Discussion
Iv just come back from france with a set of 'cooked' hope mono M4's the original black and gold ones. Rather than rebuilding them i think its time to get something new. iv always ridden hopes so dont know what else is good. iv seen the new hope M4's and they look good vut im going to look at everything first. Its for my nicolai Helius FR so about a 36lb bike and a 16stone rider so they need to be quite poweful!! Minly for trail use but the odd UK dh trip and the yearly trip to france.
Thanks
Oily
Thanks
Oily
depends on your budget really. Avid Elixers get consistently good reviews and are around £100, the pimp CR versions are around £200 and available in 160, 185 and 200mm. Hope Tech M4 are about £180 too. i have formula oro k18s on the Commie and like them a lot though they are definately two finger levers and in full gloves might be on the small side for most.
I used Juicy 7's in the Alps, with with 2-3 discs front and rear.. On smaller discs it would boil the fluid too easily.
IMO you really do need as big a discs as you can to help keep the temps down. People will tell you not to drag your brakes - but easier said than done in the Alps...
IMO you really do need as big a discs as you can to help keep the temps down. People will tell you not to drag your brakes - but easier said than done in the Alps...
Can't fault Shimano XT brakes.
I previously used the original Hope M4s (the big silver machined calipers) in 185/165mm - were great for 3 years before pistons started sticking and leaking. In the end they were hopeless so I sold them in favour of XTs (the previous shape ones - triangular silver 2-pot ones, not the older 4-pots.
The XTs are brilliant: fit and forget. Just zero faff, always work and as much power as you need too, a lot of folk I ride with run them for the faff-free aspect. I use 180/160mm on my hardtails which was fine in Les Arcs last month, but run 203/160mm on my full-susser (34lb Reign, 79kg rider) for more gravity-orientated runs. Highly recommend XTs or Saints.
I previously used the original Hope M4s (the big silver machined calipers) in 185/165mm - were great for 3 years before pistons started sticking and leaking. In the end they were hopeless so I sold them in favour of XTs (the previous shape ones - triangular silver 2-pot ones, not the older 4-pots.
The XTs are brilliant: fit and forget. Just zero faff, always work and as much power as you need too, a lot of folk I ride with run them for the faff-free aspect. I use 180/160mm on my hardtails which was fine in Les Arcs last month, but run 203/160mm on my full-susser (34lb Reign, 79kg rider) for more gravity-orientated runs. Highly recommend XTs or Saints.
a11y_m said:
Can't fault Shimano XT brakes.
I previously used the original Hope M4s (the big silver machined calipers) in 185/165mm - were great for 3 years before pistons started sticking and leaking. In the end they were hopeless so I sold them in favour of XTs (the previous shape ones - triangular silver 2-pot ones, not the older 4-pots.
The XTs are brilliant: fit and forget. Just zero faff, always work and as much power as you need too, a lot of folk I ride with run them for the faff-free aspect. I use 180/160mm on my hardtails which was fine in Les Arcs last month, but run 203/160mm on my full-susser (34lb Reign, 79kg rider) for more gravity-orientated runs. Highly recommend XTs or Saints.
I'm running a 180mm XT on the front of my Kona Explosif. Had Hope before that. The XTs are far better.I previously used the original Hope M4s (the big silver machined calipers) in 185/165mm - were great for 3 years before pistons started sticking and leaking. In the end they were hopeless so I sold them in favour of XTs (the previous shape ones - triangular silver 2-pot ones, not the older 4-pots.
The XTs are brilliant: fit and forget. Just zero faff, always work and as much power as you need too, a lot of folk I ride with run them for the faff-free aspect. I use 180/160mm on my hardtails which was fine in Les Arcs last month, but run 203/160mm on my full-susser (34lb Reign, 79kg rider) for more gravity-orientated runs. Highly recommend XTs or Saints.
Saints are very powerful. I'm heavier than the OP and they had no problems stopping me.
Ran XTs with 203mm discs in France last year and again... no problems.
So XTs for normal-heavy use with good modulation, and Saints if you want the ultimate in one finger power.
Hopes... they're gorgeous, but I have way too many bad memories of having to bleed them constantly and them just being a nightmare. I know they're better now, and their customer service is ace (practice makes perfect
) but I just can't risk £200ish on a set, although I have mates who use them and are converted.
Personally... for a full susser thats going down a lot... Saints
Ran XTs with 203mm discs in France last year and again... no problems.
So XTs for normal-heavy use with good modulation, and Saints if you want the ultimate in one finger power.
Hopes... they're gorgeous, but I have way too many bad memories of having to bleed them constantly and them just being a nightmare. I know they're better now, and their customer service is ace (practice makes perfect
) but I just can't risk £200ish on a set, although I have mates who use them and are converted.Personally... for a full susser thats going down a lot... Saints
In the Alps I've tried
Hope M4
Formula Oro
Hope Mono Mini
Avid Juicy 7
Avid Code (I think they were called this)
Hope M6
All of them worked to a point, but all suffered from overheating to some extent - the Juicys were lamentably bad.
I now use Hope V2 (vented front disc) in 203(f)/185(r) sizes, and overheating/fade are a thing of the past. The fact that you know they'll be pin-sharp all the way down a run means you only go for them when you need them - the Juicys were so bad that you had to keep pumping them all the way down to maintain any sort of braking.
The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
Hope M4
Formula Oro
Hope Mono Mini
Avid Juicy 7
Avid Code (I think they were called this)
Hope M6
All of them worked to a point, but all suffered from overheating to some extent - the Juicys were lamentably bad.
I now use Hope V2 (vented front disc) in 203(f)/185(r) sizes, and overheating/fade are a thing of the past. The fact that you know they'll be pin-sharp all the way down a run means you only go for them when you need them - the Juicys were so bad that you had to keep pumping them all the way down to maintain any sort of braking.
The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
Edited by longblackcoat on Monday 10th August 12:16
Shimano SLX or the latest Deore seem to provide all the braking power you'd need with little maintenance.
Others will say that there's no performance advantage given but I'd fit braided hoses too. Although my Frankenstien Avid set up on my Shocker didn't give me any hassles this year and that was running 'standard' hoses.
Others will say that there's no performance advantage given but I'd fit braided hoses too. Although my Frankenstien Avid set up on my Shocker didn't give me any hassles this year and that was running 'standard' hoses.
longblackcoat said:
I now use Hope V2 (vented front disc) in 203(f)/185(r) sizes, and overheating/fade are a thing of the past. The fact that you know they'll be pin-sharp all the way down a run means you only go for them when you need them - the Juicys were so bad that you had to keep pumping them all the way down to maintain any sort of braking.
The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
Interesting to know - the guides with bike verbier all rode with Hopes too.. they did say the olders ones would boil, but the new ones were good... - may be worth thing about next time I'm off to the alps!The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
I currently run XTR, and think they are fantastic - as said above, no messing around - fit and forget!
Rolls said:
longblackcoat said:
I now use Hope V2 (vented front disc) in 203(f)/185(r) sizes, and overheating/fade are a thing of the past. The fact that you know they'll be pin-sharp all the way down a run means you only go for them when you need them - the Juicys were so bad that you had to keep pumping them all the way down to maintain any sort of braking.
The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
Interesting to know - the guides with bike verbier all rode with Hopes too.. they did say the olders ones would boil, but the new ones were good... - may be worth thing about next time I'm off to the alps!The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
I currently run XTR, and think they are fantastic - as said above, no messing around - fit and forget!
Oily - If you do fancy trying V2's and if you're on the Nicolai forum at MTBR then contact the guy Dipper as he can do a good deal on Hope brakes.
Cough...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Worked great for me last year. Just a shame I wont be needing them again...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Worked great for me last year. Just a shame I wont be needing them again...
Pablo16v said:
Rolls said:
longblackcoat said:
I now use Hope V2 (vented front disc) in 203(f)/185(r) sizes, and overheating/fade are a thing of the past. The fact that you know they'll be pin-sharp all the way down a run means you only go for them when you need them - the Juicys were so bad that you had to keep pumping them all the way down to maintain any sort of braking.
The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
Interesting to know - the guides with bike verbier all rode with Hopes too.. they did say the olders ones would boil, but the new ones were good... - may be worth thing about next time I'm off to the alps!The V2 brake is by far the best I've used - it doesn't eat pads, never fades, you can pull rolling stoppies as easy as you like. They're not the lightest, and are a bit pricy, but if you're riding a Nicolai they you're used to heavy and expensive.......
I currently run XTR, and think they are fantastic - as said above, no messing around - fit and forget!
Oily - If you do fancy trying V2's and if you're on the Nicolai forum at MTBR then contact the guy Dipper as he can do a good deal on Hope brakes.
Those saint's look like a good bet to me, What I would be spending my money on If I had some at the moment. Also the new SLX discs look pretty good too. As it happens I run mono minis (black and gold) and was looking for a black and gold M4 caliper for the front of mine. You fancy getting rid of one one of them?
John
John
Edited by johnnyboy666 on Wednesday 12th August 14:50
johnnyboy666 said:
No worries, thought it was worth a try. If you want to run a mini on the back of your hardtail project instead and have a spare M4 then let me know! You decided on what brakes to get yet?
i had a shiny new pair of hope tec M4's turn up yesterday. there not fitted yet because the rear mount was wrong but hopefully tomorrow.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff