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Hydros- Tektro, Promax, Shimano, or stick with BB5

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aL1

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I'm a hydraulic brake no0b-

I got scared-off of the Tektro Hydro's, and was gonna' just go for BB5's...but I'm looking at Hydraulics again...it seems that a bump-up to Hydraulics from BB5's is not only more gears, but better components too....

Any opinions or thoughts on these?

Are these considered low-end or decent brakes?

Is getting BB5's and upgrading later to BB7's a better idea?

Thanks-

Promax DSK-907 hydraulic disc brakes --> Trek 4300 Disc Promax

Shimano M445 hydraulic disc brakes --> Trek 4500 Disc Shimano

Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes --Rockhopper Comp Tektro
 
#4 ·
I mean, you set them up. align them, do a little adjusting. and you're good. just adjust as they wear. no bleeding, mush lever, sticky piston. no braking power crap that hydros have to offer..
 
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Discussion starter · #5 · (Edited)
ProjectDan35 said:
I mean, you set them up. align them, do a little adjusting. and you're good. just adjust as they wear. no bleeding, mush lever, sticky piston. no braking power crap that hydros have to offer..
Click to expand...
I'm was really looking to get the base 2011 Rockhopper (BB5's), but I figured for not a lot more money I can get into hydraulic brakes and a few other upgrades too-
But really, the idea of having BB5's (which I have on my hardrock and like) and upgrading to BB7's down the road is becoming more appealing than getting what might be low-end pita hydraulic brakes-

@ProjectDan35, Thanks for your feedback
 
#6 ·
I got the 2010 RH Comp with bb5's. Not bad, but the g2 rotors didn't co-operate. Had to get alligator serration rotors. Badass!
 
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#7 ·
ProjectDan35 said:
Just grab a set of bb7's. You will be all set. Hydraulics are nonsense.
Click to expand...
ProjectDan35 said:
I got the 2010 RH Comp with bb5's. Not bad, but the g2 rotors didn't co-operate. Had to get alligator serration rotors. Badass!
Click to expand...
ProjectDan35 said:
I got some new rotors, and the back seems to be a little warped. How do I go about fixing this? I need to ride tomorrow, so bikes hop is out of the question. I heard a wrench can work, but how do you do it?
Click to expand...
Your years of experience with various hydraulic brakes have lead you to the conclusion that hydraulic brakes are "nonsense" and BB5's are "badass", huh? Just how many sets of hydraulic brakes have you owned?

I had a set of BB5's that I couldn't convince myself were good enough or worth the hassle of adjusting all the time. I finally upgraded to XT M775's which are lighter, smoother, quieter, more powerful with terrific modulation and less hand strain. I haven't had to adjust them once and I don't expect to ever need to adjust them until the pads wear out. I'm extremely glad to have upgraded to hydro's and don't imagine myself settling for mechanical disc brakes ever again. It's like hamburger vs steak except that once you've made your choice you have to eat it every day.

My friends with hydro brakes love them. My friends with mechanical discs talk about switching to hydro's. I don't myself know a single person who has tried both and decided to use mechanical disc brakes out of preference. Maybe none of us is badassed enough.
 
#9 ·
ProjectDan35 said:
Just grab a set of bb7's. You will be all set. Hydraulics are nonsense.
I got the 2010 RH Comp with bb5's. Not bad, but the g2 rotors didn't co-operate. Had to get alligator serration rotors. Badass!
Click to expand...
I call bull sh ite . I ride both mechanical and hydro's and properly functioning hydro's are clearly better .
 
Discussion starter · #11 · (Edited)
Good points...anyone know if the Tektro Dracos' require bleeding or other maintenance more frequently than others?

I did google Tektro Dracos'...but didn't get much in the way of useful user reviews-

@frdandc- would you take Tektro Hydros' over BB7's?
 
#14 ·
Shimano, totally

aL1 said:
I'm a hydraulic brake no0b-

I got scared-off of the Tektro Hydro's, and was gonna' just go for BB5's...but I'm looking at Hydraulics again...it seems that a bump-up to Hydraulics from BB5's is not only more gears, but better components too....

Any opinions or thoughts on these?

Are these considered low-end or decent brakes?

Is getting BB5's and upgrading later to BB7's a better idea?

Thanks-

Promax DSK-907 hydraulic disc brakes --> Trek 4300 Disc Promax

Shimano M445 hydraulic disc brakes --> Trek 4500 Disc Shimano

Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes --Rockhopper Comp Tektro
Click to expand...
For low rent hydraulics, Shimano rules. I never liked the feel of mechs, with the possible exception of BB7s, and I was never a big fan of those (especially since one tried to kill me when it decided to explode during a steep downhill).

If you are going to go hydro, get a good quality one from a major brand. I wouldn't go with Promax.

Yeah, IMO hydros are way better than mechs. Mechs may be easier on for the n003 to work on, but hydros are not hard... and they usually never need attention, unlike mechs. I got sick of fiddling with those goofy red knobs on my Avids.
 
#15 ·
ProjectDan35 said:
Yes, and how much were your xt m775's?
Click to expand...
Glad you asked - my XT M775's were $198 with free shipping for OEM takeoffs which included 180mm rotors front and rear and all mounting hardware. I've posted about them in several threads which you'd likely have skipped since...well, you're not interested.

Shortening the rear hose and bleeding them was a snap too:

Image
 
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