Festusjrf said:
I often heard that the avid mechs are the heaviest brakes is that true, how do they compare to the light weight Marta sl or the avid juicy, I could never find a god source for info on that.
They're not necessarily that much of a weight penalty. Definitely check out the weightweenies site. Everything is relative, and the differences really do depend on what you're comparing them to. Take the 353g weight listed there -- that includes the caliper, rotor, and mounting hardware -- then add to that the 1/2 the weight of your choice of levers (since lever weights are usually listed in pairs) and factor in a few more grams for the cable and housing. A very standard Avid SD5 lever adds 100g per end (200g front & rear).
The hydro listings include all hardware, including rotor, caliper, lever, hose, fasteners & fluid -- everything but the hub.
You'll find the Avids are on par with some hydros, a bit heavier than others (but in the ballpark), but can add half a pound to a bike if compared to a lightweight Formula B4 or similar.