R. Cunningham

SRAM and  Avid invited MBA up to beautiful San Louis Obispo to taste test its latest brake platform. Elixir was introduced at the Sea Otter Classic, but this would be the first time that the writing public was able to ride production brakes. Elixir is all new--including its caliper design (larger-diameter pistons for more braking force) and rotors (heavily vented and lightened in the center of the hub area). There are some special features, but I'll get to those later.

Avid's Elixir lever is sleek looking. The red-anodized aluminum tip is the adjustable engagement feature--it actually moves the master cylinder in or out.

I would be hurt if you didn't recall my original Sea Otter report,  but in case it escaped you; Elixir is centered around a new (and patented) master cylinder design. The universal master cylinder uses holes drilled into the sides to vent pressure or replenish fluid from the reservoir. When the piston slides past the port, the master cylinder seals and engages the brake. The edge of the ports tend to eat away at the piston seals as they slide past, which is the major reason that a hydraulic braking system requires regular servicing.

A closeup of the Elixir's adjustable engagement in action. The black dial is the lever-reach adjustment. 

Avid substitutes a tapered step in the bore for the drilled hole, which eliminates the wear and tear on the seals, and gives the brake a very positive engagement feel. The concept is simple and the nature of its action led Avid to design a new threaded engagement adjustment that moves the entire master cylinder closer or farther away from the lever assembly. Elixir is an easier, more simple solution to a function that many brake makers are addressing.

An inside look at the Elixir's tapered bore engagement. The taper is slightly ahead of the O-ring on the aluminum piston. When the O-ring retracts into the larger taper, fluid can travel freely from the reservoir into the brake system.

Riding the Elixir brakes was delightful--one or two-finger stopping, with excellent modulation. Avid recommends that Elixir users consider stepping down from seven or eight-inch rotors, to the standard six-inch to take advantage of their extra squeeze power.

Other improvements are a lighter, stronger caliper body with re-engineered brake pads that are shaped to eliminate squeal, and a special hose protector on its banjo-type hose terminal. The pad material is sintered metal, and a softer-feeling, less powerful organic pad will be available as an after market item. Elixir brakes use DOT-5 fluid, although DOT-4 is an acceptable option to the more pricey and harder to find -5. Elixir brakes will be sold in the high-performance, carbon-lever CR model, as well as a second-tier Elixir R with an aluminum lever and no engagement adjust feature. Weight is reported to be 375 grams a set with post-mount calipers (20 to 30 grams lighter than the Juicy) and a standard, 160-millimeter rotor.

A look at the Elixir caliper and G3 Rotor. Avid's one-piece caliper uses two through-bolts to further strengthen it against flexing.

The Elixir's brake pads are loaded from the top to make replacing them a snap.