I regarded on the Hope RX4+ 4-piston disc brake callipers almost 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 wish to descend.
If I needed to name out a selected product class, it tends to come back up probably the most typically when I’m protecting 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 take a look at a brand new bike or tyre, descending capabilities are one thing I take note of.
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 additionally to journey the 138km Maratona dles Dolomites course protecting 4230 meters of climbing. If that is laborious to image, what it means is that for nearly the whole distance you both climb or descend and each instructions are steep.
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 an alternative, 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 techniques get well fast sufficient, it is annoying. After I received again house 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 nicely the choices labored.
Though I ran by a variety of choices in that article some have been extra excessive than others. There’s issues like ensuring every part 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 couple of paragraphs about upgrading your brake callipers and that is the place I talk about the Hope RX4+ brake callipers.
As I write this, it has been shut to 2 years since I began engaged on that article. True, we’re a couple of months quick however please forgive the exaggeration within the headline. Give or take 5 months, it is protected to say I’ve spent a substantial period of time assessing the Hope Rx4+ system. With the good thing about time, that is why there’s nothing I like to recommend extra typically than a brake system improve.
What’s the Hope RX4+ disc brake system?
The center of the system is a single piece CNC machined aluminium calliper. That is much like different excessive finish designs from Shimano and SRAM however Hope actually has a extra industrial visible stamp. Whereas SRAM and Shimano follow clean excessive gloss finishes with natural shapes, Hope is pure enterprise. The CNC minimize traces are on full show, there isn’t any natural shapes, and there are alternatives for Black, Silver, Purple, Blue, Purple and Orange anodization.
In actual fact, that anodization is price taking a second to debate by itself. I’ve each purple and purple Hope techniques and in every case it is an ideal stability of color with out feeling cheesy. In my case, the techniques are on an Enve Melee and a Look 795 Blade RS and even the face of gorgeous bikes, it is at all times the brakes that get the primary point out.
Beneath the aluminium and color, you may 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 much like what you may discover in a Shimano Dura Ace calliper. Pushing the pistons is your alternative of DOT or mineral oil relying on the brake system you’re including these to. For the reason that two mustn’t ever meet, a particular M (mineral oil) or D (DOT fluid) is inconceivable to overlook irrespective of who works in your bike going ahead.
Within the field along with your callipers, you may additionally discover two pairs of pads for every calliper. The RX4+ makes use of the Hope E4 pad and you may begin off with purple or blue as a alternative. Seize the purple is your go to as an a-all round pad if you count on to see some moist and muddy using. whereas the blue is the much less aggressive natural possibility designed for highway using. You will additionally discover clean brake blocks for bleeding and all the mandatory items to bleed and combine with the remainder of your groupset.
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Together with the callipers and pads, additionally, you will want a set of rotors. You may take your choose 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 alternative of colors for the centre part. The centre and the braking floor connect with a rivet that enables as much as 1-degree enlargement to withstand warmth warping and the lockrings use an inside 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 Pressure and Ultegra although it is beneath Dura-Ace and SRAM Purple.
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What’s the level of upgrading?
Each single time I swap bikes to check one thing with commonplace brakes, it is nice. 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 alone bikes with the Hope RX4+. Immediately it is noticeable simply how unbelievable 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 looking for precisely why the Hope brakes really feel so improbable. I have been utilizing them for a very long time and no matter particulars I researched initially, I’ve lengthy since forgotten. I believed perhaps 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.
I additionally thought the rotors could be making a distinction. I do run 160mm each entrance and rear however that is no totally different than any of my different brake techniques. Hope additionally calls particular consideration to the truth that the rotors are a floating design with room for enlargement however different techniques use a floating design additionally. Nobody else calls out how a lot motion there’s although, so I will name {that a} perhaps.
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 signifies that even with the bigger measurement, there’s even clamping strain. No matter different small benefits there could be, the pad floor is just a lot larger.
In observe what which means is that in my expertise, no less than with a SRAM Purple system, there is a ton of preliminary chunk. As quickly as you ease into the lever, you have received severe energy on faucet. That leaves loads of room for modulation all through the total vary of the lever and it leaves me feeling safer on each descent. I by no means drag the brake, and I attempt to not brake by 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 ravishing feeling.
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 journey whereas scripting this. I chased someone slightly 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 might need a tough time slowing sufficient and my abdomen dropped a bit. Then I eased on the brakes and simply pulled down the velocity with out locking up the wheels and even needing to take it large.
I might be mendacity if I advised you there wasn’t a bit of glitz issue that is satisfying. 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 seems fairly rattling good in photos too. The Hope RX4+ is all enterprise first however of all of the issues individuals improve and customise on bikes, that is a straightforward visible improve. I am at all times stunned it isn’t on each high-end customized bike out the door of each builder doing that form of factor.
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Any downsides?
I have been working these for slightly below two years and I’ve by no means as soon as regretted it. I might 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 costlier plus there isn’t any Ultegra/Pressure stage if you wish to save much more cash. Fortunately I haven’t got to interchange rotors typically.
I’ve additionally heard individuals 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 using 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 every part 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.
