Avid BB-7's - mini review

[mk1fan]

Having sourced a set of these for my new commuter / touring hack based upon the reviews I have read and my experience with the other brakes Avid have to offer. I had put them away into the 'build box' to await the other goodies for the build. However, trying to source a replacement hose for the rear Juicy Ultimate on my S-W's is proving to be a long drawn out affair (vanity means I can't just use a regular Juicy hose). So I decided to fit the BB-7 onto the S-W's.

It is set up with an Avid SD-7 brake lever, full length cable and outer (nowt special) and a 140mm Hope Floating disc. Now I thought that Juicy's were easy to set up but these are even easier. They have a very smooth action, although some cable drag is there, and modulation is great. The power difference is negligable between these and the Juicy's to.

The only negative so far is that the levers are not Matchmaker compatible which is a shame but not the end of the world.

All in all, if I had tried these before buying hydraulic I doubt I would have gone down the 'wet' route.

[atom111]

I think you need to try Shimano Disc breaks if there's no difference between wet and cable avids or maybe a setup issue

Good review they sound like an awesome break.

[mk1fan]

atom111 said:

I think you need to try Shimano Disc breaks if there's no difference between wet and cable avids or maybe a setup issue

I said that the power difference was negligable not that there wasn't any. As usual no attention to detail.

I would try Shimano but I couldn't afford the frequent pad replacement.

Having off loaded my Avid spares onto PP I can't help but think that BB-7's would be more appropriate for him.

[atom111]

I think you have replaced your pads before me after Morzine :-)

PP would understand cable pull more I'll have to see them as they do sound pretty damn good.

[mk1fan]

Only cause you haven't bleed your brakes for a while.

I think I was a little premature about changing those rear pads. As close inspection and a clean revealed they're only half used.