[slimat99]

I didn't like the feel of the levers at first. It's all about what you are used to and hope's don't feel like any brake I've run so they felt odd at first. I wasn't a fan but the brakes performed so dang well It was something I was more than happy to live with. Now that I'm so used to them I really like the feel. The hook locks your finger in and the dimples provide a nice tactile feel. Love the length too. All brakes should have long levers. Longer provides moar leverage and makes manual modulation easier. While t4's have great engineered modulation you do have to finesse them because there's so much power on tap. I really can't say enough good things about these brakes. Hope really hit it out of the park. I guess all the jokes about t3's being weak, over priced jewelry put a chip on their shoulder.

 

[foggnm]

Without getting into the debates of brake brand options, simply using the RSC levers will likely give you a better experience with the code R. But if you just want something different...get whatever toy you want. Just like anything the replacement parts (cost and availability) is certainly a practical consideration... but Hope brakes are probably not meant to attract the most pragmatic buyer.

 

[Jayem]

I like being able to tune the bite point and lever angle with the Hopes, I can get away w/o it, but on big descents I want the lever close enough to easily reach, but the bite point far enough away that I can make serious power, so they seem to allow that just fine.

For bleeding, yes they are kinda a pain in the but, but most bleeds are in some way. Compare to Magura's absolutely asinine no-bleed-valve-at-the-caliper method, Hope is like 1000x better, but it's still not ideal to be fighting gravity trying to push fluid and bubbles down...when bubbles want to go up. You can "lever bleed" Hopes with the metal cup kit, which I highly recommend. It makes bleeds a lot easier, but still not super easy/fun. There are some benefits, like you can bleed it relatively easily using the lever in remote places/vacation. All you need is some weedeater gas line tubing and some DOT4 fluid, 5.1 if you are able to get it. They are a bit more susceptible to air in the lines when traveling, as any air should go to the reservoir and if turned upside down, may work it's way towards the caliper. This is hopefully solved on the newest versions with the bleed port on the lever rather than taking the reservoir cap off. I have to wonder if trying to mirror MX brake setups too closely is part of where this came from. Out of dozens and dozens of trips with my bike, this was a problem once and I did a "field bleed" as explained above.

The performance is consistent. I don't know I've ever had a brake that is 100% "same engagement point" all the time, but the shimano situation with steep descents making the bite point move out further and further till the lever is rigid is so drastic that it makes anything else seem like a non-issue. So I don't have any issues where and the brake performance at -35F (on my fatbike with Hope T4) is the same at +80F or more, vs. shimano that becomes a rigid lever in the extreme cold even on flat ground w/ on-off actuation and virtually no lever travel. In other words, DOT fluid is solid across a huge temp range IME.

IME, the T4 is where the Hopes should have been when they released the V4 brake. The T3 levers were incredibly weak compared to the competition and shimano with servo wave delivered "STOP RIGHT NOW" stopping power. The problem I was having with shimano, apart from weeping pads, was the bite point issue and still overheating on my big steep descents at 45% grades and above. 203 shimano rotors were not even close. Hope with their ability to take thicker rotors helped immensely, but I didn't have the power I needed for control. T4 solved the power issue and now I'm in the happy control land where I'm able to ride this stuff in control. IMO, a few other companies saw the light ahead of Hope, like TRP and some of the more exotic ones like Trickstuff, coming out with much higher hydraulic and mechanical advantage brakes for much better power delivery. Now IMO they finally match Shimano for being able to deliver that quick "bite" when you need a speed check to keep from going off a cliff, but they can back it up with continued power past that point and resistance to fade/heat and w/o the bite point issues, etc.

 

[Mac_89]

You shouldn't buy them if: you'll get mad if they release a new version some time in the next 2 years 🤷‍♂️

They are prototyping what looks like an update to the current Tech 4 range on the DH World Cup circuit. The GR4 appears to be a gravity oriented brake (they like an abbreviation - GR = gravity, TR = trail etc.) and it looks like the pistons are equally sized, so they'll likely be 4x 18mm pistons compared to the 2x 18mm and 2x 16mm on the current V4 (the E4 is 4x 16mm for comparison). Should make them even more powerful, but I don't think that extra power would be remotely useful for 90% of riders. The current V4 has silly amounts of power already, but the GR4 (if it ends up being that) would likely be attractive for ebikers as well as DH/freeriders. It makes sense. It is still just a prototype though and likely a long way off release. I would guess they'll update the E4 and V4 and call them something like the TR4 and EN4, maybe with bleed ports at the lever (maybe not). But this is all a guess.

I can't speak to Hope's global distribution but as a UK customer their support is unbeatable. I've had warranty stuff delivered next day and they're very responsive. My LBS stocks a decent range of spares. LBS's like Hope stuff because it's blingy. Stick a shiny anodised gravity stem in a glass display case with decent lighting and someone is going to buy it on a whim. It's also super easy to work on their stuff because all of the technial information, diagrams and procedure videos are openly available. Yes there are some proprietary tools needed for more in-depth maintenance but they don't skimp on the manufacturing. Everything is beautifully made and will last a long time.

With pads there are plenty of aftermarket options including Galfer, who make the pads for Hope anyway. They typically make a very high pitched squeal when braking. It's never bothered me. The big attraction of Hope for me is that the brakes are fully rebuildable. Every single part can be ordered as a spare.

In terms of lever feel they have a very linear power delivery which will feel odd at first if you're coming from Shimano Servowave or similar. But it doesn't take long to get used to it. It's very intuitive. The bleed procedure is different to other brakes and slightly messier, but still not difficult if you know one end of a screwdriver from the other.

 

[weeksy950]

he bleed procedure is different to other brakes and slightly messier

Slightly ? LOL... ummmmm.

 

[palsa]

You shouldn't buy them if: you'll get mad if they release a new version some time in the next 2 years 🤷‍♂️

They are prototyping what looks like an update to the current Tech 4 range on the DH World Cup circuit. The GR4 appears to be a gravity oriented brake (they like an abbreviation - GR = gravity, TR = trail etc.) and it looks like the pistons are equally sized, so they'll likely be 4x 18mm pistons compared to the 2x 18mm and 2x 16mm on the current V4 (the E4 is 4x 16mm for comparison). Should make them even more powerful, but I don't think that extra power would be remotely useful for 90% of riders. The current V4 has silly amounts of power already, but the GR4 (if it ends up being that) would likely be attractive for ebikers as well as DH/freeriders. It makes sense. It is still just a prototype though and likely a long way off release. I would guess they'll update the E4 and V4 and call them something like the TR4 and EN4, maybe with bleed ports at the lever (maybe not). But this is all a guess.

I can't speak to Hope's global distribution but as a UK customer their support is unbeatable. I've had warranty stuff delivered next day and they're very responsive. My LBS stocks a decent range of spares. LBS's like Hope stuff because it's blingy. Stick a shiny anodised gravity stem in a glass display case with decent lighting and someone is going to buy it on a whim. It's also super easy to work on their stuff because all of the technial information, diagrams and procedure videos are openly available. Yes there are some proprietary tools needed for more in-depth maintenance but they don't skimp on the manufacturing. Everything is beautifully made and will last a long time.

With pads there are plenty of aftermarket options including Galfer, who make the pads for Hope anyway. They typically make a very high pitched squeal when braking. It's never bothered me. The big attraction of Hope for me is that the brakes are fully rebuildable. Every single part can be ordered as a spare.

In terms of lever feel they have a very linear power delivery which will feel odd at first if you're coming from Shimano Servowave or similar. But it doesn't take long to get used to it. It's very intuitive. The bleed procedure is different to other brakes and slightly messier, but still not difficult if you know one end of a screwdriver from the other.

Im less worried about them releasing something in the next two years (although a dedicated bleed port on the lever seems very enticing) and more concerned about parts becoming even harder to find once they release a new model. I'm in Canada, and there aren't many easily sourcable online shops that stock Hope, let alone local ones.

 

[MrPotential]

hope produce parts for brakes released nearly 20 years ago i dont think youll have an issue.

 

[LowEntropy]

OEM pads seem to rattle way more in my T4V4s than in the old T3XX. The T4 levers are beautiful though, it's sooo hard to go back to T3s on other bikes now.

 

[Mac_89]

They do keep parts going for older models for a long time (they still keep spares for their very first brakes) but yeah I guess if there aren’t many options for suppliers in Canada then it’s always going to be expensive and take a long time to ship parts across.

IIRC you get a few different sets of pads with each new complete brake plus fittings to shorten the hoses. A bleed kit, some silicon lube for the pistons, couple of spare reservoir seals and maybe a piston seal kit for one caliper should be all you need for a long time.

Im less worried about them releasing something in the next two years (although a dedicated bleed port on the lever seems very enticing) and more concerned about parts becoming even harder to find once they release a new model. I'm in Canada, and there aren't many easily sourcable online shops that stock Hope, let alone local ones.

 

[Shark]

Just do it
You know you want to

You're welcome.

 

[Noob1999]

Biggest advantage of Hope is, you can buy each and every part of their brakes in case you need it, even for old brakes.
Bleeding is no problem once you’ve figured it out.
Braking performance is amongst the best, but not best in class, especially some combo’s do better and some way more expensive systems are better too in this respect.
Modulation and, most important to me, consistency are once you are accustomed to it at a very high level.
No wandering bite point, more important no packing
Regarding quality Hope is top notch and you can buy it in any color you like.
Hope had an issue with a batch of the E4 with leaking seals in a certain batch but it was adressed and I never hear such stories anymore.
Haptics and possibillity to change bitepoint and lever throw are very nice. (I have big paws)
Regarding squeeling, I hear it once in a while in wet and muddy conditions, but compared to other brands they are not noisier, I had several systems squeeling like a pig being slaughtered when wet.
The Hopes don’t.
So in short go for it, unless but only unless you’re a heavy guy and you’re into DH racing.
I have the T4 E4s with 220/200 rotors and weighing 220lbs I still ride (stopped racing) DH with no issues at all.

 

[LarryFahn]

When you get your Hopes and open the box, Stop.

Take a LOOK at the levers and calipers up close. Enjoy the quality and craftsmanship in these brakes. Then mount the lever to your bar and FEEL the lever. Not just how it feels as in the usual meaning, but how the lever doesn't wobble up and down like other brakes. FEEl the dimples in the lever. FEEL the squareness of the lever. The pull. The immediate STOP of the lever...

Mount the caliper and squeeze the lever till the pads hit the disc. Make some adjustments by using the Brake Pad Contact adjustment and the Reach adjustment hand screws. Get the FEEL where you like it. Take another close up look at the quality, the colors, the machining...

Now go ride your bike and experience the quality of really good brakes. No need to worry about bleeding them all the time. Enjoy the ride.

When you get back home, take a look at those old POS brakes and throw them in the garbage. You'll wanna whip out your phone and start looking to see what other quality Hope components you can put on your bike.



As far as parts are concerned, pads are the #1 thing you'll need to replace. They're available online. The whole brake is rebuildable. Something odd, but very nice about Hope is that the V4 pads are the same that they used to use on the Mono 6 brakes. It just shows you that they make stuff for a long time and try to keep stuff cross-compatible.

Ttyl, Fahn

PS. Do they squeal?

Yes. A little. It's something I got over and it's worth the trade off. I want a silent bike, but I'll deal with the squeal.

 

[jdee2wheels]

I really liked the performance and feel of Hope Tech 4 brakes, but I could never get rid of the squeal no matter what I tried (different rotors, pads, break in technique etc). In the end I switched back to Shimano. I still have the Hopes in a box and tempted to buy some MTX pads and see if that would help, but at the end of the day, I just don't want to deal with noisy brakes.

 

[karl1402]

Secret is the final bleed should be inverted