Mountain Biking - I need some disc brakes

i need some disc brakes

i have been told over and over again that bb7's are the only mechanical disc brakes i should buy.
unfortunatley, i cant afford them and wont be able to for a while....

i cant afford them on ebay. I cant afford them new. Nothing...

so, i wanna know what other kinds of disc brakes are good that i can look for. I'll have about $50 to spend. All i need are the front brakes with the 6-bolt attacment and everything there for me to just put right on.

if i do earn a little more money, i'll get a front bb7 but right now, i'm gonna get $50 from a friend.

any suggestions?

Do you already have disc hubs?

yup, just bought them, with the spokes and rim attached
they're coming in the mail in a few days

they're bontrager, i dont know what model. They weigh 920 grams.
is bontrager a good company?

did i buy some really heavy wheels?

but anyway, what are good cheap disc brake companies?

If you are gonna get cheap disc brakes then don´t get discs and save your money for better stuff instead.

Try finding some used BB5 or BB7, apart from that maybe Hayes MX2 or some of that Shimano Alivio/Deore disc brakes stuff.

Avid BB5 is about half the price of BB7. They are just as good the only difference is there is no adjusting knob for the outboard pad. You will have a longer brake lever pull but that's the only difference.

I think you'll have a hard time finding a new set of calipers and rotors for less than $120.

Avid BB5 is about half the price of BB7. They are just as good the only difference is there is no adjusting knob for the outboard pad. You will have a longer brake lever pull but that's the only difference.

They also have slightly different caliper bodies and different pads, still once break in the BB5s provide mighty stopping power.

they dont sell many bb5's on ebay so they cost more than alot of the bb7's.

i'll look at the shimanos and hayes...


how about these hayes? (http://cgi.ebay.com/Hayes-MX2-Disc-Brakes-Rotors-Levers-NEW_W0QQitemZ7241267993QQcategoryZ58082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
then i can get a rear disc wheel later on and not have to buy another brake

If you are gonna get cheap disc brakes then don´t get discs and save your money for better stuff instead.

Yes. Save another $25 and get a BB7.

only $25 and you will have a great quality component instead of wondering what might have been.

alrighty, i'll save.

the last time i ignored other people's warnings, i had alot of problems. I'll see if i can babysit soon.

or sell some more junk to mr moneybags (my spoiled friend, stupid, yes, but very good to sell stuff to. Its handy to have a friend like that)



well, thanks for the tips!

Here's a thought! Ive got a front Hayes so1e hydro brake that I will give you! It's not any better than the Hayes MX-2 but the price is right. Give me a PM with your address and I'll send it to you and in the meantime you can save for a set of better brakes!

Hayes Mechs aren't all that great at all(Hayes makes good Hydros though, but not the sole's.) I'd highly discourage anyone from getting them. Avids are much better, and are worth saving for.

Oh, and by the way, what wheelset did you buy? Just wondering.

I might get flamed for this but....

My other bike has a set of Promax mech disks (came on the bike) and they've been nothing but great. Over two years of riding in some very dusty and gritty conditions, and they stop well with no adjustments needed.

I have a front shimano disk, caliper and rotor I can sell you for $50 (I upgraded to hydros so I have a spare set). for 50, you have to get something used

I have to agree with everyone else here. You just can't do it unless you want really crappy brakes. Even a cheapy v-brake decently set up can lock the wheels. You won't find that situation in the disc market. Riders weight is much more highly dependant for discs than v's as well so if you are over 160-170 lbs(guesstimate based on my 190 lbs) you will probably want larger than 160mm up front at least.

bb5s or 7's are the way to go.
Has anyone ever tried the hayes mx1s? I never hear anything about them at all. I've had the mx2s and wasn't impressed. The BB7s are better than them but I'd be curious to know what the mx1s are like if anyone has at leat ridden with them.

save up more money. BB-7 or BB-5's are the only choices you need .

well, thanks for all the generous offers but i'll just save up for some bb7's

now, a free rear disc wheel would be nice... :)

i already have $50, i just need a few more bucks and i'll be good

well, thanks for all the generous offers but i'll just save up for some bb7's

now, a free rear disc wheel would be nice... :)

i already have $50, i just need a few more bucks and i'll be good

well, thanks for all the generous offers but i'll just save up for some bb7's

now, a free rear disc wheel would be nice... :)

i already have $50, i just need a few more bucks and i'll be good

EDIT: oops, i acidentally clicked reply twice, sorry

Has anyone ever tried the hayes mx1s?
Yeah, my bike came with a stock set of them. They work amazingly for about a month, but need to be adjusted a lot. After a while, they stop working, bolts strip inside VERY easily, and eventually the caliper itself SNAPS. Both of mine have. And I know of about a dozen other people that have had the caliper break.

Yeah, my bike came with a stock set of them. They work amazingly for about a month, but need to be adjusted a lot. After a while, they stop working, bolts strip inside VERY easily, and eventually the caliper itself SNAPS. Both of mine have. And I know of about a dozen other people that have had the caliper break.
Well, that settles it then. I guess there just simply isn't any other mech. disc worth squat other than avids.

EDIT: oops, i acidentally clicked reply twice, sorry
you mean thrice :D

These are worth buying too:
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR505C00-Interloc+Dual+Banger+Mechanical+Disc.aspx

iv got a shimano deore mech on the rear and its got plenty of power to stop my 5 10 140 lb body. i got it new for $40 something from my lbs and im about to get a second one for the front. they're on par with my friend's bb5's, just a little heavier. definitely worth the price.

the hayes mechs dont have alot of power.

I've rode a shwinn bike before that had crappy disks. I'd have to say comparing those brakes to a good set of v's. The v's definitely had better power.

well if u decide to save up for the bb7s witch r like $75 just for the calliper you might as well save a little longer for some hydros like hayes hfx9s. Cuz u can have a great mechanical calliper like bb7s but if your brake cables and levers suck then they r still crap.

well, i had a much much longer post than this but this stupid computer didnt like me posting so it opened up a "this page can not be displayed" page after 10 minutes of laoding

in short, i'm getting bb5's off ebay

money wise...get avid bb5/bb7

exactly, i'm getting some b5's.

maybe later i'll get hydralic

Yes. Save another $25 and get a BB7.

only $25 and you will have a great quality component instead of wondering what might have been.


I second that.

i'm probably getting bb5's, is it ok that i'm getting those?

Yeah, I own BB5s, they work superbly and even in wet they retain their awesome braking power, they are also powerful enough for locking the rear wheel with one finger for trial applications.

You might need to break in the pads if they are new and adjust the brakes properly.

The haynes MX-2's are good, i like them alot

from what i hear from everyone, i'll skip out on the hayes mx-2s. BB5s are like the same price on ebay anyways

who ever was talking bout hayes ... their mech or hydro are bad i think...get bb5...cheapest and good mech disc brake ever...unless you really want hmx1...but i would rather stick with rim if you get hmx1 as it only has a few advantage compare to rim and many disadvantage compare to higher end rim brakes

alright. well i actually bought a front bb7. The auction for the bb5's went way over my price range and as i looking around and i saw some bb7s. I found one that was only front, 203mm, and buy it:$60
shippin was 10. is that a good deal for 203mm bb7? i thought it was so i bought it. although i dont have two brakes, its just the same

alright. well i actually bought a front bb7. The auction for the bb5's went way over my price range and as i looking around and i saw some bb7s. I found one that was only front, 203mm, and buy it:$60
shippin was 10. is that a good deal for 203mm bb7? i thought it was so i bought it. although i dont have two brakes, its just the same
used or new? i don't think it was that great a deal, but i don't think you got ripped off either. did you get levers for with them? i guess maybe you did good, the 203mm are probably a bit higher priced

no levers but did come with cable.
i have v-brake levers, wont those work?