[Closed] Brakes hope vs shimano

Hope obviously if you can afford them, if not Shimano, they are shit with horrible levers and feel but they get the job done for little outlay short term.

I have been a big fan of Hope for years but TBH have gone to the dark side with shimano for my last two bike, as they came fitted to the first. Shimano's are simply cheaper and work just as well, <shhh> if not better. I know I could service my old Hope's but in all honest the cost isn't exactly cheap and even deore are a fantastic brake and I doubt the cost (or piece of mind) that much more, when on sale.. Yes I might have to throw away my shimano's if they fail but even I struggling to see the point in servicing my Mk1 Mini's.

By all means buy Hopes, they have their advantages, just don't write off shimano because they can't be serviced..

Pros and Cons.

Some say Hope "have more feel". Traditionally, Hope feel a bit more progressive as the bite increases with lever travel. Shimano tended to have a more on/off action. It's less clear cut with the newer Shimano stuff though. I like the on/off feel (in fact I used to over-fill my old Shimanos to exacerbate this) but it's all personal preference.

Hope has an extensive spares list. Shimano don't. If you're into servicing, maintaining and fixing your brakes, Hope will be more appropriate. Some would say they need an extensive spares catalogue as they need so much attention 😀 Shimano is more "fit-and-forget" but it's annoying if you need one tiny part (e.g. a seal) and can't get it. Having said that, they are so cheap that a new caliper or lever can cost less than a few Hope spares.

In absolute braking performance, there's no discernible difference.

I just dumped my Hopes for XT. I struggled along with Hope for a few years - never ever did feel quite right and perpetual faffing. The XTs are fit and forget, 'lighter' somehow in use and feel great. Wish i'd changed years ago.

Shimano SLX are the sweet spot in the range for twin pot brakes. Good price too. Widely reported XT consistency issues in the latest version (M8000) puts me off.

However if I were in the market now I would go for the four pot Shimano Zees which have much better modulation and extra power, than the twin pots. A little pricier and a little chunkier but good reliability record.

Personally I prefered using the Hopes after having a few sets of Xt's. It's a personaly thing, but I constantly over braked with the shimanos, it doesn't take much to lock them up.
I'm now on guides as (IMHO) they are better than either. In the middle price wise too.

Went from XT Shimano to Hope V4. I find I'm doing 2 finger braking now. My Fatty Trail has Guide RSC and I think they beat both XT and the Hopes.

I,d go with xt,s if your local you can borrow my mondraker to try them out

Pros and Cons.

Some say Hope "have more feel". Traditionally, Hope feel a bit more progressive as the bite increases with lever travel. Shimano tended to have a more on/off action. It's less clear cut with the newer Shimano stuff though. I like the on/off feel (in fact I used to over-fill my old Shimanos to exacerbate this) but it's all personal preference.

Hope has an extensive spares list. Shimano don't. If you're into servicing, maintaining and fixing your brakes, Hope will be more appropriate. Some would say they need an extensive spares catalogue as they need so much attention Shimano is more "fit-and-forget" but it's annoying if you need one tiny part (e.g. a seal) and can't get it. Having said that, they are so cheap that a new caliper or lever can cost less than a few Hope spares.

In absolute braking performance, there's no discernible difference.

I've got both and I cant disagree with any of the above. The Hopes are very easy to work on and bleed with a few simple tools. There's always someone available at the end of the Hope phone line should you need advice. If that fails you can send them your brakes and they'll come back serviced with new pads fitted. The only thing I've ever had to do to either the Hope's or XT's is shorten the hoses and bleed out the bubbles.

D.

In absolute braking performance, there's no discernible difference.

agree wholeheartedly with this. Brakes these days are pretty much of a muchness, they all work, they're all pretty much reliable. It's down to lever feel for which ones you like

Hope.

I struggled along with Hope for a few years - never ever did feel quite right and perpetual faffing.

I don't get this, I've had original M4's on the HT for about 6-7 years (they were 2nd hand) & 2011 X2's on the FS since..err 2011 & I've never ever done anything other than replace pads.
Where am I going wrong?

Hopes for me every time.

Egf

I think it's a question of whether you are unlucky enough to end up with one that's not quite right.

I own a pair of the M4 black and gold ones from 2005 ish. The front has always worked like a dream. The rear has intermittently been a complete **** despite a free rebuild by Hope it has regularly suffered from sticky pistons.

I am still the only person I know in the real world to have such a pigging awkward hope calliper.

The other issue is because you can get spares you don't just give up chuck them in the bin and buy another and move on. So when they get fixed I think about the hassle/time rather than the cash.

I fancy some hopes on my next bike/upgrade.

I had never ridden Shimano's until last weekend when I went on a demo day. I was waiting for some revelation in braking after all the apparent Hope haters and Shimano lovers there seems to be, but really couldn't tell a huge difference. They were very good as all Hydraulic brakes i've used in the past (Avid's, Formula's, Clarks and Hope). I didn't like the feel of the lever, but no doubt i'd get used to that if I had a set. I like Hope for a bit of bling and the fact they're British and the fact if there is a problem it's not necessarily a case of ditching them and getting a replacement set. But you do pay a premium for that.