Bike Disc Brake Black Friday: great deals on kits

Which bike disc brake to buy during Black Friday?

Changing a complete brake is warranted when the lever or caliper is faulty, when the bike switches from a mechanical to a hydraulic system, or to gain power with a four-piston caliper on a rugged mountain bike or electric bike. For simple wear, pads or disc are enough. In terms of systems, hydraulics offer better modulation and require less effort; mechanics can be repaired anywhere with a cable, which is a plus when travelling.

Read about discounts on complete brakes

• Front or rear: the hose of a rear brake is much longer, around 1,700 to 2,000 mm on the listings on the page, compared to about 1,000 mm at the front on the road.
• The side of the lever: left or right, depending on which hand operates the front brake at your place; some levers can be mounted on either side.
• The content: brake only, brake with disc and adapter, or caliper only for a mechanical brake to connect to your levers.
• The packaging: a brake at the wheel, a pair for front and rear, or a workshop set.

Two promotions can only be compared on equal terms: same position, same length of hose, same supplied parts. The product sheet details this, and it’s on this basis that the difference between the crossed-out price and the discounted price makes sense.

Compatibilities: mounting, lever and fluid

The caliper follows the frame and fork mount: Post Mount on most mountain bikes and city bikes, Flat Mount on recent road and gravel bikes. On a road bike, the hydraulic brake works through levers that also control the gears, which should be chosen from the same group. Finally, each circuit only accepts one type of fluid: mineral oil for Shimano or Magura, DOT fluid on most Sram brakes. A hydraulic lever and caliper from different brands will only work together if the manufacturer states so.

Discs, pads and other useful pages

The page on bike disc brakes explains all year round how they work and how to choose the number of pistons. A brake sold without a disc can be completed with the discs during Black Friday; to replace just one part, check the calipers and levers in the operation. The selections for road and MTB sort brakes by usage. The clearance and new arrivals follow the suite.

What brands of disc brakes are available during Black Friday?

Clarks Cycle Systems supplies its M2 hydraulic brakes with their disc, in Post Mount among others, and its CHM-05 semi-hydraulic brake with disc and adapter: ready-to-install sets.

Sram separates its road Flat Mount brakes, from Apex to Red, from its MTB families, and offers its Level in several finishes, up to the Ultimate version with carbon lever and titanium screws.

Shimano sells its wheel brakes, in pairs or as a lever and caliper kit, from Deore M4100 to XTR M9100, and in road versions for the 105, Ultegra and GRX.

TRP offers the Spyre, a mechanical caliper where both pads move together towards the disc, and the HY/RD, cable-activated but hydraulic at the caliper.

Magura, a German company from Bad Urach, equips its MTB brakes MT5 and MT Sport with a lever that can be fitted on the right or left, at the front or rear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mechanical or hydraulic disc brake: which one to choose?

Hydraulic brakes provide more power for less effort and automatically compensate for wear on the pads. Mechanical brakes keep your cable levers, are adjusted with a wrench, and can be repaired without purging tools.

Should you bleed a new hydraulic brake?

Most arrive pre-filled and can be installed without bleeding as long as the hose retains its length. Cutting the hose to fit the bike often requires bleeding.

Do discounts on disc brakes last longer than Friday?

Yes: the Friday after Thanksgiving is the peak, but Vélo-Store applies its reduced prices on complete disc brakes throughout November. A kit includes at minimum the lever, hose, and caliper with its pads; disc, caliper adapter, or screws may be added depending on the offers, which the product description usually signals.

Two or four pistons for an electric mountain bike?

Four pistons are recommended: the longer pad distributes the effort and heat, which is useful for braking a heavy bike downhill. Pair them with large diameter discs approved by your frame.

Can you keep your levers and only change the calipers?

Yes, on a mechanical brake, if the caliper accommodates the cable stroke of your levers, whether for road or MTB. On a hydraulic brake, the lever and caliper form a circuit: keep the same brand and fluid.