Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I upgraded to these brakes from BB5s and the improvement is amazing. For those looking at both, the 20 or so extra dollars per brake gets you:
- Slightly less weight (20-30g) per brake
- Finger-click adjustments for both pads (the BB5s only support finger-click adjustment for the inner pad)
- And the big difference: Larger, more-effective pads
Most agree that the hardest part of installing mechanical disc brakes is getting them "dialed in" so that the pads and rotor are aligned. The BB7s make this process simple, allowing me to get perfect alignment on both front and back on my first attempt.
Thanks to the pad adjustments on both sides, its easy to adjust these brakes perfectly and get the type of modulation you are looking for. I have cheap (but nice) Avid FR-5 levers and have successfully tweaked them to start light-engagement after a quarter inch of pull, with zero rotor scrape when they are not engaged.
As for the power, it took me a few hard stops to "bed in" the pads (I also had some screeching during the bed in). After that, the brakes settled into silent powerhouses with a huge modulation curve and enough power to easily lock both wheels if I grab them with any kind of force.
I was looking at hydros for a while but am very happy I went with these. Top-end Hydros still claim the crown for extreme circumstances but these brakes are just as effective for practically any application; boasting a much nicer price and easier maintenance.
August 2010 Update:
I've had these for 10 months now and 2000+ miles. They have now been through a Pacific Northwest winter with nearly daily rain.
These brakes are awesome, they still stop the bike as confidently as when they were new and have required no maintenance. Every couple of months I just click each adjustment dial one tick and that is it!
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Avid BB7 MTB Mechanical Bicycle Disc Brake (160mm, Graphite, Front or Rear)Mtn version for use with linear pull brake levers (sold separately). Tri-Align Caliper Positioning System (CPS) for easy caliper/rotor alignment. Redesigned, sleeker body with a fully sealed Ball Bearing mechanism and integrated cable stop . Dual pad adjuster knobs and full pad retraction for drag free setup . Tool-free pad adjustment and replacement (same pads as Juicy-7/5). Includes: post mount (74mm) caliper with International-Standard (51mm) fork and frame adapters, Roundagon 6-bolt/44mm-BCD rotor, and pads. Updated kitting fits front or rear applications (sold individually). Features: Designed to be used with linear pull brake levers
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