Budget gravel/CX bike with hydraulic disc brakes

Jimbo789 · 20-10-2021 10:45am #1

I was considering buying a second hand bike for the winter for riding on gravel.

As gravel bikes with hydraulic disc brakes only became common in the last 5/6 years, there doesn’t seem to be as much choice or value in comparison to buying a rim brake road bike.

The only bike I could find was this Cube bike.

https://archiv.cube.eu/en/2017/888002

it comes it Shimano ST-RS505 shifters and Shimano BR-RS505 flat mount brakes.

RS505 seems to be the cheapest Shimamo hydraulic disc brakes sold at the time.

What other gravel/CX bikes would have been speced with Shimano RS505?

fat bloke · 20-10-2021 12:10pm

It's a bit of a mystery alright. 500 quid mountain bikes come with hydraulic brakes but road/gravel/cx bikes up to 1300 quid seem to be cable/mechanical.

Zen0 · 20-10-2021 8:59pm

If you’re looking for good value, it might be worth considering some mechanical disk brakes. I put TRP Spyres on my CX bike and find them very good compared to the ones they replaced. They’re not hydraulics, but they’re very good and easier to maintain. Only issue is that many mechanical discs of a few years ago are post mount, so you won’t have options to upgrade to flat mount later.

gn3dr · 20-10-2021 10:12pm

You could try something like this (seeing as there seems to be some love for Decathlon bikes here - can't say I'm so into the look of their frames and I hate the look of dropped seat stays)

https://www.decathlon.ie/unlinked/302303-59095-triban-rc-520-gravel-riding-bike.html#/demodelsize-200m/demodelcolor-8504030?queryID=5010a00b2df0290ba7bb7db356089b77&objectID=2471310

Weepsie · 20-10-2021 10:31pm

They don't have them in stock, and I don't think they have had them in the store at all since they've opened.

magicbastarder · 20-10-2021 10:39pm

they've had one on display, but that doesn't mean much there.

Mr. Cats · 20-10-2021 10:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058213950/budget-gravel-cx-bike-with-hydraulic-disc-brakes

Those RS505 shifters have a known design flaw that leads to cable cutting through the main body of shifter. I would recommend to avoid as replacements options are pricey.

https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/13089841/rs505-cable-guides-a-cautionary-tale

Budget gravel/CX bike with hydraulic disc brakes

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