Disc brakes?

[giant-one]

Hope all the way for me. I have a set of 2009 Tech v2's. Although the calliper is more of a downhill one (needed to stop my bulk) :roll: the Tech levers are all the same on the x2's and m4's.

Very easy to bleed and very well made.

 

[The Ken]

look out for cable hope disks, you can stay retro, they have plenty stopping power and spare are still available. You want the 94/95 cnc'd ones.

 

[JeRkY]

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 am also hoping they are like the Magura rim brakes, fit and forget, but only time will tell. Downsides to them are the levers just look a little chunky on the bars and the callipers dont look as cool as the hopes in all their cnc glory. Infact I may keep an eye open for a set to put on the epic!

 

[Neil G]

Shimano Saint or XTR gets my vote

Had a set of Avid ultimates and they were crap, never tried Hope but have heard lots of reports of sticky pistons and fiddly setup

 

[coomber]

I have tried a few cable and hydraulic, my favourite are one of the cheapest Clarkes S2. Now they have a new set out they should be available pretty cheap, about £90 for a full set. Easy to setup and install, really good comms if you need to contact them, and made in the UK.

Best thing is the lever feel, just seems right to me.

 

[Defender]

gotta be said the avid bb5 and bb7 are the creame de la creame of cable disc brakes and they do weight less than most hydrolic brakes and work just as if not more powerful too.
i personal use shimano xt and xtr disc brakes they set up ok and work flawlessly they use mineral oil not dot fluid so a lot less faff and a lots less corrosive and need bleeding less.
hope this helps mate my 2p

I agree with the the vote for Avids BB5 & BB7, plus the simplicity of cable actuation whilst perhaps not as powerful as a hydraulic is easier to fix in the field.
I hadn't realised Shimano used oil rather than mineral fluid?

 

[Tad]

Possibly, actually probably, the wrong section, but tell me about disc brakes - cable v hydro, any particular recommendations etc.

:shock:

Ed, is this a direct result of your experiments with suspension a few months ago? Are you having flash backs?

 

[utahdog2003]

Avid BB7s. Great brakes. Simple and effective, the way a bicycle should be.

 

[the great roberto]

+1 for bb7.
however require carefull setting up to get the best from them.also do require manual adjustments to take up pad/rotor clearance. fit for most cycling, but if you do dh or are heavy on brakes then you could find yourself adjusting on a ride.

i use superstar sintered pads in mu bb7 good vfm and work well.

and of course you can use existing v brake levers to match your rear v brake.

 

[dbmtb]

Am using or would happily use any of the following.

Hope C2,Mono Mini (floating rotor 180/160), M4s/DH4s.
Shimano Saint,SLX or M775 XT