I'm looking for a new set of disc brakes but as I am a student I have a fairly tight budget. Can anyone advise which would be a better choice for my XC antics, Hope Mini or Avid Juicy 5? If you have any other suggestions then please let me know. I already have a set of Diatech Anchors but the rear brake is next to useless!

I run XT's and have never had any problems with them & neither has anyone else I know that has them.

CRC got them reduced HERE

i've just got rid of my mono minis, didn't think they were reliable enough, however they were nearly 3 yrs old...

replaced with a pair of XTs, inc levers etc for £160 from crc. bargaintastic...!

front is only 160mm, but upgradeable in the future.

id go for shimano...just for there Reliability...i had some xt for 2 year.never let me down...now iv got xtr...but for £160...thats a top brake set..for the price...

Heres my tuppence for thought - have used Hope mono minis for the last couple of years including several Merida enduro events and they have been faultless.

I would therfore go British and go Hope!!

Avid

i wouldn't buy a hope brake again, they're so mediocre for how much they cost

I use Juicy 7 and rate them highly. Never used the 5s but I would think they are also likely to be very good.

A mate has XT and they are also very reliable and as Nobby says they are very good value at the mo.

The juicy 3s are getting good reviews too .

Only OEM over here though, I can't really find many differences, they lose the thing where you can 'disconnect' the lever blade from the piston.

I'd get Juicys every time, although pad life is rather dire in all the cack at the moment!

I've used the Hopes and the Avids....
I'd go for the Avids.

Or if your budget's tight, Shimanos 535 Deores are just as good and come in at £60 an end from CRC.

Juicy 5 has served me well and only broke the push rod on it so far
Crc are selling the juicy 3's are they're pretty cheap (£65 each with 180mm rotor)might be worth a look if you can get a pair for the price of one Hope.

I love the engineered look of Hopes, but every Hope I've tried has felt indistinct and when I've set them up for other riders they don't seem well designed.

I'm a Hayes and Avid fan myself, much as I would like to support a British-made product.

I wonder if Raygun expected to get a simple answer :-)

Oh and Hope by the way,then Shimano then...
















.........a stick through your spokes!

Avid

Thanks for all the info folks! I have had a look at the Juicy 3s on CRC which would cost me £130 for the set. Marginally cheaper than the XTs but still saving me £30 for baked beans and beer (I'm a student remember).

MBR said that "they sport many of the features found on top-end units. Lever shape is excellent, power is second to none and we'd be happy to run the Juicy 3's on considerably more expensive bikes" (Specialised FSR XC review - Jan 2007 issue).

I'm swaying towards these at the moment.

Of the 2 you mention Avid though most people with Shimano seem very happy with them

Have a look at Hayes HFX-9's on CRC...good value and reliable stoppers in my experience

I've only just noticed those juicy 3's myself. Anyone found any info on them? Avid's website doesn't say much...

http://www.sram.com/_media/pdf/en/avid/specs/hydraulicdiscbrakes.pdf

Thats all there seems to be on them? So I think they'll be about the same as '05 Juicy 5s. I think mine are '05, as they have no split lever clamp jobbie.
Imo the lever blade is the biggest difference to me and the Avids feels better to use that the Shimano deore I have.