Hello all,

I'm thinking of replacing the BB5 brakes on my Boardman drop-bar/bar-end shifter bike, and returning it to a flat-bar hybrid with Ergon grips.

Both discs are 160mm, front fork is IS mount with an adaptor (I think), rear has a post mount.

What are my options for a cheap hydraulic set-up? I'm looking to keep the discs I have. My LBS mech can bleed the brakes at initial set-up.

Many thanks in advance for all and any advice!

AFAIK all brakes of recent manufacture - apart from flat mount road brakes - should drop right in. Shimano Deore give good value for money.

Check eBay and search for Shimano M395, 355, and M315. You can get the M315s from an LA seller with no rotors for $56 for a front & rear set.

Yes, if you're going to flat bars then you can use any inexpensive MTB hydraulic brakes. They will probably come as pre-assembled and pre-bled lever-hose-caliper assemblies.

Since you're in Germany, you can get great prices on Shimano gear. I concur that the Deore hydraulics are great for the price.

Cheap hydraulic brakes would be included in build lists to keep the Bike Price Low..

People up grade , , and as said above sell off the stock pick .. reads like you seek MTB brakes , hoses,
and lever - masters..

the brake itself is post mount, you have the adapter to bolt it up to, that is in turn bolted onto the frame mount.
Both ISO, the frame, and post mount, to the brake, are made to a standard bolt spacing..

adapters combine the two.



...

And..
Hope UK*, has cable to hydraulic converters , twin masters mount under the stem , hoses from there to the caliper at the hubs,

you can use short pull levers , for either bar type..

[TRP did as well but with Shimano and Sram now doing road hydro-disk-brifters, they may have ceased production ,
switched to the Hy Rd .. long cable, full hydro at the caliper..


'/,

Get some BB7s, much better than BB5.

Agree. BB7 better than BB5. But not IMO better than TRP Spyre. I wonder if the op has investigated TRP HyRd (mech/hydro hybrid) which would also be drop in replacement for the BB5's and not require replacement of levers and cables. I seriously wonder if a set of hydraulic brakes that cost $56/pr. is an upgrade. I mean... BB7's still cost that much, for just one caliper. Just because a brake might be hydraulic doesn't automatically mean it is better than a mechanical disk. And, it must be said, for a bike like the o.p.'s... the limiting factors of brake performance are wheelbase and tires. V-brakes with the right pads and tires are perfectly capable of endoing a rider over the front wheel. A tandem or recumbent is a different beast altogether but it still takes fairly sticky (expensive) tires to use all of the grip that good hydraulic discs can apply to 160mm rotors.

Expect your used online bargain will need New Disc Brake Pads too, so calculate that as well ..

and being hydraulic , a bleed kit, unless seller includes it.

see if any BB7 users re sell their calipers after they Upgrade to something else ..

Cheap solution on my in my opinion- change rotors. Than larger diameter by that high brakes dynamic and power braked. Set 180\180 rotor or 200f\180r . But just remember what that diameter most supported your frame and fork.

I had 160mm rotors on my tandem! They worked just fine. I've upgraded to 180's because I could. Why on earth does a single bike need 203mm rotors?! And seriously... you don't want to be a bike mechanic in NYC. Minimum wage is only $7.25/hr. NYC is the second most expensive city in the world. You cannot live well on a bike mechanics salary. Portland, OR has a LOT of bike mechanics, a lot, but if you are good you can find work and your wages will go MUCH further. There are also a LOT of Russians here. You'll have company. But maybe you don't want that... . FWIW.

Thank for answer. You feel more power braked after change on 180mm?? On Earth have 220mm rorots )) I don't know why they need. But if they make 220mm then it's someone you need to.
I'm don't simply mechanic. Paint, weld, custom , build bike and whell. I owner my workshop in Ukraine. And yes i'm not russian. I'm Ukrainian. Between us have very big different.
With respect to you .

For tandems, via companies like Santana tandems, there are even larger discs for contolling down hill speeds.. drag brake, rear..

Many thanks all for the advice and input. I will let you know how I get on.
Cheers
Simon

Just bought a set of lightly-used BB7 road calipers.