Avid BB7 disc brake and nexus lever review.

[lowranger]

Just thought I would share my views on recent installation on the Avid BB7 180mm cable operated front disc brake that I have just fitted (EZee front wheel motor kit) I have retained the Nexus combined twist shift/brake lever.

First impressions are very good. It seems as powerfull as the 10year old hope hydraulic brakes that I have on my old mountain bike, the feel of the brake and stopping power is very good. I am just under 15stone so no lightweight. Also very easy to set up and adjust the pads.

Hope this helps folks.

 

[benjy_a]

Just thought I would share my views on recent installation on the Avid BB7 180mm cable operated front disc brake that I have just fitted (EZee front wheel motor kit) I have retained the Nexus combined twist shift/brake lever.

First impressions are very good. It seems as powerfull as the 10year old hope hydraulic brakes that I have on my old mountain bike, the feel of the brake and stopping power is very good. I am just under 15stone so no lightweight. Also very easy to set up and adjust the pads.

Hope this helps folks.

Avid BB5 mechanical are great too...I fitted them to my Juicybike. I can only imagine the BB7 are even better. Pads and parts also very easy to get hold of.

 

[Mussels]

The problem I've had with Cable disk brakes is the independant adjustment for the inside pad. It's fine to start with (apart from the adjustment being a bit coarse) but after a few thousand miles the adjusters slacken and I end up readjusting it every day.
I know the BB7 has a novel adjustment system so it would be interesting to know if they suffer the same issue in use.
That's why I've just bought myself a hydraulic front brake, as there are pistons on both sides the adjustment problem is history.

 

[benjy_a]

The problem I've had with Cable disk brakes is the independant adjustment for the inside pad. It's fine to start with (apart from the adjustment being a bit coarse) but after a few thousand miles the adjusters slacken and I end up readjusting it every day.
I know the BB7 has a novel adjustment system so it would be interesting to know if they suffer the same issue in use.
That's why I've just bought myself a hydraulic front brake, as there are pistons on both sides the adjustment problem is history.

I also have 2 bikes with hydraulic calipers and they are both great. I had problems with adjusting cheap mechanical calipers so as not to rub but the Avid BB range are a world apart from the cheapies.

They adjust easily without disc rub, pads wear evenly and flat due to the geometry of the caliper action and they seem almost as strong as hydraulic as the pads are big. Adjustment simply requires the occasional cable tightening and a single click on the inside pad but this is very infrequent. My Juicy bike is still on original Avid pads after nearly 2 years daily commuting.

I would still choose hydraulic if money was no object but if you want a cheap upgrade to a budget bike without having to change levers, cables or lose cutout switches then these are hard to beat.

 

[Mussels]

I also have 2 bikes with hydraulic calipers and they are both great. I had problems with adjusting cheap mechanical calipers so as not to rub but the Avid BB range are a world apart from the cheapies.

They adjust easily without disc rub, pads wear evenly and flat due to the geometry of the caliper action and they seem almost as strong as hydraulic as the pads are big. Adjustment simply requires the occasional cable tightening and a single click on the inside pad but this is very infrequent. My Juicy bike is still on original Avid pads after nearly 2 years daily commuting.

I would still choose hydraulic if money was no object but if you want a cheap upgrade to a budget bike without having to change levers, cables or lose cutout switches then these are hard to beat.

I was thinking of getting BB7s but then found out I could get hydraulic brakes for the same price if I didn't need buy a new disc or mounting with them.

 

[benjy_a]

I was thinking of getting BB7s but then found out I could get hydraulic brakes for the same price if I didn't need buy a new disc or mounting with them.

Fair enough....I would also choose hydraulic over mechanical if the same cost.

There are some real bargains on eBay for second hand BB3 and BB5 for a cheap upgrade.



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[lowranger]

The problem I've had with Cable disk brakes is the independant adjustment for the inside pad. It's fine to start with (apart from the adjustment being a bit coarse) but after a few thousand miles the adjusters slacken and I end up readjusting it every day.
I know the BB7 has a novel adjustment system so it would be interesting to know if they suffer the same issue in use.
That's why I've just bought myself a hydraulic front brake, as there are pistons on both sides the adjustment problem is history.

I'll let you know how it goes with the adjustment when I've got some miles on it. I would have gone for hydraulic as I have had good experience with the hope. The main reason i stuck with the cable disc was wanting to retain the nexus levers that match the group set and combined

Worked well in the wet tonight!

 

[lowranger]

I'll let you know how it goes with the adjustment when I've got some miles on it. I would have gone for hydraulic as I have had good experience with the hope. The main reason i stuck with the cable disc was wanting to retain the nexus levers that match the group set and combined

Worked well in the wet tonight!

 

[lowranger]

I said I'd let you know how the BB7 perform. Its been on over two years and covered a few thousand miles in all weathers and regular use. I've got through one set of pads. The adjusters haven't seized and the powerful performance is still impressive for a cable brake. A recommendation if you don't want to replace a combined shifter/brake lever like the nexus. Cost wise they are now more expensive that some disc set ups so you'd probaly need a specific reason such as that to choose them. I guess ease of maintainance/repair for touring might be a bonus but that probaly doesn't account for many ebikers.

 

[cwah]

Apparently the shimano m785 are better than avid for many reasons:
- finger level braking
- progressive braking
- easy bleeding
- wave technology allowing to multiplicate squeeze

Anyone tried them?

 

[Croxden]

- wave technology allowing to multiplicate squeeze

What's that?

 

[cwah]

What's that?

"I think 'servo-wave' is a Shimano technology where the first part of the lever stroke moves the pads more than the second half of the stroke. So the first half of the lever stroke moves the pads a long way, but with not much force, and the second half doesnt move them far, but the movement is more powerful. "
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12653854

 

[Croxden]

I though they all did that.

 

[Kinninvie]

I use Clarks Exo Skeletal hydraulic brakes on my 2 main e-bikes.
£39.99 for both complete with mounts and discs.
They work perfectly.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-exo-skeletal-hydraulic-disc-brake/rp-prod80605?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3cKeBRDG-KKqqIj4qJgBEiQAOamX_XeNmglb8O2igS9Kxjvx7WYCDbeu10Mo9rN4f09vm6oaAgkr8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[cwah]

I use Clarks Exo Skeletal hydraulic brakes on my 2 main e-bikes.
£39.99 for both complete with mounts and discs.
They work perfectly.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-exo-skeletal-hydraulic-disc-brake/rp-prod80605?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3cKeBRDG-KKqqIj4qJgBEiQAOamX_XeNmglb8O2igS9Kxjvx7WYCDbeu10Mo9rN4f09vm6oaAgkr8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

The brakes do not have really good review. I wonder if you tried better brakes (eg. M615 I'm thinking to get) and compared? The M615 is almost 3 times more expensive so I'm considering carefully...

 

[Kinninvie]

They lock my wheels so I dont see how I could get better.

 

[Nealh]

I can understand fitting expensive state of the art hdb for extreme/downhill/rough trail riding but for everyday normal /light trail ridng, lower spec hdb brakes are more than adequate.
I have shimano m445/446 on my 700c and they work vey very well also have just paid £31 for Acera m395's for a mtb again these are excellant. I One reason was they use the same brake pads and all parts are compatiable.

 

[Kinninvie]

I bought a Cannondale Trail 29er yesterday that comes with Promax Decipher hydraulic brakes and they are just as efficient as my cheapo Clarks sets.

 

[cwah]

But promax brakes are also cheapy and bad apparently. They are entry level brakes.

I have zoom hydraulic brakes bought for cheap and they do the job... but i always have to bleed them, If i return the bike for repair i have to bleed again, repair parts are difficult to have and brake pad get worned out in few weeks...

I want to be sure i won't have that again

 

[awol]

I use Clarks Exo Skeletal hydraulic brakes on my 2 main e-bikes.
£39.99 for both complete with mounts and discs.
They work perfectly.

You've gone and got me interested in trying these hydraulic brakes at that price even though I am happy with some cable avid BB7's I fitted a few months ago. Will they fit straight onto the same mount as an easy change ?