Hydraulic vs Mechanical Bike Disk Brakes - Which is Better?

[@albertgarcia2309]

The best brakes is the Tree in front off you.

[@lukecarlin9946]

Cheapest and lighted also slows down faster. I like your thinking

[@nevetstv7262]

its the best way to brake your biking career

[@quarryspanish]

Or a small child.

[@svazquez714]

Or the floor if you flip.

[@johnhanley9946]

Lol 🌳

[@gavinbritt1349]

You definitely did not bleed the hydraulic brakes right, they should feel consistent all the way through the pull and make sure you use the right fluid

[@gerardsimone6717]

Yep hydraulic is the way to go if u know what ur doing I have hydraulic and will never go back to mechanical what a difference

[@liamb9249]

I have had constant problems with hydros normal discs are so much easier

[@edwin702]

And that's exactly what he meant by more maintenance.

[@rniejx4219]

He didnt adjust the mech brakes right either.

[@jackoboy2238]

On other words people who are too lazy or to stupid to bleed hydraulic brakes shouldn't get them good thing I know how to

[@sonorangaming449]

Go brakeless

[@hoohoohoblin]

Good idea. That would solve all my problems.

[@TheFedericohiguain2]

Fucking flintstone the bike using your feet lol

[@ibrahimjoshkun2503]

😂

[@richardthomas8832]

jam ur foot between the frame and back tire. always hated the clutter of the cables as a kid and that's what I preferred anyway. ur shoe is the brake pad lol but hey it worked and I'm still breathing

[@slimetime4668]

Richard Thomas do you you seriously think that would work riding dh? Like seriously? Your not riding a bmx bike on the street...idiotic comment

[@mobius-1503]

Iv never had issue with mech brakes or their power. I run az deserts xc trails weekly. 60 mile treks in flagstaff/sedona. Brutal terrain and have neever had an issue. They are very reliable and strong systems. Its all on proper adjusment on the cables and thats it with standard single finger braking. And carrying a 6ft spool of cable in ur tool kit for out in the field repair is instant. I dont understand whats all the hate. Everyone here claims hydro systems like your running a formula 1 down the muslanne. Pretty pathetic really. Hype of carbon, brain on the dereilluer. Unreal what mtb has become lol. Waiting for umbrellas and frappacino machine on them next..

[@hoohoohoblin]

Well said. Thanks. That is what I thought when I made the video, but everyone in the world except you seems to disagree with me.

[@YouLikeToast]

Yeah I'm in the same boat. I prefer mechanical disc brakes. I get more feel through the lever, and as far as finger effort goes, you could just get a different lever with a different amount of leverage. If it matters that much to you. Like I see zero advantage to hydraulic brakes on a bicycle. On a car? Sure. Bicycle? Ehhhh. Overkill. Makes it less simple and reliable. More of a pain in the ass. More maintenance. And realistically no significant performance difference. It's pretty rediculous if you ask me lol.

[@Crazyoldman84]

Finally someone who speaks my language. My old 90s barracuda arrival still has perfect original mechanical brakes with no issues.

[@marviorose7614]

Same here mech all the way less trips to the local bk shops with mech vs hydra

[@MTBPinas]

Mech brakes are easier and cheaper to maintain. Just spend a few minutes adjusting them and you should be good.

[@ytubesucksazznow]

the ones that stop you before a crash are the best brakes. ^^

[@manchester250]

Thank you

[@creepergamingboy]

Hydraulic brakes are less work and mechanical are more work I think the problem you had with hydraulic was because they were old and not well looked after I have use both types and I have to say hydraulic brakes are better and any mtb that has used hydraulic brakes will probable say they are better too

[@hoohoohoblin]

+creepergamingboy hydraulic brakes definitely are easier to pull the lever on, but more problematic to maintain and repair. The brakes on the green bike are a little over a year old, and we have had to bleed them twice because they kept losing stopping power.

[@rubensingley2440]

That is a normal amount of bleeding for hydraulic breaks.

[@tomfothergill2801]

Hydraulics any day of the week without question

[@cracka5431]

My Avid Juicy 3s haven't been bled for over 2 years and they still run great.

[@daynephillips9948]

Don't need to perform a full bleed if brakes feel spongy - just "burp" them.

[@avi.d04]

I ride mechanical on the rear and hydraulic on the front, don't ask why I just like to have the actual feel when power sliding down a hill.

[@STN-jq5jf]

I like that idea

[@jdjhfyeetlolblueye327]

You know nothing about mountain biking. Like really who says mechanical disc brakes are better. No decent rider would chose to have mechanical brakes. There is a reason why every top pro and every reasonable mountain biker used hydraulic disc brakes over mechanical discs. Hydraulic brakes have smoother modulation, way more stoping power and when maintained and well looked after they work no matter the conditions.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Robert Lucas Yes. If you have money, time, or the skills to maintain hydraulics, they are better. The mechanical setup is simpler, with less to go wrong. My son’s dirt jump bike has an Avid BB7 mechanical disk brake, and it is nice.

[@mazditzo]

I believe there is nothing wrong with both of the brakes type. It just personal and funcional choice. On my everyday trail fullsus slx all the way while on my touring bike, avid bb7 for easy repair while on the tour ( 1000 miles in non english speaking country lol)

[@MCatwar]

after going my entire life (albeit it's not long) with mechanical brakes on my bikes, hydraulic is an insane difference. the learning curve for maintaining a hydraulic system was well worth it in the end when your braking power is increased almost exponentially, if I were to say. However, that learning curve does get quite frustrating.

[@Cakeborb]

hoohoohoblin maintainance of hydraulic brakes is bleeding them once a year, IF you use them an indredible amount and you prefer them to feel extremely solid. You can get away with bleeding them less, and that's all the maintainance.

[@MCatwar]

cakeba, i tried my friend's marlin 5 with mechanical brakes, they require so much effort its insane. i have a marlin 6 with hydraulics, it's been well over a year and the brakes are just fine, no oil leaks, no nothing. they have felt a little spongy before, but pump them a few times and they regain their firmness. overall, mechanical brakes are easier to maintain, but require more maintenance. hydraulics though, are harder to maintain but require little to no maintenance.(the only downside i can see with hydraulics is brake fluid boiling, which can stop all braking power. however, a mechanical cable can snap as well)

[@johngta7172]

Hydraulic brakes are 20% better than wire brakes, but also 1000% more expensive and 500% more headaches

[@hoohoohoblin]

Yes. Mechanical brakes are much lower maintenance.

[@amyx231]

Agreed! $120 a year to maintain them is a bit much (annual maintenance fee)

[@kcg795]

My bike came with mechanical disc brakes on the front. They didn't stop worth a crap. Seemed like I had to wait for the brakes to heat up a bit before they'd start gripping. Swapped them out for hydraulic brakes couldn't be happier. Now I'm in the process of upgrading from v-brakes in the rear to hydraulic disc brakes. I just love how the handle feels compared to mechanical. I also don't miss having to adjust my front brakes and it's going to be so nice that I won't have to adjust my rear brakes either. It's like carburetor vs. fuel injection. Trying to keep a carburetor finely tuned is tedious. Might as well go with fuel injection and be done with it.

[@thysonsacclaim]

Sounds like you just didn't have them installed right.

[@UpcomingJedi]

Hydraulic brake lines clearly are easier to fit to the bike than having cables flopping around. I dont race but find them more convenient than changing stretched and worn out cables. I think they are LESS maintenance prone.

[@jcabslovesu2]

I am new to biking. I just learned to bike using my husbands' childhood old trek mountain bike. I finally bought my first bike from REI because I really like their return policy + free 1 yr maintenance. I decided to go with a hybrid as my first bike, mechanical breaks. All my biking friends keep saying get an hydraulic breaks but I really need something that's low maintenance. Thank you for this review.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome. They are easy to adjust, and should be super reliable. I think you made the right choice.

[@mtbboy1993]

I have never had issues with mechanical brakes jamming up, but they have seals.

[@ArtzFenix]

For how I ride (road mostly) and for lower maintenance I'd go with the mechs. Thanks for the comparison.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome. I think that’s a smart choice.

[@ethankeadle9745]

Overall, though, valid points in support of mechanical brakes were made here.

[@plsniper]

Finally a straight forward answer. Thank you! Bleeding brakes, spungy... yep, I'm going with the mechanical ones.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@chrisk3195]

So, you compare the cheapest brakes against each other and then claim that i should "save my money" and go with the mechanical? Call me an idiot, but I am going to stick with my mid-level Shimano SLX brakeset that works flawlessly. I have had these brakes for about 2 years and have had to perform very little maintenance on them. Once a year i change the mineral fluid, the brake pads and ride. My next door neighbor has the mechanical brakes on an entry level Mongoose and they require a lot more maintenance and I can stop in half the distance. Of course there is a weight difference between my neighbor and myself, I weigh 200 lbs. with a 24 lb. bike and he weighs 145 lbs. with a 32 lb. bike.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Christopher Kytle stick with it if it works for you. I’ve seen my son and his friends have a lot of problems with various levels of hydraulic brakes. We ended up buying a bleeding kit, and we’re going to learn how to do all the work on them ourselves, because it costs a lot at a bike shop. When they’ve had problems with the brakes, they have been at downhill bike parks, and had to pay the bike shop to fix them.

[@chrisk3195]

Hayes makes a nice feeler gauge specifically for aligning the caliper, works great. The GMBN videos on how to bleed help a lot getting rid of small air bubbles and I personally like the metal pads over the resin ones with the Ice Tech rotors. I have had zero fade with that set up. The last big trick I do is only wash my bike with Dawn dish washing soap, too many high tech soaps have additives that the brakes do not agree with. Good Luck and please message me if I can help you.

[@skeds9512]

I like my sram guide :)

[@jacol9990]

Christopher Kytle machanicals can be just a good you just need to get good ones

[@at-teclonetrooper2482]

Those Shimano brakes in the video are very reliable though.. used to had those then upgraded to xt , could not feel the difference

[@Shyzah]

Imo v brakes are the best they get me the most girls

[@thrustvectoring8120]

V brakes aint got nothin on spoon brakes! Now these get you real bitches! V and discs are shit, ain't good for nuthin, spoons rock!

[@kris8263]

Your grandma doesn't count bro ;)

[@nigween2951]

Y'all all wimps, I go brakeless, chainless, and seatless

[@kris8263]

lol

[@Kostas283]

Nigween i go bikeless

[@richardshirey586]

Best move ever ripped hydralic off put in trash put on set of mechanical disc no problems strong brakes good in cold weather and heavy brakin. Ill never run hydros again .

[@MrMccurley]

Am building an E-fatbike, set up as a land crawler. Made the mistake of buying a Juin Tech DB-1 hydraulic system. After watching several videos on how to bleed Shimano and SRAM/Avid systems, I've decided to eat that cost and go with something that does not require the most idiotic bleeding procedures I've ever seen. This video clinched it for me. Thank you...

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome. The mechanical brakes will have the same stopping power, and will be a lot more reliable and lower maintenance. The only difference is that you have to pull the lever a little harder when you want to stop, but I don’t find that to be an issue at all with my bike.

[@nigween2951]

Modulation is better with hydraulics. You definitely do not want to lock up brakes. Hydraulics give you more control on how much power you can apply before you lock up. The low lever pull force that you mentioned is a big one. The harder you have to press, the more arm pump you get. Hydralucs can be pressed with one finger while stopping you with a tremendous amount of force. In my experience, mechanical takes more force, I usually have to use two fingers with mechanicals.

[@coen8323]

If you bought a new or a properly maintained bike the hydraulic disc brakes are more reliable and need less maintenance and have waaaaay more stopping power

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Mr Cow you are definitely right about the power, but the reliability is questionable. My sons friends with their mountain bikes always have to go to the pro shop and get the bled when we go riding, and most of them have really high and set ups, but at some point the hydraulic brakes stop working. It happened to me this weekend in big bear with my rear brake. I think it would’ve been happier if it was mechanical, and I could trust it.

[@maxlancaster665]

I have owned my bike with hydraulic brakes for about two years now. Never once have I had to bleed them. They are no high end brakes but they are way stronger than any mechanical brakes I know.

[@maxlancaster665]

Might I also say that I only need one finger to lock up the wheels

[@mtbboy1993]

he is not right about the power, the power depends on the size of pad surface, dual piston mechanical brake with as much pad surface, and exact rotors, & properly set up, should perform as well, the Rotor heat dissipation, where floating rotors make a huge difference, properly sized pistons, will make a difference too, because of more even force applied.

[@mtbboy1993]

with dual piston mechanical brakes you can use one finger if they are set up properly, I can do a stoopie with one finger with my TRP Spyke.

[@cracka5431]

When you become more experienced as a mountainbiker and ride more than one pair of cheap hydraulic brakes..... You'll realise how invalid every one of your arguments were.

[@michaelzschoche2746]

Cracka I'm confused on your comment. Are you saying sheep hydraulic brakes are bad or good? I got a Trek Xcaliber 7 2018. It came with entry level hydraulic brakes at least I think they're entry level. Did I make a bad decision? Are you saying that entry level hydraulic disk brakes are better than this guy says, or worse? Please explain in detail. I'm a noob!!

[@ctgaming168]

he meant this guy in the video only use one pair of cheap hydro brakes. the mid tier hydro brake are way more reliable than mechanical brake. ive got mid tier hydro disc brakes on my road bikes. I will never go mechanical again.

[@DualDesertEagle]

@@michaelzschoche2746 He said that proper hydraulic brakes are a crapton better than the cheap sh!tty ones that the guy in this video is talkin' a out and invalidate every single one of his counter points, and I can only agree! I've been using hydraulic brakes for YEARS now and I've even had some cheap ones that never failed on me! I won't ever go back to mechanical brakes unless it's the only option for my purpose, and I have yet to find a purpose that I can't use hydraulic brakes for! I even ditched the sh!tass V-brakes on my cheap bike and installed hydraulic rim brakes instead coz that bike doesn't have the mounts for any disc brakes.

[@officialanorak584]

In my opinion hydraulic is the way to go. I bought a new MTB recently with hydraulic brakes and it just feels like there is so much more force applied

[@Ineedahandle75]

I think he pretty much hit the nail on the head with this video.

[@emiliafogelberg5911]

I went from Hayes MX5 mechanical to Hayes Dominion hydraulic. Why didn’t I do it sooner. The difference is huge. They are so much lighter touch and easier to dose the power with smoother breaking and no more locking up wheels.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re right that it is an easier pole. That really does make a big difference if you’re doing a lot of braking. For regular riding around town, I don’t notice the difference, but when we do downhill mountain, biking with the ski lift taking us up the hill, mechanical brakes, make your hands tired by the middle of the day.

[@KitariItsSomethingRottenHere]

*The first bike I bought had mechanical disc brakes, after that I bought one with Hydraulic and the difference in the perfomance is inmese, the response of the Hydraulic ones is amazing, I can go 40 KM/H and stop suddenly without issues.*

[@gyorgyt.2246]

I can go 50 KM/H and stop suddenly without issues with mechanical :D

[@anobarijeljairobernardxiii6425]

going with mechanical my reasons: 1.Less maintenance im broke🤣😅😑😐 2.no fluids 3.no leakage 4.im just in my big grandparents house 5.I dont know where to buy fluids becuz im a kid 11 years old 6.not that expensive 7.I dont go to fast

[@ScoutJoe]

8. if you crashed and got your break cable tangled up or something you just need to replace the cable which couldn't said the same thing for hyrdraulic brakes

[@t.sb_0570]

9. Mechanical disc brakes weigh absolutely nothing 10. They always work, even if your cables are damaged. They don’t leak, they just got damaged and need replacing some day

[@thirdysantos7916]

hahaha funny

[@lucianoflores4273]

Finally, someone said about the benefits of mechanical brakes. They do not loose much their power during long descents by overheating. They are not perfect, but works very well to me.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. That’s what I thought when I made the video, but 95% of the people on the Internet disagree. I think mechanical brakes are fine for most casual bike riding, and they are lower maintenance than hydraulics.

[@hydrogen5149]

@tom lewis Well... If you think about it, not every rider is a mountain biker. Almost everybody I know has a department store bike, without any disk brakes. Mechanical disk brakes are a cheap alternative for people that don't want to do much serious riding. And, they are a bit more versatile. Replacing the cable is a lot easier than having a brake bleed kit on you at all times. If the brake hose gets cut, it's fine, whereas on a hydraulic system, the brake is now useless until the hose is fixed or replaced. Then, you have to bleed. Despite being weaker, mechanical disk brakes appeal to a much wider audience of bikers while being reliable enough for some use. Both have their highs and lows.

[@hydrogen5149]

@tom lewis Like I said, cars and motorbikes undergo very DIFFERENT conditions. They weigh a lot more, so they need more powerful brakes to stop. Plus, both go at much higher speeds, also making it harder to stop. For mountain bikes, mechanical disk brakes hold up fine. Hydraulic brakes are better for those that have a commitment for the sport. Those that only go riding once in a while (aka everyone else) will prefer something that works moderately well and doesn't require special maintenance. Besides, cars actually use drum brakes, which are entirely different and require hydraulics in the first place. Plus, the average car isn't driving up a mountain with rocks and doing descents.

[@hydrogen5149]

@tom lewis Yeah, but as I stated BEFORE, not everybody NEEDS those brakes. Seriously, this isn't hard to understand. That's like spending money on a Lamborghini when you just need a normal car. Not everybody needs hydraulic disk brakes.

[@hydrogen5149]

@tom lewis I never said they were better, but they each have their respective "domains."

[@Jonathan-jq5cl]

Exactly what I’ve been thinking, I want I low maintenance reliable breaking system even if the preformance is slightly lower.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Exactly. A lot of people disagree with me in the comments, but I still think mechanical has a lot of benefits.

[@ronlaverdiere]

Not sure why you would want something if it reliably breaks. I think the entire point of a low maintenance braking system is that it does not break often.

[@ak_nolan533]

Look up a video on how hydrolics work. You might also like to know that good mountain bikers don’t need to “lock out the brakes”. It is more effective to have a smooth stop rather than skidding (you will stop quicker without skidding)

[@bryanjudefernandez2195]

I prefer mechanical because you don't need to care for it. Once it's gone , it's so fucking cheap to replace

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Bryan Jude Fernandez That is true. They are definitely cheaper and require less maintenance. If you want optimum super high performance, then you have to go hydraulic.

[@Cakeborb]

I don't know where you got the idea that they're less maintainance, I'm a bike mechanic and bleed the brakes on my high-end bike one time a year, but only the ones with sram brakes. Generally, cheap hydraulic brakes don't get bled for many years because they don't need it. Meanwhile I replace brake cables and adjust cable actuated disc brakes all the time, they work for 1 or 2 normal, non-aggressive rides before the cable stretches or frays, especially for a 210 lbs rider like me. Meanwhile the shimano deore xt brakes on my stumpjumper have never been bled and they can stop me on a dime going downhill even with relatively small 160mm rotors.

[@bryanjudefernandez2195]

im not per say a bike mechanic because i dont work yet, still studying but i know my bikes pretty well , i fix my bike myself , in malaysia , bike mechanics are rip off merchants . my bike also stops like from 20 kmh to 0 in 2.5 sec it depends on the pads an tension of cable. however hydraulics are very good but my personal preferance it of course mechanical

[@leonkruslin302]

Bryan Jude Fernandez Id rather protect my spine and stick to hydraulic, never cheap out on braked

[@michaelcrawford2726]

One thing you didnt mention is that sometimes is better to have only 1 finger on the brake, and hydralic allows you to lock up with one finger where you might not be able to with mechanical.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Michael Crawford yes. Very true. There is a lot less lever effort. You don’t notice it much on short rides, but when I do downhill all day, the hydraulics are definitely better in terms of lever effort and arm fatigue.

[@Mike-pi6rv]

This. Needing only 1 finger covering the brake leaves (for most people) 4 fingers on the bars to deal with rough terrain at high speed.

[@charlielewis7191]

those are the lowest end hydraulic brakes you can get and nearly cost the same as the mechanical ones

[@davidsenay2811]

I agree... My bike brake went out on my hydraulic brakes and now I'm trying to learn how to fix it

[@TheTravelingThomas]

As a pro bike mechanic and a hydraulic mechanic for the military, I can promise you that the hydraulic disc brakes are better fir a variety of reasons. MUCH smoother, cleaner, and an upgraded ride feel than the traditional and outdated mechanical brakes.

[@cazacdamian7141]

are they expensive to maintain?

[@jaycoops9026]

The hose on my Shimano brakes burst downhill so my Carrera Vulcan now has mechanical brakes

[@hoohoohoblin]

After riding downhill with both types of brakes, I trust the mechanicals more. Hydraulics do have less lever effort and better feel.

[@bruta]

yeah I'm gonna stick to mechanicals :D

[@ronlaverdiere]

Yeah, but cable or hydraulic?

[@michalk7561]

I have same hydraulic breaks never had any problems with them I think they kick ass for the money.

[@koss9488]

Why should I have to change the brake fluid on a freaking bicycle every year while no vehicle maker requires a yearly fluid change interval?

[@hoohoohoblin]

Exactly! My cable disc brakes just work all the time with a little bit of adjustment every once in a while. The hydraulics get squishy and require bleeding or additional fluid to keep working right. The Shimano brakes on the green bike are pretty easy to add fluid to, but it’s still inconvenient and dangerous when they go squishy in the middle of a downhill ride.

[@dexietyy7922]

I prefer cable ones they just seem more effective and seem to last me longer if you keep them lubed up you won’t have a problem I never do...

[@hoohoohoblin]

That’s what I was thinking when I made this video, but most people disagree with me. I think if you have a bike that you plan to keep for years and don’t ride very often, it’s more likely that hydraulic brakes will get spongy and needs servicing then cable brakes do.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

@@hoohoohoblin People who have a bike with hydraulic brakes - which are more expensive - will never admit that a cheaper type of brake has its advantages as well . . . because they will feel guilty that they spent the extra money on the hydros. I use Tektro mechanical brakes on my MTB and they give me more stopping power than I will ever need. I don't have weak hands and I don't need to use one finger only to brake either. I have five fingers on each hand, and using 2 of them for braking seems quite reasonable to me :-) I liked the video well done!

[@samguan5236]

I recently upgraded my mechanical to hydraulic. My first impression is that mechanical is just as powerful as the hydraulic, not sure why many are saying mechanical is not powerful enough. Maybe it’s not adjusted properly? The best thing which makes my upgrade worth it is the lever feel which mechanical cannot match, it’s very refined and you’re not feeling the cable friction/tension whatsoever.

[@hoohoohoblin]

That’s exactly right. Both have the same stopping power, but a hydraulic lever is a lot easier to pull then a mechanical lever.

[@robbae9307]

I have a road bike with wired brakes, and my hands get tired after a while from using them when racing, but my dads hydraulic one doesn’t tire you out as much. i also have a hybrid bike (trek DS) with hydraulic brake. i haven’t encountered an issue with them yet, and they’re rlly good. i guess i’m fine with the higher maintenance if my hands don’t have to be stiff at the end of the day

[@k9keo]

Watching this I didn’t know there were 2 types. Thanks for the review.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@Thvich1]

Disagree, i have mechs and hydro in my two bikes, the Shimano deore are just another world compared to my mech, going fast downhill the deores are just flawless meanwhile the mechs are terrible

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Thvich1 hydraulics are great when they’re working, but we’ve had problems with them on various bikes. The bike in the video is an entry-level hydraulic brake bike, but on my sons friends high-end hydraulic brake bikes, they’ve also had problems. I bought a brake bleeding kit and some oil, so we can fix it at the bottom of the mountain when we need to, but the scary thing is when your brakes stop working in the middle of a downhill run. That happened to me yesterday, and it was not fun.

[@xanderfpv2629]

hoohoohoblin maybe because your sons friend doesn't know how to look after them, and actually I'd say there is more to go wrong with the mechanical because dirt can easily get in and jam crap up and if the cable is bent it will cause friction and that means you'll have to put more effort into braking, a well looked after hydraulic brake will always outperform a mechanical braking system no matter how nice and clean you keep it even on High end mechanical braking systems which you won't find because people realize that hydraulic is the way to go.

[@Steve-yr5vi]

I've got deore hydraulic brakes on my bike, I've changed the pads once (last year) and that is it, going on 4 years. I ride quite a bit, alot of fast tight trails, though not mountain descents. I've taken spills with them, bent the handle bars, ripped off the rear shock switch. I've never had a single issue with the hydraulic brakes. What I like about this is them are so easy and quick, "1 finger brakes", it makes for a fun day, I do not worry about not being able to stop exactly as I want too. On note: if you notice you are pulling further, change the pads, they are cheap and you don't risk wearing through them.

[@Edwordless]

I’m having so many issues with my Shimano hydraulic system. Shops don’t seem to bleed them well, so they’re spongy and fail. I bled them myself and got all the air bubbles out, but the front one exploded! Turns out the ceramic piston was shattered. Replaced it and got things all put together and it felt great. After one ride they are leaking again. Meanwhile, I can still jump on my Jamis from 2003 with mechanical disk brakes and stop no problem, without ever even replacing the cables, and rarely lubing them! I’m about to switch out the hydraulic for cables, or else just go back to using my feet!

[@hoohoohoblin]

I agree. I learned how to bleed the Shimano brakes, and they’re working OK now, but definitely less reliable and require more maintenance than mechanical brakes.

[@paimei6798]

Awesome feed back I also have the mechanical they are avid bb7 ballbearing works great once dialed in but are super adjustable I'm now working on my front forks getting those manatou makhors 100mm I have a 26"frame small trials mostly commuter bike every day rain sleet hail got several tires and carbon bars stem n seat post great job on reviews alot of people get away from this sport once they start seeing prices but remember some big box bikes are now equivalent to what people mtb racers where riding when this sport started bro with your bike add parts as needed main focus should be skills and assembly thanks for another great post

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. A lot of people really hate this video. I appreciate the positive comment. I think the mechanical brakes are fine for most purposes, and I probably better than really cheap hydraulic brakes. The Manitou Markhor fork works really well when we ride the bike on downhill trails. I like it better than the Rockshox Recon on the other bike. You will be really happy with it.

[@chewygad7899]

While pointing directly at the Name logo: “System so crappy it doesn’t have a name on it”

[@jimcamp2423]

Mine came with hydraulic and a 2015 bike bought in May 2016 and ridden easy until Nov 2017 and both front & rear hydraulics went out within weeks of each other. First it was the rear, then front. Fortunately the brakes are warrantied for life for leaks. But to take advantage of it you have to send them back for a swap. End of the day, I bought an inexpensive mechanical kit front & rear that uses Avid BB5/BB7 brake pads. I'd love to see a real test of the difference in stopping distance between the two types of disc brakes. I lean towards what the video does, Mechanical aren't going to have hydraulic failure. Hydraulic failures do give you a little warning, they get spongy, and will pump up. Mine use DOT 4 brake fluid, others use mineral oil. That said DOT 4 absorbs moisture and will become contaminated easier. And then you're getting a kit of syringes to burp & bleed the lines. Totally more effort and expense than I want from a reliable and inexpensive bicycle braking system. We'll see how the mechanicals perform vs the hydraulics. Like I post here, I'd like to see the same cyclist ride the same models of bike equipped with each brake system at 20 mph and see which brakes stop the bike first in terms of feet. I've seen comparison on all kinds of road conditions and at same speed, disc vs rim and there is a difference, but don't recall whether it was hydraulic disc or mechanical cable disc vs the mechanical cable rim brakes. That video had SRAM Red disc & rim road brakes, so I'm almost sure the discs were hydraulic. That comparison was on identical model road bikes anyway with the brakes and riders being the only difference. I have to assume the cyclists were about the same weight ? But that would make a difference too if they weren't.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Jim Camp I would expect them to both stop equally well, if the bike is the same weight, the tires are the same, and the rider is the same person. Both hydraulic and mechanical brakes have enough power to lock up the wheels and skid at full speed, so power isn’t an issue.

[@ccwshoreline]

For bikes mechanical far superior (and cheaper). For cars, which need balanced force at all four wheels the hydraulic system is superior.

[@FuttBucker42069]

100% depends on what you’re seeking to get out of a system. And 100% agree with the guy in the video Quick, dirty and reliable (plus a low cost) > “sealed system”, especially if you don’t NEED it. Purely from maintenance perspective - the less complicated the system is, the easier it is to fix. “Shitty” brakes are better than no brakes.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Exactly! Thanks.

[@YashSharma-oj3lh]

I have mechanical disk brakes... 7 years already... i didnt have any problem with it... its more reliable..

[@hoohoohoblin]

I agree.

[@coreypierce4888]

I've owned a few bikes, the first decent one I had came with the same shimano hydro brakes that are on that bike and they work decent. I moved to a newer XC bike with avid elixer 5 and they work better but not super better. I then got a dirt jumper with bottom line sram guide levers and i can say with absolute certainty, nicer brakes will make a huge difference. I even rode my first decent bike because I sold it to a friend, and it had almost no braking power compared to the srams.

[@shmvon]

I'm not a mountainbiker but on a road bike I stand up on the pedals to catch more wind and that slows down enough. You can also open your shirt or raincoat. Not saying brakes don't matter but this is what sailors do if the sea level drops.

[@bikebuzzards4446]

You can also snap a cable with mechanical brakes and it sucks when you do.

[@richardthomas8832]

or puncture a hose,, snag that shit on something and rip it free. I prefer the tuck and roll method of stopping.. brakes are for pussies

[@ScoutJoe]

mechanical disc brake cable are easier to replace provided you have an extra cables with you unlike the hydraulic brakes it can be messy with bleeding etc

[@colinfraser369]

If the hydraulics are constantly losing pressure either they are not bled correctly/well, and or the fluid needs changing. Less likely is is that you are simply under braked for the trails you are riding and they are seriously over heating, possibly up rating the pads and rotors would help failing that an up grade of the entire system. The main benefit of hydraulics over mechanical's apart from contrary to the video that they need less maintenance or adjustment, is the lower effort required and greater modulation meaning one finger braking is possible leaving the rest of the riders fingers secure around the grips. This makes a huge difference to the feeling of control on steep rough decent's and it is far safer being less likely to slip off the bars.

[@cadong92692]

have both; hydraulic brakes are self adjusting whereas mechanical brakes need make adjustments at the outer bound and inner bound side of the brake pad NOT the cable

[@egeayvala1799]

i know for dirt jumping people who do mad tailwhips and barspins need hydralic ones cause cables will be too long and like it wont have stopping power

[@mechreports1]

I have hydraulic brakes on my MTB, i have had high end cable brakes and hydraulic brakes. i can say for sure that the hydraulic brakes have much better stopping power, are easy to pull on, very low maintenance and in my case they self adjust so they "Set themselves up" for me. today i bled them for the first time in about 4 years and thats all i have ever had to do with them (pads changed of course) but other than that no maintenance. They work so well, cable driven is not too bad i had a good set that i had to mess about with alot and even replace the cable at one point. there is much more to go wrong on cable driven IMO. the cable can come loose and be dangerous as it slips, there is alot of adjusting that needs to be done to get it right. the bleed procedure is simple on most brakes now and so it makes maintaining them alot easier. plus the whole system is lubricated including the pistons via the oil, so this means you rarely have to grease them unlike the cable driven. each to their own i guess but 4 years on my brakes and done little to no maintenance, and i dont have to fiddle about with them on the trail as the non existent cable does not come loose. that was my big gripe about the high end cable brakes i had, yes hydraulic is more expensive but i think they work great and require little maintenance from the end user and are reliable. seems a shame you guys had a bad experience with them as they can be really good, i wont ever go back to cable thanks for the video by the way :)

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks for the good info. I think what happened to us was that we got the cheapest possible hydraulic brakes. I bet they more expensive ones are great. And we were using the bike for downhill riding at a bike park, so the brakes got really hot and faded.

[@georgiaguardian4696]

Great points! I am trying to figure out what's the best for my son's breaks. pros and cons are really helpful.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks

[@ronlaverdiere]

The brakes that work will help prevent your son's breaks.

[@tohhanshen2905]

I have the exact same hydraulic brakes and had the same spongy problem while riding down bumpy trails. Got the air bubbles out and that fixed the problem.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Yes. Bleeding will fix it. I bought the Shimano bleeding kit, and these brakes need bleeding about once a year.

[@tohhanshen2905]

@@hoohoohoblin that's considered bleeding? Bleeding doesn't involve flushing the system?

[@ibrahimjoshkun2503]

I'll go with the MECHANICAL BRAKES 💯👌🏼👍🏼

[@Azzooooooo]

Dont

[@carsonNTSL]

No dont

[@ronlaverdiere]

Hydraulic brakes are still mechanical. The difference is between how the mechanical brake is activated. Hydraulic or cable.

[@diobrando754]

You have air in the system . That's why you have spongy brakes

[@ronlaverdiere]

Or moisture. If they are using DOT brake fluid like a car does. That kind of fluid absorbs moisture from the air. Moisture in the lines is compressible which makes brakes feel spongy. Excessive moisture can even cause the brakes to completely fail. That is why, with cars, manufacturers recommend a full fluid flush every 2 years - which very few people actually ever do.

[@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles]

For you off roaders, downhill riders, mountain bikers I can see why you might prefer mechanical. But for us that ride on asphalt, basically street use only, hydraulic can not be beat. They work well, without adjusting or bleeding and have superior stopping ability.

[@jesse-dg8yx]

I think the biggest issue is the cable stretching especially when you really need to pull on them whereas the fluid will apply all the force given to it and be a lot more efficient.

[@Metal-Possum]

Cables don't actually stretch. The individual strands are pulled tighter together though which allows the cable to elongate, but this only happens after the initial install at most, and it's a very minor amount. I think where a cable actually changes its length is when the housing caps aren't fully seated, or the housing itself compresses. You can fix both of those problems by using compressionless housing and squeezing the brake lever firmly once it's installed to snug the housing caps on.

[@realkilju]

In my bike i have hydraulic disc brakes i have never maintenaced them in 2 years and they still work perfectly

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Xantteboy That is good. You should check the brake pads and bleed them pretty soon.

[@johnm91326]

How often do you slam on the brakes fully? Hydrolic brakes require much less force in normal use than cable ones, especially if you don't use the worst possible ones to use in your comparison

[@tutorielsvtt9281]

Hydraulic Disc Brakes The Better

[@e-gasaddiction8153]

I was looking for that video. Recently I bought a mosso legarda 1824 hydraulic by shimano. but I found out that I'm 250lbs and hydraulic brakes did great job stopping me. even I done stoppies.

[@Change-Maker]

Another point: Mechanical brakes are screeching annoying sound... hydraulic are quiet and smooth...

[@njayrarangol4885]

Yes

[@traviswest2546]

If you find a deal on these....avid bb7 with juicy levers (the adjustable levers) with 203 rotors....no issues going on 6 years....XC riding of course. I found with hydraulic (shimano slx/xt) if you have any air bubbles you will get the sponge feeling and the modulation is still better with my mechanical....makes me think that a lot of the hydraulic hype is just a sales pitch...

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Travis West You are 100% correct. My son just bought a dirt jump bike with avid BB seven brakes on it, and everything about them looks really really good. The adjustability is built right onto the caliper, the cable is sturdy, and you always know exactly what it’s going to do. If I were going to build a bike today from scratch, I would put avid BB seven brakes on it.

[@simplymtb3088]

Why the fuck do u have 203 rotors on an xc bike

[@traviswest2546]

Bc I do pretty hardcore xc/all mountain and with a 203 front rotor I can feather the break/modulate my speed with out putting a death grip on the break lever for better control (my total rider weight with all my gear and crap is approximately 210lbs)

[@traviswest2546]

Brake#

[@simplymtb3088]

Travis West so your saying you have downhill brakes on an xc bike when most enduros have either 203/180 or 180/160 and also they weigh a shit tonne more

[@Ryan-hp6xt]

Hydraulic brakes have to be bled from time to time. Good pre trail maintenance is to bleed them and add fluid if needed, then you'll be good for the day. I'm really used to hydraulic brakes from my ATV's and Dirt Bikes, so no big deal to me. They work fantastic. But I have a specialized, maybe a lil higher quality.

[@SERGUMUM]

I use a 1994 Scott Racing. V brake. No suspension. Ritchey!. It works for normal cycling. I do not do down hill. For me hydroloc sounds motorbike. Bikes must be simple and reliable if you trek. I prefer 3 plates so 21-24 gears. Reliability.

[@joshharper5207]

Have you never heard of topping up your hydrolic brakes with fluid?

[@sihilius]

So you take extra bike fluid on a quick bike tour on a Sunday afternoon? Possibly spill it over your hands and eat afterwards or just cycle home with your oily hands? Sorry, not for me.

[@Clearanceman2]

I've got bikes with both and the mechanicals do stop fine. But it is much more work and way crappier feel. A lot more anxiety if you have to stop fast.

[@ethankeadle9745]

You said "pump it up" rather than bleed. What are you riding pneumatic? While that would be absolutely awesome since pneumatics are very interesting, the reality is that hydraulics are the way to go for biking. The stopping power and the feel, an unstoppable combo. Not to mention it is generally a cooler system to understand and screw around with. Hell, I threw on a pedal and hydraulic car disc brake system to my bike. After I balanced the heavy discs which were placed on the right of each wheel, combined 40 pounds, I began to ride. I tell you when I pressed that brake pedal, I damn near flew off the bike like ET...... my bike stopped in just 4 inches.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Oh by pumping it up I meant squeeze the brake lever a bunch of times to build up some pressure on the brakes. When there are bubbles in the system, you sometimes have to squeeze a lever a bunch of times before the brakes activate.

[@unogazzy84]

I agree with you. That's why I'm gonna buy the TRP Spyke brake caliper.

[@hoohoohoblin]

I just took a look at their website. That sounds like a good unit.

[@unogazzy84]

The only thing I don't like about it is how the mechanical pad adjuster works. On every mechanical brake calliper I've used, there have been a click-system, like on the Avid BB7. On the TRP spyke, it have only a screw, on both sides, with loctite on. It still has a lot of good reviews though.

[@alexpetree2038]

I bought I used talon 0 29er from 12, and it's hydraulic avid juicy 1s work flawlessly. Hydraulic brakes work as well as you treat them. And trust me, this bike wasn't taken care of in the best way. It has rust on its shifters and lots of chips.

[@dzonibravo7867]

I ride V brakes about 10 years and I've never had to bleed them.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Yes. You’ll never need to bleed those. They’ll just work forever.

[@wumboIogist]

Best brakes are Ramming Brakes. Just ram people! it's free, environmental friendly and no installation or maintenance needed. 100% recommend

[@veeplegaming9125]

With the hydraulic disc brakes you probably had to rebleed it looks like it hasn’t been bled in a year

[@hoohoohoblin]

Yes. This one needs to be bled a lot. We weren’t expecting to have to bleed it or change the oil very often. Hydraulic brakes are a lot more maintenance intensive than the mechanicals. That makes them a little bit dangerous, because when we were riding downhill at a bike park, they got really spongy and faded a lot.

[@schrunken]

I bougt a Focus MTB back in 2004, Magura Julie hydraulic discbrakes. The bike has been used regularly and the only thing I had to do with the brakes was changing the pads.

[@fujiuser1968]

Great video with some good points..I still use Avid BB5 on the rear and BB7 on the front,matched with Avid SD7 levers,which means I can adjust reach,bite point and the lever pull ratio (never seen that on hydraulics) ,sure I get a little arm pump but I can feel everything the brakes are doing,to me hydraulics are like a switch,well the Shimano 1s I tried were :-)

[@hoohoohoblin]

That’s a good set up. My bike has the really cheap mechanical brakes, but I know that the higher end ones are really good.

[@MitchellEgle]

I heard that the hydraulics in cold weather below 35 degrees don't work I think if you're riding a bike that is less than 150 lbs mechanical brakes are just fine. I agree a waste of money along with high maintenance issues it's not worth it.. But I'm sure there are some good uses for them but not for your every day biking needs..As with all disc brakes one should never pull on the front brake lever to fast & to hard let alone hydraulics respond much faster & may result in flip overs the worst type of falls of face plants... Nice vid of info thanks for sharing...

[@tastemysaucer]

I'm thinking of swapping my hydraulic brakes for mechs because I find the bleeding such a difficult task, and there isn't a proper bike shop for a looong way

[@thexardas8395]

I think it is not about Hydraulic vs Mechanica but rather about a quality of your breaks to begin with. I have 20 years old bike with Magura hydraulic breaks and it is probably one part of the bike I never had any problems but it was top of the line breaks at that time. You can't expect $30 Hydraulic to work like $300 hydraulic and obviously $30 mechanical breaks are better quality component vs $30 hydraulic breaks.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+The Xardas Yes. I think that’s true. Both of the bikes in this video have the cheapest possible breaks, hydraulic and mechanical, and at that price point, the mechanicals are more reliable.

[@MrMarfy131]

Few points from me: mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes are similar in stopping power. But bike control si much better if you can use one finger. Yes hydraulic disc brakes needs bleeding. They start feeling spongy when overheat. My opnion is mechanical are pretty good for somebody at entry level bike. If you are thinking about something better go for hydraulic brakes - shimano SLX and higher and buy icetech rotors and pads (i dont know which brakes from sram have good fading resistance so i cant recommand this way :) )

[@hoohoohoblin]

+MrMarfy131 you are correct. The experience of using hydraulic brakes is much better if you have some expensive ones. The ones on this bike are some of the cheapest ones you can get, and when we do eight hours at a downhill bike park, they tend to fade, whereas the mechanical ones are consistent all the time. You are correct that hydraulic ones are a lot easier to squeeze, and at the end the day after eight hours of using mechanical brakes, my arms are pretty tired.

[@chrisbow1776]

I am a complete novice with bikes, but considering buying a mountain bike with hydraulic brakes. I am curious, why you would need to frequently bleed the brakes? With a car etc you don't bleed the brakes unless you have opened the brake system and replaced the hydraulic oil, why would you need to on a bike?

[@hoohoohoblin]

Good question. I don’t know the answer, but we have to bleed them often.

[@petar2319]

Hydraulic brakes do not require much more maintenance for the stopping power they deliver especcialy going downhill.I have shimano tektro groupset on my bike which is the low quality end of the hydraylic spectrum and in 5 years of use I still run them withouth changing the oil.However i dont recomend this,i think you should repleace it at least once in a year or two but for all the power you get with them they really require no maintance there are not cables like in the mehanichal disk brakes which must be replaced very often and downhills are the real places when you will see the diference

[@rniejx4219]

Not to be a snob, but you are adjusting the mech brakes wrong (you are supposed to adjust the caliper for pad wear, cable adjustments are for cable stretch, adjusting the cable arm changes leverage on the actuator arm and makes the brake pull force change for the worse) which tells me the issues with hydros you have is also likely due to incorrect maintenance. Hydros are better. I run a hydro front and mech rear because I like the modulation each offers ( I also run a 203mm rotor rear and a 185 front since the rears heatsoak more), and the hydro is much lower maintenance when serviced with the correct tools/knowledge.

[@henrywilson9909]

I love my hydrolic disc brakes they are amazing

[@certicarsuk]

Can anyone give me any tips on buying a mountain bike with disc brakes I don't mind which ones but on a budget of 180 pounds and this is a little thing which I would like is the gears to be one of those thumb and index finger paddles rather than the other rubber things and I know my budget is way too tight

[@ammerudgrenda]

Mechanical brakes are simpler, cheaper and more reliable. Requires less maintenance and expertise too.

[@hoohoohoblin]

I agree. A lot of people disagreed with me after I made this video, but I still think mechanical is simpler, cheaper, and more reliable. There is less lever effort with hydraulics though. When they’re working properly.

[@botonja]

I agree completely. I recently bought a used cross country bike with hydraulics and they are driving me crazy. They are too spongy and I thought they needed a fix. I visited every mechanic in my town and they told me that the brakes are perfectly fine and good as new. I also tried the super expensive brakes on my friends' bikes and they felt even worse. I really miss my old rock solid mechanical brakes. Cheap, reliable, strong and easy maintenance. The guy in the video is right, hydraulics are maybe just for DH riders who need to break constantly over the steep trails

[@hoohoohoblin]

+botonja thanks for commenting on this video. Most people are hating on me for liking mechanical brakes. We’ve had to do a lot of work on my sons bike Sprague’s, and his friends bikes hydraulic brakes just to keep them working properly. I think mechanical brakes would’ve been much better. There are companies who make really good mechanical brakes, and they aren’t cheap, but they work great. My son has avid BB seven brakes on his dirt jump bike, and they are really nice. Much better than ones on my bike in the video.

[@rbmtbjim]

All I can say is try bombing down Heartbreak ridge in North Carolina with mech brakes. With my SLX hydros just needed one finger on each brake lever. With mech brakes that would never work ( talking from experience). I have also found my hydros to be way less maintenance.

[@mainzman7239]

Obviously you have your reasons for coming to this conclusion but hydraulic are certainly more powerful and a lot easier to modulate. I've been using them for about 17 years and have had no problems at all. They are more pricey than cable operated but that's also down to the fact that there aren't any high end cable ones, Shimano don't do XTR calipers with a cable for instance. Don't be afraid to buy used, as long as they're in decent condition they'll be as good as new ones. There are plenty of gear freaks who buy the latest wonder brake and sell perfectly usable ones on, you can pick up some good bargains if you look around a bit. Bleeding them is basic maintenance and if you're unable to do it then I'd suggest having a look at some of the how-to videos posted, it's an easy job, you even have Shimano brakes which are easier to do than Avid. I don't want to sound like an overblown lecturer but doing your own maintenance is very satisfying and takes very little time. There are tons of videos around showing you how to do anything, the Park Tools ones are excellent. And that rear shifter cable made me wince, such a huge loop hanging out the back of your bike is just begging to get snagged on something.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Mainz Man Thanks. That all makes good sense. I just figured we could get through more than a few months using the hydraulics before they got all spongy, and that they wouldn’t have to be bled two or three times a year. The scariest part was that they would work fine and then start to fail while riding downhill. We bought a bleeding kit, so now we can do it ourselves.

[@mainzman7239]

It is very strange that they should work fine and become spongy during a ride. Do they get better after a day or so of being unused? It could be that there is air getting into the brake lines from the master cylinder reservoir, perhaps the fluid level is a bit low. Leaving the bike standing for a day or so can give that air time to rise back up the hoses and into the reservoir, thereby making the brakes work OK again. When you ride the bike the fluid sloshes about and, if the level is low, air gets back into the lines and causes problems. It may be that a simple brake fluid level check will sort them. Fingers crossed for you.

[@LukasEkers]

Hydraulic brakes do have their advantages, since pads come in contact from both directions you get much better stoping power and modulation. However, they feel horrible when they are spongy. They are also hell to maintain, especially bleeding where the port holes have to be oriented upright when bleeding and protecting your paint from that very corrosive brake fluid.

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Lukas Ekers that’s what I was thinking when I made this video. A lot of people seem to disagree with me. I guess it depends on what kind of bicyclist you are. For someone who just wants a cheap bike to ride and doesn’t want to do a lot of maintenance, the mechanical brakes make sense and are safer and more reliable. For someone who is really serious about going fast, and doesn’t mind doing maintenance are paying someone to do maintenance, and doesn’t mind spending a lot of money on a bike, hydraulics make more sense.

[@simplymtb3088]

Get shimano brakes mineral oil isnt corrosive

[@LukasEkers]

Shimano's are probably the best when it comes to brakes, they are also much easier to re-bleed with that neat tub and plunger system. But some bikes such as mine come designed with sram in mind, this means it has all kids of matchmakers, making it expensive and unpractical to convert to a different brand of brakes or shifters.

[@simplymtb3088]

Lukas Ekers sucks to be you aha i prefer shimano but everyone has preferences i dont like being locked into a certain brand

[@agee7777]

that not what you said in the video

[@mihaiberbece1998]

I've been riding my Stoke CRX-8 for the second year (season) now and the only maintenance for the Tektro disk brakes was changing the pads. The braking power seems still solid, a little bit dimmed on the rear wheel, due to more usage, to be fair, I assume, however there were no leakings or any other issues. The braking power is consistent and highly reliable, especially when commuting in traffic where, when encountering unexpected situations, immediate breaking saves you from trouble. I tried both mechanical rim and disk brakes and so far, but I would never turn back, over the hydraulic disk brakes.

[@alexbraun2243]

Before I moved to hydraulic disc brakes I had a cantilever on the front and a v-brake on the back and it worked fine... there may be a merit for thinking that you could have a hydraulic in the back and maybe a mechanical one at the front

[@denys2776]

I use mechanical on my gt pantera sport, I ride in NYC, not s professional rider because I just got off a single speed into MTB, but I have 10 years of riding experience on a bicycle, I'm 16, and they require low maintenance, I don't know how to do any trick except 2 stroke lil wheelie but I have got balance when going no hands