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Are disk brakes worth it?

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Old 09-28-07, 09:15 PM
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Are disk brakes worth it?

I have been playing with the idea of upgrading to disk brakes as my bike has the brackets already there, but this would require a totally new wheel and hub and the big price tag to go with it.
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Old 09-28-07, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Specialized fan
I have been playing with the idea of upgrading to disk brakes as my bike has the brackets already there, but this would require a totally new wheel and hub and the big price tag to go with it.
YES! YES! YES! you'll never look back and you'll love the all-weather braking power! it's definitely worth it!
BTW, what bike do you have?
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Old 09-28-07, 09:17 PM
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i love my disk but you cant get any!!!!!!!!! oil or anything on them i say go 4 it
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Old 09-28-07, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by MulletArgyleman
YES! YES! YES! you'll never look back and you'll love the all-weather braking power! it's definitely worth it!
BTW, what bike do you have?
I have a Specialized Rock Hopper and I love it!
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Old 09-28-07, 09:59 PM
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you think your rim brakes stop pretty well right? how could disc be that much better? buy discs, and you'll find out.
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Old 09-28-07, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by norco_rider77
you think your rim brakes stop pretty well right? how could disc be that much better? buy discs, and you'll find out.
That is why I'm trying to sample some opinions to see if it is worth it.
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Old 09-28-07, 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Pete Fagerlin
You need to try some cantis that are properly setup first.
I have cantis right now and they work well. I was wondering if the upgrade is really worth it, is there any advantage?
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Old 09-28-07, 11:48 PM
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No advantages whatsoever, it's all a marketing ploy.
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Old 09-29-07, 12:09 AM
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disk brakes are great if you do it right, if you put down the money for some avid bb7 with speed dial levers, (or hydros if you really wanna go all the way) stopping power and break feel go through the roof, and if you ever knock your rim out of true it doesn't effect the brakes, i think you also have better control of how much your braking, better modulation imo, at least with the above mentioned system, its not worth it if you are gonna get some cheap tektro or promax brakes,

edited typo out, lol

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Old 09-29-07, 12:20 AM
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What does a brake being Greek have to do with anything?
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Old 09-29-07, 01:54 AM
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doesn't need to be too expensive, but it will require some money. They are nice to have, not necessary but definitely nice. Maybe consider doing the front first? Front wheels are generally less expensive and it's less of an investment all at once. I am running my surly with a Juicy 3 up front (same as last years Juicy 5) and a flip/flop in back w/ a rim brake, it was definitely worth the money.
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Old 09-29-07, 02:56 AM
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Night and day is the difference, that you will notice greatly; it's a must have I say. Avid BB7 is a good start.
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Old 09-29-07, 06:49 AM
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Just get longer levers.
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Old 09-29-07, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by team rideithard
i love my disk but you cant get any!!!!!!!!! oil or anything on them i say go 4 it
have an 07 specalized p2 cromo and the brakes wont even let me do a stoppie and wont lock up... why please help
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Old 09-29-07, 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by norco_rider77
you think your rim brakes stop pretty well right? how could disc be that much better? buy discs, and you'll find out.
i know what your trying to find out, but if you read with your head tilted at a 13 degree angle, you'll notice I mean "buy them, you'll never regret it, unless you get cheap stuff"
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Old 09-29-07, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Specialized fan
That is why I'm trying to sample some opinions to see if it is worth it.

Then you've come to the wrong place. All you will get here is a bunch of lame jokes from the kind of person who used to sit in the back of the class and crack comments that they and their 4 loser friends thought were funny.

First, you don't have cantilevers on your bike...not if you have disc tabs on the frame. You probably have linear pull brakes, aka v-brakes, which is a plus because you won't have to buy levers for cable actuated discs. Next, as others have said, don't go cheap. Cheap discs aren't any better than cheap linear brakes and are worse than a set of good linear pull brakes. For cost of the brakes alone, expect to spend between $100 and $130 for a full set. Then you will also need a set of wheels. You can get a set of wheels anywhere from $90 (cheap ones) to $250 (pretty good ones) and up. You are looking at $190 to $350 plus shipping for the parts. It might be worth $190 but at $350 that's a lot of money to throw at a $500 bike to make it into a $600 bike (retail price of a Rockhopper and a RH disc). Is it worth it? That's up to you.

As to whether or not it's an improvement? Someone said it's like night and day. It's not. It's more like the difference between a sunny day and a cloudy day. The v-brakes will stop you in just about any kind of conditions that the Rockhopper was built for. The discs will stop you in the same conditions and will do a bit better if you ride in wet conditions. Worth $200? I'd save money for a new bike first.
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Old 09-29-07, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
Then you've come to the wrong place. All you will get here is a bunch of lame jokes from the kind of person who used to sit in the back of the class and crack comments that they and their 4 loser friends thought were funny.

First, you don't have cantilevers on your bike...not if you have disc tabs on the frame. You probably have linear pull brakes, aka v-brakes, which is a plus because you won't have to buy levers for cable actuated discs. Next, as others have said, don't go cheap. Cheap discs aren't any better than cheap linear brakes and are worse than a set of good linear pull brakes. For cost of the brakes alone, expect to spend between $100 and $130 for a full set. Then you will also need a set of wheels. You can get a set of wheels anywhere from $90 (cheap ones) to $250 (pretty good ones) and up. You are looking at $190 to $350 plus shipping for the parts. It might be worth $190 but at $350 that's a lot of money to throw at a $500 bike to make it into a $600 bike (retail price of a Rockhopper and a RH disc). Is it worth it? That's up to you.

As to whether or not it's an improvement? Someone said it's like night and day. It's not. It's more like the difference between a sunny day and a cloudy day. The v-brakes will stop you in just about any kind of conditions that the Rock hopper was built for. The discs will stop you in the same conditions and will do a bit better if you ride in wet conditions. Worth $200? I'd save money for a new bike first.
I gotta say , you're answer makes the most sense, and looking at this, it would be better to put the money to upgrading the bike, not that the Rock hopper isent a good bike, but your right.
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Old 09-29-07, 10:34 AM
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"Then you've come to the wrong place. All you will get here is a bunch of lame jokes from the kind of person who used to sit in the back of the class and crack comments that they and their 4 loser friends thought were funny."

+1 . The OP is fortunate that enough people are still here to help in a respectful way.

This is supposed to be a welcoming place, for discussions centering on mountain biking. Instead, it often degrades into a time-wasting puerile cesspool.
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Old 09-29-07, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by kenhill3
This is supposed to be a welcoming place, for discussions centering on mountain biking. Instead, it often degrades into a time-wasting puerile cesspool.
.....yet we all still keep coming back.
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Old 09-29-07, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by mtnbiker66
.....yet we all still keep coming back.
+1 True observation. Good yuks=good medicine for the body and soul.

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Old 09-29-07, 03:37 PM
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Yes.
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Old 09-29-07, 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Specialized fan
I gotta say , you're answer makes the most sense, and looking at this, it would be better to put the money to upgrading the bike, not that the Rock hopper isent a good bike, but your right.
I agree with cyccommute as far as the brakes go, but why not stay with your plan to upgrade the Rockhopper. After all, some versions go for over $1000. If you haven't upgraded your fork yet, why not spend the money for a new or used upgrade. If you really want to upgrade your brakes for cheap, look for some XT level V brakes on ebay. They put more pad surface on the rim than your current brakes and will probably cost you about $25 + shipping. That's about what I paid when I upgraded my 05 Rockhopper with XTs.
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Old 09-29-07, 05:56 PM
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The mechanical objective is impede/stop the tire/rim rotation. Rim brakes apply the braking force directly to the objective instead of via hub and spokes. With appropriate/proper brakes/pads, rim brakes present less mechanical stress to the spokes and overall wheel than do disc brakes and weigh significantly more.
Upgrade with this https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...-Combo-Kit.htm and 2 pairs (1 front & 1 rear) of https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...l-Compound.htm and you will be a happy "braker" due to improved brake performance and more cash for......
The Kool Stop pads are excellent performers in wet or dry due to the dual (salmon - wet and black- dry) compounds.
100% agree with wethepeople ....disc brakes are made to sell..... 'cause they are "cool/neat/gotta have" widgets.....that do no more than slow/stop wheel rotation.
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Old 09-29-07, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Thrifty1
The mechanical objective is impede/stop the tire/rim rotation. Rim brakes apply the braking force directly to the objective instead of via hub and spokes. With appropriate/proper brakes/pads, rim brakes present less mechanical stress to the spokes and overall wheel than do disc brakes and weigh significantly more.
Upgrade with this https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...-Combo-Kit.htm and 2 pairs (1 front & 1 rear) of https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...l-Compound.htm and you will be a happy "braker" due to improved brake performance and more cash for......
The Kool Stop pads are excellent performers in wet or dry due to the dual (salmon - wet and black- dry) compounds.
100% agree with wethepeople ....disc brakes are made to sell..... 'cause they are "cool/neat/gotta have" widgets.....that do no more than slow/stop wheel rotation.
In your world, maybe. But when I (along with legions of others) ride extended descents at high speeds or in adverse conditions, rim brakes really begin to show their weaknesses.
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Old 09-29-07, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by gastro
In your world, maybe. But when I (along with legions of others) ride extended descents at high speeds or in adverse conditions, rim brakes really begin to show their weaknesses.
That's the kind of smart ass comment coming from the back of the class that gets you in trouble. Watch yourself or another of your posts will get deleted.
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