nashbar mechanical disc brake system

[puffdc]

has anyone ever used this system?
the price is so intriguing but most likely crappy?

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...20ATB%20Brakes

[DeeEight]

They're just some tektro mechanicals relabled as Nashbars.

[RSabarese]

I've used them several times and with levers, cables, adapters they're a decent deal. However, now that the prices of BB7's have come down, they are less attractive.

They do take a while to bed in and off OK stopping power as well as cheap replacement pads from Nashbar.

[Chris130]

puffdc,

There's rarely much consensus about anything on the boards here, but one thing most folks will agree to is that if you are going to go mechanical for discs, don't look at anything but Avid's BB7 (old or new). They may not be THE cheapest mechs out there, but they can be found for pretty darn cheap, and are as hassle-free as mechs get.

Cheers, Chris

[DeeEight]

I've had good results from multiple sets of BB5s so I dunno why there's such a blind devotion for the still pricier BB7s.

[comptiger5000]

BB7s are more adjustable, and more proven over time.

[Borgschulze]

Hayes MX-2's work pretty good, just have to spend a little time to set them up properly.

Not sure how much MX-2's cost, but if the Avid BB7 is around the same price, get that instead.

[Chris130]

I've had good results from multiple sets of BB5s so I dunno why there's such a blind devotion for the still pricier BB7s.

I'd say for the price difference, what seals the deal for BB7s over BB5s is the increased adjustability along with being able to use any Juicy pad (more choices). Both the 5 and the 7 are fine, time-tested designs - no doubt.

Cheers, Chris

[flow350]

Chris 130 nailed it. The BB7s are prefered over the BB5s for the pads and adjustability. There is also more contact area with the BB7s==more modulation.

I have not set-up any of the 'Nashbar' branded brakes, but they do seem to be the same as the Tektros judging by the pictures. I have to say that I am not a fan of anything Tektro, especially their mechanical discs. I have installed quite a few of them, and every setup is different and every disc has been warped. Avids discs are usually warped as well, but at least setting up the Avids is very consistent. Shimano's discs are almost always perfectly straight out of the box.

[DeeEight]

BB7s are more adjustable, and more proven over time.

How exactly are they more adjustable ?!? They have a moving piston with an adjustment screw and a fixed piston with an adjustment screw, just like the BB5s. Using a thumb-wheel instead of an allen wrench to move the adjustment doesn't magically make them "more adjustable". It just makes them more expensive.

[jcaino]

How exactly are they more adjustable ?!? They have a moving piston with an adjustment screw and a fixed piston with an adjustment screw, just like the BB5s. Using a thumb-wheel instead of an allen wrench to move the adjustment doesn't magically make them "more adjustable". It just makes them more expensive.

you can adjust the inner and outer pads independently of each other, whereas with the bb5 to properly adjust it, you need to realign the cps mounts since you can only adjust the one side...

also, the pads for the bb5 are unique, while the bb7's use the same pads as the rest of the avid line...and there are also aftermarket options as well - not so for the bb5

[puffdc]

ditto on the tektros...i ordered the bb7's last night 185mm front & 160mm rear.

[bigpedaler]

What sets the BB7 above the BB5 is the larger pad surface area; DeeEight is correct, the BB7's inner adjustment wheel is no different from the allen adjustment on the 5. Neither has an advantage over the other for caliper alignment. BOTH have a fixed inner side and a movable outer. There is ONE mechanical disc brake system that has movable pad surfaces on both sides, the IRD Double Banger -- and they don't rate better than anything Avid, either.

What makes mechanical disc adjustment successful is being 1% smarter than the component.