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What's the consensus on budget brakes? Are BB-7's good enough, or should I stump up the extra for some Deore hydraulics or some such? The BB-7 sets on ebay for £74 seem a steal, although I would prefer to buy them from On One if only anyone had Avid levers at a decent price.....
Just go and spend that little bit more, the new deore are cheaper than the old and a lot better than bb7s.
I'd rather go for second-hand posh brakes, price of some new Deores would get you some used XTs.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shimano-disc-brake-br-m446-520147/aid:520149
£23 per brake I am really impressed with the power
Did you have to swap the levers over with those brakes from Rosebikes?
yeah, but it was easy enough
I had Deore until recently and they were great brakes-I think they would be worth the investment over the Avids. You can get a very nice set of brakes for £100-150 if you go second hand too but I guess it all depends on personal preference of new vs used?
Deore M596 from Roseversand or bike-components.de
The Deores are so much better, there really isn't any comparison to make. They're also cheaper when bought from Germany even when you buy the BB7s reduced from On One.
You should be able to get a pair of SLX's from rosebikes for like 110 new?
My new set of M596 feel so much more expensive than they were. They lever blade fits my finger nicely and they feel very solid when braking. They feel slightly more powerful than the M595 they replace too, despite being the same calliper. This could be due to the revised hose they use. I am well pleased with them.
Almost pulling the trigger on the Deore, but just spotted Avid Elixir 1s on Merlin for £90. Is the general consensus on these that the Deore are much better?
"Is the general consensus on these that the Deore are much better?"
I thought a load of the magazines were saying deores had no power not so long ago? Unless they've updated them recently?
Personally I'd go avid juicy 3 or elixir, but I know not everyone likes them, I get on with mine fine
The BB7 is actually a pretty good brake and easy to set up but I'd go for the cheapie Shimanos from Rose Bikes too.
I'd never fit Juicys/Elixirs. Fine when new but a pain to keep working well over time IME.
BB7s are great imo.
I got new SLX from rose, £150 inc 180 rotors, awesome! The deore 596 are £35 per end, I'd go with them, the get excellent reviews in Dirt magazine.
[i]I thought a load of the magazines were saying deores had no power not so long ago? Unless they've updated them recently?[/i]
Not sure which reviews you are thinking of but Bikeradar loved the M595
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/disc-brake-systems/product/review-shimano-deore-m595-brake-caliper-11-37554/ ]REVIEW HERE[/url]
If you can get the M596 at £35 an end then go for it.
Make sure you avoid the M575. I didn't; they're awful.
BB7s are excellent if you use decent pads/rotors/cables and levers, and then they are not so cheap.
Hydro like smoothness at the lever and by using the speed dial on the avid levers you can run a large pad/rotor gap to avoid winter mud/water grinding down your brakes, and still have sharp brakes.
I would say it also depends on what type of riding you do and how you brake. I have BB7s on my hardtail and SS bike and they are great on most types of XC riding including Afan, CyB etc. They are very easy to set up and provide more than enough braking force and plenty of feel.
I use the organic pads because the sintered ones squeel like Ned Beatty in Deliverance and put your teeth on edge. The organic pads last plenty of time for me as well. I have Hope Tech X2s on my Orange 5 just to show that I do know the difference between cable and hydraulics discs and these are better than the BB7s.
I would say if you are more into DH type riding then a decent set of hydraulics are the way to go but I don't think there would be much to choose between the Deores and the BB7s in actual braking force. If I were actually laying out the cash now then I would probably plump for the Deores.
Having constant issues with elixr 1's that are coming on 2012 giants.Juicy's in elixr's clothing :0(
Good to have Elixirs ruled out. It'll be a winterised single speed - lightweight XC build (On-one Scandal frame). Like the idea that cables would be easy to fit and maintain - so the BBs have their attractions. Have Deores already on a Genesis Altitude and I'm more than happy with them too. Mmmmm decisions, decisions!
deore brakes are great.
Bought a Cotic Soul with BB7's and was going to put hydraulics on it but the BB7's are great so I've just left them. No problems for the last 3 years, easily adjusted to compensate for wear and good modulation and power.
I wouldn't rule out Avids either as my 2007 Orange 5 has Juicy 5's which have only required two bleeds in their life and that bike gets ridden all year including winter mud and snow. Must have done at least 1500 miles now. (The computer died over a year ago with 1000+ on it)
My latest bike has Elixir R's and after an initial bleed have been brilliant also.
Other good brakes I have are Shimano SLX. I wouldn't touch Hope, I've had nothing but problems with them.
I had Juicy ultimate before the BB7s (and hayes hfx 9 before that).
When I got sticky pistons I went to service them but found I couldn't get one of the pistons out without a compressed air line as they had a one piece caliper.
When I got sticky pistons I went to service them but found I couldn't get one of the pistons out without a compressed air line as they had a one piece caliper.
Restrict the piston that will move and pump the other out. Then make a temporary seal (bit of rubber covered by strip on metal and a clamp) over the now open side and pump the remaining piston out, unless they are like hopes and have bore caps, in which case push the 2nd piston out from behind.
Restrict the piston that will move and pump the other out. Then make a temporary seal (bit of rubber covered by strip on metal and a clamp) over the now open side and pump the remaining piston out, unless they are like hopes and have bore caps, in which case push the 2nd piston out from behind.
maybe one day but I like the maintainability of the BB7s and the extra pad/rotor gap.
Plus they brake just as well, or maybe better.
Have Deores already on a Genesis Altitude and I'm more than happy with them too. Mmmmm decisions, decisions!
Going with what you have already makes keeping spare pads to hand easier.
I've got Shimano M575s on my MmmBop and I'd definately recommend them as a very good budget brake. I have XTs on my full suss and whilst the Deore's aren't quite as powerful as them, they are very good in my experiance. I'm still running the stock organic pads too after 10 months but will need to replace them soon. Have ridden XC and some DH on them and have worked flawlessly for me everytime.
Having said that (and just looking at CRC only), the SLX's are only £3 an end more expensive so I'd go with them out of the two (or....[url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Brakes/Disc+Brakes/Shimano+Disc+Brakes/Shimano+SLX+Disc+Brake+Set+-+Front++Rear_SLX-DISC-BRAKE-SET.htm ]Merlin[/url] has them at £140 for the pair including rotors which seems pretty good.).