4 ms·

What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasion

What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). I think it's the only component that I wouldn't know how to adjust/fix on my new bicycle, where previously I feel I could have handled everything (but it was a simply fixed gear bicycle).

leethargo 4y ago
Reading some other comments, I get the feeling that adjusting hydraulic brakes may not actually be tricky, so it's probably just the novelty for me.
- akvadrako 4y ago
  I don't think it's that hard. I have Magura HS22 hydraulic brakes and installed them myself with regular tools. I haven't had to refill the fluid yet but the instructions seems pretty straightforward: https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf
- Gualdrapo 4y ago
  I'd concede that the bleed kit and mineral oil aren't things you can have around, though. I had to bleed the rear brake of my bike because when I was changing the pads discovered one was much worn that the other, and in the process a piston went out and the liquid leaked. Once I could got the necessary stuff it was a fairly easy process.
ehnto 4y ago
I think you're overstating it as you're not sure what it takes to maintain them, but they're definitely self-serviceable and affordably as well, it should all be in the service manual you got with your bike. I would personally say that a fluid bleeder and seal picks/hooks are pretty universal tools, handy to have around. Hydraulics have been around for decades too, it's a very ubiquitous technology. Even for crimping lines you can get pretty affordable tools, but I will concede that crimping new hydraulic lines is probably not that common of a task around the house.
Timshel 4y ago
On the expensive part Decathlon sell DOT or Mineral oil kits for 35e. Recently changed oil on mine had a bit of help and it was tricky/finicky but nothing impossible. As mentionned in another comment, there is so much information available online.
jjav 4y ago
> What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). What expensive specialized tools would you need for hydraulic brakes? Maybe I haven't kept up with very latest models, but I've had hydraulic brakes on my bikes for nearly 20 years now and I do all my own maintenance. I haven't needed and don't have any expensive specialized tools for it.
atourgates 4y ago
Those specialized tools cost between $20 and $100, depending on the brand and whether you want pro-level "do this several times a day" quality, or end-user "do this once or twice a year" quality. Hardly "so expensive no amateur will afford them".
midoridensha 4y ago
>These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). An amateur can't afford a $50 bleed kit?

leethargo 4y ago

Reading some other comments, I get the feeling that adjusting hydraulic brakes may not actually be tricky, so it's probably just the novelty for me.

akvadrako 4y ago
I don't think it's that hard. I have Magura HS22 hydraulic brakes and installed them myself with regular tools. I haven't had to refill the fluid yet but the instructions seems pretty straightforward: https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf
Gualdrapo 4y ago
I'd concede that the bleed kit and mineral oil aren't things you can have around, though. I had to bleed the rear brake of my bike because when I was changing the pads discovered one was much worn that the other, and in the process a piston went out and the liquid leaked. Once I could got the necessary stuff it was a fairly easy process.

ehnto 4y ago

I think you're overstating it as you're not sure what it takes to maintain them, but they're definitely self-serviceable and affordably as well, it should all be in the service manual you got with your bike. I would personally say that a fluid bleeder and seal picks/hooks are pretty universal tools, handy to have around. Hydraulics have been around for decades too, it's a very ubiquitous technology. Even for crimping lines you can get pretty affordable tools, but I will concede that crimping new hydraulic lines is probably not that common of a task around the house.

Timshel 4y ago

On the expensive part Decathlon sell DOT or Mineral oil kits for 35e. Recently changed oil on mine had a bit of help and it was tricky/finicky but nothing impossible. As mentionned in another comment, there is so much information available online.

jjav 4y ago

> What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). What expensive specialized tools would you need for hydraulic brakes? Maybe I haven't kept up with very latest models, but I've had hydraulic brakes on my bikes for nearly 20 years now and I do all my own maintenance. I haven't needed and don't have any expensive specialized tools for it.

atourgates 4y ago

Those specialized tools cost between $20 and $100, depending on the brand and whether you want pro-level "do this several times a day" quality, or end-user "do this once or twice a year" quality. Hardly "so expensive no amateur will afford them".

midoridensha 4y ago

>These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). An amateur can't afford a $50 bleed kit?