Rear 8" hayes mag vs. Avid BB7

[rndm*dv8n]

I'm currently using an 8" Hayes mag, but am looking for another brake to add to my stable. Would the Avid be better for trials?

[trialsrider50]

avid what?

mechanical?

hyro?

bb5?

bb7?

juicy7?

avid makes a lot of brakes man.

[bouncingbabyboy]

I have heard a lot of people rave about the bb7. Hope trials is the only hydrolic disc I have heard much good about. I know some people have run Magura Louise. I am currently running the Marta which is supossed to be a step up from the louise. They are okay. I have Hayse on my mountain bike. Not so hot for trials.

[trialsrider50]

ha, i didn't even look that the title say's Avid BB7.

for trials a bb7 will be loads better. hayes would be better on a downhill bike. the bb7 will have more of that on/off switch type of feel that is good for trials.

[chippy]

BB7 without a doubt.

[Acolyte]

If you think a BB7 has more on off power than an 8" hayes mag, I doubt whether you've used the mag on a trials bike. I ran an 8" on the front for quite some time, and it had a big ol pair of nuts. The Avid's I've previously owned worked great too, so it's not like I haven't used both either.

If you're tight on cash, buy the BB7, but there is NOTHING wrong with an 8" mag. However, if you're going to to spend $200 on a mag, just spend $225 and get a Hope.

[goose]

My 8" mags don't grip as well as my 185mm avid does. I would definitely go for an avid over a hayes for trials/street applications. Unfortunately, avid's are getting almost as pricey as hydros, so it's getting to be more of a personal preference:)

I've seen SEVERAL rides, both DH and trials ruined by torn hydro lines (magura, hayes, shimano), and two rides myself have been ended for failed hydro lines. You can fix a mechanical on the trail with few tools, and cheap parts. Such is not the same for hydro. Food for thought.

[rndm*dv8n]

Great thanks. I picked my options based brakes I already (kinda) have: 3 bikes with 8" mags (short 1 brake though) and my gf has a rear 6" Avid bb5. I'm trying to keep it simple. Based on discussions on this website I figured the bb7 would be better, but I thought I'd look for some opinions anyway.

[Acolyte]

My 8" mags don't grip as well as my 185mm avid does.

Stock pads? I had EBC Reds.

[goose]

ya, both stock pads. I prefer less biting/grippy brakes for trail/FR, so it's fine. For trials, clearly it's better to have some bite. Also, from my tests, the hayes brakes also have more pad play than my avids.

[rndm*dv8n]

For those with advice tks. This is just to let you know that it wasn't a waste of time, I went with 8" BB7s, and damn are they an improvement over Mags.

I didn't even have to buy anything. My gf's trailbike had 6" BB7s (thought maybe they were 5s but no they're 7s) and I had 8" Mags. She was complaining about "grabbiness" and I was looking for more lock-up. Both calipers are 74mm postmount, so the adapters are the same. We swapped and now we're both happy.

Not entirely true, I bought some XTR cable and Avid SD-7 levers...

[PXride]

ha, i didn't even look that the title say's Avid BB7.

for trials a bb7 will be loads better. hayes would be better on a downhill bike. the bb7 will have more of that on/off switch type of feel that is good for trials.

:werd:

[Specialeded]

BB7 are alright I am still more of a fan of hayes mech with avid levers...

That has been my most favorite setup of all the mech brakes I have ran. And I have tested quite a few different setups.

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

I have ridden BB7's and the Hayes mag. The BB7's are great for the money but I never had a single problem with the mag. My buddy still has an 8" on the front of his urban bike. I am no light guy.... I can be sitting, grab the front brake with 1 finger, and it will lock and want to throw me over the bars. Personally though.... I am going for the Hope Trials brake.