Good Front Brakes?

[tba]

Just wondering what other riders use for their front brake?
From what i've seen, disc up front seems to be preferred.

My newly acquired trials bike has a Magura Louise (7" rotor).. However, i've noticed the last few days that the front brake really doesn't seem as powerful as it should be. On closer inspection, the caliper is atually starting to spread (from the force of the pistons pushing the caliper apart), meaning the pads dont' sit completely flat on the disc.

What is a good trials front brake?
I'm guessing most of the mid to good XC brakes would be ok. Light, and reasonable stopping power...??

What are Magura like in general? I'm familiar with the name, but until now have had no experience with them (They're German... Sie müssen gut sein! haha (they must be good)).

I have found some brand new Loiuse single piston, front brake (caliper and lever) and rotor for $60 on ebay. Would the single piston ones be crap?

Thanks in advance

[moyseybike]

avid bb7 is the way to go. cheap, minimal maintenance and uber adjustable. and i hate hydro anything! 7 inch rotors adequate, 8's best though.
Boyd.

[disappearin]

im using an avid BB7 with 7in rotor & red ebc pads on my BT. its works very well and seeing as im using v brake on rear it means can run matching levers. if wanna run hydros try an avid juicy 7. a mate has juicy 7 on the front of his and its brillant. if you dont like avids hope make a trial hydro brake. i havent had much to do with magura discs but i have used there hs33 hydro rim brake(like most trials riders) and they are really good.

[---Matt---]

My bike came with Hope Mono Trials disc on the front. It's got awesome power and weighs about as much as a 20c piece.
If you can put up with the immense squeeling it produces, it's a great brake.

Otherwise, there's nothing wrong with running rim brakes on the front too if you've got the rim and forks to suit them.

[jda]

All good advice here,

I see the BB7 as best bang for buck, the Hope mono trial is the formula 1 of trials brakes, most powerful but very fickle and high maintanence to keep it working. Juicy7 is well proven in DH, I use them on my DH bike but haven't tried it for trials, can't see why it wouldn't work well.

[SpeedRush]

Id have to go for hope mono trials, i love how they have the little brake fluid reservoir. Awesome chromed brake lever and i think the cable is steel braided. Not sure what kind of metal it is. Oh yep, there light as.

[2step]

Like JDA said the BB7 is the best value for money, it has much greater stopping power then entry level hydro brakes. With a good cable such as an XTR and a good lever such as a Avid speed dial 7, the BB7 will last and feel great time again.
If you want Hydro maybe the Shimano LX is good value, but you need a centrelock hub, or the new Avid Juicy's.

[Pebble]

Like JDA said the BB7 is the best value for money, it has much greater stopping power then entry level hydro brakes. With a good cable such as an XTR and a good lever such as a Avid speed dial 7, the BB7 will last and feel great time again.
If you want Hydro maybe the Shimano LX is good value, but you need a centrelock hub, or the new Avid Juicy's.

You don't need a centerlock hub for shimano brakes. You can get 6 bolt shimano rotors (RT-75 which are 160mm) or alternately they would work fine with Hayes rotors. The Shimano XT is supposed to have a narrower braking path which means they will work with other rotors but the narrower shimano rotors aren't ideal with other brands of calipers.
Magura, I would tend to think parts are more expensive and not as easily available as they are for shimano / avid etc.

For good prices on shimano brakes I'd check out what CRC has on offer:

RT75 6 bolt shimano rotors (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=756)

Disc Brakes (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=580)

[2step]

You don't need a centerlock hub for shimano brakes. You can get 6 bolt shimano rotors (RT-75 which are 160mm) or alternately they would work fine with Hayes rotors. The Shimano XT is supposed to have a narrower braking path which means they will work with other rotors but the narrower shimano rotors aren't ideal with other brands of calipers.
Magura, I would tend to think parts are more expensive and not as easily available as they are for shimano / avid etc.

For good prices on shimano brakes I'd check out what CRC has on offer:

RT75 6 bolt shimano rotors (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=756)

Disc Brakes (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=580)

Sorry, I guess I should have said you don't need a centerlock hub to run an LX hydro brake, but they come with centerlock disc's when you buy them...but if you have a disc set-up already you should be sweet. From what ive read the LX offer great value for money...all round performance.