed as an upgrade to the Avid Juicy brakes, I expected these to perform. So far…I am pleasantly surprised. The first ride went flawlessly and here are my notes.

• The new G3 rotors are quiet…even when wet.
• The Avid Elixir CR brakes have much more power with 185mm rotors than the Juicy’s at the same rotor size.
• Modulation is greatly improved on the Avid Elixir CR vs. the Avid Juicy line.
• Overall lever feel is also much better.
• Trail side adjustment is tool free and easy on the Avid Elixir CR.

Not everything is positive though…

• The pad contact adjustment on the Avid Elixir CR can rotate on its own if you do not hold the brake line while turning the adjuster (twisting up effect).
• The Avid Matchmakers still put the SRAM X.0 trigger shifter pod too close to my hands. My thumb was rubbing up against the large paddle shifter while riding.

So as you can see…it is “so far, so good” with the Avid Elixir CR brakes. More riding and time is going to be the true test against noise and durability. Stay tuned for more ride reports as this testing progresses.

Where Can I Buy the Avid Elixir CR Brakes?

AVID ELIXIR CR DISC BRAKE

AVID ELIXIR R DISC BRAKE ‘10

AVID ELIXIR CR MAG DISC BRAKE ‘10

AVID ELIXIR CR DISC BRAKE