Available Upgrades

[murbot]

What rotors should I consider for a 2021 Mini 4?
I plan to upgrade the controller and motor when parts are available so I want better brakes in place ahead of that install. I've never upgraded rotors so I only know what I've read which includes the usual conflicting info. I'll mostly be riding around campgrounds and home, but will occasionally tackle something closer to the limits of the bike.

223mm rotors were suggested and I'm good with that, but unsure if it's necessary for both front and back. Or does it even fit in back?
Would 223 up front and 203 in the back be better?

Thanks !

 

[pearlbeer]

You might want to consider upgrading the brakes themselves rather than the rotors. First - brake pads. I change mine every 1,000mi if they need it or not. If you are riding a lot off road, you likely need to change more often. Cheap, easy and very effective. From there, I'd look into hydraulic brakes if more stopping power is needed. IMO, if you aren't getting enough from all of that, then you can explore a larger rotor.

 

[murbot]

Good advice. Thank you

Full disclosure... the bike's due to arrive tomorrow. Haven't rode it yet. Part of this me looking for something new and mobile to tinker with after a surgery this past July made pedaling at full power too painful. I have zero experience with hydraulic brakes, so my knowledge is.... the aftermarket hydraulic kit for the Rad Mini is not available and I don't know what I would need to get as far as tools and parts to cut another kit to length and install. If it's not that difficult, I'm 100% up for it. If it's very difficult, I'm still about 98% up for it. I may as well learn now so I can work the whole family's as they get new bikes.
I figured larger rotors could be a great improvement in stopping power for a little amount of money... and the parts are readily available. I might run through the stock pads first, but I have spare pads from my Mt bike that I'll install along with the rotors or before. But if installing a kit that's not made specifically for the Mini is feasible for me, I might do it sooner than later. If it means also buying $100 in tools, then I might obtain those tools over time and plan a future upgrade. I'll do a lot more riding starting in spring and I plan to upgrade what I can in the meantime.

 

[pearlbeer]

Good advice. Thank you

Full disclosure... the bike's due to arrive tomorrow. Haven't rode it yet. Part of this me looking for something new and mobile to tinker with after a surgery this past July made pedaling at full power too painful. I have zero experience with hydraulic brakes, so my knowledge is.... the aftermarket hydraulic kit for the Rad Mini is not available and I don't know what I would need to get as far as tools and parts to cut another kit to length and install. If it's not that difficult, I'm 100% up for it. If it's very difficult, I'm still about 98% up for it. I may as well learn now so I can work the whole family's as they get new bikes.
I figured larger rotors could be a great improvement in stopping power for a little amount of money... and the parts are readily available. I might run through the stock pads first, but I have spare pads from my Mt bike that I'll install along with the rotors or before. But if installing a kit that's not made specifically for the Mini is feasible for me, I might do it sooner than later. If it means also buying $100 in tools, then I might obtain those tools over time and plan a future upgrade. I'll do a lot more riding starting in spring and I plan to upgrade what I can in the meantime.

Congrats on the new bike. I'm confident that you will like it. As a long time, avid cyclist, I was suspicious about the hardware and ability to safely control a powered bike. I think you will be as surprised as I was. I've confidently ridden my RadWagon for over 2,000mi with the stock equipment. You'll be impressed with the bike out of the box. In fact, I'll bet you have so much fun riding it, you won't have time to tinker!