Budget V brakes worth it or spend more ??

[widowmaker]

Hi all

I have very little knowledge of V brakes (apart from a little test run on my Wifes bike) I went straight from Cantilevers to Hydraulic discs. I was surprised how good they are. I like the easy set up and minimal maintenance. Although they don't look as nice as Cantilevers though.

So, I am building a Univega, MTB/Hybrid/Slick Tyres/Road bike gears Winter fitness bike.

So my question is, cheap V brakes such as the Acera at £7, or should I opt for Deore £13, XT £20, is there much difference in the performance. Not too worried about the weight.

Or should I go for brands other than Shimano, Avid etc ?

Spend more ?

 

[Meejoir]

Re:

Performance wise I've never noticed much difference, I've got XT on a Marin Mount Vision from 98 and they've operated perfectly for the last 16 (!) years. Also got some unbranded v bikes on a Cannondale Jekyll and they've also worked a treat for the last 10 years. Far better than any of the annoying discs I've been dogged with during that time.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Acera will work fine, Deore is what I'd go for personally as its perhaps slightly better quality and better looking and has always worked well for me. XT is possibly overkill for what you want to use the bike for.

There will be little real world performance difference between the brakes you mentioned, the biggest difference can be made in pad choice, combined with setup.

 

[widowmaker]

Re:

Thanks, Deore at about £13 is what I was swinging towards, although I am not a snob but at least the Acera don't have it labelled like they used to so nobody will know

I have been scarred with Discs, which is how I found retrobike when I was offered an old Saracen a few years ago.

I like things simple (like me) and it annoys me having to bleed the brakes on my car let alone my bike :roll:

 

[Meejoir]

I see there's a real swing to disc brakes on road bikes at the minute and it seems like total overkill. (Obviously Shimano want to make a few bob out of it) I just can't see the benefits. My XT Vs have the worst kind of off road life and they stop on a sixpence. Then again, I'm a Retrobiker, I prefer the past....

 

[widowmaker]

I see there's a real swing to disc brakes on road bikes at the minute and it seems like total overkill. (Obviously Shimano want to make a few bob out of it) I just can't see the benefits. My XT Vs have the worst kind of off road life and they stop on a sixpence. Then again, I'm a Retrobiker, I prefer the past....

Agree with that, discs are not needed on this bike. V's are not particularly kind to the eye but they are damn good and simple to set up.

 

[hamster]

Clarks do an amazingly good brake kit of levers, brakes, pads and cables for around £15-20. I've used them to upgrade a few pals' bikes this year. After that I prefer Avid as they tend to be a shade more solid than Shimano and don;t have the silly parallel push screechy things. Shimano Deore is simple, dirable and cheap.

 

[widowmaker]

Re:

I have noticed that some of the cheaper shimano brakes don't have the v brake pipe in the kits - very sneaky :x

 

[JamesM]

Re:

I'd say the main benefit of the more expensive ones, certainly as far as winter commuter bikes go, is that the springs and bolts etc. will be less likely to corrode. From what I remember my Avid SD5s had stainless steel hardware.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

Them generic Clark's ones are pretty good for general use and will stop you.
£15 with click and collect. Don't just turn up and cash back via TCB

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/cycling ... -brake-set


None of the new Shimano use parallel push for quite some years now.

You'll find levers have more effect on the brakes other than the pad/rim, mainly as that's the bit you feel.