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I've only ever used Shimano - Deore, XT and XTR. I reckon you get a little bit better feel and operation as you go up through the range. Plus, I like the lighter bits and I'm not exactly a hard rider, so no point in paying for additional "burliness". I also like that fact that they use mineral oil as it's slightly less unpleasant to deal with.
I'm now thinking of building up another bike. Lightweight full-sus, 100mm rear, 120mm front travel. Starting from that position, what other options should I consider from Hope, Avid, Magura etc. that would give me similar quality/weight for less pennies, or better quality/less weight for the same cost?
Hope Tech X2. Had XT's on my old bike, moved to Mono Mini's on the new one. Prefer the lever feel on the Hope's and plenty powerfull enough. Assuming the X2's are better than the Mini's as they are the newer incarnation. Hope's are a piece of p*ss to bleed, unlike Shimano's, and the X'2 have the bite and reach adjust.
Oh, and they are British and they look the dogs
Id have to say shimano's are the easiest brakes to bleed (well the non servo wave ones are, not sure on them)
I'd jsut get shimano again because there usually cheap, reliable and work well.
Magura. Not as nice looking as Shimano, but spookily a bit lighter and they rip Shimano to bits for power.
Havinbg sais that, being a big Magura fan, my new Avids are pretty darn good, too.
🙂
I have run a few
Older Hope Mono mini's and M4's, great but pistons can stick and cause drag, easy to bleed
New silver and black Mono Mini's.... cant fault them, nice lever feel and bite, easy to bleed
Hope tech range, if you have the cash go for them, the new levers and adjustment are just great
Fomulao Oro K18's - very nice and light, great bite point, again cannot fault them, not as easy to bleed though
Hayes - Errrrm im not going to comment, I have had HFX-9's and strokers, HFX-9's are all or nothing, the stokers broke and coroded although they have a great lever feel
New Saints, mate has them and they are just nice, could be OTT if you want them for XC as they are powerful, cant comment on bleeding them
For me hope quality shines through, lots of spares available and hope support is great. For your want I would have a good look at the K18's
PP - which Maguras?
Hopes. I don't know how any brake could be easier to bleed - as easy perhaps but hopes are very simple. Pull lever / open bleed nipple / close bleed nipple / release lever. top up fluid every 3 cycles.
Druidh - next time we are out have a shot of my bike see if you like the hopes. the soft lever feel don't suit everyone but I prefer it to the "pinch a brick" feel of some other brakes.
My Shimanos are a dawdle to bleed. Bottom up and no faffing.
Anybody else want to contribute to "what brakes"?
Not Hayes I guess. That leaves Avids of some description, Martas (but which model), Hope Techs? and a Formula model
I've liked all my Avids (not keen on the old rotor type tho). Can't say I'd complain.
All avids are good, Elixirs especially so, lots of power, ease of use, and nice lever shape.
Just swapped to Hope TechM4/X2 combo from Avid Juicy Ultimates
the Avids were ok but were tempremental and needed tlc to keep the pistons from sticking and catching, they were ok to bleed once you had the knack to stop the lever being a bit soft. Pad adjuster seemed vague, always plenty of feel and enough power
The hopes feel bomb proof, levers feel engineered and solid, lever adjustment really positive. Seem to offer more power and modulation than the Avids. I like the made in the UK and designed for the UK filth aspect of them too.
Not what you're looking for druid, but regarding Hope - I've just gone from Avid Juicy 5's to Hope Tech M4's.
Bloody hell, it like chucking an anchor out of the back of a mini. They are another level. The buggers squeal like a stuck pig when wet, but are only 3 rides old.
[i]Not Hayes I guess[/i]
They are the ugliest things in the world, but they are the only brakes I've used that are really like throwing an anchor out the back...Using Shimano now, as they are just too easy to live with
So these new minis a lot better than the old ones then, They couldnt stopme for shit before 😆
rich - if old minis couldn't stop you you didn't have them working properly.
BB7s 🙂
Or that old minis aren't that good? Have used hope C2's hope minis, Hope M4s, Avid J5's and Xt servowave.
all ran with either 200/ 185 or 200/165 or 185/165
C2's good..
Minis below average, ( now religated to use on commuter bike)
M4's very good.
Juicy5 , good, but not M4 good.
XT's super duper pooper scooper!!!!
Well I have both "old" types of minis on 160 mm discs and they provide more stopping power than I have tyre grip.
Yeah but you ride like a wuss. 🙂
Once you get newer stuff you realise just how rubbish old hope minis are.
That may be true Nick - but I'd love one of these "hopes don't work" riders to try my bike with hopes that do work.
I'm a hope fan just not a fan of the Black/gold minis, they heated up and faded too fast for my liking
I've ran Old style silver m4s 180/160 and two sets of the black/gold m4s 185/185 & 203/203 they were bloody great and so easy to work with
I swapped out to avids, Started off with 5s and now on carbons, they feel good but i'm not looking forward to bleeding them