Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

Disc Brakes VS cantilever / V brakes

5 min read

Asked by: Joshua Porter

Cantilevers work better tandems and touring bikes because they were designed for use on road and tandem bikes. V-brakes and disc brakes were designed for mountain bikes, and then adapted for use on road and tandem bikes.

Which is better V-brake or disc brake?

Advantages of V-Brakes:



V-Brakes are a lot less expensive than disc brakes. They are easy to maintain and replace, even on the go. V-Brakes add no strain on the hubs or spokes. They do not hinder the mounting of a rear kick stand.

Are V brakes and cantilever brakes the same?

Linear-pull or v-brakes are an evolved version of cantilever brakes that provide more power through increased leverage. Two things make this happen. The brake lever is designed to pull more cable, and the brake arms are longer and at a different angle. V-brakes are a popular style of brake.

Can V brake pads be used on cantilever brakes?

Where v brakes have a bolt with which to tighten them onto the brake arm, cantilever brakes do not. The latter are tightened onto the brake arms with bolts located on the brake arm. You can never mount cantilever pads on v brakes and mounting v brake pads on cantilever brakes might damage them.

Are disk brakes better on bikes?

Disc brakes offer better modulation than rim brakes, meaning it’s easier for the rider to precisely meter out how much clamping power is generated. Peak stopping power occurs just before the point of lock-up, and disc-equipped bikes are better equipped to flirt with that edge without crossing over.

Are cantilever brakes good enough?

Cantilever brakes were used on touring bikes and tandems for decades before mountain bikes were even invented. The cantilever evolved into an extremely powerful and reliable braking system. Loaded touring bikes and tandems put more severe weight loads on the brakes than did bikes with just one person on them.

What type of bike brakes are best?

Disc brakes are one of the most powerful bike brake types on the marketplace. Although invented after the rim brake, they are arguably the most well-regarded brakes in cycling, due to their increased responsiveness and consistent performance in all weather conditions.

How can I make my cantilever brakes better?

Most effective way to improve cantilever brakes

  1. Change the brake blocks. Perhaps more expensive brake blocks are much more effective.
  2. Check your brake adjustment. …
  3. Change to newer cantilever brakes. …
  4. Change to a different type of brake. …
  5. Buy new rims.


Are cantilever brakes short or long pull?

Additionally, brake levers are classified according to the amount of brake cable that moves when you squeeze the brake lever. Road calipers, cantilever, and BMX brakes all require “short-pull” brake levers. Linear-pull brakes require “long-pull” brake levers.

Can you put V brakes on a road bike?

But that is why touring bikes, which carry much heavier loads, generally use canti’s, which allow greater braking force, and are still compatible with the cable pull length on a road brake lever or STI lever. A v-brake requires a different pull ratio, and so is not used.

Do V brakes need special levers?

V-Brakes: This type of brake also attaches to brake bosses, but they require a “long-pull” brake lever (see brake levers section below). They also need a special piece called a “noodle” for the cable to work correctly.

Are V brakes the same as rim brakes?

V brakes vs cantilever brakes

How do you replace cantilever brakes with V brakes?


Quote from video: Now remove the cantilever brakes is just pretty easy it's just a matter of using like a five millimeter hex wrench and removing this bolt. Here this is actually a little stiff. Here.

Are V brakes the same as rim brakes?

V‑brakes, for our purposes, are a generic and misused term for the several varieties of caliper brakes that work by pinching the bicycle wheel’s rim between two brake blocks to create friction and slow the bike.

What are V brakes?

V-brakes (also known as direct-pull cantilever brakes) are operated via a cable that runs from one side of the brake and across the top, pulling the two halves together. There are other brake designs out there, but they’re a rarity on mainstream bikes.

Are all V brakes the same?

They are universal except for a very few models called mini V brakes, which use short pull brake levers as opposed to long pull. These stand out as having very short arms compared to most. Shimano and Tektro make a lot of the good economical repair v-brakes. The model numbers change over time.

Can you change V brakes to disc brakes?

It will work just as well and be cheaper. You will need a new rear hub, and it’s likely to be cheaper to buy a prebuilt wheel rather than pay someone to rebuild your current rim with a new hub into a wheel (I suggest not re-using the spokes even if you can). You will, of course, need to buy the disk brake as well.

How can I make my cantilever brakes better?

Most effective way to improve cantilever brakes

  1. Change the brake blocks. Perhaps more expensive brake blocks are much more effective.
  2. Check your brake adjustment. …
  3. Change to newer cantilever brakes. …
  4. Change to a different type of brake. …
  5. Buy new rims.