I’ve ridden tons of disc brakes in my lifetime. Everything from Hayes, Avid, Shimano, Formula, Magura, Hope, etc. They are all awesome brakes that work well in nearly all conditions. Some have a little better brake feel than others. Some have better levers than others. Some squeak to no end, while others are as quiet as a burglar in the night.
The beauty of the Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes is in their simplicity. They are easy to use with tons of power–hardly distinguishable from their fluid-filled brethren. They are super easy to maintain and adjust with no worries about annual bleeding, or ruptured lines. All you need is an allen wrench and you’re golden.
The only negative aspect of the BB7’s is that they don’t come pre-matched with levers. You do have to purchase your own levers separately. The Avid Speed Dial Brake Levers are the obvious choice and they come in a variety of pricepoints from around $50 to over $200 per pair. With that, the price can end up being a bit less than hydros, but not by much, depending on which levers you choose. BUT, you do get a level of customization not offered by hydraulic brakesets.
If you want simplicity and power then go with the Avid BB7 disc brakes. They are the best for your money and will be easy to maintain for years to come.
November 9, 2007 - 6:38 pm - posted by carlos
I, honestly, have to say that, in my experience, riding these brakes has been very dissappointing. They don’t have nearly the power that I thought disc brakes would have. Rim brakes actually stop when you pull the brake lever… disc just keeps going. I’ve even able to hold them down and still pedal. I’ve followed guides on adjusting them, I’ve had them adjusted at the local bike shop, and they just don’t stop…. unless you’re pulling really hard on the lever. But then your hand starts to hurt and you realize you should’ve never left rim brakes. Since the front brakes always perform better than the rear, I’ve been riding using front brakes… and I’ve paid the price for it a couple times too.
If my new frame would take rim brakes, I’d go back in a heartbeat.
November 17, 2007 - 3:24 pm - posted by Jason Mitchell
Carlos… sorry you’ve had such a bad experience. Were these installed stock on your bike, or did you buy them aftermarket? It sounds like they are just not adjusted properly as I’ve ridden tons and tons of hydraulic brakes and have found the Avid BB7 to be nearly as good or just as good as any other hydraulic I’ve used.
Yes, there is a slight drawback without the hydraulic fluid in the lines in that you do have to pull the lever a bit harder. But, I’ve got a pair on a bike right now and they clamp down and stop just as good as anything out there.
Sounds like you’ve either got a bum set of brakes, or they are just not set up properly.