Newbie question: weak brakes?

[Prisoner 24601]

Am I missing something? Brand new bike just out of the box, the hydraulic disc brakes seem really lame. Either brake, once applied, the bike casually comes to a stop, perhaps 2-3 seconds over 3-4 metres. If I really tried to endo, or throw myself over the handle bars, I doubt I could do it. Seems odd, my old MTB cabled disc brakes seem much more responsive. Do you think I might need to bleed them and start again?

[GravelBen]

New brakes often need bedding in (like when you put new brake pads on your car - a series of stops starting gently and gradually increasing speed and braking force until you feel them start to bite more positively), but wouldn't normally be as bad as you describe. Are the brakes noisy as well - possible that the disks have been contaminated with something greasy and need a clean?

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 15th August 21:42

[Prisoner 24601]

GravelBen said:

New brakes often need bedding in (like when you put new brake pads on your car - a series of stops gradually increasing speed and braking force until you feel them start to bite more positively), but wouldn't normally be as bad as you describe. Are the brakes noisy as well?

Ok thanks Ben, not particularly noisy, just the audible low pitch friction sound you might expect to hear….?

[Bacon Is Proof]

Follow the manufacturer instructions on bedding in. Until you have transferred some pad material onto the discs they will be crap. Failure to do this can lead to the pads glazing over.

[Scoobyshue]

It may be that the brakes need to be bedded in as people have said. I would also check the alignment of the callipers as well. If they aren't set up right they won't be as powerful as they should be even if they are bedded in properly.

Also make sure that the pads and discs are properly clean with decent brake cleaner. You could also try roughing the braking surface with sandpaper.

[missing the VR6]

I've noticed a lot of complaints from bike testers regarding the pad and disc materials on the lower priced bikes, not working as well. Hopefully they just need a bleed though.

[PaulD86]

A friend, and first time mtb-er, just had the same complaint. I went throgh the bedding in procedure for them and the brakes came good. I once got a new bike and forgot to bed the brakes - first time I used the bike was on a trail that was a long ascent then long downhill. First braking zone was on a particularly quick bit of track. Nothing happened. To this day, I have never never completed the first 3rd of that descent so fast, or been so terrified on a bike. The heat from me trying to stop the bike glazed the pads and only after I had removed and lightly sanded them did they ever work again. Lesson learned.

[Prisoner 24601]

Not enough time to thank everyone individually, but cheers all.