In this article I’m going to give you my thoughts on what the best mechanical disc brakes for bikepacking are. Although mechanical disc brakes are a niche compared to their hydraulic counterparts, there is still a pretty substantial number of options to choose from. So let’s head into it.
The major factor of what category of mechanical disc brakes you can choose from is greatly determined by the levers you’re using. With hydraulic disc brakes it doesn’t matter and it’s a best practice to simply pair them up with the levers within the same group for maximum compatibility.
The same is not true for cable-operated disc brakes, where you can basically use any mechanical lever you want. That being said, mechanical disc brakes are divided in short- and long-pull versions, which necessitate a short- or long-pull brake lever respectively.
Road bike levers are always short-pull as far as I know, and mountain bike levers can be both, depending on the length of the lever body and how far you can pull the brake cable before the lever touches the handlebar. A good rule of thumb is that short-pull pull the cable a length which is lower than 30mm, while long-pull go over 30mm.
Another thing to consider are mounting options, which can be post-mount or flat-mount. It makes sense to go for the mount that suits your bike though there are adapters to switch them up. Equally important is the supported rotor size, which usually sits around 160 to 180mm.
I’d say that especially for bikepacking you’re looking at easy setup, easy maintenance, durability, and braking power. In general, putting a pair of mechanical disc brakes onto your bike is a breeze. Depending on the frame, cable management can be somewhat more tricky, especially if your bike has internal cable routing with a fixed exit point that might not be as close to the disc brake arm as you want to.
Mechanical disc brakes have single piston and non-single piston (2 or 4) options. Again, in general, single piston brakes are more simple, which increases durability, are less likely to get stuck because they tend to be larger, but offer less modulation and might run a bigger risk of asymmetric pad wear.
I’d leave it up to you of course, but you might want to argue how important feathering or modulation is for bikepacking, which should be less technical than your average high speed gravel or trail ride. This fact might favor single-piston mechanical disc brakes.
Last but not least is price, and they vary enormously. Keep in mind that some brakes include rotors and bolts, and some brakes don’t need compressionless housing (which is very rare). But the difference in price between them can still be manifold.
And with all that out of the way, let’s see what made it onto my list of the best mechanical disc brakes for bikepacking.
Shimano Altus BR-M375
The Shimano Altus BR-M375 is perfect for people who want to upgrade to disc brakes in general or mechanical disc brakes specifically. They offer remarkable stopping power in the cheapest package available from the Japanese giant component manufacturer.
The disc brake is compatible with your standard long-pull v-brake lever, which is already on your bike or can be had for basically nothing in your local parts bin.
The aluminum body offers a single spring-loaded piston to move the rotor against the standard Shimano brake pads. The fixed side can be adjusted using a standard 3.5mm allen key, and putting in a new pair of pads is as easy as removing the retaining pin, pushing the old pads out, and doing a bit of cleaning before you insert the new ones.
The omnipresence of Shimano and their design philosophy may be a bit bland at times if you want to really spruce up your bike. But aesthetics aside, the value-for-money when looking at a pair of mechanical disc brakes is undeniable.
It can be considered a joke that the compressionless housing needed to get the most out of these brakes is more expensive than the brakes themselves.
The Shimano Altus BR-M375 is the entry-level disc brake that still beats the far majority of other mechanically operated non-disc brakes, while still leaving more than enough money on the table to buy yourself a cup of coffee on your next round.
- Incredible value-for-money for entry-level mechanical disc brakes
- None
Shimano Ultegra BR-CX77
The Shimano Ultegra BR-CX77 is the top choice for mechanical disc brakes from the Japanese giant, since I don’t know of the existence of any Dura-Ace mechanical disc brakes.
Shimano dubs these breaks as being meant for “cyclocross usage”, but I can’t think of any cyclocross-specific riding characteristic that has moved into the design of this brake. And the acceptance of disc brakes in general in the cyclocross community, where cantilever brakes still reign supreme, is disputed.
Wide-profile cantilever brakes are used in cyclocross for their exceptional mud-clearance, and obviously any disc brake, including the BR-XC77, will perform just as admirably in this respect if not better.
They’ve been on the market for ages and follow the traditional design of a fixed inboard pad and a single piston for breaking power, offering a sturdy and bulky look in a very nice-looking shiny gray finish.
At 159 grams for just the caliper, they are among the lightest mechanical disc brakes you can find. A comparatively priced Avid Shorty Ultimate cantilever brake, which doesn’t need a rotor and bolts, weighs 129 grams.
Both pads can be adjusted to even out wear, which is traditionally a bigger issue with single-piston mechanical disc brakes. And this can be done easily enough with 2.5 and 3mm allen keys. The fixed inboard pad is detented, which is a nice touch as well.
I would say that setting up these types of brakes correctly isn’t more involved than setting up your average cantilever brake. And even though mechanical disc brakes are still a very rare occurrence, both Shimano’s guidelines and online tutorials can show you a first-time user the way.
The brakes perform exceptionally well, both in terms of modulation and stopping power. Since you can lock up your wheel when mounted on a gravel bike, there really isn’t much more you could ask for.
The price can be a little deceptive, since it does not include brake rotors. Should you decide to fit a matching Ultegra 160mm, you’re looking at adding around another 100 USD.
- Excellent mechanical disc brakes, with great modulation, and adjustability. Worthy of the Ultegra monniker
- None
SRAM BB7 Road S
The SRAM BB7 Road S are probably just as long on the market as the Shimano BR-CX77. Since SRAM is the biggest competitor of Shimano, a good question is how these brakes stack up to its main competitor.
Although they don’t look the same, in terms of design, they are very similar. The BB7 Road S is also a single-piston mechanical disc brake, featuring a fixed inboard pad and actuated outboard one.
They are also pretty similar in price and weight, with the SRAM one only a couple of grams heavier than its Shimano counterpart. You could argue over which one has the better looks, with the BB7 looking less bulky, and having a sleek black anodized finish with large red dials.
In terms of functionality the BB7 Road S is similar to the non-S version, with the exception of all its hardware being stainless steel. While I have seen people arguing this doesn’t matter, I feel it does for obvious reasons. Bolts will corrode in the long-run, although that long-run might be a decade from now. And I for one would choose this version over the non-stainless steel version all day long.
Although maybe not as snappy as the Shimano ones, the BB7 brakes offer considerable braking power with smooth modulation. And considering the fact you can always team them up with 203mm rotors (if your frame allows it) and sintered brake pads, you will have all the stopping power you need for your average trail and/or road trip.
Apart from pad adjustment, which can be done for both sides, the braking power is up to par with your average hydro running 160mm rotors. With the included installation instructions, setting these brakes up is just as easy as any other mechanical brake, and far more easy than hydraulic disc brakes.
This is one of the key benefits of these types of brakes, since nobody has a bleed kit lying around for anything other than hydraulic brakes, but everybody knows how to use an allen key and a pair of pliers.
- Distinctive looks, with smooth modulation and braking power on par with your average hydro. Nice finish and stainless steel hardware
- None
SRAM BB7 Mountain S
The SRAM BB7 Mountain S is the long-pull version of the SRAM BB7 Road S. Except for the brake arm they are similar.
- See SRAM BB7 Road S
- See SRAM BB7 Road S
Paul Component Post Mount Klamper
The Paul Component Klamper is another instance of a single-piston mechanical disc brake. And the obvious standout feature is the price, if you can call that a feature in the first place.
So what can you say about disc brakes that are almost 3 times as expensive as some excellent alternatives. Not that the return of investment in terms of braking functionality is increased.
Every single item in the Paul Component catalog is way more expensive than similar alternatives. So exactly because these are so expensive do they demand our attention.
If you buy these, you buy them because of their aesthetics and to make a certain statement. Paul Component is sort of an oddity in the bike industry, in that they survived the nineties MTB era, where a lot of other really good component manufacturers died against the Shimano onslaught. Paul Component Engineering almost did the same, but survived nonetheless and has a likable David vs Goliath attitude because of it.
Paul himself states that one of the core advantages of his mechanical disk brakes is that they will outlast every other hydraulic disk brake out there, and judging from the way he manufactured the bulky body, he’s probably right. Adjustment is easy, with smoothly rotating huge dials, which is detented.
Another thing is, that the single-piston setup is indeed the most simple and hardy design for a mechanical disc brake. So these brakes are very easy to pull apart entirely if you wanted to. clean, re-lube, and put back together. There are no plastic components in this brake, which is another sign that the thing is built to last.
The Paul Component Klamper is the biggest, heaviest mechanical disc brake on the market, and its bulky body only houses a single piston. This means that all the moving parts of the piston are larger, more durable, and can offer finer modulation than comparative products. There’s simply more room to move within the piston. From a design perspective I would say this is the biggest benefit of these brakes, and besides its design, would be the key factor when deciding between brakes.
Another big pro is that you do not need compressionless cable housing for these brakes. In fact, Paul Component actually recommends against using them, because they bend less easily and are harder to fit with these brakes. And compressionless housing is very expensive to obtain, so it just made these brakes a bit cheaper to use.
You can buy the brake arm separately, should you be the type of person who’s into swapping out parts. And because Paul Component also supports Campagnolo brakes, you can use these brakes with every brake lever known to man (probably).
The brakes use SRAM Elixir pads, which are probably the most commonly used disc brake pads in the world, which ensures a high degree of compatibility, should you find yourself wanting a pair in the wild.
Besides the price, there’s a lot to love about the Paul Component Klampers, which might make you decide to shell out the extra cash to obtain them.
- No compressionless cable housing needed. Most durable mechanical disc brakes with supreme build quality and aesthetics. Available in many colors
- Very expensive. Bulky body may not fit every frame
Paul Component Flat Mount Klamper
The Paul Component Flat Mount Klamper is the flat-mounted version.
- See post mount version
- See post mount version
TRP Spyre SLC
TRP has a number of excellent mechanical disc brakes in their lineup and the TRP Spyre SLC is their most premium dual-piston short-pull version, which operates purely mechanical (the HY/RD is a hybrid).
There are a number of reasons why you should want this as your go-to mechanical disc brake option for short-pull levers, e.g. road bikes. And there’s a good reason why you should want this more expensive one, over the cheaper TRP Spyre.
The first reason to choose a rather expensive brake, is that it feels very similar to your average hydraulic brake, yet is easier to set up, and easier to maintain. The dual piston action is similar to those found in every other hydraulic brake, and combined with compressionless housing, a necessity for these brakes, offers fantastic stopping power.
Though not the lightest out there, they are indeed very light at 146 grams, courtesy of a carbon fiber brake arm. Yet the brake also includes protective housing for the adjustment bolt that holds the brake pads, which are compatible with standard Shimano ones, in place.
A great feature that decreases the risk of debris, sand, and mud from being sprayed onto and into an area where you definitely do not want it to go. It also means less wear and tear on both pads and rotors, with increased stopping power.
While previously, the inclusion of the carbon brake arm alone couldn’t really justify the increase in price, this added piece of tech in a package which stills weighs less does in my mind, because it improves the brake’s functionality significantly in less than ideal conditions.
When compared to Shimano, and SRAM, these TRP brakes are being offered in a much less in-your-face package, which helps prevent incompatibility that might occur with certain frames.
Even pad wear is the promise of a dual-piston setup, and adjusting the pad alignment is made easier with a barrel adjuster sitting at the lever arm. The adjuster is bigger than where it sits at the arm, and it’s also made out of plastic. So it’s probably not the most long-lasting part of the brake, but barrel adjusters can be had separately.
All in all these disc brakes are probably the best dual-piston disc brakes money can buy.
- Fantastic dual-piston mechanical disc brakes providing long-term control and modulation in less than ideal conditions.
- Compressionless housing needed may make these fairly costly
TRP HY/RD
The TRP HY/RD is a hybrid mechanical disc brake, using a cable operated brake lever to move an oil operated dual-piston setup. These brakes were introduced years ago, when disc brakes on road bikes were just getting started. I’m not entirely sure, but I believe HY/RD stands for “hybrid/road”.
At the time these brakes made using disc brakes easier, since you didn’t need a very expensive brake lever overhaul. However, disc brakes on road bikes have replaced mechanically operated calipers as the go-to standard, so that particular requirement has become almost entirely obsolete.
It begs the question, whether or not these brakes are still relevant and whether you should consider them over the alternatives listed here. Especially since they are very expensive.
There is no doubt that these brakes are absolutely top-notch. Incredible braking power is held up with a forged aluminum body and bakelite pistons, which prevent excessive heat buildup and brake fading on long descents.
People often claim that hydraulic disc brakes always have superior braking power. That may be the case for a well-bled system, but you can’t brake any harder than locking up your wheels, and these brakes can do that and then some.
Dual pistons are easy to adjust and set up, as well as having a hydraulic braking feel to them.
Since these brakes have oil reservoirs, there’s a bleeding process involved. One of the key benefits of pure mechanical disc brakes is that you don’t have to bleed them. So at least the bleeding process for these ones have to be available in terms of tutorials, and easy to perform.
Easy is a relative concept, but at least I can objectively state that it’s much more involved and takes longer. If you’re familiar with bleeding brakes, you’ll know how these work and know what to do. That’s because you’ll need the exact same tools for the exact same steps, from syringes, to allen keys, to bleed blocks. If you don’t, and don’t want to learn, you should want to pay your LBS for it, or simply don’t buy these.
- Superior braking power in a hybrid mechanical disc brake package
- Lost the no-brainer maintenance with the introduction of the oil reservoir. Already expensive brakes need rotors and compressionless housing as well
Juin Tech F1
Unlike established brands like Shimano and SRAM, Juin Tech has managed to establish itself in the mechanical disc brake community on the back of the quality of their products. The Juin Tech F1 is their flat-mount dual piston hybrid mechanical disc brake, which is extremely popular for road, gravel, and cyclocross bikes.
In terms of performance, build quality, and design, it outstrips any other Asian competitor and has become a fan-favorite for online comparisons, hence its inclusion on this list as well.
There are a number of reasons why its popularity is well grounded. For starters, not only are the brakes offered in multiple flashy colors to match your bike, they are also otherwise great-looking brakes, with nice machining and premium looks. They clearly set themselves apart from other brakes, which can be pretty bulky.
Another attractive feature is that you have a dual-piston setup in the lightest body on the market (for the post mount version). At just 148 grams the brake is incredibly light making it an attractive option for people who’re into competitions or are simply attracted to saving as much weight as possible.
Brake feel and modulation is at the top-of-the-line, with only high quality hydro brakes offering a noticeable better performance, as is to be expected. Braking always feels predictable and controlled, and when set up correctly, long descents don’t introduce noticeable fading.
There are a number of things to keep in mind though. Because of the size of the body, the likelihood of decreased performance is higher than with heavier single-piston pure mechanical brakes. The smaller the piston, the quicker they can get stuck when contaminated. So a deep regular clean is recommended, especially after changing pads.
Another thing is that because it’s a hybrid brake common sense suggests that an occasional bleed is also necessary. I see comments floating around the internet that because it’s a closed system, the brake never needs a bleed, but I just don’t buy that. However, the lack of a manufacturer provided bleed procedure does support the notion.
And the last thing is that these brakes are pretty expensive as well for a mechanical brake only manufacturer, but price includes a set of rotors and bolts in multiple lengths. I recommend these if performance is at the top of your list. If you hate maintenance, go for Shimano or Paul Component Klampers.
- Very popular mechanical disc brake in lots of colors with chart-topping brake characteristics in one of the lightest bodies. Rotors are included
- Pretty expensive. High maintenance hybrid brakes that don't offer bleed procedure and have a number of issues assoicated with them.
Juin Tech M1
The Juin Tech M1 is the post mount version. At 142 grams, it’s the lightest mechanical disc brake on the market
- See Juin Tech F1
- See Juin Tech F1
Juin Tech GT-F
If you feel 2 pistons ain’t enough, why not go for 4 with the “grand tour” version of the Juin Tech F1, aptly called Juin Tech GT with an added “F” to denote you’re dealing with a flat-mount version.
In terms of design and looks, they are just as gorgeous as the F1, with multiple anodized versions available.
These brakes are expensive, but compared to some of the top-end hydraulic sets for road and gravel bikes, they’re still much cheaper, even after ordering a set of necessary compressionless housing to go with them.
A big adjuster bolt is used to move the pistons further inward as your pads wear, which can be considered to be only a minor disadvantage over regular hydraulic brakes that auto-adjust.
One of the biggest gripes with these brakes is the perceived lack of braking performance. But an accurately performed bedding-in procedure will do the trick of quickly getting your braking power at the level it should be. A single ride without any emergency braking in mostly dry conditions will do this for you.
Another issue that’s possibly more alarming is of pistons not or only partially moving. The 4-piston setup can be considered more delicate than a spring-operated single piston. And it seems this design runs a bigger risk of getting gummed up by road debris.
Cleaning pistons can be considered par for the course in disc brakes, but it’s good to be aware of the fact that it’s up to you to perform this operation to continue having a smoothly operating Juin Tech GT brake.
- More beautiful, more power, more modulation, more complexity, more maintenance is what sums up this gorgeous high-end mechanical disc brake.
- Not for the maintenance-adverse type
Juin Tech GT-P
The Juin Tech GT-P is the post-mount version of the Juin Tech GT-F
- See Juin Tech GT-F
- See Juin Tech GT-F
Specifications mechanical disc brakes for bikepacking
Name | Price | brake type | mount type | pistons | caliper weight | oil | rotor size | actuation | buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shimano Altus BR-M375 | 25.98 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 1 | 160-203mm | long-pull | |||
Shimano Ultegra BR-CX77 | 79.995 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat-mount | 1 | 159 | short-pull | |||
SRAM BB7 Road S | 78.71 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 1 | 165 | short-pull | |||
SRAM BB7 Mountain S | 67.39 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 1 | 197 | long-pull | |||
Paul Component Post Mount Klamper | 244.5 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 1 | 211 | short-pull, long-pull, campy | |||
Paul Component Flat Mount Klamper | 244.5 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat-mount | 1 | short-pull, long-pull, campy | ||||
TRP Spyre SLC | 104.99 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat-mount, post mount | 2 | 146 | short-pull | |||
TRP HY/RD | 149.99 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat-mount, post mount | 2 | 205 | mineral oil | 140-160mm | short-pull | |
Juin Tech F1 | 168.95 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat mount | 2 | 148 | mineral oil | 160mm | short-pull | |
Juin Tech M1 | 168.95 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 2 | 142 | mineral oil | 160mm | short-pull | |
Juin Tech GT-F | 398 USD | mechanical disc brake | flat mount | 4 | 138 | mineral oil | 160mm | short-pull | |
Juin Tech GT-P | 398 USD | mechanical disc brake | post mount | 4 | 135 | mineral oil | 160mm | short-pull |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
You might also like
The top 6 best mechanical disc brakes for mountain bikes in 2023
In this article I’m going to cover the best mechanical disc brakes for mountain bikes. It’s an interesting subject to say the least, since mechanical disc brakes on mountain bikes are somewhat of a ra
The top 4 best budget mechanical disc brakes in 2023
With this article I’m going to cover the best budget mechanical disc brakes.
One of the main reasons to pick mechanical disc brakes over hydraulic ones is the fact that they are not only easier to se
The top 8 best mechanical disc brakes for road bikes in 2023
In this article I’m going to talk about what I feel are some of the very best mechanical disc brakes for road bikes. It’s a very interesting subject where you can consider a number of aspects to pick
The top 6 best mechanical disc brakes for gravel riding in 2023
With this article I will be giving you some of my thoughts on what the best mechanical disc brakes for gravel are.
Mechanical brakes are a very viable alternative for people who’re looking for an eas