Mountain Biking - Juicy 7 or not?

I'm currently running BB7s on my XC race bike. They are more than powerful enough for what I do but lately I've had the urge to upgrade to the Juicy 7s.

Honestly though...from a performance standpoint, I can't really see much difference in the BB7 vs the Juicy 7 once they are setup. I've ridden BB7s, Juicy 7s and Juicy 5s and they all feel about the same as far as power. The BB7s have slightly more effort on the levers but hey...I've raced V and canti brakes in the past so the BB7s feel lighter in that regard.

The real think I see is the Juicy brakes are self adjusting and sometimes it is a PITA to take off a wheel with the BB7s and then have to recenter the brakes or ocassionally have to adjust the pads.

Don't really see much weight benefit either.

Thoughts?

I was looking at the 2008 Juicy 7s.

don't do it

Waste of time and money for you.

a more involved answer would be nice. Why?

I'm looking for benefits here. I've ridden all three brakes listed. Am I missing something?

Since I couldn't race this weekend, I let one of the other riders on our 4 man team race my bike and he said that the BB7s the way I have them setup were just as powerful as the other brakes.

Maybe it is the bling factor for me....the Juicy 7s just look more bling.

I would like to step up to a 7" rotor though.


Waste of time and money for you.

please elaborate.


don't do it

I think you are better off with what you have now. I have ridden the sevens and every last one would drag and the ones you have more ajustments.

2 cents

I'm currently running BB7s on my XC race bike. They are more than powerful enough for what I do but lately I've had the urge to upgrade to the Juicy 7s.

Honestly though...from a performance standpoint, I can't really see much difference in the BB7 vs the Juicy 7 once they are setup. I've ridden BB7s, Juicy 7s and Juicy 5s and they all feel about the same as far as power. The BB7s have slightly more effort on the levers but hey...I've raced V and canti brakes in the past so the BB7s feel lighter in that regard.

The real think I see is the Juicy brakes are self adjusting and sometimes it is a PITA to take off a wheel with the BB7s and then have to recenter the brakes or ocassionally have to adjust the pads.

Don't really see much weight benefit either.

Thoughts?

I was looking at the 2008 Juicy 7s.

It sounds like you already have all the information you need to make a decision. Based on what you said:

Pros of upgrading:

1. smoother braking
2. bling
3. less hassle in making adjustments

Cons of upgrading:

1. no difference in performance.

If you have money to spend, you might want to upgrade, but otherwise it sounds like it's not worth it. I personally like the performance of the Juicy 7s better than the BB7s but if you don't see a difference, then why bother upgrading unless those three factors above make it worth it to you?

Oh, the Juicy 7s have the pad contact knob, so you may want to consider that as well (though I guess the Speed Dial levers do the same thing). They also seem less finicky to me than the BB7s, but that could just be my experience with them.

a more involved answer would be nice. Why?

OK... here are a few reasons I have found online:




I'm currently running BB7s on my XC race bike. They are more than powerful enough for what I do ...



Maybe it is the bling factor for me....the Juicy 7s just look more bling.


Honestly though...from a performance standpoint, I can't really see much difference in the BB7 vs the Juicy 7 once they are setup. I've ridden BB7s, Juicy 7s and Juicy 5s and they all feel about the same as far as power...


Don't really see much weight benefit either.

I would like to step up to a 7" rotor though.

Just wondering why because you said this earlier?



...They are more than powerful enough for what I do...

I wouldn't bother with a rotor size upgrade if you already have enough stopping power and it sounds like you don't have to worry about fade on long steep descents (i.e., with the xc race bike).

people talk about better modulation, but the 7s are so adjustable anyhow that I simply cannot see myself justifying the cost.

i had bb7 and upgraded to juicy 5s but only b/c i got a good deal on ebay, they just feel nicer, that being said the upgrade really isn't worth it imo unless you get a really good deal, if you adjust the spring tension on the bb7 you can get them so they actually feel easier to pull untill you engage breaking, and with the speed dial levers (if you arn't running em they would be a huge improvement for alot less money) you can adjust the modulation so they don't engage like hitting a wall, kinda more like the hydros, also the hydros are just a pain somtimes, if you have a fork mount rack and take the wheel off then accidently hit the front break, you have to spread the pads with somthin, i whish they opened up just a hair more cause somtimes its hard to get them not to rub, also you need to adjust length of housing its a pain, or any other time you have to bleed em. However hyrolic brakes do rock

Oh, the Juicy 7s have the pad contact knob, so you may want to consider that as well (though I guess the Speed Dial levers do the same thing). They also seem less finicky to me than the BB7s, but that could just be my experience with them.

The knob on the Juicy 7 lever adjusts the clearance between the pad and the rotor. The "knob" on the speed dial 7 lever adjusts the fulcrum of the lever thereby changing the mechanical leverage. The function of the knob on the Juicy 7 is accomplished with the barrel adjuster on pretty much every cable lever (I'm not aware of any that don't have one).

honestly, juicy's are not my favorite hydro. I've used a few, and my favorites are shimanos. The juicys are my least favorite. While they are plenty powerful, I dont think the modulation is as good as shimano, even with the pad adjustment.

I run Sram 9.0 levers that have the same feature as the Avid levers. I run the avid levers on my other bike.



i had bb7 and upgraded to juicy 5s but only b/c i got a good deal on ebay, they just feel nicer, that being said the upgrade really isn't worth it imo unless you get a really good deal, if you adjust the spring tension on the bb7 you can get them so they actually feel easier to pull untill you engage breaking, and with the speed dial levers (if you arn't running em they would be a huge improvement for alot less money) you can adjust the modulation so they don't engage like hitting a wall, kinda more like the hydros, also the hydros are just a pain somtimes, if you have a fork mount rack and take the wheel off then accidently hit the front break, you have to spread the pads with somthin, i whish they opened up just a hair more cause somtimes its hard to get them not to rub, also you need to adjust length of housing its a pain, or any other time you have to bleed em. However hyrolic brakes do rock

don't do it

definitely do it

definitely do it

Value: Bling

Value Criterion: Avid Juicy 7




Value: Practicality

Value Criterion: Avid BB7

Value: Bling

Value Criterion: Avid Juicy 7




Value: Practicality

Value Criterion: Avid BB7

thanks for the clearing that up for us ben:p.

The same power, but with better modulation and less hand effort/fatigue? Um why wouldn't you want to do this?

And with stepping up to a 7" rotor up front, you'll have more power, and can still adjust things for even lever feel and modulation with only a slight weight penalty over a 6" rotor. And unless you are running a stupid light set of cables/housing/levers for you BB7 setup, you'll lose a bit of weight overall.

I'm running Juicy 5's and love them. I've installed a set of BB5's for a friend and they were decent, but nothing like the Juicy's. I've ridden bikes with BB7's as well and they perform well, but they can't compare to:

the smooth feel at the lever
power (yes, when setup properly...they do 1 finger stronger than a mech)
modulation
self adjusting pads
sealed line / no cable corrosion from water
ease of setup

There are just too many positives for me to take a step down to a mechanical. It sounds like you're already a bit overly-skeptical so if I were you, I'd try to find a bike to ride that has Juicy 7's that you can actually put some time on and develop your own opinion.

I mean, it really does sound like you've already made up your mind and trying to get someone to change it from the looks of your OP. I don't know that what I've said will do that but I will say that I'm never going back away from my Hydraulic's. Even for XC...there are bonuses.

get em.


sha-blizzle.

Get the Juicys. You won't regret it.

now that is some advice worthy of being backed up: get the juicy's!:D

I think that the Hayes Sole would be a perfect brake for you.

Enjoy!

hmmm.....another good option for him:).

funny...not.



I think that the Hayes Sole would be a perfect brake for you.

Enjoy!

and neither are you so don't pull this crap on another thread.


Sometimes the truth is not funny.

Sorry.

yes you are. That recommendation was meant to be insulting. Those brakes are a joke and you just butt in and bring crap into another thread.

The question is about Juicy 7s.



I'm not "pulling crap" just giving my honest assessment of a brake system that would work for you given your self-described needs.

Deal with it princess.

ment

meant... it's meant.

.....whatever.....


If it's an xc race bike, you should be looking at some magura marta sl's, or formula oro puro maybe, not those clunky juicy 7's.