V-Brakes Vs Disc Brakes

[Swift01]

Hi,

 

So what is people's feelings on the Dics Brakes vs V-Brakes. While all my mates are going from Hardtail to Duel Sus (and dare I say it we have 1 fence sitter. Wanted to go 29er but may be was too scared so went 69er, halfway) I finally made the plunge and went for Disc brakes after many happy miles on V-Brakes.

 

I have only done 60km on the new setup and definately still wearing in, but there are a few things I have noticed.

 

A great set of V-Brakes vs a low end set of Disc brakes I would just stay with V-Brakes (provided you have very good sealed cables). Low end disc brakes have no modulation and they are either on or off, plus I didn't find their stopping power that great. I think the GF needs an upgrade :-)

 

So as the old saying goes compare Apples with Apples. Avid Speed Dial SL V-brakes sealed XTR cables vs Avid Elixir CR.

 

Installation, V-brake was way easier due to spares all over the place. You just need cables and away you go. Very easy. Disc brakes WHAT A PAIN. Not the easiest to get cables shortened due to shops not having spares and if your in a hurry sometimes you have to go to shops you would not normally take your bike. My recomendations would be, buy the spares first to shorten the cables and get your own bleeding kit. After 2 trips to a certain bike shop on Friday (first to have the cables shortened and bled and the 2nd to have them bled AGAIN 2 hrs later). By the time I got home Fri afternoon I was phoning my normal bike shop to get the system Bled a 3rd time. I think there was more air in the system than oil.......

 

Ok now I was ready to roll. With no braking power in the beginning (still had to run in), it was gentle braking all the way. Are they any better? YES... 2 things struck me straight away. First is how smooth thiings feel. No pad on rim feeling, no cable tension feeling. 2nd was Predictability. Even though they are not fully run in, the modulation is amazing, just light finger action, and you never get the feeling it's suddenly going to bite and throw you over the handle bars when your riding one hand and using the front brake.

 

All I can say is they are just getting better and better as they run in. Not sure how long it takes but they just seem to be getting stringer as they go. Definately money well spent. New wheels (ZTR rims with Hope Hubs on DT Swiss Revolution Spokes) and the Avid Elixir CR brakes, can't go wrong :-) Just need to buy a bleeding kit.....

[Thumper]

Good luck with your new brakes mate.

I just threw away my XTR's and replaced them with Hope tech X2's, so far so good.

[rouxtjie]

Sweet wheels brother....pity about the tupperware

 

Only had V's on my 19-voetsek nishiki back in school, what I can remember was it was defnitely easier to setup and maintain but then again with my current brakes(same as your Elixir CR's) never had issues so can't really complain. I know some very compentent riders that actually prefer the "grip and rip" cheapo disc brakes, myself I like the modulation of the CR's...Each to their own I suppose.

[GuyP]

Simply, good disc brakes are great for everything, whether they be decent mechanical brakes, or hydraulic. I've got bikes with everything, from Shimano mechanical, Avid mechanical, Juicy's, Hayes, Magura and even Avid Carbon

 

On the other hand v-brakes are light, easy to maintain, and smooth as butter with sealed, low friction cables (only one bike with v's, being Avid Ultimate with Gore cables). However, they're not for wet or muddy conditions, with limited brakes on the former, and too much rim wear on the latter, especially on Fulcrum Zero V's!

 

Ultimately, I love the simplicity and feel of the v, but prefer the all-round competence of the disc.

[Shebeen]

Some + points for v brakes:

 

*Well set up you still get decent power.

*teaches you to true your rims

*can find some cheap and decent 2nd hand wheelsets by shopping around

 

I decided it wasn't worth the cash changing over, but the next bike will be discs for sure.

[Marius]

Also still running my XTR V's, I can't see a reason to spend extra cash on Disc's, I love the simplicity of the system, on the fly adjusting if needed ect.

 

But I have ridden bikes with Disc's and the stopping power is amazing and less stress on the fingers / hands during long descents.

[EigerSA]

I prefer v-brakes, for their simple maintenance mostly. I'm often telling mates I wont switch over simply because it's just way too much trouble to maintain their brakes, but realistically, none of my mates ever seem to really have a problem, it would seem the disks are just as reliable as v-brakes if you look after them. It also seems to me that fewer bikes are coming out with v-brake mounts so might not have a choice in the future.

[dirtrider]

Surely I have missed something here . All 3 my bikes got LX brakes . Yesterday I replace the shifter/brake combination on one bike and also decided to shorten one brake line . So it took me one beer (half hour) to do all this and replace fluid and bleed brakes . Oldest set of LX are 6 years and newest ones 4 years . Have never had any problems with them ! They modulate great , brake when I need to and don't rub on rotor or anywhere else .

[Slowbee]

Surely I have missed something here . All 3 my bikes got LX brakes . Yesterday I replace the shifter/brake combination on one bike and also decided to shorten one brake line . So it took me one beer (half hour) to do all this and replace fluid and bleed brakes . Oldest set of LX are 6 years and newest ones 4 years . Have never had any problems with them ! They modulate great , brake when I need to and don't rub on rotor or anywhere else .

 

DR, when you doing the FC ?

[dirtrider]

Really wanna do it BUT I am outta the country most of the time and training lacks . Maybe 2012 .

[Shebeen]

ok, whilst we're on the subject...why do so many people ride with their discs singing along? it's so damn easy to realign the calipers.

[Swift01]

@SteveCT

I was also finding it not worth the money to change over to Dics brakes as it ment new wheels. Just so happened I bought the brakes at an insane stupid low price. Managed to leave them in the cupboard for 3 months then a deal came up on some hubs that I could not refuse. From then on it was sell sell sell until I was able to build the wheels. It actually didn't cost nearly as much for the wheels if you buy and build them yourself. Nearly half the price of your LBS.

 

@dirt-rider

The 2 main problems I had was no "Olives" to shorten the hoses (not too many shops seem to stock the Avid Elixir) and no bleeding kit. I maintain the GF's ones quite easily and quickly but run out of oil and your screwed if it's a Sat afternoon. Somehow after years of V-Brakes someone ALWAYS has parts. Running out of beer can also be solved quickly. I learnt a very fast lesson, have the equipment and do it yourself.

 

@rouxtjie

Come try keep up with the tupperware on the course and even off the course (the latter is beers) :-D

 

Yeah what is it with guys and their disc's singing along like Maria and her high pitched voice..... 2 loosened bolts, one handful of brake, 2 bolts tightened sorted. I don't even know if you can fit one sip of beer in between it's so quick....

[dirtrider]

Aha that explains a lot . I suppose without spares you can not really do a lot on your disks . BTW a brake bleeding kit should be made up of one piece o rubber tube and a syringe .

[rouxtjie]

snip snip

@rouxtjie

Come try keep up with the tupperware on the course and even off the course (the latter is beers) :-D

snip snip

I know for a fact you will beat me in the lie down dept, you the champ after your teak moss powerslide

 

Hey at least tupperware floats....remember? where is camera when you need one

[Swift01]

@dirt-rider

For the Shimano products thats all you need (made one for the GF's bike), but you still need the mineral oil. Unfortunately for the Avid CR's you need 2 syrigges, 2 bit of hoses with clamps to block off the hoses and 2 valves on the end of the hoses to screw into the brakes. They don't have normal bleeding nipples. Kind of complicates it a bit... On the plus side you can get hydraulic fluid for a garage

 

@rouxtjie

You are so lucky I took the hit for the team or else it would have been you and that new Zula of yours swimming with the fishes...... Glad to have been at service as we no tupperware floats :-)

[rouxtjie]

@dirt-rider

For the Shimano products thats all you need (made one for the GF's bike), but you still need the mineral oil. Unfortunately for the Avid CR's you need 2 syrigges, 2 bit of hoses with clamps to block off the hoses and 2 valves on the end of the hoses to screw into the brakes. They don't have normal bleeding nipples. Kind of complicates it a bit... On the plus side you can get hydraulic fluid for a garage

 

@rouxtjie

You are so lucky I took the hit for the team or else it would have been you and that new Zula of yours swimming with the fishes...... Glad to have been at service as we no tupperware floats :-)

I will show you my home made kit next time you at my place, those screw-in valves have the smallest o-rings on them, probably the trickest thing to get out of the whole kit...for clamps you can just use paper clamps...it cuts the flow nicely on aquarium tubing

 

pffft one for the team, poooolease