the blackmax 2 is just downright awful. it broke after three trips. but it's counterpart, the silvermax 2 is holding up just fine. heads up! don't buy them.

Who knows, maybe you got a bad one... Give abu a ring, im sure they would replace it no problem.

Even a $50 reel should last more than 3 trips...you got a lemon. I am sure Abu will take care of it, they have always treated me good when I had a problem, no matter what the reel cost.

One bad reel isn't justification to tell people not to buy them, a simple heads up I got a bad one so watch out is suffice.

Heads-up on any bc reel under $130.

Seriously??? $130. I have several old Abu Garcias that are getting close to twenty years old and they perform like the day they were bought. They were all waaaay under $130.

Mike

Heads-up on any bc reel under $130.

Haha that's funny. I don't think but one of my reels cost more than $100 and none of them have ever let me down. Thanks for the heads up though.

I have 12 Daiwa Strikeforces, 10 that are operable, 2 Blackmaxes and 1 Blackmax 2, they are all great reels dude.