Disadvantages and Advantages of Linear Brake, and Disc Brake?

Question

When I say linear brake, I mean really good ones for MTBs

When I say disc brake, I meant HMX4 or Avid 5

Answer 1

Linear brakes (v-brakes) are pretty dang good as long as conditions are dry and they're adjusted properly, using good pads.  They're simple and they stop well.  The disadvantages are that they can wear away your rims over time, especially if you get into mud or wet sand frequently.   I actually witnessed a rim blow up a couple years ago....we thought it was a blown tire, but it turned out that the rim bead separated from the metal due to excessive wear from the brakes.  Man, it was loud!!!   :o)

Disc brakes stop very very well if you break them in properly and have them adjusted well.  In the wet, they retain almost all of their stopping power....not so for v-brakes.  They're impervious to all but the worst sticky mud on the planet.  You do have the minor risks of bending a rotor on rocks or in a crash, but in real life this doesn't happen very often at all, so I wouldn't let that deter you.  The mechanical discs you mention are pretty decent and they have some advantages over hydraulics because of their old-school simplicity with cable actuation.  I like that, and for that reason I run mechanicals on my bikes.  Hydraulics are very nice and they can do a better job for downhillers...some people like the feel of them, also, since they have a little more squish (modulation) than mechanicals.

If you can spring for just a few more dollars, get the Avid BB7's instead of the other two.  You can frequently find them on sale for $49 online, and if you pick up a new-used pair you can get them really cheap (lots of people remove them from a new bike and replace them with hydros).  They have dual pad adjustment and you'll thank your stars that you have it....makes installation, adjustment, and pad changes much much easier.  Of the other two, get the BB5's instead of the Hayes.  The Hayes aren't bad, but in my experience they aren't as nice as the Avids.  

Hope this helps.    :o)

Answer 2

Rim brakes are the past for MTB's. The frequent and hard stopping demands quickly wear out rims that use rim brakes. Where as disc brakes wear slowly, aren't affected by water much, and are cheaply replaced.

You will however get more feel with rim-brakes, that you won't get with disc brakes, especially hydraulic ones.