Jagwire vs DuraAce brake cables—worth it?

[Salted_Peanut]

Talk to me about brake cables. Do the pricier products make much difference? (I’ve a mechanical group set with rim brakes.)

[Zippee]

In a word - no.
I've always used Jagwire and never had any issues.

[WPA]

Zippee said:

In a word - no.
I've always used Jagwire and never had any issues.

Agreed, Jagwire is fine used as OE on most bikes and really good quality

[IroningMan]

My Argon 18 frame sets came with Jagwires and the brake cables have been problematic.

[dontlookdown]

As far as I am concerned, Jagwire is the expensive stuff already!

The only difference in cables I ever noticed is that you get better brake feel from non-compressible cables (where the wire strands in the outer cable are linear rather than coiled). Esp with cable discs.

[Siao]

Do they offer anything better than other brake wires? Sure, they look pretty in the alloy casing, but it just looks like it will add weight for no real benefit.

[IroningMan]

dontlookdown said:

As far as I am concerned, Jagwire is the expensive stuff already!

The only difference in cables I ever noticed is that you get better brake feel from non-compressible cables (where the wire strands in the outer cable are linear rather than coiled). Esp with cable discs.

Those non-compressible outers have been the source of my problems: if the runs are short and the cable stops don’t allow for steel ferrules then the strands can start to walk.

[dontlookdown]

IroningMan said:

dontlookdown said:

As far as I am concerned, Jagwire is the expensive stuff already!

The only difference in cables I ever noticed is that you get better brake feel from non-compressible cables (where the wire strands in the outer cable are linear rather than coiled). Esp with cable discs.

Those non-compressible outers have been the source of my problems: if the runs are short and the cable stops don’t allow for steel ferrules then the strands can start to walk.

Interesting. Not come across that myself, but I can see how it could happen.

[IroningMan]

dontlookdown said:

Interesting. Not come across that myself, but I can see how it could happen.

In fairness it doesn’t help that Argon 18 used their own variation on mini-v brakes; they don’t have very strong return springs and they stop releasing cleanly if there’s the slightest friction in the cable.

[POIDH]

I would also point out that Jagwire make many versions of a brake cable and outer cable.

I tend to buy Shimano SP40 outer when I can, if not then Jagwire 'better' cable.
Inners - again I buy Shimano in bulk every 5 years or so, if not last lot were Clarks slick.

I did just fit one old Gore gear cable set I had in the back of the shed for years and it is noticeably smooth for now.

I am also fussy over ferrules - they stop crap getting in - and again Shimano or Jagwire do 'sealed' ferrules, but they do add drag.

[Robertb]

IroningMan said:

dontlookdown said:

Interesting. Not come across that myself, but I can see how it could happen.

In fairness it doesn’t help that Argon 18 used their own variation on mini-v brakes; they don’t have very strong return springs and they stop releasing cleanly if there’s the slightest friction in the cable.

I have a Nitrogen too! Bloody brilliant bikes. But yes, the rear brakes are a menace, particularly since I fitted some wider rims.

I replaced them with Shimano inner cables and they were better, but the originals were quite old.

In the end I had the cable inners and outers replaced and set up (jagwire again) by a professional and they work really well now.

[IroningMan]

Robertb said:

I have a Nitrogen too! Bloody brilliant bikes. But yes, the rear brakes are a menace, particularly since I fitted some wider rims.

I replaced them with Shimano inner cables and they were better, but the originals were quite old.

In the end I had the cable inners and outers replaced and set up (jagwire again) by a professional and they work really well now.

Ha! You don’t see many around - or at least I don’t, and that’s despite my LBS (TriUK as was) being a dealer. I love riding mine.

With wide rims there seems to be a very narrow sweet spot with the brakes - too much or too little meat on the brake blocks and they don’t work as well.

Obviously the primary purpose of the rear brake is to protect the frame by sweeping grit off the tyre…

I’ve changed the inner cables I think twice and the outers once - they are definitely better with fresh outers, but still not as good as I’d hope they could be, so over the winter I’m going to try Shimano.

[Robertb]

IroningMan said:

Robertb said:

I have a Nitrogen too! Bloody brilliant bikes. But yes, the rear brakes are a menace, particularly since I fitted some wider rims.

I replaced them with Shimano inner cables and they were better, but the originals were quite old.

In the end I had the cable inners and outers replaced and set up (jagwire again) by a professional and they work really well now.

Ha! You don’t see many around - or at least I don’t, and that’s despite my LBS (TriUK as was) being a dealer. I love riding mine.

With wide rims there seems to be a very narrow sweet spot with the brakes - too much or too little meat on the brake blocks and they don’t work as well.

Obviously the primary purpose of the rear brake is to protect the frame by sweeping grit off the tyre…

I’ve changed the inner cables I think twice and the outers once - they are definitely better with fresh outers, but still not as good as I’d hope they could be, so over the winter I’m going to try Shimano.

(Apologies for the thread diversion OP) My life with the Nitrogen was improved dramatically with barrel adjusters on the brake lines... makes it so much easier to fine-tune, and trying to set them up without them was teeth-itchingly annoying, particularly the rear caliper. Lazy bike shop bloke who built mine for some reason left the adjusters off in the first instance.

[IroningMan]

Robertb said:

(Apologies for the thread diversion OP) My life with the Nitrogen was improved dramatically with barrel adjusters on the brake lines... makes it so much easier to fine-tune, and trying to set them up without them was teeth-itchingly annoying, particularly the rear caliper. Lazy bike shop bloke who built mine for some reason left the adjusters off in the first instance.

I built mine with barrel adjusters from the outset - I can well imagine how tiresome it would be without them!

[Smitters]

For what it's worth, I've always sprayed lube down the outers and then a bit of grease in each ferrule to catch dirt. This has improved my cable life and performance far more than premium inners, outers etc. I've never had an inner cable issue over 20 years of all prices of inner.