Clarks M2 Disc Brakes
If you’re currently running ‘name brand’ Shimano, SRAM, Magura or Formula hydraulic brakes, you may as well flip straight to the next page. However, if you’re currently using cable activated discs or just dealing with old and flogged-out hydro brakes, then these stoppers may be just the ticket.
The Clarks M2 brake set retails for $135. That’s for the complete setup; levers, callipers hoses and rotors for both ends of the bike. To put this in perspective, it’s roughly the same price as a pair of rotors from one of the better known brake brands!
Out of the box, the styling exceeded our expectations at this price point. The one piece calliper is nicely finished with a red anodised bore cap for bit of added bling. The curved reservoir and lever body are also fuss-free in their design. They certainly didn’t look out of place when fitted to my slightly older but still upmarket MTB.
Mounting the brakes was easy enough, although the lack of a split clamp means you’ll need to remove the grips to get the levers on and off. Additionally, the levers aren’t ambidextrous, so swapping from left to right orientation will involve a hose swap (something that’s only likely to be an issue when loaning a bike to a friend with differing preferences). As supplied, the hoses are set up in the regular right lever to front brake format, which should keep most Aussies happy.
We didn’t need to cut the hoses, as they weren’t excessively long. Again this is probably a good thing for most but you may be caught short on an XXL frame size or a really long travel fork, but I wouldn’t recommend these brakes in serious DH applications anyway.
If you did have to cut the hose length, you’ll need a new barb and olive. The Australian Clarks distributor stocks the required parts and they also happen to be interchangeable with the barb and olive that’s used on Shimano’s cheaper M355 brakes. There’s no bleed kit with the Clarks brake set, which is understandable given the price, so you’ll need to source a universal bleed kit. This may set you back around $60 and Clarks will have their own bleed kits available soon. If you’re already adept at bleeding hydraulic brakes, then the M2s won’t pose any problems but don’t expect to gain much from the supplied instructions. This is a mineral oil system, so there’s no need to mess around with toxic paint-eating DOT fluid. The pads are also Shimano compatible, so replacements are easy to come by with plenty of aftermarket options out there.
Stop for a Dime
Our test bike was an older 130mm travel all-mountain bike and I’m in the 90kg range. In this context the braking performance is best described as adequate. The review kit came with a pair of 160mm rotors but we’d recommend paying $10 more up front for the optional 180/160mm kit. Running a slightly larger front rotor will add a little more bite where it’s needed most.
While heavy or aggressive riders should really look elsewhere, the M2 brakes were just fine for general trail duties use and they’ll be great for lighter riders. If you’re coming from cheap cable discs or old single piston hydraulics, the Clarks brakes will almost certainly offer a step up in performance. Beyond the stopping power, the twin piston hydraulic format eliminates the inherent challenges of dodgy cable discs; uneven pad clearance, cable stretch, cable friction and so on.
At this price point we weren’t expecting the last word in brake feel and modulation, but the M2s performed better than expected—they certainly don’t have the completely wooden feel that we’ve encountered on some other budget focused hydraulic brakes.
I cut my teeth riding centre-pull cantis and V-brakes. For me these brakes brought home just how far our sport has progressed over the past three decades. The fact that simple, reliable braking performance is within grasp of almost any mountain biker can only be a good thing, and Clarks should be commended for that.
Oceania Bicycles / (03) 9799 4144 / www.ocbicycles.com.au
