What DH Disc brakes?

[Neil_Bolton]

Having used Hayes quite happily for quite a while, I really fancy getting some even more powerful brakes, and I've been perusing the Hope Mono 6's as they seem pretty damned sexy - and seeing as they are six pot, I'd imagine pretty bloody powerful...

Can anyone advise what their fav brakes are?

Cheers

Neil

[Neil_Bolton]

Reading the reviews on Chain Reaction, it seems that Saints have a lot of happy followers - seeing as I've a set of Saint cranks, I may consider these - I've Shimano on the XC bikes, and it would mean I can have all the same spares...

Anyone used them?

[matthew_h]

I'm just about to replace my Hopes with some Shimano XT discs as I pretty much hate the Hopes.

Good tip for you, wiggle are doing a full set of XT brakes for £136 at the moment. That includes everything, calipers, levers, adapters and six-bolt discs.

XT discs are absolutely identical to Saint but are just a different colour.

Edited by matthew_h on Monday 16th April 11:48

[snotrag]

Saints on my rig, Lx on my XC bike.

Brilliant. Have used Hopes, Hayes mags etc. The Shimanos are plety pwoerful enough but importantly the feel and control is spot on.

Another added benefit - the smaller levers have reduced the arm pump I used to get on longer course with the 'industrial' Hayes.

Yet another - they use mineral oil not Dot fluid. Piss easy to bleed and no worried about ruining paint, stripping skin off etc.

[pistonred]

I've only been into m/biking for a year or so, and have not used many sets of brakes. I fitted a set of Hope M4's front and rear last Feb and they've not let me down once yet.

Lots of blokes i bike with use the Hope single pot mono's and give no complaints either.

I'm not exactly light at 95kg and ride mainly XC in the Chilterns. I'd only bother with the 6 pots if you are doing serious down-hill or 110kg+ and need a bit more stopping power, or of course if you just can't resist em.... (they are good looking brakes...)

Cheers, PR

[roop]

I fancy upgrading my Hardrock to disc. Would the aformentioned XT set-up work on my bike...? Do I need anything in addition other than new huns (it's V-brakes at the mo). Do I need a specific type of frame or form to support discs...?

As an aside, I can't find the £136 kit on wiggle - any links...?

Sorry - neanderthal when it comes to this stuff.

[matthew_h]

The kit on wiggle is made up of a few bits.

They are selling the levers and calipers as a kit:

www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360029409

Then you need to get the discs and mount adapters in the size you want:

www.wiggle.co.uk/Manufacturer.aspx?cat=cycle&Manufacturer=Shimano&CategoryName=Brakes%20-%20Spares

I got the 203mm discs for both ends yesterday and it came to just over £136 all in. Absolute bargain.

As for what you need to go disc. You need disc specific hubs that allow you to mount the disc to them then you need a frame and forks that have the bosses to allow you to mount the calipers. Other than that then you are on your way

[roop]

Many thanks for the info How do I know if my bike has the neccessary bosses to mount the calipers...?

Rup

matthew_h said:

The kit on wiggle is made up of a few bits.

They are selling the levers and calipers as a kit:

www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360029409

Then you need to get the discs and mount adapters in the size you want:

www.wiggle.co.uk/Manufacturer.aspx?cat=cycle&Manufacturer=Shimano&CategoryName=Brakes%20-%20Spares

I got the 203mm discs for both ends yesterday and it came to just over £136 all in. Absolute bargain.

As for what you need to go disc. You need disc specific hubs that allow you to mount the disc to them then you need a frame and forks that have the bosses to allow you to mount the calipers. Other than that then you are on your way

[matthew_h]

On the non-drive side (ie the left hand side of the bike as you sit on it) there should be two small bosses with holes through them mounted just in front of the dropout where you wheel slots in.

Something similar to as shown here:



Similar thing at the base of the left hand leg of your forks.

[pdV6]

Rear disc mount looks like:


Fork mount will either be IS:


or post mount:

Edited by pdV6 on Tuesday 17th April 09:30

[roop]

Thanks chaps. Looks like I am OK at the rear :



But knacked at the front thank to cheap forks :



Bummer

[matthew_h]

So you'd need new wheels, new forks and the brakes.

Hmmm, might not be the most economical thing to do really.

[Neil_Bolton]

pistonred said:

I'm not exactly light at 95kg and ride mainly XC in the Chilterns. I'd only bother with the 6 pots if you are doing serious down-hill or 110kg+ and need a bit more stopping power, or of course if you just can't resist em.... (they are good looking brakes...)

Seeing as they would be on my DH bike, and I'll be pointing my lardy 95kg arse down the side of a 3,500m hill in July, I need serious braking power...

Besides, have you seen me ride?

I think Saints are the winners at the moment...

[matthew_h]

Why get Saints when the XTs are exactly the same but about 70% of the cost?

[roop]

matthew_h said:

So you'd need new wheels, new forks and the brakes.

Hmmm, might not be the most economical thing to do really.

Presactly what I thought. Will take it easy on the V-brakes until I get change to upgrade the bike. Perhaps in the summer when I've moved house and (hopefully) saved up some dosh...

Thanks for the input chaps - much appreciated.

[Neil_Bolton]

matthew_h said:

Why get Saints when the XTs are exactly the same but about 70% of the cost?

You do make a good point - the chainset is noticably beefier, however from what I've read, the only difference is the colour, and the fact the if you go Centrelock, the Saint hubs are beefier.

Seeing as I have 6 bolt, it may well be more economical...plus I could go for XTR levers

Edited by Neil_Bolton on Tuesday 17th April 10:03

[matthew_h]

Other bits of the groupset are definitely a bit beefier but the brakes are idential apart from the colour.

[rico]

matthew_h said:

Other bits of the groupset are definitely a bit beefier but the brakes are idential apart from the colour.

Didn't believe this but checked with a mate at Madison and you're 100% correct. Saints do look cooler though!

[matthew_h]

Thank you.

The colour of Saint stuff is a bit nicer but not £65 nicer for the brakes

[rico]

Also, iirc Saints come as standard with 203mm centre lock discs, ie NOT 6bolt. So thats another £20ish you've got to add on per brake.