[chumbox]

Ok, I have looked at mechanical disc brakes and hydro disc brakes. I know the specs, the weights, have read all the MTBR debates on them, I can probably even name all the colour schemes... but still I have no idea what to go with... I love the old skool but I understand the new skool... argh...

So I thought to help me decide you guys can give me your best / worst / most ridiculous comments on all things mechanical vs hydro... I don't want the pros and cons (I know all those), I just want random thoughts, breakages, off topic flaming... whatever cos I need to make a decision! :thumbsup:

 

[womble]

Is this for a new bike, or an existing bike with v-brakes?

 

[chumbox]

Is this for a new bike, or an existing bike with v-brakes?

Existing bike with Tektro Mechanical Discs that really aren't cutting it when it comes to braking...

 

[Speedub.Nate]

You're on the fence? You know the attributes of each! Go with your gut. Either is good. (Assuming "mechanical" = "Avid.")

 

[womble]

Both are good. If you want to do the cheap and cautious route, start with a single Avid BB7 for the front and see how you like it.

 

[CB2]

If you go with mechanicals, all you'll have to do is switch the calipers; back to riding quicker.

 

[coachjon]

I like my hayes nines hydros.

my buddy went with avid bb7s on his KM. he had bling-tastic hope mono minis on his ellsworth and didn't like them at all.

i like cb2's idea though, you could save some $ by going the mech route also.

 

[Cloxxki]

My decisions long depended on what came as a good deal to me. Till the point it never happened with Mechanicals, and I got lightly used BB7's. It takes a better mechanic than me to set them up, but my friend's set is just amazing. Too powerful, if anything but perfect.
My Nines are perfect in their simplicity. Passed them on to a friend who's actually ride them regularly. Even in 160mm, a cheap OEM Nine brake once saved a kids lif on the 4X track. Kids bails right in front of me, on the landing of a huge table. Somehow the Nine brake got met to slow down safely in a meter or maybe 2 after touch down.
If you find a deal on Nines or similar Hayes, great. BB7's are always a good investment in the long run. Realize that both are to be considered heavy brakes.

 

[bsdc]

Why wreck your life with tough decisions like this? Hydrolic up front, mechanical in the rear.

 

[TLL]

What bike, what terrain, what kind of riding/rider?

My gut tells me you should go with a set of Formula K18's or 24's.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I have Tektro Mechanical Disc brakes with 160mm rotors and on the last trip I took I put them to the test. They even got me down a 80 degree slope with my feet not even on the petals(because I messed up and went too far lining it up), but anyway there was another occurence was when I was going down a trail that looked like it went into a good downhill section and well I wasn't looking far enough ahead to see that it cuts a quick 45 degree left and I had to squeeze my levers like I was juicing them. Nonetheless I guess what I am trying to say is I'm very well satisfied with my mechanical disc brakes and I can tell they work really well and are very very simple to setup and replace parts. With hydraulic disc brakes I guess you would need to bleed them and seems to be a bit more maintenance. Just my 2 cents.:thumbsup:

 

[duke walker]

sticky fingers....where is that 80 degree slope?

not possible

 

[2xPneu]

not possible

Isn't 'riding' a 90 degree slope considered freefalling?

 

[unit]

sure it is!

not possible

I see slopes that transition to vertical all the time (at the skate park).

Such slopes exist in nature too...the common name for them is "cliff". Occasionally cyclists will "huck" off of them. The only brake system that I know of that works even marginally on this sort of "slope" involves a parachute.

There you have it! The choice is clear...get mechanical parachutes.

 

[Sparticus]

It's about conditions

Here in the Pacific NorthWet during the winter the dials on the Avid BB7s can get hard to turn when it's 40 degrees out and the calipers get packed up with gritty slop.

--Sparty

 

[Guest]

Here in the Pacific NorthWet during the winter the dials on the Avid BB7s can get hard to turn when it's 40 degrees out and the calipers get packed up with gritty slop.

--Sparty

Same thoughts from me too. Hydro's are a sealed system, so the dirt and grime in a wet climate won't get into the cables, and god do I love my Formula K18's. :thumbsup:

 

[Padre]

My wife has run Formula Oro Puros for 3 seasons and has never had issue one. Just awesome performance all the time. And probably half the weight of BB7s.

I've been running Juicy's (7s and Ultimates) for almost 4 years now and will never ever go back. They just feel too good...kinda like mechanicals do when you first change the cables/housing....

 

[nepbug]

It's easier to carry a spare cable than a spare bleed kit if you plan on doing long remote rides and fear that you might crash and lose a hose/cable.

I've never encountered anyone that has had this happen though.

 

[Jaybo]

Go hydro

Ok, I have looked at mechanical disc brakes and hydro disc brakes. I know the specs, the weights, have read all the MTBR debates on them, I can probably even name all the colour schemes... but still I have no idea what to go with... I love the old skool but I understand the new skool... argh...

So I thought to help me decide you guys can give me your best / worst / most ridiculous comments on all things mechanical vs hydro... I don't want the pros and cons (I know all those), I just want random thoughts, breakages, off topic flaming... whatever cos I need to make a decision! :thumbsup:

I have hydros and mechanicals on my two bikes. Hydros are better in every way.

Jaybo

 

[Wish I Were Riding]

If only my Avid BB7's sucked... Then I could spend a bunch of money on Hydros. No seriously, I probably would buy Hydros if my BB7's just didn't seem to work.