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Date: March 22, 2006
Aaron a weekend warrior from Florida writes:

The V-brake type of canti seems to give me the maximum stopping power while needing least work. I have never used hydraulics, but the regular (linear pull) cantis seem flimsy with just the same stopping power and the disc brake that I have used before needed constant maintanence.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I ride pretty technical trails (man made)down here. I don't have 50 foot drops, cuz the elevated terrain here is very limited (FL). But I ride 20 foot drops, switch-back, single track, etc. A lot of rocks, logs, and even whole trees on their side, to ride over. So hitting the dirt is something that happens on occasion here.. if you're riding the advanced/expert stuff, like I do.

I've been thinking about the Disc upgrade myself...among some other upgrades to my custom hardtail. I've always rode V-brake. Can someone with experience riding Disc on technical trails tell me just how durable they are in a wreck... for instance... faceplanting from 5 feet up. lol it's happened to me. Ouch! it was on narrow, steep cement steps on a 7 foot drop.

WINNER: Tie

disc brakes all the way because they have heavy stopping power.. and still work good when wet and muddy

WINNER: Disc

the v-brake are cheap, lighty, easy maintenance and it was work as we want

WINNER: Vbrakes

disc brakes

WINNER: Disc

hgfdsgdfgfh

WINNER: Cantilever

some say that disc-brakes throw the balance of the bike off.....Obviously these people dont have drive-chains on their bike. Disc-brakes being installed on the opposing-side offset the uneaveness in mass-distribution to an extent, (The cannondale lefty would seem to suggest that mass distribution isn't that critical) I think it is relative if you weigh 98lb and do light cross country then v brakes are great. However, if you weigh over 168lb, then I think that it has to be hydraulic disc brakes. Due to the fact that for anything at speed, application of power is rather critical as you dont want to lock the wheel but still need huge stopping power. Also quite steep hills can feature in cross-country (momentum being an issue). V-brakes have the annoying cable stretch phenomenon and unless they are the parallel-push are just a pain in the arse. Braking with V-brakes isnt very linear and I found that although my brakes worked in the wet it took a whole revolution of the wheel with the brakes applied to clear the water and mud off the rim before they began to bite which means I used travel about 2 meters with no stopping power, might not sound much but you generally apply the brakes to slow yourself down at that moment, not two meters later. (In contrast the odd phenomenon with that of disc-brakes is that they actually get better in the wet even if tyre to road traction reduces) The only draw back with disc brakes is that the disc is rather fragile especially for larger rotor diameters (more leaverage to bend the rotor). I would say that hydraulic rim-brakes would be good for trials-bikes. Whilst hydraulic disc-brakes for XC and downhill. Parallel action V-brakes for where cost is an issue or if your bike is just for commuting from A to B on flat terrain.
so its either hydraulic rim-brakes or hydraulic disc, but I was glad for my hydralic disc-brakes from the moment I did about 50mph down a steep road and needed to slow down pretty quickly at the junction at the bottom of it.

WINNER: Disc

no contest - Hydrolic Discs - the Marta SL is even lighter than a v Brake ....

WINNER: Disc

I always go fast so i will need alot of braking power like a car`s ventilated disc brake to make me stop in time.

WINNER: Disc

the hydrolic is better because i have more control using it than a v brake

WINNER: Hydraulic

disc brakes are the most powerwul and still work when you get your rims wet and muddy.

WINNER: Disc

racing

WINNER: Hydraulic

Each one, I believe, has it's ideal use. If you use the wrong brake on the wrong bike, then you will be unhappy with your braking.

If you ride cross-country, V-brakes are the way to go. They are lighter, can take a few knocks and are easy to service out on the trail. Downhilling? Disc brake of course. For trials-riding and the like, I would certainly take hydraulic rim-brakes for the power of discs, but they are compact and out of the way like V-brakes. Finally, the cantilever, tried and true. Can't always find the correct cross-over cable or spare parts, but they have the most mud-clearance which makes the cyclo-cross riders smile. Ohya, and strong enough for BMX.

But at the end of the day I gotta go with V-brakes for low-weight, responsive, yet easily modulated braking. Plus, an extra cable is a lot easier to carry that a jug of jug of Dot-Fluid and a syringe.

WINNER: Vbrakes

discs are great but, you need to know how to work on them yourself. over all use i still like the v's, sometimes i even use them on (short) dry downhill courses. if you've ever been "out there" with massive hydrolic leakage, you know why i say that. having said that, all of them have there good points, even cantis. why do you think cyclocross riders still use them, mud clearance!

WINNER: Tie

Disk is the only way to go if you don't want to endo more times than you could shake a stick at. You have v breaks? I wonder how long it'll take to get those skid marks out?

WINNER: Disc

I switch back to V brakes after my using Hayes Hydra. Disc brake have more stopping power, but carries more weigh.

WINNER: Vbrakes

some body talk to me

WINNER: Vbrakes

I've been riding for ten years now an tried all in the market.
Cantis lack power
Hydraulics need aren't user friendly
Discs heat up and stop braking when you need control
V brakes weight less, give you a predictable handling whenever you need it and thanks to kool stop tectonic pads water isn't an issue any more.
About the rims, rims are not eternal, you'll have to replace em some time so what do you care if v brakes wear em off don't be a cheap bastard!!!!!!!!!!!

WINNER: Vbrakes

Gonna have em on my next xc rig, no question.

WINNER: Disc

It's a matter of taste really. I still have v's on my ride, but believe me, if I was to get a new bike right now, that bike would have discs.

Discs are the superior technology, and get better each year. V-brakes are so '90's and look pretty silly on a full suspension or 29'er.

WINNER: Disc

when v brakes first came out, all of the magazines would hound bikes they tested that still sported cantis. now that discs are becoming popular testers in the bike mags will hound on bikes that sport trusty old vees. crickey. who the hell cares. i say canti all the way. like paul says; "Keep It Simple Stupid"

WINNER: Cantilever

Magura HS33 Hydraulic Rim brakes are the BOMB DIGGITY! Much easier to install and set up and keep going than discs... V brakes suck the bag.

WINNER: Hydraulic

the hydraulic 4 sure

WINNER: Hydraulic

Once you go disc, you'll never go back to anything else.

WINNER: Disc

Discs of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WINNER: Disc

Need help to fix my v-brakes

WINNER: Vbrakes

Need help to fix my v-brakes

WINNER: Vbrakes

Disks really boost the grab without the skid. But setting up my mechs to feel right in the hands makes them noisy when they roll; especially after they heat up and I'm going uphill. I hear hydralics don't have this problem.

WINNER: Disc

Use the right tool for the job. No 1 brake is THE absolute best.

Cantis - for the weekend warior where cost IS an issue

V-brakes - more power & perfect for the "average" rider. NOT necesarily Joe Racer, but certainly the "guy next door"

Hydraulics - for even more power, BUT shorter rim life & more weight

Disc - if money & weight aren't an issue, & best-in-class power is

BTW, hydraulic brakes in general have only been around since the 1930's when an airplane manufacturer invented them;) We've only been putting them on bicycles since the early 90's.

WINNER: Tie

Wind

WINNER: Disc

Disc over V-brakes = Disc wins over V-brakes but why spend the money to upgrade on a weekend warrior rides especially when my Santa Cruz Superlite doesn't have a drop out for housing a disc setup.

WINNER: Disc

I find the Vbrakes to be a good choice. Great breaking power, low wight and low cost.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydro discs (Hope Mono 6Ti) awesome power, light weight, but a bit expensive but hey, i race downhill and i need the power.

WINNER: Disc

For steep singletrack under all conditions (including mud), there is no realistic alternative to disc brakes. Rim brakes wear out your rim, which is a safety issue. Do not expect disc brakes to be cheaper to operate. Do expect them to be more precise and more effective. If you are riding steep terrain, get a 200mm rotor for the front.

WINNER: Disc

if people kill it will not be good because some day it might come to war.

WINNER: Tie

This is how it goes, if you have the money and aren't stuck with an outdated frame go hydro disc, but from my experience cable disc are just as good in modulation terms.
If you live in a relativly flat area, don't bike in the rain, then v-brakes will work just fine.

v-brakes = decent stopping power, lack of modulation, wear faster, lighter, stresses sidewalls.

disc brakes = more for hard trailriding, great wet traction, heavy, pads last longer, if you go hydro disc get open not closed.

I liked v-brakes on my bike, but when my fork broke, I bought a disc setup in the front and I will never go back to v-brakes.

WINNER: Disc

having the experience of working in a shop I would have to say v brakes becasue of the weight factor. Hydo discs feel awesome and You can definitly vary the brakeing power alot more but I always come back to the weight issue a nice set of v brakes and lever can be set up for about half the weight of discs and stopping is stopping when i ride my goal isnt to stop.

WINNER: Vbrakes

my favorite time to ride is in the rain and my bike is prepped for that (wax lube and disc brakes). V's slip on the rim so much if it's wet. Awesome stopping power as well

WINNER: Disc

cantilever = you sorta wanna stop

vbrakes = you want to stop and not pay too much

hydraulics = you wanna stop and dont mind paying and weighing more

disc = you wanna stop and dont mind paying even more and weighing even more

WINNER: Vbrakes

Look, I ride Cantilever on my santa cruz for two reasons. #1: old school goodness. #2 Ever try to masturbate using a disc?? Come on.

WINNER: Cantilever

I�m in awe that you guys are even discussing this. V brakes so hot in 1995.

WINNER: Disc

Phil, you conservative jerk. So you get paid from racing, huh? Congratulations. I get paid by winning races. And I am faster with discs. Besides, I spend more time training and less time adjusting now.

WINNER: Disc

I ride just about every condition you can ride, up and down, both breaks have there ups and downs, but, I've never had my V's ripped off the frame(a problem that dirtbike riders and racers have had in the past) yet, hell, it's up to you, I'll just ride.

WINNER: Tie

Why do looks matter? Are you trying to pick up chicks in the lift lines at northstar? Different tools for different jobs; hydros are better than mechanical for discs...just don't rip the hose off. Much better feel and power than Avid Mechs, I don't care what you say, I've had them both. In my opinion, discs are a pain in the ass, throw the balance of the bike off (very important), weigh more, and are not trailside-servicable. V-brakes are light, if you get good ones they have more power than needed, but don't work as well in the mud, thats for sure. I have been racing professionally for many years, and I don't need any "freerider" kids who aren't even old enough to drive a car to tell me to get with the times. Notice that the best frames and forks from manufacturers come with V posts (SID world cup comes to mind), while bikes geared toward children don't. But what do you care, I get paid to ride and I ride v-brakes.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Different areas and expenses require different gear. When riding in dry weather I like the V-brake,they have more controlas not to skid. Here in the Sierra's we have a tendency to be riding through patches of snow, down river beds clean into June and even July in this situation I like disk brakes. Its kinda like comparing two different types of apples or oranges.

WINNER: Disc

thank you

WINNER:

I use a self energizing front brake, and a power cam rear (I'm riding a frame that originally had a U-brake ;) ) and they stop better than any V's I used in my life. and, to let you know, the first time I rode on v's, I flew over the handlebars, and landed on my back. I don't particularly like disc brakes cause they're expensive and are horrible overkill unless you ride DH, which I don't. I VOTE CANTI!!! WOO!!! if you know how to adjust them right, they'll stop perfectly, unless you have wussy grip

WINNER: Cantilever

Disc brakes have they best stopping power and look the best.

WINNER: Disc

Both brakes will stop your mometum but one will do it better than the other in every situation. Look...when the weather is baking outside, do you want a fan or an air conditioner. Enough said.

WINNER: Disc

V-brakes: cost, weight, maintenance, set-up, etc.

Discs if you wanna do crazy $#it, canti's for your retro bike, hydraulic if you wanna deal with it yourself or tip your mechanic often

WINNER:

coaster breaks,jk
disk is the only way, besides hydro discs for fr

WINNER: Disc

F-ALL'yall,crank-brakes rule...

WINNER: Tie

Hands down, the discs - they work when they are dry. they work when they are wet. they just work, period.

WINNER: Disc

disk brakes rock, nothing better and they dont weigh much any more, dont get affected as badly by mud and water, dont wear as muuch as rim brakes, all in all only bit more expensive and a slight weight penalty and much better braking which is what there there for.

WINNER: Hydraulic

Disk rock, get with the 21st century

WINNER: Disc

I�m fat! okay I said it. the breaking power of discs is what I need.

WINNER: Disc

I think it depends on the trails and type of riding. I love disc because I'm kinda heavy and I think they brake awesome. And also on rainy season there's a lot of heavy mud on my trails, so the disc make a difference. On some trails I've been I think V-Brakes are very nice. I haven't tried hydraulic v-brakes as to think on them. Cantilevers I've tried them and don't care much about them. Maybe for a commuter bike.

WINNER: Disc

come on somebodys gotta show some love for cantilevers...im just kidding, they suck

WINNER: Cantilever

Had tried V's before... performance wise its not perfect especially during wet seasons. After I had installed my Avid Mechs (w/ 203 rotor) and Avid SD 7 levers the braking and modulation performance of my bike had improved. Way to go AVID...

WINNER: Disc

Hydraulic's rules.....disk or rim.......but hydraulic

WINNER: Hydraulic

hubs weight less,brakes weight less,not good for downhillers though

WINNER: Vbrakes

Disc-bakes are expensive, complicated but look very cool. V-Brakes look cheap, weigh less and brake just as well in dry conditions. To all the numb-nuts that yell "stopping power advantage for discs!"... I can lock my wheels just as quickly with Vees. Besides, as soon as you start skidding, braking distance INCREASES. I prefer the Vees superior modulation

WINNER: Vbrakes

Well, like in all my posts, I'll say that situation dictates your needs. Disc brakes in the end, are perhaps all encompasing of braking needs, though their full power may be unnecessary for certain terrain and people. V's work, and when set up right, are great, but will never have the capacity for the power that discs do. Its a worthwhile upgrade, though can be difficult to do. (Pain in the ass for my 9.8-rear adapter for the IS adapter & splined rotors) Hands down discs are the way to go, mechanical or hydraulic. Avid Mechs here.

WINNER: Disc

We are talking performance here, and discs have it. Mule is correct on the modulation and control. I can lock up my cantilever equipped bike..

WINNER: Disc

I think that disc brakes are way better because they work great in wet conditions and they are great for freestyle and you never see a high quality bike with v-brakes they are only put on wal-mart bike and the cheap ones (100$- 600$) disc brakes are great for stoppies if your into street riding and when your tire gets warped it doesnt affect the braking so that's why I think that disc brakes are better than any other bicycle brakeing system.

WINNER: Disc

smoooooooooth. (love my Avid Mechs)

WINNER: Disc

I rented a bike with discs in Switzerland this summer. Going down approx 1000 m of steep valleyside felt much safer with discs than it would have felt with v-brakes. My own bike doesn't have discs though. Generally I favour simplicity, and I understand the mechanics of my brakes. But when it's rainy and muddy, like it is over here, disc front would've been nice. As for modulation - I can't see the big difference.

WINNER: Tie

As with many other debates on this forum (hardtail vs. full-sus), it really depends on what type of riding you do. I am a cross-country rider and I live in the mountains. I have v-brakes and have been thinking about the disc upgrade until I recently rode discs for the first time. My mind is now made up that discs are better for ME and the type of riding I do. Here's why... disc brakes offer much better modulation. For example, there are may instances where you need to brake as hard as possible WITHOUT locking up. This is much easier with disc brakes. MUCH easier. So many people are talking about stopping power when they should be talking about modulation. Sure, my v-brakes have just as much stopping power as discs do, but because of the characteristics of disc brakes, I have much more control over my braking and therefore can push my limits further without sacrificing safety. The only sacrifice is a small amount of weight and a little more money. Now, even if my argument makes perfect sense to you, you still need to decide if your needs are the same as mine. I can still make the case for many people that v's are just as good, if not better for their purposes. Just something to think about. There can never really be a winner here, so I'll say it's a tie.

WINNER: Tie

Hydro all the way baby, aint nothing beat an HS-33 for trials!

WINNER: Hydraulic

Disc, how am I supposed to grind handrails?
Hydraulc, snag a cable and get a leak.
Cantilever, um some braking power would be nice.
V-brakes, anyone say abubaca, fufanu, and nose pick?
That's what I'm talking about.

WINNER: Vbrakes

DISC! I had cantilever, and I used V. Disc are so nice. First time just going down a steep sidewalk I almost went over the handlebars. That was using both brakes.

WINNER: Disc

If you think disc brakes are much better, you should have had your V-brakes put on by a shop that knows what they are doing, instead of adjusting them halfassed yourself.

WINNER: Vbrakes

disc hands down,
no matter how f-d up the rim gets, how out of true the wheel gets, braking performance is unaffected, my disc's actually work BETTER in wet conditions. beat that rubber paddies.

WINNER: Disc

Run cantis now, ok for tight singletrack, but mega average in the wet, on the road or just about any situation, also ive noticed that it sucks to be on them for a long time. Rode a Giant Yukon with mech discs last week and I have to say that I will be upgrading (to a mega spec hardtail..any suggestions?) before the end of the year for sure after that. Will still have the cantis on my commuter bike though, way easy to fix by myself with 1 spanner. And my road bike still has the old school side pull jobs, goes ok.

WINNER: Tie

V-Brakes if you ride bikes.

Discs if you leap down hills on a motorcycle without an engine, or like to splash in the puddles of mud behind the barn.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Iwhatto go

WINNER: Disc

mechanical disc, no ifs ands or buts, hydraulic may give you netter stopping power, but they are more prone to breaking, one little plastc cap goes, your boned

WINNER: Disc

Having gone dual disc on my last FS/XC bike (now broken -- don't ask, I didn't do it), and now forced to go front disc/rear V on my old hardtail, I will redouble my efforts to remain dual disc for the rest of my LIFE! There is NO DOUBT what rules! If you're so weenie that you can feel the "extra weight" dragging you down, you might want to try riding to the gym once in a while. V-brakes have twice put me on the hood of a car during urbans...DISCS RULE!

WINNER: Disc

Well, hydraulic disc brakes offer the greatest braking performance, but for a weight penalty. So I guess for the weight weenies, vee's are still around. But as for choosing one, I couldn't, so like my full-sus/hardtail dilemma, I have both. Avid magnesium's on my XtC and XT Hydraulic Discs for my Fuel 95.

WINNER: Tie

hydraulic disc brakes are the best, because they work well in wet and they don`t wear your rims . Discs rule!

WINNER: Disc

disks are my kind of thing. V and cantilever dont work well when wet.

WINNER: Disc

I go with cantilever for easy, brainless, maintenance. Although I do agree that they can mess up your rims, I'm not too worried. Stopping is so over-rated anyway!

WINNER: Cantilever

it this for real????? why are we even doing this???

WINNER: Disc

Having recently upgraded to a new bike with disc brakes, I have to say I am all for disc. I have only had experience with V-brakes prior. With disc, it may cost more to fix if damaged, but not once have I had to even consider stopping performance with disc, no matter the trail conditions. That, IMHO, is the kicker. Time thinking about your gear is time not spent concentrating on the trail ahead.

WINNER: Disc

If you are from a flat area of the country, it is no wonder you like V-brakes. The rest of us know why disc rules.

WINNER: Disc

While Rim brakes offer the most leverage, and would be ideal on motorbikes, MTB have one big problem - mud. Any rim brake will suffer from mud and debris problems, even with 3cm+ clearance all around the tyre + fork. I have all four types of brakes and they are used for their individual benefits. My tandem has V-brakes as mud is not a problem. My winter training bike has hydraulic rim brakes as these were cheaper than V-brake at the time. Pad replacement is very fast. Cantilever is fitted on all other bikes except those with rod brakes ( yes I even have these, braking on the inside face of the rims, made of stainless steel). My fast cross-country competition bike has hydraulic disc brakes. This is because I can sink the bike up to its axles in sludge and then collect half a tree around my forks and the brakes still work fine, and there is nothing to block the bits of tree as it passes around my wheels. If I had to chose just one brake it would be the V-brake, but as you can see, they all have their benefits. Cantilever does come last, but the others are a tie.

WINNER: Tie

Cantilever! Old school!!!!

WINNER: Cantilever

High speed + steep track + Water and mud + rim brakes = Need for bulky protective gear and replacement parts.

WINNER: Disc

i'll stick with the v's, the others ('cept the cantis) are a little too trick for me (too expensive too)

WINNER: Vbrakes

i love all my mugus kep offffffffff

WINNER:

Discs give you so much more modulation; v-brakes are all or nothing. Discs are a must for more technical stuff, and some weight barely more than v-brakes.

WINNER: Disc

DO you ever see rim brakes on a car? no so that can only mean one thing........disks are the way to go even if they are not hydralic. plus you never have brake dust on you rims and whats another 1/2 lb? If your a gram chaser then lose 1/2lb of your own weight ever think of that?

WINNER: Disc

hydraulic disc, anything rim sucks up here

WINNER: Disc

I got yer 8 inch disk right here. Try a 25 inch disk(the rim fool). One motorcycle maker has started using an inverted disk attached to the rim for the same net effect as V brakes(the fat tires make it hard to use V brakes:P not to mention the heat would melt rubber)so there's no force through the spokes(light weight radial) and the big disk has more leverage so the slave cylynder can be smaller/lighter/easyer to squeeze and a larger faster moving disk dissipates heat much faster.
So it seems the laws of physics once again put the kybosh on all the fools who get suckered by the 'cool' marketing factor of puny girly man disks, and rim brakes either V or hydralic are the clear winners. (best handling moto of the 30+ I've test ridden BTW)

WINNER: Vbrakes

I am a weekendwarrior and id like to say that i have some v brakes on my bike and they work great never had problems with them and they are really easy to adjust.
i must say that mountain biking is an expensive sport and therefore if you dont think disks are better youre wrong although some well set v brakes may win a disk it is impossible to win hydraulic they have great stoping power and look awesome.

WINNER: Hydraulic

What's the deal with Stopping Power? I have v-brakes, I'm 215 lbs. and I stop on a dime, with 2 fingers, no problems.

I cannot envision, at any speed, needing more power than "instantly skidding".

Please enlighten me.

WINNER: Vbrakes

The best brakes eva!

WINNER: Disc

I run disc on the rear wheel just in case the rear wheel goes out of true and V's on the front to save weight. I believe the Disc brakes are more durable, longer lasting than brake pads and pretty simple to adjust (avid mechanical disc brake system). That's my 2cents worth.

WINNER: Disc

My V Brakes stop me fast enough to skid if I dont feather them, so what's the big deal about disk stopping power. If we are etical mountain bikers, and good to the trails skidding is a bing Dont Do.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Talk about a no-brainer!

Unless money is an issue, there is no reason not to go to disks. Weight is barely an issue anymore and virtually every serious pro mountain biker uses disks.

WINNER: Disc

I love disc brakes for reliable stopping power all the time, however I like that V brakes are lighter.

WINNER: Disc

I got some hydraulic disc brakes and they are so much better than anything else I have used. Great stopping power and reliable.

WINNER: Disc

If your v-brakes are tuned right like avids is what I ride they stop the wheels from moving just as fast as disk and they are more dependable.!.!.!

CHEAPER

WINNER: Vbrakes

Owned V-brakes for awhile and they just don't have the power to stop you if your going fast downhill. Hydraulic disk brakes all the way. untimate stopping power.

WINNER: Disc

I have V brakes on my piece of **** $500 bike, and my buddy has a $5,500 Rocky Mountain SM7 with monster T's and i know for a fact with v brakes they can wear out very easily and do not have the braking ability needed sometimes....and disc brakes can stop you on a dime....my biddy does it all the time lol and the bikes 40 lbs but i like disc the best, that is why i am getting a bike with them...

WINNER: Disc

Definitely disc brakes for stopping power.

WINNER: Hydraulic

The bigger the disk, the more stopping power you have. So why install a smaller hub mounted disk when a cantilever brake or V brake uses a 26 inch disk called the wheel?

WINNER: Vbrakes

I'm a downhiller and I ride cantilevers.

WINNER: Cantilever

gf

WINNER: Hydraulic

disc and v brakes way the way baby!

WINNER: Disc

disk is only way to go. they arnt hard to maintain at all and they work way better htan anything alse out there.

WINNER: Disc

Disc are the best if you want to stop. But why waste all that energy you just put in to go fast,, by STOPPING? makes no sense. Brakes are for luxury and emergencies.

WINNER: Cantilever

It's hard to compare the control and stopping power of a perfectly working set of disc brakes. I Love 'em! On the down-side: They're more complicated to maintain and they weigh more.

WINNER: Hydraulic

BRAKES............WHO NEEDS THEM!!??.........Just kidding!.

I have had cantilevers (on my first bike), v-brakes on my second bike and hydraulic brakes on the third one.

For about three months I bought a set of Hayes and I love them. They are powerful and don�t accumulate mud around them, as it happens with the rest of the brake types.

The hidraulyc brakes I had were the Magura HS33. They worked fine but had the tendency to wear the rim quite fast.

The only thing I miss from the v-brakes is that they are so easy to adjust. It was just to tighten here and there and that was it!.

But anyway, if you setup your disc brakes properly, then you have the best stopping power!!. They are my winners

WINNER: Disc

hayes hydros only.they work wet or not.

WINNER: Disc

What about coaster brakes? thats what i use on my custom RM9 DH extreme double black diamond cliff hucking machine with 25" of travel front and rear.

WINNER: Tie

What about coaster brakes? thats what i use on my custom RM9 DH extreme double black diamond cliff hucking machine with 25" of travel front and rear.

WINNER: Tie

hydraulic disk. the best is grimeca....

WINNER:

Well
DH riding = HydroDisk all the way
XC riding = V-Brakes
Trial = hydrodisk at the back.

mech disk are for show.. and for all mountain i guese..?!

i think canti n Hydro are the most useless brakes around...
Hydro = heavy, dun get this also, if u break the cable.. / it gets snapped ... hard to set up.. expensive.

cantil.. abit old? dun stop much.. squeak alot.. u need v good pads. hard to set up

i think there isn't a need for hydro disk.. unless u really go down mountains at 40 mph... .. though i reali like disks for their look, n also the squealin sound. so i may get a mech disk..

WINNER: Tie

WELL LET'S SEE... I CAN DO IT AT HOME, IT'S ALL ABOUT.
I'M USING XTR V BRAKES ON MY CROSS COUNTRY MACHINE, AND I CAN DO ALL FROM ZERO TO SET, ADJUSTMENTS, REPLACE WORN PARTS, I MEAN EVERYTHING, WITHOUT GETTING TROUBLE AT HOME.
BUT ON MY FREE RIDE MACHINE I'M USING HAYES HID. DISC BRAKES, AND I GOT TO VISIT MY SHOP TO DO ANY REPAIR ON THESE.
FOR ME BOTH WORKS GREAT, JUST AFTER A GOOD AND CORRECTLY SET UP, BECAUSE A GOOD V BRAKES SET UP, WORKS BETTER THAN A GOOD HIDRAULIC DISC BRAKES WITH BOUBBLES OF AIR INTO THEIR LINES, AND NOT EVERYBODY NKOWS ABOUT HID. DISC BRAKES CORRECT SET UP AND HOW TO DO IT.

WINNER: Tie

I think, overall, discs are the way to go. they are great for all weather, since they dont get wet, and have superior stopping power. The only caveat i have is that they put all of the braking force on the spokes. If you are doing trials, the beginners use v-brakes, but pro-level requires hydraulic rim brakes to lock up the wheels without spoke flex. Cantilevers are ridiculous and are left to the cheap bikes meant for townies.

WINNER: Disc

V-brakes will save you some weight, but you'll also wear through rims quickly in sloppy conditions (and this past season in Ohio was sloppy). Disc brakes are worth the weight penalty for the degree of stopping power you get. Bent rims will give you fewer problems than rim brakes too. Ride V's only if someone's sponsoring you (and picking up the tab for rims, pads, etc.) or if you're a great big weight weenie.

WINNER: Disc

V-brakes will save you some weight, but you'll also wear through rims quickly in sloppy conditions (and this past season in Ohio was sloppy). Disc brakes are worth the weight penalty for the degree of stopping power you get. Bent rims will give you fewer problems than rim brakes too. Ride V's only if someone's sponsoring you (and picking up the tab for rims, pads, etc.) or if you're a great big weight weenie.

WINNER: Disc

def Disc brakes. Awsome stopping power (8" hayes front and back on my bike) and they look the shit :)

WINNER: Disc

Hydraulics are the way to go...clean no fuss braking system...some of my friends say they are too twitchy...I guess if your used to cable actuated breaks that require a great deal of pressure, you'll find yourself sitting on the ground in front of my bike...After a ride or two you'll get used to what ever you use...so why not go hydraulic

WINNER: Hydraulic

My Discs have all the stoping power of v-brakes and they are just as easy to adjust, but they stay dry and clean way more than the v-brakes.....worth the extra cash

WINNER: Disc

V-Brakes. Why you ask. Simple, modulation. I can finely and quickly adjust the brake pressure, my V-Brakes have more than enough to lock the tires, or throw me over the handle bars. Plus I get to keep my radial spoke wheels. Disc brake equipped bikes can't have radial spoked wheels.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Disk Brakes are quiet and work great. No adjusting necessary.

WINNER: Hydraulic

dont think there is somthing stronger than disk hydrolic just like on cars unless you dont have cash

WINNER: Hydraulic

My bike came with v-brakes. They could stop the bike If they were adjusted,IF they were setup right,IF they were clean,IF they were dry, and IF you could stand the noise. I went to Avid mechanicals.Set 'em and forget 'em, they don't leak and they don't squeak. I weigh 230# and I can lock 'em up on pavement rain or shine, every time. Another brake I trust is the Shimano roller brake in the Nexus hub. Smooth,amd silent. Haven't tried a front one though.

WINNER: Disc

cmon lets be serious canti's and v's vs. disc i mean at least hydraulic has close to the same potential but canti's are OBSOLETE since around 96' v's are still good however for racers and bmxers which i also dabble in but disc is obviously the best for downhill

WINNER: Disc

OKay, put disc brakes on the front and V brakes on the rear, you don't need that power of disc on the rear or the weight of them on the rear, because when u put more power on the rear it always skids, and then loses grip and slips of the GODDAMN log

WINNER: Tie

i like hydro disks cuza the power they put out

WINNER: Disc

go

WINNER: Hydraulic

Hydraulic Disc Brake is good - but needs some bleeding later, more expensive.
Cantilever - the weakest form of brakes I guess!
Mechanical Disc Brake is the best, affordable and is smooth performance.
V-Brake perhaps the strongest form of Braking System but is dangerous when applied too much pressure on the front brakes.
Affordable too. But I prefer the mechanical Disc Brake.

WINNER: Disc

What about the brakes that stop when you pedal backwards? Those are sweet!

WINNER: Disc

Well this is obvious. How can other brakes compete with disc's? DH and wet there is no comparison. I personally use V cuz they are cheap....

WINNER: Disc

for power when you need it hydraulic brakes are the best i have been riding for about 38 years and for the past 13 years i have been using hydraulic brakes

WINNER: Hydraulic

v for presidant

WINNER: Vbrakes

son de lo mejor cuando deseas frenar y el suelo es humedo o iregular
pienso que el peso extre es cuestion de abituarse para my el disco es
el mejor.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Altough most disc's aren't any stronger than V's in the dry for agressive XC, they kick any brakes arses downhill or in the wet.
Disc are heavier tough... Don't know about HS33, but they destroy your rim over time. For get about cantis, how did we ever live with em (XTR's did work a bit, to be honest). Discs it is

WINNER: Disc

What a friggen joke this debate is. This should be a debate for the second best style of brakes, and anyone who uses disc brakes knows what i'm talking about.

WINNER: Disc

I'm sorry but I feel I had to fight the corner of v's after reading only half of these comments.

I use a set of Avid 5's brakes and levers, with the rim wrangler pads. These are so easy to set up, they require no toeing in or out, and I have NEVER had a squeel from them. The modulation is great with the speed dial levers, and easy to get the feel YOU want.

For me, I can't see a reason for wanting discs. I don't want the extra weight or cost. And now I'm using the cartridge system when it comes to pad changes I just pull the pin and slot a new one in. NO adjustment required (except for winding the cable stop back in).

Ride what you ride so long as your riding and enjoying it.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I tried Cantilever with my first bike. Yes it is a pain to to get the best set up, but once you get the perfect setting it will work great! the downside is that its hard to set, and when wet u lose so much braking power.

V-brakes: the second brake tried i tried. it threw me over the bar first time i squeezed them. they lock your tires in split second without notice so to get that gradual speed decrease you cannot press them too hard at once. after a while im so used to V-brake i cannot use other type. and to me they are the easiest to set up!!!

Hydraulic: i just got to use this type of brake. i feel like im braking using a motorcycle system brake, but without the power! Dont get me wrong, they have good stopping power but it seems that my V-brakes have more braking power than this. I dunno maybe it is just me and the bike thats using this brake is heavier than the others. or maybe its the so called modulation (which i dont like). about its weight i dont really care.

Disc: I never use them, but my guess is that it has very good stopping power. But as i said before i hate modulation, so maybe i like this brake, maybe i dont like this brake.

conclusion? V-Brake is my brake. HAIL TO THE KING.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Avid Mech..rules

WINNER: Disc

It has been typed here probably 60 times, it depends on the type of riding that you do. If you freeride or DH then it is common sense, disks take it hands down. For cross country it is not that clear though. A lot of xc pros use disks this year, but most have sponsorship obligations. For example shimano insists that riders who are fully sponsored by them ( trek Gary Fisher haro Kona etc ) must use their xtr disks. Maybe all pros would use them anyway, but they would consider the extra 1.25 pound difference. The idea of XC racing is to get around the course in the fastest time possible so having a lighter bike makes a bigger difference than having pristine braking. You spend so much time climbing in an a xc race it is hard to rationalize the extra weight. Roland Green won the worlds using v brakes last year (2002) and it was a huge mud bog, Gunn Rita won on V brakes at Grouse WC in 2003 ( lots of riders using disks)and it poured rain the whole race. It just does not make that big of a differnce to performance to have disks in a 2 hour race especially given the extra cost of high end ( XTR MARTA SL's ) Disks. Also, your wheels can't be built quite as light using disks as there is so much torque at the hubs heavier spokes need to be used. If you are a someone that cross country rides but does not race and has extra cash then get the disks as the work all the time. So really it is a tie.

WINNER: Tie

V-brakes on ceramic rims are extremely powerful - I have more power than I need - so what point discs? They weigh more, cost more, and on big descents overheat. You already have a huge disc on you rbike - it's called the wheel rim - so use it. You get excellent leverage, unbeatable cooling, and it's already there! Nothing to add.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Disc breaks all the way... they are much stronger and effective than all the rest... the only problem is the $$, a good set can be quite expensive... second place goes to v brakes... I ride with them and they have NEVER let me down..... they work great and are very reliable.

WINNER: Disc

Discs are the only way to go. More power, great modulation, reliable performance in ANY conditions. I'll put up with a little bit more weight for those advantages.

WINNER: Disc

Disc is by far the way to go. Anybody who says otherwise needs to put the bong down. The only thing that comes remotely near Disc is the Hydro brake. I used to use Avid Arch Rival 50, LX/XT-V and I always had problems with toe-in, toe-out, adjustment of the arms, rim slivers embedded in the pads, and that terrible, awful, annoying sound of fingernails on a chalkboard any time the trail was dusty, muddy, or wet. Now thanks to my Avid Mech discs, I don't have to worry about any of those problems.

However, it isn't only about the lack of problems that makes disc brakes so much better. There are also many more advantages. The ease of taking off and putting on a tire is far better with disc brakes. I no longer have to fiddle with the brake cable and routing the noodle. This especially makes itself apperant when I am changing a flat and time is at a premium. Also, I don't have to adjust the pads every other ride. In the past year, I have only had to make a couple of clicks of the dial to make my pads contact the rotors properly. V type brakes need lever/arm/pad adjustments. Who needs that? If the pads are slightly off, you have to sand them back into shape AND they wear out much quicker.

Oh yea, power! DUH! Power on discs is far greater than linear pull or hydro. Even mechanical discs are more powerful. I used to feather my brakes and cautiously enter turns because I knew that my brakes wouldn't be able to save me if I came in to hot. Now I can power slide into a turn going way to fast. If I need to throw out the anchor and come to a quick stop, I always know that the discs will be there to save me. I know you can lock up your tire with a canti/v/hyrdo, but not as well as a disc and no where near the same modulation. The stopping power is quite confidence inspiring.

You will hear people saying that discs are to heavy. Well, last I checked the weight premium is less than what a cell phone weighs. If you do any type of rough riding the additional stopping power negates the weight premium. You will also hear people say that discs are to expensive. This is an expensive sport and at less than a hundred bucks a peice, they aren't much more than high end v-brakes. If the price of admission is to steep find another sport or a better job.

WINNER: Disc

V Brakes. The right balance between peformance, weight, robustness and serviceability. Unless, I suppose, you're a 200lb down-hiller.

WINNER: Vbrakes

My Shimano Deore V-brakes lock up the wheels when i sqeeze the trigger. What more do you need. Even in the mud they still lock up!

WINNER: Vbrakes

Come on XTR XC guys and All the downhillers are using them. Some where in-between these we all lay.

WINNER: Disc

SUPERIOUR POWER HIDRAULIC DISC BRACKES

WINNER: Disc

It will work in every condition and needs no regulating.

WINNER: Disc

Yes they are fiddly. Yes they are a pain. But if you have some that are set up properly you can out-modulate anyone using the other systems. And you can really show off how good a mechanic you are.

WINNER: Cantilever

I would go with the Disks. With the new light weight Hope's and XTR's. It's hard to find v-brakes that weight as little. And the performance and modulation is so much better once you've used disks you'll never go back.

WINNER: Disc

Hmmm, front, defenately disc, rear, i have v-brakes now, but don't plan on putting disc. My other bike has disc F/R, so i guess i'm more towards disc. Great stopping power !

WINNER: Disc

Well between cantalever, V brake, and disc disc wins hands down. Now the question is Mec or hydraulic disc. Both have strong points and weakness. Mech will have cable stretch where hydr can blow a seal or have leaks and need bleeding.I have had a bunch of friends have problems on the top of the hill and have to go down without brakes because hydraulic leaks or seal blowouts. As where on my mech I just have to worry about cable stretch. I can fix my problem with an allenwrench that I always carry as where my friends have not had the proper equiptment to fix thier hydro on the hill. I say Avid mech discs all the way.

WINNER: Disc

This one is tricky. I like Hydro-disc. Then again, I encounter lots of hills in the rain. I think this can be terrain-specific.
For me - Hydros all the way - no questions asked. You'll pry my cold-dead-hand off the handle.

Now, if I lived in AZ - maybe I'd save the weight and expense of pad replacement and go with V's??

WINNER: Disc

deff disc brakes everything else slips so disc brakes are the best by far

WINNER: Disc

For me the only choice is hydraulics....

I've tried all systems except for discs... Cantis are cheap, but just don't cut it. Vs are light but imho theyre a bitch to set up. the hydraulics are just perfect for me, ok so they are a bit heavy, but i'm not really a weightweenie... stopping power and modulation are awesome on my maguras, setup is a piece of cake and there is virtually no maintenance, change oil on mine about once every 2 years (not that they work less if i dont) and replace the pads when they need to be replaced (easy as hell too, just snap em on and youre ready to go)..

and anyone saying that hydraulics are hard to set up, or hard to maintain or lack stopping power is just a big fat liar or doesnt know what the hell (s)he is doing....

geeeshhh lack of stopping power on hydraulics.... my maguras are strong enough to crush rims and bend frames... hows that for stopping power???

WINNER: Hydraulic

The v brakes shimano are the best and the more simple to use

WINNER: Vbrakes

because 1st of all disc brake can make more friction than other brakes and you are sure that it is balance because other brakes sometimes get stuck-up. and the other brake need the rim to brake but the disc brake have it's own that why there will be less that the wheels get broken and in case there is a sudden accident and the wheel get out of shape the other brake system will not work properly but disc brake they are always in normal condition.

WINNER: Disc

Like Joe below I like the tried and true FF or the GHETTO stoppers they never fade or make high pitch sounds that get the attention of other riders. For the best stopping power on the trail a good brand is Converse All Stars.

WINNER:

Racer,XC,Dh and weekend warrior.That's all me.
It's a tie for me as all these type of brakes has advantanges & disadvantages.All brakes are better than trying to stop like Fred Flintstone while downhilling.That's just plain GHETTO!

CANTILEVERS;GOOD-liteweight and when set up properly,can stop like V-brakes.BAD:Ankle clearance on small frames,packed with mud easily,cable hanger can snap and snag the knobbies on your front tire,which is not good.OUCH.Rubs when wheel out of true.Can't use new v-brake levers without adding extra gear and weight to take up cable slack.Kinda hard to find replacement brake arms when restoring that old bike.

V-BRAKES; GOOD:Easy to adjust,good stopping power,plenty of ankle and mud clearance.Can be just as light as cantilevers.Better clearance when rims out of true.Can be used on old school frames.
BAD:V-brakes may not clear older forks like the Manitou Mach 3 but will fit older shocks if you want to convert your old hardtail to v-brakes.

HYDRAULICS: Are we talking disc or cantilevers? GOOD: Good stopping power.BAD: Heavy,lots of maintanance,little space if rim is warped.

DISCS: Cable or Hydralics; GOOD:Plenty of clearance for mud and warped rims,good for water crossings,mud,can only get lighter and better as time goes by,technology has been around for a long time.
BAD: Heat warpage.A little expensive but that will come down too.
Can't use on the older steel frames unless you pay someone up the butt to weld disc tabs. :(

That's about it.

WINNER: Tie

It depends, if you want to shoot down a hil as fast as you can, disc, if you want to spin with you kids v, if you want to add the expenxe of hydraulics, with out the added benifit of the disc attached well....

WINNER: Tie

V brakes are the best cuz they give you the msot bang for your buck

WINNER: Vbrakes

Just compare by technologies and braking power, disc brakes win. No question about it.

WINNER: Disc

disc brakes are the best

WINNER: Hydraulic

Give me a break!There are no comparisons to disc brakes.

WINNER:

Based on http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/disk_and_quick_release/index.html it seems that disk brakes can make your front wheel fall off!

I don't think I would be getting disk brakes for a little while!

V brakes are:
* Lighter
* Simpler
* Been around for years
* Cheaper
* More robust
* Don't make your front wheel fall off so you don't die!

WINNER: Vbrakes

Discs look cooler, stop better, and don't rip through pads every couple of months.

WINNER: Disc

Mech Disc brakes are assanine. if you are going to get disc go with hyraulic, otherwise get some XTs or XTRs thats plenty, is cantilever really an option?

WINNER: Vbrakes

Disk Brakes Definatelly. They are better at stopping than any other brake out there.

WINNER: Disc

There is a very narrow category of people who actually NEED disk brakes, and that would be extreme DH guys and those who live in truly bad weather conditions, specifically muddy. Let me ask those of you who have disk brakes this question, what happens when you drop your bike on the trail and bend your disk? This is a bigger problem than you might think, being a bike tech I might know.

By the way, I am not completely anti-disk, the technology is simply too new, I believe it is the wave of the future and I welcome it, you just wont see it on my bike until they work out some of the bugs.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I am not familiar with the hydraulic, but between the cantilever, disk and the v brakes, I think it depends. of course you are going to get better performance from the disk, but you also get some extra weight and I hope yougot some extra cassh too. v-brakes stop you just as well, they are easy to adjust while riding and you don't have to invest a a fortune on them. the downfall is that whenever its muddy they slow you down and breaking performance is affected.
Props to disk breaks, but I'll stick to the affordable and easily adjustable v-brakes.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I ride every weekend with a small group, have done for years. Never had any ride-stopping probs with V-brakes and except when REALLY wet n muddy, dont have any probs stopping. A few of our rides have been cut short when discs leak, bend etc... that says it all for me, i dont like walking down hills or watching from the sidelines; V-brakes for me.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydraulic DISC brakes all the way. Sure they are a pain to setup, but once you are over the intial setup pains they are great!

WINNER: Hydraulic

definetly disc brakes still got the scars from when i had v brakes

WINNER: Disc

Magura rim brakes are the bogs bollocks. If you want modulated powerful stopping, without carrying a couple of extra pounds of metal around they cant be beat. Ultimately the whole lots relies on wheel traction and I can skid all round still in the wet even with muddy rims.

WINNER: Hydraulic

stick-in' ya foot on the back wheel really is the only way to go. It's light and works in the mud and wet. No adjustment and no spare pads. Can also be done on front wheel, but not both at the same time!

WINNER: Tie

Havent tried discs, but magura hydraulic rim brakes are best for me so far. can stop on a coin with very little effort, and the "on the move" pad adjuster is cool, especially in the rain.sure, they work on your rims, but as an upgrade they are cheaper than discs and you dont need new wheels. I will go for magura hydraulic discs on new bike definitely

WINNER: Hydraulic

Mechanical Disc own hands down, Hydraulics are ok but D4mn a friends had to leak and releak his hydraliks like 3 times go for dics that r mechanical not hydrulik

WINNER: Disc

This is the simplist review ever!!! The answer would have to be Disc Brakes, but why u ask, simple. I'll keep it simple it stays outa the mud not in like v's, but how do they stay out of the mud u ask. Because unless your floating in mud usually your not in mud as deep as your fork, so thats why u keep 8 inch brakes (incredible stopping power.
V brakes brake on your rim right, right. which your rim is usually in water mud sand what ever. Which means your braking is weak.
Discs, unless you wanna be a dumbass and look stupid in front of all the chicks

WINNER: Disc

Hydraulic from magura : want more ?

WINNER: Hydraulic

Obviously there are applications where disk brakes are "unnecessary", but if the question is which works best, i.e. delivers the best stopping performance, the answer is disk brakes. The rest is up to you.

WINNER: Disc

DISC Brakes

WINNER: Hydraulic

I don't do any Extream mtb but so far I love my disk braks. Makes sens, on a V block you apply preasure to the rim and you may bend it or it may fail if it's wet. Think about how fast you are going to stop your bike, igaine that the distance and force that needs to be apply to stop f fast (don't forget to have you seat lower when you go 35-50... mph and sure the classical reminder wear a healmet (I don't were one - so far, ahahahaaah). Enjoy!!!

WINNER: Disc

200lb rider+long fast descent+hair pin=melted V-brakes. V-brakes are lighter. Disc are better in all but XC racing.

WINNER: Disc

Ride flat and dry terrain V-brakes are fine. Get into the steep and wet terrain available and you NEED discs. There is no way in hell a pair of V-brakes are going to stop you when you are going down a 50 deg rock face. If you are OK with v-brakes your balls havent dropped yet!

WINNER: Disc

Disc are better for stopping on the dim.

WINNER: Disc

cantilever`s rules,,,,discs are for wimps

WINNER: Cantilever

blow cow bitch

WINNER: Hydraulic

Has to be discs, even cable are better than rim brakes, mud+rim+vbrake= no brakes

WINNER: Disc

1. Mud
2. Stopping power
3. O.K looks too

WINNER: Disc

ive realised ive made a dredful mistake , no hydraulics are not repairable in the woods and v brakes are. thankyou scot from wisconsin

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydraulic, well priced, relyable like my spelling, and damn sharp

WINNER: Hydraulic

Cantis are a pain in the ass to center properly. And this is from a guy who's a traditionalist. V-brakes: the best $50 upgrade in my opinion.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydraulic-Not repairable in the woods. Disc-Not repairable in the woods, heavy . Canti-Good ones are ok. V-Brakes-All good

WINNER: Vbrakes

V-brakes work very well. Even the less expensive ones. That is they work very well until they get wet or muddy. Discs work much better in these conditions and equally as well in dry. I don't even notice the added weight. And I definitely don't worry about wet conditions any more.

WINNER: Disc

definatly disc they don't get crap in them and once you get them set up you don't have to touch them. besides they have a lot more power.

WINNER: Disc

I have always used V-brakes, and they work flawlessly for the majority of the time. The only time they fail me is in extreme muddy conditions. That's when I wish I had disc brakes. But I could never justify buying new wheels and a new set of brakes just to make that occasional muddy ride a little easier. All I can say is that v-brakes are by far the best value, but if youre buying a new bike, keep your eyes out for something with disc already installed. but dont' limit your choices to ONLY that.

WINNER: Tie

V-brakes are sufficient for 95+ percent of all of your riding (and for most of you, suffient for 99+ percent). Disc brakes are needed for wet conditions. I have been riding since I was a kid - BMX, road, and since it's creation, MTB. V-brakes work AWESOME - except for when it is pooring down rain, and the bike is drenched - rim-pads just do not work. Some people argue that in the dry, discs add control - for me V-brakes when dry provide excellent control (provided you don't have the cheap ones). And as a response to Sammy's post: the difference between a motorcycle and DH bike is about 400lbs!!!(might I dare say "duh")

WINNER: Tie

Why do you need disc brakes? What is next, an engine? With the big suspensions and disc brakes, an engine is the only difference between bikes and motorcycles. V brakes are cheaper, more durable, lighter, and have never failed to stop me. I am not such a pansy that I think it is too hard to apply my V-brakes. You softy Disc boys need to get a little strength in your grip.

WINNER: Vbrakes

i say the avid mechanical discs rule over all! their lightweight, easy to maintain, and POWERFULL!

WINNER: Disc

I was fine on XTR Vs for 4 years until I went riding in Coed Y Brenin one weekend. I then discovered their limitations with 200lb of rider on steep, rocky trails.

New bike has Hope Minis. I feel safe again.

WINNER: Disc

stefanos a weekend warrior from new york is a bloody idiot who does not know physics even so slightly.
Stopping power = momentum = force x distance (leverage).
For the same pressure and material the further you are from the center - the larger is "stopping power".
So - it is easier to stop a wheel further from the center.
HAving said that - for a smaller rotor/rim, it is easier tolerances are better and it is easier to maintain and modulate the applied force.

I like disk front and V back.

WINNER: Tie

stefanos a weekend warrior from new york is a bloody idiot who does not know physics even so slightly.
Stopping power = momentum = force x distance (leverage).
For the same pressure and material the further you are from the center - the larger is "stopping power".
So - it is easier to stop a wheel further from the center.
HAving said that - for a smaller rotor/rim, it is easier tolerances are better and it is easier to maintain and modulate the applied force.

I like disk front and V back.

WINNER: Tie

Is this a joke? The hydraulic brakes have the most power out of them all.

WINNER: Hydraulic

Is this a joke? Avid discs have tons of stopping power at an affordable weight.

WINNER: Disc

Disc, it stops a 1000 times better.

WINNER: Disc

V brakes for my xc adventure would be more than I need to slow the bike down.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydraulic:Perfect modulation wet and dry. Think I might go with the new XTR discs if I get the chance though!!

WINNER: Hydraulic

avid mechanical discs w/ CPS, all the way. nothing comes close.

WINNER: Disc

Disk give you the best stopping power, the least modulation, and the longest life! For downhill, disks are definitely the best (If you bend a wheel a little out of true you can be pretty screwed with rim brakes.) Properly tuned V-brakes, especially higher end ones...give the same benifits as disks for a fraction of the weight. If you decide to go with the V's for racing though...stick with tradional, not hydraulic. Even though you get increased stopping power..it's not worth the weight gain!

WINNER: Vbrakes

i have 7.0 pro-max discs, they dont stop to well, not as good as vees but i still like them and i dont know why. all you vee fans out there think vees stop better, they do!. its a personal thing, discs give you a better braking feeling plus they look really cool.

WINNER: Disc

only way to go

WINNER: Disc

discs are better than any other brake they stop so much faster, don't get covered in mud like regular brakes and need much less adjusting then other brakes

WINNER: Disc

v's are nice, but once I rode disc I was hooked. They stop way faster and you dont have to squeeze as hard and that saves your hands on long descents.

WINNER: Disc

because it is able to stand up to the sudden stopping better than the others

WINNER: Cantilever

Brakes, now there's an interesting concept.

WINNER:

Magura HS 11, 33, 66- not eficient, brakes badly.
Cantilever- you can`t put a shock.
Disc- heavy, brakes easily.
V-brakes- durable, light, eficient.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I have had very good experinces with both of them that is disk and v's
and not that many with the others

WINNER: Disc

Discs - no contest.
I ride a disc up front (Grimeca System 8) with an XT V brake on the rear.

WINNER: Disc

Disk brakes rule

WINNER: Disc

discs are good for everything. plus the physics of dic brakes make more sense. why do they have so much massive stopping power? cuz the disc is closer to the hub of the wheel, the farther in u go the slower the wheel is spinng. v brakes and taht crap gota grab the faster moving part of the rim. and it takes more time and strength to stop the fastest part.

WINNER: Disc

as long as you aren't tearing up the DH, v-brakes work just perfectly. Spend maybe $20 on some Kool Stop pads for those v brakes, make sure they're properly adjusted, and you shouldn't have any mud or water problems. I've crossed streams and been able to lock my rear wheel no problem, not to metnion properly adjusted v brakes have great modulation. One of the downside to the v brakes though, the brakes will wear into some rims.

WINNER: Vbrakes

i like v brakes

WINNER: Vbrakes

Ever go into a rock garden, bend a pad on a V brake and go home early?

WINNER: Vbrakes

duh....

avid dropped the bomb with their cable BB disc. hands down winner.

WINNER: Disc

stop faster

WINNER: Disc

hidraulic. i have magura hs 33. perfect brakes.discs are to heavy but ok.

WINNER: Hydraulic

v-brakes, because then u don't have 2 expensive sides, and as well if set up properly work just as well as disc, except under wet conditions.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Who needs brakes, they just slowed me down

WINNER:

Ummmm is there really even a comparison here. Disc brakes dominate period. Go get yourself a nice set of Hayes....

WINNER: Disc

Hydraulic , Fitted a set to my Kona Kiluea in 1994 , They still work like new and have never needed fixing or bleeding.

WINNER: Hydraulic

My favourite is hydraulic brakes. They makes you stop on the double if you have to. No problem with wire maintenance.

WINNER: Hydraulic

Disk brakes are good for: Downhill, making your bike look cool, spending money, adding too much weight to your bike, helping you forget that you are out of shape and have a small penis, and finally, attracting posers to the sport who view a bike as a fashion statement.

Vbrakes are good for: Stopping your bike.

STFU and ride. Don't assume something is good because thats what the industry wants you to think. Don't settle for shoddy product designs and pay a premium for them, only to be outdated when the new models come out. (New model being defined as having a new decal and cooler name.)

STFU and ride.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I'd have to say it's tie between all of them. I'm 13 and wiegh 100lbs so of course I'm gonna go with brakes. It just all depends on your riding style and wieght. If you ride downhill and way 250, you are gonna want some discs. People like me who ride more dowhill/xc and only wiegh 100lbs should go with the v's.

WINNER: Tie

For all you V-Brake guys there are cable-actuated disks now. Stopping power rivals all but the best hydraulic systems with the only difference being in 'feel'. Though I like my V-brake set-up on my XC bike I'm going to switch over to disc pretty soon just like the 2 DH bikes I have. V-brakes work well when it's dry and your rims are true but once the water and mud fly and a rim is untrue the V-Brakes performance suffers dramatically. V-brakes suck going fast downhill so I switched to disc. No more brake fade.

WINNER: Disc

This one's too easy (but I'm an XC, not DH guy):

In thousands of hard XC miles, I've never had a complaint about the stopping power of quality, well-tuned V-brakes.

For entertainment, I read the "Brake Time" message board, where you see disc terms like: bleeding, bending, bursting, warping, loosening, vibrating...

The only verb I associate with my V-brakes is "riding".

WINNER: Vbrakes

Hydrolic!!!!! Bingo!!!! Hello!!!! wakie wakie people who buy v brakes !!!!

WINNER: Hydraulic

We all know disc brakes are better. Ryan Leech even uses a front disk brake on his trials bike. More power. mud has no effect on it. Are gettting cheaper and lighter.y wouldn't you get disks

WINNER: Disc

For easy trail repair, go with cable discs. Hydraulics reliable? I've got HS-33s, and I've had to finish trail rides on just my front brake 3 different times (broken cross-over tube), and finished another ride with no brakes at all (broken cross-over + bent rim). They're great when they work, but a little kick from your heal can ruin a great ride.

WINNER: Disc

Disk brakes are the only way to go if only for the fact that you don't have to worry about your rim being true.

WINNER: Disc

If you dont have discs, then save up your cash and get them. There is no argument. Discs stop you in time every time.

WINNER:

During a race you typically don't have a pressing need to stop in 2 millimeters so v-brakes work fine and weigh less. not to mention they are cheap and easy to maintain.

WINNER: Vbrakes

hydraulic disk brakes kick a$$

WINNER: Disc

Hmmm...

Cantis
Pro: cheap, powerful, much room b/w pad and rim, easy to fix, pimp-ass levers out there going for cheap
Con: lower mechanical advantage levers than Vees make cantis seem wimpy, but real wimps are your fingers. A long day of descending will give you hand cramps, no doubt.
Verdict: perfect for touring or riding far from civilisation

Vees
Pro: Light, powerful, high mech adv levers mean less fatigue than with cantis, cheap, field repairable with a $1 spare cable
Con: pad-rim clearance is unforgiving...you need strong wheels that you can true in the field (this isn't really a con), I've heard that certain thin walled rims get worn through by V-brakes...scary
Verdict: Perfect for the average mt. biker or the weight weenie

Discs (I admit I have never ridden discs on a mtb)
Pro: Wet conditions don't affect these guys, pimpy, more powerful than Vees? Are we all sure about this?
Con: $$$, heavy, thief magnet. What happens when you bend the rotor? What happens when you shear off the mounting brackets? What happens if you bust a hydraulic line?
Verdict: Great for mtb'ing in slop or mtb'ing with a sag-wagon. I guess 6 million screaming DHers can't be wrong, either

Hydros
Pro: I love these, they are the brakes to beat for sheer stop on a dime power (check out the trial bikes out there), decent pad-rim clearance
Con: A headache to keep functioning properly, it seems. Heavy and $$$ compared to Vees. And we all know what happens when a hydro line fails...you walk
Verdict: Trialsers and mtb'ers with very good luck

My pick for XC mtb'ing without a sag-wagon...the Vee. Save money, save weight, duck trends, and most importantly RIDE HOME.

WINNER: Vbrakes

V- Brakes are much simpler than disc brakes.

WINNER: Vbrakes

v-brakes are great if they brake its ssooooo easy to fix em every thing is cheap the only probs ae truin wheels and crap but if you have a decent wheel build your sorted. there just as powerful as discs but if your sad and ride in the rain there not gonna be as good. sack the disc save up for a decent wheel build its much cheaper and if you run v-brakes your bike is less likely to get robbed. as for hydraulics there powerful but dont offer you the feel of the disc but if you use them for trials who care's about feel, any way they are cheaper than discs and better thatn v's.

WINNER: Hydraulic

With the prices having come down to a realistic level and the performance being beyond awsome (even if you only ride in dry climates)there is no choice but discs.
Get with the 21st century, get discs.

WINNER: Disc

Whoa! They still make V Brakes? You guys and gals must not be rich like me! Oh well, gotta strap my $7000 mountain bike on my Lamborgini SUV and go riding with you peasants.

WINNER: Vbrakes

Brakes! I don't need no stink'in brakes!I just wod it up at the bottom.

WINNER:

Discs are the only thing that will stop heavy riders on steep and/or long downhills.
I use Grimeca System 8 (same as Shimano XT and SRAM) hydraulics, my brother uses Hayes HMX-1 mechanicals. We both weight ca. 105 kg each, so good brakes are important.

Longer break-in period then Vs, but then you can forget about them untill you have to change the pads. Hydraulics are more comfortable then cable actuated, but both work reasonalby fine (although there are big differences between models). If you have hydraulic discs you also have to bleed them or have them bled before you use them for the first time, after that you can normally forget about them.

Using Vs I usually lost almost all breaking power after a few 100 meters of downhill, and occasionally blew a tube because of the heat generated.
No such problems with discs, although I would still prefer a 200mm rotor in front, but I have to get a QR20 fork for it.

WINNER: Disc

In arizona theris not much rain or mud for that matter, and i dont like the fact that on some disk breaks if you hit the break to hard it will lock up completely. I think that disk breaks are over rated and i know that v-breaks are good enough for even the best riders

WINNER: Vbrakes

v brakes with ceramic rims break 98% of the discs at about 1/2 the weight penalty. Then again, I don't ride in too much mud and rain. Canti's for cyclocross.

WINNER: Vbrakes

I sticks my foot between fork and tire. Stop good.

WINNER: Tie

disc brake are the only working brakes,besides other ones that work.thank you go discs you **** heads

WINNER: Disc

after half of year XT disk on a both usind, I've put my ass on V-breake bike ....never, never..again , disk rules only..
//by the way when my first disk after V, I didnt understant in at once, may be after first weak I've finished regret about spent money//

WINNER: Disc

Disc Brakes give me the clear feeling

WINNER: Disc

discs kick ass

WINNER: Disc

disc is t he obvious answer because i ride on magura louise hydraulic disc brakes and there is no substitute. The braking power is immense and the feel is just great.

WINNER: Disc

discs have pure stopping power over all types

WINNER: Disc

Disc brakes all the way.. soooo much stopping power even when crossing rivers and creeks...

WINNER: Disc

disc brakes all the way

WINNER: Disc

Disks for excellent braking away from the rim but a stronger wheel build required and the disk systems are heavier.
linier pulls affetced by rim dents and wear the rims out but are very light and work very well.
Down hill/freeride/poser disk
XC race linier pull
your choise

WINNER: Tie

disc brakes are the way to go. stops on a dime and does not hurt your rim if you bent it. brake to the disc.

WINNER: Disc

I think its all about money and looking cool!! I ride a top Kona and Cannondale. The Kona has a AVid Mec on the front strapped to "Sids". The rear is a XT V. The Cannondale has new "Hope" mini's front and rear.
I have a lot of touring (MTB) experience. The Hopes are "Trick" and have the backing of one of the best companies in the game.They are great. But I prefer the feel of the avids and find tha avids so easy to set up ..even George Bush could do it!! The XT V brake is what I would use on the back if I was touring. I would take the Avid for the front. Less problems from damage etc. leave a bike for 2 mins in a African village and watch them Pull/twist/push everything on the bike!!

But I hate the "Talk" of which is better... Come on guys "Chill out" and ride.

London Luke

WINNER: Tie

my 2nd bike has an avid cps disc brake while my other bike has avid 2.5. i can stop on one finger with my avid disc so does my 2.5. a descent disk brake has actually no advantage over a good pair of v's in terms of power and i can testity to that. i've tried hydro xt disc and power is as good as my 2.5's and avid but has a very nice feel squeezing the lever. In hydro's squeezing the lever requires small energy input and has higher energy output. unless you can justify paying 10x more just for the feel then buy hydro disc. and if your finger is too lousy to squeeze those brake levers using v's.

advantage of disc over v's:
don't have to true your wheels
riding deep in mud is not an issue
rim saver
feel
you can use size 24 wheel

advantage of v's over disc:
cheap
doesn't bust crash after crash

5.5/10 for V and 4.5/10 for disc.

WINNER: Tie

it has to be disk they look better plus u don't have to replace the pads every month stop like whooa stop the same in any condion

WINNER: Disc

What is wrong with you people?
Cantilevers - no stopping power
hydraulic - look stupid

Disc or V all the way. just depends on your riding style

WINNER: Tie

Brakes Suck. I don't have em on my bike.

WINNER: Tie

If they continue to drop the weight and maintain the quality on the discs then it wouldnt be an argument for me not to install them for use on pavement.

take it easy
bullet

currently on a pair of XTR V`s-

WINNER: Disc

i cant belive that they even have cantilever brakes on this page. they suck. disk brakes stop miles before any other brake

WINNER: Disc

Hydro's of any sort, and mech. disk's provide better braking in all weather condition. This is not to knock v-brakes and such, they where there before disk's.

WINNER: Disc

the disc brakes stop much faster than all the others they are much better

WINNER: Disc

Magura HS33=Fit and forget/works 100% of the time TOTALLY reliable.With ceramic rims they`re as good as ANY XC bike will ever need.What next? Anti lock brakes?

WINNER: Hydraulic

V-brakes, light, dont stop abruptly and cost way less. Good value for your money

WINNER: Vbrakes

brakes are overrated....i'll just use my feet. fred flinstone style, thats where its at.

WINNER:

My last bike had old-school cantalivers; I hated them. I just bought a new go-fast bike with V-brakes. WOW, what a difference. Anyone want to sponsor me so I can upgrade rims to disks?

WINNER: Disc

You can't go wraong with discs, especially Hope!(a hundred times better than hayes)
Vs and hydraulic rim brakes are decent too, but they are not as powerful and thet wear out rims.
Cantis are shit.

WINNER: Disc

Its so easy to lock up the wheels with properly setup V's. How much more can you "stop" if your wheels are already locked and sliding?!? The real question is about feel and modulation. I prefer the wheight savings of linear pulls. Shimano XTR's kick and untill I get into DH or mud racing, I don't see myself going disc.

WINNER: Vbrakes

there is only one brake....the best bar none .....hope m4 or any other hope brake ...the rest are just rubbish.

WINNER: Disc

STOP! In the name of discs...small joke......

Awesome stopping power, if you have the right disc brakes. Get Hayes!

This statement goes for V-brakes as well. I own a Shimano LX front and it is pretty descent. But get a XTR OR better.

WINNER: Disc

I think Disc makes the bike look better and it get better grip with the brake.

WINNER: Disc

mech discs are great for dh, but for XC... rim brakes!

i'm