Brakes

[adam68]

Can anyone tell me why 99% of free stye bikes dont use the v type of brakes when there so much better???

[JT71]

define better?

aren't V's more off and on, than say a 990? therefore someone with the right skills could use 990 more for very slight and precise feathering of the brake, for example
when doing manuals that wouldn't be so good with a V?

I could be completely wrong though.

[adam68]

See what you mean, I am used to v's and discs on mountain bikes. Maybe i need to inprove my skills....

[JT71]

oh and my 990s stop real good. set-up is key. twobobrob showed me the way!

[telelogic]

Can't use a gyro with a V brake!

[TwoBobRob]

I always assumed it was because it was tricky to route the cable for a v brake, and generally they were an awkward shape and size for chainstay mounting.

I'd not thought of the obvious gyro reason..... 


As JT71 said though, get it set up properly and there's no reason why it won't work just fine on a 20 inch wheel   

[madmike-bmx]

Can't use a gyro with a V brake!

yes u can mate .... i got some old shit halford bike in the garden and it has v brakes and a gyro

[SteveG]

I had a look round at what was on offer and the v brakes on a lot of cheap BMX bikes are only 2/3 the length of standard mountain bike ones.
I ended up buying a GT bike with u brakes which was on sale at the time. A lot of bikes only have the mounts on the back for a u brake and just have a standard caliper.

[christhejob]

Can't use a gyro with a V brake!

yes u can mate .... i got some old shit halford bike in the garden and it has v brakes and a gyro

shit halford bike

i rest my case.. you ever seen a kid on one of those shit bikes with brakes that work???

v brakes would never hold up to proper freestyle u brake use!!

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  One of the local kids has a cheapo "freestyle" bike,alloy frame,v-brake on the chainstays (WTF)  & the noodle is massive and gets ripped off by the crank arm every time he pedals.

[magna13]

AD990's rule and yes set-up is the key to this brake

[pickle]

no Zak...AD999 Rule 

 

[magna13]

  not this again... cough... AD990 cough...

[Dark Diggler]

hows about Magura's on v mounts with a hydraulic gyro....just for balance 

[TwoBobRob]

I set those up (or summat very similar) on a mates bike back in the 90s. No gyro mind, but hydros on v mounts.

They were crap.  No feel whatsoever - on/off and that's yer lot.

I have an AD999 on the back of my new bike. It looks cool, and is a nice bit of kit, but I can't say in all honesty it works any better than a good 'ole 990. But then, I can set them up, so it should bloody work, I never had any complaints with 990s.

For the money, you can't beat a Hombre. Throw those green pads away (unless you're using them on the front), stick on some slightly softer pads and you're good to go. Should cost you less than a score all in.   Happy days   
 

[adam68]

I set those up (or summat very similar) on a mates bike back in the 90s. No gyro mind, but hydros on v mounts.

They were crap.  No feel whatsoever - on/off and that's yer lot.

I have an AD999 on the back of my new bike. It looks cool, and is a nice bit of kit, but I can't say in all honesty it works any better than a good 'ole 990. But then, I can set them up, so it should bloody work, I never had any complaints with 990s.

For the money, you can't beat a Hombre. Throw those green pads away (unless you're using them on the front), stick on some slightly softer pads and you're good to go. Should cost you less than a score all in.   Happy days   

What are the best soft pads to get?
 

[TwoBobRob]

You'll get a hundred different answers to that one....   I got good results from a cheap set of Clarks blocks out of Halfrauds. About £6 the pair, plain black. Be sure to deglaze them nicely on a bit of sandpaper or concrete floor before you fit 'em.

If you're having trouble setting your u brake up, let me know and I'll knock up a little how-to vid over the hols