What is the difference between mechanical and hydraulic brakes?
 

So I finally decide after all sorts of considering of FX, Sirrus, Roam, Kaitai etc. that I keep coming back to admiring the Utopia. I am all ready to pull the trigger and a friend wants me to check out a new GF/Trek 2012 8.4 DS. It looks like the Utopia but it costs about $50 more. The biggest difference is the upgrade to the hydraulic discs. Other changes are the 8.4 having Bontrager Nebula wheels instead of the Uotpia's Bontrager Ranger wheels and The 8.4 has FD/RD both Deore while the Utopia FD is Alievo (sic). Are those upgrades worth an extra $50? The other issue is quite frankly, I like the paint scheme on the Utopia better. Am I giving up too much by not getting the 8.4?

Mechanical are like regular v-brakes in that they use cables, my personal choice. Hydraulics are like what an automobile has, fluid going through the lines. Many love them but I could never bleed my set and the shop wants money to bleed them (but many find it easy to bleed them). On a side note, once they are bled right, usually upon new purchase, they are almost maintenance free. I can bleed auto brakes with no problem but for some reason bike hydraulics were a pain for me.

Mechanicals need more adjustments that I find pretty easy to do though.

On to that bike, you are getting much better components for that 50 bucks.