Mountain Biking - Can i get disc brakes or not?

hey i have an old kona sex too, and on the bike frame at the back where the wheel is put in, it doesn't have those 2 bumps sticking up where you put you calipers, does that mean i cant get a rear disk brakes for this bike?

No!...there are adaptors but they are VERY unsafe.

unsafe? how unsafe? do u got some links for adapters i could look at?

I don't know about unsafe, Hope used to make a torque arm adaptor that pivoted on the axle and was attached at the other end to the brake arm boss, this was for Tandems and it was pretty strong. It was expensive, more than$150. You would also need to purchase disk brake hubs or a wheelset and, of course, the brakes. It can run $700-$1000

Originally posted by budbuster69
unsafe? how unsafe? do u got some links for adapters i could look at?

Like when you are bombing down a hill faster than usual because you have the new security of disc brakes and an obstacle emerges on your line... that is when they fail or come off of the adapters. I'm sure you know what happens next.. 30mph to 0mph in 1.76 seconds doesn't feel all that great. Then again, I really don't know what I am talking about on this subject.

-Joe

than i think its time for a new frame or bike

Why not pick up a front disc to start with? That's how I went... Shimano XT hydraulic disc in front, V-brake in the rear. You don't need gobs of power in the rear for XC riding, although the sensitivity of a hydraulic rear brake could be a nice perk.

Actually, I don't like my XT and would go with a Hayes hydraulic if I were doing it over. The XT's power level is too mellow for my tastes, and under heavy braking it howls.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
I don't know about unsafe, Hope used to make a torque arm adaptor that pivoted on the axle and was attached at the other end to the brake arm boss, this was for Tandems and it was pretty strong. It was expensive, more than$150. You would also need to purchase disk brake hubs or a wheelset and, of course, the brakes. It can run $700-$1000

Ahhh yes. I do remember reading about that brake adaptor. It wasn't half bad if I remember reviews.

if I remember correctly, Paramountscapin has a braketherapy adapter on his mtb and seemed impressed with it. There should be a thread here somewhere about it.

i think im gonna go with an adapter, and get maybe Hayes mechanic or hydraulic? i dunno the difference.

I like the Avid mechanicals, decent price,, very adjustable, and durable. For Hydraulic (And others will disagree) I like Hayes. You can't adjust the lever pull(you can adjust throw) or pad clearance, but they are simple and durable. The Maguras work well to and the fancy one, Clara?, is adjustable. Shimano hydros also work well. Shimano and Magura also have the advantage of mineral oil which will not eat your paint or absorb water like brake fluid.