UPDATE: Click here for the final review on the Avid Elixir CR’s
I came home the other day to multiple brown boxes from the guys over at SRAM. Care package #1 included the new Avid Elixir CR disc brakes with the Matchmaker mounting system. The Elixir from Avid is a brand new line of brakes for 2009. The power output is claimed to be between the Juicy and Code lines. Marketed as a compliment and upgrade to the Juicy’s, this new set of brakes has a lot of features that separate them from the pack. Avid claims that this is their best all around brake that can be used for everything from xc racing to downhill. To get a real feel for how these brakes perform in multiple conditions, SRAM sent me a set of 160mm and 185mm rotors for comparisons.
Avid Elixir CR Disc Brake Stats
- In-Line/Tool Free Pad Contact Adjustment
- New TaperBore Technology and New Pivot Location – Allows for an integrated reservoir for sleek look and lower weight.
- New Two Piece Caliper w/Larger Pistons = More Breaking Power
- Height Adjustable Banjo Fitting Attached To Caliper
- Tool Free Reach Adjustment Built Into Lever Design
- Top Loading Brake Pads
The CR’s that I received in yesterday came spec’ed with the Carbon lever for a little extra bling.
Avid Elixir CR Weights
- Front Brake – 290g w/bracket and pad spacer – 240g w/o bracket and uncut line
- Rear Brake – 330g w/bracket and pad spacer – 260g w/o bracket and uncut line
- 160mm G3 Rotor – 100g
- 185mm G3 Rotor – 140g
What Is TaperBore Technology from Avid Brakes?
Virtually every hydraulic disc brake currently on the market uses a similar internal layout: the lever blade is attached to a master cylinder piston that pushes fluid through a straight-walled bore, out along the hydraulic line, then into the caliper body. However, ‘timing ports’ that connect the piston chamber to the reservoir mean that hydraulic pressure doesn’t build (meaning the caliper pistons don’t move) until the master cylinder piston cup seal moves past those timing ports and seals the chamber.
Up until that point, the master cylinder piston basically just pushes fluid through the timing ports into the reservoir. This is also the basis for Avid’s pad contact adjustment system: by moving the location of the piston relative to the timing ports, you can get more or less lever movement before the timing ports are sealed off (the adjustment does nothing to the location of the pistons and pads in the caliper body).
TaperBore, on the other hand, is a completely different setup. The fluid reservoir and piston chamber essentially share one big cylindrical space and the piston is free floating through the first part of its stroke; the piston seal doesn’t actually contact anything initially which is why the Elixir lever initially feels so light and snappy.
As the piston continues to advance though, the seal enters a tapered section of the internal bore where the diameter necks down. At this point, the piston chamber seals up and pushes fluid through the line. In effect, the taper itself is analogous to the timing ports used on other systems. In the case of Elixir CR, the pad contact adjustment is accomplished by moving the taper location closer to or further away from the piston. Again, this doesn’t affect the position of the pads or pistons within the caliper body.
TaperBore definitely has some packaging advantages relative to timing ports in that there it’s easier to integrate the reservoir, and likely some manufacturing ones as well since most of the milling work can be done on one axis. For users though, the gains come in long-term durability: the bottom edge of those timing ports is relatively sharp and they will eventually wear grooves in the master cylinder piston cup seal as it repeatedly goes past. TaperBore’s master cylinder uses a more durable o-ring and the taper itself is far gentler over time so there shouldn’t be as much wear.
Reviewing the Avid Elixir CR Disc Brakes
These brakes are going to hit several different bikes to get a full review. To start…they are going to replace the Hope Moto’s on the Ventana El Terremoto. We will see how the 185’s do in some extended downhill situations.
Avid also supplied a set of their Matchmaker shifter/brake lever mounting system as you can see below. It makes the overall install much cleaner.
Two of my biggest complaints out of the Juicy line in the past were the “on/off” feeling and excessive noise. With these new Elixir’s, Avid/SRAM claims to have taken care of both issues. If that is true…these should be an excellent set of brakes.
Again…I have attached the promotional pdf from SRAM so you can see the entire spec list.
Stay tuned…later today…I will reveal the rest of the shipment from SRAM….
Where Can I Get Avid Elixir R or CR’s?
Check out JensonUSA.com for some great prices…
 AVID ELIXIR CR DISC BRAKE |  AVID ELIXIR R DISC BRAKE ’10 |  AVID ELIXIR CR MAG DISC BRAKE ’10 |  AVID ELIXIR CR DISC BRAKE |
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