Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,162
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
I'm with Cyccommute on this...it's obvious the brakes are not set-up correctly, if only for the fact the OP can't lock up the wheels. It's also clear that this isn't a break-in issue, and again I think cycco is correct, because disc break in is never that big an issue.
I've got a BB7 equipped 700c Novara Buzz that I've been riding since '05, and the brakes have always been great, phenomenal in snow and rain. Sure, my old XTR V-brakes are awesome, too, but don't have the all-weather performance of the BB7 Discs. I have Haye's hydro discs on my Santa Cruz, and they're okay, but I prefer the feel of the BB7s, making them easier to modulate at the edge, IMO.
Aside from bad setup, I'd bet there's also a component mismatch going on here, either lever/caliper, or caliper/bike.
Did the OP confirm they've got the right model BB7 installed? Does the OP know how to adjust the pad/rotor distance, because that might be all it takes.