As above. Currently running 180mm with my Avid Guide brakes.
depends on your weight really, they can be quite grabby.
what size are you running out back?
I was told once, by an LBS, that because I was a fat lad I should run smaller rotors as using big rotor will cause spokes to snap.
Charming eh? I'm not even that fat.
I thought he was talking total pony anyway mind. I don't see an issue with big rotors, you just need to pull the lever a bit less, no?
Don't crash in the peleton with 200mm rotors would be my advice.
Check your forks, some have a maximum rotor size, mainly xc and trail ones (32mm stanchions or thereabouts).
Purely hypothetical here - I wonder if on massive rotors, at everyday speeds, you'd end up glazing pads as you wouldn't really generate enough heat when slowing down...?
They aren't light.
Most 200mm rotors are 190-200g
Most 160mm rotors are ~100-110g (I've got some 50g ones!).
That's 1/3 lb saved between 203mm rotors and 160mm before you start looking at fancy designs.
6-7 years ago I built a bike with BB7's and the only sets I could get for a decent price came with 200mm rotors fore and aft.
They fit in the back of a 456 fine.
They are still there and still fine, they are very responsive, that might equate to grabby I guess.
My pads have never glazed.
I'm 100kg dripping wet and I've not snapped a spoke on that bike (the bike is 33lb too).
I have never crashed in the peleton.
The Pace RC40xcam forks are fine for 200mm, but the bushing on the RC41 wore out a bit quicker (ie I've had to change them once) no idea if that is down to the brakes though.
From my experience, the positives of increased stopping power and resistance to brake fade from 200 front/180 rear outweighs the additional weight and risk of bending them in transit. But (..there's always a but! :)), I think it depends on your weight and how and where you ride- also the make and model of brake and state of their fluid. FWIW, I'm just under 90kg in full gear and have a weird preference for riding trials-type super steep technical natural descents, where the brakes are on and off constantly - and I normally go over to the Alps, Spain or Dolomites once a year to get my 'big mountain' fix.
In the UK, and with decent brakes, I've only occasionally felt the need for anything bigger than 180/160 or 180/180 - and for trail centres, 180/160 is absolutely fine. However, in the Alps, even with fresh brake fluid and a decent bleed, I've experienced various degrees of brake fade with Avid, Formula, Hope and Shimano when running 180/160 rotors. I've given up with fancy bling multi piston brakes now and just run standard XT and SLX with ice-tech rotors on my 'big' bike.
After almost boiling my XT brakes in Italy, a local guide recommended bigger rotors, and they work a treat - noticeably more power and no fade on long descents, but still not too grabby for general pootling around in the UK.
I guess with brakes, theyre one of those things where it's maybe be better to have some spare capacity and put up with the additional weight (unless you're a XC racer....in which case, you need therapy!....hee hee)
Vacations to Canada (whistler and north shore) always 200/200 or similar (203) large size rotors
For the UK, typically 180/160, perhaps 200 on the front for dh racing.
Noticeable difference in leverage/modulation and heat management between each rotor size,especially on the front brake which has the real stopping power