discs vs V brakes

Disks nowadays are the business, but you're looking at 2nd hand MTBs which can mean anything depending on age, use & current condition.
Parts prices for V brakes are cheaper & nothing can help disks with bad action, so I recommend to throw a leg over & see what rocks you. Especally with 2nd MTBs.
I currently run Xt Vbrakes on my Specialized Stumpjumper & they're fantastic when in their prime but after 3 yrs of Victorian MTB action, nothing except for replacing major components will bring back those early days of firm, crisp braking action which orginally sold me on them.

My next MTB with definately have disks.

I'm not sure how any of this [above] helps at all?

ODB said:

Hi all,

Im looking at a couple of second hand bikes.

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

I remember the Shimano XT/XTR stuff was always top notch, just wondering how
an XT V brake would compare against the Hayes disc?

And what about discs vs rotors generally?

Many thanks..

I'm pretty sure Lotte has a definite opinion on this... *giggles*

Good luck,
Abby

Absent Husband said:

ODB said:

Hi all,

Im looking at a couple of second hand bikes.

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

I remember the Shimano XT/XTR stuff was always top notch, just wondering how
an XT V brake would compare against the Hayes disc?

And what about discs vs rotors generally?

Many thanks..

I'm pretty sure Lotte has a definite opinion on this... *giggles*

Good luck,
Abby

Ooo, brave man Abby 🙂

I think she secretly liked my new MTB with hydraulic discs, but she'd never
admit it of course!

--
Karen

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.'
Catherine Aird

"ODB" wrote

Quoted message said:

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

I remember the Shimano XT/XTR stuff was always top notch, just wondering
how an XT V brake would compare against the Hayes disc?

Both are excellent quality IMHO, and the weight issue is really not major.
If it ever rains again here in Melbourne you'll see the performance
advantages of Hayes hydros come to the fore.

Personally since going to hydro discs about 5 years ago I've loved every
minute of it. And maintenance issues have been very low key. People
overstate this, I've only gone through one set of pads on the rear, front
are still OK but low, and only needed one service on the rear brake with
bleeding. The V-brakes on my other bike have needed much more work in the
same time period.

Quoted message said:

And what about discs vs rotors generally?

Not sure what you mean by this one? Discs *are* rotors by definition.

--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

Sorry, I meant V brakes vs rotors generally?

"Peter Signorini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"ODB" wrote

Quoted message said:

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

I remember the Shimano XT/XTR stuff was always top notch, just wondering
how an XT V brake would compare against the Hayes disc?

Both are excellent quality IMHO, and the weight issue is really not major.
If it ever rains again here in Melbourne you'll see the performance
advantages of Hayes hydros come to the fore.

Personally since going to hydro discs about 5 years ago I've loved every
minute of it. And maintenance issues have been very low key. People
overstate this, I've only gone through one set of pads on the rear, front
are still OK but low, and only needed one service on the rear brake with
bleeding. The V-brakes on my other bike have needed much more work in the
same time period.

Quoted message said:

And what about discs vs rotors generally?

Not sure what you mean by this one? Discs *are* rotors by definition.

--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

ODB said:

Sorry, I meant V brakes vs rotors generally?

Quoted message said:

--
Cheers
Peter

Well I have three bikes, one with old fashioned brakes, one with cable disc
brakes, and one with hydraulic disc brakes. All of them work well for me, but:
The old fashioned ones don't work in the wet
The cable disc brake has let me down once on a long descent, the disc got too
hot, was glowing red & no longer had any braking power at all.
The hydraulic braked bike is new (three weeks) but hasn't failed me yet. I
really like them, whatever others say 🙂
But in the dry, in not extreme conditions, I'm happy to use any of them.

--
Karen

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.'
Catherine Aird

ODB said:

Sorry, I meant V brakes vs rotors generally?

Well set up V-brakes will give you as much stopping power as disc brakes.
Disc brakes generally will out perform Vs in wet conditions.

XT Vs are excellent brakes but tend to squeal a lot if not frequently
adjusted to toe the pads in.

Other advantages of discs
- low maintenance
- less force required to brake
- still work when the wheel is not in an optimal shape

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

Unless the bikes are identical I wouldn't be choosing based on the
brakes - frame & forks are much more expensive to replace.

Parbs

Parbs said:

ODB said:

Sorry, I meant V brakes vs rotors generally?

Well set up V-brakes will give you as much stopping power as disc brakes.
Disc brakes generally will out perform Vs in wet conditions.

Agreed!

Quoted message said:

XT Vs are excellent brakes but tend to squeal a lot if not frequently
adjusted to toe the pads in.

Frequently adjusted? Man, I adjust my brake pads ONCE, when
I put new ones on. Never had a squeal.

Quoted message said:

Other advantages of discs
- low maintenance

V-brakes are not exactly high maintenance 😉

Quoted message said:

- less force required to brake

'Tis a good thing.

Quoted message said:

- still work when the wheel is not in an optimal shape

Scary thought though is damage to disc system when riding
requiring attention. V-brakes are easy to fix on the trail
unless you bust a cable, but then I suppose you can steal a
cable from elsewhere on your bike. Whereas I don't like the
idea of carrying a bleed kit everywhere.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
> more but is XT V brake.

Unless the bikes are identical I wouldn't be choosing based on the
brakes - frame & forks are much more expensive to replace.

Excellent advice!

Tam

Duracell Bunny said:

Well I have three bikes, one with old fashioned brakes, one with cable disc
brakes, and one with hydraulic disc brakes. All of them work well for me, but:
The old fashioned ones don't work in the wet
The cable disc brake has let me down once on a long descent, the disc got too
hot, was glowing red & no longer had any braking power at all.
The hydraulic braked bike is new (three weeks) but hasn't failed me yet. I
really like them, whatever others say 🙂
But in the dry, in not extreme conditions, I'm happy to use any of them.

I'm pretty sure your hydraulics would've overheated the disc
anyway, given that it was overheating because of friction
between the pads and the rotor. Main difference is the
piston size/pressures for "force amplification" vs direct
cable tension. You would've been getting the burnout factor
without having to squeeze the levers so hard. You could've
just shifted your weight back a bit (out of the saddle, bum
back) and used both brakes 😉

Tam

quote='Parbs'ODB said:

Sorry, I meant V brakes vs rotors generally?

Well set up V-brakes will give you as much stopping power as disc brakes.
Disc brakes generally will out perform Vs in wet conditions.

XT Vs are excellent brakes but tend to squeal a lot if not frequently
adjusted to toe the pads in.

Other advantages of discs
- low maintenance
- less force required to brake
- still work when the wheel is not in an optimal shape

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

One is a bit cheaper with Disc Hayes HFX-9 ; the other bike is a few bux
more but is XT V brake.

Unless the bikes are identical I wouldn't be choosing based on the
brakes - frame & forks are much more expensive to replace.

Parbs[/QUOTE]

I recently (about 3-4 mths ago) replaced my shimano v brakes (deore) with avid arch rival v brakes. Apparently the archrivals are as good as a disc but I wouldn't know, not having used disc brakes. But they are excellent, do the job so well I only have to think about touching the lever.

So I agree with Parbs - brakes are replaceable and cheaply so (I got the archrivals on sale, dirt cheap), frames and forks are more expensive. Also, which bike suits you better, feels better to ride?????

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:12:49 +1000

Tamyka Bell said:

Scary thought though is damage to disc system when riding
requiring attention. V-brakes are easy to fix on the trail
unless you bust a cable, but then I suppose you can steal a
cable from elsewhere on your bike. Whereas I don't like the
idea of carrying a bleed kit everywhere.

So what's the difference in feel and efficiency and general whatsit
between hydraulic and cable disks?

I know what it is on a motorcycle (I've ridden a motorcycle with cable
disks, "interesting" doesn't do it justice!) but is the difference
that marked on a bicycle?

Zebee

Purchase bike based on overall package and dont just look at the brakes.

There are better disc brakes on the market thant the Hayes HFX-9. Most of the Hayes rep is from their higher model Hydros. (Mag/DH something). I have owned numerous sets of the higer spec hayes and never had problems. I have heard of a number of problems with the lower end ones.

XT V Brakes are prone to squeeling on the front due to the linkage system they use (to give them all their brilliant power) and bushes in this system wearing and thus sqealing like a biatch. Toe in minimises the problems.

My two MTB's are at opposite ends of the spectrum braking wise. One has Avid Single digit V's with old sticky cables and the other has Hayes DH with 8" rotors. I really havn't found myself lacking brakes on the V-Brake bike on anything XC related. Actually I single finger brake on both bikes.

warrwych said:

I recently (about 3-4 mths ago) replaced my shimano v brakes (deore) with avid arch rival v brakes. Apparently the archrivals are as good as a disc but I wouldn't know, not having used disc brakes. But they are excellent, do the job so well I only have to think about touching the lever.

So I agree with Parbs - brakes are replaceable and cheaply so (I got the archrivals on sale, dirt cheap), frames and forks are more expensive. Also, which bike suits you better, feels better to ride?????

Arch rival supremes (no longer available) are a work of art.

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:12:49 +1000

Tamyka Bell said:

Scary thought though is damage to disc system when riding
requiring attention. V-brakes are easy to fix on the trail
unless you bust a cable, but then I suppose you can steal a
cable from elsewhere on your bike. Whereas I don't like the
idea of carrying a bleed kit everywhere.

So what's the difference in feel and efficiency and general whatsit
between hydraulic and cable disks?

I know what it is on a motorcycle (I've ridden a motorcycle with cable
disks, "interesting" doesn't do it justice!) but is the difference
that marked on a bicycle?

Zebee

Shimano Deore cable discs are very good. However over the years there have been some that were far from effective.

I think really it starts to come down to bling factor.

Paulie-AU said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:12:49 +1000

Tamyka Bell said:

Scary thought though is damage to disc system when riding
requiring attention. V-brakes are easy to fix on the trail
unless you bust a cable, but then I suppose you can steal a
cable from elsewhere on your bike. Whereas I don't like the
idea of carrying a bleed kit everywhere.

So what's the difference in feel and efficiency and general whatsit
between hydraulic and cable disks?

I know what it is on a motorcycle (I've ridden a motorcycle with cable
disks, "interesting" doesn't do it justice!) but is the difference
that marked on a bicycle?

Zebee

Shimano Deore cable discs are very good. However over the years there
have been some that were far from effective.

I think really it starts to come down to bling factor.

My new hydraulic disc brakes come with an adjustor on the
levers, which work rather like letting the cable in/out on
v-brakes.

I haven't put them on my bike yet...

T

Zebee Johnstone said:

So what's the difference in feel and efficiency and general whatsit
between hydraulic and cable disks?

Depends on the brake. Most (all?) cable brakes are fixed/floating. The
cable moves one pad, while the other one is set in a fixed position. That
means you have to deflect the disc to get both pads contacting, and the
clearance to the inside pad is crucial.

Most hydros, though definitely not all, have two floating pistons, meaning
that both pads are pressed against the disc. This means for a given pad
pressure less effort is required, since you don't need to flex the rotor
(this assumes virtually no friction to move the pad, which on a well
maintained brake is reasonable).

The actual difference is normally minimal, but there is definitely a feel
difference between brakes. I've got a Deore cable disc on the back of one
bike and a Deore hydro on another. While the bikes are different, I can
feel the difference.

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
Remember Jeebus loves you. Or maybe he's just sucking up to get your old
bike bits. - Phil Las Gourgues

Dave Hughes said:

Most hydros, though definitely not all, have two floating pistons,
meaning that both pads are pressed against the disc. This means for a
given pad pressure less effort is required, since you don't need to
flex the rotor

Most cars and a lot of motorcycles also have a single-sided disc brake.

Theo

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:59:21 +0800

Theo Bekkers said:

Dave Hughes said:

Most hydros, though definitely not all, have two floating pistons,
meaning that both pads are pressed against the disc. This means for a
given pad pressure less effort is required, since you don't need to
flex the rotor

Most cars and a lot of motorcycles also have a single-sided disc brake.

Dunno bikes have had them for a while! The grotty old Kwak ones on
the Yam single are single sided (and there more for looks than
anything else....) but I dunno much built in the last 15 years does.

Zebee

Theo Bekkers said:

Dave Hughes said:

Most hydros, though definitely not all, have two floating pistons,
meaning that both pads are pressed against the disc. This means for a
given pad pressure less effort is required, since you don't need to
flex the rotor

Most cars and a lot of motorcycles also have a single-sided disc brake.

Single piston floating calipers are not the same as a single piston
*fixed* caliper.