Ok, I know this topic has been done to death, but i'm about to part with my hard earned cash on a front disk brake. At the present minute I am running an Avid V on the front. Basically, I want a bit more power in the dry, and a lot more in the wet. I do a bit of everything, but the DH around my way is reletivly short (around 1min), so don't suggest I buy a 205mm M4. I've pretty much narrowed it down to 3 brakes. Shimano Deore Hydraulic (mate has some and they seem good) what do other people think of them, will the 160mm rotor provide enough power? Hope Mini with 185mm rotor (I know this is good enough cos my mate has one), or a Formula B4 (again, will the 160mm rotor be big enough). I'm not sure whether to save myself £25 and go for the Deore or B4. Will they be powerful enough?
Cheers for your help.
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 I think you'll find everyone, will have an opinion on this. Here's one;
Shim deore are nice reliable brakes, i've got them on a Spesh and they stop very well. the 160mm rotor seems more than capable.
Pads last well, had them since May and not replaced them yet.
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Cheers for the prompt reply, my mate also has them on his Spesh.
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 A Hope c2 sounds perfect for you. Suitable for short DH, adjustable unlike most other systems, great in wet weather, looks classy and is more reliable than most hope systems.
There are many caliper sizes and rotor sizes to choose from, and it has the greatest lever to be ever put on a bike. period.IMO, sod the Mini, B4 and Deore (Shim is best of 3 listed) , theyre all respectable and reputable brakes, I just think that the c2 sounds best for you.
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Don't be scared of what people say about pump-up in closed systems, it hardly happens, and has never occurred on any rides I've been on.
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Thanks for the reply, but i'm not after a closed system. My mate has a front C2 and has to slacken off the pads before any DH's over 1 min so the brake doesn't drag/lock. Could be that he just drags his brake a lot and this makes the system pump up. He always seems slower than me...hehe.
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I'd probably go for the B4 - very nicely made brake. Mini's are good but squeel quite often and, IIRC, the mini lever is not one the worlds favourites. However at the end of the day I don't think U can go far wrong with any of them, if you feel a bigger rotor is in order a +20 adapter from hope will allow it on any brake.
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 You might get a bit of pump up with closed brakes (never happened with my C2's, but does with my XC4's) but I never had a problem with the closed brakes, wheras my E4's on my DH bike decided to totally die on me when I was in the alps, (ok so all it needed was new o-ring seals for the pistons, but they were only 2 months old!)
I have only ever once had a problem with pump up being excessive with my XC4's and that was riding down Box Hill when it was all icy then again for a 150 wavy front rotor even thats not bad!
You get more pump up it your brakes nned bleeding cause the air will expand more than the fluid - also dot 5.1 expands less than dot 4
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 Deore or Mini - budget dependant. Deore is highly competent, but the Hope is noticeably better in all areas.
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Formula B4 £89 from Merlin. Very good and cheap hyd disc brake.
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