I'm a total newb to disc brakes and am trying to decide between a Soma Wolverine and DCD. I have a good deal potentially on an older 2015 Ultegra Hydraulic group and just want to make sure it will fit on these bikes.

Shifters are ST-RS685 2x11sp. Brakes are Shimano BR-RS785.

I suppose I should try mechanical first but the deal here is pretty hard to pass up.

It depends. If the RS785 is flat mount, it will only work on flat mount framesets. If it's post mount, it is adaptable to to flat, post, and IS mount framesets so it will probably work on those bikes.

Those Soma frames have IS brake mounts and it looks like those brakes are post mount, so you need a post mount to IS adapter. There are various adapters to adapt to different rotor sizes.

Here's a decent overview of various mount types and adapters:

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/q...ke-mounting-st

Awesome info- thanks!

Hexron, I've had both fluid and cable operated disc brakes. And although the fluid brakes can be a bit more of a learning curve related to the hardware they actually end up being less fuss to use from day to day. Mechanical disc calipers need to be kept tended as the pads wear since so many of them use a single movable pad pressing against a fixed pad that needs to be adjusted frequently. So if you can find the right brake sets to work easily with a given frame and fork without a kludge of adapters I'd say go fluid activated.

The other fact is that the hydraulic brakes tend to need a lot less pressure to the point where setting the levers inward on the bars to where only one finger is really usable can result in perfectly fine braking. Or at most you might need two fingers depending on your grip strength. The cable disc brakes I've used tended to need two fingers and needed a firmer pull. Plus they just didn't have the lever feel that the fluid operated sets do.

#1 , don't think it's brand specific ..

Soma is a brand name of an Importer..not a factory..

a bike shop nearby ? they can see what you don't show.. & I cannot .see .

As an old Mechanic I'm OK with TRP Hy RD.. a cable all the way to the caliper, which is internally, Hydraulic... disc brake..

One of these? https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/wolverine

Paragon style sliding dropouts, separable seat stay for using Disc IGH+ belt drive Pretty Versatile & ISO brake tab on left slider,,




.....

Have the same brakes on my Fog Cutter. Seems to use the same dropout/IS tab as the DCD. Works perfectly. But I'm sure the Wolverine would be fine too.

I run TRP Spyres on DCD with post mount to IS adaptors. You can use the same calipers and rotors for the front and back, but you will need adaptors of different size. If I remember correctly, the reason is that by default IS implies a 140mm rotor for the back and 160mm for the front.

As said, flat mount is a different story.

If you can go hydraulic, go hydraulic. Do not be shy of it I run cable actuated brakes because I run 3x9 as a heavy rider.