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I have an old stumpy HT that due to having no cash is my one and only bike.
I have an Elixir 3 brake on the front and while not having initial bite, it is actually quite powerful considering how much it cost!
On the rear i have bought an A2z converter and have got a BB5 caliper dirt cheap as i already have a speed dial 7 lever.
Will the BB5 be up to the job, the bike is used mainly for singletrack but does get blatted around trailcentres.
The other option is to get some 2nd hand hopes.
should be fine
I would take used Hopes over pretty much any brakes. If you're short of cash but wanting to spend, spend once and spend wisely. Cable disc brakes are an unnecessary pain and only marginally better than Vs. Check online for deals on Shimano hydraulics (SLX and the like) - although I'd still go with Hope even if they're a few quid more. Complete serviceability is a real boon.
That is the thing swaying me towards getting somehopes, the serviceability!
Hope servicability is their sale point its great
Shimano might work good for a year or 2 trn are disposable ....mines lasted 8 months pieces of crap
I keep falling back on bb7s they are awesome brakes and far superior to v brakes with not many of the draw backs
Bb7s if set up right will match a hydro brake and will last infinately really
I bought a set of Hope Mini Mono's 5 years ago - ok they were new and very pricy at £350 for the set, but i don't think i'll ever need a new set of brakes. The feel, servicabilty are brilliant and they look pimping - not to mention British...
i say put it on the credit card and worry about it later 😈
Hopes are good and a good secondhand buy - I have them bought second hand on all my bikes.
However if what you have works then just ride it. Nowt in particular wrong with either brake although there are better out there
Cable disc brakes are an unnecessary pain and only marginally better than Vs.
Nonsense imo. I've not used BB5s but BB7s are very good.
Weirdly different experiences between trail rat and myself.
I find Shimano to be super reliable (I have 3 year old XTs that have done A LOT of miles) and Avid BB7 to be problematic (seized after about 18 months).
To answer your actual question, I reckon you'll be fine with what you have but Hopes would be nicer.
I know i should be ok (provided the right BB5 caliper shows up and not a damn road one!) still, it was only a tenner.
The thing is, i rarely have money but have massed a little bit by selling some unwanted parts so actually have enough to get some hopes secondhand.
Dont really know which ones are good though, c2, mini, mono mini, m4 etc etc. some good prices on m4s at the moment.
all are good to some extent, but my view on the Hope models:
C2, 'closed' system, which can over heat (everything else is open) BUT parts are no longer available, as their bloody old!
Original "Mini's", 2 pistons - Good but quite old now (mine date from 2000) & still work fine
Mono Mini are the updated Mini replacement (same 2 pots), but a mono calipre construction (rather than the 2 part bolt together)
M4 are 4 pistons brakes.. Mono M4 the updated version.
You can usually 'easily' tell pre Mono brake as they are silver, and black once they became Mono's IIRC.
Mini's for XC racers (thin ppl), M4 for the rest of us...
I's again recommend Hope brakes but if you skint, just use what you've got (avid/BBB) and upgrade when you have the cash.
You should be fine - I ran a disc on the front and v-brake on the rear for quite a while, and you'd be surprised how easy it is to lock up the rear wheel even in wet mud with a v-brake.
I know nicko, i have avid arch rivals on the back at the moment, they are actually very good, i am just concerned about winter because they are eating pads as it is!