Long reach Brakes

markwb79
markwb79 Posts: 937
edited September 2017 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Looking for some advice, I am searching lots and just getting confused!

Deciding on the spec for my new bike.

Now I need to pick the brakes.

It will have full mudguards, so I need to pick long reach calipers. I want to have them in black too....

what are my options????

Many thanks
Mark
Scott Addict 2011
Giant TCR 2012

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    You might not need long reach brakes... it might well be that 5800 are enough. It depends on the frame, not on the mudgards
    left the forum March 2023
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    ^ wot he said too. But if your frame requires them:

    https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Shimano-BR-R45 ... JMVfD_BwE#

    I have the ancestor of these on my winter bike. 10 years on and not a spot of rust. I have the silver version, but it looks like they come in black too, unlike the dearer BR-650s.
    When they finally wore out I did replace the all-in-one moulded blocks with some 5800 cartridges / inserts.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    I've had both the Shimano 450 and 650 long drops and these are way better, TRP RG957.

    http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?p ... 3&subcat=0
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Flasher wrote:
    I've had both the Shimano 450 and 650 long drops and these are way better, TRP RG957.

    http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?p ... 3&subcat=0

    Not cheap though... :shock:
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    I've had the silver Shimano BR-R450s for years too on one of my winter bikes, and they're perfectly adequate, but on my latest winter frameset, I can run stock 5700 calipers with just a little filing to the caliper arms. So as others have said, it depends on the frame spacing; however, if there's clearance for 28mm tyres and mudguards, then you probably do need long drop calipers. Another option is offset brake shoes, but they're as expensive as a set of calipers.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    keef66 wrote:
    Flasher wrote:
    I've had both the Shimano 450 and 650 long drops and these are way better, TRP RG957.

    http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?p ... 3&subcat=0

    Not cheap though... :shock:

    Brexit payback, mine were less than 80 quid a couple of years ago. You can find them on ebay for 90ish.
  • phil485
    phil485 Posts: 364
    Just found these on Ebay as I have a similar issue on my Dolan.
    105 5800 Frt brake is very close to rubbing the tyre...

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AICAN-Aluminu ... 0338.m3726
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Phil485 wrote:
    Just found these on Ebay as I have a similar issue on my Dolan.
    105 5800 Frt brake is very close to rubbing the tyre...

    Which Dolan?

    If the brake arch is very close to the tyre is because you are using a tyre which is too big for your fork... longer brakes won't make any difference
    left the forum March 2023
  • phil485
    phil485 Posts: 364
    A Dual Ugo.

    Will try and take a pic tonight, just need to drop pad a few mm to get it to hit the rim in the middle of the brake track rather than right on the edge.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Phil485 wrote:
    A Dual Ugo.

    Will try and take a pic tonight, just need to drop pad a few mm to get it to hit the rim in the middle of the brake track rather than right on the edge.

    Ahhhh OK, now I understand. Yes, the Dual is close, but I have 5800 and they work fine... even when the pads wear, they still brake fine. I was a bit concerned myself at the start
    left the forum March 2023
  • shamrock134
    shamrock134 Posts: 714
    Very relevant topic to me. I've been caught in the rain a few times recently on my commuter, including this morning, and my long reach Shimano R451s are dangerously useless! The R650s are just the same casting but a different colour?

    I've ordered some Kool Stop Salmons but I don't remember them making much of a difference previously.

    I've also heard about drop bolts that allow 'normal' drop calipers to be fitted but can't seem to find any place to get them.
  • markwb79
    markwb79 Posts: 937
    Thanks for all the replies. Really appreciate it.

    Yes I do need long reach, should have been clearer. Its because of the frame design, not completely because I want mudguards.

    Wow...never seen that bolt thing that drops them down, very clever really.

    Price isnt my primary concern. I would prefer performance and looks first.

    The R451's are out for me, I want to change between carbon and alu brake pads (yes I could buy a spare set of holders.)
    TRP ones are nice.
    Tekto R737 and R539 also look good.
    Shimano R650 - Wish they did these in black (I would have bought them by now)

    Currently I am leaning towards the Tekto R539, think they look good also.
    Reading the reviews on wiggle they also seem good.
    Scott Addict 2011
    Giant TCR 2012
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    How about pull ratios compatibility etc?

    I thought for good braking they need to match the levers...
  • shamrock134
    shamrock134 Posts: 714
    Markwb79 wrote:
    Price isnt my primary concern. I would prefer performance and looks first.

    How about these?

    https://store.velo-orange.com/index.php ... -noir.html

    Not sure how difficult they are to source in the UK.
  • markwb79
    markwb79 Posts: 937
    shamrock134 wrote:
    Markwb79 wrote:
    Price isnt my primary concern. I would prefer performance and looks first.

    How about these?

    https://store.velo-orange.com/index.php ... -noir.html

    Not sure how difficult they are to source in the UK.


    Just saw them. I think they look really sharp.

    When I said price isnt in my thoughts. Paying 3x+ the others, thats a little much.
    I would more likely get Ultegra and buy those inserts to drop it down to 57mm
    Scott Addict 2011
    Giant TCR 2012
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    The Dolan Dual is on the borderline for needing long reach brakes so your best option IMO is to run standard Ultegra calipers and file down the slots in the arms to give you another couple of mm of reach. I've done this with 105 calipers on my Tifosi CK7 and they work great.
  • williamac
    williamac Posts: 71
    shamrock134 wrote:
    Markwb79 wrote:
    Price isnt my primary concern. I would prefer performance and looks first.

    How about these?

    https://store.velo-orange.com/index.php ... -noir.html

    Not sure how difficult they are to source in the UK.

    I bought these for my kinesis GF Ti (in sliver) from a UK based company (can't remember who but think they were a london based shop with a website) so you can get hold of them. Look great and work very well - reason I bought was that they were identified as being some of the stiffest (and therefore better) long reach brakes. Wanted something that would make me feel comfortable on steep descents in the wet :D

    William
  • the_cyclist_of_catan
    the_cyclist_of_catan Posts: 354
    Another TRP user here. They're quite a bit better than the previous long-reach brakes I had on the bike.
    They use their cars as shopping baskets; they use their cars as overcoats.
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    Might be down to there pull ratio matching the newer shimano one?

    Some info here

    https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=102536.0

    https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=105066

    Bit confusing/technical.....

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