http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600069&subcategory=60001014&brand=&sku=20161&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Brakes

I've read the past discussions on here about Tektros, and how it's not as much about the calipers as it is about the pads. Well I've got a nice set of carbon pads to load into the cartridges on these Tektros, but the price is SO low it's got me worried. I'm trying to cut some costs on this build somewhere to apply elsewhere, and brakes seems logical, but are these things worthless, or why would they be so cheap? The seem kind of light too, at 315g for the pair.

FYI, I'm considering these NOS 105s ($40) as an alternative:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600069&subcategory=60001014&brand=&sku=19163&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Brakes

They're cheap because they're not a big name brand, and the finish probably isn't as nice (and you happened to find them on sale). I'd bet they work about the same as the 105's. I've got a Nashbar-branded brake (almost certainly a Tektro) on the front of my commuter fixie, and it works fine. Looks pretty good, too. I'd save the $20, personally.

They will work just as well as the 105.... I have two sets of these...I'm very pleased..

Just put better pads in them.

I have the Nashbar long reach calipers on my fixie and they are surprisingly good. They look nice too. Hard to beat for $18/pair. They are definitely Tektro rebrands. I say get 'em.

I guess I'm sold. Putting my order in now.

Last year I rebuilt my old touring bike. The only brakes that had a long enough reach were a pair of 11 dollar Tektos. I bought these and then installed Kool stop brake pads using the advise of someone on this forum. The result was more braking power than I thought possible from these inexpensive calipers. I would go for the Tektros.

+1

I've got em on my Fuji Roubaix Pro and no regrets thus for..

I have the long reach as well as short reach Tektros and the long reach seem to have more braking power-surprisingly good even with the stock pads.I have seen Tektros develop rust on the steel hardware- Shimano calipers have superior rust resistance.It is hard to go wrong for $20 before coupon code discounts.

Had some on a old bike. They work fine.

I stripped the cable anchor bolt on a front Tektro brake. First time that has happened to me after working on hundreds of similar Shimano brakes (mostly R600s). The Tektros are built with cheap materials and have sloppy tolerances, IMO. I'm sure they work great with a pad upgrade, until they don't.

I have the long reach as well as short reach Tektros and the long reach seem to have more braking power-surprisingly good even with the stock pads.I have seen Tektros develop rust on the steel hardware- Shimano calipers have superior rust resistance.It is hard to go wrong for $20 before coupon code discounts.

I had lo end Shimano calipers which rusted. You mean hi end?