Road disc brakes on a mountain bike?

M

mmullins437

· Registered

Joined Jul 13, 2007

·

40 Posts

Discussion starter · #1 · Jan 25, 2014

Only show this user

I'm looking for the wisdom of a brake sage...

Is there any disadvantage to setting up a mountain bike with short pull disc brake calipers intended for road or cross bikes? I'm thinking of setting up my mountain bike with Hayes CX-5 disc brakes with IRD Sylvan levers (flat bar levers that can switch between short and long pull)...

Do you lose any braking power? Modulation? anything?

 

A

aerius

· Well-known member

Joined Nov 20, 2010

·

3,985 Posts

#2 · Jan 25, 2014

Only show this user

If you have the correct levers there's little to no difference. There may be a bit more squish from the cable housing compared to using a mountain bike caliper & lever, but other than that it's the same. I have a BB7 Road on one of my mountain bikes that's setup that way, it feels & works about the same as the mountain bike version of the BB7.

 

shiggy

· Premium Member

Joined Dec 19, 1998

·

48,161 Posts

#3 · Jan 25, 2014

Only show this user

mmullins437 said:

I'm looking for the wisdom of a brake sage...

Is there any disadvantage to setting up a mountain bike with short pull disc brake calipers intended for road or cross bikes? I'm thinking of setting up my mountain bike with Hayes CX-5 disc brakes with IRD Sylvan levers (flat bar levers that can switch between short and long pull)...

Do you lose any braking power? Modulation? anything?

Click to expand...

I use BB7 Road calipers with road levers on most of my bikes. I think they have better power and modulation than the mtn versions.

No clue about the Hayes/IRD. My setups work so well I have no reason to change them.

 

M

mmullins437

· Registered

Joined Jul 13, 2007

·

40 Posts

Discussion starter · #4 · Jan 25, 2014

Only show this user

Thanks for the sage wisdom, guys...

what setup are you running, shiggy?

 

shiggy

· Premium Member

Joined Dec 19, 1998

·

48,161 Posts

#5 · Jan 25, 2014

Only show this user

mmullins437 said:

Thanks for the sage wisdom, guys...

what setup are you running, shiggy?

Click to expand...

Wellll...

shiggy said:

I use BB7 Road calipers with road levers on most of my bikes.

Click to expand...

 

bamwa

· Registered

Joined Mar 15, 2010

·

1,103 Posts

#6 · Feb 1, 2014

Only show this user

What about the avid bb7 sl road? 170 grams.

 

shiggy

· Premium Member

Joined Dec 19, 1998

·

48,161 Posts

#7 · Feb 1, 2014

Only show this user

bamwa said:

What about the avid bb7 sl road? 170 grams.

Click to expand...

Way overpriced. Other than the finish, the only differences are some ti bolts and pads with aluminum backing plates to cut weight. Avid pads are generally poor in the first place, so when you replace them with the fabulous EBC Gold pads, performance goes up as does the weight.