Newbie questions about disk brakes...

GSDog
GSDog Posts: 129
edited April 2009 in MTB buying advice
Hi all.

I'm about to buy my first mountain bike for ~ 6 years or so. I've never used or had a bike with disk brakes before so I have a few questions.

I'm probably about to buy the Trek 4500 bike which doesn't come with disk brakes.
http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/m ... ies/4500e/

It's my birthday in June so I'm thinking about asking for them as a present.
What disk brakes for under £200 would be best with the Trek 4500? (Most of my usage to begin with will be road and XC).
Are disk brakes fairly easy to fit and adjust or should I get a local shop to fit them?
Is there anything else I need to buy for the Trek 4500 to fit them? Apparently it's all ready with the correct hubs, etc.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Focus Black Forest

Comments

  • JxL
    JxL Posts: 383
    For £200 you could get a decent pair of XT brakes

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... goryId=115

    Very good modulation and reliable brakes, although for a trek 4500 might be overkill. You could look at something a little less expensive and save the remaining cash

    e.g.

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... goryId=115

    I have shimano 486 (limilar to LX) brakes, at first they did not feel powerful enough, but after getting some sintered pads (cheap from Superstar) and 180 front rotor they feel great!
    Genesis Core 10 / Kinesis Decade Virtue SS

    Photography Portfolio
  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,780
    If you went with the Fury like we mentioned the other day you'd have disk brakes and a much better fork already there for you. No work involved for a novice and already built into the price. And those deals at halfords come round regularly. :wink:
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    That's good advice! It almost never makes sense to buy a bike with an eye to future upgrades, the cheap Rockhopper v-brake models were an exception but that Trek doesn't exactly set the world on fire as it is anyway, unless very cheap. With the Carrera you get a far, far better fork into the bargain as well as very decent Tektro hydros.

    I know it's not really the answer to the question you ask, but if v-brakes are an issue for you, that's just the wrong bike. Even if v-brakes aren't an issue for you, it's still probably the wrong bike, unless it's very cheap.

    If you do get the Trek, and I reckon you shouldn't, but if you do then the brakes aren't the worst part on it, your £200 would be better spent on forks.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,780
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12616775

    ^ If you go off the link in his original post the Trek is £450 :shock:

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