Looking to upgrade from Giant MPH Brakes. Advice needed.

manc_ian

Hi there.

Ive currently got a Giant XTC SX with the standard MPH Brakes. In the not too distant future (overtime pay from work is due) i wanna upgrade the brakes to something a bit lighter than the MPH and with a better performance. Im generally happy with the performace of the mph brakes (ive never used anything else) but i know there will be better out there and the mph design is quite old.

Nearly every ride i do is around the peaks (hayfield, hope, ladybower etc) so the new brakes need to perform well on very steep, sandy/rocky decents and also have pads that dont wear too fast. I also wanna save a bit of weight if possible.

Can anyone (possibly who has upgraded from mph) recommend a good upgrade brake and one that wont break the bank either. Prop wanna spend around £70-£100 mark. I might even just upgrade the front brake to start with.

Also does anyone know any online stores that have any good deals on brakes at the mo?

Help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Ian

The Spiderman

My Giant XTC SX got upgraded courtesy of a little windfall by way of a WMB magazine prize draw.Part of the goodies won,included a full XT groupset,so mines now wearing XT brakes with DCL shifters.(the previous version M765,not the current ones.

They were an improvement over the Giant MPH offerings,particularly in modulation,and but particularly easier servicing and better reliabilty.Outright stopping power is not much different,but then the front now has a 160mm rotor rather than the 180mm,of the MPH.

You can get the old model XT brakes cheap on Chain Reaction or Merlin ,or if you are on a budget,the regular Deores are a good bet.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=153&categoryId=115

If you can stretch the budget a bit more,Formula Oros are meant to be reliable,light but more powerful.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Kits.aspx?ModelID=18986

Again Chain reaction or ,Merlin are best for cheap brakes.

dave_hill

All Terrain Cycles are knocking out Hayes HFX 9s at £99 for the full set (front and rear including rotors). Linky HERE

My Giant VT came with HFX 9s as standard 3 years ago and they've performed faultlessly in that time. The only upgrade that I've made is to fit larger discs.

guilliano

Avid Juicy 3 at £60 an end are worth the cash, as are Deore at the same price

BlackSpur

Merlin cycles are doing some cracking deals - Formula K18s and Hayes Stroker Rydes for £130 a pair. [/url]

manc_ian

Some good options there guys, cheers.

Im liking the reviews on the Formula Oro's and they dont seem too pricey either.

Was also reading the Brake Kit Test in the march issue of WMB today and they got the gold award.

Only problem is that merlin aint got any formula brakes on their site at the mo and CRC are sold out on the 180mm IS mount options on the K18 & K24.

Am i right in thinking the RS Reba will be an IS mount?

Chaka Ping

I've just specced a pair of those Formulas from Merlin for my new bike, but I'd have been just as happy with old XT - which I have on another bike.

streako

I have a pair of brand new Juicy 3's you may be interested in. They are unused, taken straight off my new bike so will require bedding in also. Front and rear, 160mm rotors, with all the bolts.

I was looking at 80 pounds posted.

Please PM me if you are interested.

The Spiderman

manc_ian wrote:

Some good options there guys, cheers.

Im liking the reviews on the Formula Oro's and they dont seem too pricey either.

Was also reading the Brake Kit Test in the march issue of WMB today and they got the gold award.

Only problem is that merlin aint got any formula brakes on their site at the mo and CRC are sold out on the 180mm IS mount options on the K18 & K24.

Am i right in thinking the RS Reba will be an IS mount?

My Reba is IS.

BlackSpur

manc_ian wrote:

Only problem is that merlin aint got any formula brakes on their site at the mo and CRC are sold out on the 180mm IS mount options on the K18 & K24.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1210

manc_ian

Do you have to call merlin to buy the Formulas because there aint a link on the website to buy them?

BlackSpur

Might just be a mistake, but I would call them and ask how to go abut buying them.

manc_ian

Emailed merlin and they are gettin some more stock of the formula's in 2 weeks.