Disc Brakes that good?

[StackenBlocken]

Just a thought:
What if we all rode disc brakes from the time Gary Fisher claims to have invented the mountain bike, and rim brakes were just recently released. Shimano integrates the rim (which used to just hold the tire) with the brake track. Their STI braking claims reduced brake weight, stronger wheels because of wider hub flange spacing, elimination of the asymmetric load on the frame--thus allowing lighter weight chain and seat stays on the left side of the bike, universal fit brake pads, cheap replacement parts, trailside serviceability, stupid easy maintenance, and reduced cost. In some cases brake modulation is also improved. This braking system also receives all the attention heaped on all new mountain bike products. Give the system two or three years to mature to the level that modern linear pull brakes have achieved. What kind of brakes would you buy on your next bike?

If you want, consider that the linear pull brakes just described were out for a few years and a new rim brake was just released that had shorter arms (less flex), better mud clearance, and a wide range of adjustability--the ability to change the mechanical advantage of the brake to adjust the feel or modulation of the brake. Imagine also that these new brakes were compatible with road brake levers. Sound revolutionary? Would you buy cantis?

 

[jmitting]

I'm not a fan of disks. The performance benifit seems outweighed by the increased cost and complexity of the mechanisms. Then theres the maintainance issue compounded by the cost of pads and replacement parts. However if you must have the latest (not greatest) then at least hydros would be the choice, mechanicaly operated disks came and went on very cheap commuter motorcycles in the 1970's. Incidentally disks have been around since the early days of motorised transport, usually mounted on or around the transmission on those cars and trucks that had them.

 

[Hecubus]

Originally posted by StackenBlocken
Just a thought:
What if we all rode disc brakes from the time Gary Fisher claims to have invented the mountain bike, and rim brakes were just recently released. Shimano integrates the rim (which used to just hold the tire) with the brake track. Their STI braking claims reduced brake weight, stronger wheels because of wider hub flange spacing, elimination of the asymmetric load on the frame--thus allowing lighter weight chain and seat stays on the left side of the bike, universal fit brake pads, cheap replacement parts, trailside serviceability, stupid easy maintenance, and reduced cost. In some cases brake modulation is also improved. This braking system also receives all the attention heaped on all new mountain bike products. Give the system two or three years to mature to the level that modern linear pull brakes have achieved. What kind of brakes would you buy on your next bike?

If you want, consider that the linear pull brakes just described were out for a few years and a new rim brake was just released that had shorter arms (less flex), better mud clearance, and a wide range of adjustability--the ability to change the mechanical advantage of the brake to adjust the feel or modulation of the brake. Imagine also that these new brakes were compatible with road brake levers. Sound revolutionary? Would you buy cantis?

Your not the first to come up with this scenario, it has been beated to death many a times. You can toss around as much marketing as you want but if something is **** it will eventually be recognized as such. V's inferiority would not be that hard to discover once you ride on wet and mud, down a long downhill, with the on/off feel and lack of modulation, the much higher lever force required to achieve the same stopping power, lets see, shall I go on? Oh, and mechanical brakes have come a LOOOONG way since those early lousy ones. Discs are only seem more mechanically complex and troublesome to those who don't use them. go figure. Most people who ride them and install them properly its a fire and forget situation, no maintenance required for years. V's require constant housing cleaning, cable and pad replacements, even rim replacements. Not such a big deal with discs as the pads last several times longer, bleeding is only recommended anywhere from 2-4 years.