New Bike

[SteveG]

I'm thinking of getting a new bike to use but as normal I'm awkward and don't want exactly what in the shops.
I'm after a freestyle bike, (just old school stuff) and it has to have good brakes.
What I am wondering is what is better, a U brake or V brake. I haven't had anything with a U brake on it and looking at what on offer locally the U brakes don't seem that much better than well set up MX 1000's.

The only bikes I can see that use V brakes are some really nasty ones in Halfords (can't remember the name) or an entry level GT which is on special offer. This actually looks quite a reasonable bike for the money. I realise that cheap isn't best but cheap is all it's going to be.
The next thing I want to do is get a coaster brake for it.

Can anyone give any advice about the brakes please.

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  Both u and v brakes are way better than calipers,but a lot of it depends on how well the brake is set up in the first place.Stay away from Halfrauds,they`ve not a clue about bikes & GT  now are not the company of old.
Why not consider a mid-school bike,a lot of these have u-brake lugs.V-brakes on a freestyle frame often indicate that it`s a POS.Have alook round the museum section and the mid school section on here and see what appeals to you.Loads of peeps on here happy to advise...

[TwoBobRob]

what he said   

If you can deal with the weight issue, a Standard Shorty or Lengthy would be right up your street - little platform, AD lugs and a coaster bracket. Jobs a good 'un   

[SteveG]

Thanks for the advice I will keep an eye out to see what comes up on ebay.

My thinking behind the GT was that they are available for £130 and are pretty much the only frame I have seen with V brake mounts. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_512557_langId_-1_categoryId_205251

It's set up to be a race/dirt style bike and isn't very heavy duty but it does look quite well made and compairable with say a Redline MX2 frame for example.

My Ripper is still my favourite bike it just hasn't got good enough brakes.

Another problem with my plan is getting a coaster brake hub with the right number of spoke holes to suit the wheels.

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  TBH,the GT is a POS.Plenty of late 90s/early 00 Performers/Vertigos pop up all the time and you`d get one complete for not much.Or ask on here and see what comes along.

[SteveG]

Ok thanks
I'm not in the slightest bit fussed what meke it is really as I don't want to become that attached to it. Just after something cheap I can have a potter about on really.

Looking at a few slightly higher price bikes they only have rear U brake mounts and a cheap caliper on the front. I suppose I might get lucky and find something secondhand, will have to keep looking.

As I said I am just awkward 

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  Keep looking,you don`t have to spend loads to get something half decent.Also how tall are you? Toptube length plays a big part in how a bike feels/handles.

http://www.cyclesportuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1735&osCsid=onj58ep4e58grpi5r8bns109l7


http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=8499


 

[SteveG]

I'm about 5ft 9. Trouble is with those bikes is that one doesn't have a front brake the other is only a caliper.

Admittedly the caliper will probably be better than a 35 year old MX 1000 and the similar age tuff pads and Skyways but I'm after something better having been spoilt with good quality V brakes and discs.

It's worth keeping an eye out at the moment as this years range will be sold off a bit cheaper at a lot of places. Local bike shop has a few bikes with big reductions by again V or U brake on the back and a caliper on the front. These bikes hadn't been built up very well and the brakes felt awful.

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  The caliper brakes up front are only really to comply with safety laws & they`re crap.Front brakes are seen as a bit of a speciality,not really in vogue at the moment so you don`t see many bikes with them on.You can always buy a bolt -on u brake plate.As you say,many 09 bikes will be  discounted.Oh,and a frame with a 20.75-21"+ toptube is probably your best bet for a rider.Sorry to go on,I just hate seeing peeps ending up with a cack bike when they could`ve got something good for less.Try Stodgy at rhe RADshop for great advice and service.

[SteveG]

No worries, thanks for your help.
I've been looking at forks on Alans website and you can get some with brake mounts but they aren't cheap.

Going back to Halfords they were selling off a few returned bikes. They have a no name nasty for £20 with V brakes on it. When you pull the brakes on the frame moves as much as the brake itself !
The guy selling there though it was in pretty good nick, I've seen better at the dump !

[gobshite]

tbh, the rear brake on my tonic fab fall guy flexes the stays and they're massive,

dont get too hung up on the v-brake, a modern properly dialled U-brake will work just as well, if not more so,

and a v-brake on the front looks messy to me,

keep checking on e-bay for a set of forks with ad mounts, i saw a standard bykes pair on the last week for like £20/£30, seriously cheap for such a quality fork,

theyre just not trendy atm so they usually go cheap,

[TwoBobRob]

f you just want a decent cheap bike, then pm Lara xchainxofxstrengthx and buy her GT Bump. It's got some nice bits on it and rides a treat.  It would need front forks with AD lugs, but the Colony forks that are on it are decent things that you'd probably swap without a problem.

Otherwise, I have a crome Haro here mostly complete (needs cranks) from the midschool which has front and rear u brakes.