Avid BB7 Road Disc Brakes

[Paul99]

I've currently got a Focus Mares cyclocross bike for my commuting duties and it has got Tektro Lyra disc brakes.

To be honest i'm a bit underwhelmed with the stopping power, and am thinking of upgrading to Avid BB7's as the reviews all seem to be pretty positive.

Can anybody tell me what I need to buy besides the caliper and rotors? Do I need new cabling? Are my Tiagra levers compatible?

And do I need a degree in engineering to do the swap?

Cheers in advance for your help.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

So long as you get BB7 road version calipers, grey NOT black, they will work fine with your Tiagra levers (I run mine with Sora).

I think they work better with good quality outers run full length.

 

[Paul99]

Many thanks GC. I'll keep an eye on the sales then.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Many thanks GC. I'll keep an eye on the sales then.

I was able to get both Avid full metal jackets and flak jackets in a sale when I put road BB7's on my tourer to replace BB5's. I also have goodridge cable on another BB7 setup.

 

[Andy_R]

Avid recommend using non compressable outer cables (similar in construction to gear cable outers) instead of standard outers. As Greg said, full metal or flak jacket outers. I got flak jacket outers for my BB7s, and once they've bedded in, they're really good brakes.

 

[potsy]

Been looking at upgrading my BB5' for to these too, am sure the prices have gone up since I last looked, any bargains about?
Noticed CRC doing them without a rotor for £60+ surely there has to be better out there?

I'll probably just upgrade the front for now as I tend to use that almost exclusively on the CX.

 

[MrJamie]

I really like mine - stopping power is awesome in the wet, although they are the MTB version as my hybrid had vbrakes before Im not much better than Homer Simpson with DIY and found them quite easy to install. I got mine from bike-discount.de, about £45 each with rotors. 160mm road here > http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k496/a71588/bb7-road-mechanical-disc-brake-160mm.html and http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k497/a71588/bb7-road-mechanical-disc-brake-160mm.html (front and rear links)

 

[potsy]

Cheers for the links Jamie, might just get one from there now
Daft question but are they front and rear specific?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cheers for the links Jamie, might just get one from there now
Daft question but are they front and rear specific?

nope. iirc.

 

[MrJamie]

Cheers for the links Jamie, might just get one from there now
Daft question but are they front and rear specific?

The calipers and rotors are identical, but (on the MTB version at least) the mounting post thingys are different sizes depending on front/rear and of course the size of the rotor. My "front 180" needed a 40mm and shipped with a 20mm, so i had to order the correct mount from CRC for a fiver http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75477 The "front 200" i ordered previously came with a selection of mounts, im not sure which is normal or if it was my bike that was abnormal

Since were sharing useful links... I followed a few guides for setup, but this one was by far the best:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasGJFtgq0A