|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Trey
a Racer
from Orange, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | The Path bike shop | | Strengths: | VERY strong, VERY reliable, great feel zero fading | | Weaknesses: | Heavy by current standards, the newer models are lighter | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth ID, full XTR, Race Face cranks, Bomber MCR, Chris King/custom wheels | | Bottom Line: | I looked though the reviews and saw most posts were from a few months of experience. I just wanted to post that I have been running the Hope Enduro 4 brakes for over three years now and have had ZERO problems.. I posted $400 for the price, I believe that was for both the front and rear. These things are amazing! they don’t fade at all, and have great modulation. Even after three years, and thousands of miles, they are still in top condition. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin G
a
from Edgewater
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | From a friend | | Strengths: | Like hitting a brick wall. They stop in all conditions, and i'm 240 lbs. | | Weaknesses: | I had a piston shear off in the front caliper. However Hope quickly remedied this problem with no hassle the swapped my caliper with a cosmetically marred caliper for $30. They also ate the shipping and gave me a great deal on new pads. The calipers were also already a couple of years old with very hard riding | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes, Avid | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrownn 4-Banger with a z.1Bam | | Bottom Line: | I will never settle for anything less than Hope again for hydraulic brakes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
top jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from new england
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | bumpy and muddy | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Simple to install. | | Weaknesses: | minor adjustment needed once in while | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano mechs---eh. | | Bottom Line: | If you do you own bike work, then these are not too difficult to install. Use the business card trick and you should be all set. Stops before a dime and get in all conditions. A noticeble upgrade from mech. discs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeffrey
a Weekend Warrior
from powell ,tennessee ,usa
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | haw ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | k old guys im 15 and set these brakes up by my self (with a lil help from my dad) .They dont make noise .they brake awsome .they stop me .and tip for those of u who squeel get help .keep it up hope ur brakes are awsomenot like formula mechanicals .never buy formula mechanicals .never | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Welford
a Weekend Warrior
from worcester england
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | these brakes are the mutts nutts | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | v's, cable discs, maguras | | Bike Setup: | slalom/street/trials | | Bottom Line: | the best brakes money can buy. PERIOD
wayyy better than sh*tty maguras
pro lever feels nicer than old sport version. prefer the closed system so i can adjust the lever feel to how i like it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Winno
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | local outdoor shop | | Strengths: | work when wet, light weight compared to other discs, very good power and control. | | Weaknesses: | Very pricey compared to some others especially when I had to get new wheels too in my upgrade from Maggie rims, take some time to bed in. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope C2, various Hayes | | Bike Setup: | 1997 Marin Quake 9.0 frs mono, XTR drive train, Bombers, Hope/Mavic wheels | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to get brakes that would work in the wet as I'd had some scarey moments with my Maggie HS33's in the rain. The Maggies were fantastic in good conditions and better than my XT and XTR V's in all conditions.
I also didn't want to have to replace rims every so often when they wore out. I just wanted something that I could put on, it would work well all the time and be fuss and maintenance free.
I had had a Hope Ti bottom bracket for some years that didn't have one problem with it and so I decided to look at Maggie and then Hope discs.
I went for the Hopes even though they were more costly as they have fantastic hubs and do a short axle kit for the rear Big'un hub due to me having to use a Hope rear disc adaptor kit for my frame due to no disc bosses.
The machining is also top class.
They took a month or so of light use to get them bedded in and now I have immense control of my braking.
The Hayes I tried had a firm stop to them but I felt that I didn't have the modulation that I have with the Hopes.
I'm very happy with them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a
from Nottingham, England
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | local cycle shop | | Strengths: | This is how brakes should be, smooth & powerful (Hope Mini) | | Weaknesses: | Can't think of anything | | Similar Products Used: | 'V' brakes, tested deore cable brakes | | Bike Setup: | Zaskar,XT, Hope hubs, mavic x317 rims | | Bottom Line: | I have tested these brakes in the worst conditions, and they work consistantly every time, no more rim grind from the 'V' brakes, or changing the cables every few months. Also Hope must have fixed the pads on the mini brake, because mine only make a slight hum at speed (holes in the disk?) altogether a excelent brake system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kace
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Stopping your bike | | Weaknesses: | Bedding-in period | | Similar Products Used: | V's, mech disk | | Bike Setup: | Fast hardtail XC | | Bottom Line: | I'm reading various reviews here about it being hard to set up and squeaky in use. Maybe I'm lucky (or maybe I'm good!) but it took me just under 1 hour in my office with an Allen key and pair of pliers. This includes removing the old brake and completely replacing the front wheel. This done it runs in silence and stops me on a postage stamp, at all times looking and feeling very sweet. OK I've not had it long but I can definitely comment on fitting and early performance.
It's expensive of course, very sharp edged rotor (mind your paint and fingers), and most importantly takes quite a bit of bedding in- don't ride any hills in the first few outings! But to be honest you get what you pay for, and for GBP 110-120 the Hope Mini stops MTBs very very well.
PS Hope hubs cost about the same as XT and are superior in weight, freewheeling and ease-of-service, no competition. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaap Dr. Paaj
a Cross Country Rider
from Geleen the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | all over the world | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$192.00 | | Purchased At: | www.rob-akkermans.nl | | Strengths: | pure brakingpower. No weak feeling in the handles. More than only xc use braking. The weight 380gr | | Weaknesses: | squiking but thats the only one... | | Similar Products Used: | xt(disc) magura(sucks) hayes and hope(both superr hope the best) | | Bike Setup: | Jeckyll 3000sl xtr hope mini(165mmf+r) | | Bottom Line: | The mini's have much more braking power than all others in compare with xc racing brakes..... But the first feel is very strong when you touch the brake handle you make a nosewheely before you noticed..... This brake can be used for XCracing-freeriding-dual and maybe DH(with lagrer rotors 185mm r+f)
They squeek very nice like singing, but i don't care...... One of the best brake ever... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt-o
a Racer
from colorado
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | how can you pick just one??? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$159.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | Small levels (not motorcycle style), good manuals, tech support, stopping ability once "bedded in". | | Weaknesses: | Weight (when compared to cantis), very sharp rotors, can't build real light wheels, had to call tech for additional parts, 5.1 brake fluid vs. Shimano's mineral oil, drag | | Similar Products Used: | cantis, avid discs | | Bike Setup: | Anvil Hammer (3.4 STEEL FOCO tubed bike!) -- race face, king, hugi hubs, use post, conti tires, Xfly, Salsa stuff, easton stuff | | Bottom Line: | These brakes (HOPE MINIS) are nice but they do have their drawbacks. Stopping power is better than cantis once broken in, but not leaps and bounds better. Setting up is a pain. Numerous tiny washers, messy fluids and wrong parts caused me increased set up time and losing out on a trip to Moab. The rotors are VERY sharp on the edges, due to a lack of machining, and they will chip and peel the paint off your chainstays real quick when putting the rear wheel into the dropouts. Plus out of the box, one of the pistons stuck (would not expand or contract). The guy at HOPE helped with that problem though, wd40 and a screwdriver did the trick.
I have struggled with getting the pad rub out of the calipers by using the washers provided (and extras) to space them properly, but to no avail some drag still exsists. I have been a bike mechanic for ten plus years, plus I have maintain all of the disc brake systems on my motocross bikes, so let me say that it is not a case of a feeble mechanic spinning the wreches that has caused difficulties in set-up.
If you get ANY disc set up that is hydraulic, plan on tinkering time.
As far as the performance, they do stop quicker than cantis. No need to worry about heating your rims either (a concern here in Colorado with loooong descents). But it seems that you use your brakes more too. My race times/descent times are not any faster with them. They look pretty trick with the wavy style rotor and they have just a touch of squeal but no worse than misalighned VEES.
Should you get em? Well gotta ask yourself acouple of questions. Do you ride in mucky conditions? Are you willing to slap extra weight on your bike? Are you willing to trash out your current wheelset for a more expensive, heavier one? Are you willing to mess with fulids and parts that are only available from specialized dealers?
If you answered NO to any of these, stick to canti (Vee) brakes. Otherwise you will experience my dissappointment. Sorry. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | (open 2 pro levers) Simple, reliable,powerful,good modulation, no fade or pump up and mine never squealed. | | Weaknesses: | Yeah right | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bottom Line: | I like them loads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PaulC
a Cross Country Rider
from Penicuik, Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | (HOPE Mini 165mm on the front)Light setup and very powerful with excellent moculation. No lock up | | Weaknesses: | AHHHHHHHH my ears, better than a horn though | | Similar Products Used: | HOPE Mini | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper A1 FS PRO with XT Rockshox Judy's. Hope XC hub on Mavic 321 Disc rim. | | Bottom Line: | In Scotland rims get munched by the crappy weather. These discs are ace and are much better than any rim brake. The lever supplied is neat and works well.
They are easy to set up and required little tweaking. Whoever said that only Downhillers need discs obviously have not tried these out, as a front disc for cross country / downhilling they are great.
The only problem is they are a bit loud, a minor gripe though. So buy them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Shanks
a Downhiller
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Fungle road - Oh yea!! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Christys Cycles, Brechin | | Strengths: | (Hope O2 Sport) - They are easy to install, quick to bed in and the power and modulation is amazing, they are not bothered by heat, dirt, mud, cold, buckled rims. Easy maintainence. Exelent customer support (UK anyway) | | Weaknesses: | None at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT 4 pots (not impressed), Magura loiese, claras, grimaca hydros, (all no where near as good as hope) | | Bike Setup: | 2001 saracen havoc, hope disks, zokes elite 5" forks, mavic D521 XT drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Iv tried loads of other breaks and nothin beats the Hope o2. Brilliant breaks and great value only 120 pounds sterling per brake (caliper, hoses, lever, Disk) Good for DH, Open system isn't effected by heat build up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Weaknesses: | See below | | Bottom Line: | Me again.
Just one thing I forgot to mention in my review below.
The stock bolts that came to hold the discs on were total junk. The heads were way too shallow, and the allen key (a brand-new quality allen key before anyone comments) rounded out the hex head (and before anyone mentions ham-handedness, I tightened them with appropriate torque).
I ended up buying a box of 50 A4 stainless allen bolts from RS. Paid a premium for them, but !DAMN! they are nice. By far the best quality bolts on my entire bike. I wish all bike bits came with bolts of this standard!
Only problem was they were M5x10, and the stock bolts are M5x8. Ended up grinding them down on a bench grinder. Fit perfectly now and look far better than the stock bolts.
Still brilliant brakes though, just need better bolts for the discs.
Still 5 by 5 though, coz their performance and value just can't be argued with! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Power, modulation, number of options available, perfect match to the amazing Bulb hubs, big + beefy Sport level (I prefer the larger Sport lever over the Pro lever) | | Weaknesses: | New braided hosing (I got the older black hosing). Rear brake used to squeal (until I sorted it - see below). My rear disc aint very flat (front seems near flat, but the back is all over the place (has been since new)). | | Similar Products Used: | Various V-brakes (LX, XT, XTR), Magura HS-33, lots of old canti designs | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes. The real reason for this post is to help (hopefully) some people out with the squeal from their brakes.
I found the following worked well, but I dunno if it will work for other ppl (dont see why not though):
For UK folks, go to Halfords and buy a tub of Copper Grease (Halfords own brand). This is also an anti-seize, so it's all-round useful stuff!
Take out pads and apply a very thin layer of copper grease to the backs of the pads. Make sure you dont get any on the front or sides of the pads (for obvious reasons).
Re-fit pads and brake in silence.
Like I said, it worked on my back brake (front has never squealed - go figure...). I cant promise it will work for everyone.
Lastly, I also got some EBC red pads, and the power of the brakes went up A LOT! Only downer is that modulation is affected, but just need to learn to be lighter with the lever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Blackburn
a Cross Country Rider
from Echt (you know it makes sense)
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Fungle | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reaction | | Strengths: | Hope Mini Disc Brake
Great power | | Weaknesses: | Squeak like crazy/ | | Similar Products Used: | Hope C2 - quiet as a mouse. | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rift Zone. Manitou SX R / FOX air vanilla. | | Bottom Line: | Great brakes, but can someone please let me know how you turn the volume down? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Millard
a Cross Country Rider
from Grenoble, France
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | william@shustoke.com | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles (UK) | | Strengths: | Fantastic stopping power, fairly light, look very cool | | Weaknesses: | None found yet. | | Similar Products Used: | XT V brakes, LX V's and Avids. | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rift Zone + goodies | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are fantastic, i am currently living in Grenoble in the heart of the French Alpes and loving it. The avid Vs were stock and rubbish. These are a little heavier than Vs, but my god they are nothing like V power. i don't believe it is possible to do anything like this with rim brakes. After a long steep down they get rather hot and you have to adjust the lever (i am riding closed 2 pot system)Not problem though as that was at the bottom of the cable car. (Lazy)
Buy them, they're british and fantasticly engineerd. Look great with the blus Hope hubs too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Baker
a Downhiller
from Shrewsbury, shropshire, UK
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | from uk Hope dealers | | Strengths: | Everything. Well designed, well excecuted, and damned powerful. With excellent controllability. | | Weaknesses: | Not Applicable.
I am unaware of any weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried and tested all other disks, shimano, and other inferior products (rst cable opperated... ha ha ha) | | Bike Setup: | used many different sets, and now on my 14" dual bike. currently on 'open' system with pro levers, with 185mm at front and 165m at back. | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievably good. British engineering at it's best. quality machining, and no poncy cast bits.
People can winge all they want about performance and stuff like that, but the truth is, if you set them up badly, they won't work as well as they could (though the will still outperform all of the competition).
Spend time and effort setting them up, and you'll have no problems, and the best set of brakes in the world, whatever the model, and whatever they're on.
(If these brakes can stop a tandem with two people on it from 50 mph, there's no way that people can complain about performance. You try that with any formula RST or Heyes disk)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclexpress.co.uk | | Strengths: | Light
Relatively cheap
Power, Modulation | | Weaknesses: | Can squeal | | Similar Products Used: | Only v-brakes | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro, Psylo XC, Mavic 317 with Hope XC hubs | | Bottom Line: | This review is for Hope Mini
Price is for front brake only.
Took a while to bed in and a squealed a lot from new. Now they are more powerful and the squealing has stopped - I don't know whether that is due to them bedding in or the dryer weather. I understand that a new pad is being developed to cure the problem completely. They are plenty powerful enough for my 150lbs and I will be getting the rear aswell once the summer is over.
I would say the open system is the way to go, I don't miss the lack of adjustability on reach and I have seen too many people halfway down a steep hill emptying their water bottles over their closed brakes to cool them down.
Here in the UK they are also the cheapest of the "quality" hydraulic discs - it's nice for us Brits to have something cheaper than the Americans for a change.
All-in-all this is probably the best value brake on the market at the moment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Pauley Creek, Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | www.speedgoat.com | | Strengths: | HOPE MINI - Good modulation & power | | Weaknesses: | HOPE MINI - Crappy pads that squeal, squeak and cause the whole damn bike to resonate | | Similar Products Used: | HOPE MINI - XT Discs, Hayes | | Bike Setup: | Ventana El Saltamontes, Z1 Xfly, King hubs & headset, Phil Wood BB, Raceface LP cranks, bar, seatpost, XT disc brakes, XTR drivetrain, Time Carbon, 317 wheels, Kore Elite stem, LP carbon barends, Koobi Tri saddle | | Bottom Line: | This is for the HOPE MINI -> Bottom line is that these are great brakes, as much power as my XT discs (with EBC greens) with much better modulation. BUT I have some issues.
1) The pads that come with this are pieces of crap, you can hear me coming down a hill a mile away. I don't like riding my bike right now because of the noise. Hope's fixes only last for a mile on the trail then the wailing begins anew. Hope has been communicative and recognizes the fact that they buggered the pads, but I still have to wait 4 weeks for a fix. Maybe they should have figured it out on the front end.
2) The bleed valve wasn't set properly from the factory, lost some fluid. I know you should check... but these are one of the most expensive brakes on the market... quality control goes beyond the machining of the product if you get my drift.
All in all I am happy with my purchase but have to knock them down a bit for poor product development processes and price. If I didn't have these problems, I'd give it 5 stars no problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guy
a Downhiller
from Matlock, Derbyshire
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Dirt Jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Stanley Fearns ,Matlock | | Strengths: | (THIS REVIEW IS ON THE PRO C2 DISC'S)
Excellent Brakes, Makes you stop dead. | | Weaknesses: | Only one thats the squeel. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes 8" | | Bike Setup: | Orange Patriot, Psylos, XT, | | Bottom Line: | great brakes no fault,If you are a serious Downhiller get the DH4's the c2's can pump out I have done it and its not a good postion to be in trust me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Crazy Bit#$
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Plattekill | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Review is for the Hope O2/Mini:
-Brain-dead simple and well-thought-out setup(unlike Hayes)
-Awesome modulation(unlike Hayes)
-LOOKS SOOO STYLIE!!
-No overheating or fade(unlike the closed-system Hopes--this feature makes the Minis way more predictable)
-Well-designed lever
-Not too heavy
-No squeal(again unlike Hayes,which squeal like a stuck pig) | | Weaknesses: | -Doesn't have as much power as Hayes..
-Price--$200 a wheel,NOT INCLUDING THE COST OF HOPE'S EXPENSIVE(yet awesome)HUBS | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes Hydro(the Hopes are WAY better from a shop rat's point of view) | | Bike Setup: | These brakes were on my friend's Kona Stinky | | Bottom Line: | AWESOME,absolutely awesome.So well-designed and so much better than the totally overrated Hayes discs!
I helped my friend set up these brakes and hubs on his Kona.I had already installed Hayes before,and I thought these things were going to be a bi$ch to set up,just like the Hayes.
Wrong.I installed,bled,aligned etc. both brakes IN ONE FREAKING HOUR!!
What's even more amazing is how they perform.HOT DAMN!Now THIS is modulation!THIS is stopping power!And they don't squeal,fade,leak,etc..Hats off to the Brits on these KICKASS brakes!They have totally outdone Hayes!
These brakes are the best hi-performance bolt-on you can give to your bike!Sure they are WICKED pricey(especially when you factor in hub price),but they are the BEST.I highly recommend Hope discs and hubs!5 smokin' habaneros!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary White
a Cross Country Rider
from LONDON, UK
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lots | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Surgery, London, UK | | Strengths: | Simplicity of set up, quick bedding in; great stopping power; lack of fade; on the fly adjustability; light (for a hydraulic brake) | | Weaknesses: | Slight pumping out on punishing downhills | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y-Bike, Marzocchi X-Fly 2001 100mm travel, Float RC rear shock Hope hubs and brakes, Mavix x618 rims; XTR shifters and mechs, Race Face crankset and rings; XTR 11-34 cassette. | | Bottom Line: | Referring to the Hope C2 (closed system 2), 2000 spec model with pro spec lever.
An excellent product, not least of all for its full adjustability - you can adjust the reach of the lever independently of the brake travel and adjust the brake travel and bite in the hoof, using the lever mounted adjuster and as the pad wears. A very good compromise between stopping power, weight and performance in the wet.
Come on you MTBers in the USA - these British brakes are the best you can get - a real undiscovered secret on your side of the Atlantic. Ask about them now!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
øyvind gjermshus
a Cross Country Rider
from oslo. norway
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | differetn trails in nordmarka | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great stopping power. Little maintainance. Good feel at the lever. Allways reliable and gives great confidence. | | Weaknesses: | Can be a bit fiddly to set the correct "reach" at times | | Similar Products Used: | various shimano v-brakes and cantilevers | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler with judy 100, xt and race face parts | | Bottom Line: | Hope disc brakes are the be all end all brake system. Easy to work on, and very reliable.
I run the old lever on my open system,and place the shifter pod outside of the brake levers. This works great.
I would by Hope brakes again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CAT
a Weekend Warrior
from Cornwall..UK
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Strengths: | Sheer stopping power, Silent operation, Simplicity. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Cable Disks, | | Bike Setup: | Giant | | Bottom Line: | These are all you need brakewise, never screeeched once no matter how wet and always worked 100% in all conditions. Im by no means a Pro downhiller but i cant imagine anyone needing more braking power than these can deliver. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Swansea,Wales
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Strengths: | Excellent stopping,good looking(so i'm a biketart),reliable,easy to set up. | | Weaknesses: | My wheels are heavier than I need(a pair of Big uns on Mavic 519's)but I had the full set 2nd hand so I cant complain. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Arch Rival 50s,Magura Racelines on my Tandem,various other ineffective canti brakes | | Bike Setup: | Orange P7,Pace RC36 evo2,middlburn XC7 cranks and various other bits that serve their purpose. | | Bottom Line: | After riding the Karrimor trail in November on a day when It didnt stop raining and I had V brakes,i lusted after these brakes.Having got them and ridden 9feet.com at Afan Argoed in the same conditions I can only say good things.They stopped me everytime and I was able to brake later,so I was faster.Given the price I paid they were excellent value but I would have paid full price if I hadnt been offered these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Roberts
a Downhiller
from U.K.
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalanche Cup course Morzie, FR | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Nothern Exposure | | Strengths: | Massively powerfull, really smooth take up, totally dependable, reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Old sport lever doesn't fit around Shimano rapid fire pods very well. On long DH's like 1000m drop runs where your on the brakes for long periods of time they pump up. This means the brake comes on sooner in the lever travel. Fortunately Hope forsaw this and an adjuster on top of the lever lets you dial out some travel. This can be a scary experience if your doing Mach 2 down steep stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox cable pull, feet out either side of the bike. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Sinky Dee Lux + bomb proof bits | | Bottom Line: | These are the best brakes money can buy. Don't waste you money on anything else because you'll have a go on your mates bike equipped with Hopes and realise how sh1te your brakes are and then have to buy the Hopes. So, save yourself the hassle and buy the Hopes NOW.
Don't buy any of that cold forged, cast, mass produced rubbish from the competion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oliver Butcher
a Cross Country Rider
from Wiltshire
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Shearwater | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Loads of power. Great modulation. Keeps a strong wheel. Looks great. absolutly no hasstle to mantain. | | Weaknesses: | Need a couple of rides to bed in. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid v's, XT/XTR v's Magura louise. | | Bike Setup: | C2 pro system on Bulb hubs front and rear. SID's,XT PMP | | Bottom Line: | These are the best upgrade you can make to a bike. It completely transformed the way I ride, I could never go back to V's. There is just so much power there, that is controlable, not like the Louise's I tried. Whatever the whether thse are great, and set up is a one off job that is pretty easy to do anyway.
Like Tony the Tiger says...They're Great!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Mcc
a Cross Country Rider
from NewZealand
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Good Single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great Modulation, Great power, Great looks, Cheaper than Hayes Hydro(in NZ), Fully adjustable!!!! Stop, Wet or dry!! | | Weaknesses: | Hmmm??? none so far tend to sqeak a bit when really soaking wet | | Similar Products Used: | Demo'ed Hayes only, V's on my old bike-something cheap with no name | | Bike Setup: | Giant Xtc Ds2 Stock except; these brakes Frount and rear, XT rear dr | | Bottom Line: | These Brakes are truely wonderful. Stop Excellent in the dry and just as good in the wet (I went riding especially, in the rain, to test this) One finger operation is excellent. Perhaps price could be better, but then you get what you pay for. In New Zealand they are cheaper than the Hayes by about NZD$100-$200 (USD$50-$100) per end!! I was Originally going to go with the Open system that Hope has but that wasnt available anywhere in NZ at the time I purchased the Closed and now Im glad I got the Closed as I like the on-the-fly adjustability of these. Also I like not having too much lever travel before the brakes engage. With the open system you can only really adjust the distance from the bar you have to reach, not the travel the levers have.
All round a good setup well worth the extra weight over the V's.
Havent raced with these yet but will be in the near future
5 flammin hot chillies for value because the lower price over the hayes of the same type and 5 overall because of the ability of the rider to adjust the travel on-the-fly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Great stopping power, excellent modulation, easy set-up and adjustment, no squeal. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | I have front and rear 1998 model Hope disk brakes on our road tandem. The front brake is the largest rotor (180mm, I believe), and the rear brake rotor is about 140mm. | | Bottom Line: | These things are powerful enough to stop a tandem travelling downhill at more than 80 km/h (50 mph). My wife and I weigh 290 pounds combined, plus another 50 pounds or so for the bike and gear. If these brakes can stop that kind of weight at that kind of speed, they can stop anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Heikki Hall
a Racer
from Lake Placid, N.Y., USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | #24 at Whiteface | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Weaknesses: | I have Hopes on my bike. They are not the four pistons but they did come on my
downhill bike and can not hold up to any downhill conditions. I am not saying that
the four pistons are not any good, I have not tried them but I will suggest that you get
some good riding time in on them before you buy them. The reason that I say that
Hope brakes are garbage is because I do not consider myself an extreamly
agressive rider but I have blown out my brakes three times this season. One time I
was out on a X-C ride and the next thing I knew I had no brakes. The second time I
blew out the brake was in training at Mount Snow I was at the very top when again I
noticed I had no brakes, and to top it all off they have no mechanical support at
races. I had to bug a Technician to help me out with finding the new parts that I
needed to fix my brakes. Hope should have been at that race in the first place. The
third time that I blew out my brakes was in one of my race runs at Plattekill. In the
middle of the course I noticed again that I was out of a rear brake. Riding Plattekill
at full speed without a rear brake is extreamly dangerouse and it almost killed me.
This is ridiculous I will not put up with the crap I have been through with the
numerous unhelpfull phone calls to California to try to get my brakes fixed. I will not
support Hope Technologies any longer and will be switching to Hayes very soon. | | Bike Setup: | Giant DH Team, Boxxer, Pro Deluxe | | Bottom Line: | Hopes are Garbage | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Quality and performance | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Heckler Pace2s Pro levers open2 Bulbs 521s | | Bottom Line: | I found fitting the front to the pace forks was a bugger as the forks have no fixed mounts it took a good hour to get right.
The back took 5 mins and runs drag free.
The performance compared to Vs is outstanding and the feel is superb, very easy to control. Grabbing a handful of brake is a one finger job.
They look great and the levers are a fine bit of kit.
I like em.
alot.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ben palmer
a Cross Country Rider
from london
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | brighton | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Fantastic power and modulation. Lighter weight than I expected (XC4's). Look great. Dead easy to set up - not even that difficult to bleed. Stand out from the rest! Really helpful guys at Hope (UK) | | Weaknesses: | "Manual" is a bit basic (a few photocopied sheets), no pipe supplied with the brakes for bleeding as I understand is the case with Hayes - come on guys - how expensive would it be to provide one? | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Vs, XT Vs, Cantis (way back when....) | | Bike Setup: | '99 Specialised FSR, XTR drivechain etc. etc. | | Bottom Line: | For the price, I expected to be impressed with these, especially after reading the reviews..... I am, big time. I finally gave up on V Brakes after a very wet ride in the Lake District (Walna Scar), when I bent my front set of XTRs on one long wet descent... Fitted the Hopes and they are absolutely AMAZING - they are so smooth and (I'm pleased to say) light - certainly in having new wheels made I've saved an appreciable amount of weight over what was on before, and gained all-weather one-finger braking. They look great as well (and lets be honest, that's a bonus too.) UK riders - get yours from Roger at Wheelpro - great prices, great build quality, superb after-sales service and a really professional bunch of guys. They run absolutely silently - no more nasty grinding noises after going through mud and your rims stay nice and grey (if you're into CD rims of course). I'm sure that Hayes make good brakes too, but I dont believe they could possibly out-perform my Hopes. Overall - FANTASTIC - if you want to improve your riding buy some now. Fifty chilli's if I could, but since I can't.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Seymour
a Downhiller
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fast ones | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Supposed to be the best-I think they are. 04's | | Weaknesses: | The 04's are -no problems yet ? | | Similar Products Used: | dia tech cable crap... | | Bike Setup: | Marin B-17 --321's--Monster T--04's--bigun hubs--.. | | Bottom Line: | Whell they weren't free,but well worth the $$.The 04 DH brakes really perform..They could win any race anywhere..no arm pump anymore..Hope is kinda a weird name though? good product.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DaveE
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere near Guildford is good | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | (This review is for a front Open2 Pro brake)
They work very well once you get them working. More power than good V-brakes, although this isn't obvious until you go back to v-brakes, as they take a while to bed in, and you get used to using just one finger instead of two. Very easy to control. You won't fly over the handlebars with these when switching from V's, but the power is there if you pull a little harder. Only need one finger for everything - REAL single digit braking! Look good. | | Weaknesses: | Not always supplied ready to use as they are meant to be. (see "the bottom line.") Fiddly to install using shims. Not enough shim options supplied. Don't EVER squeeze the lever when the caliper's not over the disc, as the pads close up and you can't get the disc in! (open system only.) They drag after riding though mud, until you squeeze the brakes quite hard. They howl at low speeds when they're wet. They don't work very well until they are thoroughly worn in, which leaves you thinking you've just bought a lame brake! They make your bike even more thievable (a very real problem in London) | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 1.9L / 25 V-brakes, Shimano LX v-brakes, old alivio canti's | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Specialized Enduro FSR Comp, Hope O2 Pro front brake, Hope Sport front hub, Shimano 545 pedals; otherwise standard bits: 99 Judy XC's, Avid 1.9L/25 rear brake, 28" specialized handlebar, LX/XT groupser. | | Bottom Line: | Well, I guess I was expecting a lot more from £200 quid's worth of front brake (needed new wheel for it.) There are a lot of issues regarding setting them up. I'd get a good shop to fit them, even if you're reasonably good mechanically. When mine arrived, the reservoir plunger was not pressed down propery.You need to centre the caliper (not the gao between the pads - these were two very differnt things on mine when it came!) over the disc, and pump the lever, but even that usually leaves on pad dragging quite severely. You need to push the disc toward the rubbing pad (only enough to flex it, not permanently bend it!!) and pump the brake once or twice again. after fiddling like this for a while, I got mine to set up drag-free. But like i wrote above, they drag when you get mud in it (I do several times every ride at the moment) and you have to squeeze the brake to make this go away. (annoying if you don't actually want to stop!!) Also, when you've ridden through a deep puddle and water gets on the rotor, they make a weird ringing howl noise (not all that loud, but loud enough to annoy) until the water has cleared from the disc. If you ride fast enough, the noise doesn't happen.
It's kind of annoying that the brake doesn't feel as powerful ads it actually is, when you've spent so much money on it. The plus side is that it's very controllable.
I would give this brake just one chilli because of the huge number of querks and problems, and the poor documentation, but it really does work very well most of the time. I don't know if I'd buy it again. Maybe I'd get the C2 Pro, as this wouldn't have the problems where you can't put your front wheel on and they wouldn't come with the reservoir plunger not depressed enough.
The bottom line is that they're good. Very good, infact. Worth the money, if it wasn't for all the querks. Maybe I've just been unlucky, as everyone else seems to love them to bits! I'd give them 3 1/2 chilis if there was a half option. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay >>>
a Cross Country Rider
from '''
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Surrey Hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Yes | | Weaknesses: | NO | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Heckler XTR Race Face pace evo2 | | Bottom Line: | I got these 3 days ago and I'm wearing them in. They are already better than XTR Vs so I can only assume it gets better from here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Surrey Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Unfeasible stopping power.
No more smoking rims.
Unfeasible stopping power.
No discernable fade under heavy braking.
Unfeasible stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none whatsoever. | | Similar Products Used: | Lx and XTR cantis but not discs before. | | Bike Setup: | Kestrel CSX, SIDs, Middleburn, Kore, XTR etc. | | Bottom Line: | Thee best anchors bar none. Get them now unless you're an undernourished race whippet...or a hermit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Myers
a Downhiller
from Kalamazoo, MI
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast and steep | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Ease of install, perfect power/modulation, consistent braking in all conditions, high quality design/construction | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Bike Setup: | freeride/downhill | | Bottom Line: | initially, i am extremely impressed with my 2000 Hope system. i ride hard and fast...i needed a brake that would keep up. this system work great at all speeds (slow or fast). (i can still do endos like i could with v brakes) the system came pre-bled from Hope, ready to install. it took me about a half hour to get the system on the bike. Hope hubs are strong and built well too. you can't go wrong with any Hope system. it may be expensive, but as they all say....you get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Watt
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Woburn Dirt Jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Listen, don't even THINK about buying any other disc system. These are the best period. Set them up right and you get modulation, intense power, great pad life and the levers are even great to the touch. I go fast I need good brakes. | | Weaknesses: | They used to be quite expensive but the prices have come down recently. | | Similar Products Used: | Other systems don't compare. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler XT/Hope Bulb hubs/sport brakes HubsKing/Azonic/Z1'S
Turner Afterburner/2000 Boxxers/King/Azonic/Mavic/Hope Bulb hubs with Pro stop discs. | | Bottom Line: | 'Hope' you wise up and fit the best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thom
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pretty wood, UK | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | This is one of the best types of brakes I have ever tried. They are so strong | | Weaknesses: | None really. They are quite expensive though. | | Similar Products Used: | Hayes disc, Formula disc, Magura rim | | Bike Setup: | Downhill style | | Bottom Line: | These are the best strongest brakes ever from good old blighty. They will not fade and they may save your life. They have mine! They are the best I have tried in mud and perfect for any course. Just ask all the pros or me. I recomend everyone use these brakes! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Please Select
from Syracuse, NY
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Gore Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Excellent modulation, phenomenal stopping power, no parasitic drag. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none. | | Similar Products Used: | LX V brakes | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale SV2000 Freeride, Hope 8" front, 6" rear, BigUn hubs, Mavic X317 | | Bottom Line: | I cant say enough good things about these brakes. I used to ride downhill with V brakes and my hands would be cramped up at the end of a run. With the Hopes, I can ride all day with one finger and never think about it. These things are worth every cent i paid for them. To top it off, I havent had to replace pads in 2 years of hard trail riding (X-C, freeride, DH). I weigh in at 275lbs., so I tend to believe that I "work" brakes harder than almost anyone. Oh, yeah, the Big Un hubs rule, too! Id give these 10 chilis if I could !!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rock
a Downhiller
from newyork
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | butt huggers deluxx | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | these things work hella good no gay squeek like those damn hayes discs | | Weaknesses: | nada | | Similar Products Used: | hayes 8-( gustav | | Bike Setup: | straight 8, mr.T, HOPE DISCS!!!! | | Bottom Line: | BY THESE THEY ARE THE BEST I PROMISE YOU!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon crewe
a Downhiller
from bath
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
cheddar | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
can stop you flippin' quick if you wonnum to. reasonable modulation. | | Weaknesses: |
with the sport modle, if you stay on the front brake for a prolonged period, without 'pumping' the lever, the piston in the lever stays past the expandor reservoir, making the brake pumped. it takes um ages to recover. the levers can go wobbely around the pivots (bloody anoying) | | Similar Products Used: |
magura hs33
99'lx v's
dx v's
formular disks mech and hydrolic
sachs disks(on a cannondale) | | Bike Setup: |
plannit x frame
bomber z1
goldtech wheels
tioga factory dh tyres | | Bottom Line: | good, reasonably priced stoppers, not without their problems though. just don't listen to the way mbuk rave about um all the time!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bog nog
a Downhiller
from cornwall
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
chicken soup | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
look poo | | Weaknesses: |
work poo | | Similar Products Used: |
lamp post
haynes
xt v and canti
lx and dx
xtr
hope sports and 4 pots
avid archs
maguras lousies and gustav | | Bike Setup: |
orange ms ilse
bumbers z1 | | Bottom Line: | arse burger | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Heywood
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light weight, they stop, they feel good, they make you ride faster, knowing that you can stop faster.. | | Weaknesses: |
Price, but when you want to have the best.. | | Similar Products Used: |
Formulas - not bad on their own, but pathetic when comparing to Hopes.. I hear Hayes are quite good though.. I'll never go back to V's. | | Bike Setup: |
Cove Stiffee, Pace RC37s, XT/XTR, Race Face, etc. Built for slalom and having fun! | | Bottom Line: | Buy 'em - they're the only brakes you'll ever need again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owain Rich
a Cross-Country Rider
from Brighton United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Slickrock - Moab Utah U.S.A | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
1. Extremely progressive, extremely controlled.
2. Perform perfectly in all conditions you're ever likely to use them in.
3. If you buckle your rim, they still work fine.
4. They look damn fine.
5. They piss on every other type of break you can buy. | | Weaknesses: |
If you want to do trials, they don't lock quick enough - but why would you use them for trials anyway!? | | Similar Products Used: |
Tons of V's and tonnes of cantis, my feet. | | Bike Setup: |
Marin Attack Trail with spangly things on it. | | Bottom Line: | Red hot flaming chillies CANNOT DO JUSTICE TO HOW FEKKING FINE THESE BRAKES ARE! For other, perhaps lesser products, ok - a few chillies here and there - perhaps even carrots or turnips, but for Hopes, no no no my friend. Forget the chillies, forget this web site - just get on your bikes and go and stop as fast as you can ride. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
STEVE PEAT
a Racer
from SHEFFIELD UK
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
ANY THING GOING DOWN | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
THEY STOP U | | Weaknesses: |
THEY STOP U TO WELL | | Similar Products Used: |
ALL THE OTHERS | | Bike Setup: |
GT LOBO FACTORY SET UP | | Bottom Line: | THEY STOP U *********DO U UNDERSTAND**********8 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave boulder
a Weekend Warrior
from yorkshire, england
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
local moorland circuit taking in ogden water hebden bridge and oxenhope | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
used on a mtb tandem with a total weight of over 400ibs ( work it out all you 11stone fellers) done polaris with a bob and numerous trailquests. hauls us up to a stop better than anything else. nothing more to say | | Weaknesses: |
umm...none | | Similar Products Used: |
v's and cantis but no other disc set ups. none of the pussy american ones would cope with british weather | | Bike Setup: |
tandem with dh 3 forks. soon to be on a new aluminium tandem with triple crowns | | Bottom Line: | the best costs.... why compromise tho | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NJ
a Downhiller
from LEICESTER UK
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
LOCAL SECRET | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Another part from hope I dont have to worry about. They perform 100% of the time, all the time. | | Weaknesses: |
Initall outlay of cash, but if u want the best, dig deep. | | Similar Products Used: |
hayes (pants)
formula (worse) | | Bike Setup: |
STAB-DEE-LUX, MONSTER T
The rest of my kit is the big S. | | Bottom Line: | Once u own the complete set up, replacing indivdual parts is not that expensive. Best disc brake on the market plus there British | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hayes Hope
a Cross-Country Rider
from Trailer
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Brian Head | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
powerful | | Weaknesses: |
complex installation-
cost a hundred more then Hayes | | Similar Products Used: |
Hayes - $175 at Univeralcycles.com and at Titusti.com | | Bike Setup: |
Pycle Werk- with Hayes
Yeti ARC- with Hopes | | Bottom Line: | Both Hayes and Hopes performance are identical. Hopes should try to lower their price if they want compete in the disc biz. Good job Hope but lower your price. If I buy another set of brakes, I'll be leaning on Hayes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
snicker
a Downhiller
from doodle
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
dandy | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Bottom Line: | well first of all, id like to say, disregard that bogus review below, the guy obviously never has used a bike in his life and is just lookin for some one to piss off. Second these are the greatest brakes i have ever used in my life. It has been raninig for the last three days and it is just a freakin quagmire out here. The discs work perfect, mud, rain, sleet, or snow. powerfull and controllable. just a great brake | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Portsmouth
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
They're British, and they work damn well. | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
formula, V's, canti's, no brakes. | | Bike Setup: |
DMR Trailstar, f+r hope hydro discs, SUN Mammoth on bigun, rear bulb on D321, X-Lite G-Force, orange rigid forks with disc mounts. | | Bottom Line: | They're the bestist. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ben florie
a Cross-Country Rider
from reisterstown, maryland
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
light, strong, cool, cheaper than hayes, grat in mud (no rims cut into little rings!) | | Weaknesses: |
still about $300 a wheel, plus new hubs | | Similar Products Used: |
hayes disc, amp type, maguras, old altus cantis | | Bike Setup: |
someone else's bike with King discgotech hubs | | Bottom Line: | cool brakes, wish i could afford them | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Scrivener
a Downhiller
from Wales
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Llangwyfan downhill track | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
They are British, They work extremely well, they are the best | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Formula cable discs, and a ton of Vs | | Bike Setup: |
Intense M1-SL, set up with Risse champs, and a ton of british components. | | Bottom Line: | These brakes are so smooth, they don't clog, they work in all conditiones, they are the best. I could never go back to Vs | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kerry Norman
a Cross-Country Rider
from Buckinghamshire, UK
Date Reviewed: April 3, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Excellent modulation, good looks, light weight (for a disk). | | Weaknesses: |
A slight vibration and sqeal at low speed braking - BUT ONLY WHILST BEDDING IN.Otherwise none!! | | Bike Setup: |
Pace RC36 EvoII, Boulder Starship FX XC frame - lots of high end trick bits. | | Bottom Line: | I put these on my bike, swapping my White Bros SC90 forks and XT V brake set up for the Pace EvoII with with the 165mm Hydro Pro disk. Adding the disk, added about 180g to the hub of the wheel, and 20g to the lever/hose etc. In total about 200g. However changing the forks at the same time, I actually lost 50g in the process. Call me sad at weighing this stuff, but I am really please at the performance of my new front end, whilst saving weight as well. This disk bedded in within 5 hrs of riding. These is no harsh bite like some disks, instead you pull the lever and you decellerate - rapidly, and totally controllably. The level feel is just right at a 'slightly soft' from firm feel, and the action of pulling it is totally smooth. Whats more, the lever looks like a work of art.The best brakes on the planet? Possibly... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The dump | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
HOW about being the BEST! | | Weaknesses: |
Where? | | Similar Products Used: |
hayes, '97-'98 formula | | Bike Setup: |
uzzi SL, Z1 bam | | Bottom Line: | Just want to paste my review from one on one
OK I reviewed the hayes and had some complaints on the front brake with slow speed modulation. I went to the HOPE pro front and left the hayes on the rear. The hayes is a system that you can adapt to but as soon as I put the Hope system on, braking seems natural. modulation is plentiful and you don't have to even think about it. The whole system is entirely impressive. The adjustability is amazing when compared to the hayes. This system is what the hayes should aspire to be! The lever is quite frankly butt ugly when compared to hayes smooth covered system but I like it be cause it looks utilitarian. everything on this brake is there for a purpose: to brake and not to break (I think that was Shakespere that said that first). The feel at the lever is far more gradual rather than the faster, hard hitting hayes setup. The lever feels beefier and doesn't have the slop that the hayes has. With the hope in front for total control and the hayes in the back, I think that I have found the best combination for an economical disk setup. The hope is $100 USD more than the hayes but I don't feel I need the extra modulation in the back that the hope would provide(though it would be nice wouldn't it). bottom line, after a long haul on the hayes the winner in hope by a long shot! and as far as you skeptics of having the disk lock on downhills due to fluid expansion is a non-issue with hopes. Atwist of the adjuster knob allows complete adjustability in this respect allthough I have yet to experience this problem to any degree. Once I adjusted them the first time I have yet to play around with it again. Oh yah, one other excellent feature of the HOPEs is the setup at the caliper. On the Hayes system I find I have to re-adjust the caliper to keep it centered on the rotor. This is caused by normal use on the Hayes and it isn't a big deal but it can be annoyingto be out on the trail and develop rotor rub. The HOPE is setup with very thin washers and once you find the centered position on the rotor, it is a non issue. I like this a lot. It was a little more work to get setup the first time but I will never touch it again! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jtdman
a Weekend Warrior
from Cupertino, CA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Illegal Single | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Excellent braking power in wet conditions
Great customer service, no hassling with dealers unlike many other companys(Rockshox)
They answer the phone when you call them
They send you the parts when you order them!
Great company | | Weaknesses: |
none, could there be??? | | Similar Products Used: |
Forumla (garbage, broken riviets on the disc) | | Bike Setup: |
Outland | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work so good, I went out and bought a rear one too. They made the new Pro series better too. Better leverage and pull with smaller calipers and offset so they fit on the frame easier. I have a #2 and #3. You can convert the #3 to #2 by ordering the parts from Hope. Most companies try to sell you a whole other caliper! Not Hope though, they sell each individual piece if you need them too. I love these guys!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ewan McNeill
a Cross-Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: March 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
moraine lake trail, Canada | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
The best modulation I have ever seen, combined with amazing power and a verrrrry smooooooth feel. | | Weaknesses: |
What!!!!!You must be jokingThis brake has the best modulation you can get.This is brake is perfection | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura RacelinesHope sport disk's | | Bike Setup: |
A custom Cannondale m400 with all part’s replaced and Marzocchi bombers!!!! | | Bottom Line: | I had actually used the sport system before I posted My previous review. (Despite the comments by toad.)I have just come back from a ride today and this brake has the best modulation that I have seen and it is sooooooooooooooooooo Smoooooooth!!!!!
I have a 185mm Hope pro front disk. (wish I had a rear disk as well) Although It has not bedded in yet I get perfect control and modulation This is true 1 finger braking.These brakes are far superior to any other brake system I have tried including my friend’s XTR V’s (all lesser V brakes I have tried) and My old magura racelines.There are no problems with flexing canti bosses and mud building up behind the brake. the only thing that limit’s your braking ability with these brakes is the traction between your tyre and the ground.You can cover the disk with mud and sand, ride through lot’s of puddles and the brake will still work perfectly for stopies and endo’s, in the wet.I have only tried the green pad’s so far but I have ordered some red and gold pad’s and will test them both next weekend.the gold pad’s are meant to have diamond powder in them to accelerate bed in.Hope have recently released a new brake called the open 4 it is an open system and has 4 cylinders (uses 4 pad’s) in the calliper. This is intended for DH use and I opted for the pro because it will have better modulation. I would be interested to hear rom anyone that has used these brakes.The hope pro disk is a brilliant product manufactured to the highest standards (Hope used t work fore Roles Royce and they manufacture parts for the aerospace industry.) This is the best XC brake you can buy and I am not just saying that because they are British.Hope kick ass!!!!!!!!http://www.wheelpro.co.uk have some useful information on hope disk’s including the new O4Ewan McNeill
Edinburgh: ScotlandDreams are just clouds but sometimes clouds form recognisable shapes. Living on dreams and custard creams. Mint Sauce RulezCheck out the UN-Official Mint Sauce Guide @ http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/3868/index.htm | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TOAD
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The dodgy one in the pentlands | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
This disk brake is undoutably the best braking system on the planet. It has far supirior systems than all other brakes | | Weaknesses: |
I am going to have to give this 2 chilis to counteract Euan McNeils reveiw. He has never used the system. The only reason his gave the review his did was to give himself a power trip. (yes i know Euan) | | Similar Products Used: |
Hayes, Magura, Shimano, Avid (the lot- I work in a bike shop) | | Bike Setup: |
At the moment a shitty Dawes. Soon to be upgraded to a Trek VRX 400 or a Kona Stinky (please e-mail me as to weither wich one is better - I'm looking for a DS/DH setup that I can take up hills. | | Bottom Line: | The best but only a few Chilis to counteract Ewan's bogus reveiw. (I would have let him off but hes never even used them!) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ewan McNeill
a Cross-Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
moraine lake trail, Canada | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
It's hope and It's British that deserves at least 5 | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Magura raceline's.nasty rim brakes. They bend!!! | | Bike Setup: |
custom cannondale m400 with all part’s replaced with Marzocchi bombers!!!! | | Bottom Line: | These brakes kick ass. I am getting a front pro brake in 5 days. It deserves at least 5 chilies for being Hope and being British. I have recently built a new wheel with a BULB hub this hub also deserves 5 chilies!!!!!!!!I will post another review when I have the brake and another when it has bedded in. A total of 15 red hot chili peppers is deserved. 5 for the hub, 5 for being hope and 5 for it's kick ass performance.And 5 more for the pro brake!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kent
a cross-country rider
from Malmoe, Sweden
Date Reviewed: March 1, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought me a front Hope Pro system a couple of weeks ago after careful studies of the reviews here and elsewhere.
After initially being a little disappointed with the power I've have now (after a hard ride this weekend) come to the conclusion that the power is the same or better than my Vees and the modulation is just awesome.I haven't tried any of the other systems out on the trail, but I can tell you that the Hope system is working extremely well in wet, cold and muddy Sweden!5 burning hot chilis! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a weekend warrior
from Suffolk, England
Date Reviewed: March 1, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes are absolutely shit. No, not really. They are the best brakes on the market, by a long long way. And I'm not just saying that 'cos they're British (but it' gotta count for something, right?!). Think disc brakes, think Hope. Buy anything else and your making a big mistake! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scot
a racer
from Westchester, New York
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Recently after a long bout with the denoms I conceded and finally gave into the disc brake hype. As a cross country racer weight has always been a factor with me. Although I knew the pro's out weighted the con's. Finally with the help of Bert at DOWN CYCLES located at Croton On Hudson, New York (TEL #914-827-9570)they set me up with the Pro series Front Brake with a Hope Suspension Splined XC Hub mounted up with a Mavic 317 Disc specific rim, and 15 guage straight spokes. The difference between my original set up, XTR V Brake on a Spinergy Rev-X Roks was overall 200 grams lighter. Believe the Hype! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Heslop
a weekend warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: February 2, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Great brakes. The above link takes you to their old address, for the new site visit: www.hopetech.com
Buy them; they work.
A minimum of thirty words! Well I'd better keep them happy. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ole Blokhus
a cross-country rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the new Hope Pro '99 a week ago, and they look sweet. They work just as well as my old Hopes,
and are a little lighter. The lever is completely re-designed, looks weird but works well. The
calipers has two holes in them to help shed mud and aid in cooling.I have used the old ones for over two years, 10 hours a week on average (52 weeks a year), and only recently had to
replace a seal. I can't imagine anything beating that!As for weight, I saved 135 grams over my old Hopes. The weights are:Front lever, caliper, hose and bolts: 325g
Rear lever, caliper, hose and bolts: 345g
Front disc, 165mm: 115g
Rear disc, 165mm: 115g
Front spider for Suspension hub, incl. bots: 50g
Rear spider for Ti-Glide hub, incl. bolts: 50g
Front hub, Suspension: 155g
Rear Hub, Ti-Glide: 295gBoth front and rear brakes are for forks and frames with the international mount. Universal rear for
non-brake mount frames is available.As for the guy not managing to break them in, the pads are supposed to hit the disc straight. If not,
you have done something wrong during installation. They will never work well unless the pads are
straight.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Swarbrick
a weekend warrior
from West Sussex, England
Date Reviewed: January 27, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Hope discs rule!! I bought the '99 sport laced to a d321 disc rim on hope BULB hubs... what a combo.. beats xtr or formula anytime... I have but one question to those fellow hope owners... How long does it take the disc to bed in?? I've had mine about 3 weeks and the pads still aren't hitting the disc square ie. there is still some toe in on them.. I've tried my m8's and they feel a lot better.. any ideas?? please email me at mmswarb@ibm.net cheers!5 stars definately as even i managed to bleed them! :-)
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from Sheffield, UK
Date Reviewed: January 25, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've upgraded my brakes from Ritchy cantis, through DX V brakes, to XTR V brakes and finally to '99 Hope discs. All I can say is f**K me these babies make the XTR's look like the wobbly, horrid rubbish that they are. Long live discs! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Snowkid
a cross-country rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Has anyone actually weighed the '99 Hope Pro Discs? It seems as if every website you check ha sa different weight from 200gm to 450gm. I'm interested in putting these on an XC bike, and I'd like to know what they actually weigh. Thanks in advance. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Hoey
a downhiller
from Devon, Britain
Date Reviewed: January 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These are the best! Although most of the above reviews are from British people, once you've ridden these brakes (when they're bedded in) you'll realise that we don't love them just because they are from Britain. These make you stop. Modulation is the best, the feel at the lever is best I've ridden although it was a bit firm to begin with (just a matter of getting used to it after Maguras and flexy seat stays). One tip - Don't clean them!
I made the mistake of rubbing the mud off them with a (non oily rag). This made them squeal like a pig and work crap until they got some mud on them. Now I just leave them in the knowledge that they will work when I want them to.
One thing - I would like to know how to bleed them as I'm sure that if they'll leak they'll decide to do so just before a race which would be a bummer. OR DOES ANYONE HAVE THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS as I ought to have a service manual (I bought them with a second hand bike).
I've ridden Hayes and Formula brakes and neither the performance nor the reliability is up to the Hope benchmark. I'm proud that they're British! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Goochie
a cross-country rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 6, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Had these puppies on the front and rear for a year and they kick arse. I've had to upgrade my hack bike to 99 XT cants as the old 97 LX cants were so shit next to the Hope's that going from one bike to the other filled me with dread.I've tried the rest and these are the best, once you've tried a decent set of disks you will never want to go back to plain old cants. The extra feel they give you over cable systems make these brakes the bollocks every dog wished they had.The only down side is the extra weight they add to your wheels, but laced to 317 Disk rims the whole package is still lighter than a lot of other wheels. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a downhiller
from Whitby, N.Yorks
Date Reviewed: December 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have just bought a pair of HOPE disc's, and I even set them up myself, they are so simple to set up, compaired to my friends Formula shit.They also work in all weathers, and don't atall fade.
Bloody Brilliant. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Yeung
a downhiller
from Cornwall/UK
Date Reviewed: December 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Hope disc brakes are totally unbeleivable.
The product is superior to any other disc brake that I have used before.
The hydraulic versions are simply the best, due to the tunability and the reliability, not forgetting the control.
I would recommend these over anything else | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skeletor
a downhiller
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Having just bought a new DH Bike with Hope Discs Front and Back -- What can I say -- Utterly Brilliant. Forget V brakes Forget the Rest Just BUY HOPE. Stop when you want to Stop & Stop in any weather. They are worth far more than 5 stars.
They are just Bloody MENTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jtdman
a downhiller
from CA
Date Reviewed: October 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are THE BEST brakes on the market. THey are very easy to install and take little or no adjustments. My friend has a Formula and that thing is a piece of s.h.i.t. I can't believe the problems he has had with it leaking. Anyway, I told him to get a Hope because they ROCK! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a cross-country rider
from Stoke-on-Trent, U.K
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
HOPE MECHANICAL DISC BRAKE !!! These things have been around for the last 10 years or so but are now unfortunatly not being made. Production finished end of 1997 to make way for the increasing demand of the hydraulic version. Several people with the hydraulic version have had problems, like trying to find brake fluid at a race site in the middle of nowhere. The mechanical verion uses a simple cable actuated screw barrel to push the pads and due to its simplicity it won't go wrong. BUY HOPE, BUY BRITISH. Americans don't know what shite weather is and Hope's were designed to cope with it. COME ON, SUPPORT BRITISH ENGINEERING, THE GUYS AT HOPE USED TO WORK FOR ROLLS ROYCE YA KNOW! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JTD
a downhiller
from CA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got a Hope front Hub and Brake. Has anyone had any problems with the bolts they supply you. The bolts don't seem to thread all the way into the spider on the hub. This makes the disc flop around on the spider. Any comments welcome.
Overall the hub looks good!
Thanks,
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a cross-country rider
from outside Denver CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Holy sh*t, I don't even have Hope brakes but the reviews on them are amazing. Except for that guy from NY, these things would have a perfect rating! From what I've seen and heard, these and the Hayes brakes are the best on the market. I have a Schwinn Homegrown All-Mountain XT with the Hayes brakes, if they didn't work so good, I'd buy the Hopes in a second. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pelle Lindholm
a downhiller
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: August 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hope`s the best brake i`ve ever used.I would have to agree with Steve Peat in his words;Lick my neck. I am a close friend of Johan Engström and his friends aswell are using the hope disc brake. See you all on the circuit next year. Buy the right brake for your sake. Brake well. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Boy Blunder
a cross-country rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had a Hope hydraulic disk on the front of my Orange P7 for 2 1/2 years and have never used a better brake; I was riding in the German Alps and wore out both front and rear pads on my old Magura Racelines in a single descent.
I wish I had my Hope then; the Hope stops me (weighing 14 and a half stone and going pretty quickly), doesn't drag, needs virtually no maintenance, and comes with the best manufacturer service I have yet experienced.
As one of the older hydraulics, it doesn't have the adjustment dial of the current levers, although my friend thought that it did ! Loosening the reservoir cover is not to be recommended out in the hills !
I tried to get someone locally to bleed the brake, but nobody wanted to help, so I sent it back to Lancashire; when the brake was returned (in less than a week, from the date of me posting it), it had been bled and the pads had been replaced, as they had absorbed some of the fluid when the brake leaked. All of this cost me ... the price of the postage to Hope !
Since then the brake has been working brilliantly, with good modulation and sufficient power for me; recently a friend of mine was testing some other disk brakes for a UK magazine, and :-the Formula disk didn't fit on the Judy XL forksthe Rock Shok disk dragged very badly and lost all power after two hours of riding; nothing could be done, short of bleeding the caliper, to restore any braking power; needless to say, this cannot be done easily out in the wilds.the Hayes disk was okay to begin with (ignoring the Formica finish on the levers), but soon the pads (or the disk) glazed over and braking power was substantially reduced.Only the Hope worked well out of the box, had no brake rub, and didn't fail in use !What more can be said ? If you ride in wet conditions, do yourself a favour, buy a Hope disk ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JONNY BUTTERWORTH
a downhiller
from leicester,england
Date Reviewed: August 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I feel that the hope disc brakes are the best brakes money can buy,ifeel they are perfeft for downhilling as they are top stoppers and while being strong and powerfull also good for trials as they are easy to modulate and for £200 each why get maguras when you can have a disc for £50 extra | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Wu
a downhiller
from Hsin Chu, Taiwan
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes came on my Giant ATX-1DH. The hubs are huge and stiff. The levers are well shaped, but the reach adjuster doesn't work. After a couple rides, the levers return to their original reach. The calipers are well designed and there in no drag. This is a simple and well engineered brake system. My only major dislike is that the brakes require lots of hand strength. You'll need two or three fingers to slow down the bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Bocci
a cross-country rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: August 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just want to post a follow up to my earlier review. Hope Disk brakes RULE!!!!! My local mechanic said i should have hydraulic fluid in the lines, not water. Now that i changed it they work awesome and i am truly sorry for my earlier review. Buy these brakes now. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke Birch
a weekend warrior
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I am 15 and I have only been using Hope discs for about 3 weeks and I am impressed with their power and modulation. The brakes seem to work nearly as well in the wet as they do in the dry which is a problem I have found with other brakes. I am a trials rider and my brakes are an essential piece of equipment. I would only recommend HOPE discs from now on. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Dearman
a weekend warrior
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes are BRILLIANT. The extra money is well worthwhile, i would recommend these to absolutely anyone over any other brake, great quality, good modulation , only thing is if you want them to bed in quickly make sure you get the green soft pads and not the harder blue ones. Excellent company to deal with. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon osborn
a cross-country rider
from guernsey
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These brakes are the best thing that I've ever added to my bike.I have a merlin xlm frame, pace rc36evo forks and full on xtr!!!! They work excellently under all conditions I've used them in, which range from dusty deserts to freezing glaciers!! They have awesome power and are light enough for me to race with and kick some serious arse. watch out nick craig! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roddy Wallwork
a downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
DAMN GOOD doesnt even begin to describe the power you can pull out of these things, they are just amazing, in any condion the work a treat, Mud, Rain, Snow or dry, they will stop you on a pin head!Keep up the good work boys, and don't change a thing, well at least not for the time being! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a weekend warrior
from Isle of Man
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've used XT cantis, XT Vs XTR Vs, Maguras and Hope Mechanical and Hydraulic. I've used them all in wet sh*tty mud and in the warm dry dusty week we call Spring/Summer/Autumn! No comparison. The Lancashire lads from Hope are the best thing to happen to cycle brakes this decade!The reason that so many UK riders have posted here is not National loyalty, its QUALITY SERVICE and PERFORMANCE. Pay attention Bocci - put new pads in or sand the glaze off yours. Go find a steep road and fly down it. Wait till your at warp speed, put your chin on your saddle and try to snap your levers! Then cover the discs in Sh*t and do it again! hose them, p*ss on them,m whatever. Be real nasty you wimp and then they'll bed in properly!!!Once you bed these babes in NOTHING compares, full stop Retro thruster stuff! The company lives next door to the Rolls Royce (aero engine) factory, The boss answers the phone, talks plain English and gets his hands dirty. That is a company to buy from. They even made a bracket to fit my STS 1000DS frame and whatever you've got too!Pro's rely on their brakes for their lives! Now read the top review again. Mr Peat's UCI ranking put's his review in perspective don't you think! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Peat
a downhiller
from Chapeltown, UK
Date Reviewed: April 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are the greatest piece if engineering that I have ever come across. I use them at World cup level and everyone else wants them, but they can't have them,because they are sponsored by a different brake manufacturer. Hope's are the best. Don't you Magura, Pro Stop or Formula users go and slag these off when you haven'y even tried them, they are the best, I know. The Big Un' hub is the greatest also. Bigger than any other hub, it needs to be hurt. Lick my neck! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Barratt
a cross-country rider
from England
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
When I first tried these brakes after fitting them I was a little disappointed. But I knew they took time to bed in and a few weeks on they REALLY ARE SUPERB. They are more powerful AND more progressive than XTR V-brakes. They’re super smooth and don’t squeal or grate in the wet. V-brakes are mostly powerful enough but still fade on even fairly short downhills. Discs don’t and have the added advantage of greater pose factor than any rim brake. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Beasley
a weekend warrior
from Seattle Wa.
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just finished installing these brakes on my 98 cannondale factory disc mounting tabs. Even the first ride in the driveway was very impressive and the first ride on a wet trail was even more impressive. Althogh not as powerful as most V brakes it is a worthy trade off to have modulation the way real brakes should like a car or motorcycle disc brake. If I had a complaint it would be the lack of a complete stock of parts at there USA facility in CA. It took three orders and some waiting to get a completed system. They must be getting more popular. 5 hot rods. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a weekend warrior
from
Date Reviewed: March 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Joe Bocci is full of crap. Because the Hope have great modulation they are brilliant in mud, you can tell exactly when they are going to lockup. I have a pair and after a few rides the let the pads bed in they do stop you on a dime. Maybe Joe should put some brake fluid in his. The best value and functioning system around. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Calder
a weekend warrior
from Sheffield, England
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Although they are fiddly little bastards to set up, once on they're f'kin ace. You do have to let the disk wear-in a bit to get decent peformance, It's not until you've gone through your first set of pads that you get the best performance. My only problem with them (& it's not their fault) is that they make my '96 Judy DH's (with 100mm Risse Cart.) flex something nasty. BUY SOME. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a racer
from Piscataway, NJ
Date Reviewed: January 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have now set up several of these Disc Brakes and must say they are SUPERB!!!!! Forget V brakes or Magura Hydraulics These Hopes KICK ASS.
Joe I don't know where you learned to pull a brake, or set them up cause these things can kill you in the mud, or maybe the mud is different down in NEW JERSEY, Ive set them up on 2 GT LTS's and a Specialized FSR, a pain to dial in but once going, they are fade free, one touch, eye ball poppers that you just have to try to beleive, sure thy're expensive but I'm pretty damn sure your not puttin them on a Huffy!!! Course that would be FUN!!!!
Take the plunge, simply AWSOME!!!!!
Regards Marc | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Fiero
a weekend warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These disc brakes are awesome, the best on the market to date. How can Joe Bocci
From New York dis them ?, They are ten times better than say the new ROCK SHOX
disc brakes(How long has it taken ROCK SHOX to bother bringing any out?). ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS MISSY USES THEM ON HER BIKE...NUFF SAID.
OH YEH DID YOU KNOW HOPE ALSO MAKE PARTS FOR ROLLS ROYCE ENGINES? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vin Wray
a weekend warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: January 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Picture this, you've ridden through several muddy puddles on a fast desent in the pouring rain, large boulders both sides of you, rims covered in mud, here comes that tight bend you've approached several times before, going slightly faster than last time, ready for some last minute braking.
Well if you've got Hope disc brakes you know you've got the power to slowdown under control or stop (and hopefully the skill to throw it round the corner).
Thats the reason I bought a set of Hope disc brakes, no more worries about slightly buckled wet rims, mud grinding the rims away, oiling cables, greasing pivot points, V brakes rattling, lining up pads, spending hours maintaining the mechanical cantis or V brakes. Fit a set now and have the best set of hydraulic brakes money can buy. The only way these brakes could be improved would be with A.B.S. (or would that be going to far?). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Heslop
a weekend warrior
from Edinburgh UK
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These are the best brakes around, they perform in all conditions with excellent power and modulation. They fit onto Hopes own hubs which are cartridge bearing units and also the best around and well worth buying even whthout the brakes. The latest brakes have a dial on top of the resevior which you turn to adjust the pad clearance when they wear. One of the best points are the springs on the pistons which pull the pads off the disc so there is no drag what so ever.
I have a set front and back and they are by far better than my freinds formula units.
Hope also offer excellent after sales service; just ask any one who has sent them any problems. They will fix things that other manufactures would not want to know about.
This praise may appear to be over the top, but they have earned it.
Keep up the good work Hope. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim King
a downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: April 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
THey fit to the BIG 'UN hubs (50mm flange dia, 20mm through axle clamp
or normal QR). The disc bolts directly onto the hub flange.
Over here (UK) they are not so expensive. A front wheel built with Mavic
121, a Big 'un hub, disc, caliper, lever, cost 300 sterling, about 500
dollars. The back is a smaller disc, the hub is the same size, costs
about 160 sterling.these brakes are fantastic! Proper motorcross style braking, absolutely
dialled every time. Pads are really easy to change, just pull out a
split pin and drop in the new pads.
Almost every downhiller in the UK and Europe is using these things.
The only brake that even comes close is the Formula disc, and it cost
more for less performance.
They fit to every fork going, RS, Marzzochi, whoever.
A big fat 5 stars!
I don't know who imports them into the States, but it shouldn't be too
hard to find out. They will probably be quite expensive over there, but
they can't be beaten on performance.
| | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 300.00
