Debating between the two.
I understand there is more claimed brake power, but is it worth $600?
Debating between the two.
I understand there is more claimed brake power, but is it worth $600?
-How important is a black brake track to your aesthetic sensibilities?
-How good are your current brakes?
In my experience, the Turbine track gives excellent and consistent braking in all conditions…good enough to make one not understand the push for disc brakes on road bikes.
However, a high quality caliper brake using KoolStop Salmon pads on machined aluminum surfaces works just as well…so, it really comes down to the aesthetics.
edit: BTW, when I bought my Blacks, they were on a 20% off sale, so it was only a ~$480 difference 
Is it worth it? Eh… what sort of riding and racing do you plan on doing? If I was doing a lot of descending and/or was frequently in wet weather I’d go for it for sure. Normal aluminum brake surfaces work quite well. The “turbine” brake track is better and it looks cool but whether or not it’s worth the extra $600 is really going to be a personal choice.
Debating between the two.
I understand there is more claimed brake power, but is it worth $600?
The way I look at it one better brake scenario is worth its weight in gold but then again everyone else on carbon makes that sacrifice every day of the week. I love the HED JET+ Black but with the normal everyday price of HED JET+ 6 at $1049 it is even harder to justify.
I bought the HED Jet 6 Black and liked them so much I ended up getting the Ardennes Black for my training wheels. It may not be such a big deal when roads are dry, but when roads get wet, it’s reassuring to know your brakes are more effective. The textured rims compensate for below average tri bike brakes.
Debating between the two.
I understand there is more claimed brake power, but is it worth $600?
The way I look at it one better brake scenario is worth its weight in gold but then again everyone else on carbon makes that sacrifice every day of the week. I love the HED JET+ Black but with the normal everyday price of HED JET+ 6 at $1049 it is even harder to justify.
That’s a really good point.
Mostly Wisconsin courses (full and 70.3). At least for next year.
Debating if I wanted a jet 6+ set and take that extra cash and spring for a disc or 9+.
At minimum I’m just going to get some Jet 6+
Dang it guys. I was set on going with the ‘regular’ jets and now I’m starting to re-think it and getting the blacks. This could make my bank account sad.
To the OP. Not sure where you are planning to but from. But mybikeshop.com has the Black 6’s for $1400 (using the coupon code) and the Black 9’s for $1300 (no code needed). The’ve got a good price on the Jet 6 plus’s as well. Though the best price right now for them is at Steep and Cheap. Between their current coupon code (60 off any purchase of 300 or more) and the 8% cash back through active junky deal, you can get them for ~$850 shipped
So the great deals on both sets make it tough to decide on one.
Debating if I wanted a jet 6+ set and take** that extra cash** and spring for a disc or 9+.
Do that. The odds of the extra braking capability every being useful in Wisconsin long course triathlon or long course training are vanishingly small.
If you were a Colorado roadie doing lots of twisty, wet descents, I could see it. Wisconsin long course guy? Alloy rims with good well-maintained pads and brakes are already fantastic.
Debating if I wanted a jet 6+ set and take** that extra cash** and spring for a disc or 9+.
Do that. The odds of the extra braking capability every being useful in Wisconsin long course triathlon or long course training are vanishingly small.
If you were a Colorado roadie doing lots of twisty, wet descents, I could see it. Wisconsin long course guy? Alloy rims with good well-maintained pads and brakes are already fantastic.
It doesn’t rain enough in Colorado to make them worthwhile. Unless you make a habit of riding in the rain or you think the black brake track is cool (which it is), I would think your best bang for the buck is certainly getting the disc.
the website says 90 psi max??? i would use them tubeless so i guess no big deal but does that seem weird to anyone else?
the website says 90 psi max??? i would use them tubeless so i guess no big deal but does that seem weird to anyone else?
Jet+ and Jet black both have 25mm wide rims, allowing for lower tire pressure. Lower rolling resistance, better stiffness, aerodynamics and handling…so says HED.
It’s different than most recommended tire pressures, but it makes sense.
the website says 90 psi max??? i would use them tubeless so i guess no big deal but does that seem weird to anyone else?
No, they are 21mm wide. There are guys that run 75psi on HED JET+. I typically race at 84-89 on skinny 23mm tires.
The HED+ rims are 21mm internal and 25mm external, in training I (180lbs) run 75psi on 23mm Conti4kSII (27mm wide mounted) in wet conditions at the fw and often miss to pump when it’s getting dry again …
edit: because the rw has straight pull spokes, too (is more stable) & the brake tracks of the blacks stay longer I prefer them …
the website says 90 psi max???
It used to be 100 when I first got them. At least that’s what I recall. I’m usually at 85-90 with 23mm tires. One pinch flat in the last year and it was a huge pothole that took the wheel out of true a little.
Mostly Wisconsin courses (full and 70.3). At least for next year.
Debating if I wanted a jet 6+ set and take that extra cash and spring for a disc or 9+.
At minimum I’m just going to get some Jet 6+
What did you end up going with and how do you like them?
I have not pulled the trigger yet!
We have our second child coming in a couple weeks and I upgraded my frame last year, so I’m a little hesitant to spend any money right now.
That being said, I will get the the jet 6+ no matter what. After all the research I’ve done and the money to benefit ratio seems a no brainer.
I appreciate your response and I will for sure post after I pull the trigger!
Will I see you at IMWI?
…
That being said, I will get the the jet 6+ no matter what. After all the research I’ve done and the money to benefit ratio seems a no brainer.
Just an FYI, mybikeshop still has good deals, 1199 I think for the Jet6 black, so the money diff may not be that much compared to the normal Jet rim.
Two years ago my wife went over to Europe to race Haute Route Pyrenees - an insane week long race that takes in ALL the major climbs in the Pyrenees.
We debated getting a disc-brake bike, but time and money were against us. I actually consulted, Tom A., and he did recco the HED Black Ardennes+ wheels. Unfortunately, HED was out of stock at the time, so we went with the regular Ardennes+ wheels with the Kool Stop pads.
My wife is one of the top Masters Road Racers in North America, but even she will admit, a bit nervous on big descents. The regular HED Ardennes+ with the Kool Stop pads worked extremely well! She ended up 7th overall among the women and in 3rd place and on the podium in the Masters Category.
I have a set of Jet 6+ and bought a set of Jet 4+. When I picked up the 4’s, I looked at the Black series but decided not to buy them… In the end, the additional cost and reading that for some people the brake track treatment wore off after riding in wet or wet and sandy weather was enough for me to not spend the money.