The only one-piece, four piston caliper available in the bike world offers you additional power with super rigid caliper and solid lever feel. It uses the Mini lever with a fixed caliper housing four opposing pistons. Caliper pistons contain stainless steel inserts to isolate the caliper from the heat generated in the pads. An open system allows for automatic pad wear adjustment and enables the brake to handle the highest temperatures without “pump-up”.
Submitted by
Andyvan
a Weekend Warrior
from Salisbury, UK Date Reviewed: August 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
2nd Hand
Strengths:
Looks pretty good, good modulation
Weaknesses:
Lacking power, rotors bend too easily, too expensive for performance.
Similar Products Used:
Hope mono mini, Avid Juicy 3
Bike Setup:
On-One Ti456
Bottom Line:
Bought these 2nd hand about a year ago (06/07 Model - black) with (front) 200mm rotor as i found my 180mm mono mini was not powerful enough as i got better. Was just never really blown away. Had hoped to feel a dramatic difference to the minis and there wasn't.
Have since bought fibrax sintered pads - made a fairly big difference, hope floating rotors - still bend too easily and not much difference and goodridge braided hoses - more solid feel but only a little more power. After all that money I'm still not blown away and to top it of the lever feels almost sticky. Hard to explain but when you pull it quickly it feels as though there is loads of resistance. Bike shop said it may be air so had them bled - no differnce. I have cleaned an lubed pivots - no difference.
I know its not sensible but I want to know that I could lock the brake going downhill really fast with one finger. Can't even do it with 2 fingers. Bottom line - I have spent over £200 ($400) on this brake hoping it would be good as I thought it would be cheaper than buying a new brake and well it just isn't. Its alright but who wants an alright brake. Reckon its time to cut my losses and buy a formula brake. Although the new Moto M4 or whatever (silver, black caps) seems to fair better in reviews but I have just lost confidence in Hope
Just to say I'm not hope-bashing, love my clickety-clackety Pro 2 hubs and my rear mono mini with 160mm rotor is good, I can lock the wheel with one finger - its not problem free mind - bent rotor and the sintered pads, whilst powerful and lasting, need quite regular sanding as the become all smooth and useless (may be normal)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Sheffield Date Reviewed: May 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
British made! Strong calliper, strong lever, good brakeing performance, easy to bleed and sevice, pads are cheep and they look "cool"
Weaknesses:
Hoses arent very flexable...?
Bottom Line:
Old (clasic) design, brilliantly made! Change the standard hoses, set them up well and the will out perform the new hayes and avid!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Errington
a Weekend Warrior
from Connecticut Date Reviewed: May 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
allofem
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
monk a moo
Strengths:
Modulation, feel, power ,looks.
Weaknesses:
Rear needed bleeding right out of the box.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano xtr
Bike Setup:
intense 6.6
Bottom Line:
So far these brakes are very, very good. I only have around 6 rides on them so we'll see how they pan out in the long run. The set up was pretty easy. Except that the rear brake had hardly any fluid at all straight out of the box. This was not a big deal as I had to shorten the rear hose anyway. Filling and bleeding the rear was a breeze. The overall quality and feel of the brake is second to none, the levers feel perfect as does modulation and stopping power. However. Do not just grab a handful of front brake when you need to stop, you will get sent over the bars if you do this. Trust me I know.
Not cheap brakes but I do feel they are good value based on the quality.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael H.
a Cross Country Rider
from North Central, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: March 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Ewok Forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great power, superb modulation and very bling. Don't need to remove the wheel to worth with the pads.
Weaknesses:
Bit of a pain to set up. Perhaps a little heavy for pure XC use. Little more expensive than some of the other brakes out there.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX-9s, cable actuated mechanical discs. Tried Juicy's of various levels.
Bike Setup:
Extensively upgraded Gary Fisher Cake 2 DLX.
Bottom Line:
I've had good experiences with a variety of Hope products so after hearing good reviews on the M4's, I thought I'd give them a go. I don't know if there are two version of the M4 anymore (Mono vs. regular) but these are definitely the Mono M4's.
I picked up the 203mm post mount front and a 180mm IS rear. (I'm a clyde class rider, so I make use of bigger brakes as I live in a town with a substantial river valley and most of our local trails have a fair bit of up and down)
Set-up took a little longer than other brakes have in the past, but it was well worth the added time to do it right. Break / bed in time was about 2 hrs of riding.
Once bedded in the brakes produce phenomenal power. I need only 1 finger to slow myself from a good speed to a trackstand while going down a 15% grade. Two fingers could easily launch you into an endo if you're too vigorous.
All that power does not come at the expense of modulation, though. Just yesterday I went down a snowy / slushy / muddy descent that made me appreciate the modulation and feel these brakes have to offer. In spite of the less than ideal surface, the brakes left me in total control without locking up.
Although QA/C has been a bit hit and miss in the past (see the previous reviews) it looks like they've got these down pat now... The M4's (mono or otherwise) are great brakes (just check out the other M4 reviews).
If you're not counting every gram or cross country race, these are wonderful brakes well worth the added weight. They take a little longer to set-up, but once done, they reward you with great power and modulation. May not be quite enough for pure DH work, but Hope has other brakes for that. Plus they look sweet. A little pricey, so the value chilis suffer a bit, but other than that, an outstanding product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cracker666
a Weekend Warrior
from northants Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Stops quicker than slammin into a wall
Weaknesses:
Price, and setup, Get the mounts spot faced and away you go.
Similar Products Used:
Avid 3,5,
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 3 upgraded to Full Xtr, Hope Mono M4
Bottom Line:
Bloody good brakes, once properly setup. Using Superstar pads.(from ebay) Very good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen Furness
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland Date Reviewed: January 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
SPCA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Very strong, great modulation, I feel confident that they will stop me, I weigh about 95 KG or 210 Ibs so they are made to work hard some days.
Weaknesses:
I purchased the 2007 with a 203mm floating rotor on the front and I dont think the extra money is well spent, ( Looks good tho )
Similar Products Used:
Hayes nine
Bottom Line:
Great brake, great modulation , well made
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nurettin
a Weekend Warrior
from TURKEY Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
cross country
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
bike parts
Strengths:
Easy to install. powerfull.mostly silent when braking
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Hayes . Hope mono mini
Bike Setup:
Specialized epic s-works, chris king ,mavic ust, xtr component
Bottom Line:
If you are heavy you should buy 4 pad included brakes. like this. After use hayes (I think very good brakes) Hope mono m4 stopped me very strongly. no fear to stopping.but maybe little heavy than some other.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from France Date Reviewed: October 4, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
This is a follow up to the review I wrote in 2004. I moved back to France a couple of years ago and to a town near the Jura and the Alps last year, so my still lovely Hopes do bigger downhills than they did at the beginning... They are still great - pivots on the levers are starting to show a bit of wear, they have had the fluid replaced twice (don't buy the Hope bleed kits which are a ridiculous ripoff, just get some plastic tube and a jam jar. The bike they're on gets used every day for around a 40km commute and the Hopes still work beautifully. Just pad changes once in a while (less often than the Deore LX disk pads on my other bike, which is used less) I use Hope pads and have had good luck with them. Seals are still the originals, no sign of leaks, just a clean every now and then (basically when I change the pads). Solid levers really feel dependable and the quality of the construction I am sure contributes to the longevity.
Weaknesses:
They still howl a lot when they get hot on big downhills (but then so do my Deore LX disks on my other bike). They can rub sometimes, and went through a spell where they rubbed really badly, though I think that this was due to the accumulation of a winter's grime on the pistons. The springs (to back off the pads - in between the pads) are, frankly, pathetic and break almost instantaneously, which can't help with the rubbing, but it has never given me any serious problems.
Similar Products Used:
Deore LX disks - not really in the same league. When you use the Hopes, you understand what modulation should feel like.
Bike Setup:
Norco hardtail, all standard XT kit apart from the Hopes.
Bottom Line:
After 3+ years of hard use and embarassingly little maintenance the Hopes are still going very strong. Pivots on the levers will need to be replaced soon and a fairly thorough cleanout and overhaul of every part of the mechanism can't be far behind, but in view of the number of hours these have put in, in all conditions, used daily on and off-road I really can't complain. If you look at an investment in terms of aggravation saved and sheer reliability, the Hopes actually start to look quite reasonably priced. Well, almost...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte,NC USA Date Reviewed: September 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
USNWC (Catawba)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Excellent stopping power,Cool Looking
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Older Hayes
Bike Setup:
Specialized S- Works FSR.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are awesome!! Easy to mount and adjust.In 45 min. I was riding.Excellent modulation and stopping power.Hang on if you grab a handful of these brakes or you may go sailing over the handle bars!I am 195 lbs. and it sure is nice to have brakes you can count on.I love them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mat
a Cross Country Rider
from devon, england Date Reviewed: August 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
strong solid product and it feels it too.....and its made here....
Weaknesses:
i have riden much better
Similar Products Used:
hayes 9, xt
Bike Setup:
marin attack trail
Bottom Line:
perhaps i have a duff set or i have a particular expectation but i like the breaking to feel solid and 'safe'. dont get me wrong, these will stop me but i do not like the feel at all. i have bled and re bled but to no avail. i am constantly left wonering if they are stopping me. i have had hopes before that were better than these. on top of this, i am going through pads like they are going out of fashion, at least 5 packs this year and as any brit will tell, you we are currently having the worst ever weather on record (its august it shhould be 25'c not 12-15'c and winter storms) so riding is not a frequent thing! i do live in a very gritty place and my componants wear out quickly, (on third cass and chain in a year) but i just expect that bit more you know..... sometimes having a pimp looking bit of bike bling is not value for money. buy if you like alot of modulation dont buy if you like that hayes 9 'on or off' feeling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Modulation, lever shape, great stopping power
Weaknesses:
Front rotor was a little out of true, nothing major but wanted to mention.
Similar Products Used:
First time using hydros
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush, M960 cranks & rear der, XT cassete & front der, Carbon Lefty SL fork, DT 4.2 rims with Hope Pro 2 rear hub & Lefty front hub, Mono M4 front brake/Mono Mini rear with floating rotors.
Bottom Line:
This is the '07 model, after some initial setup problems, they've been working great, modulation is excellent, the lever shape is just perfect, they offer good power and you can lock the wheels if you want, but these babies strong point is modulation: they shine in technical situations where you want to slow down but want to keep the wheels going.
I give them a 4 just for the setup problems but probably was my fault as this is my first time installing hydro brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Modulation, lever shape, great stopping power
Weaknesses:
Front rotor was a little out of true, nothing major but wanted to mention.
Similar Products Used:
First time using hydros
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush, M960 cranks & rear der, XT cassete & front der, Carbon Lefty SL fork, DT 4.2 rims with Hope Pro 2 rear hub & Lefty front hub, Mono M4 front brake/Mono Mini rear with floating rotors.
Bottom Line:
This is the '07 model, after some initial setup problems, they've been working great, modulation is excellent, the lever shape is just perfect, they offer good power and you can lock the wheels if you want, but these babies strong point is modulation: they shine in technical situations where you want to slow down but want to keep the wheels going.
I give them a 4 just for the setup problems but probably was my fault as this is my first time installing hydro brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Modulation, lever shape, great stopping power
Weaknesses:
Front rotor was a little out of true, nothing major but wanted to mention.
Similar Products Used:
First time using hydros
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush, M960 cranks & rear der, XT cassete & front der, Carbon Lefty SL fork, DT 4.2 rims with Hope Pro 2 rear hub & Lefty front hub, Mono M4 front brake/Mono Mini rear with floating rotors.
Bottom Line:
This is the '07 model, after some initial setup problems, they've been working great, modulation is excellent, the lever shape is just perfect, they offer good power and you can lock the wheels if you want, but these babies strong point is modulation: they shine in technical situations where you want to slow down but want to keep the wheels going.
I give them a 4 just for the setup problems but probably was my fault as this is my first time installing hydro brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Price
a Weekend Warrior
from East coast Canada Date Reviewed: July 20, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Monkamoo
Strengths:
Durability
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Juicy's
Bike Setup:
'05 Stumpy 120
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to a review I did two years ago. These brakes get better with age. In two plus years of use I have not had to do any service or fix anything. Truly set and forget. No piston problems,no leaks, I'm still using the original pads. These are the best "feeling" brakes i've used, comfy levers, amazing control. I've considered new lines and two piece rotors, but it's not necessary. Maybe if something brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil Facey
a Weekend Warrior
from Worcester Date Reviewed: June 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
cwmcarn
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Great stopping power,reliable,fit and forget based on riding 2-3 times a w/k off-road also to work everyday.
Weaknesses:
lever squeaks a bit.
Similar Products Used:
Avid,Hayes,more hope.
Bike Setup:
On-one,pace rc-40's,xtr drivetrain,tompson,etc.
Bottom Line:
Very good brake,never ending power,put some bf goodrich hose's on em and they'll serve you well for years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Regan
a Downhiller
from Australia Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
POWERFUL!!! They are very smooth with heaps of modulation. There also very light for a DH brake. The two piece rotor seem pretty tough and are LIGHT! The new 07 Levers are superb! They have a much nicer feel than previous models. There easy to work on and bleed and very reliable. The 07 calipers are now post mount style so no fiddly shimming needed. They are just so perfectly made and look AWESOME!
Weaknesses:
Nothing, but if I had to pick on somthing mabey a little on the pricy side...
Similar Products Used:
Hayes mags, Shimano Saint and XT, Avid Juicy 5’s and 7’s
*NOTE* this is a review of 07 Mono M4's set up with 203mmm and 183mm rotors.
For 07 Hope have really stepped it up a notch and created the most gorges set of stoppers on earth. The levers have been total redesigned. The pivot has been moved closer to the bar, similar to Juicy's, and the lever has been made thinner, more like Shimano. There also lighter and overall have a much nicer feel.
These are by far the best brakes I've owed! They're easier to work on than any other brake I've had. Power is similar to Juicy's, maybe a little more. But the biggest thing is smoothness and modulation they just rule! They overall finish is second to none!
I thoroughly recommend these to anyone, you will not regret it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Downhiller
from Sydney Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
They look the biz, nice feel to the lever, don't lock up. They're there, they work, what more could I want. Great for controlling your speed with small amounts of braking.
Weaknesses:
The pads take a long time to ware in. I mean a long time. You may go a while with no braking power but don't let this turn you off, they will come good. They don't have a lot of braking power. If you want to stop fast, then this probably isn't the best brake for you. If you want to slow down, then they are ideal. The pivot where the line enters the caliper can come lose after a crash and cause fluid to exit the system.
Similar Products Used:
Mags - lock up or do nothing at all.
Bottom Line:
They are decently priced, the floating rotors look hot. They control your speed if you want to slow down and down lock up your wheels, causing loss of traction. This is why I like them. I can't stand brakes that just grab the hell out of your rotor and stop the wheel straight away. If you do the type of riding where you want to stop, maybe not your best option.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Liam
a Weekend Warrior
from Ireland Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Chainreaction
Strengths:
Good weight for the product. Gives a feel of quality and the CNC machined calipers are a nice touch. Nice modulation front and back.
Weaknesses:
Rotors are too flimsy they really need beefing up. Pad retention pin needs to be redesigned as it can work itself out. Stock pads could be better. Very time consuming to get set-up just right. Bit of a pain to keep "tuned".
Similar Products Used:
Loads from Hayes, Formula, Magura, Shimano XT and Deore 525, and also Hope Mini's (the originals...very good)
Bike Setup:
Turner 5, XT, Marzocchi SL, Easton, Mavic on Hope hubs.
Bottom Line:
Some time out of each month I get real performance from these and some times I wonder what's going on because they just don't work well and they overheat and I get so much pad drag. The back gives the most problems. I've sorted out the leaks now and upgraded to braided hoses.... makes them better but an expensive upgrade. Stock pads are poor and I use Fibrax which has made an improvement. I've had my back pad work loose because of the sh*te design of the pad retention pin. I'm coming round to the belief that Hope need more time testing products before they go out. I don't think I could buy these again and I don't think I could honestly recommend these to anyone who wants a consistent brake that is trouble free. And they are a lot of money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Davidson
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah Date Reviewed: January 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Blackhawk Loop Trail.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light weight with very good modulation. The potential fro powerful brake performance is there.
Weaknesses:
Carefull set up is essential or this is a no go brake. The system is prone to leaks. It is recommended to try different pads other than Hope to get the best from these babies. The pistons tend to stick especially on the back.
Bottom Line:
I have held back from saying anything about these brakes but they have been inconsistent in performance and reliability. Agreed they work very well when they are working...no arguement there, but to keep them sweet all the time is a labor of love. I can best say that I am looking forward to the new brakes that Hope are now bringing out, with the "hope" that they have doen some intensive product testing on them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred Wardale
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Good CNC machining to give a work-of-art look. Reasonable weight. when free of problems they work well. Good modulation.
Weaknesses:
Rotors bend too easily as they are actually fragile. Leaks from the joints. Inconsistent performance and poor quality on the pads. Pad retaining screws comes out of its own accord.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Formula, Magura and Hope Mini. (Not Mono Mini)
Bike Setup:
Turner 5 Spot
Bottom Line:
If I could reduce the number of times that I have problems to just a couple a year then I would feel considerably better. As it is I have problems every few months and this is an expensive piece of kit. This is a "freeride" brake and it should have "freeride" sized rotors....they are just too fragile. Fortunately I have been able to straighten both the front and rear rotors every time they have bent, but this is annoying me. The inconsistent after market pads has also been a problem which I rectified by now using Fibrax. Overall there is too much in the way of maintenance to warrant this system over the competition. Hope is much over-rated.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wenisman
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
ones with big rocks
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
good looks, decent power, modulation
Weaknesses:
could do with a bit more stopping power, the rotors are way too thin as they bend or warp very easily.
been using these for a year now and i cant fault them. they have gone from dusty trails in utah, to the mud of the uk, through slowing tracks in france... handles it all!
people complaining about squeeling brakes in the wet... the challenge is to find a disc brake that doesnt squeel in the wet.
the install was no more painfull than any other disc brake i have installed, but bleeding and changing hoses is by far the easiest of all the brakes on the market (no aftermarket bleed kit required either so saving some $$$).
the only maintainence i have had to to constantly straighten these rotors. im thinking of changing to grimeca rotors to get away from this but otherwise a solid peice of kit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a Weekend Warrior
from Pewsey, Wiltshire Date Reviewed: January 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Ae forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Classified Ads on MBUK
Strengths:
Crazy powerful, looks like the Dog's Bollocks
Weaknesses:
Annoying to set up, more expensive than other brakes second hand.
Similar Products Used:
cable disk brakes - the less said the better; Hayes nines
Bike Setup:
Kona fire mountain + Rear mono M4, Front mono Mini
Bottom Line:
Bought these after my cables died on me second hand as a job lot with some Mono Mini's as well. The usual story, a pain to set up but trust me, take the time to do it and it pays off. Cycled 30km SPAM race today and they really shined, have just bedded them in properly and they bite and hold like crazy. To be honest they are too powerful for my bike, i bottomed the forks out just by slamming on the brakes so make sure your bike can take it. Otherwise these are brilliant, they are up for sale alot on the MBUK 'for sale' section so go and buy them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
geoz
a Weekend Warrior
from Königstein, Germany Date Reviewed: December 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
excellent stopping power, very good modulation, top quality finish.
These brakes are great, same story as with the M6 > do get the floating disks to go with it, these have at least 20% more power, this is not due to the "floating" but due to a larger disc surface.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Redcar, Cleveland, UK Date Reviewed: November 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Hamsterly
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Chain Reaction Cycles
Strengths:
Look fantastic, oodles of stopping power
Weaknesses:
pain in the arse to set-up, both reservoirs leaked initially
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
02 Santa Cruz Bullit, White Bros UD150, Simano LX,
Bottom Line:
I don't know why people are slating these brakes so much. They are a fantastic peice of kit.
The only downside is that both of the reservoirs on mine got a leak about 3 days into using them. I got them checked out at my local bike shop, got them fixed and never looked back. I've not had one leak since. I haven't experienced any drag with them at all. The only other problem I had was that they took an age to bed in. but thats my fault for buying the 8in rotors and mainly only doing light/medium DH. So i'd recommend you only get the 8in versions if ur gonna be doing medium/heavy Dh regularly. I am intenting, tho, to take a trip to France next summer tho and ride Les Gets et al. I'll let you know how they get on later!
in conclusion: if you have the cash, get them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon
a Cross Country Rider
from St Paul, MN Date Reviewed: October 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lebanon/Memorial
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
NowBikes and Fitness
Strengths:
Machining of parts, look, modulation.
Weaknesses:
The set up is a challenge, but once done...it doesn't get much better.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 7, Hayes 9
Bike Setup:
NINER S.i.r.9
Bottom Line:
The set up on these brakes were a challenge. I have to admit I was getting quite frustrated with the whole thing, but I waited it out and it was well worth it.
I don't know if I would say it was HOPEs fault. The tabs on my fork were a little off, which didn't help at all and one of the rotors was the wrong size. With a quick call, I received a new rotor and I was on my way.
Modulation is incredible. These are a one-finger kind of brake. Anything more than that and you probably won't stay on your bike...and you may not with just one finger. The feel is great and they are as quiet as a brake can be.
Bottom line, the tolerance on these brakes is quite small. The calipers and the rotors need to line up properly and be right-on otherwise there is going to be some noise. If you dont want to take the time and you don't have the patience...do not get these brakes, they are not for you. But, if you don't mind the initial time and you want the BMW M-series of disc brakes...check these out!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
C.D
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle England Date Reviewed: September 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Any of the 7 Staines
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Merlin
Strengths:
Pretty. Double pistons should be an asset. One piece caliper should create big braking power.
Weaknesses:
Low on power for the size. Leaks. A lot of trouble to set up. Temperamnetal!
Bike Setup:
Marin Mount Vision
Bottom Line:
Not too impressed. A lot of trouble and very Temperamnetal. Expensive for what you get and could do with more power.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Jenkins
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Black at Glentress
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
?
Weaknesses:
So many Design faults: Rotors are flimsy for their intended use and they warp. They are easily bent. The smallest piece of grit makes the pistons stick and Mountain biking always puts grit into brakes. Banjo leaks, they require DOT 5...why?.. the original pads are poor and also squeel in the wet. They are difficult to set up and to adjust with all the shims. The pin that holds the pads in place has fallen out. I had to buy a special tool from Hope, on top of the purchase of the brakes, so that I could fit them properly! They are too expensive for what they are!!
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura, Formula and Hope Mini.
Bottom Line:
I've had a year of real frustration with my set up front and back. There are major design faults with these brakes...see above..and they are expensive on top of all that. It took ages to get them set up properly with the aid of a special tool from Hope. I would like to say that they work well but I've not had the opportunity to find out and that is not on. I suspect that there are quality control issues as well. If there were no other brakes to compare them to then I would probably think that they were still bad but compare them to what is around now and they are really poor and far too expensive and far too much trouble to keep in working order. I don't think Hope are any help either. All in all I would not recommend these and I will not be buying from Hope again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rod Hunter
a Weekend Warrior
from Leeds U.K Date Reviewed: September 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Jacob's Ladder
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Merlin
Strengths:
The way it looks and the colour combinations. They are a good weight too. Good feel and good lever design that is ergonomic.
Weaknesses:
Just not consistent performance. A bit under powered. The discs warp easily and bend easily. Poor stock pads and the usual lazy piston syndrome. Can leak a bit too. Need plenty of tender loving care.
Bottom Line:
This is a rag tag effort from Hope with a poor quality control on this brake. I accept that there are good ones out there, I just didn't get them. Its expensive and should be better than it is. I think the design is great but the same old problems come back again and again. And they are lazy pistons usually sticking and dragging, a leak now and again, low power for a brake of this size and I think the rotors need to have more metal in them because one of mine has warped (and it only needs a bit and it gets even more brake pad drag) and the other has bent. This brake needs constant tender loving care and given the probs I am looking for another make.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a
from Upper state N.Y Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Reasonable weight and they stand out as lookers.
Weaknesses:
Need carefull setting up and a maintenance schedule.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth with the usual trimmings.
Bottom Line:
I got these so I want to say they are the best. I keep them running but they need more attention than I like to give them. I hate to say it but I think they are over rated. I feel that I do more for the brakes each month than they do for me and that is not good VFM. I cannot say they are bad brakes as they work well when they work well, I just get tired of working on the sticking pistons and I guess that is taking me away from Boutique brakes like these. Somebody compared these to maintaining a Ferrari?? These do not give Ferrari performance at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stewart Potter
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K Date Reviewed: August 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Karrimore N.Wales
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Evans
Strengths:
Low weight and excellent CNC machining of the exterior components.
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent performance, time consuming to install and tune, overheating, constant pad drag, leaking banjo joints, consequent lack of real bite for a "Freeride" brake, expensive and they require an enormous amount of attention.
Similar Products Used:
Used or tried every major make and type of hydraulic and mechanical disc brake since its inception.
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR
Bottom Line:
I would like to be able to "fly the flag" for Hope but I have had such a protracted period of problems with these brakes that I am exhausted and completely disillusioned with their abilities. They are not cheap...even for someone living in England less than 50 miles from where they are made. They are so inconsistent, mine simply have not been properly bored out to facilitate the tolerances to function when there is the inevitable heat generation endemic in any braking system. The consequence is continual pad drag. They have been installed meticulously, with the prescribed Hope tool used to "face" both sets of tabs. Add to this the medieval adjustment system of shims, leaking joints, and a poor design of pad retention pin and we have a set of brakes which, had they cost a third of the price, would be barely acceptable.....but they do not. And, just recently, after 10 days of tough descents in Les Gets (French Alps) and being made to look a fool, by a bloke riding a bike with the latest generation of Shimano Deore 535 brakes fitted, I am not amused! My brakes cost me 3 times the price of the latest Deore's, including braided hoses. They most certainly do not perform 3 times as well. Nor are they as easy to adjust, nor are they enormously powerful....in fact Hope are losing ground rapidly to the competition. And finally...there is absolutely no adequate reason whatsoever why we, in the MTB world, should have to apply so much D.I.Y time to maintaining any component that has a design pedigree.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: August 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
could stop a small train - looks are all business
Weaknesses:
oem pads suck. aftermarkets make all the difference
Similar Products Used:
crappy ones
Bike Setup:
cannondale - non coda
Bottom Line:
yeah they need attention sometimes, but so do brakes on a ferrari.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CG
a Cross Country Rider
from Castro Valley, CA Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Flopperopolis
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
RWW
Strengths:
Looks nice. Nice lever feel, very quiet.
Weaknesses:
Constantly sticking pistons. Constantly rubbing. Feels like resistance training.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 7's
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer, Maverick DUC 32 fork, XTR
Bottom Line:
I waited a long time before posting, hoping that the supposed "bedding in" period would occur (it didn't), hoping that carefully cleaning the calipers would prevent the sticking pistons (NOT), calling Hope and hoping that they would offer ANYTHING of substance in the way of advice (Phil is not a very good rep - not helpful at all).
After multiple trips to the shop, after multiple bleedings, the front wheel spins 2 revolutions before coming to a complete stop (a great improvement over the previous 1/2 revolution before stopping). Rotor makes incredible noises after 3-4 minutes of use - severly suseptable to heat. Front piston in front caliper will not retract - I push it back in, go ride, its stuck after ~ 30 minutes.
Go ahead, bash me, tell me I'm cryin'. Just don't tell me anyone should pay so damm much for a product that just doesn't live up to all the hype. Way way over priced. But hey, they are sooo much better than the Juicy's - tells what my experience was like with two sets of Avids. Don't buy em unless you enjoy working on 'em before and after EVERY ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Beaux Deuk
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bear Creek
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Bicycle Jones
Strengths:
Incredible modulation, looks, excellent tech support from Hope, setup was actually pretty
Weaknesses:
Needed bleeding from the beginning, you really must be mechanically minded to get the best out of them,
Similar Products Used:
Avid Juicy 5's, Avid BB7's,
Bike Setup:
Marin F/S with XTR kit, CK hubs & h-set, Thomson stem and post, DT 4.1d's, Fox F100r, blah, blah
Bottom Line:
If you have Fox F100 forks and the 2 piece rotors, you absolutely have to get the forks spot faced not just to get the tabs in alignment but to remove enough material so that the caliper mount clear the rivets in the floating rotor. I had to cut a radius into the caliper mount and use a thin spacer to get the rotor to caliper spacing I needed. May not be necessary with the thinner one-piece rotors. I e-mailed Hope about this and they promptly got back with me to let me know of the issue with the Fox forks. I'd tried mounting this brake on a Marzocchi and it went right on without any interference BTW. Haven't ridden these on the trail yet as they need bleeding so will follow up with another review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kym Howell
a Downhiller
from Phoenix, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Merlin Cycles online
Strengths:
Powerful, Smooth, Excellent Modulation, Quietness
Weaknesses:
Takes awhile to pay off the credit card bill.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes hydrolic, Avid mechanical, Diatech hydrolic
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz VP-Free, Fox 40RC2. HOPE M4 with the braided lines and floating rotor option.
Bottom Line:
I didn't read the other reviews before buying these and they probably would have scared me off. My setup was easy as pie, didn't use any shims/spacers at all. Put them on, centered them, tightened them and haven't touched them since. They are worth the every penny I spent to me. I'm sorry to hear of all the other bad experiences others have had and since they sound worlds apart from mine I can hardly believe it. I do ride in almost strictly hot, dry conditions (Arizona) so not sure if that is a factor but I love em!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan barwell
a
from England Date Reviewed: August 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
super stoping power look the dogs b**ks greyt lever
Weaknesses:
sh** to set up pistons stik rotors worp like fu** leakind spungy feyal in bak breyk
Similar Products Used:
mono mini/sh** magura july ok
Bike Setup:
hard tail saint crank 125 magura phoa forks mavik ex721s wheals
Bottom Line:
amaising for trial riding rubis hat high speed becaus you get a loud sharp nois llook gooood pain in the as* to set up
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon Dowsett
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$118.00
Strengths:
So far so good, very good stopping power. Well, straight out of the box the friction co-efficient of the pads is awful for a brake. However, after drenching the pads and rotor in water and continueously apply and releasing the brake "Bedding in" the pads start to bite onto the rotor. Now dry, the brake works very well with good modulation.
Weaknesses:
GRRRRRR!! Bolts used to attach rotor to hub are made from some aluminium alloy that makes the bolts too brittle and subject to breaking upon installation. Got some stainless- steel ones from an ironmongers for a few pence which prove to be much more heavy duty. Okay I may have exceeded 8Nm but you dont really want to put your life on the line in trusting some bolts made from aluminium. I mean "shallow- head" Bolts made from aluminium, honestly.
Similar Products Used:
Hope C2s
Bike Setup:
GT I-drive 2.0/Rock Shox SID front and rear suspension/Hope xc hubs with mavic 717 disc rims. Hope Mono M4s front and rear.
Bottom Line:
Good brake let down by crappy bolts. These bolts are possibly made from an alloy so as to save weight. However, the large sacrifice in strength to facilitate less weight is cause to alarm me in the thought processes of the people at "Hope".
The bolt-head has a socket embossed into it to accommodate a tool. Due to it being a shallow-head-bolt the embossed part actually goes below the shoulder of the bolt where the shaft meets the head. This leaves very little material at this point. The fact that the bolt is a brittle aluminium alloy only adds to the problem
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Weekend Warrior
from MV, Ca Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$440.00
Strengths:
Um, strength!
Weaknesses:
People aren't nearly as impressed by them as I'd hoped, psh.
Similar Products Used:
8" BB7s
Bike Setup:
Banshee Morphine, EX823 on CKs, XTR, monkeylites.
Bottom Line:
They'll do the job, if they're loud I suggest etymotics research ER6i headphones, can't hear sh*t with them in! Do mine squeal? Couldn't tell ya.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick O'Rourke
a Downhiller
from Nelson, New Zealand Date Reviewed: July 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
aniseed dh trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
Preety powerfull once set up right and everythings burned in.
Weaknesses:
Need alot of attention.
Bike Setup:
keewee stealth. M4 BRAKES ect...
Bottom Line:
I have had alot of trouble with getting these brakes set up. They need alot of attention. Once these are set up they are preety darn powerful. i rekon hope brakes are a little over rated. Good freeride/dh brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
R
a Weekend Warrior
from Ohio Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
great looks, reasonable weight, excellent modulation
Weaknesses:
Long bed-in period, set up not so easy
Similar Products Used:
Original mini, mono mini
Bike Setup:
Turner 5-spot
Bottom Line:
Not the easiest to set up, but remember all the old cantilever brakes with the bolt and washers where you had to get angle just right, bed-in, etc??
Once setup, no issues whatsoever. Great power and modulation, yeah, a little noisy when wet, but not a big deal. Also - vastly superior looks IMO.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MonK-E
a
from France Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Power and modulation
Weaknesses:
the time it takes to set up
Similar Products Used:
Hays, Avid
Bike Setup:
P.2 with Pike 454
Bottom Line:
The price is a bit steep but you get what you pay for and you get a whole lot of brake. If you don't mind spending allot of time setting them up and getting them just right these brakes are the best you'll ever use. they have plenty of stopping power (enough to pitch an elephant over the bars) and the modulation is the best you can get, you can easily stoppie down hills and the response through the leaver is spot on.
Personally i could not wish for a better brake.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Olen
a Racer
from Arvada, CO Date Reviewed: July 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Strength, modulation, and quality
Weaknesses:
Lack of lever bleed port. (ie. having to remove resevoir cap on lever for proper bleed)
With Hope Monos being a scarce commodity in my area, I do most of the work on them myself. All other components on your bike are pointless if your brake system is not in peak performance. That said, here are my observations:
On both of my bikes I run M4s in the front, Mini 160s in the rear. Same lever feel with front bias stopping power not unlike a sportbike. My most recent addition was Goodridge pads and lines to one set of M4s. The resulting change in braking characteristics was slight but noticeable; smooth, firm power with gritier bite.
When bleeding Monos, after purging the system and closing the caliper bleed port, fill the lever resevoir and pump the lever firmly several times. This will firm up the braking feel, reduce fading, all while still allowing beautiful modulation. After firmly pumping the lever several times, top off the lever fluid and replace the resevoir cap as normal.
The most common source of leaking fluid is bolts and seals that have loosened from normal riding vibrations. Check and re-tighten all fittings after several rides and apply blue locktite to slippery threads. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN ANY FITTINGS! As with any aluminum part, threads and screw heads strip easily.
Because of the increased complexity of high performance disk brake systems, careful initial setup is required to obtain that perfect fit and feel. Hope's newer rotors with aluminum carriers tend to make less noise because the slight vibrations created by braking are isolated via the retainers joining the stainless surface and Al carrier. Despite careful setup and preperation, some brakes may squeel louder than others. There is reasoning behind this however. The rear will always squeel more because it is unloaded during braking; load stabilizes the rotor and caliper. In addition, certain frame shapes/builds resonate sound far worse than others. Just as the rotor can resonate and amplify braking vibrations, so can your frame and fork (think tuning fork). Example: The rear Mono Mini on my Preston FR was taken from my old KHS 504. On the Preston FR it hums slightly. On the KHS, the noise would make riding unbearable. Same setup and mounting hardware, same bleed and lines.
The Hope M4 and Mini systems are the BMW of mountain bike brakes. If you are not prepared for the increased service duties and costs associated with Hope brakes, look to Avid or hayes. However, if the thought of six piston brakes makes you hot, Go Mono for good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon Potter
a Weekend Warrior
from England Date Reviewed: July 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
QECP Hampshire,Afan forest Wales
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came standard on my bike
Strengths:
Loads of power,great modulation,quiet,no rubbing or squealing even after a few hundred miles on them,they've been subjected to loads of mud rides and recently lots of dry rides and there's been no noticeable pad wear,running 200mm floating front rotor and 180mm floating rear rotor, they have a nice pinging noise as they cool down but they've stayed nice and true. Looking at the prices out there they also appear to be great value for what you get.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Formula B4 & B4sl Hope mini's, Hope mono mini's, Hayes HFX 9's.
Bike Setup:
Whyte 46 (06 model)
Bottom Line:
Great stoppers,excellent modulation,low weight for 4 pots,very reliable and quiet,great looking especially with floating rotors that come in cool colours,you can also swap out the bore caps and cylinder caps for coloured ones,currently running red rotor spiders with red bore caps, just adds that little extra to a mighty fine brake system, so far unable to fault them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kris
a Weekend Warrior
from Wyoming Date Reviewed: June 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Clear Creek Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
All-Pro Cyclery
Strengths:
The BEST brakes I've set up and used on any bike. Excellent modulation, great power, low noise.
Weaknesses:
A bit pricey...ummm?
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Mag Plus, Avid Juicy Sevens, Hayes HFX-9's, Shimano XTR and XT, Various mechanicals...
Bike Setup:
Banshee Chaparral
Bottom Line:
This is my second review of these brakes since I purchased them over a year ago and what I have to say is this... What a bunch of whiners!!! Man, If I chucked every set of brakes that rubbed or squealed a little I wouldn't have any brakes at all. Even V-Brakes rub and squeel every once in a while... The difference being that the Hope Mono M4's offer modulation and performance unmatched by ANY system. I don't know if people realize this, but there is a reason that disc pads have such a high metal content. It is so that, not if but WHEN the rotors rub the pads there is little to no forward energy loss. You might hear the rotor kiss the pads but it won't slow you down... I.E. no Drag! You think Hopes are bad, try Hayes! They rub and squeal constantly, and when they don't squeal they grind and howl. Oh, and the pistons stick near constantly! But at least the performance is lacking! They just plain suck period. My hopes will squeal on humid days until the rotors heat up and then the squeeling stops. Occasionally a piston will stick, but all I have to do is flex the rotor against the sticking piston to move it back, hit the lever and all is good again. I've had no leaking problems, I've had no warped rotors, they nearly never rub and when they do its usually during a hard turn in or an off camber hit... very short lived. My hayes rub constantly, never stop. The best selling feature to me regarding the Hopes is the awesome power and modulation they offer. Flawless braking that blows all other systems out of the water. By the way, have you ever heard a race car's brakes? They squeel sometimes, too. Maybe performance brakes just do that? Hmmmm... no, Formula One mechanics and their brakes must suck, too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from U.K Date Reviewed: June 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Karrimore
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Lite. CNC machined. One billet. 2 pistons set to graduated levels. Good size pads. Interchangeable with Shimano.
Weaknesses:
Set-up requirements. Pad compound. Heat levels. Piston drag. Flimsy spider's web rotors. Braking power? cost.
Bottom Line:
I would not get these again with the experience that I've got now. Apart from the length of time to set them up and adjust them they are always dragging, especially on the rear and it really gets me down. But more than anything it's the pitifully thin rotors that annoy me ...they are like spider's webs. I've bent 2 on rocks with just a slight knock and warped one on the front, that's 3 that I have had to replace in just over 12 months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ward Tuttle
a Cross Country Rider
from SF, CA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
El Corte de Madera
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Great levers, great power and modulation.
Weaknesses:
Pricy
Similar Products Used:
Hayes
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight and Nomad both with Mono M4
Bottom Line:
I have had these brakes on my Superlight for two years. I just got a new Nomad and bought them again because they are excellent disc brakes. They may take a little time to set up, but once they are they work great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt
a Racer
from uk Date Reviewed: May 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
hope
Strengths:
Solid, sweet looks, crafted with precision
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Magura, older hope's
Bike Setup:
go anywhere, do anything bike.
Bottom Line:
These things are fine. Dont know what you others are whining about. All these negative reviews had me worried. For what? a load of BS if you ask me. Sure they are a little tricky to set up. If you are a serious enough rider to appreciate this level of quality you will know how to set up your own brakes. Improper setup will lead to rubbing and squeeling with any brake you use. These brakes broke in for me within one day, and have been performing flawlessly since. If you want next to no squeel (mine squeel maybe once a week, maybe) get the floating discs. Not a costly upgrade.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DeeZee
a Weekend Warrior
from OC California Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Holy Jim
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Hope
Strengths:
Look nice, good modulation and power
Weaknesses:
See bottom line
Similar Products Used:
Hope Mini, XTR, Avid Mechanical
Bike Setup:
Full Sus'er
Bottom Line:
These brakes are a pain in the a$$. Pain to set up, pistons stick causing the rotor to rub and squeeeeeeeeeeealing !!!!!!!!!!!! Had them on two different bikes and squeeeeeeel. Had the forks and frame faced squeeeeeeel. Tried different pads and squeeeeeeel. Different rotors squeeeeeeel. Two different shops set them up and squeeeeeeel.
Hope Technical support is a joke. I spend a bunch of money and time to try and get these brakes to work. New rotors at $45 apiece, new pads (various prices), labor at different shops. Then I explained my issue to Hope and that the M4 calipers are a bad design(my Mini’s work flawlessly) “William” told me to send them in and they would swap them with the Mini’s. Sent them in an then they returned the M4’s??? What the f^ck??? Received an email from Phil Dean.
Hope “the calipers where used so we returned the M4 calipers to you”
DZ “ Yes I know they were used. I have been trying for months to get them to work. New rotors, new pads everything. I have spent a fortune trying to get them to work. The M4's are more expensive than the Mini's but I have them on my other bike and they work great. That is why I wanted the Mini's.
If you don't want to resolve the issue how much would it cost for the Mini calipers if I trade in the M4's
ps. I still do not understand why you sent them back when I was told that Hope would exchange them?
Hope “We sent them back because we have no use for used calipers. I don't understand why you could not get these brakes to work? We never have trouble with the Mono M4. The Mono Mini calipers are $95.00 each I will let you have them for $63.00 each thats wholesale less 10%.”
Never have trouble with the Mono M4’s YEA RIGHT! If these brakes are not setup perfectly and kept absolutely clean the pistons will stick causing the rotors to rub and squeal like heck.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Vashon, WA Date Reviewed: March 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
All of Whistler
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
These brakes are awesome. The only failure over two years was a self-induced loosening of the front banjo bolt after slipping off of a skinny. If it weren't for that, I still would not need to have bled them.
Great modulation as well as pretty much bullet proof. Also, their customer service rocks.
Weaknesses:
The only weakness and its not really a weakness is that they can be time consuming to set up. Once done properly, they work great and don't need any attention.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX-9 and Mag
Bottom Line:
For the mechanically impatient, go get some Hayes. Otherwise, well worth the effort.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Deforge
a Cross Country Rider
from Brirish Colombia Date Reviewed: March 22, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
If you get them set up O.K then they are O.K for a while. They are light and they have really good lever feel.
Weaknesses:
leaking at the banjo joints. Can't believe the pin that holds the pads in can just work itself out. Stock pads are rubbish. They are not the best for power.
Bike Setup:
Norco
Bottom Line:
I had the brakes put on and set up by the Bike shop I bought them from and they used a tool to "face" the Forks and Frame. Maybe I am a dumb A** but I don't think that it's my fault when the banjo joints leak brake fluid, when the stock pads could do with replacing immediately to get a performance and when there is an obvious lack of anything to keep the pad retention pin in place. The shop has been great and I got no complaints there. They do have great lever feel but they got to have power when the bite point hits and they need more grip. They have got to be reliable. I do not see them as cheap so I think quality conrol IS an issue.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mick Donnelly
a Weekend Warrior
from Oldham U.k Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Glentress Black Run
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Leisure Lakes
Strengths:
Brilliantly light. One piece CNC machines billet.
Weaknesses:
Quality control and the instalation requirements.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX 9 XC, Magura Julies, Shimano Deore Hydraulics, Hope M4's and Formula B4 SL.
Bike Setup:
Marin Rift Zone ..etc.
Bottom Line:
Not that impressed and I have tryed as much as I can. In and out of my local, and capable, bike shop with dragging pads, leaking pistons and poor performance....but great feel at the lever. I think that these brakes have to be judged alone because they do not compare well with their opposition on the market. I would not but these again if I knew how they would perform in the long term. One reviewer from the U.S compared these with old British Sports cars...very hit and miss, and I sadly have to agree.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WD
a Racer
from Beaver Ridge Co Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$413.00
Strengths:
Modulation, great in loose snow. No snow shortage this year!
Weaknesses:
Setup time causes grief to unskilled or impatient installers.
Similar Products Used:
Several types, none compare.
Bike Setup:
Switchblade.
Bottom Line:
This is a folow up on my M4's. I have owned them for six months now and logged about 1500 miles. Anyone can set them up (except for maybe a civil engineer) if you read these reviews and take a little time to do it right. What a wothwhile task! These brakes are spectacular. I ride some at the nearby ski area after hours and the modulation really makes a diff in loose snow. Cross country the performance is unsurpassed! In addition to setting them up properly I installed XT resin compound pads...icing on the cake! Have fun out there, any of the unhappy numbskulls out there wanna sell thiers just drop me an email!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frenchy
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah. U.S A Date Reviewed: March 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Look great. Low weight and one piece caliper.
Weaknesses:
Setting-up. Quality control. Overall performance.
Bottom Line:
I can't be as descriptive as the previous Guy but I agree with you. Setting these up is one pain and after that it is bedding-in time. Yep, for a while they worked great apart from the screeching, but now they leak front and back, they heat up bad enough to cook on and fade too. I think the stock pads are a poor choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nigel Crompton
a Cross Country Rider
from U.K Date Reviewed: March 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Marin
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Laeisure lakes
Strengths:
The finish looks of a very high quality both for the brakes themselves and the rotors. The colour scheme in black and gold is very fetching. Modulation is remarkably good.
Weaknesses:
I think this system is slightly underpowered and also prone to overheating. I also am unhappy with the set-up requirements and the quality control.
Similar Products Used:
Hydraulics from Hayes, Formula, Magura, Hope MINI and mechanical Avid's
Bike Setup:
GT I-Drive 5 1.0
Bottom Line:
I'm disappointed with my set up of 180/160 as they are slightly underpowered and prone to lealages with startling regularity. I am mainly annoyed with the nonsence from Hope concerning the labourious and essential requirements which preceed any possibility of these units working properly. As a civil engineer I cannot understand why Hope have designed brakes to such close tolerances ( other than to afford easily attainable modulation ) that make set-up as crucial as pad condition. On a road bike I could accept this premis but on a mountain bike, which receives such direct and lateral forces especially to the forks, it should be obviuos that a brake system must take into consideration the necessity for greater tolerances to accommodate this factor. All the major brake manufacturers have understood this...Hayes, Formula, Magura, Avid, Shimano etc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from Alaska Date Reviewed: February 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Ester Dome goldmine
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$245.00
Strengths:
These brakes have AWESOME modulation, although not as powerful as Hayes. But that does not matter at all because who wants a skidding tire? It has been shown time and time again that a locked front wheel is, well, not a good thing and a locked back wheel is a great way to lose control of your back end. I live in Alaska where winter is 8 months long and there is tons of ice. Not locking the brakes in your car is the best way to avoid an accident. Cross that over to bikes, and it becomes the best way to avoid having dirt for lunch. If set up correctly, these brakes have great stopping power, superior modulation to anything out on the market today, and do not fade with extended use, heat, mud dirt, water, or cold weather
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX-Mag HD and El-Caminos
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro with a Z-1, atomlab wheel and rims, race face diabolous cranks, chain guide, stem and bars.
Bottom Line:
YOU NEED TO SPEND SOME GOOD TIME SETTING THESE BRAKES UP. They are not like a plug-and-play computer component, you cannot slap these on and expect them to work to their full potential. Any moron knows that a two-piston brake is not that fun to setup, and any moron can figure out that is a 4-piston brake; hence, all the pads need to touch the rotor at the same time for the brakes to function correctly and to obtain even pad wear. The easiest way that I found to set them up is this: 1. face the mouniting holes on your fork, adapter (if you have one) and the caliper. 2. bolt the the caliper onto either the fork or adapter, leaving it a bit loose. 3. squeeze the brake to obtain contact to the rotor with all 4 pads and then tigthen the bolts while the brakes is closed. This method SHOULD get you very close to where you need to be or right on the money. It took me a while to face everything, but then only 1 try to get the brakes on correctly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Brough
a
from Greater London Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Action Bikes!
Strengths:
Well i can't see any, ive had these brakes supposingly as an upgade from my Magura Julies and there worse! I paid £280 wich is about $500...but in england everythings a rip off!
Weaknesses:
I did have a 180mm front and 160mm rear but there just wasnt enough power at all, so i switched to 203mm front and 180mm rear. The brakes squeak like hell, fade under heavy braking and are extreamly unrealiable in cold weather. They like the wet weather though, but then theres even more noise!
Similar Products Used:
hayes hfx9, magura julie.
Bike Setup:
freeride, Marzocchi drop off IV, fox vanilla r rear shock, sun single track etc etc.
Bottom Line:
I wouldnt recommend these to anyone, ok they look beautiful! and are very light but just so unreliable...oh and have leaked. Why waste your money on such over priced brakes when you can get a much better brake for alot less.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
benzology
a Weekend Warrior
from new zealand Date Reviewed: January 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Im running M4 mono's with 200mm front and 180mm rear rotors (both one piece) Fitted goodridge braided hoses. Awesome stopping power which doesnt fade on long descents!! Modulation is superb. Lever shape and fit works well. Huge range of spares to customise.
Weaknesses:
Quite difficult to set up correctly. Brake mounts must be faced properly (I know this sounds fundamental but its essential) Caliper must be perfectly centred. Serious squeal if not installed right.
These brakes are unreal if set-up properly - do yourself a favour and get them fitted and tuned by someone who has experience with Hope brakes. I messed around quite a bit getting them right - back brake squealed louder than any brake Ive ever heard!! Anyway - I got them tuned by someone who has loads of experience and they have worked great for 2 months. Would have given 5 chili rating if they were easier to set up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carlos
a
from NMexico Date Reviewed: December 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
Modulation,power, di i mentioned modulation. reliability.
Weaknesses:
Nono so far.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes (average) avid, shimano.
Bike Setup:
VP free, blah, blah
Bottom Line:
Xcellent system; it only needs a careful set up. No fade even in long, step descents. realiable after 100`s of miles. powerful, but not grabby.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Cumbria U.K. Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Skiddaw
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Looks great and is very low weight.
Weaknesses:
Takes a lot of patience to set these up. Thin discs and a lot of heat build up. Bad screeching off fo the pads. Pistons sticking.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT and Magura Louise.
Bike Setup:
Spec FSR
Bottom Line:
Nice brakes, pity about the long term performance. I run 180 x 160 mm F & R. And I'm 175lbs. Mine screeched from day one. I got rid of it when I filed the attachments and changed the pads to another maker and it was O.K for a while but the screeching is back. Wild animals howl as I approach. Birds take to the skies in fright, young children run in terror, other bikers c**p themselves. Apart from that, they get very hot because of thin rotors with tiny surface areas and this makes the performance not too goo. I have to alternate the braking front & back as I'm riding. The pistons always drag when they get wet but like ALWAYS! And it's wet where I live. These are heavy weight maintenance items :(
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted Turner
a Weekend Warrior
from Upper State N.Y Date Reviewed: December 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Eye catching peice of kit very bling bling.
Weaknesses:
Sticking pistons and bad pad retention design. Also a bit light weight for any real hard use.
Similar Products Used:
Magura Louise Shimano XT and Hope Mini.
Bike Setup:
Spec FSR XC M4
Bottom Line:
I like the looks of these babies, got them front/back 180/160 but I got to say i've had my share of problems. The usual suspects are here as in too much heat, pads crumbling and I bent a rotor. Maybe the rotor was my fault but I feel they could be toughher. Had it with the sticking pistons and pad drag, it's there all the time. It's a high maintenance unit and parts are hard to get too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vince Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester U.K Date Reviewed: November 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Coed-y-Brenin Karrimore
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Merlin
Strengths:
Light and pimpy. Very good modulation. Ergonomic levers. A nice crisp finish to them.
Weaknesses:
A lot of work to set up. Costs to get the fork and frame tabs faced. I get sticking pistons with pad drag, screeching when wet and they get very hot. I am unhappy with the retaining pin.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Mini's, Maguras.
Bike Setup:
Spec Enduro
Bottom Line:
I have 180 X 160 rotors. It takes a lot to maintain these brakes to a standard that is in keeping with their potential performance. I have worries about reliability and it's becoming harder to get them to perform consistently. I have taken note from information in these reviews and now use Shimano XT pads, which I feel improve the braking feel and power. I am unhappy that there is always a piston that sticks within one of the calipers and in hot weather, on long descents, my front brake becomes seriously hot. I am also unhappy with the design of the pad retention pin which has a tendency to work itself out. I personally do not feel that they have the consistency of either Hayes or Magura brake systems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Downhiller
from Kamloops Date Reviewed: November 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Hope, B.C.
Strengths:
These brakes must have the best modulation out there. The levers are comfy and the CNC machining does look good. Pads are easy to change without tools and XT pads are a good cheap fit and easy to find.
Weaknesses:
Can be a little fiddely to setup, but what brake out there do you NOT setup??? These calipers work great once setup SQUARE to the rotor like the manufacturer intended. People take for granted the amount of misalignment a two piston setup can take. THIS IS FOUR PISTONS, AND IN ORDER FOR THEM ALL TO TOUCH AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE TO BE SQUARE!!!!
After getting my bike from the LBS the brakes SUCKED. Turns out the mechanic didn't spend much time setting them up. Had air in the lines and the alignment was wacked. So if you have these brakes and they suck, ask yourself why??? Why do some people rave about them, and others not? Probably because five chilly riders came from v-brakes and zero chilly riders don't know how to setup their bikes.
And Hopes are not as powerfull as hayes, but that point is moot since Hopes have waaaaaaaayy better modulation. Just think, how fast can YOU stop when your tire is skidding??
They do hum or buzz after a while, but some alluminum pad shims work great.
Little pricey, and I hear replacement parts are hard to come by.
Similar Products Used:
All of the hayes brakes.
Bike Setup:
04 bullit, 02 Shiver DC, Hope M4
Bottom Line:
If you can't work on your bike, don't buy these. They are like ferraris. Really nice, awesome performance, head turners, and expensive to have someone else maintain. If you just want transportation, buy a Honda civic.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bret
a Weekend Warrior
from N.M U.S Date Reviewed: November 5, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Looks like they should be hung in an Art gallery they sre so pretty.
Weaknesses:
They are so hit and miss its a joke. Sticking pistons, overheating with brake fade, poor OEM pads, inconsistency all the time.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes. Avid. Magura and Shimano.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth truth.
Bottom Line:
I got thses brakes to give me more power than the Hope Mini brakes that I had. What a joke!! The Mini brakes are now back on the bike and I have ditched these jokers. Its so hit and miss with these M4s, always got sticking pistons, always overheating and fade, my front disc warped because of the heat. They are much too thin. In the last 18 months I've had so much trouble with them that its back to the original Mini's and these work. Can't be doing with this inconsistency.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BullSCit
a Weekend Warrior
from Pueblo, CO Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
South Shore
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Pro-Deal
Strengths:
They're pretty. Work good after initial setup and before eventual breakdowns.
Weaknesses:
Cotter pin falls off, and brake pad pin will fall out, resulting in pads falling to the ground. Terrible sealing system, allows water to get into lines. Worst customer service ever, they think their products are so great that nothing bad can happen.
Similar Products Used:
Hope Minis, Avid Mechs, various Hayes
Bike Setup:
SC Bullit w/ Rohloff, etc
Bottom Line:
I have no idea why this product is rated so highly. I have almost killed myself twice with this POS brakes. With the Minis, the pin that holds the brake pads at least threaded into the other side of the caliper before being help by the cotter pin. With these POS, it is free to rotate. I have twice, and a guy I ride with have had the cotter pin come out (either by pin failure or it released somehow), and all of a sudden no brake pads, and hence no braking power. And the more severe problem is that the system has an incredible loving of water in the lines. Water in the lines sucks, as you will have braking power down a steep section, then if you let go of the lever and then try to grab again, the lever will go straight to the bars, with no braking power whatsoever. People will say that it needs to be bled. I bled them 3 times myself, still the same problems. I have my brother who is a wrench at a bike shop do it, still the same problem. I even sent them back to Hope twice, and still the same problems. The biggest problem I have is their customer diservice. For costing so much, you would think they would have better help, and would be willing to work with you on your problems. They don't, and they really seem to lack any feeling of caring about your problems.
Bottom line: Stay away from this, and any Hope products. My Minis weren't too bad, but the Mono M4s blew. I will now stay with Hayes, as now I know why everyone uses Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Albuquerque, NM, USA Date Reviewed: October 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Power, modulation, easy to adjust pad centering, heat dissipation, DOT 5.1 fluid means years between bleeding and hydrophobic, quality, quality, quality.
Weaknesses:
Long break in time period. Price? maybe? You get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:
Other HOPEs, Avid(not that good, not that bad), Hayes(CRAP), Shimano(not user or shop servicable), Tektro(worse than Hayes).
Bike Setup:
I've used them on an Ellsworth Id and a Sub-22. Front is 200mm on a Psylo Race with HOPE faced disk tabs. Rear is also on hope faced tabs.
Bottom Line:
I have the 2 peice rotor, the rotor doesn't float in the rattling motorcycle sense but the rivets do allow the steel to expand when they warm up so they don't warp. I tried a couple aftermarket pads but the stock pads worked the best in the long run. I'm in a prety dry climate and they work well and quiet untill it rains or gets humid, when it does sometimes they squeel and sometimes they don't. Different pads may work better in wetter regions. All rotors are prone to bending from impact, these seem laterally stronger and stiffer than others.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K Date Reviewed: October 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Peak District
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light for it's power and very attractive. Excellent modulation. Very good levers with the shape and feel.
Weaknesses:
A marathon pain in the A**e to set up and they take a long time bfore they work properly. They get hotter than they should for their useage. I have had leaking pistons and howling . The Discs are just too thin and fragile. I have bent 2 of these ....one on the front 180mm, and one on the back 160mm at different times. Just riding in very rocky areas means that they are bound to get hit at some time.
Bottom Line:
These work well some of the time. I've got over the problems now but I am very unhappy at how thin the Discs are. Riding in any kind of rocky area and I am really nervous about hitting the Discs. I have bent 2 of these now. I can't bend them back into shape and so I've had to buy new ones. On a Freeride brake you need more meat to the Discs than these have.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon Bonham
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: September 15, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bracknell Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
www.chainreactioncycles.com
Strengths:
UPDATE to my review on the 15th August 2005.
Weaknesses:
Squeal came back after a short time. I am sorry that I rushed the previous review. I am using 200/180 rotors on the front/rear respectively. Squeal was worse on the front. I tried many different brands of pads, and nothing helped to fix it. I ended up having to fork out another £80 to buy a set of Hope two-piece rotors (a.k.a Hope Floating Rotor). This has now finally sorted out my squealing problems. Because the rotors are such large diameter and fairly thin (2mm thickness), I believe they are prone to vibration and thus noise. But fortunately the floating rotor is alot stiffer, so it has fixed my problem. Also, the rotors are NOT floating, contrary to popular belief. They are firmly riveted to the aluminium spider. The rotors cannot move in ANY direction relative to the Alu spider. So as far as I am concerned , they are two-piece rotors, not floating rotors.
Bottom Line:
Very powerful and good looking brakes. But had to spend a total of £340 to get my setup right. And on top of that I had to buy lots of pads. Well at least I will have pads for the next couple of years ;)
Two piece rotors do look good :) I love the attention to detail on the CNC'd Alu spider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WD
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaver Ridge, Co Date Reviewed: September 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Secret
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$413.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
Modulation and power. No squeal in the first 100 miles of very rough wet riding near Durango. One finger strength.
Weaknesses:
Alignment washers not quite thin enough, get some Shimano shims. As for durability, ask me in about a year. I will post any negative info then. Really long brake lines, I will shorten them when bleeding time comes.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, no comparison. Shimano dual piston XT (Gimecca System 8) Good braking but no modulation.
Bike Setup:
Titus switchblade.
Bottom Line:
Read these reviews. I obtained valuable information with respect to installation of the calipers. This setup is really not that difficult or time consuming. I used a crosscut file to face the frame and fork mounts, used the Hope washers for rhe initial alignment and also some leftover Shimano shims that I had. The Shimano shims were very handy because they are very thin and are shaped like a tuning fork so that you do not have to remove the screws each time you need to make a slight adjustment. Looking forward to wearing out the stock pads, I can not imagine more braking power with resin compound pads as stated in other reviews. After three rides near Durango this weekend in rain/snow conditions I am very impressed. My opinion is if you are ready to spend 300 dollars suck it up and shell out 400 for the Hopes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K Date Reviewed: September 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Coed-y-brenin
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
They are very artistically designed and are a good weight.
Weaknesses:
Too many quirks... need special tools to fit them properly. Very long bedding in time, poor stock pads and Pad drag.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura, Shimano, and other hope brake products.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth...Fox Float RL 100, XTR, Sun Rhynolite, Hope hubs, Thompson Post & Stem, Monkey lite etc.
Bottom Line:
At no point was I told that I had to have special tools to fit these brakes so that they work properly. All the other brakes that I've fitted satisfactorily have needed no such messing about. I fitted these 180/160 combo more than a year ago and they have howled, overheated, unimpressive power, leaks and just basically not great. Since a few months in I read on the internet that they have to be put on Forks and a frame that is "faced"....oh yes and of course a special tool is needed only got from Hope. If this process is needed ( and it is!) then I expect the tools to be in with the package and not an afterthought. And I expected to be told about the necessity before I bought the brakes. These brakes need too much arsing about to get them right. I'm into riding, not continous maintenance and in this day and age I expect manufacturers to design goods that can be easily fitted and maintained. Disc brakes are not rocket science and other manufacturers seem to be able to design and build brakes that are simple. I'm not impressed and will not go with Hope again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vercin Getorex
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah Date Reviewed: August 27, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Well made and a dainty design. Weight is good for the power. Not too expensive and the pads last O.K
Weaknesses:
Could be a bit more powerful for the disc size. Original pads suck. Need a whole load of preping before they can be set up o.k
Bottom Line:
They need a lot of preping work like it says with facing the tabs, it has got to be done or they suck. IMHO the pads that come stock are lousey but switch them for Shimano XT pads and they are good. I'm O.K about these babies now but it has been a slog to get them to run well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Corey McAfee
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Maxwell Falls
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Mojo Wheels in Denver
Strengths:
Braking Strength, nice one or two finger levers
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Avid
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad, Fox 36, SRAM XO
Bottom Line:
I took the time to face both front and rear tabs before installing the brakes. I have had nothing but love for these homies since the day I installed them. I personally like that Hope brakes don't require adapters--the initial setup requires a little more trial and error to get the rotor centered using the supplied spacers, but I think it is a better (and burlier) mounting system. I will be installing Hope's on every new bike I get (and will be facing the tabs--it definitely helps).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan
a Weekend Warrior
from Peak District, UK Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Any Peak, col du Tourmalet
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Once mounted and bedded in provides excellent back brake. Use it as the main brake on a tandem - much less need to rely on the V-bakes.
Weaknesses:
Needed set up from LBS. Non-standard 185 mm rotor needed due to unusual mount on tandem.
Similar Products Used:
Hope Mini, RST DT
Bike Setup:
Orbit Twin 26 tandem. V-brakes from and back, Hope Mono M4 185 mm rear.
Bottom Line:
Get good brakes or go to hospital when tandem riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bodger
a Racer
from here Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1.00
Strengths:
modulation, power (enough), pretty
Weaknesses:
must be shimmed accurately, thin rotors, get hot,pricey
Similar Products Used:
stuff
Bike Setup:
patriot 6.6fr, bolt rear axle.........
Bottom Line:
Take the time to set these up and these are fine. They drag a bit when hot and the noise the thinnish discs make is very there. pads are a bit delicate to contamination, as ny old hayes used to cop wd spray as a matter of course. Really can't complain as they perform as well as anything once sorted. I 've ridden badly set up six pot Hopes and it really reinforced the importance of setting these things up properly ( they were woeful) It's a personal thing. Test ride a good set if you can before you part with your bucks, Good but not cheap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon Bonham
a Downhiller
from London, UK Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Swinley Forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
chainreactioncycles.co.uk
Strengths:
'POWERFUL, GREAT LOOKING, GOOD MODULATION'
These brakes are really powerful, especially with the larger rotors (205 front/185 back). Easy to shorten hose without having to re-bleed (Just read the manual properly). They look better than any brake system as a whole that I have seen. Good, strong, CNC'd levers. Able to customise lever and pot covers with different colour combo's (see chainreaction cycles)
Weaknesses:
They squeal like hell! This has been driving me up the wall. When I bought them, I also bought the Hope facing tool after reading so many stories about the infamous Hope Squeal. I faced them nicely and put the brakes on, however I did not pay too much attention to using the correct washers. I continued to have squeal even after bedding them in. I was really fedup at this point. I tried Copaslip (CopperSlip/Copper Grease), but that didn't help. Be careful you don't contaminate your pads!
I decided to take off the brake pads, and re-check the caliper alignment. The front was way off, and the back was a bit off too! Its much easier to see how well aligned they are, without the pads in. You can eyeball the correct alignment by seeing the gaps between the rotor and caliper. Take your time to align them correctly with the supplied washers and use a facing tool!
Since doing this, I have no more squeal. I am quite sure that if you take the time to set them up properly, ie face them nicely and use the washers to align the caliper nice and parallel, you shouldn't have any more drag or squeal problems.
Cosmetic issue. When I received my set, they were manufactured about 6 months apart, and Hope had decided to use a slightly different set of hose and bolts during this time. So they look a bit different, but nothing serious.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX-9
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Switch Ltd '03 Raceface carbon bars, raceface stem and raceface cranks Mavic CrossMax XL wheels with Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 UST's. Fox TALAS Fork 130mm '05 Fox Float RP3 rear shock '05 Hope Mono M4 (205 front / 185 back) Selle Italia Signo seat Shimano M959 pedals FSA Big Pig 1.5 Reducer Headset
Bottom Line:
Excellent braking performance. Can go over the bars with one finger ;)
Very good modulation.
Beautifully made. The whole lot's CNC'd.
Lots of spares available.
Uses the commonly available brake pad type, that old Shimano XT/Grimeca System 8/The Cleg all use.
My only gripe is the squeal. And if you don't like faffing with brakes, that could be an issue.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Potterton
a Weekend Warrior
from Cheshire U.K Date Reviewed: August 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Coed y Brenin
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bike Factory
Strengths:
Well machined and you can see the benefits of CnC cutting. One piece caliper prevents any movement. Nice large disc rotors (although they could be a bit more substantial)
Weaknesses:
Mine have required considerable maintenance from the outset. The pads should be changed immediately for a better performing compound. Not cheap.
Similar Products Used:
Hope Enduro 4,Magura Gustav and Shimano XT Disc Brake M765
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS
Bottom Line:
I use this set up both on the front and the back at 180 and 160mm which seems to be the favoured combination. They are a very attractive unit and light to boot. It's true that there is a fair amount of setting up time to be given to this type of braking system but I just left it to my local bike shop to do all the graft. Not cheap but they are eye catching brakes. I'm fairly satisfied but mine have become rather hot on occassions and I have felt some deterioration in performance. My only other consideration is to be carefull with the disc rotors as they seem to be thin. Definately have the brakes set up professionally.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: August 13, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
For the size there is not much weight which is good.
Weaknesses:
The pads skreech when wet. Pad drag and constant fiddling about to keep them working proper. Should get more power than this from double pot brakes.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura louise/julie, Shimano deore hydraulic and cable.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth joker
Bottom Line:
The usual stuff here is true. I'm talking 180/160mm. At first there is poor performance. This is the bedding in period. And then they get to feel good with descent performance. Then the problems set in and need fiddling about with like all the time. Nobody I bought these off told me about machining any surfaces. Nobody I bought these off told me that it had to be done or else. I never did this kind of work with the other disc brakes I use so what's the script with these?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a
from Utah Date Reviewed: August 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
This is a light product for it's intended purpose and I like the one piece machines caliper.
Weaknesses:
Would like more metal in the disc and I think they should be made to fit all bikes without all of the machining.
Bottom Line:
Basically I have the 180/160 set up. I waited for a while for the whailing and the brake drag to go but it hasn't. I know why and that's because I see from these reviews that I should machine the attachment surfaces and face them. Basically I see no reason why this model of brake should need so much preparation before it can be fitted to work properly and I'm not impressed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will
a Weekend Warrior
from B.C Canada Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
I like the look of them and the lightness. Also the lever feel is very good.
Weaknesses:
I just feel that I have to mess with them too often to get the best from them. The brake pads that came stock are poor. I get the usual suspects...pad drag, Squeeling like a stuffed Moose, Heat..fade.
Similar Products Used:
I've used Hayes, Avid, Magura and Shimano XT.
Bike Setup:
Norco with Marzocchi/RaceFace/easton stuff and Mavic 717 hoops.
Bottom Line:
I have to agree with a lot that's been said in these pages, but I did not know that there was going to be so much messing with these brakes to get them set up right and then to keep them that way. And for me if it needs a lot of Do-it-yourself that should reflect in the price and these are not cheap. They feel great but I don't have the effortless confidence that I had with the Avids or others and that kind of makes it not too good a purchase for me.
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Submitted by
joe price
a
from east coast Canada Date Reviewed: July 25, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
monkamoo
Strengths:
control! there are other strong brakes out there, but not with this modulation. light
Weaknesses:
????
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Avids
Bike Setup:
Stumjumper 120 pro, 205 mm front, 180 mm rear
Bottom Line:
These brakes are amazing, when porperly set up. Did my first dozen or so rides without facing the frame and fork. They howled, dragged, felt mushy, all the typical complaints. Bought the tool, faced the frame and fork, and what do you know they really work (quietly). Do the set up and forget them. They are very strong! And have the kind of control that lets you dance over wet roots and rocks. Although appearance should never really matter, they do look incredible. These will go bike to bike like a Chris King headset.
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Submitted by
Kris Klus
a Weekend Warrior
from Gillette, Wyoming, USA Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
anything challenging
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
All-Pro Cyclery
Strengths:
Excellent craftsmanship, Top-Quality hydraulic lines, calliper designs to fit all applications, excellent power and modulation without silly knobs.
Weaknesses:
These brakes are so precisely manufactured that a good quality Bicycle shop set-up is required. Somewhat time consuming but well worth it.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Mag Plus, Avid Juicy 7's, Hayes HFX-9's
Bike Setup:
Banshee Chaparral, Sherman slider+, Hope Mono M4's with 180mm Rotors front and rear.
Bottom Line:
The best brakes I've ridden yet. They will offer you all the power you need. Don't be discouraged if you test ride a bike with a set that has not yet been broken in. Once broken in the power, and modulation, is phenomenal. The key to flawless performance with these brakes is the set-up. Make sure you have your brake mounts machined with the proper tools, and don't assume your mounts are fine to begin with. Once this is done at your LBS the brakes will never rub, hardly ever squeal except when dusty, and never require further attention. I have had to mess with my Hayes mag +'s ten times more than these Hopes, and I take it easy on the Hayes. I have the IS mount on the rear and the post-mount on the front. The post mount does not require machining, but the IS definitely does. The machining tool makes sure that your IS mounting faces are square to the axle dropouts insuring proper pad-to-rotor alignment. If this isn't done properly, or at all, your brakes will rub and feel like mush. Trust me, these brakes are so precise they require special frame prep that other brakes don't benefit from. If you can afford them, buy them. I'm getting ready to replace the Hayes on my other bike with a set of Hope Mono M4's!
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Submitted by
Glen Denning
a Weekend Warrior
from Upper State N.Y Date Reviewed: July 19, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
The best show of any brake I've seen really attracts attention. Low weight and solid calipers. very good modulation.
Weaknesses:
Too thin on the discs, too much maintenance needed, could do with more power, a bit pricey.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes and Avid
Bike Setup:
Marin FS/Marzocchi All Mountain/Sram transmission/Mavic hoops on Hope hubs.
Bottom Line:
The best looking brake out there! They do need a lot of maintenance if you ride in gloop and wet. Mine drag often but I've gotten used to it. I would like a bit more power so I guess go for the biggest sizes. They need more meat on the discs IMHO. My discs have not bent but I can see that they could bend easy the bigger they get. Still they are a work of art. Great feel to them, I know just when they are beginning to bite which I like
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Submitted by
Phil Aitken
a Weekend Warrior
from Idaho Date Reviewed: July 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Very light and pimpy piece of kit. Good feel and power.
Weaknesses:
Takes a long time to get set up right and you have to faff a lot with them. Can get hot.
Similar Products Used:
All kinds from Hayes , Avid and Formula.
Bottom Line:
Nice brakes. They need a lot of maintenance to keep them in shape. Very light with plenty of bling.
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Submitted by
Ads
a Weekend Warrior
from Qld, Australia Date Reviewed: July 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
one with dirt on it
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
www.dropnzone.com
Strengths:
Power Modulation 1 piece caliper/lever body non-crush hose fittings
Weaknesses:
takes a bit of time to bed in properly Lets out a squeal when it is cold
Similar Products Used:
HFX-9's, Magura Julie.
Bike Setup:
Craftworks FRM125
Bottom Line:
I wanted something better than my HFX-9s and I found it in the Hope mono M4's. At nearly twice the price I would hope so (excuse the pun). Sure they squeal a bit but it makes you brake later so your mates don't think you are such a girl braking before they do. Can also work as a bell when coming up on slower riders/peds. They do get hot but there is no fade or brake pump. The CNCing and fittings are top quality. Levers are really comfortable. Heaps of power means you are braking later into corners. So far worth every penny.
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Submitted by
Kevin Sutton
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: July 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
One of the best looking pieces of kit that i have seen for a Mountain bike. Excellent modulation and ergonomic levers.
Weaknesses:
The rotor is too easy to bend. The pads don't wear evenly. It was O.K at first but now I get pad drag all the time. Hot!
Bottom Line:
When I first got these I was well pleased but over the last few months I'm getting a lot of pad drag. I've had them back to my LBS but after a ride they drag again which is getting me dowm. I also bent the front rotor when I crashed....nothing serious but the rotor is thin and bends easy. All in all I think that I would have gone for a more robust brake system if I had to buy one again and the pad drag is a drag. The pistons are designed to come on one before the other ...that's what gives the great lever feel but mine are coming on too quick or else I've got lazy pistins.
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Submitted by
Duncan
a Racer
from Worcestershire Date Reviewed: June 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
The phsycho track Malvern
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
www.wiggle.co.uk
Strengths:
Great powerfull brake, looks good, good manual, good modulation. Great performance when wet.
Weaknesses:
I seem to be suffering from play. If you clamp the front brake on hard and rock the bike the pads slip a lot inside the calliper. Its not too good for doing technical sections because of this.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano m525, hope mini, hope enduro4
Bike Setup:
Specialized enduro, marzochi BLACK
Bottom Line:
A great brake, worth paying the money for aslong as the loose pads dont smash it up after a few years.....
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Submitted by
Dud Fairmont
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle U.K Date Reviewed: June 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Nice design and very light for its size. The set up is really like a piece of art with the black and gold and the rotors.
Weaknesses:
The system is not as robust as I would like with the rotors having bent on my front twice, I had real problems gettingit straight and in the end had to buy a new rotor. The system can get bloody hot on a long downhill section. Not cheap. The stock pads.
Similar Products Used:
Hydraulic systems from Formula, Hayes and Magura plus Hope Mini.
Bike Setup:
Turner 5 with full XT, Easton bits, 959 pedals, Hope hubs/Mavic717 disc rims.
Bottom Line:
I love the looks of these brakes ...I've got them front and back, 180mm front and 160mm back. I had to fiddle about a lot to get them to work right and stop the pads from brushing on the rotors. When I did get them right they worked well for a while but they have given me trouble again. The back especially rubs quite often. Apart from that they have great feel at the lever and really lets you get a knowledge of where the bite point is. When it's a hot day and I'm a long downhill section these brakes do get very hot and I try to feather them as much as possible. I prefer the Shimano XT pads (which fit) to the Hope pads because I think they brake better and get less hot. If you don't mind maintenance then this is a good brake but I think that for the price there is better out there.
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Submitted by
Leslie Allen
a Weekend Warrior
from NoCal Date Reviewed: May 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
It looks nicely made and for it's caliper size is very light.
Weaknesses:
The disc is way too fragile and the surface are is too small. Gets real hot on long braking periods. I get drag now and again for no obvious reason it kind of comes from nowhere. Fiddley to set up just right with the shims.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Avid and Magura.
Bike Setup:
Marin East Peak. XT and RaceFace. Hope hubs on Mavic X717 rims.
Bottom Line:
I like the looks of the babies and they have a great feel to them. Maybe I'm too critical but mine just get so hot that they fade on fast descents. It could be that I'm too heavy at 200lbs but that's why I got these freeride/downhill brakes and I can't say that after a year I'm Cock-a hoop about them. Good but not great that's my view and I'd probably not buy them again.
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Submitted by
Kevin Craig
a Downhiller
from Seattle Date Reviewed: May 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Aline
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Awesome Power and even better modulation. The levers feel great. These brakes are just about the best brake Iv ever used.
If your looking for a brake that feels awesome has great modulation and is the best of the best then the Hope M4 is for you. Although finding adapters can be hard the brakes are well worth the wait to find them.
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Submitted by
Samsun
a Downhiller
from Wales, UK. Date Reviewed: April 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
I have two sets of these. Both pairs have great modulation and power. Very easy to set up and maintain (so long as your not a spanner jockey) so find it hard how a very small minority seem to struggle setting them up!!!
Weaknesses:
People who insist that Hayes are a superior brake!!!
Similar Products Used:
Hope Minis, standard M4's and some pile of sh!t Hayes.
Bike Setup:
Custom 230mm front and 180mm rear on a Orange Sub-Zero BH. 200mm front and 180mm rear on a Orange Patriot FR.
Bottom Line:
These brakes are amazing, easy to maintain, have stacks of power and look just sweet. Hope have one of the best after market help services around, they could have let me by a whole new calliper for £60 but made me a custom rotor for £30, so the people above who say Hope dont give a damn, I dont think so. Again to the guys above who seem to be unable to set up a pair of disc brakes, remember, "a poor workman will allways blame the tools". BOTTOM LINE: Very sweet system, just make sure if you cant set them up yourself go to someone who can!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Seth Doull
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Date Reviewed: April 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bellingham, Whistler, Epic Rides
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$415.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop
Strengths:
Stops on a dime. Quality. Looks. Easy to set up. Easy to cut hoses. No maintenance. Set it and forget it.
Weaknesses:
Partial brake drag. Only noticeable at low speeds. Can squeel like a pig when rotors get wet (goes away on longer descents when rotors can heat up). A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for and I can't complain.
Similar Products Used:
Avid Mechanical and Juicy
Bike Setup:
2004 Santa Cruz Chameleon. Marzocchi 130 Z-1 Freeride fork. Hope w/ 8" front rotor, 6" rear. King hubs, mavic XM819 rims. WTB 2.5" front tire and 2.3" rear tire. Race Face cranks/bashguard/rings. XT thumbshifters etc. All black.
Bottom Line:
Love the braking. Stop on a dime with one finger. Easy to set up. Looks sick. No problems with overheating (but I don't "ride" my brakes). I just pop em every once and a while to kill speed when I need to. Modulation is good. Easy to feather brakes and easy off if skidding starts. LOVE EM!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Warrenton, VA, USA Date Reviewed: March 17, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Monk a Moo
Strengths:
Excellent power and modulation. They look like absolutely nothing else on the planet.
Weaknesses:
Setup is a bit fiddly, but they ship with an assortment of washers/spacers which will get the job done without trouble. Take the time to set them up properly, and you'll love 'em. A bit of brake drag while you're breaking them in, but it goes away after a couple rides.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX-9 HD & XC, Avid BB7
Bike Setup:
2005 Yeti AS-X w/ Boxxer Team, etc.
Bottom Line:
Before installing, I took another poster's advice and measured w/ the pads removed to get a good estimate of the spacers required. However, the brakes still had a bit of drag after install (as evidenced by a hissing noise when I would spin the wheel), but I chalked this up to the "motorcycle style" brake calipers; i.e., you pump them until they make contact w/ the rotor, then they don't retract very much at all. After a couple break-in rides, the drag went away and the power totally amazed me. I will post again after a few months to report on their reliability, but my initial impression (after 5 rides) is very favorable. $400 for these brakes? A good deal in my opinion.
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Submitted by
james
a Racer
from Cardiff Date Reviewed: March 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
afan
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
uk
Strengths:
Look the dogs knackers! Excellent modulation and enough power for anything in the UK (except maybe fort william!)
Weaknesses:
fiddly set up with spacers, though thats the same with all discs, not a particular hope problem!
Similar Products Used:
Magura marta, HS33, M565s, C2s
Bike Setup:
180mm f&r on Kona chute,hardcore XC, saint, Fox vanillas, XM321s
Bottom Line:
Been using them at least 3 times a week for around 18months, sometimes everyday, in wet welsh weather and mud on 20-60 mile rides and some DH courses, on 3rd set of pads (but they have had A LOT of use!) apart from that I have not bled them or had any trouble, even very little noise! Excellent modulation too, just like V's but with more power in all conditions!I wouldnt buy anything else. a bit too heavy for my race bike (magura martas) though the caliper is only 2g heavier then mono minis and they have better modulation, there is no need in minis! Maybe heat up a bit on alpine descnts, not for big DHs, but perfect for nearly all XC/play/freeriding!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alvin
a
from USA Date Reviewed: February 14, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
strong!
Weaknesses:
too strong?
Similar Products Used:
Avid mech disk
Bike Setup:
Blur
Bottom Line:
Way strong. Looks nice.
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Submitted by
Trailnut
a Cross Country Rider
from berkeley, ca, usa Date Reviewed: February 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Downiville Classic xc race
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$210.00
Purchased At:
www.universalcycles.com
Strengths:
200mm rotor, modulation (whoaa!), power (oh-my-gosh!), quiet, looks
Weaknesses:
none. $
Similar Products Used:
Hope Mini Mono 160mm
Bike Setup:
Koan Lavadome butted crmo steel hardtail, Z1 ETA, 2.1" IRC ClawComp Lite
Bottom Line:
Even better modulation then the already excellent Hope Mini Mono 160mm.
Eye-popping power(!)
With just one figer I gotta be careful: I'm doing unintended nose wheelie with one finger.
Runs quiet.
I'll be getting a stronger front tire to better match the brake: 2.4" WTB Weirwolf. Z1 130mm's a sturdy fork to run this outstanding brake with.
All I ever needed was the Hope Mini Mono 160mm, but I'm real happy with the Hope Mono M4, 200mm.
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Submitted by
Timmy B
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol UK Date Reviewed: January 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
barneys
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
dave bater cycles
Strengths:
amazing modulation easy to set up, easy 2 use!! easy to do everything with it!
Weaknesses:
none found yet, but if i do i will say,
Similar Products Used:
hayes hydraulic
Bike Setup:
kona stab jr T's halo combats m4 mono on back
Bottom Line:
a very good brake, costs a bit but its well worth it the modulation is amazing, i can slow down realy easily and the modulation is so great u can brake to the limit of ur tyre so it almost skids but doesnt actualy so u slow down realy quick, the brake has squeeled once or twice but that was wen it wasnt beded properly.
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Submitted by
Neil Franklin
a Weekend Warrior
from Leicestershire, UK Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
CYB & Cannock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Shockwave, Nottingham
Strengths:
Brilliant modulation No squeal Poweful braking Easy parts access
Weaknesses:
Bent rotors
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX9
Bike Setup:
Turner 5 Spot Talas RLC SRAM X9 XT Cranks Thomson post & stem XC717 rims on CK hubs
Bottom Line:
The are only my second set of disc brakes so unfortunately cannot compare against all on the market
The main benefit of these brakes over my last set up (Hayes HFX9) is the increased modulation and increased braking power
With my last brakes it always seemed they were either "on or off", for example if I was on the road and signalling to turn with one hand off the bars and feathering the brake with the other I always felt like the bike was going to lock up, this has not been the case for the M4's
Power is fine and I have had no problems with brake loss or fade
Set-up can be a bit of a pain with the small washers but once done you can forget
Bleading is simple with the little bleader kit, had to do this due to popping a piston out by accident (my own fault)
Only slight negative point is the front rotor did seem to be warped from new, but to be fair I posted it direct to Hope and they sent me a new one within 2 days, but I also had rotor rubbing with the Hayes brakes as well but front and rear
Sintered pad life is fine after 3 months riding in the winter still loads left
The only time they have squealed is when i used some dodgy cleaner which included oil (Fenwicks)
I would really recommend these brakes
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Date Reviewed: December 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Big Finn
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Looks like a piece of sculpture it is so nicely designed and finished externally. Very easy on the weight for a double caliper brake.
Weaknesses:
Poor quality control, so much hassle with sticking pistons and piston drag. Kind of pricey.
At first I thought it was just the bedding in thing but after weeks of pad drag, massive heat build, fade and screaming from these I started getting pretty fed up. I've been back to the Bike shop and they have stripped them down and rebuilt them and fitted them up. And sure they're OK for a bit then it's back to the squeeling, sticking pistons and heat. So now I'm resigned to stripping them down so regularly that I am looking for something else. Too much faffing with these brake, poor quality control and lousey CNC machining.
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Submitted by
Joao Dias
a Weekend Warrior
from Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal Date Reviewed: November 26, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Sintra
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Awesome brake
Weaknesses:
They are also expensive.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes HFX Mag
Bike Setup:
Enduro S-WORKS ,full xt ,fox tallas rlc
Bottom Line:
The truth is that these brakes are awesome.These brakes are great for wet or dry conditions. I highly recommend these brakes to any one considering it.You hit the brakes, and you stop
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Submitted by
William
a Cross Country Rider
from Chester Springs Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Horseshoe Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Power to burn, no fade, modulation second to none. Hope (USA) tech support was outstanding, two calls at installation (sticky self adjuster) and both questions were instantly answered by a tech, no callbacks no delays (It is what we should expect after spending hundreds on bicycle brakes, but is rare nonetheless) I can hold more more speed (and hold it longer) knowing that I can pull it down quickly without locking the wheels. I will also feel much more confident on ultra steep rocky root covered sections because of the confidence that I can control my descent without locking the wheels.
Weaknesses:
They are a wee bit (50-100g) too heavy for real (sub 22lb (~10kg) XC race bikes. They are also expensive.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Magura, Amp, Shimano (discs) and rim brakes of all sorts ("V" and canti's)
Bike Setup:
S Epic set up as a 26 lb "all mountain" trailbike
Bottom Line:
This brake is truly amazing and unmatched overall by ANY other brake, it is hands down the best "all mountain" brake available. It has the raw power of a Hayes but also has fantastic modulation. It is truly a "fit and forget" brake no breakdowns, no constant bleeding and fidgeting. (something that can not be said for Hayes OR Magura). It seems most of the complaints about the brakes (in this forum) stem from not understanding brake pads and setup or not having someone familiar with disc brakes install/service them. The first rule of disc brakes is- YOU DONT USE SINTERED METAL PADS FOR EXTENDED DOWNHILL USE! (ON ANY BRAKE!!!) The Mono4's come with sintered metal pads (at least mine did). Metal pads last almost forever, perform well wet, dry or covered in mud and tend to squeal a bit. They also easily absorb huge amounts of heat (rather than transferring it to the rotor) and so are unacceptable for downhill/extended use. (Swap to fiber or resin pads. most pad manufacturers will give suggested use of their specific pad compounds). There is no universal "best at everything" pad, thats why different compound pads are made.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia Date Reviewed: November 7, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Artistic design and nicely finished. The caliper and piston have a good and effective design, very light for the power output.
Weaknesses:
The Roror is not up to the job and is too small to discipate the heat from the double pistons. The pistons don't retract always giving brake rub which is really annoying. The front brake gets too hot after a while and the power goes. Also the modulation isn't as good as I'd like.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, Formula, Magura.
Bike Setup:
Ti hardtail XTR SID
Bottom Line:
Good brakes but not great brakes. My caveats are the rorors which just are not big enough to do the job. All discs brakes work, what seperates the wheat from the chaff is the ones that work really well in the extreme conditions. This is marketed as a freeride/downhill brake but it gets too hot on my long descents and we are not talking full on down hill here so although I love it's looks I cannot love it's performance.
$
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