best disk brakes

tompsk73

Heres an idle ponder. What do you reckon are the very best disk brakes on the market? I dont mean best stoppping power, or most expensive, But the best balance between stoppping power, price and sexyness; I mean aesthetics! The all rounder that ticks all the boxes.
If anyone says avid juicy threes they're out.

nicklouse

for what use?

Scubar

Id have to say the top of my current list for stopping power/sexyness would be the Avid Juicy Ultimates, I also REALLY like the new 08 XT Hydros and if they are as good for stopping as this years they will also be near the top of my list.

MaxRocks

for what use?

Stopping, perhaps?

StefanH

I'd have to say anything by Formula Oro.

I plan on buying a Puro for the front at some point this year.

supersonic

Shimano Deore! Great bang for buck lol

beski

I'd 2nd Shimano Deore, got them on my bike, great brakes for the price

orangechimp

Hayes 9's from wooly hat shop £98 i think!!!!!

brilliant brakes BTW

nicklouse

orangechimp wrote:

Hayes 9's from wooly hat shop £98 i think!!!!!

brilliant brakes BTW

personally i think they are crap.

georgebighit

why are hayes 9s crap? I think avid codes for dh

nicklouse

georgebighit wrote:

why are hayes 9s crap? I think avid codes for dh

try using just about any other brake and you will see. Hayes are OK but there is many that are a lot better.

tompsk73

Whatabout magura? They seem to know their stuff. Any good or just pretty?

Scubar

Im not a fan of Hayes Disc Brakes, I do really like the feel of Avids and Hope brakes though. The Shimano brakes are pretty good but havent really used them all that much, just wish Shimano did some nicer looking rotors, the ones they include remind me of the crappy old mechanical ones that came on my bike like 6 years ago. Luckily they seem to have resolved the crappy rotor look with the new 08 XT groupset.

nicklouse

some of the maguras are OK but it all depends on what you want to use them for and what size disc.

as i said in my first post "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO USE THEM FOR?"

tompsk73

"Stopping" is what I want them for..., Its purely a rhetorical question, I have avid juicy 3s, they are useless, and its my only experience of disk brakes, so I wanted a little overview on whats out there. I aint got the nuggets for top flight stuff, so it was a real world question of what ticks peoples boxes.
I like the look of magura louise, and hope mono minis. But looks may mean nothing.

nicklouse

ok lets put it a different way.

what is your bike?

and the loiuse are about the same as the 3's.

tompsk73

I got a canyon, xc hard tail, 185 up front, 2007 model with juicy 3s. The brakes are improving as far a sqeaking and stopping ability go, the more I use them. Im more than willing to stick with them, Im not in the immediate market to change em, I just want to know where they figure in the general scale of performance in peoples opinion. Most feedback I get is that people with juicys winge about them.
What do you use for xc?

nicklouse

the 3's are OE only and are at the bottom of the Avid pile.

now one thing to remember with all disc brakes they do need to bed in. als any dirt or paint between the bolted serfaces can allow squeeks. as canyon is a mail order company i would question the build.

how long have you had the bike for?

Scubar

Although the 3s are the bottom of the pile they arent any different from the Juicy 5s in terms of performance, I havent had a single problem with mine over the last 5months and they do have very good stopping power.

tompsk73

Sorry whats OE only? Ive had the bike about three months and it has regular (daily) hammerings on the local trails.
I suppose my original question of 'what are the best disk brakes' was spured by only ever having used j3s and wondering if all disk brakes were like this, or if one make rose to the top in public opinion. IF you scan the forum for avid the questions are always about their brakes sqeaking, whether its 3s, 5s or 7s. Everyone seems a bit disgruntled with them. Sure, Canyon sell direct from their factory, so popping it back for them to twiddle the brakes is unlikely, thats the price you pay for paying less to start with.
I just want to know that not all d brakes are this bad.

tompsk73

Apart from the post above about his 5s that is. Bloody typical!

supersonic

OE is original equipment, parts fitted to factory bikes only. It seems there is always someone that has a problem with a disc brake, be it Hayes, XT, Hope, Avid... and half the time its poor set up.

thaibog

Old hope Minis...the one with the silver caliper..stick a pair of red ceramic disco pads on them and you will never need to worry about stopping quickly again..

you can pick them up cheaply from e-bay also

georgebighit

avid juicy 3's are not OM only

chainreactions do them
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=16784

LostAndConfused

My Juicy 3s have worked brilliantly for me.

nicklouse

georgebighit wrote:

avid juicy 3's are not OM only

chainreactions do them
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=16784

yes they are. where do you think most of CRC parts come from? what are most parts in plastic bags with no instructions?

dave_s

I'd say Avid Juicy 7s are the best brake I've got/tried with old style (pre-mono) Hope Minis being next best.
I have Mono M4s on one bike and although they're ok, they don't compete with the Juicy 7s or even the old minis on my hardtail

dirt-jump-mike

there aint anything wrong with hayes..a lot of people just cant get the control they want because the power is added really quickly where as with brakes like hope you can apply the strength over a longer stroke of the lever! i have used hayes brakes on 2 of my previous bikes and would almost swear by them if i was on a budget