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review

Miche Primato brake callipers

8
£46.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Sexy stoppers with superb modulation and feel
Weight: 
280g
Contact: 
www.companyz.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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After some years in the wilderness, Miche are back with a bang and the Primato dual-pivot brake callipers combine inspiring design, superb performance with a price tag and build quality set to delight enthusiasts and worry the competition.

Made from cold forged, brushed aluminium, their 49mm drop is just the ticket for undressed road, audax and posh winter bikes with close clearances wearing Salmon type mudguards. Despite my preference for silver, the high lustre black anodising looks suitably refined and likely to retain its beauty in the longer term. Firm, stainless springs and fittings are very much of the Italian tradition and won’t succumb to the salt monster.

Straight from the box, these firm springs and stout callipers inspire confidence while set up is both pleasingly quick and intuitive to anyone remotely familiar with dual pivot design. Shapely nylon barrel adjusters and a slicker quick release allow fine-tuning on the fly and are a marked improvements over the budget “Performance” siblings tested a few months back. Paired with mid range levers, stopping prowess is superb as are modulation and feel, thanks in no small part to the soft compound pads which are anything but generic.

Screaming full pelt into swooping descents and hauling the levers fully home hasn’t once threatened to lock a wheel in either wet or bone dry conditions- great for avoiding those ungainly touch of wheels in the bunch and equally useful when negotiating the urban jungle. I'm used to riding well-honed cantilevers and traditional European groupsets, I felt immediately at ease. However, those weaned on the very light action of Japanese callipers, particularly Shimano’s venerable 105 and 600 groups may find the Primato’s more positive action demands some adjusting to.

Verdict

Sexy stoppers with superb modulation and feel.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Miche Primato brake callipers

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Primato are a mid-high end dual pivot callipers characterised by shallow (49mm drop) with the obvious target markets being racers and Audax riders using salmon type guards.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Cold forged, brushed and anodized alumium, stainless steel components/fittings, 49 mm drop.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

280g pair

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Primato deliver excellent stopping performance, modulation and feel in all conditions whether trickling through town or screaming full pelt into swooping descents. Adjustments are simple and everything feels tunable on the fly. However, those weaned on the softer sprung Shimano brakesets might be surprised by their positive feel.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great looks, great performance at a surprisingly modest price.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing- aside from a preference for silver finishes.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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