I regarded on the Hope RX4+ 4-piston disc brake callipers practically two years in the past and it is time to revisit that dialogue. The reason being merely one thing I typically repeat in my opinions: I do not prefer to descend.Â
If I needed to name out a selected product class, it tends to come back up probably the most typically when I’m masking one thing from our greatest highway bike wheels. Wheels, particularly deep aero wheels, have an outsized impact on descending stability due to the fixed redirection of wind as you come round a curve. Nonetheless, it is hardly restricted to that placement. Each time I check a brand new bike or tyre, descending capabilities are one thing I take note of.Â
Early in the summertime of 2022 this got here to a selected head after I headed to Italy. I used to be there to check product but in addition to experience the 138km Maratona dles Dolomites course masking 4230 meters of climbing. If that is arduous to image, what it means is that for nearly all the distance you both climb or descend and each instructions are steep.Â
After a day with that a lot descending, I made a decision it was time for an improve. I am not heavy and as such I do not expertise brake fade. As a substitute, what I discover is that lengthy, steep, and repeated descents trigger the brake rotors to warp from the warmth. When that occurs the pads rub and whereas Shimano and SRAM programs get better fast sufficient, it is annoying. After I bought again residence I went on an exhaustive search to see what you are able to do to improve the efficiency of your disc brake system and the way effectively the choices labored.Â
Though I ran by means of quite a lot of choices in that article some had been extra excessive than others. There’s issues like ensuring the whole lot is in good working order however there’s additionally upgraded pads and rotors. All good recommendation I nonetheless stand by however buried on the backside is a number of paragraphs about upgrading your brake callipers and that is the place I talk about the Hope RX4+ brake callipers.Â
As I write this, it has been shut to 2 years since I began engaged on that article. True, we’re a number of months brief however please forgive the exaggeration within the headline. Give or take 5 months, it is secure to say I’ve spent a substantial period of time assessing the Hope Rx4+ system. With the good thing about time, this is the reason there’s nothing I like to recommend extra typically than a brake system improve.Â
What’s the Hope RX4+ disc brake system?
The center of the system is a single piece CNC machined aluminium calliper. That is just like different excessive finish designs from Shimano and SRAM however Hope definitely has a extra industrial visible stamp. Whereas SRAM and Shimano persist with clean excessive gloss finishes with natural shapes, Hope is pure enterprise. The CNC reduce traces are on full show, there is not any natural shapes, and there are alternatives for Black, Silver, Pink, Blue, Purple and Orange anodization.Â
In actual fact, that anodization is value taking a second to debate by itself. I’ve each pink and purple Hope programs and in every case it is an ideal steadiness of color with out feeling cheesy. In my case, the programs are on an Enve Melee and a Look 795 Blade RS and even the face of lovely bikes, it is at all times the brakes that get the primary point out.Â
Beneath the aluminium and color, you will discover a 4 piston design. All sides has two pistons with the main piston being a bit bigger than the trailing and the smaller being just like what you will discover in a Shimano Dura Ace calliper. Pushing the pistons is your selection of DOT or mineral oil relying on the brake system you might be including these to. Because the two must not ever meet, a particular M (mineral oil) or D (DOT fluid) is unattainable to overlook regardless of who works in your bike going ahead.
Within the field together with your callipers, you will additionally discover two pairs of pads for every calliper. The RX4+ makes use of the Hope E4 pad and you will begin off with pink or blue as a selection. Seize the pink is your go to as an a-all round pad while you anticipate to see some moist and muddy driving. whereas the blue is the much less aggressive natural possibility designed for highway driving. You may additionally discover clean brake blocks for bleeding and all the required items to bleed and combine with the remainder of your groupset.Â
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Together with the callipers and pads, additionally, you will want a set of rotors. You’ll be able to take your decide of 140, 160, or 180mm floating design relying in your setup and you will find the identical visible really feel because the calliper. That features each the CNC particulars and the identical selection of colors for the centre part. The centre and the braking floor connect with a rivet that permits as much as 1-degree growth to withstand warmth warping and the lockrings use an inner spline and as soon as once more provide the matching colors.
Every calliper weighs in at 81 grams whereas the rotors are 129 grams for a 160mm. Pricing is barely above Power and Ultegra although it is under Dura-Ace and SRAM Pink.
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What’s the level of upgrading?
Each single time I change bikes to check one thing with customary brakes, it is effective. I typically discover the noise from floor deformation after a descent however I haven’t got brake fade or points stopping. Then I get again by myself bikes with the Hope RX4+. Immediately it is noticeable simply how unimaginable the system is. The primary time I squeeze the levers a bit it is proper there. Tons of energy and room to modulate with solely a single finger.
The reality is, I went trying to find precisely why the Hope brakes really feel so incredible. I have been utilizing them for a very long time and no matter particulars I researched initially, I’ve lengthy since forgotten. I believed possibly the calliper design made them stiffer, which is what Hope claims, however there are different monobloc callipers on the market and you continue to do not get the efficiency.Â
I additionally thought the rotors is perhaps making a distinction. I do run 160mm each entrance and rear however that is no completely different than any of my different brake programs. Hope additionally calls particular consideration to the truth that the rotors are a floating design with room for growth however different programs use a floating design additionally. Nobody else calls out how a lot motion there may be although, so I will name {that a} possibly.Â
Then I pulled out a Shimano pad and in contrast it to a Hope pad. The Hope pad completely dwarfs the Shimano pad and the 4-piston design implies that even with the bigger measurement, there’s even clamping stress. No matter different small benefits there is perhaps, the pad floor is solely a lot larger.Â
In follow what which means is that in my expertise, a minimum of with a SRAM Pink system, there is a ton of preliminary chew. As quickly as you ease into the lever, you’ve got bought severe energy on faucet. That leaves loads of room for modulation all through the complete vary of the lever and it leaves me feeling safer on each descent. I by no means drag the brake, and I strive to not brake by means of the nook, so I let the brakes do the work as I enter, then again off, and brake once more after the apex. It is a stupendous feeling.Â
The Hope brakes are additionally there for me after I misjudge issues. I used to be reminded of this expertise after I went out for a lunch experience whereas scripting this. I chased any person a bit of greater than I ought to have on a descent I believed I knew. The flip within the center was a bit tighter than I’d remembered or anticipated. For a second it felt like I may need a tough time slowing sufficient and my abdomen dropped a bit. Then I eased on the brakes and simply pulled down the pace with out locking up the wheels and even needing to take it vast.Â
I would be mendacity if I informed you there wasn’t a bit of glitz issue that is pleasurable. It is most likely 10-1 how many individuals discover the brakes earlier than the remainder of the bike and given my job typically entails taking photos of my bikes, it appears fairly rattling good in photos too. The Hope RX4+ is all enterprise first however of all of the issues folks improve and customise on bikes, that is a simple visible improve. I am at all times stunned it is not on each high-end customized bike out the door of each builder doing that type of factor.Â
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Any downsides?
I have been operating these for slightly below two years and I’ve by no means as soon as regretted it. I would do it once more in a heartbeat and I am nearly to get the system arrange on a second bike. The one downsides I’ve discovered are that it’s kind of tougher to seek out the pads and rotors. The rotors are additionally dearer plus there is not any Ultegra/Power stage if you wish to save much more cash. Fortunately I haven’t got to exchange rotors typically.Â
I’ve additionally heard folks complain about noise from the RX4+ system however that one I am a bit confused by. For me they fully resolve the annoying warped rotor noise after a descent and I’ve but to satisfy any brake system that will not make noise after driving within the rain. I am not one to be specific about upkeep however when the brakes are bugging me I will pull the pads and rotors and drench the whole lot in Muc-Off Disc Brake Cleaner. It solves it each time and I do not really feel just like the Hope system wants it greater than anything.Â
