Avid

Elixir 7 Disc Brake

Going fast is one of the true joys of mountain biking, but it's rarely advisable to go faster than your brakes are able to handle. That's where the Avid Elixir 7 Disc Brake comes into the picture. With an updated lever body that promises easier bleeds and better power than previous models, and a reliable two-piston caliper, the Elixir is up to the task of reigning you back in when you're on the ragged edge of control.

The Elixir 7 takes Avid's successful lever design, and upgrades it over previous iterations. As before, the lever pivots close to the handlebar, providing a consistent lever feel. This makes it easy to get a comfortable cockpit setup, even when the lever is adjusted close to the bar in order to fight arm pump. Older models had a bleed port located in the pad contact adjuster, which puts the bleed port under a great deal of pressure when applying the brakes. In turn, that made it easy for air to enter the system. Thankfully, though, on this version of the Elixir 7, Avid relocated the bleed port to the lever body itself, which greatly reduces the pressure on the bleed port. This not only makes bleeding easier, but since the bleed port is under less pressure, it's also better able to maintain a seal. And that means that your brakes hold their bleed for longer.

The two-piston caliper provides plenty of power for most, although heavier riders, or those who regularly ride very steep terrain, are better served by Avid's trail-series four-piston brakes. Avid's CPS washers make achieving drag-free brakes a breeze by allowing the caliper to align with the brake rotor in three dimensions, instead of the two dimensional setup that's provided by most other brakes. Lastly, the top-loading pads take the hassle out of brake pad swaps by enabling easy access to the pads, even without removing your wheels.

The Avid Elixir 7 Disc Brake is available as either a front or a rear and in the color Grey.