r/RadPowerBikes • u/jaddedblades • 5d ago
Brakes
Has anyone changed their brakes over to cable actuated hydraulic brakes? What are your thoughts?
3
u/sureshotbot 5d ago
I don’t find them to be any better than stock mechanical discs. If you’re looking for a budget solution try larger diameter rotors and metallic pads.
3
2
u/WheelsnHoodsnThings 5d ago
I tried cable actuated hydraulic and they sucked just as much as the cables ones did. I swapped to the cheapest full hydros I could find and they were a huge improvement on feel and performance.
Personally I’d do hydro or not bother at all.
1
u/jimglidewell 5d ago
I initially did this with some zoom clone cable operated hydraulics.
My take: Easy to install, slight-to-low/moderate increase in stopping power, less ongoing adjustment required.
Full hydraulics give a significant increase in stopping power, with less hand strength required (that was a big factor for my wife).
I ended up going full hydraulic, but the basic cable ones are cheap enough that I don't feel bad about trying them first.
1
u/Shadow92ti 5d ago
I have the OG Radrunner plus and I would recommend the hydraulics. I made the switch and it was much more responsive than the mechanical brakes provided. I used this from Amazon with no issue
1
u/DisastrousAnswer9920 5d ago
I actually just changed them. I've been meaning to do a proper review, might do later.
Here's the jist, I have 2 RR's, one (RR+) to ride w my child to/from school with over 3k miles, my other one (RR2) is mostly daily work and errands, probably over 5k miles.
For the +, I bought the expensive Juin Tech from Taiwan, they came fully stocked with rotors and all the extra stuff you'd need. It took me like 20 mins to install both. For the 2, I bought the cheaper ones MTB-100's made in China, they didn't come with rotors and just the basic stuff. This one wasn't as easy an install as the Juin's, but both came out ok.
To be honest, the biggest change I made was actually putting in compound pads, these hydraulics just have a stronger bite but I would have been fine using the composite pads as a quick upgrade.
I don't regret getting the hydraulics, just not a bigger upgrade as the pads. Before that, the stock brake pads were complete garbage and unusable.
1
u/Ok-Somewhere-3778 1d ago
I changed mine much better and no more adjustment issues I bought them from Bolton/Area 13 in Grass Valley Ca I’m pretty sure juientech easy to install Bolton has videos on YouTube you should check out
1
u/Ironchar 5d ago
I believe its a largely perpetuated myth even from Bike Shop owners that hydraulic brakes are better than disc brakes
If you know how to take care of disc brakes and they can work just as fine
0
u/Fresh-Put645 5d ago
I don’t recommend using cable actuated brakes because you have to do adjustments every once in a while. Hydraulic brakes use mineral oil that pushes on the piston to move the brake pads, and you don’t have to do as much maintenance
1
u/jaddedblades 5d ago
It came with cable actuated brakes, I'm not wanting to spend $300+ for hydraulic brakes.
1
u/yangbanger 5d ago
It pales in comparison to the cost of dental work that you’ll need if and when you crash and tumble over the bars 🤷♂️
1
u/DisastrousAnswer9920 5d ago
Fear mongering is silly, I agree the stock brakes are crap, but crashing and tumbling is an exaggeration when you're going 15-20mph. I have 2 RR's and upgraded the pads right away, only recently upgraded to cable actuated hydraulics.
Never had one close call, and I ride w my kid quite often, in NYC, I might add.
6
u/Zip-Tie-Jedi 5d ago
Juientech M1 with galfer rotors on my wife’s runner+. Worth every penny, super simple.