[Closed] Goodridge Hoses - still a 'thing'?

They're still a thing. I have them on all my bikes (road and MTB) largely because everything is reusable.

Not as easy to pick up as they were, but still available. Hope braided hoses are actually made by Goodridge.

I think it’s mostly bling unless you have poor quality hose though. I believe Hope don’t actually recommend braided hose to anyone who isn’t looking for armoured hose now as they believe their stock hose is better?

I have some 2007 ish Hope Mono Minis, the hose was quite thin and plastic. I needed new hoses and as it happened I had an even older set of Goodridge hoses lying around. So I bought the appropriate fittings and used them.

The most noticeable thing is that they are a lot more flexible than the plastic ones, so the routing was easier and the results more pleasing. But I must admit I did notice an improvement - but as I said, over the old lightweight plastic ones. I don't expect they'd be any better than other braided hoses.

Official line from Hope is that it does not have any effect on braking. They are however, more flexible and more crash resistant.

Although goodridege make the Hope stainless hose, last time I was looking, I really struggled finding Goodridge hose my the metre so I went back to Hope Kevlar.

Trickstuff pitch them as an upgrade over the standard hoses on the direttissima, and offer them as standard on the top of the range Maxima. Make of that what you will.

(They sell it per metre too I believe, onzadog)

I seem to remember there was a weight penalty but no real performance improvement.

They do look good and are stronger

I have hope e4s on one bike with standard hoses and braided on the other. The only time I can tell the difference is when I look at them.

Braided hose expands less under pressure so will make the lever feel harder. It will not and cannot affect the braking power as the pressure in the lines remains the same.

That doesn’t sound right, if the volume increases the pressure will go down. Imagine you went the other way and used a soft rubber hose, wouldn’t be much use...

NOpe - basic physics. Pressure equalises in a volume of anything. YOu have to pull the lever further for the same pressure with non goodridge hoses but you put the same pressure on the lever which means the same pressure in the line and the same pressure at the pads. the only difference is the lever moves further.

Ah yes makes sense thanks, need to pull the lever further to compensate.

I have goodridge and couldn't find any spare olives anywhere when I was looking. I also have the superstar uprated hoses ( the cheaper ones )on another bike and these have been faultless.

I got these on my XTs, they good. Goodrich too spensive.
https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/category/450/Replacement-Hydraulic-Hose

the only difference is the lever moves further.

Not the only difference - your fingers also have to do (slightly) more work because of this even if the end force is the same.

But the perception of power is important. Brakes feel more powerful in normal use when they bite immediately and don't sponge. Until you need to stop from speed on a steep fast slope, then you realise that ultimate braking power is not related to the initial feel.

I used to put them on enduro (motor) bikes where I felt they made some difference but for the tiny amount of fluid mtb brakes use I wouldn't think it's worth it

They help the back to bite in a similar fashion to the front, and they are strangely actually useful for people with smaller hands because they allow you to run the brake levers a little closer to the bar without them getting too close to the bar.

I will be using them with a set of Code RSC's or Hopes when I build my wife a bike.

I guess if you really overthink it as well, the braking will be a bit more abrupt as there's a lag time when it comes to breaking, your brain needs to decide to brake, then you need to be physically moving your finger further back - on a brake with a shorter bite - you're going to be marginally, utterly fractionally quicker to apply the power.

A major advantage is the clamped connector. It is much more robust in the event of a crash than normal lines and would not pull out.

There's HEL hoses too.
Last year I damaged my rear SRAM hose and it was cheaper to buy a HEL kit than the official SRAM hose.

When I had Hope service a set of M4s a while back, I asked for the braided hose upgrade but with a 200mm front rotor, would actually have been happier to have stuck with the plastic. The extra sharpness of the front brake was marked and not entirely welcome.