Disc brakes?

[02gf74]

I have several sets across different bikes, by far the worst are the avid juicy 5's on my Specialized epic. Constantly requiring bleeding despite all seals being replaced frequently.

I have several hope setups, M4's on the RC500, Mono mini trials on the KHS, and a set of XC4's all of them have been great performers although the various dust seals on the XC4's have decayed to dust themselves.

By far the nicest brakes are the Magura marta SL's on the RC300. lightweight (for a disc setup) fantastic feel to them and very efficient stoppers when you need them.

I had hope - mini 4 - - nothing wrong with them really, stopped as you'd expect but I want to standardise components and shimano XT 4 pot is my standard - so I sold them as they were not Shimano 4 pot :? and use car brake as opposed to mineral fluid.

Also have magura marta - use same fluid as Shimano so won't be changing them - the feel on Shimano is far better, a light touch and you are stopping, the Magura's are a bit vauge in comparison.

Also I had one Magura marta brake go a bit soft once that I suspect may have occured when the bike was put into the back of my car - i.e. lay on its side - something that would not happen with cable brakes.

I am not concerned with hydraulic brakes being less fixable than cable in the field. .... well, not until it happens of course ... :roll:

 

[utahdog2003]

I am not concerned with hydraulic brakes being less fixable than cable in the field. .... well, not until it happens of course ... :roll:

I would not be concerned about that either. I ran Magura rim brakes for years and they never let me down. That said, cable activated discs like the BB7s are such simple systems, and that they work as well as they do is amazing, on an almost romantic Hemingway-esque level.

I wouldn't hide from hydraulic discs, but the BB7s work well enough that I don't want anything else. And as a bonus, they work great with Altek BL brake levers. Woot!

 

[mountainloz]

For me HOPE wins every time
ive used, worked on and sold them since they were launched
i currently have 2 Mono M4's on 205mm Rotors on my Stinky
a Mono Mini front and a Mono6 rear on my MOHO on floating rotors
and Mono Minis on my Saracen
My new Boardman has Avid Elixir's which work really well, but i still prefer Hopes offerings
as for cables, choose wisely and you can get great performance, they can be awkward to align at times, but when set up correctly with a good lever you can get plenty of power

 

[dyna-ti]

Tech X2's and m800 saints for me
I've always run hope discs[since 1998] hence sticking to them and getting new hopes but i must say im very impressed with the saints.They work bloody well

Hydraulic is marketing and difficult to fix in the field if it goes wrong

I think i have to disagree with this too :?
Hydraulic is absolutely not just advertising :shock: it works extremely well and blows cable away in every field
Or we'd have cable on all cars and bikes be it motorized or otherwise.

Many breakages are not fixable in the field,lets not single individuals out :?
Break a wheel/axle/pedal spindle and youre in the same situ-
Walking home


To confuse further ,I also vote for BB5's and 7's

 

[Moqi]

brakes

Shimano for me. Reliable, cheap, Easy to bleed, interchangeable parts. don't rot always work. Not the worlds most poerful brakes.

Hayes - not so good - calipers seem to rot.

Magura - only had one pair - julies. never again.

 

[fingers]

I'd stick with campagnolo dual pivots and luck.

 

[FMJ]

I like Hope C2's. Plenty of power, feel and adjustability. They've been around for 15 years, and J.E.James may still have some in stock. Parts are getting a bit scarce, and finding decent used ones is very much a lottery.

I had to laugh when I read that, as every post I've made in the Place Where Posts Go To Die (the one and only how much is my xyz worth thread) to get a valuation/feeler on any of the NOS or nearly new C2 stuff I have gets summarily ignored.

 

[Lid]

I have used XT 4pots for years with little problems other than over heating pump up. Also have avid 7 that are ok but not really in the same league as better discs.
Just bought a new set of the Avid with taperbore.....they are obviously a whole new generation of brakes. Just fantastic...Takes as long to install one as put one canti together.

The final point on this is you must take into consideration that a rim brake's design has only one outcome: wheel failure. The brakes literally WEAR away the rim untill the wheel fails. How stupid is that!?!
Yes I have loads of bikes that I ride and my kids ride that are rim brakes. They work and safely takes us on hundreds of rides without trouble.

 

[barry2017]

I have had two bikes with discs. The first had cable operated Deore which were alright if a little noisy, the second were Avid Juicy Fives.

Even though I preferred the Shimano to the Avid (still stopped the bike, but unlike the Avids didn't rust) I wouldn't go for them again. On more than one occasion, I damaged the rotors and had to carry the front of the bike home.

The point about failure of rims is true. But only if you have no mechanical sympathy or interest in bikes at all. I have owned 60+ year old bikes that still had their original rims and used rimbrakes.

 

[The Ken]

I think it is pretty poor that the avid BB7 can need adjusted during a ride in order to work properly, does it not have a floating caliper? Surely the lever can take up the minimal wear of a pad or are they made of cheese and wear that quickly?