The new M4 replaces last years successful Enduro 4. The caliper has been redesigned to allow it to use the standard Mini lever. Even though the brake has been slimmed down it still retains its awesome braking power. The caliper features 4 pistons operating 4 separate pads (pads remain same as Enduro and DH4) and is an open system. The 74mm post mount (2000/1 Manitou) requires a special bracket and larger disc
Submitted by
Twiggy B
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2011
Strengths: Look good, great when they work. They help to get you out on the road bike more often!
Weaknesses: Expensive to buy, expensive to maintain, brakes jam on and rub constantly. New pads required after every run.
Bottom Line:
Dont buy these brakes if you enjoy going cycling. You will have to get used to cycling with the brakes on, and even the best bike shops cant fix them - because they are inherently pish.
Similar Products Used: V Brakes - why did I ever change
Bike Setup: Kinesis Maxlight XC Pro II, Mavic Wheels, Carbon Seat Post, Marzocci Forks, Pishy Hope Brakes
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Submitted by
RFehr
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2010
Strengths: Outstanding Hope build quality, fantastic adjustability, sweet modulation, no tools bleed, loads of power, quiet wet or dry, re-usable olive/washer for hose shortening, fantastic tech support, and I could go on.
Weaknesses: I bought Elixir CR's as they were lighter - huge mistake. Yes, the Tech M4's are not the lightest - but plenty light enough - find a few grams somewhere else. Also, if the bar clamp was moved outboard more (relative to the lever) it would provide far more shifter placement flexibility.
Bottom Line:
LOVE these brakes. Wet, dry, muddy, snowy - they simply perform. As many have said, they feel like motorcycle brakes - Solid, tight, powerful, bulletproof. It's sooo evident how the guys at Hope ride these brakes just like their customers do - the thought put into the WHOLE customer experience is very impressive. Things you might not think of - like no-tools bleeding. I must have 4 different bleed kits for 4 sets of brakes - and I'll never buy another as I'll never stray from Hope now that I've sampled the smack.
My only beef is that the levers can't be moved far enough inboard to allow for my 'normal' one-finger lever position on my easton low rise bar - close, but if the clamp was a bit farther outboard on the master cylinder body, it would allow much more flexibility.
Yes, some say they're not cheap and not light. I say they're cheap for what you get and light for what you get.
Similar Products Used: Elixir CR, Strokers, Juicy Ultimate
Bike Setup: yeti 575, Talas 32 150RLC, X.0, Chris King ISO, ...
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Submitted by
vamaro
a Downhiller
from San Juan Cap, California
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2010
Strengths: Amazing Quality - Machined from billet with a fit and finish that is nothing short of perfect. Excellent feel and adjustability. Closest thing to a motorcycle feel. Easy install!
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are worth every penny. All machined aluminum, no cheap plastic on these brakes.
Get these brakes if you want a good quality products that will last and feel great. Motorcycle feel.
These are also good for people who work on their own bike as they are easy to install and bleed.
Finally, if you want some "bling" on your bike, this is one of the best looking brakes on the market.
Bike Setup: Intense Slope Style, Hope Hubs and brakes, Mavic 721, Sram X9 Trigger shifters (10 Speed).
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Submitted by
upupandaway
a Downhiller
from Marburg DE
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2010
Strengths: great modulation, looks mean, easily adjustable levers, great ergonomy, stamina, cool clicking sound of the rotors cooling down
Weaknesses: lacking a little strenght / a little more power in the fingers may be necessary, brake levers don´t leave too much space for the shifter levers on the bar, could have a slightly more agressive feel
Bottom Line:
violent and quick stops may take a bit more work with your fingers, but all other stuff handles outstandingly well with this brake. additionally, the levers can be quickly adjusted to fit any pair of hands. no fading issues
Similar Products Used: TheOne, R1, Louise, Marta SL, Oro
Bike Setup: Helius FR, Marzocchi Roco TST R, Lyrik, Pro2/Flows
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Submitted by
harverto
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham UK
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2010
Strengths: Tech M4's look amazing, solid build quality (made in the uk) 4 pistons are better than two
Weaknesses: Price, £400 is a lot of cash.
Need new shifters as the levers are obstructed by the brake master cylinder
Bottom Line:
Looks the dogs bollox, Great build quality, but a lot of £££ (or $$$) but you get what you pay for!
I thought I'd put up this bit of info from the back of hope's installation guide so you know what they are ment for as I jumped in blind!!!
Hope say these are for
1st: All Mountain / Trail / Enduro
2nd: Free ride / cross country
3rd/: Down hill / XC Race
Once I've used these for 6 months I'll do another review to say how they work. At the end of the day they'll have to work dam well for such a big price tag
Bike Setup: Trek fuel EX-7, carbon fiber stem, spacers and handlebars kenda small block 8's
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Submitted by
ayup
a Weekend Warrior
from Squamish, BC
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2010
Strengths: Modulation and power
Weaknesses: Weight and can fade on big alpine descents (in the Alps)
Bottom Line:
I've had this original Hope M4 brake for 8 years now. It's been on the back of three different frames with a 185mm rotor and ridden hard on everything from all-day alpine epics to 2000m descents in Switzerland to slow speed, techy shore riding. Not once has it let me down. A quality bit of British built kit. Sadly, it's time to retire my Frankenbrake setup (M4 and Juciy 7) for a proper, matching getup.....Hope Tech-4.
Submitted by
essexrider1989
a Weekend Warrior
from benfleet
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2010
Strengths: weight,looks, power and ease of service and the modulation at high speed is amazing.
Weaknesses: price i suppose,
Bottom Line:
I think these brakes are well worth the money, you dont get this kind of quality and craftmanship on any other brand and that the same on all hope products if you ask me, and there made in england...what more could you want?
Strengths: Beautifully made. The original model (of which this is one) was matched to a particular rotor size, so no faffing with adaptors. Instant bite in heavy rain.
Weaknesses: Drags insufferably even if carefully centred. Thius may not slow you down but when your front wheel is going "woo-woo-woo-woo" you can't tolerate it for long. Not actually any better than a well set up V-brake in most conditions, and a lot heavier. No way to check fluid level without opening the reservoir and topping it up.
Bottom Line:
More modern disc brakes are no doubt better, but this one suffers from the car brake mentality, i.e. it doesn't matter if it drags. The springs are really anti-rattle devices and have nowhere near enough strength to retract the pads - this is hit or miss. Sometimes you'll have it just right and then it will start again after 10 miles. Very irritating, and it drive me back to V-brakes.
Submitted by
BizS
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2009
Strengths: Looks (love the 'machined from billet' solid looks, including the 'gaudy' Union Jack flag), feel (rock solid machined components), modulation, braking strength. I bought mine with the stainless lines and floating rotor, and the quality and looks are tops!
Weaknesses: My only small gripe would be that I wish they would have spec'd the brake lines with some revolving-type lock-nut to more easily dial out any line bends or kinks--the way the Hope technician showed to do this on their video didn't quite work for me...a minor quibble
Bottom Line:
The best disc brakes I've used so far. I'm a motorcycle guy (have raced my 2001 Suzuki GSXR1000 w/Brembo radial master cylinder), and have to say these brakes feel like a good moto-setup. More than enough power and modulation. So far, after several runs on my trail, they have performed without a hiccup. My Magura Marta's on my 2003 Ellsworth Truth have had episodic problems with lever feel, and I've had to re-bleed them a half-a-dozen times. Magura's are nice when set up properly, but are a finicky lot to bleed and maintain. Moreover, they are prone to fade so you can forget about doing any freeride with them (not that you'd chose that model to freeride with anyhow). I'm now a converted Hope-believer, and they make great kit for the $$. They are the 'Chris King of the UK' IMHO.
Similar Products Used: I graduated from rim brakes to hydraulic rim brakes to Avid mechanical BB disc brakes, and lastly to Magura Marta (SL's and regular). These brakes smokes them all
Bike Setup: 2008 Yeti ASR carbon, Chris King headset, XTR 960 cranks w/Middleburn rings, Crank Bros. pedals, Fox TALAS front w/RP23 rear, Mavic 819 disc rims w/ Chris King ISO front/rear hubs on Kenda Nevagal USB tires, Thomson Masterpiece seatpost and stem
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Submitted by
AustinBiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX US
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2009
Strengths: Rediculous modulation and power
Weaknesses: Price.
Bottom Line:
I've ridden most of the popular brakes out over the last few months in the quest for my new 29'er. My old hardtail had Juicy 5's. What these brakes will give you over Ultimates, XTR's, and Martas of the world is *control* without fading, while retaining as much of your speed as possible. All the brakes out there can stop you, most of the time. These give you the option to apply infinitely varied levels of braking, depending on the situation... exactly what you need to ride fast. Need to slow just a touch for that hairpin followed by a nasty climb? No prob. My old juicy's used to be a nightmare in such situations, gobbling the whole way as my bike jerked to and fro. Need to still have brakes at the end of a wicked downhill? These will not fail you.
Weaknesses: Can get a bit out of their depth on really long, steep descents. Not a downhill brakeset.
Bottom Line:
This is a review for the new Hope Tech M4's with the new tech levers and new calipers. Really good looking quality bit of kit good power and modulation for 95% of riding. Just make sure you have a good check over the whole shooting match for loose nuts and bolts after the first few uses. I managed to lose the lever pivot bolt at the top of a descent in Wales which could have spoiled my day if the lever blade had fallen out at speed!
Similar Products Used: Hope C2, Avid juicy 5's and 7's, Shimano xt.
Bike Setup: Specialized enduro sl frame and forks eveything else all mountain components.
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Submitted by
Ben1
a Weekend Warrior
from Devon, UK
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2009
Strengths: Review is for the new TECH M4s (No listing yet) Too many to list - Power is (obviously) amazing, but control and modulation is even better. Feel and feedback from the new Tech levers is fantastic. As with all Hope stuff, finish and workmanship is class-leading, all exquisitely detailed milled aluminium goodness.
Weaknesses: None really. Squeak a little whilst pads wear in, but so do most. New reservoir cover (Union Jack design) is a little gaudy but is black and white so not too noticeable.
Bottom Line:
Couldn't be happier. Absolutely blown away by the combination of power and control.
I use this bike for everything, and was worried that the M4s would be overpowered for things like commuting to work, but level of control available completely negates this. Equally, there is adequate power for those long, fast winding down hills, panic avoidance of trees etc., and haven't noticed any sort of fade yet either.
The brakes look amazing, with the floating rotors and beautifully finished calipers.
New levers are awsome, plenty of adjustability and the feel they give is spot-on. Only gripe with the levers is the new reservoir cover design, which is a little tacky in a black/white Union Jack design. Fortunately it's smallish so only able to see what it is when you look closely... Also, given how well they perform, can't really complain too much about a minor cosmetic detail!
Not exactly cheap to buy, but as with all the Hope kit I've tried, it's definitely a case of getting what one pays for.
Really wouldn't hesitate to recomend these to anyone but the most lycra-loving of weight weenies (Who should probably by the new X2!) or psychotic freeriders (Who need the V2).
Bike Setup: orange patriot fr lt, boxxer, junior t pro, xt deore
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Submitted by
Gerbil1976
a Cross Country Rider
from United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2008
Strengths: Boy do they do the business. Looks great too.
Weaknesses: Not possible to buy the brake with a specific coloured rotor. Hmmm..., why not?
Bottom Line:
Where do I start? Great looks, incredible braking power which projects confidence in every way. Almost no squealing after the initial bedding in but incredible braking from the outset. They just seem like the way brakes should be - preventative medicine!
I'm sure there are other just-as-good or better brakes out there; these are the kiddies for me. Given that I've only had them a month and it's always possible they may go wrong, I'll stop short of a 5 chilli rating.
Strengths: Amazing power!
absolutly brilliant!
Great Modulation!
Easy(ish) to bleed!
Weaknesses: Took some time to get it working properly but it was mainly the bike shop in my opinion.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are the best brakes ive ever used! Don't bother with anyother brake like hayes 9 or avid juicys 3s.
I highly recomend these brakes to anyone if you want to stop quickly!
I've got two sets of same-generation Hope brakes, one X2 and one M4. Front and rear rotor sizes are 183 and 160mm. Recently, I transferred over my X2 brake set to a 29er hard tail, Read More »
Curious if anyone has any experience with these? It's the race lever with the m4 caliper.
I've used the race X2 - and found the power to be a bit lacking. These obviously won' Read More »
About to replace the seals for my M4 front brake, hoping to unstick the pistons. What is the best wrench to use to remove the bore caps?? Looks like a 15mm hex would fit, but nit Read More »
Hi, I was wondering if people have ever had a problem with they Hope Floating rotors rusting on the surfaces that do not come in contact with the pads, mine have a pretty good laye Read More »
I am looking to get some new brakes for my 2011 Demo. I have heard many great things about Hope brakes (weight aside). The V2's are supposed to be more for DH, but require me to bu Read More »
