Best 6" Brakes for a Giant VT2

[Serial Midget]

I have a friend who is about to buy a Giant VT, these are his brake choices. I lean heavily towards the Avids but I'm pretty much drunk all the time.

For reliability and power... which one?

Thanks in advance. Eggnog will make you fat.

BTW - these are his only choices. Buying the bike stock.

[fasterTHANyou]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
I have a friend who is about to buy a Giant VT, these are his brake choices. I lean heavily towards the Avids but I'm pretty much drunk all the time.

For reliability and power... which one?

Thanks in advance. Eggnog will make you fat.

BTW - these are his only choices. Buying the bike stock.

uhhh... what are the choices?

edit: my IQ is like 50 on a good day... i see now, its a POLL, a POLL!

get the avids

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by fasterTHANyou
uhhh... what are the choices?

edit: my IQ is like 50 on a good day... i see now, its a POLL, a POLL!

get the avids

I agree but you need to vote. :)

The choice is between the 03 and 04 model VT2... I lean towards the 03 spec myself. Price is about the same.

[fasterTHANyou]

voted... what are the main differences in spec?

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by fasterTHANyou
voted... what are the main differences in spec?

03 Avid Mechs and Phylo fork.

04 Hayes and Manitou Minute One

2004 VT2 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8841&range=156&model=10801)

2003 VT2 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8817&range=112&model=10663)

[mtnbikerdude87]

I second the Avid disc (and I voted too). It has the best modulation IMHO. I have a pair on my Giant NRS 2 and they havent failed on me (knock on wood). Plus with the right levers, I have the Avid SD-5, it works perfect. The CPS and the red knobs are very helpful too!!!

Good excuse for some Avid Porn!!!


Front:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/P6140030.jpg


Rear:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/P6140029l.jpg


-mtnbikerdude87 (who needs hydros anyways.......)

[rockracing]

I've got avids (oem) with 165mm rotors, what size rotors do the new aftermarket ones now have 165 or 160mm ?

(sorry for hijacking, go avids dude !)

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by rockracing
I've got avids (oem) with 165mm rotors, what size rotors do the new aftermarket ones now have 165 or 160mm ?

(sorry for hijacking, go avids dude !)

I don't know, I run 185s.

[MMcG]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
03 Avid Mechs and Phylo fork.

04 Hayes and Manitou Minute One

2004 VT2 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8841&range=156&model=10801)

2003 VT2 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8817&range=112&model=10663)

The better fork - Minute - outweighs the Avids vs. Hayes debate!

[Serial Midget]

How so... no one seems to have ridden one... :confused:

[MMcG]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
How so... no one seems to have ridden one... :confused:

Because I've been on a Psylo for a year now and it's decent to good, but not great.

Feedback from Balfa - I rep for them - is that the Minute forks are really really good and work really well!

I just ordered a Minute 3 through them for my Balfa Belair.

also the Minute will give him SPV front and rear which should make the bike feel much more balanced suspension-wise.

And the Minute 1 gives him travel adjust just like the Psylo.

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Originally posted by MMcG
The better fork - Minute - outweighs the Avids vs. Hayes debate!

You can't go wrong with Hayes. I have them on both my bikes. You never mentioned price, so I am assuming that is not an issue. Dollar for Dollar the Avid's are right there, but if you can afford to go Hydraulic they are the way to go.

I mean check out this thread
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=70183

Not one bad thing to say about them in the entire thread. Not many parts will last 3+ years on a MTB, but Hayes' do.

You get the newer bike, an assumed better fork, and Hydraulic brakes compared to cable... Sounds like an easy choice to me.

[Serial Midget]

I think there is a $300.00 price difference between the years. Plus he can get a slightly better deal off MSRP on the 03 model.

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
I think there is a $300.00 price difference between the years. Plus he can get a slightly better deal off MSRP on the 03 model.

Well that makes the outright choice a little tougher. However the Hayes are just superior brakes maybe not by a huge margain especially if you factor in price. I live in Flat ass South Florida, where total stopping power is not the biggest concern. (it is when I go to NC, CO, Utah). I would also take into consideration the terrain and weather he is going to be riding in. Lots of wet/rain/mud? If so there is less maintenance on a Hydraulic brake since you dont have to worry about cable stretch, and gook getting in your cables. If he is a maintenance freak, probably not an issue, but if he is a get on it and ride kind of guy something he may want to consider. If you didnt read that post I linked, I had a pair on my Fisher Sugar that I purchased in 2/01, that I never touched, except for replacing pads for over 5000 miles. (no it was not a commuter bike)

[JRogers]

I vote Hayes. I like their brakes better, having owned Mags, HFX-9s and Avid Discs. But, for me, the fork is the real kicker. Also, slight upgrades on small parts (cranks, hubs).

[special O]

id go for the minute

i have an 03 vt1, the brakes work fine (hayes), i ditched the psylo in like a month and it was the best decision ever. (got a z1 fr sl)

[SuspectDevice]

get the '04 and sell the brakes for avids, hopes or Hayes Mags... the 9's totally suck ass in my experience with them.

I am now a proud minute owner. My minute 2 weigh 3.4 pounds with a cut steerer. As soon as my Patriot shows up and I have dirt to ride on i'll giver a review

[MikeD]

Originally posted by Mtb_Rob_FL
You can't go wrong with Hayes.

Yes, you can. HFX-9s are total pieces of sh1t. For chrissake, they have a friction-fit master cylinder cap!!!! That's just poor design. Couple it with a fragile and flexy lever body and a poor record for reliability, and you have a giant mess. HFX-Mags, on the other hand...supremely good brakes. But we're not talking about those.

I'd *still* get the 04 model with the better fork. Midge, I've ridden a Minute and it's worlds ahead of a psylo.

Then I'd trade or sell the HFX-9s and throw in some of my own cash for some Avids, Hayes Mags, or Hope Minis.

MD

[Skookum]

Get the 2004 cuz of the fork. The psylo is pretty flexy. Besides the argument of brakes won't be much of a factor because they are both cable actuated crap, that if your pal rides in mud, will make him upgrade to something hydraulic eventually anyway......
besides the paint job on the 2004 is cooler lookin too.

[Serial Midget]

He bought the 03... :rolleyes: His last mountain bike purchase was a 1986 Bridgestone. He's not gonna notice the difference between the model years anyway... he even thinks my Y-22 is a sweet bike. I was just trying to be helpful to him.

Thanks for all the input.