New to bike repair- brake caliper selection question.

[jumpin_jumpin]

xposting this to a few forums as I truly don't know where to start!

Link to current setup https://imgur.com/a/Uxwkd54

I come from a car repair background and am trying to learn more about bikes. I have a bianchi I use to commute, and an ol' fuji single speed I'm using as a learner.

Just toyed around on the brakes a minute and one part broke (old). Yay! New parts! But how do I know which calipers to get? The options are overwhelming and endless.

SORRY for the sloppy links but these are the ones I'm looking at. Cheaper side since this is just for learning.

https://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Reach-Calipers-Black-55-73mm/dp/B01N0CIDZU/ref=pd_cp_468_2?pd_rd_w=6jxWx&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=TDTVC57DFVHJ4YJKY9AT&pd_rd_r=a33ecaaa-6403-498f-8d7d-0f2741db0354&pd_rd_wg=F7wdE&pd_rd_i=B01MTSPEDZ&refRID=TDTVC57DFVHJ4YJKY9AT&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LA8VI38/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01LA8VI38&pd_rd_w=yp7vj&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=F7wdE&pf_rd_r=TDTVC57DFVHJ4YJKY9AT&pd_rd_r=a33ecaaa-6403-498f-8d7d-0f2741db0354&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUFlNSFIxWDk3V0lKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTYwNTA​xMUtBUDgzSVNJMjMyMSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjMwODU4MlJJMkdGOVRaNktGNCZ3aWRnZXROYW1​lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BCCCDC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B003BCGB7A&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5WFlMMkJHRVZQOVgmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDgwMTQ​yNVJIOFFTSEtEUkEzJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4NTYyNjFaS0lQWVFNOFFZMTQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1​zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGUVETO/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01KGUVETO&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSTNBR1VJT0szUkRGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTcyMjk​5MldBMlhJQ0lUUTU4TSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODc4ODQ2MkZTSUlRRkxOSUFFUCZ3aWRnZXROYW1​lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-R451-Reach-Caliper-Black/dp/B006GHDDFA/ref=lp_3494191_1_6?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1567450054&sr=1-6&th=1&psc=1

[Joe_W]

That's already quite modern (ok, I think these appeared in the 80s).

Of the first liked caliper would fit, the others won't. It has long reach arms. You need those for old French bikes, where the tyre standard was quite different, and you want to use a modern rim and tyre, or for replacing the stupid old fashioned single pivot calipers like I have on my single speed frankenbike (yeah, need to get around ordering them). You might need one, check and measure. Then you are stuck with the Tektro ones, I'm afraid. (the Tektro parts I encountered so far were underwhelming).

In general I would rather buy a lowish end shimano caliper than some random cheap one. The bike is for riding and brakes are somewhat important. Whatever people say, even the tiagra and sora groupsets are functional and reliable.

[jumpin_jumpin]

(09-03-2019, 06:34 AM)Joe_W Wrote:  That's already quite modern (ok, I think these appeared in the 80s).

Of the first liked caliper would fit, the others won't. It has long reach arms. You need those for old French bikes, where the tyre standard was quite different, and you want to use a modern rim and tyre, or for replacing the stupid old fashioned single pivot calipers like I have on my single speed frankenbike (yeah, need to get around ordering them). You might need one, check and measure. Then you are stuck with the Tektro ones, I'm afraid. (the Tektro parts I encountered so far were underwhelming).

In general I would rather buy a lowish end shimano caliper than some random cheap one. The bike is for riding and brakes are somewhat important. Whatever people say, even the tiagra and sora groupsets are functional and reliable.

So if I upgrade the caliper from some cheap brand, it needs to be long reach? Thanks for the pointers!

[Joe_W]

No, that depends on the frame and wheel size. Measure the arms of the current calipers! Older city bikes had caliper brakes, single pivot, long arms (wide tyres plus mudguards), so these need long reach calipers. Unfortunately the new ones are often of poor quality, but definitely better than what is on those bikes....