MTB Help required

[paxton]

Im thinking of buying a mountain bike to ride to work and occasional off roading (once a month sort of thing)

I am currently thinking of a Specialized Rockhopper 2008, but not sure wether to go for that or the next one up... Specialized Rockhopper disk 2008

So my question.... do i go for V brakes or Hydraulic breaks? and are they both easy to maintain?

is it worth paying the extra £50 for hydraulics?

[mathepac]

Whew - I thought you meant Motor Torpedo Boat with twin Rolls Royce Merlin engines from WWII. Different animal.

[Joff]

What's your previous cycling experience like?

If you're just getting into it again, the Hardrock's a good entry level bike without the expense of a Rockhopper.

You might find it easier going with some road tyres too instead of the knobblies most places will sell them with.

I've never tried hydraulics but if you're likely to be maintaining it yourself I'd hazard a guess that V's are slightly easier to work on.

[BFG]

I'd agree with Joff,

I've previously had V's but now running Hope Minis.

V's are easy to completely strip down if there's a problem, whereas unless you're willing to deal with brake fluid the only thing you can do with hydraulics is change the brake pads. I had a cracked piston & had to take mine to a bike shop to get it fixed.

Hydraulics are absolutely awesome if you're going to be going through deep mud / water / whatever else a trail can throw at you alot as the braking surface is so far away from the rim (and based on this I personally wouldn't go back to V's), but based on you saying it's going to be mainly for commuting & occasional offroad, I'd go for the lighter v-brakes.

Also Joff mentioned going for slicks - you could go for 'semi-slicks' - not too knobbly at the centre of the tyre, but some grippy stuff on the edge of the tyre incase the going gets rough. With either of these though, don't get toooooo adventurous in the muddy stuff...

[triple7]

id be inclined to go for the disc brakes if the extra £50 is not a problem for you.

There is a good chance you may enjoy your off-road rides and start going out more and it is then that you would be glad of the disc brakes and it would cost a lot more than £50 to change from v brakes at some point in the future.

Disc brakes shouldnt require any maintenance apart from changing the pads and this is a simple enough job (you would get instructions with the bike).

The Hardrock is a good bike (I started with one 4 yrs ago) but you should spend as much as you can afford imo so if you can afford the Rockhopper you should go for that (it has a much better fork that the hardrock for a start).

[jason]

the only problem i have had with discs,is short pad life,but if you aren't going too mad,you should be fine.

mine emit a rather annoying whine when you get them wet.they still work fine,they just scare all kinds of wildlife for a 1 mile radius.i'd never go back to V brakes now. get discs

[ric04vrs]

i wouldn't bother getting a 2008 model , there will be loads of bargain priced 2007 models at the moment , so saving money and possibly getting discs aswell

i've had both discs and 'v's, the v-brakes are by far the easiest to maintain

i agree with the semi-slick tyres , i ran some Michelins for a few years , smoothish centre tread , knobbles on the edges , very fast both on and off road, only struggled in the mud

[4x4t]

I agree with the above get a 2007 bike,for the same money you will get a much better bike.I would go for hydraulic disk brakes as they are much nicer to use(easier on the fingers) and the pads should last for ages especially if you only go offroad once a month.Most of the new hydraulic disk brakes are very reliable so they should be no problem if the shop sets them up well.

[monkeychild]

I may be slightly biased towards Gary Fisher bikes but this review says it all!!! Gary Fisher Wahoo Review | BikeRadar.com

Same geom as my hookooekoo so rides like a treat!!!

Edit Price is £329 for V brake £370 for disc hth!!!

[matt_theforce]

I dont do a great deal of cycling but bought a 2nd bike for trials and off roading and to keep the cost down a bit and bought Cable operated Disc Brakes. What a mistake, dont do it.

I have 2 bikes

Specialised Hardrock v-brake

Claud Butler Cape Wrath Disc

I use the hardrock road and most cycle trails

I use the claud butler for more muddy and rough riding. just wish it had hydrolic disc brakes..

I find using the bikes like this good, there's nothing more irritating than cycling along with the sound of the v brakes catching the wheel covered in mud

[paxton]

ooooooooooo! does anyone know if rockhopper has hydralic discs or cable discs? getting even more confused now!

[Kandy]

I never learn, always expect to see some nice pictures of some Motor Torpedo Boats.

[spyke85]

I may be slightly biased towards Gary Fisher bikes but this review says it all!!! Gary Fisher Wahoo Review | BikeRadar.com

Same geom as my hookooekoo so rides like a treat!!!

Edit Price is £329 for V brake £370 for disc hth!!!

I recommend Gary Fishers too!

[triple7]

Rockhopper disc has avid juicy 3 hydraulic brakes...see full spec here:

Specialized Rockhopper Disc

if your budget grows you could always buy the rockhopper or comp or even the pro

btw if you look at that bikescene website (my local shop) they are selling last yrs rockhopper disc for £499. Be worth a call to ask if they have your size if you are serious about a bike

[pixelmassacre]

Did you get your bike yet? my 6pence says that Vs are easier and less daunting to maintain but harder to make them work well, plus they need adjusting all the time wheras i have a disc at the front and havn't touched it in over a year and it still rules, although i'm a dirt jumper mostly and my brakes dont get wet.

[kelling]

i have a scott expert mtb for sale lightly used, iam after all age 63, the bike is in great condition pm me if intrested.