[Closed] Brakes: Shimano to Hope

Much prefer my hopes (M4's & Tech M4's) to anything from Shimano.

Good power, feel, spares are available without buying the lever or caliper, have a nice feel to them and look great.
I'm in the minority though 🙁

I've got Tech X2's and Tech M4's on my bikes and they're fantastic.
The only Shimano I've tried are Deore's on my works bike. They're ok but not a patch on the Hopes!

I'm also a Shimano fan and I've been using the 2012 XTs for almost a year now - on paper they are brilliant, and overall I still like them for the bottomless pit of stopping power but they have been a bit fiddly and require regular bleeding, which for me sort of defeats the point of getting Shimano.

I've played about with Race and Tech X2s - prefer the race ones because unlike the Tech, the lever is smaller than a clenched fist and not razor sharp. Nice and light, great feel and decent amount of power but for me, still not enough. Probably ok for most trail type duties but for occasional Alpine/ Enduro race stuff I'd want more power.

Wow, that was long winded and very dull....

I won't buy hope again after getting 2012 xt brakes. Soooo good

[quote=Fortunateson09 ]
Wow, that was long winded and very dull....
Not at all. That's exactly the sort of considered response I'm after.

I've run Hopes (X2/V2&M4)on all my bikes except the latest SS which I fancied something a bit different and got a set of older Shimano XT's (M775) for a very good price 2nd hand . Hopes do look great with a genuine machined crafted look and although not the most powerful brakes in the world I've never a had a problem with them, even in the Alps. Shimano look Ok and do the job which is what i'd expect from them TBH. My personal preference FWIW is Hope (and it's British)

I have Race X2s and they're just like the ST mag review said - all the brake that any UK trail rider is ever likely to need.

They have all the power I need: once a wheel is locked, it's locked, you don't need more!

My buddies' Shimanos feel a tad sharper, I prefer the modulation of the Hopes, and the simplicity and spares situation.

All the Shimano owners are happy too, and they're cheaper. That thing they do where the pads start way away from the rotor for maximum mud clearance (I can't remember what it's called) sounds like a great idea tho I haven't used it in anger.

There's no bad decision here.

I have Tech M4s on my full susser and old XT on my Blue Pig. Both are great in terms of power but the Hopes have much more feel and are more adjustable to my stubby little fingers' lack of reach.

I'd buy Hope again just because they are British and look better but that obviously doesn't mean a toss when you need to stop your bike.

[quote=mattjg ]My buddies' Shimanos feel a tad sharper, I prefer the modulation of the Hopes That's the bit that perhaps worries me. I set up my Shimanos to be "sharp" and hated the Elixirs because of the lever-travel/braking power ratio.

I've run Hopes (X2/V2&M4)on all my bikes except the latest SS which I fancied something a bit different and got a set of older Shimano XT's (M775) for a very good price 2nd hand .

I have M775 calipers with M988 XTR levers. They have nice modulation but noticeably less power than the Hayes Strokers I had on my old bike. I wonder if it's worth upgrading the calipers to the new XT, or selling the whole set and buying Hope?

Whats the issue with routing druidh?

Had some old XT's, now got some later Mono Mini's. The XT's were better.

hated the Elixirs because of the lever-travel/braking power ratio.

I hated my Elixirs because the back one wouldn't stay bled.

Andy

[quote=bigdugsbaws ]Whats the issue with routing druidh?
I want to use a Revelate Sweetroll Bag and it will be less strain on the hoses if I can route them closer to the bars or directly down from the levers. Another option is to opt for BB7s.

It's also about being open to trying new things. Who knows - I may think Hope are fantastic, I've been missing them all my life and will swap out all my other systems. Gotta keep an open mind or things like Fatbikes and 29ers wouldn't be in my quiver either.

I have a pair of first gen mini on my now two half hard tail.
Compared to the shimano the SO had on her bike they were much better in every respect.
No need fo bleed them every forthnight for missing fluid. Better lever, better power and to be honest in 203mm I am wondering why will someone want more power. You should talk to mark or jeremy they may be able to help you 😉

My 6-year old Deores have never needed bled. Neither have any of my other Shimano brakes, so I don't see that as a potential issue.

Oh - and Mark wouldn't touch Hope brakes with a bargepole.

Had the XT's, sold them for X2 EVO's...initially I was unimpressed with the X2's, they don't have the raw stopping power of the XT's but they do have a nicer feel and they're not made of plastic.

I was wanting Hope brakes to complete my Hope/Raceface build bike a while back. But was put off by three different shop mechanics complaining about unreliability. In a nutshell, they said that Hope need their good customer service and spares because their brakes are not so good. To a man they recommended new SLX (666): "brakes that just work, for peanuts". I've not been disappointed with their advice.

Oh - and Mark wouldn't touch Hope brakes with a bargepole.

I meant "as a personal choice on his own bike"

Love my Hopes, loved the Hopes before them. Prefer working on Hope for other people. You can't beat Shimano for value for money. I love the availability of spares on Hope and how, no matter how badly you stack it, you can get them back on the road in a couple of days.

People talk about ultimate stopping power (not a problem, I use V2) but how often do you ultimately stop? I spend more time checking and controlling speed than actually stopping so feel and modulation are top of my shopping list.

Druidh- I'm pretty sure my Formula Oros would do what you want, they have a standard rotating banjo on the lever end so can be directed straight down, rather than the common end-on banjo with limited movement. Feel is more gradual than sharp, though... Loads of power but little initial bite.

Welcome to a lend of a set if you want, I've got a couple spare just now.

Northwind - Oros would be another option. I might take you up on the offer.

I have not had Hopes but have tried Avids, Formula and various shimanos. For the money the shimanos just can't be beat, the Avids [juicies] were scandalous, how do they get away with it? and the formula were good but a bit pernickety.
Whenever I have rushes of patriotism and think about going Hope I remember the price difference and buy more pads for the SLXs I have on both bikes.

how often do you ultimately stop?

Once.

Went to X2s on my Soul from the 2012 XTs, as my XTs were leaky (still waiting on Madison or whoever it is to sort them), was hugely impressed by the quality build of the Hopes, and the lever feel - that said, it took some getting used to what seemed like a lack of power initially, but was actually just the lack of the immediate power I'm used to from Shimano. Fiddling the adjustments sorted it (bit point adjusters actually do something on Hopes, unlike Shimano), and now I'm pretty happy with them. Doesn't hurt that they look great, never took to the fake plastic XT chrome. - but for the money, they need to.

mattjg - Member

Once.

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