Curious: Shimano's Best Mechanical Calipers?
07-23-23, 05:43 AM
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Curious: Shimano's Best Mechanical Calipers?
I kinda missed out on that whole era - the early days of disk brakes! What were Shimano's top-of-the-line cable-actuated brake calipers, road and MTB? Their absolute best?
07-23-23, 06:50 AM
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None of the Shimano mechanicals are all that good...When it comes to mechanical disc brakes. Avid BB7s and TRP Spyres have proven to be the best.
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07-23-23, 07:29 AM
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That kinda sorta wasn't my question, but thanks anyway. I'm already aware of the universal love for those two, which I don't necessarily buy into myself.
07-23-23, 07:52 AM
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There were these,but really,I'm pretty sure they sucked..Shimano didn't really get into disc brakes until they developed the XT & XTR hydro brakes..
07-23-23, 09:40 AM
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A quick look at Nashbar shows they have the Shimano Tourney BR-TX805 $22.49, the Shimano BR-M375 $25.99, Avid BB5 $28.99, Avid BB7 $48.49, Hayes MX-5 $51.99. I know the TRP Spyke model is there for $99.99 but that seems expensive to me. It might be suitable for touring bikes though.
07-23-23, 11:37 PM
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This seems about right. In those days it was Avid, Hayes, Magura. I recall there was an XTR or XT at some point but don't remember them being cable-actuated 🤔
07-24-23, 04:18 AM
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The OP is looking for what was the Dura Ace or XTR level (highest level name) of SHIMANO mechanical disc brakes. I can't recall the nomenclature of their echelons or if they even had different levels.
07-24-23, 05:36 AM
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IME, the 105, 7000 level disc calipers, BR-735 maybe, have better stopping power than the Avid BB7 that I had on a different bike. Also, I find set up and adjustment to be easier. l have been tempted to replace the stock with TRP Spyres, but, as of now, too many dollars for replacing brakes that really work just fine.
07-24-23, 05:46 AM
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07-29-23, 11:36 PM
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In their top MTB range I think they skipped mechanical disk calipers entirely. From inception it was a cheaper alternative
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-30-23 at 12:07 AM.
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07-29-23, 11:53 PM
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I think the mechanical disc brakes from Shimano have been a more recent affair and not of exceptional quality. By the time they did road disc it was hydraulic and back in the 70s they did a DOT fluid hydraulic brake for utility stuff in Japan.
I cannot recall any high end mechanical disc brakes, they did V-Brakes (since it is their trademark of course) in XTR as we know and for Cyclocross they did Ultegra level cantilevers but their mechanical disc brakes are more of a modern afterthought. TRP Spyres or Spykes, Paul Klampers, that new odd looking one from Japan (the name escapes me) and Avid BB7s are all decent or in some of those cases really good. Not sure the need for a Shimano mechanical.
I cannot recall any high end mechanical disc brakes, they did V-Brakes (since it is their trademark of course) in XTR as we know and for Cyclocross they did Ultegra level cantilevers but their mechanical disc brakes are more of a modern afterthought. TRP Spyres or Spykes, Paul Klampers, that new odd looking one from Japan (the name escapes me) and Avid BB7s are all decent or in some of those cases really good. Not sure the need for a Shimano mechanical.
07-30-23, 03:55 AM
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Shimano has never made a quality mechanical disk brake. Their higher end systems started as hydraulic and they eventually made a mechanical brake for the lower end OEM market. I have them on a bike and they aren't very good.
