Jagwire’s Elite DOT Bleed Kit's ease of use and extra clean operation make it an excellent choice for budding home mechanics who want an easy solution to most hydraulic brake maintenance. While it's cheaper than the Park Tool BKD-1.2 Hydraulic Bleed Kit, its price still indicates its premium nature. In return, you’re getting a high-quality kit that makes a laborious task quick, mess-free and enjoyable.
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Jagwire Elite DOT Bleed Kit - Technical details
The market is filled with bleed kits at all different levels, from those designed to get the job done on a one-time basis to kits that are designed for constant and accurate bleeding. As someone who regularly tests box fresh bikes, I’m certainly in the latter camp.
Jagwire’s Elite DOT Bleed kit is designed to last a lifetime. Available in a Mineral Oil-specific variant, too, everything is housed within a neat carry case with each fixing getting its own little home inside.
Setting itself from the more budget-friendly bleed kits is a range of premium tools and fasters that have been added simply for ease of use. Those include a pair of hoses, but rather than push valves, these get fancy quarter-turn valves. There are a pair of high-volume syringes that are super clear but importantly, they get special ergonomic handles.
Another very neat addition is the syringe holders. Instead of large rubber straps found on kits like those from Park Tool, these are little metal holders. These keep the syringes in place, freeing the user up to leave the bike without having to support the syringes manually.
This kit comes with a selection of replacement o-rings, so you can keep it running as it should for a longer period than without and there’s a set of replacement fittings that includes a SRAM Bleeding Edge adapter. Finally, there’s a small selection of bleed blocks which we’re told will suit the vast majority of calipers on the market. Also included is an extra long hose meant for sucking fluid into the caliper from the bottle.
Jagwire Elite DOT Bleed Kit - Performance
For my time with the Elite Bleed Kit, I bled mainly SRAM brakes and, to be specific, SRAM’s Code Stealth Ultimates. I fitted the Bleeding Edge adapter, pushed the Bleeding Edge bit on the quarter-turn valve and tightened up the hose locks.
As someone who regularly turns to the more budget bleed kits, I was sceptical about whether or not a serious and rather expensive kit would provide any benefits – but I was proved very wrong, very quickly.
Firstly, I was impressed with how clean the kit made bleeding brakes. With cheaper kits, it doesn’t take long before DOT fluid gets everywhere and I’m left with a nasty, corrosive mess to sort out. Instead, pulling fluid into each caliper is much easier not only because the kit is supplied with an extra long hose, but using this hose keeps stray drips from leaking from the syringe. The quarter-turn valves are also super easy to use. Push valves can require a fair bit of strength to close and can damage the hose long term.
In the box, Jagwire supplies three bleed blocks to fit two and four-piston calipers with the largest one fitting my Code Stealth Ultimate caliper like a glove. Then it’s a case of attaching the syringes which is as simple as with any other kit.
However, the small syringe holders boost the experience of bleeding brakes. When clipped in place, they completely support the syringes, even when full of fluid. On the other hand, there is a reasonably significant oversight in that the 90-degree holder, meant for use at the caliper end, doesn’t work well with the Bleeding Edge attachment as it's too short to play ball. It can be bodged in place, but it's quite the balancing act and not nearly as secure as the straight holder. At this price and the calibre of this kit, I would expect it to work seamlessly.
But the syringes do exactly what they’re meant to while improving general ergonomics. They’re comfortable to use and there’s no leaking between the seals. Better still, as the measurements aren’t printed onto the barrels, there’s no chance of DOT fluid corroding them away. The syringes are super easy to dismantle, too, so thorough cleaning is a doddle.
With this Elite Bleed Kit, I’ve had my most enjoyable and stress-free bleeding experience thanks to its ability to keep everything clean and its general ease of use. It’s a shame that the 90-degree syringe doesn’t work with the Bleeding Edge tool.
While I love the box, it's a little on the plasticky side. However, this is clearly where some of the savings have been made to pass it on to the customer and make it competitive against the bigger players.
Jagwire Elite DOT Bleed Kit - Verdict
Jagwire’s Elite DOT Bleed Kit is a premium offering designed to cater to professional mechanics while making life easy for anyone who regularly bleeds hydraulic brake systems.
Compared to the mighty Park Tool’s BKM-1.2 Hydraulic Brake Bleed Kit which is priced at £115, Jagwire’s offering does pose good value. However, Park’s doesn’t use the quarter-turn valves but does come with everything else found on Jagwires. It’s also £20 more and its syringe holders don’t keep the syringes upright.
Interestingly, Decathlon offers a DOT bleed kit identical to Jagwire’s with syringe holders and quarter-turn valves included – and it’s £65. Granted for that saving, this kit forgoes the cool and useful carry case, instead choosing a no-frills alternative.
Much simpler kits can be bought from brands such as Total Bleed Solutions but, with DOT fluid especially, they’re only really good for a few uses before the hoses perish. Of course, hose life can be prolonged through thorough cleaning. However, if it is just a single annual bleed, these kits do a perfectly good job and cost upwards of £8 including fluid.
If you’re bleeding brakes every other month, Jagwire’s Elite Bleed Kit is a wise choice, especially against other pricier alternatives in the premium bleed kit space. Its neat range of features makes for a fuss and mess-free job by simplifying the nuances of hydraulic brake bleeding. This is a premium kit and is still more expensive than many but, if you’re after a balance between quality and price, this kit hits the nail on the head. Although, it would be great if the 90-degree syringe holder could work with the Bleeding Edge adapter.