If you don't want the price and hassle of hydraulics, these are a good option. Steer away from the BB5s by Avid, though. They are less-expensive, but very difficult to adjust. BB7s will work for years and years.
Pros Easily adjusted. Simple to maintain. Very reliable and long-lasting. Solid stopping power - especially if you have large rotors. Seem to be the best mechanicals out there. Very affordable.
Cons Obviously not as powerful as hydraulics or have as much modulation.
I purchased as an upgrade when installing new forks. They were very easy to set up and I've experienced no rubbing. Easy to modulate. I would recommend to anyone that wants great stopping power without the hassle of hydraulics.
Pros Easy installation and set up. Great stopping power for a mechanical disc brake.
I ran these on my SS for a bit , just got tired of the constant break rub especially on the front. The stopping power is excellent but I opted for shimano hydraulic.
Pros Hands down the best mechanical break out there
Highly recommend for anyone looking to upgrade their mechanical disc brake setup, especially when paired with the SD7 levers
Pros Everything. Put these on my 03 Cinder Cone last year and they've been amazing. Easy install, easy adjustment, phenomenal power. Pair them with the SD7 levers and you've got a top-notch setup. As with any brakes take the time to bed them in and you'll have ultimate stopping power with minimal squeal
The only problem I have had is they tend to sing on long descents, but maybe I brake too much. I have been very happy with them going on my third season.
Pros Easy Setup, easy adjustment on the fly, good price, durable
Awesome disk brake system. With inboard and outboard adjustment you can set it just the way you want. Took some heavy hits and they're still going strong.
Great brakes you actually have a chance to fix on the trail should something go wrong. I had trouble getting them set up initially but then had success after I figured a few things out. Follow standard procedure in the manual but when tightening the caliper bolts slightly tighten one bolt (1/8 turn max) then rotate the wheel so that you are pushing the caliper into the frame/ fork then tighten the other bolt 1/8 turn rotate the wheel again. Do this until the bolts are completely tight. I had much better luck getting everything properly aligned taking it a little slow like this.
Pros Great control and easy to set up (once you figure out how)
Cons Took a couple of tries before I feel I had them set up properly (also could have just been pad break in)
These are the only brake there should be. I honestly don't know why people try to compete against these. They are priced great, work even better, and they are the standard by which all others should be compared too. If you are thinking about upgrading brakes and don't want to spend a fortune on hydraulics, these are the only brakes you need to look at.
Pros Great Price
Easy Install
Multiple Colors
Great Stopping Power
Reliability
Adjustability
Maintanance
These brakes came as stock on my Pugsley and I like 'em for simplicity and reliability. Easy to adjust and stopping power is enough to keep in control on the rough technical singletrack. But if I'd have it on another (like trail or AM) bike I'll deffinatelly switch to hydro for more modulation and power.
Overall it's great mechanical brakes with no issues for me.
The best non-hydro brake and a definite choice for anyone in the market for a mechanical brake.
Coupled with the Avid Speed Dial 7 levers and you have a mechanical match made in heaven. This combo is the best feeling and performing mechanical braking combo available.
Pros - Best mech brake caliper available
- Great modulation and power, feels almost as good as some hydro brakes
- Pads can be adjusted from both sides for perfect alignment
- Price
Cons - Mech brakes in general
- Not as smooth as hydro brakes
There is too much hype surrounding these brakes. Any entry level hydraulic setup only costs a little more than these and they will be ten times better in all aspects. Do not waste money on "upgrading" to mechanical disc brakes.
Pros -Great for mechanical brakes
-Good stop power
Cons -No modulation. Stopping is "on/off".
-Requires adjusting constantly
Great product. Just not the easiest to align the calipers. Love the pad adjust feature on both sides.
Pros Braking power, Easy to adjust pads, find new pads anywhere
Cons Those damn "tri-align" washers... Sorry way to cover up poorly aligned caliper parts. Hard to align with rotor properly. More stopping power than some hydros.
If you don't want the price and hassle of hydraulics, these are a good option. Steer away from the BB5s by Avid, though. They are less-expensive, but very difficult to adjust. BB7s will work for years and years.
Pros
Easily adjusted. Simple to maintain. Very reliable and long-lasting. Solid stopping power - especially if you have large rotors. Seem to be the best mechanicals out there. Very affordable.
Cons
| Thank | EditObviously not as powerful as hydraulics or have as much modulation.
Been Rollin on BB7's since 2004. Bulletproof performance and value
Pros
Looks good
Stops great
Low maintenance
Simple setup
Cons
| Thank | EditNone
I purchased as an upgrade when installing new forks. They were very easy to set up and I've experienced no rubbing. Easy to modulate. I would recommend to anyone that wants great stopping power without the hassle of hydraulics.
Pros
Easy installation and set up. Great stopping power for a mechanical disc brake.
Cons
| Thank | EditNone so far.
Best mechanical disc brake I have ever used.
| Thank | EditVery happy with them, but just upgraded to a downhill brake.
Pros
Easy adjustments
Good pad choices
Low maintenance
Cons
| Thank | EditLess modulation than hydros
Less max power than hydros
Love them! Super easy to maintain and adjust.
Pros
| Thank | EditEasy adjustment from either side of caliper.
Great stopping power.
No hydraulic fluid to mess with.
I ran these on my SS for a bit , just got tired of the constant break rub especially on the front. The stopping power is excellent but I opted for shimano hydraulic.
Pros
Hands down the best mechanical break out there
Cons
| Thank | EditConstant adjustment
Buy 'em, ride 'em, love 'em
Pros
Super simple set up
Great stopping power
Dependable
Cons
| Thank | EditMy only con here is constant adjustments required due to cable stretch and pad wear... You're going to have that with any brake.
great for someone that doesn't wan't to mess with hydraulic brakes
Pros
easy to install
easy to adjust
great stopping power
Cons
| Thank | Editsqueaky pads
Best brakes I have ever owned. We'll worth the money and excellent stopping power!
Pros
Simple to adjust
Cons
| Thank | EditPads squawk easy
Highly recommend for anyone looking to upgrade their mechanical disc brake setup, especially when paired with the SD7 levers
Pros
Everything. Put these on my 03 Cinder Cone last year and they've been amazing. Easy install, easy adjustment, phenomenal power. Pair them with the SD7 levers and you've got a top-notch setup. As with any brakes take the time to bed them in and you'll have ultimate stopping power with minimal squeal
Cons
| Thank | EditNone
The only problem I have had is they tend to sing on long descents, but maybe I brake too much. I have been very happy with them going on my third season.
Pros
Easy Setup, easy adjustment on the fly, good price, durable
Cons
| Thank | EditSqueal when they get hot
Awesome disk brake system. With inboard and outboard adjustment you can set it just the way you want. Took some heavy hits and they're still going strong.
Pros
Durable
Adjustment
Cons
| Thank | EditNone
Great brakes you actually have a chance to fix on the trail should something go wrong. I had trouble getting them set up initially but then had success after I figured a few things out. Follow standard procedure in the manual but when tightening the caliper bolts slightly tighten one bolt (1/8 turn max) then rotate the wheel so that you are pushing the caliper into the frame/ fork then tighten the other bolt 1/8 turn rotate the wheel again. Do this until the bolts are completely tight. I had much better luck getting everything properly aligned taking it a little slow like this.
Pros
Great control and easy to set up (once you figure out how)
Cons
| Thank | EditTook a couple of tries before I feel I had them set up properly (also could have just been pad break in)
These are the only brake there should be. I honestly don't know why people try to compete against these. They are priced great, work even better, and they are the standard by which all others should be compared too. If you are thinking about upgrading brakes and don't want to spend a fortune on hydraulics, these are the only brakes you need to look at.
Pros
Great Price
Easy Install
Multiple Colors
Great Stopping Power
Reliability
Adjustability
Maintanance
Cons
| Thank | EditI can't think of any
These brakes came as stock on my Pugsley and I like 'em for simplicity and reliability. Easy to adjust and stopping power is enough to keep in control on the rough technical singletrack. But if I'd have it on another (like trail or AM) bike I'll deffinatelly switch to hydro for more modulation and power.
Overall it's great mechanical brakes with no issues for me.
Pros
Cheap, reliable, easy to align/adjust
Cons
| Thank | EditStopping power not as good as hydro
The best non-hydro brake and a definite choice for anyone in the market for a mechanical brake.
Coupled with the Avid Speed Dial 7 levers and you have a mechanical match made in heaven. This combo is the best feeling and performing mechanical braking combo available.
Pros
- Best mech brake caliper available
- Great modulation and power, feels almost as good as some hydro brakes
- Pads can be adjusted from both sides for perfect alignment
- Price
Cons
| Thank | Edit- Mech brakes in general
- Not as smooth as hydro brakes
There is too much hype surrounding these brakes. Any entry level hydraulic setup only costs a little more than these and they will be ten times better in all aspects. Do not waste money on "upgrading" to mechanical disc brakes.
Pros
-Great for mechanical brakes
-Good stop power
Cons
| Thank | Edit-No modulation. Stopping is "on/off".
-Requires adjusting constantly
Pros
Im 47 yrs old and I've never been faster, quicker or more comfortable on a bike. The Brainfade on my 2011 is genius.
Cons
| Thank | EditNone
Great product. Just not the easiest to align the calipers. Love the pad adjust feature on both sides.
Pros
Braking power, Easy to adjust pads, find new pads anywhere
Cons
| Thank | EditThose damn "tri-align" washers... Sorry way to cover up poorly aligned caliper parts. Hard to align with rotor properly. More stopping power than some hydros.