Upgrading Disc Brakes

chipperhead

chipperhead

chipperhead

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7 Feb 2004
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Looking at getting some better brakes on my Bike.
Currently have Hayes so1e 185mm front and 160mm rear both using 51mm International Standard mounts.

If I was to go for a bigger set say 203mm front and rear would I need some kind of adaptor?

I've seen some Juicy 5's at merlin cycles for £121 delivered and quite fancy these although I can get 185mm front, 160mm rear (same as mine) ready bled for a couple of quid more.

I weigh 13.5 stone and use my bike for general xc so would 203mm be overkill?

Any other makes I should be looking at, budget upto roughly £160.

Cheers.
 
A simple bracket and disc will do the job.

I run 203mm front and 160mm rear just for general commuting and XC because I weigh a fair bit too and every bit of stopping power is helpful. One thing I will say though, 203mm don't half judder under hard load which can be a bit surprising the first time you really hoink em on, especially XC! :D Oh, and you have to be really careful about locking up the front wheel. I can lock up the front on damp concrete without too much trouble, which has lead to a couple of brown pant moments. :D
 
Lowe said:
A simple bracket and disc will do the job.

I run 203mm front and 160mm rear just for general commuting and XC because I weigh a fair bit too and every bit of stopping power is helpful. One thing I will say though, 203mm don't half judder under hard load which can be a bit surprising the first time you really hoink em on, especially XC! :D Oh, and you have to be really careful about locking up the front wheel. I can lock up the front on damp concrete without too much trouble, which has lead to a couple of brown pant moments. :D
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The judder could be because your forks aren't strong enough for a rotor of that size and are flexing under braking. If you are using offroad tyres then that would explain the locking up. They are lethal on wet tarmac/concrete :eek:
 
Can someone spell this out for me because I'm still not sure :(

I've found some formula oro k18's and will probably fo for 200mm/180mm.
Now my current setup is 180mm/160mm, will my fork only accept 180mm brakes because if I were to fit a 200mm rotor won't the fitting be in the wrong place?

This is what is included if I purchase them, I am asking the seller aswell this question but he is french so may not understand english too well.

Included in the parcel

A complete front and back brake already bled
Bolts
Disc
Brake pads
International Standard adapter
Connector kit (in case hose is shortened)
Instructions
 
I weigh nearly the same as you and there is definitely no need for more than 180/160 for general XC use.

Juicy5's are a good choice, but my preference would be to get a set of shimano XT's. But thats my personal preference as I prefer the lever
 
Juicy 5s are nice and the 180(i think)/160 or maybe 200/180 on my brothers stumjumper is powerful enough for most things! I loved them until i got used to my saint brakes.......i prefer the more modulated feel of the saints to the juicys...and with the saints im talking getting the back wheel off the ground at high speed by slamming the front....VERY powerful but managable brakes. Pick up the XTs for about a tenner less thant he saints(£99 per end when i got them) and they are the same brake only in silver rather than the browny saint colour.

Is there no chance you could ride both? Its not as big a difference as hope to hayes.....thats like having sex on th floor(hayes) to sex on a water bed(hope) with the level feel. the juicys have zero feel until the bite.....and you know when they bite. Saints/xts are more....they bite but your level still feels a bit spongy.
 
Thanks for all the information.
I've bought some Formula Oro K18's.
They were £145 a pair including all adaptors for 180mm/160mm, they seem to get great reviews, hopefully I've made a good choice and they must be miles better than the so1es I currently have.
 
Kamerad said:
The judder could be because your forks aren't strong enough for a rotor of that size and are flexing under braking. If you are using offroad tyres then that would explain the locking up. They are lethal on wet tarmac/concrete :eek:
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Whoops! :D Yeah, I'm using XC tyres since I'm only really doing about 3 miles each way when commuting.

Is that really an issue - forks bending? :eek:
 
Formula are decent,my mate loves the ones he has on his commnecal but i cant remember what they were!

Xc forks tent to have a 6" max rotor....DH/FR being 8". I wouldnt run large rotors on lightweight xc forks as i would be scared incase the mounts ripped off(cracked junior T tabs already) and the fork seals/bushing would wear out quicker i think due to the extra force being put through one leg!
 
Looks like I'm going to toast my forks then lol. :D

I'll be keeping a close eye on the mounts...
 
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Jonny ///M said:
Xc forks tent to have a 6" max rotor....DH/FR being 8". I wouldnt run large rotors on lightweight xc forks as i would be scared incase the mounts ripped off(cracked junior T tabs already) and the fork seals/bushing would wear out quicker i think due to the extra force being put through one leg!
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Rockshox state a max' rotor size of 8" on their Reba, Dart, Recon and Tora forks (ie all their XC forks other than the super-flexy SID).
 
You do not need over a 180mm front brake on an XC bike. I had 220mm on my Heckler....complete madness. I have 180mm on the Nomad. Plenty powerfull. Hope Mono M4's. I would hate to think what a 200mm brake would do to a set of Dart's.
 
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