Avids or Shimano Discs

thefartingcockeral

Hi All,
About to buy a new steed with hydraulic discs for the first time. For a basic mechanical person such as my self, which discs, out of the Avids and Shimano are easier to adjust and bleed. and to just generally maintain. I have always had V's and now I must move with the times. One LBS says Avids are better as a disc and to maintain adjust and beled whilst my other LBS says the same about Shimano. I need to know views from the lay person.
Cheers All

schmako

My shimano's are only just needing the pads replaced now. Bought August 05! Perfect braking everytime for me..

nicklouse

well which avaids and which shimano?
they both have more than one design/level.

mr mangos

I can't comment on Shimanos but I'm a relative novice and find Juicys very easy to adjust and maintain. Haven't had any major issues with them. Despite some reports I even found them easy to bleed.

thefartingcockeral

Hi,
Looking at Avid 5's and Shimano LX and XT if that helps.

warm18

i have had my juicy 5s for just under a year now and they are great. i love the feel of them. the pads have not worn out yet either and i have done a lot of riding and been to wales a few times. cant comment on the shimanos sorry but i can recommend the avids

thefartingcockeral

Thanks y'all

omegas

I have shimano on my GT and Avid on my Specialized.

Both excellent brakes for stopping power and easy to align in a few seconds.

Shimano is the easier of the 2 to bleed as all you need is a small plastic tube and bag to run the oil into.

Avid bleed kit has 2 syringes and clip valves and is hit and miss for keeping all the air out as you remove the tube in the reservoir to replace the plug and they want over £20 for the bleed kit.

Do a search on utube and there is a video on setting and bleeding Avids.

So performance you can not really split the 2 of them, a juicy 5 is like a Shimano LX the 7 like the XT ,one has this fancy bit on and the other one has this and on and on.

What I would consider is the rotor size as a 200mm front disc has a lot more stopping power than a 150mm. If you don’t see the need for latest technology a juicy 5 or LX with a 200 front and 180 rear will give you all the stopping power you need.

ride_whenever

If you are doing xc/am then you don't need more than 180/160 mil rotors, >180mm is mostly for more hardcore riding. Plus you'll get much better control of the power with smaller rotors, although there will be less of it.

Just as an example, I was running 180/160 and could stop on a dime going down hills, could effortlessly lock either wheel, but could accurately change speed as well.

dav1

I have been battling with this choice for ages now. I picked the avids in the end basically because i intend my new system to last me quite some time because I am likely to go down the road of porting all my upgraded bits onto a new frame rather then getting a new bike sometime down the line.

I picked based on the avids are more current and the rotors look nicer (thats all i could do it on :S)

My LBS offered me an amazing deal on the XTs, would be a shame if an offer like that went to waste so PM me and ill put you in touch if you are interested. They are to be built from individual parts so the hoses will be cut to the length you want.

martin_brown

Just had the same dilema choosing brakes,looked at all the specs and was still unsure what was best..... but eventually plumped for the formula oro k18 from crc,very good reviews on these......have a look and see for yourself

thefartingcockeral

Thanks for all your help.
Probaly go with the Avids and can get a great deal on the Juicy 7's.
The video on utube helped me.
cheers
dave

nicklouse

if you are looking at the 7's have a look at the Oros. they are better.

clarkson

if shimano or avid id go for avid, having owned both. avid feel brilkliant, plenty of stoppage and control. havent tried bleeding them yet, but on that fornt the shimanos are easy to bleed.