What brakes do you use?

Ridg

hayes stroker carbon 203mm F/R loads of power and modulation

supersonic

Avid Arch Rival V brakes, Avid Speed dial 7 levers.

SuperCove

I have XTR M975 on mine.

martinb7893

I've got juicy 7's on my hardtail, and ultimates on my full sus and never had an issue with either. Stopping power is brilliant even on the hardtail with 145mm and 160mm rotors. Set up is simple. I've had hope m4's in the past as well as minis and the juicy's I belive have a better feel to them.

djvagabon1

I have got Hope mono minis on my bike. I have had them for a year now and they work like a dream. Ive had no problems with them at all. Ive been told by a few bike shops that they are the best xc brakes on the market.

Justinjured

After all the above feedack, have fot juicy 5's on now.

Commuted to work and back cross country today and they are fab. Havent beeded in yet, but the feel and modulation already seems leaps and bounds better than the old hayes 9's.

gcwebbyuk

How long should it take brakes to bed in?

How do you know when they are?

I have Avid Juicy 5s great stopping power, but thats moving from LX V-brakes up to them!

Westolian

Had my Juicy 7's for a couple of months and wasn't sure BUT, just got back from Wales and they really kicked in !!!!!!!!!!!!

Faultless

jpstar

Im bringing up the retro here, V brake on the front, and a shimano cantlever on the back 8) Very trust worthy, ive only made a few adjustments to the cantilever and fitter the V brake on the front instead of the cantilever because i broke it in a crash but i find theyre great for me and my style of riding
I also love the way that theyre just so retro and they fit in with my bike (Specialized Hardrock duno the year but they came with canti's and Shimano Alvio drive train rigid aswell ) was thinking of putting on some suspension forks i have laying around in the shed though. not sure though.

Mr Wu

Ive just ordered some Avid Code 5 185mm front and back for my Orange Evo.

A little over the top maybe, but the current juicy three's arent stopping me as quick as id like, probably down to me being a ratehr large rider!

Rockshox pumped upto 140psi, code 5 stopping power. . oh yes, im fully expecting a trip to the hospital soon!

whalley665

I use Hayes Nines and in the two years i've had them i've only had too change the brake pads, and i've never done any maintenance to them

clarkson

Mr Wu wrote:

Ive just ordered some Avid Code 5 185mm front and back for my Orange Evo.

A little over the top maybe, but the current juicy three's arent stopping me as quick as id like, probably down to me being a ratehr large rider!

Rockshox pumped upto 140psi, code 5 stopping power. . oh yes, im fully expecting a trip to the hospital soon!

woah code 5's on a ht? my dad has the evo8 n the 3 do him just fine!!

TheKrikkitWars

Another one on Hayes nines, they're good, and reliable, though I fear my rotors need truing.

This said, I'm distinctly tempted to go back to V-brakes, I guess I'll have to hop onto my old bike (now my dads) and see if I'm just being a nostalgic fool.

Dan67

Im using magura louise's 180 front rotor and 160 rear rotor

mtbikerboy

Hayes El Camino 160mm rotors- my first hydraulic disc brakes- excellent performance so far despite the many negative reviews i have seen.

Justinjured

This said, I'm distinctly tempted to go back to V-brakes, I guess I'll have to hop onto my old bike (now my dads) and see if I'm just being a nostalgic fool.

Ive recently borrowed one of my dads racing bikes to commute into work on over the winter, and even though its a very light bike (sub 20lb) with good quality v brakes, the confidence I have in stopping the bike is a fraction of what I have on my MB.

Just think back to how v brakes didnt work when the rim was wet and muddy on a steep downhill section...must be nostalgia. Its like calling the 70's the good old days!!!

One last thing... havent been on a racing bike for years and I am amzed how efficient, and just blimmin fast they are. BUT it is still incredibly dull. I just dont get the roadie mentality!!

Mickey Eye

Spotted a deal on Juicy 7s and ordered them in a moment of weakness, currently in the mail somewhere and I was starting to worry about my impulse buy. This thread has really put my fears to rest though. Awesome.

DC01

i ve the 7s on my fuel ex8. upgraded from the 5s that come as standard. for purely cosmetic reasons. both brakes are very good. excellent feel and very powerful. no real probs with either. had a sticky piston on the rear of the 7s. but easily sorted. just take the time to set the caliper up on its mounts square and youll have no probs. bleeding up also fairly easy. pad wear ok. just a very very good brake.

97wilewa01

I run shimano Xt disc brakes and they are fantastic when bleed properly.
They have been extremely reliable, and are very light!!!

Justinjured

after all the responses, now have juicy 5's. been out about half a dozen times and they are absolutely superb!

also had a moment of weakness last week and orderd monkeylite xc bars, xt shifters, bonty x lite stem and some new grips!! ooops!

Surf-Matt

Justin - good choice!
That was a big moment of weakness!

Amos

I am currently running Juicy 7's, but I do like the look of the Oro kit, and every review of I have seen of them states they are top drawer.

singlespeedexplosif

Juicy 7s and BB7s.

BenS999

Juicy 7's on one bike and Juicy 3's on another - never any problems but highly recommend using Superstar pads instead of the Avid ones - much much cheaper and just as good.

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.ph ... c44ea359a7

Justinjured

Justin - good choice!
That was a big moment of weakness!

the lbs fitted them for £150 with a 185 rotor on the front so well pleased. massive improvement on the hayes 9s which i rode into the ground!!

Mancunianfightingcat

Old Hope Minis on my hard tail, 160mm 2pot on the rear and 183mm 4pot up front, both running sintered pads.
Probably a bit too much for what I do on that bike and my old Fox Vanillas twang about when I brake hard.

Hope Mono Mini Pros on my orange 5, 180/160mm (sintered pads). I'd really like a bit more bite up front. I've been looking into getting a 4pot, but really want one in Smoke grey!

sq225917

Elixir CR's with 203F and 185R on my Demo 7 and Juciy Carbons on my BLT with 160F&R.

The ELixirs are a slightly better brake in terms of easy adjustment and no squeek, power feels largely similar.

Mattbot2

Tektro 836-AL V-Brakes

stubs

Shimano XT m765 cheap, easy to fit, easy to change pads and they work fine.

jrock

I have Juicy Ultimates on 3 of my bikes and haven't had ANY problems. Nice modulation, super light, response etc. This is not to say that there are not as good or better brakes out there. They just happen to be what I use. Formula and Hope would be my other chocies (in that order). Good luck!