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Hayes HFX-9 hydraulic disc brake review
When I first received the Hayes HFX-9 HD disc brakes, I was a little wary about what I was getting myself into. I’d heard horror stories about the brakes’ inability to function under adverse conditions and others about outright failure on the trail. I’d heard very few positive stories about the “Nines” and, after mounting them, headed to the hills with trepidation in my heart and worry on my brow.
Ok, so that description is a little melodramatic. I wasn’t worried when I set out but the stories of disaster continued to float around in the back of my mind. After spending some time on the HFX-9s, I’m pleased to report that the verdict isn’t all that bad and the talk, by and large, was just that. However, like all urban legends, there is a sliver of truth to the claims, which limits the overall performance of the brake.
The Review
The Hayes HFX-9s were mounted on a Norco Shore with 2002 Monster Ts up front. The testing grounds included the Whistler Bike Park, a few days on the heralded North Shore, and a good number of rides at my local riding spot. They were used mostly for “freeride” and downhill, which I feel really tests the capabilities of the product.
First impressions
Out of the box, the HFX-9s don’t jump out at you. If you’ve seen any of Hayes’ past models (excepting the El Caminos) then you’ll be familiar with the Nines. The Nines feature Hayes’ popular G2 caliper design, a “flip-flop” design master cylinder that allows the lever to be mounted on either side of the handlebar, and sintered metallic brake pads (for extra stopping power and durability).
While I’ve praised the ease of installation of Avid disc brakes elsewhere, I’ve never really had a problem installing the Hayes brake systems. Since my brakes came pre-bled, they were pretty much ready to go as soon as I picked them up. On most of my bikes, I run an 8” rotor up front and a 6” rotor in the rear; for those of you without disc brakes or who are switching from a 6” rotor to the larger 7” (new for 2006) or 8”, you’ll need to make sure that you have the proper adapters if you want the brakes to work properly on your bike.
One note about the rest of this review: I didn’t use the new V8 rotors because I didn’t want to remove the existing rotors on the bike. I don’t feel that this had any effect on their performance but, in hindsight, I probably should have mounted the new rotors to see if they’re all that they’re made out to be.
After mounting the brakes on the test bike, the parking lot test left me feeling a little more comfortable than when I started. Unlike the Avid Juicy 5s, which required a couple of rides for the pads and rotors to be burnished, I was able to get the HFX-9s into reasonable riding shape after a few runs down the street, followed by hard stops. During this time, the brakes felt good. Not great, but good enough for me to load up the bike and head out into the hills.
Performance
Since I was running Hayes Mags on the bike prior to the change, I expected the HFX-9s to work in a similar fashion. By and large, the Nines stopped in a similar fashion, although they were a little more “mushy” when stopping under full power. Modulation was decent, although the mushiness mentioned above limited the brakes’ stopping ability on especially steep descents.
I did experience multiple instances of brake fade, but those instances were on extremely long (ie. 20+ minutes) downhill runs where I didn’t stop. Fade typically results from one of two factors — material or fluid – and the Nines suffered from the latter form. I wasn’t especially concerned about the fade because I wasn’t in an area where I couldn’t stop and allow the brakes to recover and most brakes on the market experience fade under similar conditions.
Under all other instances, the brakes performed admirably. The brakes stopped me in my tracks in the rain and on muddy trails and had no performance-based problems on the trail.
Durability
I assessed the durability of the HFX-9s on a couple of fronts – pad durability and overall construction.
The sintered pads performed as expected. Despite being a little more expensive than their semi-metallic counterparts, the sintered versions of Hayes brake pads offer superior durability and exhibit few instances of material fade on long descents.
There are a number of things I like about the design of the Hayes HFX-9s. First is the fact that they’re extremely common. Given Hayes’ position as one of the dominant players in the disc brake market, you’ll likely be able to find replacement parts if you ever experience a broken brake while on a road trip. Second, there are a number of aftermarket brake levers that are stronger and stiffer than the stock blades. Should you suffer a lever-destroying crash, you have a number of excellent replacement options. Also, if you’re looking for the benefits associated with carbon fiber brake levers, you’re free to go in that direction as well.
Pricing
MSRP on the HFX-9s is set at $149 (usd) or $199 (cad). This price puts the Nines at a level that’s significantly below Avid’s entry level Juicy 5 (which, to be fair, offer performance comparable to Hayes more pricey HFX-Mag brakes). But, given that most shops and online outlets offer the Nines at a slight discount, most riders can be up and running with some decent brakes for under $300 usd.
Based on my experiences with the HFX-9s, I’m comfortable recommending them above the entry-level Hayes Sole disc brake system, but if you’re looking to squeeze a little more performance out of your brakes, I’d consider the Hayes HFX-Mags or the Avid Juicy 5s.
Wild card
I’m a big fan of the split-mount lever / master cylinder that’s used on the Hayes El Caminos because said format allows a rider to remove the brake lever from the handlebar without removing the bike’s grips. The HFX-9s that I used had a clamping system that “pinches” the brake onto the bar and, while it’s not that bad a system, it could be better.
The brakes weigh about 500 grams and while it is anything but a ton, the Nines that I used weighed a bit more than the slightly upscale Juicy 5s. If you’re really in to limiting the weight of your brakes but want to stay within a reasonable budget, you can look into getting aftermarket carbon fiber blades at a later date.
Summary
The Hayes HFX-9 HD hydraulic disc brakes are a good option if you’re a recreational user who likes to ride hard on the weekends and a couple of days during the week. I appreciated the brakes’ ease of installation, their relatively solid durability and, aside from a few instances where performance lagged, the way they functioned on the trail.
If you’re an avid downhiller or freerider who requires great modulation and power and aren’t concerned about price, think about saving your pennies for a brake that's more performance oriented than the HFX-9s.
I’d recommend these brakes for riders on a budget who want consistent performance out of their stoppers. While the Nines don’t work quite as well as their pricier counterparts, most riders won’t experience (or notice) any significant step down in performance or durability.
Manufacturer website: www.hayesdiscbrake.com
MSRP: $149 (usd) | $199 (cad)
| Category | Rating (?) |
|---|---|
| First impressions | 7 / 10 |
| Performance | 31 / 40 |
| Durability | 14 / 20 |
| Pricing | 15 / 20 |
| Wild card | 7 / 10 |
| Overall | 74 / 100 |
1. Posted by Avid BB7 disc brake review » The Biking Hub | 5:24 pm, 6 December 2005
[…] While I wouldn’t argue that the long-term performance of the Avid mechanical brakes trumps that of most hydraulic brake systems on the market, they’re far and above the best mechanical disc brakes that I’ve tried. If you have the choice between a set of Avid mechanicals and pretty much any other mechanical disc brake available today, go with the Avid and save yourself a bunch of headaches and many days of sore hands. If you’re considering a set of lower-priced hydraulic brakes as an alternative to the BB7s, check out a set of Hayes HFX-9s or Avid Juicy 5s […]