Hope v4 brakes review

The Hope Tech 4 V4 from Barnoldswick metal masters Hope technology are their top of the line, hard hitting brake.

The trails were in good shape, thanks to our local trail gods and goddesses, and snow free. The problem was the rider. I hadn't ridden since before Xmas and after 10 days, the flu was still infesting my head, lungs and throat. I was nervous and tight as we dropped in but determined to confirm my impressions and wring a little more info out of Hope's Tech 4 E4 brakes. It sort of worked out, and yet it didn't. The problem is, these brakes do everything I ask of them so intuitively and so seamlessly, I generally forget they are there. Whether it's feathering into a low grip situation where speed control without wheel slip is essential, or panic-stopping to avoid a fallen buddy, it's all incredibly easy.

Hope v4 brakes review

Hope components are famous for their beautifully machined and anodized components that offer some serious performance, and these Hope Tech 4 V4 brakes are no different. Both their E-bike and Race compound pads have given me loads of power and modulation without wearing out too quickly, but I have yet to test out their Organic pads. The Hope Tech 4 V4 levers immediately have a moto inspired look, with a big old honkin master cylinder sitting on top of the lever holding a load of that DOT fluid. Adjustable levers are common place on high end brakes today, but every company goes about it in a slightly different manner. Each lever features a reach adjust and bite point screws that both have an incredible range of adjustability with plenty of room to spare on either end of my preferred settings, and a huge lever blade that lets you get fantastic leverage and loads of power on trail. All that power is getting supplied by the calipers, which unsurprisingly also feature some beautiful CNC work on the caliper body. Little fins are built directly into the caliper to help with heat dissipation and keeping everything cool on those long descents. This is exactly what sets the V4s apart from the E4s , as the E4s only have two sets of the slightly smaller pistons to save a bit of weight. Bleeding the Tech 4 V4s is unlike any other mountain bike brake out there, but actually identical to bleeding a car brake! Often times, brakes are judged by how hard you have to pull on the levers to lock the wheels, but with the Tech 4 V4s, I had to be conscious of how lightly I pulled the levers to keep from locking up the wheels.

Briain 1 year, 2 months ago.

With over 25 years of experience manufacturing disc brakes out of its Barnoldswick factory in the UK, Hope Technology is well known for producing beautiful CNC machined components that place a strong emphasis on serviceability and long-term durability. Hope also anodises those components in-house, allowing it to offer a broad spectrum of colour options across its product range. The main issue has been a lack of overall stopping power, particularly when compared to key rivals. The UK-based manufacturer is aiming to turn that around with its new range of brakes, which have been totally reengineered to offer greater power, improved lever feel and better consistency. The XCR is the lightest brake that Hope offers. Then there are three brakes within the Tech 4 range. The secondary number and letter in the model name then refers to the calliper;.

FREE U. Goof Off Sale! Click here to shop the sale. Sale ends in:. Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. Hope's components are known for their high quality machining and tight tolerances. Their brakes are just that, very high quality machined brakes with incredible power and modulation.

Hope v4 brakes review

The Hope Tech 4 V4 from Barnoldswick metal masters Hope technology are their top of the line, hard hitting brake. The power on offer is properly impressive. They offer top-notch modulation to go with it. They have performed equally well across both dry and dusty and wet and sloppy conditions. When Hope launched the Tech4 V4 with some bold claims on performance, and then hearing some real world feedback, I was keen to try them. For years I used nothing but Hope brakes on my bikes.

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However, thanks to the long lever, I had no issues getting a decent shifter position by positioning the clamp inboard of the brake lever clamp. One of the first things I noticed about the Tech 4 E4 brakes was the return spring. Updates from the Tech 3 E4 include:. Blain, are you able to expand your feelings about DOT vs. Over the course of a few months, I put them through their paces, trusting them to bring my Stumpjumper Evo to stop across a variety of Pacific Northwest terrain in conditions ranging from rim-deep slop to sunbaked hardpack. The caliper end is slightly less refined, with a nice bleed nipple adapter attaching to a loose hose that needs to be carefully managed to prevent covering the floor in DOT fluid. Love the format of this review. Both the reach and bite point adjust dials have a definite and tangible effect on the feel and performance of the brakes and really let you get them set up and feeling as you like — both dials pretty much fully in for me. Both my bikes were Shimano Saint until I tried these; now both my bikes are running these. Read More. DanL 1 year, 2 months ago.

Factory bleed can be inconsistent; sharp finish to dials and lever blade; some inconsistencies in feel between different brakes.

It's an agreed upon standard and as such is good enough for every motor vehicle on the planet, so certainly good enough for a bicycle in the mechanical sense. The sound, while unexpected, had zero impact on how the brake performed. This is one of the biggest upgrades in terms of functionality to the Tech 4 E4; I had to service the pistons on the older generation of brakes far more frequently than I would have liked to keep them operating properly. Obviously ease of bleeding, aesthetics and quality of construction and design come in to play as well, but those generally follow along with top performing products. Bike, rider, and discipline all figure into brake selection, and Hope created this handy chart to help select the correct options from their catalog. The UK-based manufacturer is aiming to turn that around with its new range of brakes, which have been totally reengineered to offer greater power, improved lever feel and better consistency. While the E4 is a fantastic brake for trail and all-mountain use, the V4 would be the best option for heavier riders or those looking to tackle proper downhill tracks. This was a great day for testing modulation. The trails were in good shape, thanks to our local trail gods and goddesses, and snow free. These two- and four-piston brakes grab onto mm and mm rotors in our testing, fitted to our downcountry test rig.