Best Cantilever Bike Brakes of 2025
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Cantilever bike brakes are a popular choice for many cyclists due to their excellent stopping power and durability. These brakes are designed to attach to the frame of a bike using a cantilever system, which allows for greater leverage and force when braking. They are commonly used on mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes, but can also be found on touring and commuter bikes. With their strong and reliable performance, cantilever brakes are a great option for anyone looking for a high-quality braking system for their bike.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 8 Cantilever Bike Brakes
SHIMANO BR-CT91 Cantilever Brake
The SHIMANO BR-CT91 Cantilever Brake is a high-quality bike brake designed for your convenience. It features an adjustable brake toe and spring tension, allowing you to customize the brake to your specific needs. Additionally, the brake comes with a straddle wire, saving you time and money. The Shimano Reference Number of the brake is BR-CT91, making it easy to find and replace if necessary.
SHIMANO BR-CT91 Altus Cantilever Brake
The SHIMANO BR-CT91 Altus Cantilever Brake comes with adjustable brake toe and spring tension, making it easy for you to customize your brake's performance. The brake also includes a straddle wire, ensuring that you have all the necessary components for installation. With a Shimano Reference Number of BR-CT91, this brake is an excellent choice for your bike.
TEKTRO Oryx 992AG Cyclocross Cantilever Bike Brake Set, Front and Rear, Silver, MH1812
TEKTRO Cyclocross Brake Set is a high-quality bike rim brake set designed for cyclocross bikes. It features forged aluminum arms that make it lightweight and durable. The brake set has a dimension of 23-37mm which makes it compatible with most cyclocross frames. It comes with 520.12 (55mm) standard pads that offer reliable stopping power and are easy to replace. The brake set is packaged in OEM packaging and includes one pair of front and rear brakes. With TEKTRO Cyclocross Brake Set, you can enjoy a smooth and safe ride on your cyclocross bike.
TEKTRO Oryx 992AG Cyclocross Cantilever Brake Set
This bike rim brake set features forged aluminum arms and comes with 520.12 (55mm) standard pads. It is available in black color and includes 1 pair (Front+Rear)/pack in OEM packaging. Suitable for cyclocross bikes.
DIA-COMPE DC980 Brake Set
The DIA-COMPE Brake Set features durable forged aluminum arms that provide strength and stability, ensuring reliable performance during your rides. The included 1242 Straddle Cable Guide enhances cable management, making installation smoother and more efficient. With a sleek silver finish, this set not only functions well but also adds a stylish touch to your bike. Please note that this set comes in OEM packaging, so it is exactly as shown without retail packaging. This means you get exactly what you see, making it a straightforward choice for your cycling needs.
CNC Bicycle V Brake Set with T6 Aluminum Arms and 70mm Pads
This CNC bicycle V brake set is designed with T6 forged aluminum arms and coil springs for rim brakes' tension adjustment. It comes with two pairs of high quality 70mm V brake pads and is compatible with both front and rear wheels of MTB/BMX/mountain/road/folding/hybrid bike. This set is especially suitable for most small wheel bicycles such as 24 inches or smaller ones.
Dia Compe Opc-12 Cantilever Pads
This package includes four black cantilever pads. The package dimensions are 1.905 cm x 5.842 cm x 10.16 cm. These brake pads are designed for bicycles.
DIA-COMPE GC 999 Brake Set
The DIA-COMPE Brake Set is designed for performance and adaptability. With forged aluminum arms, this brake set is both lightweight and durable, ensuring reliable stopping power. You can easily adjust the rim, brake pad, spring, and straddle wire to suit your specific riding style, making it versatile for various conditions. The included OPC-12 pads enhance braking efficiency, providing smoother and more responsive stops. This set comes in an OEM package, which means you receive exactly what you see, without extra retail packaging, simplifying your purchase experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are cantilever bike brakes good?
Cantilever brakes were used on touring bikes and tandems for decades before mountain bikes were even invented. The cantilever evolved into an extremely powerful and reliable braking system. Loaded touring bikes and tandems put more severe weight loads on the brakes than did bikes with just one person on them.
2. Are V brakes better than cantilever?
Cantilever brakes are much harder to adjust than V brakes. However, V brakes have less clearance, and for this reason, cantilevers are better for muddy conditions. V brakes are also stronger and when braking they're easier on your hands.
3. What are cantilever brakes on a bike?
A cantilever brake is a rim brake where each brake arm has the brake shoe and the cable attachment both on the same side of the support (the pivot). So that the cable can come from above the tire, the pivot must be below the brake shoe, attached to the frame.
During our cantilever bike brake research, we found 24 cantilever bike brake products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 7,187 customer reviews through our big data system to write the cantilever bike brakes list. We found that most customers choose cantilever bike brakes with an average price of $19.42.
The cantilever bike brakes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of cantilever bike brakes, including SHIMANO, TEKTRO, DIA-COMPE, CNC. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 475 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Jason Kiser is an editor who lives in California, he previously worked in a travel agency for ten years, which enabled him to travel a number of interesting countries and experience several different cultures along the way. His range of job and travel experiences grant him expertise in hiking, camping, outdoors and fitness.