Currently got mechanical discs (promax)
£100 to spend, better brakes that require less effort and stop better is the remit! Oh and small hands!
Trp spyre?
Compressionless outers?
Giant hydraulic hybrid brakes?
I would try the compressionless outers first. I've got BB7s on my commuter, and switching to compressionless outers definitely improved the feel. But if you upgrade to other mechanical discs, definitely still get some compressionless outers!
You might be able to find some used TRP HyRd/JuinTech or Clarkes hybrid callipers for the money?
Been a while since I bought any but my BB7s and 105 non group cable calipers work well (and pro max aren't the best iirc)
Not Spyres! I ran BB7s on a mountain bike for 11 years without issue, so have no axes to grind regarding cable disk brakes, but the Spyres I have on my current go-to bike are pretty poor.
In order:
Compressionless outers made a slight improvement, but nothing major.
I'm trying new levers soon.
If the levers don't work out, I'll either buy V-pull drop bar levers so I can use my old MTB BB7s, or:
Get a TRP Hy/Rd for the front and live with the Spyre on the back.
I’ve got spyres and we’re poor until I changed the pads for (I think) Uber bike race matrix (or whatever the white ones are) and they’re loads better, about as good as my old bb9s tbh
£100 to spend, I'd go with the Giant Conduct.
I've got Shimano mechanical brakes with compressionless cable outers and they've been great for a good few years.
Saying that, I'd swap them for full hydro's any day.
Re Spyres - I run them on a Kinesis Pro6 as a jack of all trades bike...
When new, and pads bedded in, they were good. Used for 4 season commuting, road, gravel and a few cross races.
BUT they lost their edge - I then found they are not officially serviceable, have no protection for their guts and have several bearings/races that rust and you can’t source replacement. They now feel rough, even when stripped and cleaned...
I would upgrade to full hydro except 1) cost and b) no availability at present.
Looking back, if I’d known and stripped them down regularly, I may have been ok but that’s not the official line. I maintained them as per instructions and now view the whole things as consumable (ie I wouldn’t buy again!)...
BUT they lost their edge – I then found they are not officially serviceable, have no protection for their guts and have several bearings/races that rust and you can’t source replacement. They now feel rough, even when stripped and cleaned…
Ug, don't say that! Have just inherited a buddy's old Spyres, was prepared to service them anyway and not expecting hydraulic feel or performance, just hope I can achieve the same performance as my canti brakes at least (which might actually be tough, Shorty Ultimates are actually reasonably powerful and light action).
Have seen some quite brutal mods to reduce 'spring tension' on Spyres by basically hacking bits of either side of the pad return spring.
I managed to get some 10 speed rs405s and slx calipers on eBay for £100 not long ago.
I couldn’t face cable discs and although Shimano hydro reliability is a bit hit or miss I took a punt and glad I did.
The 505s are 11 speed but realise non of this helpful if you are on 9 speed.
see this great thread from a useful forum
thanks @spangelsaregreat if you are still about
Also non STW linky
being slow, it took me a little more than the quoted 20 mins, with a few choice words to get the activator arm off/on.
And if you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, it will strip the paint from the actuator torq bolts so you need to work out which way to turn them *face palm*
on mine the small bearing races are pretty much dead, and the not so small bearings (I can't call them large!) are corroded...
I'd see no reason to reduce spring tension if the bearings work adequately.
They were good enough to lock wheels etc when they were in good shape, just wish I had stripped them earlier...
Yep Spyres were never better than acceptable for me. Upgrade to Juin Tech R1's like the giant but cheaper and lighter, which are actually very good. Maybe £130 rather than 100 as I recall.
PS that's not the same seller I used so cannot vouch for it
Yep, thanks, have followed that guide before, not put off servicing the Spyres, it's just the thought that they may already have 'past their best' if they're a little notchety.
Still, if they can't be recovered then there always seem to be sets available 2nd hand from people who have immediately switched out stock Spyres for hydraulics
Still, if they can’t be recovered then there always seem to be sets available 2nd hand from people who have immediately switched out stock Spyres for hydraulics
I have just done this. If anyone wants a pair of spyres (one OK, one not so OK) you may as well have them rather than me dropping them into the Bike Station.