| Hope mini | |
| Expect to to pay: £100 approx | |
| Specifications System type: Open Lever type: Mini lever Caliper No.'s: 3, 5 & 9:74 Standard Disc: 145, 165, & 185 Weight: 380g (inc. lever, hose, 165mm disc, caliper, pads, fluid & all fixing bolts) Almost certainly the best all round brake on the market. Lightweight yet powerful enough to stop anything. I purchased a hope mini front brake about 2 years ago. This was the first disc brake I ever owned. What a tremendous buy. Took around 40 minutes to fit. The brake comes pre-bled and ready to go, the trickiest part was centering the caliper using the spacers which are also supplied in the kit. What a difference this product instantly made to my riding style, it gives you the confidence to tackle any section as fast as you like. You can always depend on this brake to stop you absolutely anywhere. Its "low maintenance" tag is well deserved as I have not even needed to fit a set of pads let alone touch anything else on the system. Another must have product. |
|
| Shimano XT | |
| Expect to to pay: £100 approx | |
Specifications Having purchased this product around 12months ago, I have found it to be a worthy investment. The latest model comes with a hose that can be cut which is a huge improvement on previous models. The kit even comes with a two piece block which is used for making sure that you cut the hose clean and square. The brake is very powerful and the modulation on the lever is excellent. However there is a couple of downsides to the brake. Weight is obviously an issue to the banana pasta brigade. But the most annoying thing for me is the squealing noise that echoes through every trail you descend. I have found the best way to combat this is to remove the pads regularly and clean up with a light abrasive. This aside, the brake is well worth the asking price. And it looks the mutts nuts. |
|
| Avid arch rival | |
| Expect to to pay: £30-40 approx | |
The technology of Avid Supreme Brakes at a more affordable price. |
|




