[Closed] Best (semi) hydro road disc brake

I’ve got HyRds on my commuter and they’re brilliant. I was going to get some juintech ones but I read too many stories of sticky pistons.

That said, you need to have the right cable pull apparently, the older Shimano levers don’t pull enough cable and you have to bodge them to work, mine are the first 10speed tiagra and apparently fine.

Go to option will be TRP but the giant version looks interesting

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/conduct-hydraulic-disc-brake-upgrade-kit-flat-mount-version

Shorter cable run and longer hydraulic may make for a better modulation and power

The Giant system is quite neat but there is a lot of (non adjustable) lever throw with bite quite close to the bars.
The Acor/Juin Tech system is nice and light, powerful enough but the pistons can seize. (Although mine were fine for 18 months).
I just use TRP Spyre now, find them powerful enough and with good compressionless cable the lever feel is good.

I did put some negative comments about juintech/Acor piston on forum, then found out it was all down to a rusted compassionless cable. So I've had no problem with mine run on 2 cyclocross bikes. One with 2000 miles of mud and sand, they are very easy to set up too.

got trp hyrd's and i find them great, loads of power.

I have sram levers

still running TRP Hy/Rds with 105 STI's and modulation and full on is good with jagwire outers - would have thought as post mount and trend to flat mount there should be some 2nd hand bargains around - seem to survive my rough handling no problem - to compare I replaced BB7's and loved the lack of hassle fettling, variable application

not sure on Ultrega hydro or 105 hydro - thought both went straight to 11speed? wasn't there a non series mechanical shift /hydro brake shimano post mount hydraulic set up that was 10speed aimed at CX (racing) riders - would have thought at end of season might some appear?

might be better living with the BB5's and sticking the cash in a tin towards a frame with flat mounts and be (possibly) future proof - think Hydro flat mounts are available at Tiagra now ?

Had HyRD but got a lucky opportunity to upgrade to full Ultegra hydro for much cheapness - have to say they are worth the extra. Was on 105 and the TRPs were fine, but unless you find a deal second hand they are going to be a reasonably chunky outlay anyway - I'd save the extra. Had Spyres before, and I wouldn't pay retail for the move up to HyRD vs. a few more pairs of good soft pads, I don't think the differentiation was enough.

TRP Hylex and fit a Shimano 11-speed bar end shifter to the drops?

I had a set of hope vtwins. I suffered continual sticky pistons, leaks all over and couldn't persuade a bike shop in London to rebuild them. If you want mine, you can have them for postage.

I switched to BB7s afterwards. Much less faff

I have juin tech they've been fine only issues have been the cable sticking. Am thinking of going for shimano ten hydro levers and hope calipers as the shimano tens aren't post mount and I can keep my gears and wheels rather than spend on eleven speed

<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 16px;">I had a set of hope vtwins. I suffered continual sticky pistons, leaks all over and couldn’t persuade a bike shop in London to rebuild them. If you want mine, you can have them for postage.</span>

If the op doesn't want them I would be interested in them.

I have used the Acor/Juin tech brakes and like them. They're better than the promax render r/avid bb5r cable brakes, but nowhere near as nice as full hydros on the mtb.

Been using spyre hyrd units oon zora shifters and have to say the lever travels unnerving sometimes...

But they are a bugger to keep clean.. On account of the fact that they are small parts and gaps.. Haven't found a trick to cleaning them easily but am hesitant to put lots of water or degrease them directly.. Also how do you do it without the faff of unbolting(post mount and the back caliper rear bolts a mare of a thing to get too.. Nearly rounded one out already..)

Am thinking of going for shimano ten hydro levers and hope calipers as the shimano tens aren’t post mount and I can keep my gears and wheels rather than spend on eleven speed

@kilo Any 10spd Shimano hydraulic levers (Tiagra, GRX) will be using the 11spd cable pull so you'll need a new derailleur if yours is a 10spd road mech

Positive review of the Hope V-Twin here. Bags of power, great modulation with compressionless cables. Bit of a faff to set up just right, but they've been fit and forget since. Can be picked up second hand for reasonable money.

The only negative being the aesthetics of the under the stem brains of the system, looks pretty agricultural and prevents the use of handlebar bags. All things considered, I'm super happy with them.

I've used BB5 BB7 Juin (+ Acor version) now on TRP HyRd.

BB5 on kids bikes, actually work well, very reliable, simple. BB7s good too but the pad adjuster easy to knock and put out. Juin/Acor a bit delicate, look like a nice bit of engineering, but lost confidence in their reliability.

TRP HyRd noticeably more powerful than all above, great solid feel even on the hoods. I've not tried Spires but reviewers that used them back to back say HyRds have the edge. Downsides HyRds heavier, more expensive and potentially more complicated too I suppose.

I had trp Hy/rd with 9 speed sora. Awful in my opinion. Also had bb7 originally and found them dangerously bad.
Caveat I’m mechanically inept.
Also not heard good things about the giant solution, but that’s only from 1 person. He sold his defy and bought a full hydraulic brake bike.

Should add I found the Juin system worked best for me. No faff issues, but got them fitted by a lbs.

I got some Shimano 785/685's from Taiwan recently for ~£200 so pukka Shimano hydraulics may not be as expensive as you think?

I wouldn't piss about with the half way house cobblers now, there's no need. If you want cable disks, Spyres are ace. If you want hydraulics, 785/685's are ~£200 and also ace.

I've a set of trp hyrds for sale. As others have said they're really very good. These have had a reasonable amount of use but are in good condition and fine working order. Perfect for seeing you by while you decide whether to move to full hydraulics. Let me know if they're of any interest.

Maybe bit of a PSA.
If you're after post mount rather than flat mount. Check out the Hy/Rd on Decathlon website £49.99 including a rotor.

LINK

Personally......

Forget hydro and just get spyres. I've got proper SRAM hydro's on my other bike and had bb5/7 on mountain bikes. The spyres are very close in performance to the full hydro brakes. Just bin the stock pads as they're woefully and get some race matrix pads. A league ahead of avid and less faff than mixed systems.

</Controversy>

I had Spyres for a short while but weren't much better than the single sided mechanical brake they replaced.

In the end I upgraded to TRP Hylex (full hydraulics) which is just soooo much better.

Lol, I love it when old topics randomly pop back to the top 🙂

By coincidence I just ordered some Hy-Rd from Decathlon, but for use on the singlespeed bike.

Considering a full hydro upgrade on the 'other' bike (new topic incoming).

Thanks all

A friend of mine went for the giant contact brakes, after deciding that the Shimano 785 option was too expensive.

He is now a very happy camper.

They do seem to be a good solution to the cable pull retro fit problem, and fairly unobtrusive looking, too

I really hated my Spyres. I'd already upgraded the housing the Jagwire compressionless.

On the weekend I put some PlanetX Kevlar pads in them (£1.99 bargain). Wow! I would not have thought it would make such a massive difference! They are actually really really good now.

Are these brakes better than BB7s?

Never felt the need to upgrade.