You’ll still stop OK with the 180, but if you get the 203 you’ll know you can’t stop any better.

I got 203 both ends for this reason.

Also worth considering is that the 203 looks cooler 😉

I have a 203 up front strictly because its overbiked or nothing!

…oh and it looks cooler as mentioned above, especially with these bad boys:

becasue by using bigger rotors you use them less?

or to put it in a more coherent way. If the brakes are more powerfull, you dont need to squeeze them as tight, and your arms get a bit of a break.

I’m 80kg + kit and ran 160s fine both ends in the alps (on avids) on my prophet. Only had heat problems once, and plenty stopping power for the grip on that bike.

Same brakes but 200s on my DH bike, cos bigger softer tyres and better sus mean more grip, so I can haul on harder and notice the better braking. I did have a 160 on the rear for a while though as a spare when I bent a 200, and it was fine too.

I think most folk are probably over-braked. There are disadvantages other than rotating weight, to bigger brakes. It’s harder to get them hot to get pads properly bedded in, it’s easier to ding a rotor riding, and easier to bend one in transit too (more likely).

Try the smaller rotors, and get new bigger ones if you feel you need more power?

oh! and i have 203’s front and rear, just because i can.

203 on the rear can never be justified, surely?

justification – i know i’ve got the maximum braking power I can have.

Why does it need to be justified though, its not like i spent $4k on some ridiculous full sus bike that i don’t really need, I spent 20 quid an end and got bigger rotors and better braking.

The thing about the rear end though, is its pretty easy to lock out anyway, so there’s no need for the bigger rotor really. Get 203/185 because that’s what I’ve got, so it must be the best.

Jamie, that pic makes me want to go and clean my bike, you could eat your dinner off those tires.

Don’t feel too bad. That was when it was just built. Looks like shite and the tyres need changing now

People say there’s no need for 203 on the back are those who have never tried it.

Having got a 203mm (rear) disk very blue, I’d say there’s a need for some riding. That said I didn’t die when I broke my frame and used a hire bike with 203/185 on it.

Nothing I’ve ridden in this country has been at all scary on 185/160 though. I think on very steep stuff you end up using the rear for most of your braking to avoid going over the bars and keep your speed to reasonable levels, but there’s nothing steep enough for long enough that I’ve ridden here to cause any real problems. (85-90kg bone dry)

someone was selling some new k18’s without rotors on the classifieds earlier for £150. Just in case that works out less than the ones you are buying.

and they are awesome brakes, best i have used and silly light too.

Formula make 220mm rotors, i have one due to a pricing error making them the cheapest way to buy a front brake. Utterly pointless other than looking ‘core.

I weigh close to 100kg with biking gear and use 203/180 because I know I need it on a full sus. On a hardtail I use 180/160 and its fine, I have tried different combos and this one worked best for me. If you ride hard and fast and you like to wipe speed of quick and brake late go for the larger rotor. I would always prefer to have to much than not enough, especially in the Alps!

203s on the back are more than you’ll ever need, but they look cools as ****. for this reason, I’d go for 203 both ends, and then let my mates take the piss out of me.