TRP
CX8.4 Mini Linear Pull Brake Set

I enjoy these brakes very much. I bought these for a CX bike that I race in the Midwest. They were replacing TRP m990 mountain bike brakes. I have only ever used v brakes on my CX bike so I cannot compare these to cantilevers. The stopping power is still very strong despite the brake pads being held farther away from the rim. If you enjoy using v brakes at all, these will be a great choice at a light weight.

These work almost too good, bit of a learning curve on lever squeeze. I wanted Thinline salmons but the spacers are too big in circumference, however the stock pads spacers swap easily. With aero brake levers there isn't much pad/rim clearance...less than a 1/16 inch, too tight at the levers. Installed with non-aero levers (Gran Compe) like they were made for each other. Plenty of lever movement and just right pad/rim clearance, easy modulation. Love these brakes (even if they are tektro sourced IMO). Didn't try flat bar levers.

Note that my star ratings are not based on actual use, I just gave average so as to not skew the ratings of others. I got these for use on my Bianchi Volpe commuter, running 700C 38s with fenders, but the arms are too short and the cable won't clear the fenders. No problems opening wide enough to permit wheel removal. Would have been easy to set up for full contact with the brake tracks on my Sun Ringle CR18 rims. But not even close to clearing my standard low-profile steel road fenders.

Great brakes until the spring tension adjuster housing stripped right out on me.

I use these TRP CX8.4 brakes with Kool Stop Salmon pads to get more stopping power and reduce brake squeal. I ride a cyclocross bike on rail trails, dirt roads, fire roads and ATV trails. These brakes work great in dry and dirty situations along with SRAM shifters. They can get gunked up pretty quickly in muddy conditions, though (Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes would work better in that case). These are the best for non-racing, with the most stopping power short of disc brakes.

I recently upgraded the brakes on my commuter (Jamis Aurora) from canti-levers to TRP CX8.4 linear pull brakes. WOW. What a difference. The braking is now as good as my Roubaix SL2.

Great feel, great modulation and amazing stopping power. I almost crashed the first time I hit the brakes.

Highly recommended. The cantis on the bike were some sort of tektro low-end junk (given the price point of the bike) and the difference is night and day.

Since I ride without fenders, I also feel that the linear pull setup of the CX8.4 is safer in the case I have a catastrophic cable failure.

Way to go TRP.