Mountain Bike Brakes
Hydraulic disc brakes are the mountain standard. Piston count and rotor diameter set how much power and heat capacity you get.
The buying advice on this page is retained from the original article. Its 2018 product picks have been removed — the links were dead and the models discontinued. Current model tables live on the brand pages.
With so many different brakes available in the marketplace, it can be hard to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve taken the time to find the best MTB brakes and present you a thorough review to help you make the best decision. Making sure you have quality brakes installed on your mountain bike is important for safety reasons. However, going for the best MTB brakes will also give you the confidence to ride at your best without worrying about your brakes failing you on the road.
What decides the choice
| Specification | What it changes | Options in use |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hydraulic disc is the mountain default | Hydraulic disc · mechanical disc · rim |
| Pistons | More pistons means more power and heat capacity | 2-piston trail · 4-piston gravity |
| Rotor size | Bigger rotors add power and cooling, not grip | 160 · 180 · 200 · 203 · 220 mm |
| Pad compound | Organic is quieter, sintered lasts longer when wet | Organic (resin) · sintered (metallic) |
| Mount | Has to match frame and fork | Post mount · flat mount |
| Lever adjust | Fits the brake to the hand | Reach · bite point |