Mountain Biking - Hayes or Avid Mech Discs?

I'm slowly realizing a $700 bike is a $700 bike. They are all very similar, with minor differences.

I think I'm down to a Kona Blast or GF Marlin Disc. Both feel good to me, both are almost the same price, both have similar components.

Marlin has some better components, Kona has the Hayes Discs instead of the Avids.

Is there any real-world difference between the two? Or the two bikes?

I prefer the avids myself. And as far as I know, so do most others. Way easier to adjust and just feel nicer and more powerful.

I would go with the Marlin myself if they both fit well.

If both are mechanical discs, the Avid stuff blows the Hayes away.

Marlin - BB5's
Blast - MX-4's

Very similar brakes power wise and to adjust, both brakes have pads that are about the same size and both brakes only have inner pad adjusters.

The only real differences between the two brakes are rotor design on the bikes (which can be changed) and the BB5's have CPS washers that allow the brake calliper to be tightened down on a slight angle if necessary when mounting it.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Blast: http://konaworld.com/09_blast_en.cfm (http://konaworld.com/09_blast_en.cfm)
Marlin: http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/marlin-disc (http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/marlin-disc)

Yeah, BB5's are a hell of a lot better than MX-4's, plus the Marlin is a great bike.

Avid

go for the marlin. Avid mechs are terriffic. (I wish I had gotten them instead of going for juicy 7s)

+1 Avid - I have only run the BB7 so I don't know about the BB5.
I did sell off my old Hayes hydraulic brakes and replace them with Avid BB7 so I could run the same system on all my bikes.

I have MX-2s on my Forge and BB7s on the Shadow. The Avids are easy to set up but loud as ****. They stop really well (185). The Hayes took a little bit to set up with no rub but they stop really well also (160). The MX-2s have more miles on them are dead quite. I am hoping like hell the BB7s get there.

avid bb7, been on nine years, still going no hassle, no fuss, no repairs... probably adjusted it 3 or 4 times since new... oh, and changed the pads once!

:)

I think I need new pads

Yeah, I was going to say, my friend's BB7's are dead quiet and I set them up. And I'm a tool at tools.

I had Avid BB5's on my bike and they were flawless. Just switched to Hayes hydraulics and they are awesome as well.

One word "Avids":thumb:

A really good mechanic can make the Hays mechanicals work as well as the Avids.


An average mechanic can make the Avids work as well as the Hays.


The Avids will make you look like a better mechanic.

I've had Avids on my HT for 5+ years now and they have been awesome. Almost 100% maintenance free. Change the pads once in a while and you're good to go.

Thanks guys. I'm really leaning toward the Marlin now. Would prefer the Piranha, but it's out of my budget.