Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Electric Bikes
Reload this Page >

Preferred brake type for ebike

Notices
Electric Bikes Here's a place to discuss ebikes, from home grown to high-tech.

Preferred brake type for ebike

Old 09-30-15, 12:10 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: LA, California
Posts: 5

Bikes: an ugly old MTB that I like because it's a Univega

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Preferred brake type for ebike

I'm buying an ebike within a few weeks, and I've settled on everything except the brake type. I'm fed up with the constant brake squeal of my cantilever brake pads on my aluminum rims (existing bike), and there's the hassle of adjusting the brake shoes on the cantilever brakes; both of these problems carry over to V-brakes on electric bikes. The ebike is equipped with V-brakes and is upgradeable to disc brakes (has reinforced fork, braze-ons, and wheel hubs). The all-weather disc braking benefit is appealing since I plan on riding in the mountains. I think I've sold myself on the disc brake but I would like to hear what current ebike riders say. Thank you! The ebike I plan to buy is the Day 6 Dream 24 upgraded with 750 watt Bafang mid-drive and a 48 volt battery; weighs about 52 lbs.
dugsbunny is offline  
Old 09-30-15, 06:32 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
chas58's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863

Bikes: too many of all kinds

Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times in 335 Posts
Well, you need good brakes. Any type of brakes will do good, if you get quality components – especially quality pads. They will make noise if worn or poorly adjusted. I’ve ridden a 500lbs bike on cantilever brakes in the mountains and it worked fine (well, except any brake will overheat doing 40mph on a 500lb bike).

Get what you want, but rim brakes are fine, as well as disk. Just don’t get entry level stuff for an ebike.

(to specifically answer your question, the best brakes are hydraulic disk brakes, FYI).
chas58 is offline  
Old 09-30-15, 08:57 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada, PG BC
Posts: 3,849

Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 49 Posts
Having had a Hydraulic disk brake bike for the last 15 years... I wouldn't even consider my new bike when I get one not having it. And I mean a good quality hydraulic disc brakes... Do you need them, no, but it is sure nice to have them. Never once needed any adjustment, fixing, just changed 3 sets of pads for the last 15 years.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
027.jpg (95.5 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg
028 (600x800).jpg (91.3 KB, 16 views)

Last edited by 350htrr; 09-30-15 at 09:12 AM. Reason: add pics
350htrr is offline  
Old 10-01-15, 05:20 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 1,982

Bikes: 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 (bionx), 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 6 Posts
I had cantilevers on my touring bike that I converted to an e-bike. The canti's weren't really very good prior to the conversion. The added weight of the conversion made the canti performance poor. Add some rain to the equation and the canti's were scary and dangerous. I had a frame builder add disc brake tabs and disc brakes (avid BB-7 road) to the frame. Huge, really HUGE... improvement. If you're looking at buying an e-bike that you like and it has discs... I'd consider it over any e-bike that doesn't have discs (well, maybe I'd consider some hydraulic rim brakes... as long as they aren't canti's.)

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
commuter bike dynamo.jpg (99.0 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg
commuter bike-1.jpg (88.1 KB, 16 views)
File Type: jpg
commuter bike-2.jpg (99.2 KB, 20 views)
InTheRain is offline  
Old 10-02-15, 04:27 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 689

Bikes: E+ kit, BIONX

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts
preferred break type for ebike - regen break.
I cannot imagine ebike without regen braking.
All my 3 ebikes regen is primary break , disc or Vbrakes are more for emergency.
On my EPLUS drive equipped BIRIA I have Jucy7 disc breaks with, at least 10,000km on them, still on original pads/!!!!/.
powell is offline  
Old 10-02-15, 04:46 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada, PG BC
Posts: 3,849

Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 49 Posts
Originally Posted by powell
preferred break type for ebike - regen break.
I cannot imagine ebike without regen braking.
All my 3 ebikes regen is primary break , disc or Vbrakes are more for emergency.
On my EPLUS drive equipped BIRIA I have Jucy7 disc breaks with, at least 10,000km on them, still on original pads/!!!!/.
How did I miss that in my answer... I agree 100%, most of the time I too just use the re-gen not the "real" brakes...
350htrr is offline  
Old 10-02-15, 07:02 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,213
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 871 Post(s)
Liked 792 Times in 600 Posts
Not sure that regen will be too successful on a mid drive;-). Otherwise, I agree although haven't had a DD bike so can't employ.
2old is offline  
Old 10-08-15, 06:24 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Benjamino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 97
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Regen won't work with a mid-drive or a geared hub motor. OP, get disc brakes. If Avid BB7s are a great option: not to expensive (compared to hydraulic), easy to adjust, and the most ebrake cut-off levers will work. FWIW, I ride with only BB7s on the front and regen. Plenty of braking force. That said, I work for an ebike company and I would never recommend to a customer that they cruise with only one brake.
Benjamino is offline  
Old 10-15-15, 10:53 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NE oHIo
Posts: 1,067

Bikes: Specialized, Trek, Diamondback, Schwinn, Peugeot

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Disk brakes are soooo much better than rim brakes. Rim brakes can be set up to work well, but few can actually do it. (I base that on bikes I work on that others have tried to adjust) Cabe brake kits have gotten fairly cheap. Buy it, try it.

-SP
speedy25 is offline  
Old 10-17-15, 04:47 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Doc_Wui's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Posts: 1,395

Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 339 Post(s)
Liked 268 Times in 189 Posts
Our bikes have shimano hydraulic disks, textro mechanical disks, and various rim brakes. I would say the hydraulics are very good and can lock up the rear wheel, but my wife's 55 lb cruiser e-bike stops well with the mechanical disks.

My Trek 800 e-bike conversion had very weak center pull brakes. I changed out the pads and adjusted, but they were still unsafe. I converted to new v-brakes and it was far better, with stopping power that feels as good as the disk brake bikes.

My preference would be for disk brakes just because I like technology. A drawback with the hydraulic disks is that I will have to buy a bleeding kit this winter, and then I'll probably lose some pieces next year and have to buy a second one.
Doc_Wui is offline  
Old 10-17-15, 09:57 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada, PG BC
Posts: 3,849

Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 49 Posts
Originally Posted by Doc_Wui
Our bikes have shimano hydraulic disks, textro mechanical disks, and various rim brakes. I would say the hydraulics are very good and can lock up the rear wheel, but my wife's 55 lb cruiser e-bike stops well with the mechanical disks.

My Trek 800 e-bike conversion had very weak center pull brakes. I changed out the pads and adjusted, but they were still unsafe. I converted to new v-brakes and it was far better, with stopping power that feels as good as the disk brake bikes.

My preference would be for disk brakes just because I like technology. A drawback with the hydraulic disks is that I will have to buy a bleeding kit this winter, and then I'll probably lose some pieces next year and have to buy a second one.
I have had my hydraulic disk brakes for 15 years, never ever did anything with them other than put in new pads 3 times for over 36,000KM... And the consistency of the braking effect in all kinds of weather is untouchable by any other brake type. IMO
350htrr is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EBIKE2561
Electric Bikes
4
04-29-19 11:38 AM
bwstucki
Bicycle Mechanics
12
07-24-15 10:20 AM
thiocyclist
Electric Bikes
25
12-23-14 09:39 PM
HoraceLai
Electric Bikes
12
09-30-13 05:33 AM
Snowsurfer
Electric Bikes
10
12-15-09 10:25 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.