I'm fairly new to off-road MTB and have recently bought a GT hard tail which I need to replace the brakes.
I can't afford to change to discs so my choices are Magura HS33 at the top of the range, LX v-brakes, Arch Rival (not sure which models) and any Avid v-brakes.

I quite fancy the Hydraulic Magura's but have heard conflicting stories - plus they cost a bomb.

Can anyone give me advice??

Cheers

Maguras are the ultimate rim brakes, but...
they are a real arse to set up. The manual's very helpful, but it'll probably take you more than one go. Once they're set up, they're grrrrreat (as Tony the Tiger says). Chain reaction have them for £95 atm.

I think your choice is really between the Maguras (£95 as Eion says) or a set or high quality, but fairly cheap, v brakes, such as Avid SD5s (about £20 per end). Once you start looking at more pricey vs like Avid arches, you almost get into the price range of the Maguras.

hs33 brake pads last at least a year!! (cost saving to think about in the long run) you can run through three sets of v brake pads in the same period.

The bushings on the parallel push linkage for the arch rivals wears out too quickly and makes them rattle and wander all over the place. They're really nice feeling and quite powerful though.

Had Arch rival 5's on my old GT and they flexed the frame soooooooo much! bloody powerfull though!

XTR V's are in my opinion the best brake you can buy.

and money grows on trees!!!

obviously chris hasnt tried hope discs yet...

Get some Arch Rivals, approx £45 at www.supercycles.co.uk. Mine are great, pad life is excellent, and you can adjust them if they develop play.

Cheers for the help folks....

....although after reading through I still have too many choices, everyone is recommending different things.

I'm guessing as long as you spend £50+ on any kind of brake it's going to do the job.

I still fancy the low maintenance on the Maguras though.

Cheers

matt

if vees then XTR,

maguras, doddle to setup, easier to bleed pads last forever, standard ones not so good in the wet, green pads are though,

Hope if discs, the daddies of all brakes, and get E4, about 100g lost over the lighter ones, but who cares ?

Dan

if you want real cheap v's, promax (raleigh oem a lot) with replacement pads from the start are good. the levers and brakes dont bend like most budget ones.

lol, they are piss poor, my little bros bike come fitted with them, he's 8 and he bent them

Dan

I'll have to agree with Dan. I have Pro max brakes at the moment and they have bent and caused me to crash and break my ribs.
Hence, new brakes required.

Matt

If i were you... i would pick up a pair of Avid's speed dial 5 levers (£30) or if you cant streach to that the Avid AD3 levers (20). For levers go with avid, as they r much better. For brakes, go for the Arch rival, or Single Digit 5, as both of these perform well.

For more expert info on the Avid brakes, write to Richard Theurer from Raw, avids distributors, at rtheurer@rawexperience.com


Talk to that guy. He will guide you into the best products... avid or not. Avid has to be the best place for cable brakes.

Oh, and dont go for shimano brakes, they dont have the same quality as avid.

The speed dial 5 also have infinate modulations, where as shimano only has 3!

Get avid! But talk to him to get the best advice to which brakes to get!

I think you are getting the word modulation mudled up mate.......

I think what he means is that Avid levers have the facility of udjusting modulation fluidly, whereas Shimano (apart from XT) just have 3 settings.

Tim, why bother with promax when you can get a complete set or Deores (ie, the whole lot) for £35.

>XTR V's are in my opinion the best brake you can buy.>

IMHO XTR vs are crap, espesially considering their obcenely high price. The only brake that is more overpriced is possibly the Avid Arch Supreme.

I think what he means is that Avid levers have the facility of adjusting modulation fluidly, whereas Shimano (apart from XT) just have 3 settings.

Tim, why bother with promax when you can get a complete set or Deores (ie, the whole lot) for £35.

>XTR V's are in my opinion the best brake you can buy.>

IMHO XTR vs are crap, especially considering their obscenely high price. The only brake that is more overpriced is possibly the Avid Arch Supreme.

Sorry first version = arse spelling.