Mountain Biking - Disc Brake Shootout

Who makes the best hydraulic disc brakes, for a 4 inch full suspension 4x/trailbike?

Who makes the best hydraulic disc brakes, for a 4 inch full suspension 4x/trailbike? this question is going to go nowhere. they all have their good brakes. i don't like hayes for the same reason i don't like fords. basically no good reason.

but since i can't resist, are you going for price? ...then show me a better brake than juicy 5's that are currently being discounted at various retailers.

if price no object? hopes are always a player.

by the way, can you tell what two brakes i own? :rolleyes:

yup, hope and avid.

Who makes the best hydraulic disc brakes, for a 4 inch full suspension 4x/trailbike?

I thought you used a road bike for for trail riding?

I thought you used a road bike for for trail riding?

:D No he was only commuting and hucking the stairgaps and such.

Oh too funny!!! Actually I'm looking for disc brakes for my 4 inch razor skooter. That's the roady I ride. Now it makes more sense why I do drops on it huh?

ive got slightly more travel than you do but i have a juicy 7 in the frond and a hayes nine in the rear.... the juicy has great modulation and since i have a 203 it stops very well when needed. the hayes is helpful when you really need to stop quick... its like a switch it is either off or on full force a great stopping power

^ Are you saying Hayes 9s has more stopping power than Juicy 7s!

Are you on drugs??!!!

no not a chance the juicys have way more stopping power especially with an 8 inch rotor but they have more modualtion (good) and the hayes dont the just tend to lock up the rear tire (bad)

you have a weird bike levers dude, front juicy and rear hayes. Thats the first I heard. Hmm I still prefer Avid over Hayes, Avid modulate really well. Havent tried Hope, but Im pretty sure their brakes would be able to modulate longer then Avid because of their rotors.

Well there is this place called Penang Hill, its only 5 km paved road but its very steep and only 4 wheel drive cars could go up, I went downhill with a 4 inch rotor without stopping and my Avid lose its modulation at around 4km. The last 1km was scary because its a very steep downhill and sharp turns, and I can feel that there is no more braking power, thank god I managed to finish it without crashing.

I'd imagine all brakes with a small rotor would fade in those conditions WH.

Hmm I still prefer Avid over Hayes, Avid modulate really well. Havent tried Hope, but Im pretty sure their brakes would be able to modulate longer then Avid because of their rotors.

I went downhill with a 4 inch rotor without stopping and my Avid lose its modulation at around 4km.

You don't understand what brake modulation means, yet you still let idiocy ooze from your keyboard into the forum.

I like it.

Well there is this place called Penang Hill, its only 5 km paved road but its very steep and only 4 wheel drive cars could go up, I went downhill with a 4 inch rotor without stopping and my Avid lose its modulation at around 4km. The last 1km was scary because its a very steep downhill and sharp turns, and I can feel that there is no more braking power, thank god I managed to finish it without crashing.


I don't believe I have ever seen a bike with four inch rotors. No wonder they wouldn't stop or modulate very well!

I don't believe I have ever seen a bike with four inch rotors. No wonder they wouldn't stop or modulate very well!

I was wondering the same thing myself, but didn't have the heart to ask.

One time I ate too much Mexican food and ended up modulating all night.

One time I ate too much Mexican food and ended up modulating all night.. . . And here I thought that's what Charlie Rose did on his PBS show: modulate discussions.

One time I ate too much Mexican food and ended up modulating all night.

Bwaahhahahahaha! :D

I forgot what size is my rotors, isnt it 160mm? or 150mm?

okay, im mistaken, modulation is brake pads which is clamping the rotor and by stroking the lever further, additional brake power will be generated. What I should use is Fade or in more detail, friction material fade in my case.

edit: oh okay thanks free_pizza, 6 inch rotor, I always forget my disc rotor size.

25.4mm in an inch, 160/25.4 = 6.299 (so 6")

I always forget my disc rotor size.

Thats why we always come to you with our brake related questions. You're an expert! :)

I didnt say Im a expert, Im just telling what happens

Just joshing with ya. Settle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/wheelhotnotanexpert.jpg

juicy fives are the best peformance for the money.

you know what, its very rude of you posting a tombstone gastro. Whats wrong with telling what happen. Its a experience. Damn some of you guys are weirdos. At least im being honest by telling im not a expert.


Just joshing with ya. Settle.
oh okay, just I dont want some people to get it wrong.

Seriously, dont post the tombstone pic about me anymore, Its really rude

So back on track here...:)

I am a big fan of Shimano Saints and Avid Juicy 7s, the two brakes have two completely different feels but I love them both.

if money was no object i'd go for those badass shimano XTR brakes with the integrated brake shifter thingies.

those are sweet.

If you have $600+ to drop on a set of brakes:

Hope Mono M4 (2 pc rotors, steel braided hosing)
http://www.hopegb.com/photosmep/p33.jpg
http://www.hopegb.com/photosmep/p32.jpg

damn those rotors look sexy, would really love the lever and caliper silver part to be painted in gold or black or mix :D

Just switched from Hayes MX4 mechanicals to Juicy 7 hydros. Way better feel!! Locked up is stilll locked up, no better drag factor, but the better modulation sure make its easier to feel a "sweet" spot!!

Whats wrong with telling what happen.

There's nothing wrong with you posting that idiocy. Quite the contrary, it's very, very funny since you can't even figure out "what happen."


Seriously, dont post the tombstone pic about me anymore, Its really rude

No tombstone. No tears. Just truths.

http://www.paradigmhosting.net/images/wheelhot2.jpg

lol you guys suck
leave him alone

Big vote for hope brakes--Any of them depending on riding style or bike.

No tombstone. No tears. Just truths.

STOP WRITING MY USERNAME ON A THING THAT IS RELATED TO TOMBSTONE OR RELATED TO GRAVEYARD!!!! or religious thingy or stuff.

Okay make this easier, stop posting pics bout me. Its irritating

http://www.paradigmhosting.net/images/wheelhot3.jpg

http://www.paradigmhosting.net/images/wheelhot3.jpg

Dude, that's the funniest thing I've seen in a while.

Dude, that's the funniest thing I've seen in a while.

Did you catch any of that "Baby Jesus" thread? That was the funniest thread I read in a long time. Unfortunately it got deleted.

That Hope system pictured above is really nice.

I have 2 favorites for disk brakes though.

1 each for 2 different uses.
The first is for the everyday rider who probably doesn't compete, but rides hard and wants a good reliable brake system with parts availble anywhere as well as having easy maintenence and set up etc.
The Avid Mechanical disks shine here.
Throw in some good cables, Wavy rotors and high quality pads, and these brakes will perform extremely well in most situations.
I do travel quite a bit and like to ride pretty much everywhere with out having to worry about locating parts etc, so these are the brakes I ride on with all of the fore mentioned modifications to them.
They just work well and are extremely reliable.

My other favorite is the Avid Juicy seven with the addition of Galfer Wavy rotors and pads.
The Galfer pads even get rid of that annoying Avid brake noise.
The modulation and all out stopping power make these brakes shine.
If I were still racing regularly, I'd be running these for sure.
Just can't beat them for the money.

So I just finished installing my Juicy 7's last night (had to get a different mount than it came with), and took 'em out for the standard "bed-in" procedure.

Man, I'm impressed. It's like an entirely new bike. I don't know why I stayed with my V-brakes so long. Confidence is much improved as well, knowing that these brakes will stop me on a dime.