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Looking to buy good V brakes

1149 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by faceplant72, Mar 1, 2011

joshman108

Discussion Starter · Feb 27, 2011

Hi, heres the deal. The whole brake system on this old bike of mine is pretty much shot, and so is everything else, but thats another story (lol).

Heres my problem. Im looking to replace everything from the levers, to the cables, to the brake system. Can anyone name me some decent V brakes? I dont know names, or models or anything. Any pointers would be great. I want something that, in the realm of mtbing reality, is atleast pretty decent.

Also, the back brake almost doesnt work at all and i cant figure out why, so im just replacing the whole cable system and lever, but I have no idea how to re-fit cables. Any particular tools i need or advice?

Random question. Does the V brake performance depend on the quality of the rim as well? (given there is no grease/mud/crap on it)

Thanks!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

mimi1885

· #2 · Feb 27, 2011

Shimano XT and Avid are easy to find. I have both, Avid is in the way better looking the levers seem more compact, but Shimano has better leverage.

You can find great deal used because many has upgrade theirs and go disc brake. To answer your random q, yes rim makes a difference, if you have ceramic rims they would have better braking performance than standard alloy.

trailville

· #3 · Feb 27, 2011

Pricepoint usually has discounts on last year models Avid Single Digit 7 brakes and Avid Speed Dial 7 levers. That is a quality setup and ridiculously cheap compared to what similar performance brakes would have cost 10 years ago.

safme

· #4 · Feb 28, 2011

I just got a set of single digit 7s from pricepoint to upgrade the crap promax brakes on my 09 hardrock. They are a quality set of brakes and work well.

mtnbiker72

· #5 · Feb 28, 2011

Avid SD7 levers and brakes and buy quality cables and housing (such as Pit-Stop Flak Jacket)

Ceramic coated sidewalls were more durable and offered better braking in the wet but I'm not sure anyone is making high end rims for rim brakes like that anymore.

jeffj

· #6 · Feb 28, 2011

mtnbiker72 said:
Avid SD7 levers and brakes and buy quality cables and housing (such as Pit-Stop Flak Jacket)

Ceramic coated sidewalls were more durable and offered better braking in the wet but I'm not sure anyone is making high end rims for rim brakes like that anymore.

The Mavic XC 717 is ceramic coated:

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/rims/mountain-bike/rims/XC-717

mtnbiker72

· #7 · Feb 28, 2011

jeffj said:
The Mavic XC 717 is ceramic coated:

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/rims/mountain-bike/rims/XC-717

Well that link doesn't show me anything, but digging a little deeper it does appear they still offer them with a ceramic braking track for the bargain price of $120 a rim.

AndrwSwitch

· #8 · Feb 28, 2011

I think good pads help too. I use Kool Stop salmon pads on all my road bikes, and used to use them on my MTB.

Clean rims help, both for rim longevity and for braking performance. Just clean them with a dry rag. Should only be an issue if you've been riding in mud.

jeffj

· #9 · Feb 28, 2011

mtnbiker72 said:
Well that link doesn't show me anything, but digging a little deeper it does appear they still offer them with a ceramic braking track for the bargain price of $120 a rim.

If you scroll toward the bottom of the page I gave the link to, they have a few headings to choose from. The "Technologies" tab and the "Features" tab both indicate the XC 717 uses their "Ceramic 2" technology. At the bottom of the "Technologies" list you'll find what the pic below shows.

PricePoint sells the XC 717 for $74.98

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joshman108

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 28, 2011

thanks very much! but all i have to say is crap. The avids require the standard 2 mounting holes in the fork, but my fork only has a single hole at the top of the fork before it splits.

Any remedy besides putting a different fork on?

Oh what the heck

Ill put a new fork on! Ive always wanted to try it.

thanks guys

AndrwSwitch

· #11 · Feb 28, 2011

joshman108 said:
thanks very much! but all i have to say is crap. The avids require the standard 2 mounting holes in the fork, but my fork only has a single hole at the top of the fork before it splits.

What are you riding!?

joshman108

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 28, 2011

ummmmmm. its a 97 magna. It was my first bike, and its been through hell and back. I still like riding it, cuz it just wont die. So i want some better brakes. I also put some spare wheels on it. Heck, I like it just fine. To each his own eh?

AndrwSwitch

· #13 · Feb 28, 2011

If you want to go for a new fork, you're probably going to have some trouble finding one. The fork you currently have probably has a 1" threaded steer tube. So you need either a NOS fork with that style steer tube, or you also need a new headset, and you still need to find a fork using a steerer tube of a type no longer used.

You might be able to find an adapter that you can bolt on, and will accept V-brakes. Or you might just look for an unsucky sidepull brake, and live with that system. Cycle tourists sometimes use them, so check rivbike.com, velo-orange.com, paulcomp.com, etc.

jeffj

· #14 · Feb 28, 2011

AndrwSwitch said:
If you want to go for a new fork, you're probably going to have some trouble finding one. The fork you currently have probably has a 1" threaded steer tube. So you need either a NOS fork with that style steer tube, or you also need a new headset, and you still need to find a fork using a steerer tube of a type no longer used.

You might be able to find an adapter that you can bolt on, and will accept V-brakes. Or you might just look for an unsucky sidepull brake, and live with that system. Cycle tourists sometimes use them, so check rivbike.com, velo-orange.com, paulcomp.com, etc.

Good call. You'd also want to make sure the axle-to-crown measurement of any replacement fork is not too different from the stock fork or the handling could be negatively impacted.

You have done yourself a favor by inquiring here about your planned upgrades, but I hate to say it: You may be better off looking for a more suitable used bike rather than sinking money into a bike that has so many limitations due to so many things being more or less obsolete. By the time you buy a fork, brakes, levers, etc. you could probably get something 'lightly used' that would work better for you for around $200 if you perform your due diligence and shop carefully. JMHO.

I am also curious how tall you are? Those NEXT bikes generally come in just one size and it's possible it isn't really the best size for you anyway. . . . . . Just a thought.

Keep trying to figure out what could be your best path to get where you need to go. Better to measure twice and cut (loose with the moolah) just once. Good luck.

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markaitch

· #15 · Feb 28, 2011

a 97 magna???
your'e not seriously considering replacing the fork?
anyway, if you really do love that bike all that much & want to throw money away on it...
since your front brake is a center-bolt mount, what do you have on the rear? is it center-mount too?
you could use a bmx caliper (ex: dia-compe or odyssey) on the front, you just have to get the correct reach. after you figure out what you need on the ass-end & how to replace that...shop around for the cheapest levers you can find, there's plenty available online for $8-12 a set, or a lbs may have some in their left-overs parts box for cheap.
but...you did not mention what you use that bike for.
if you just noodle around on it, you could replace the bike itself with a new magna from target for not much more than a c-note.
however, if you do want a real mtb that's a different story...time to start reading all the "what entry-level bike should i buy" threads in this forum.
have fun & good luck...

joshman108

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 1, 2011

markaitch said:
a 97 magna???
your'e not seriously considering replacing the fork?
anyway, if you really do love that bike all that much & want to throw money away on it...
since your front brake is a center-bolt mount, what do you have on the rear? is it center-mount too?
you could use a bmx caliper (ex: dia-compe or odyssey) on the front, you just have to get the correct reach. after you figure out what you need on the ass-end & how to replace that...shop around for the cheapest levers you can find, there's plenty available online for $8-12 a set, or a lbs may have some in their left-overs parts box for cheap.
but...you did not mention what you use that bike for.
if you just noodle around on it, you could replace the bike itself with a new magna from target for not much more than a c-note.
however, if you do want a real mtb that's a different story...time to start reading all the "what entry-level bike should i buy" threads in this forum.
have fun & good luck...

Well yes, but I wouldnt buy a NEW fork, that would be unreasonable. I would just lift the fork i need from another old bike. The rear is center mounted too, i might just not mess with that, cuz im not sure how to fix that. Its a weird setup in the back.

I ride the bike around the neighborhood alot, but i also hammer it on all the same trails that I take my hardtail. I know about bikes, and im gonna buy a ex 8 in the spring, but i still wanna fix this one up. Because believe it or not, its alot better quality than any new magna. So no, replacing it with a new one wouldnt be a good idea. The new ones fall apart with a curb jump, but this one has stayed solid even after ive taken it all the local trails, rock gardens and small drops. Thats why i love it.

mtnbiker72

· #17 · Mar 1, 2011

joshman108 said:
ummmmmm. its a 97 magna. It was my first bike, and its been through hell and back. I still like riding it, cuz it just wont die. So i want some better brakes. I also put some spare wheels on it. Heck, I like it just fine. To each his own eh?

Donate it to charity

I have a new suggestion, buy these brakes and get an entire new bike for free
http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Men-s-Roadmaster-Mountain-Sport-All-Terrain-Bike/13398147

faceplant72

· #18 · Mar 1, 2011

joshman108 said:
ummmmmm. its a 97 magna. It was my first bike, and its been through hell and back. I still like riding it, cuz it just wont die. So i want some better brakes. I also put some spare wheels on it. Heck, I like it just fine. To each his own eh?

Since the differance in brakes is mimimal compared to the pads and cables/housings, I would just put on better housings and pads. Your 14 year old pads have hardened and have lost a lot of performance. New Kool stop pads are ~$15 a pair. The cable housings are also probably shot as well. Since you likely can't make an used cable fit into a new housing replace both the housing and cables ~$15. This will be a big improvement for ~$45.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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