Avid BB7 MTB Mechanical Bicycle Disc Brake (160mm, Graphite, Front or Rear)

by Avid

Product Features

• The versatile Avid BB7 Ball Bearing mechanical disc brake is a great option for all mountain and xc riding. It works as a front or rear brake
• Front and Rear Compatible Graphite Colored
• Included caliper positioning system helps you get the best performance out of your brakes.

Product Description

Mtn version for use with linear pull brake levers (sold separately). Tri-Align Caliper Positioning System (CPS) for easy caliper/rotor alignment. Redesigned, sleeker body with a fully sealed Ball Bearing mechanism and integrated cable stop . Dual pad adjuster knobs and full pad retraction for drag free setup . Tool-free pad adjustment and replacement (same pads as Juicy-7/5). Includes: post mount (74mm) caliper with International-Standard (51mm) fork and frame adapters, Roundagon 6-bolt/44mm-BCD rotor, and pads. Updated kitting fits front or rear applications (sold individually). Features: Designed to be used with linear pull brake levers

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.8 x 3 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001E0PZWS
• Item model number: 00.5015.545.000
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,694 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #20 in Sports & Outdoors > Bikes & Accessories > Components & Parts > Brake Parts > Calipers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, October 5, 2009

By 

Matthew Wachowski "mattwach" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Avid BB7 MTB Mechanical Bicycle Disc Brake (160mm, Graphite, Front or Rear) (Sports)

I upgraded to these brakes from BB5s and the improvement is amazing. For those looking at both, the 20 or so extra dollars per brake gets you:

- Slightly less weight (20-30g) per brake
- Finger-click adjustments for both pads (the BB5s only support finger-click adjustment for the inner pad)
- And the big difference: Larger, more-effective pads

Most agree that the hardest part of installing mechanical disc brakes is getting them "dialed in" so that the pads and rotor are aligned. The BB7s make this process simple, allowing me to get perfect alignment on both front and back on my first attempt.

Thanks to the pad adjustments on both sides, its easy to adjust these brakes perfectly and get the type of modulation you are looking for. I have cheap (but nice) Avid FR-5 levers and have successfully tweaked them to start light-engagement after a quarter inch of pull, with zero rotor scrape when they are not engaged.

As for the power, it took me a few hard stops to "bed in" the pads (I also had some screeching during the bed in). After that, the brakes settled into silent powerhouses with a huge modulation curve and enough power to easily lock both wheels if I grab them with any kind of force.

I was looking at hydros for a while but am very happy I went with these. Top-end Hydros still claim the crown for extreme circumstances but these brakes are just as effective for practically any application; boasting a much nicer price and easier maintenance.

August 2010 Update:

I've had these for 10 months now and 2000+ miles. They have now been through a Pacific Northwest winter with nearly daily rain.

These brakes are awesome, they still stop the bike as confidently as when they were new and have required no maintenance. Every couple of months I just click each adjustment dial one tick and that is it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy setup, seem to work great..., August 1, 2010

By 

justsayyes (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Avid BB7 MTB Mechanical Bicycle Disc Brake (160mm, Graphite, Front or Rear) (Sports)

I installed these as an upgrade on my wife's bike. She was on Hayes Sole hydraulic brakes that were an incredible hassle to keep functioning properly between the need to shim and the constant resetting of the inside pad distance.

These BB7's went on super easy and with their alignment method were properly aligned the first time. Adjustment with the two knurled knobs is very easy and by adjusting the distance between the outer and inner pads (outer is closer), setting modulation is very straightforward and effective. Once set, you never need tools again!

Short street test rides show great modulation and power.

Will submit a ride report after a few weeks (of my wife's comments and my tweaking). Thus far, really nice brakes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product for the price!, February 20, 2009

By 

Paul R. Lanhart "konaboy" (Burnsville, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I have these brakes on two of my mountain bikes now and I love them! For a mechanical brake these have to be one of the best. They are extremely easy to install and adjust fairly easily when necessary. The stopping power is very good... it won't be as strong as hydraulic but it's better than most rim brakes.

Very high quality, great value, easy install and smooth operation!