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The Tektro M285 Disc Brakes features superb braking power and modulation, reach adjust, a 2-finger lever blade and uses non-corrosive mineral oil; it is a great entry-level hydraulic disc brake. It features a fully open system for consistent braking performance, simple adjustment and easy maintenance/bleeding.
Features:
- Material: Aluminium
- Lever: Reach 86 – 90 mm; 2 Finger Blade
- Mounting Bracket: One-piece bracket
- Caliper: Automatic caliper positioning via front and rear adapters
- Brake Pads: Organic E10.11 Compound
- Brake Fluid: Non-Corrosive Mineral Oil
- Weight: Front: 285g; Rear: 305g
- Tektro Disc Brakes Review:
Pros:
Brake Pads: The brake pads are simple to install and maintain. They don’t squeal under pressure and can be easily adjusted for a balanced, smooth, braking response. The pads are easy to remove for cleaning and also easy to re-install. I really love the Tektro brake pads. They are a great product that work very well. I hope Tektro keeps making these pads for a long time to come.
Adjustment: The brake is incredibly easy to adjust. When I first installed the brakes, I had to do some adjustment. I found that the brakes were not as responsive as I would like. I’m very new to cycling, and I was disappointed to find out that my brakes were not functioning as they should. A mechanical friend of mine said that I just needed to make some adjustments, and that the brakes are very easy to adjust. I am so glad that I decided to listen to my friend, because it turns out that the Tektro brakes were very easy to adjust. I simply followed the manual on how to adjust, and took the brakes off the bike. I had to adjust the reach, and also do a little bending of the brake pad to make it fit better. Afterwards, I was able to put the brake pads back into the caliper (parts weren’t sticking up) and I was ready to go. I was so impressed with the ease of the adjustment. They did the trick, and now provide the stopping power that I am looking for.
Caliper Brake Mounting Bracket: The caliper and brake mounting bracket is really nicely designed— unlike many other brake systems, this is also really easy to adjust. Adjusting the Tektro brakes was much easier than adjusting V-brakes! I simply loosened the screws, moved the brackets to the new positions, and tightened the screws.
Cons:
Lever: The Tektro M285 Disc Brake lever is very thin and small, so I am a little worried that this would not have a long lifetime. I don’t think that any of the other mechanical parts would likely fail or break, but I’m a little worried about the lever. It would be better if the lever was a little thicker, and had a rubber grip to help provide more control and comfort.
Brake Levers: The brake levers can be mounted on both sides of the handlebars, and this looks much better than most other disc brake levers, which are usually only designed to mount on one side. Nevertheless, the Tektro brake levers are not the best looking lever, and I would have preferred Tektro to have stuck with a black or silver finish for the levers. Nonetheless, I would be prepared to accept the poor look, given this brake system’s control and stopping power.
Installation: To set the Tektro brakes up, I simply had to install the brake pads, mounting bracket, and the front and rear quick-release adapters onto the bike. I also had to install the front brake cable onto the frame. Setting up seemed easy enough, but the cables became very tangled, and I found it quite difficult to separate the different cables. After setting up the brakes, the Tektro brake performance was incredible. The braking force was very good; I’m glad that I was able to set up the brakes with such ease.
Weight: The Tektro M285 is a lightweight and responsive brake. There are many lightweight brakes out on the market; however the Tektro brake pads are also very effective, which is why I have included this brake in my roundup.
The Tektro M285 is a cheap and effective brake solution. It is simple to set up, provides good stopping power and braking control, and the Tektro M285 Disc Brake pads are also very easy to clean, maintain and repair. Overall, I am very pleased with the Tektro M285. It is a great value, and an amazing brake system.
Tektro Disc Brakes Review:
Specifications:
- Material: Aluminium
- Lever: Reach 86 – 90 mm; 2 Finger Blade
- Mounting Bracket: One-piece bracket
- Caliper: Automatic caliper positioning via front and rear adapters
- Brake Pads: Organic E10.11 Compound
- Brake Fluid: Non-Corrosive Mineral Oil
- Weight: Front: 285g; Rear: 305g
Review:
Driven 2-finger brake, non-corrosive mineral oil and automatic caliper positioning with front and rear brackets.
I found the Tektro M285 to be a very nice 2 finger brake, that offered good braking power and modulation. I like the fact that the Tektro brake pads provide good stopping power and that I am able to control the braking force easily. I’m very happy with my new brake system. They offer good stopping power and I feel safe riding with these brakes. I highly recommend the Tektro M285.
Reach: The reach on the Tektro M285 brake is 86 – 90 mm. This reach is pretty short, and will suit short riders better. If you are looking for a front 2 finger brake, but you aren’t comfortable with the very short reach, then check out the Tektro M520, because it is reach adjustable. Nevertheless, I believe that this short reach is adequate for me.
Brake Levers: The Tektro M285 2 finger brake lever is very small and thin, and I’m not a huge fan of this. I feel that the Tektro brake lever is a little undersized, and too thin. This means that the brake lever is not easy to grip, and this makes braking less effective. I don’t feel as safe holding onto the Tektro brake lever as compared to other 2-finger brake levers. I would have preferred a rubberised coating.
Adjustment: The Tektro M285 brake was very easy to set up. This brake contains front and rear quick release adapters, a set of Tektro brake pads, and a mounting bracket. The Tektro brake pads are very effective, and provide good braking power. In terms of installation, it is very difficult to separate the brake pads from the mounting bracket due to the brake pads have a strong bond with the mounting bracket. I had to apply a lot of force to get the pads to be detached from the bracket, and even then the pads didn’t come off cleanly. I had to use electrical tape to get the brake pads to stay close to the disc rotor. The lever had to be bent in order to provide a balanced, symmetrical braking force. Overall, the Tektro M285 setup process was pretty easy.
Performance: The Tektro M285 2 finger brake provides a good brake response. The Tektro brake pads easily bite into the brake rotor, while stopping the bike effectively. I was very impressed with the braking power. Braking power can be adjusted by moving the lever mount up or down. In terms of stopping power, I would give this brake 5 out of 5 stars.
Durability: I don’t see any problems with the Tektro M285 brake. However, the brake lever feels very thin and small, and it would be nice if the lever was a little more substantial. I think this is due to the ergonomics of the brake lever, for the sake of lower weight.
Safety Factor: I feel that I can stop in slow-down and high speed braking situations. I feel safe with the Tektro M285 because it provides good braking response. It is not the best brake that I have tried; but it is similar to other Tektro bikes that I have used. This brake has operated consistently well, and I haven’t had any issues with it. I’ve used the Tektro M285 for many months and I have not had any issues with it. The Tektro M285 seems like a good, reliable 2 finger brake.
Recommendations: If you are looking for a 2 finger brake, and you are not new to cycling, then I would highly recommend the Tektro M285 brake. I think such new and experienced cyclists would really enjoy this 2 finger brake. This is because the Tektro M285 brake has a good braking response and it is simple to use. The Tektro M285 is a good buy and I rate this as 5 stars out of 5.
Pros:
Size: The size of the Tektro brake levers (reach) is adequately sized and comfortable for me. However, I would have preferred a smaller reach. The Tektro M285 has a reach of 86 – 90 mm. The reach on the Tektro M285 is 86 – 90 mm.
Tektro Brake Lever: The Tektro brake lever has a decent and simple design, and it is easy to install and adjust. I like the Tektro brake lever, because it is very easy to install, and adjust. The reach and movement of the Tektro brake lever is adequate for me.
Pads: The Tektro M285 provides very good braking power. The Tektro brake pads work very well.
Brake Performance: The Tektro M285 provides very good braking power
