Hydraulic Vs Mechanical Disc Brakes For Bikepacking

Hydraulic disc brakes deliver exceptional stopping power and precise control, perfect for demanding terrains. However, they can be pricey and require more maintenance. Mechanical disc brakes offer reliability and easier upkeep, making them budget-friendly options. But are they sufficient for your bikepacking needs?

We break down performance, durability, maintenance, and cost factors, ensuring you're equipped with the knowledge to make the right choice. Whether you're a seasoned bikepacker or just starting out, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

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[JMNTN]

i will add that there are big differences in mechanical brakes too. You have single piston and dual piston. Single piston are not great and you should stay away from them, they basically work by pushing the pad on one side with the other being fixed. This means that the fixed pad needs to be adjusted to barely touch the disk and the more it wears the further it gets from the disk so it will pull your disk crooked. The dual piston ones push on both sides and work much better, brakes like the tektro c550 for example, they even have a screw to adjust pad distance which makes these super easy to maintain.

[kanenasithaki]

Mechanicals are easier in maintenance. no liquid change every some months, and you can fix them on the fly if sth happens on the road. no way to do that on hydraulics. if they fail you... you ride without brakes till you get back

[scstinger]

When I first used hydraulic brakes I thought they were the best. But now that I have used both a lot I like mechanical more. Although hydraulic brakes are a lot less maintenance, easy to set up, and cost about the same as good mechanical brakes. I can just as easily lock up the brakes with 1 finger on mechanical brakes as hydraulic so not sure what people are talking about when they refer to fatigue on mechanical brakes??

[sudoPrivileges]

You can install mtb hydros on drop bars.

[EricPeelMusic]

Hydraulics are definitely NOT triple the cost of mechanical brakes. Paul Klampers are about $550 for a pair of calipers while Shimano XTs are about $400, levers included. You still have to factor in the cost of the levers for the mechanical calipers. Additionally, long-term cost of hydros is much cheaper. Hoses don't wear out internally, so unless they break in a crash, you won't need to replace them, unlike cable/housing which will need several swaps per year for an average miler with average hills. Much more for hilly areas or a lot of stop and go. Hydro bleed kids are like $15 now and easy to DIY. The bleed kit itself is cheaper than cable/housing for one caliper, and it can be re-used as many times as you do not lose the parts.

[PinotNoir_]

On a drop bar, i despise mechanical disk brake, if I want a mechanical brake i rather just get those rim brake. But I don't mind mechanical disk brake on a flatbar! :D

I never work on bicycle hydros because all of my bike got a mechanical disk brake even if i despise them, but bleeding those hydrolics fluid is really easy on my scooter and sportsbike, you don't need bleeding kit for that..

[lindsaylindsay]

Hydraulic is the worst on a bicycle. I just changed mine to mechanical.
Hydraulic brakes are high maintenance. Mechanical you can always adjust and move on unlike hydraulic if you have a leak. It takes two people to bleed a simple break.

[bikepackist]

Here's this video as a written article!!!

[danalec]

I use cable actuated hydrolic callipers. They are the best compromise from both worlds.

[MrRay]

I dont carry spare cable, housing, cutters, levers or caliper parts so my mechanicals are not really repairable trailside/roadside without a bike shop anyway. When the mechanicals shifted out of wack, worked their way out of adjustment, got packed with sand/mud, cable started dragging from friction, sure you could take them apart clean and tune them but the thing is in the 15-20 years I have been using hydraulics I have never had one fail or need adjusted on a trip or ride (just fresh pads). I remember having to stop and realign the caliper (most mechanicals have one fixed pad) on my bb7's after every other big set of hills and daily cable adjustments and tweaks to get them to stop rubbing (the ting ting ting ting sound would drive me insane) Today you are more likely to find bike shops stock and understand hydro brakes more than mechanicals. The only reason to go mechanical over hydraulic is cost, road lever hydro is still pretty high in cost, and you cant even save money buying used because you would need new housing and a bleed kit as well. If I could not swing the cost of hydro for a drop bar bike I would go with an alt bar and flat bar hydros they can be had for the same or less than better mechanicals. I honestly believe anyone that says mechanicals are better than hydros probably never used hydraulics or just doesn't want to spend the money. ***I admit on flat ground or rail trail hydros are probably not worth the cost

[amateur_adventurist]

unless you are a racer you won't 'need' Hydro brakes, in the other hand with Hydro you'll most of the time in bike shop and for DIYers it's pain in the neck to maintain. too much marketing hype is around hydro brakes

[Deedeedee]

OK great video but that chimney is genuinely disturbing. I can feel it looking at me. Searching my soul for weakness

[Kumiko]

I saw alot people now using hydraulic anyone using mechanic brake in front and hydraulic brake in rear of their ebike???will work better??? because i saw someone doing