Avid Elixir 2009
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Sram unveiled a new brake for 2009 at Sea Otter this year. Aimed at the gravity enthused, its meant to be a brake in between the Juicy and the Code. The brake is also lighter than a Juicy by just a little bit. Avid’s goal with this brake was to create the perfect mix of power and control. More details inside.
Less initial power and a deep stroke modulation allows a rider to better manage and use the increased overall power. The power gain comes from Elixir’s larger caliper pistons making the power sit halfway between Juicy and Code but in a more controllable fashion to improve the ride quality. To do this, Sram has created a taperbore cylinder that closes off the system without a traditional timing port but uses an o-ring that presses into the tapered bore to achieve their goals with this brake in terms of feel and power.
Main Features:
- Improved Modulation
- Increased Power (bigger pistons in the caliper over the Juicy line)
- Reduced Weight (~20g lighter than Juicy)
- Taperbore Lever with Integrated Reservoir
- Tool-Free Reach Adjust (that’s what the dial on the lever does)
- Two-Piece Caliper
- Top Loading Pads (as well as a security clip to secure them to the caliper)
- Drip-Free Bleeding
- MatchMaker Compatible
- Power Reserve Geometry
- Caliper Positioning System
- A new Lighter Rotor (G3)
- $129 per brake w/160mm rotor ($133 w/180mm rotor)
- Post mount 160mm claimed weight of 375g (~275g for lever/hose/caliper)
The main feature of the brake is that it has a tapered bore in the inline setup in additon to the features listed above. Singletrack world has a nice picture showing how it all assembles together and you can see the taper bore clearly through the plexi model.
The adjuster you see on the lever itself doesn’t adjust the bite point, but adjusts the lever position. No longer do you have to mess with trying to finagle a small allen to adjust the lever position. There will be two versions of the brake, the non R version doesn’t include this tool free reach adjuster but an allen instead.
The caliper also is redesigned and new. Bigger pistons, top loading pads, bigger pads (same compounds though), security clip to make sure the pads don’t come out, and more.
Mtbr posted a video up as well of the media information session on this new brake that is pretty informative.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I only see 160 and 180mm mentioned, will there be a 203mm version too?
April 20th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Yea you should be able to get it in a 203mm version but haven’t seen that pricing information.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Is there no longer pad contact adjustment at all? Mentions only tool free reach adjustment.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Cody, this version doesn’t have it. There was talks of a RC model I believe that most likely would have that feature.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
[…] Avid. Juicy disc brakes are great, but Avid isn’t resting on its laurels. For ‘09, expect to see a new brake — dubbed ‘Elixir‘ — that will slide in between the Code and the Juicy. It’ll be stronger than the Juicy (and lighter) but not quite as hardcore (or heavy) as its bigger brother. […]
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
the juciys are great brakes, but these look even better!
April 24th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Looks great, I love my CODES!!! If I built an XC bike, these would be my choice!
May 6th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
when it goes out for sale?
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Wow looking nice but WTF no pad contact adjustment, that’s the one adjusyment I use the most on my Juicy Carbons !!
June 4th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
You say the Elixirs are lighter than the Juicys, does that include the Ultimates? Will the Ultimates still be the top of the line XC brake?
June 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
no , ultimates are still lighter
June 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Well, I don’t know, I think that SRAM screwed up on this one… The “Juicy” lineup always had their characteristic design, they were created to perfection, performed brilliantly and in a nutshell there was nothing to change really. This new caliper design (and even the lever) already look rather like some crappy Hayes Mag (a design that was never altered for years because… well it’s Hayes, i guess), and I think it lost the real Avid ‘essence’. Let’s just hope they will compensate by an even better braking performance.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
$129 per wheel? Sick!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
$129 per wheel….you get what you pay for.
After having problems with my Ultimates and having two friends this year with Juicy 7 and Juicy Carbons have issues with their brakes, and after being in a bike shop in Oregon a mechanic said “ya, they are having problems now”……I’m done with Avid. Its to bad, Sram = Rock shox are doing well, XO drivetrain is still the best on the market, Truvativ,,,,well nothing real special there, but not bad either…Avid brakes don’t live up to the rest of Sram’s line….and they are getting cheaper. Maybe thats what the market wants, cheap. Cheap has hidden costs, not neccesarily monetary.
How much is the quality of your ride worth?
HOPE brakes, period.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I’m not sure SRAM makes crap brakes but they can create some challenges. I would rather ride Formula K18 at the same price.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
i agree with jay, having had avid juicy 7 2006 model on my stumpy: 1 worked well but the rear 1 has been nothing but trouble, countless bleeds later and a jammed bit point adjuster. i know run formula oro K18’s and have had no problems. the same centiments about avid brake and to an extent most s-ram products are felt by the majority of my bike shop colleagues.
its a pain as many great bikes come with such avid brakes as standered. not the shittest through, dont get me wrong there are worse out there!!!