20 Best Road Bike Disc Brakes (Jan 2023 Update)

A straight swap for the original calipers on my 2016 Cannondale Synapse. It’s so good to be able to trust my brakes again. Simple to fit as long as you remember which washers/spacers go in what order.Paul M.

The TRP Spyre dual piston mechanical disc brakes provide the absolute best stopping power for mechanical disc brakes and rival the best hydraulic discs in terms of overall performance. They do not suffer from fade as hydraulic disc calipers can as they over heat, and they are super easy to set up and maintain. These calipers look awesome and are light weight as well as low profile. For my money, these brakes simply can not be beat when considering all the relevant factors in choosing a brake set up.c40rider

Solid frame and what I would consider a really good beginner bike. However, the disc breaks on my are cannot be adjusted to where they do not rub constantly. I've taken it into a shop to get it tuned and they cannot help either. The spacing on the wheel and the frame are off. I guess I need to spend some more money and convert it. I'm sure this is a 5 star bike with the right brakes or a better inspection from the factory.Joshua C.

I ordered a Vilano TUONO T20 2.0 Aluminum Road Bike 21 speed 54 cm. The picture of the bike on your website was misleading because the bike I received is some other Vilano aluminum road bike 21 speed 54 cm. I actually liked the one you sent me, even though it arrived pretty banged up… Like the rear derailleur and hanger were bent and scratched and the chainguard and other areas on the frame wereSteven W.

A frequent quibble with the G2s goes something like "Why not just get Codes?" Well I'll tell you why, because they're lighter, have a crisper lever actuation, use a more commonly found brakepad, oh and they're like 60 bucks cheaper. All that and you still get the only brake I've actively brought the lever throw in multiple times on because the contact point is so minutely adjustable. And sure, if you're setting up some heavy-hitting DH/ enduro rig you may benefit from the extra fluid getting pushed around by the Code, but honestly, even on the biggest high country descents I've thrown at these things in Colorado have yet to give the G2s any noticeable brake fade. Suffice to say, when I did my latest frame-up build there was no question which brake I was choosing.Griffin

Coming off Textro 2 piston brakes on a 180mm front rotor. THE STOPPING POWER IS INCREDIBLE ON THESE! IM WAY MORE COMFORTABLE FLYING INTO CORNERS NOW! Stoppies are getting better to!joseph g

Good breaks for the price. Replaced the terrible stock brakes on my bike. The Adjustable bite point is my favorite feature, it allows for fine tuned adjustment for a custom fit/feel.David

Retail packaging. Various lengths of nuts to accommodate different installations. Significant upgrade to my old "nutted" brake install. Required drilling out 1/4" dia hole on back of fork to a 5/16" to fit the recessed nut of the 105s, but that is easy mod. If you are thinking of upgrading this is a good way to go.erkiv_64

Easy install. Responsive braking action. Excellent design. I ride hills as well as live downtown with lots of traffic. I need good brakes. These are very reliable for my type of riding.Robert S

This brake fitted easily, but I couldn't use the matching front brake because it wasn't a deep enough drop. I resorted to using a Campagnolo Centaur groupset.Chris W

I have 3 sets of these. One on the hard tail, one on the XC full suspension and another on the trail bike. Plenty of power in a lightweight, reliable brake.zaskarle2

Bought some MT8SL brakes. Didn’t notice they were takeoffs until I seen the receipt. Called them and they assured me they were new brakes either taken off or in open box. Brake set advertised at 195 grams. Kind of bummed they weighed in at 230 grams. Not really sure why?Robert R.

I just installed my new Shimano Deore XT BL-M8100/BR-M8100 Disc Brake and Lever the other day and it works great! I would highly recommend this part to everyone. Removed my old brake and lever and upgraded to the new Shimano Deore XT BL-M8100/BR-M8100 Disc Brake and Lever and it works great. Installation was fairly easy . MooseJaw is a great company to deal with. Everything went very smooth from start to finish. I would highly recommend this item or any other item you might need . I you need a part MooseJaw is the place to go. Very helpful and they had exactly what i needed.Tony

When I bought my Levo SL Comp, it came with Sram Guide R brakes and levers. I know they are lower end Sram brakes but I was completely dissatisfied with them. So since I've always used Shimano XT or XTRs I bit the bullit and got the XT 8120s. OH my, what a difference. Even though the Srams were 4 piston brakes there is no comparison to the Shimano 4 piston XT 8120s. I would rate these 5 stars and just as good as the XTRs plus a heck of a lot less expensive. I highly recommend them, even at full price.Art

Picked these for my Pivot Switchblade build and don't regret it one bit. I usually ride the SRAM Code RSC's, but decided to switch things up. These definitely bite quicker if you like that, but the thing I like the most is the bleed is so much better in my opinion. You don't have to deal with DOT fluid and the cup makes it easy to have a full bleed or just a burp if needed.acrest

Excellent bike. Very smooth riding with a comfortable riding position. Quality parts from Shimano make for fast shifts with good gear range. I ride primary for aerobic exercise and find the bike gives me a great workout while providing a smooth, solid ride. I assembled it myself but needed to have a bike shop to fine tune the front disc brake and true the front wheel in order for the front wheel to spin freely. (Although the bike comes with all the necessary assembly tools (hex wrenches and pedal wrench), the included assembly instructions are not very good w respect to the front wheel / disc brake assembly). But as it turns out Vilano explains that you need to have a bike shop check the assembly in order for the warranty to be valid … not something I knew going in, but the bike shop’s assembly review and front wheel / disc brake tuning ($80) gives me added peace of mind. I should add that Vilano customer service is outstanding. Their toll free phone automated attendant menu could do for a few more option selections to make things more intuitive, but once you get through to the staff they is great. They give you the sense that they are genuinely interested in helping you solve whatever problem you’ have. They listen well, seem to be very knowledgeable about the product and follow up as promised. Overall I’m very pleased with the bike … smooth and solid with good quality parts. Would I recommend and buy again – Yes!Michael L.

We ordered this bike for our teenage son. We added the Pro Build, since we don’t have any close bike shops and we knew he would ride it right away. The bike came on time and packaged neatly. Our son put it together in about 15 minutes and took it out for a ride. So nice that it worked perfectly! Totally worth the slight up charge. The bike looks and feels great for the price point; matte finish, lightweight frame, responsive components. Our kiddo is very happy!James K.

I researched bikes in order to find a hybrid bike that delivered more road performance than trail, at a reasonable cost. This one fit the bill and I believe is a clear winner in the price range $300. It does take a while to set up, and you should understand bikes or bring it to a shop to handle that for you. I understand bikes and I still became tripped up on the front derailleur, and it took me a couple days of working on it and reviewing video to first see where I messed up in attempting to fine tune it and then figuring out where to set it back to where it originally was set and then fine tuning it from that point again once I realized that's all it needed. The back derailleur and the disc brakes also needed adjustment and I did fine on them though but again, you need to understand bikes and also to comprehend videos on the subject matter. Took the bike for my first ride recently, so this is a maiden voyage review of approximately 7 to 8 miles on steep hills. It performs admirably on hills, where the 24 gears are a must! The bike is a performer for the price! Tires felt strong, frame is solid, disc brakes are great. The seat may need to be changed out for comfort, however, they are cheap enough and for the price of the bike, should not be considered a deterrent. It is better to NOT have a front shock for more road use, as that absorbs energy going up steep hills and that's what I needed this for. Had the bike pushing 40 m.p.h. or over and was very stable. Be sure to check the wheel hub and brakes prior to doing that though. Five stars for the quality on price point and the outlet shipped it fast and delivery time is reasonable. Remember, assembly IS required. The bike is solid but will need some adjustment once assembled though, so your call on how you do it, yourself or professionally, as it can be quite frustrating. If you were worried about quality, don't, it will get the job done for leisure to intermediate riding endeavors I believe based on my first take. I will update this if I have any major issues.Alphonse I.

Great brakes for the price. Lovely lever shape, nice modulation, very powerful. I've also only had to bleed them once, unlike my former Shimano brakes, which required regular bleeding. All in all they're much better brakes for my Ibis Ripley. No more white-knuckling it into a corner, worrying if I'm going to overshoot it. Every now and then I do get a bit of caliper-rotor rub, but it's so rare that it doesn't bother me too much. I can see buying another set for my hardtail.Charles Dy.

Great stopping power for an amazing price. I like them so much I have this set on two of my bikes, with a third soon to have them once my recent order arrives. IMHO these are an even better deal than the MT5. Why? These brakes come with the 1 finger aluminum lever which is a 25.20€ (retail in the USA for approx $50.00) bonus. Clearly written installation instructions, all the hardware even the extra barbs and olives so you can cut the hose to fit your bike.John Sm.

nice look but not very powerful Also, adjustment supposed to be easy, but it is not… and I feel that spherical nuts make it worseTomasz

BB7's are 1 of the greatest mechanical disc brakes ever. The S model sticks with the same system and adds a slightly more polished look.Robin

These brakes are more than enough for beginners and intermediate riders. I was using mechanical brakes on my Hero Octane and was thinking about upgrading my bike, came across these brakes and they have changed the way I ride trails now.Kinshuk S.

Very good entry-level MTB brake. Shimano quality, and a breeze to bleed. I had some old Hayes 9s on this bike before, and they went right in the dumpster after getting these Shimanos!PETER

I only use Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. They are easy to set up, maintain, and bleed. They use mineral oil instead of DOT fluid. The least expensive Shimano hydraulic disc brakes are better than the best mechanical disc brakes, in my humble opinion.Six B.

great for a clean 1x build without the left shift lever. also appreciate the pre-bled kit with olive ready to go. cut the hose, inserted barb, and tightened to lever and the brake was nice and stiff, didn't need to bleed.Brandon W.

I got the Japanese model Vita because it was cheaper. It still had English options, and after modding it I set the circle button as back. My only issue is this model had issues with both analog sticks. After taking them apart and cleaning them it seems to work fine.hooovahh

Incredible value for the money. This kit provides a mix of MT5 and MT7 calipers with 1 finger HC levers. Taking time to bleed well is critical! This combo offers great modulation and incredibly strong bite. The 4 piston may be run in front as standard for MTB, or in rear for trials, DJ, street. The lever clamps should definitely be replaced with optional alloy versions, and MT7 pads may be fitted to the 4 piston caliper for best performance and ease of maintenance. Overall, these beat out Sram, Shimano, and Hope for performance. Alloy masters would be a plus, but not a deal breaker.joshwalee

I’ve had these brakes for only 3 months and in that time have broken two levers. The little retaining spring (not the breakaway tab) has been the cause of failure both times without any crashes or impacts. My old sram brakes saw multiple rough hits and never had a problem. The stopping power is great and Magura did send me new levers, but I hate having to repair these levers so often.Josiah P

I am a big fan of Magura brakes, these flat mount version are great for XC or gravel bike setup. They are surprisingly powerful and on first bite feel as powerful as much bigger brakes, also they are easy to maintain and consistent throughout the life of the brake pad. Not much to dislike.serpentimpulse

The Roam 2 is much like an SUV: pretty good at a lot of everyday tasks. With over 2700 miles on mine I can confirm it's a rugged all-rounder. If, however, you're looking for sustained high speed (say over 18 mph) this is not the ticket. Nor is it meant for shredding gnarly single-track trails. But the disc brakes and wider tires make it a solid choice for everyday riding on pavement and light off-roading. If you can drive your SUV on it, the Roam 2 will handle the path safely, with ease and comfort.Retired Rider

Recently bought a Roam 0 and absolutely love it. I use it for town and light off-road cycling (farm/gravel tracks) and it is great. I've used it every day since I got it and it's gobbled-up everything I've thrown at it. Whilst I live in a pretty flat area (Central Beds) the hills I encounter have posed no problem. And the ride is smooth even on the farm tracks – thanks to the Suntour forks. The disc brakes are sharp and have absolutely been called upon due to selfish motorists and an over-excited puppy who took a shine to my tyres whilst they were spinning in the rain 🤣. I am on the cusp of Medium and Large frame size, opted for large as the ride position felt good. It was the right choice as the visibility is excellent in busy town traffic but without being to stiff. The finish is eye catching and unusual (photos don't to it justice). Highly recommend, I'm a happy cyclist.GalactusHelmet

I have had the bike a little over a month now and I am very happy with it. I am surprised how much faster it is than my old bike. Thinking this is a combination of how light the bike is and the larger size wheels. About a year ago we moved into a very nice golf community with a lot of different amenities that are bike ride from our home. My daughter and I ride our bikes to her school as well. So, I went from hardly ever riding a bike, to now very consistently and I wanted a nice bike, and I got it. Very satisfied with the quality of the bike for the price point. When looking for a bike, I would see ones in big box stores that were almost like eye candy, but after going home and reading reviews on them, they all had consistent problems that I would see over and over on different peoples reviews. That made me realize I was going to have to spend a little more than I initially thought to get a good bike. I didn't mind spending a little more for a quality bike I am sure I will use for a long, long time. I am really happy with the bike, it is a Giant Roam in the garnet color. Oh yeah, it is also a very good looking bike as well. From what I have read online and the local bike shop I sent the bike to to have it assembled, they both said these bikes run pretty large. I am 5'8" tall and ordered the small frame version and it fits me well. If you can go to a bike shop and test fit the size, that may be best. I happened to be in Augutsa Ga and was able to do this to verify the medium was too big for me.Jeff

Only strength is that they look nice. Had a old set of Avid Juicy 7's that finally packed up on me after a good solid 10 years of abuse. They died going into winter so I decided to take my time on picking a new set after the tech at my local shop recommended not repairing the Avids. I knew I would be planning to sell the bike in the near future and though these would be a good selling feature. Boy what a disappointment they turned out to be. I followed the proper bed in process you're supposed to follow with a new set of pads and rotors. Even after all that they have very little power, the levers give poor feedback, even after an extra bleed. The squeal really loud… like really really loud. After less than 100kms the brake line to the rear brake burst near the lever. To make matters worse the fluid then dripped down from the split and dripped on the front calipers and rotor. So now i have a back brake that doesn't work at all and front brake pads soaked in oil from the back brake. I'm lucky this happened while pulling out of my drive way and not while flying down to trail. Now I'm forced to consider putting more money into this bike just so I can sell it. I've always been a big supporter of Shimano but lately it seems like their quality is slipping. Picked up a new Trek Fuel EX8 and was thankful to see it runs Sram brakes, and drive train. The Sram brakes it came with are so much better. Just like the old Avids I had… guess thats because they are the same company. They offer great feel and performance and they are silent. I've lost a lot of faith in Shimano after this experience. Brakes are something you need to be able to depend on. These let me down when the worked, and then let me down further by giving up after less than 100kms.Foreverblue

Bought to replace the OEM "Shimano Hydraulic Disc Brakes" (lower than Deore?) on my 2017 TREK Fuel EX8 29 so that I have a full XT-equipped bike. Packaging: So purrrrty! when Shimano says 'complete' they (mostly) mean it. The packaging includes all small hardware needed to trim and set up all the lines, but only for one brake (front). Unless you have an XL or XXL bike, trimming the lines is a given, especially the rear since most bikes now have internal routing for the brake lines. For the DIY'ers, you'll need to purchase a 2nd barb-and-olive for the second line. Also, do not throw any of the old stuff away. I had to re-use the mounting hardware because the new stuff was not long enough. Performance: with only one ride on them, I can attest that the modulation is good and so is the actual braking power. When you need to STOP, you do! (I kept the same original discs that came on the bike). But the most important and most obvious improvement is the true one-finger operation. I have it now, did not exactly have it before, and it is glorious. So simple, so easy to use. Overall: ordering from JensonUSA, reading all the descriptions, reviews, etc, and paying a ridiculously low price (approx. $90 per brake) is about as easy as it gets. Shipping and delivery were as expected; the stuff came in within a couple of days. Bottom line, for this price, pull the trigger and upgrade to what could arguably be THE standard in MTB disc brakes. You will not regret it.PETROS

I needed to rebuild 3 Shimano BR-R785 brake calipers. I've used the XT brakes w/ great success but the R785s seem to have issues w/ leaking. I made the conversion to the XT and all is good. On a side note, The item was pictured w/ the "Finned" brake pads but was shipped w/ the standard pads. I emailed CBO about the issue and w/o any questions or delay CBO sent me 3 sets of the "Finned" pads at no cost! Cambria turned a customer service issue into a loyal customer that will return and recommend CBO to all! THANK YOU CAMBRIA.Charles M.

Love the bite of these brakes. I've been a Shimano brake guy for a while now. I prefer the modulation and working with mineral oil rather corrosive dot fluid. Along with these Saints, I have a few XT models and they've all been rock solid for me. These dual pistons and bigger pads compared to the XTs bite super hard. Modulation might be too much for some, meaning the bite a little too hard with slight trigger input. I definitely prefer it this way. Great brakes.Phillip

I've been using Saint brakes for many years now. The are rugged and provide excellent stopping power. I think the modulation is great and braking is effortless. The latest brake set (caliber and lever) came pre-bleed but was in two pieces to allow for frames that have internal routing. The hose is attached to the caliper and fits into the lever once you route it and trim to length. Unfortunately I let some mineral oil drip out of the lever so had to do a partial bleed. It took 2 tries to get it just right. My method is to shave 1 mm on each side of the supplied yellow bleed block. That allows the pistons to stick out a little farther and get a better engagement (less throw) on the lever. The screw on the lever that adjusts the bite point does not seem to work for me.Thomas

The Shimano Saint brakes are the best around. Have owned a pair for years now. Great modulation and full power. The brakes are easy to install and adjust to your hand and finger size. I ride Downhill in North Caroline and Alabama. Both places are very wet in the season so having good brakes are a must. The brakes are quiet and don't fade with heat. I would highly recommend them for your Enduro, Freeride or Downhil bike that is what I have mine on.Gearhead

Great performance for a great price, especially if you can catch this setup on sale. Reservoir area of the lever is a bit high in profile, but provides a good grip when tucked in and your forearms are parallel to the ground, but not in the drops.OOA_AW

Finding product for a bike build right now is really tough and this helped me finished my grave bike setup with the quality product I needed.Robert

Great value to get the front and rear post-mount versions for an older frame for just over $300, so upgraded from cable-pull to full hydraulic. Hilly gravel descents are more enjoyable with hydraulic control. The tall hoods are ugly, but my hands occasionally bounce off the smaller road shifter hoods (cable brake), so it will help having more to grip.ERIC

I have 3,000 miles on this bike, and I have nothing negative to say about it. The first thing I noticed was the stiffness. On my first ride on this bike, I shattered a couple of PRs on climbs I do 1-2x/week. The next thing I noticed was the exceptional handling. If you are going to test ride a TCR, get it out on a winding descent – you will be blown away. The wheels are great – a good balance between weight/stiffness/aerodynamics. Another strong point of this bike is the tubeless tire setup. After 3,000 miles, it looks like I am just about ready to change the sealant for the first time. The tires have held up great (still riding on the one's that came with the bike). Zero flats. If you pump the tires up a lot, the ride is not comfortable. But you can ride on much lower pressures with tubeless tires, resulting in a velvety ride that inspires confidence when cornering and riding on rough pavement. I cannot comment on the saddle or bar, as I had those swapped out at the shop. Anyway, give this bike a look. I looked at a lot of bikes, including the new Tarmac, and I am very happy I chose the TCR Advanced Pro Team 2019.Grego

I did not set out to buy a race bike. The few examples I'd ridden in recent years were too stiff, too twitchy to be everyday rides. So I rode all the endurance bikes out there — Defy, Domane, Roubaix, Synapse, etc. None of them felt very involving, or so comfortable that it was worth giving up the efficiency of a race bike. I decided to give the TCR Advanced 1 a shot because it won Cycling Plus's 2018 bike of the year award due to its blend of speed and all-day comfort. I knew within a block and a half of riding it back-to-back with a Defy that this was the one. The frame is stiff and responsive but still somehow nicely compliant. The steering feels near telepathic to me — super agile but well planted at speed. I see a couple of reviewers have complained about the odd brake set up. Yeah, it looks weird, but the bite and the feel of the brakes are phenomenal. And that's coming from a guy whose other bike has SRAM Guide Ultimate 4-piston calipers and 180mm rotors. I'm glad I found a KOM — the 50-34 crankset and 11-34 cassette give me that all-important 1:1 bottom gear for climbing big hills. Overall this thing is light, fast, agile, smooth — I love it.Riding in the Fog

This is a follow up 2 months on the bike and 2000 miles This bike uses 105 components and is light. To get that at this price point sacrifices were made. The chain is junk and prevents the 105 components from working as they should. I replaced it with a shimano 105 chain and went to a different bike shop to get the derailer set. Issue 2 is both the front and back rims had side wobble. The shop trued the wheel but it keep going out, 4 visits went to new shop the spoke locking compound was not used at the manufacturer. Bike shop "A" accused me of hitting stuff. FYI, my other bike uses Mavic rims and I have over 250k miles. The new bIke shop added wicking lock tite and is holding better. These are bike shop issues and manufacturer issues. Basically weekly bike shop visits for 8 weeks and an extra 100 bucks. If you buy this bike make sure you use a well known shop because you will need it.TCR

I liked that the bike has a steel fork so road vibrations are at a minimal I would not want an aluminum fork. I like Steel or Carbon. The tires are excellent. The disk brakes work well no squeaks. I thought the 8 speed was a little too slow. It was easy and inexpensive to upgrade using a Microshift 9 speed shifter, Microshift 9 speed cassette and 9 speed chain, I was happy the rear derailleur did not need to be changed! My bike has a strange squeak cranking steep uphills, also the plastic chain guard had to be ripped off as it is garbage and somehow got it self all chewed up in the front crank. I had to rip it off or be stranded, got a little greasy but that chain guard is not needed and a flaw in it's design for sure. I think it is a good bike for what I payed, but I would not buy a Specialized again. Customer service at the bike shop was excellent, Specialized Customer Service lacking, I would not expect much from them.Jeff S.