MTB Reviews > Brakes > Avid BB5

Avid BB5 Reviews

Description: (from sram.com/en/avid/)
The BB5 offers our Tri-Align™ Caliper Positioning System™, tool-free pad replacement, a melt forged body and one inboard pad adjustment knob

Add a review (form opens in right column) reviewed by hampton1100   on February 1, 2010   Pros Consistant, cheap, fairly durable Cons hard to adjust, not enough bite, and not very smooth Verdict they're fine for trail riding, I upgraded rotors and they do quite well. reviewed by GoldenGoose   on January 7, 2010   Pros Very similar stopping power to the BB7s, despite what some people may lead you to believe. Same rotors as the BB7s. Nice and cheap! Step up to a larger rotor and you'll really feel the difference. Cons Missing the adjustment of the BB7s and smaller shaped pads. The roundagon rotors are pretty bulky but you can always switch them out. Verdict An acceptable mechanical brake set that performs well given its price. Not the top of the line, but not priced or marketed that way either. A great way to get started in disc brakes with decent performing mechanicals. reviewed by ChiliPepper   on May 22, 2009   Pros Not too bad with descent stopping power. Great price. Cons Only one side adjusts, and do not work great with clydesdale riders. Verdict Not bad set of brakes, but could do better with the BB7's reviewed by Asfyxiate   on May 4, 2009   Pros Cheap, decent braking power. Cons CHEAP, yes that's a con too. They don't have the knobs to adjust like the BB7. Verdict You can what you pay for, in some people's eyes they compare to BB7, but they DON'T. reviewed by slap8up   on April 21, 2009   Pros Cheap, OK stopping power when riding in a strait line or uphill. Cons Not good for emergency stopping, small pad, pain in the a#% to get set up to my liking. Verdict Buy BB7's or juicy's instead reviewed by guest on March 12, 2009   Pros They have OK modulation and are cheap. You can use your old V-Brake linear pull levers. You will eventually stop. Cons "CHEAP" with a small brake pad footprint and contact area. Pads glaze very easily. Verdict These blow!! Anything other than an upright cruise on a paved trail will overload these and they will squeal like a stuck pig. AVID has great products and this is the lowest of the low mechanicals they make. Go with a BB7..you get big boy power with the same pads as the Juicy series. reviewed by guest on March 12, 2009   Pros These brakes are the best mechanicals around. They are in equal in quality and braking to the BB7's - once you set them up right. Cons Hard to set up but once done they Are The Best Mech's Around reviewed by Juan_Gear   on November 9, 2008   Pros Cheap, stop well Cons Hard to adjust Verdict Pass on them, unless your a cheap wanker