Originally Posted by
Biker395
That's gotta depend on where you live and what the conditions are like. I commute year round, and haven't replaced one yet ... not even close. Do you commute a lot in the rain?
To me, this photo best explains the push to disk brakes. It's the dashboard of a Yaris. Why do they have the binnacle in the center of the dashboard? It's not because it's functionally a better place to put it. It's because by putting it there, Toyota can make one dashboard for all of their cars worldwide. That not only saves on development and production costs, it saves on parts, distribution, and all kinds of other logistics.
I don't think there is any question that disc brakes are superior for some applications. The bike/component companies would like to standardize them across all applications because they can focus their development solely on that technology and reap some logistical benefits as well. Those development/logistical issues can be huge.
So Cal. Yes, commute in the rain, slush, snow, sleet and flying cat weather. The rims get this nasty, black worn rim junk mixed with mud and sand.