I came back from vacation to find that the new Gran Compe 610 brakes had arrived. The new 610s are super stiff CNC machined centerpulls with 47 to 61mm reach.
I'm really excited about these. Top of the line centerpulls generally have better stopping power than sidepulls, but what is more important is that they tend to have better modulation. That is, the brake pressure is more linear and controllable. Paul Racers have long been the only other high quality centerpulls available and we used to sell them. But at $133 per wheel, or $143 for the high polish version, they are simply too expensive for most. Fortunately the Gran Compe 610 are only $75.
Note that the version we sell have been upgraded with VO alloy cartridge brake shoes and VO pads. This makes adjusting toe-in easy and any Shimano-type pads fit. It was really nice of the folks at Dia Compe to accommodate us in this since they also make their own brake pads.
Another neat thing about these brakes is they fit frames made for either recessed or nutted brake bolts. Two bolt spacers are included to allow them to fit most older frames, as well as modern frames. We are trying to convince Dia Compe to also offer braze-on mounts for custom frames.
The front mini-racks for the 610s are on the way. These are neat little racks just big enough to support a handlebar bag. They just arrived in the US and should clear customs in a week or so.
nice looking breaks. how did u get away with not making them chunky like the pauls if they are cnc machined?
ReplyDeletethx superfreak
sorry one more q. 75 per break or for both
ReplyDeletethx superfreak
It's $75 per wheel.
ReplyDeleteDia Compe, not VO, designed them, so I don't really have any design insights, but having less reach than the Paul's allows the arms to be thinner, a shorter lever arm.
We are trying to convince Dia compe to also offer braze-on mounts for custom frames.
ReplyDeleteDia Compe part #1010 but they haven't been available in the US for a long time.
Phil Brown
Phil, Dia Compe's president told me that those are long out of production and they need to find the old tooling or make new tooling. I'm pretty confident that they will be available again because he likes brazed on centerpulls as much as we do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting these out; this type of brake makes a lot of sense for many and it indeed has been annoying that Paul has been the only choice.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great if you sold braze-on bosses for these; pushing for them being cheap, easily obtainable, and somewhat standardized would be a good step for this type of brake. It would be nice if there were some way to just ditch the designs that use spring holes and adopt common 990 bosses as a standard, but maybe that's not feasible without giving up some of the minimalism or tight tolerances of the pivots, or relying on extra-precisely-machined 990 bosses that might as well be a different design anyway.
Maybe you could post exact dimensions for the bosses somewhere?
Just to note that Paul has actually come out with a 47-57mm reach "Racer M" version of their centerpulls, so these are more directly competing with those than with the original Paul Racer.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm actually more tempted by these now, and not just by the price-- I like the fact that they are using road style shoes whereas the Pauls use v-brake style ones. Add to that the possibility for mounting a rack cleanly on forks without braze-ons, and these are looking mighty attractive.
CK, can you tell us about the rack design? Looks like you made the bag loop more vertical. I've never quite understood why classic ones are canted back unless for stability? thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the largest tire size and/or fender width that this brake will accommodate?
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, how about the 38mm Pari-Moto tire with the 52mm VO fender?
Will the light mounts be on the right side of the rack for the US version?
ReplyDelete-Justin
They will fit over 47mm fenders and 36mm tires.
ReplyDeleteThe final version of the rack might have a few minor changes. Dia Compe was making final refinements when we ordered these. So I'll wait until they arrive to answer questions about it.
Wow! Nice!
ReplyDeleteSorry, if I missed this, but will the rack fit all Dia Compe centerpulls?
ReplyDeleteNow that's cool. Braze-on version would be persuasive, but don't listen to me because I won't be buying any more frames in the near future. But if I was...
ReplyDeleteAny chance the racks could be tested with vintage MAFAC and other center pull brakes so that we could get a compatibility list?
ReplyDeleteyay for braze-ons!
ReplyDeletedo you know off hand whether the dia compe braze on version, if they make it again, will mount to canti studs or, like the pauls, to differently located studs? perhaps you *can't* make them to mount on canti studs, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteand a general question about centerpulls for chris or anyone -- do they tend to have the same brake chatter problems that cantis do, or are they better on that front?
thanks!
Is a Gran-Compe 750 CNC on the way?
ReplyDeleteI assume that the little rack will also fit older Dia Compe and Weinmann 610s. Correct?
Again, I don't know which other brakes, if any, the Dia Compe mini-rack will fit. I've not even seen the final production version yet. The ones I've seen in person were all prototypes.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of any other CNC centerpull models in the works.
You can use road pad with the Pauls or any v-brake with hybrid pad holders.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jagwireusa.com/index.php/products/all/451
Scott G.
Does the (quite lovely, btw) Gran-Compe caliper appearance mean the Gran-Compe levers will soon be back in stock?
ReplyDeleteSHW: Paul Racers do not chatter in my experience.
Oh, $$75 per wheel!
ReplyDeleteNow I feel better for finding some old Gran Compes for $40.
But they are very nice and if I needed them I'd be all over them, to the tune of $150.
These look like they have an identical shape to the old forged 610s. Given that forging is supposed to be stronger than CNC, why make them via CNC?
ReplyDeleteIs the rack stainless steel? Does the rear attach to the brack hole in the fork like the old MAFAC racks? will there be two threaded eyelets like on your other racks?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Will these be available in a Hammered finish to match the VO fenders ?
ReplyDeleteAny chance of a long reach version? 80mm or so?
ReplyDeleteThose old MAFAC Raids are getting harder to find....
Jonathon:
ReplyDeleteMost likely DiaCompe no longer had the machining necessary to make the forged brakes.
The advantage of CNC is its versatility. One machine can quickly be set up to make multiple components.
DiaCompe would be taking quite a risk that it would realize enough Gran Comp sales to recover initial forging set up investment.
Very cool. I was intending to use some Paul centerpulls for a project this fall, but now I really have to consider these.
ReplyDeleteThe 61mm reach (vs 57mm) is really appreciated for 27" to 700c conversion that are near the limit w/medium reach brakes on 27" wheels.
I was waiting on the Gran Cru long-reach sidepulls.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the advantages or disadvantages of this brake over the Gran Cru?
This is for a sport touring / cyclocross hybrid bike that will see long road miles, lightly laden panniers, and anything from pavement to gravel to light singletrack.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI understand that you really haven't had a chance to look over the GC racks; but I sure like the idea. Much like the old MAFAC racks,of course; but will these sit level or will they be tilted as their predecessors were?
The Gran Compe mini-racks just arrived. We are mounting one right now. I'll post details soon.
ReplyDeleteWill these racks sit level when I am going uphill ?
ReplyDeleteI too am interested in the difference between drop forged and cnc machined brakes. Besides being easier to make, what are the advantages of cnc...lighter, stronger?
ReplyDeletethanks
D Wagner
any eta on braze ons?
ReplyDeleteHello. Is the reach actually 61mm? I have seen a couple of sites (including yours) with the max reach at 57mm. It would be great to have this clarified by someone, only really concerned with the front brake. Thanks a heap, Graeme
ReplyDeleteThese would be a great alternative to the Paul Racer if they had longer reach, AKA enough clearance for 42mm Hetres with the 52mm Zeppelin fenders. Please develop a long reach center pull like the RAID!
ReplyDeleteSean, the reach is determined by the frame, not the tire and fender combo. A frame is built for a particular brake reach. We have seen these used on several bikes with Hertes (which are really only 39.5mm wide) and Zeppelin fenders. They fit perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI bought a pair of your Dia Compe 610s for the Centurion Pro Tour that I am renovating. It has braze on Center Pull Brakes. I also managed to find a couple of the assembly kits that include the springs and aluminum plates for centerpull brakes in Britain. Two of the plates on the Centurion are loose and have a bit of play in them -- they became deformed over the years. So it is easy to get them off, but I am having trouble getting the new plates on. Looks like they need something with about an 11.5/12 mm inner diameter which can be used with a small hammer to tap them on. do you know if there is a specific tool for this? Thanks.
ReplyDelete