You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I'm looking at upgrading to a set of Hope X2 Brakes.
I've currently got shimano, so my question is, it is as simple as swapping over the levers/calipers or am i going to need new mounts and disc rotors etc? (I ask the latter as i know hope run 183mm discs on some of their brakes)
I think it will be a straight swap without the potential calliper hitting the adaptor problems you can get with Hope E4 callipers. No one is going to know for sure without knowing what adaptors you are using at present
Hope only make 'imperial' 183mm/185mm/203mm discs and mounts for backward compatibility now. They recommend metric sizes. You should be able to keep your existing mounts and discs.
Hope only make ‘imperial’ 183mm/185mm/203mm discs and mounts for backward compatibility now. They recommend metric sizes. You should be able to keep your existing mounts and discs.
Thanks, i'll give it a go. Worst case scenario i have to switch out the mounts but that's cheap enough compared to discs.
Unless your lightweight though I'd recommend going e4 front and X2 rear. Gives a nice mix of extra power up front.
Your existing mounts and discs will be fine, some of the larger hope calipers might foul on some adapters but the X2s should have no issues, used mine with Shimano rotors & adaptors of all sizes
Unless your lightweight though I’d recommend going e4 front and X2 rear. Gives a nice mix of extra power up front.
i started a nice argument thread about this a few weeks ago (that never got an agreement) about bigger/4 piston brakes.
I'd go for bigger rotors in the first instance if you are struggling for power. Plus it keeps the on bike spares logiestics simpler
I put hope brakes on a 2019 scott scale and a 2015 orange segment. Both had shimano brakes and adaptors. I had to replace the front and rear adaptors on the orange and the front on the Scott. All were because of interference; e4 (front) x2 (Rear) on the orange, x2 on the Scott.
“ i started a nice argument thread about this a few weeks ago (that never got an agreement) about bigger/4 piston brakes.”
If it’s the thread I’m thinking of, I did put up some proper engineering arguments as to the pros and cons! Basically the 4 piston ones have more piston area so more power but also the pads contact the disc at an angle at first which makes them easier to modulate. Downside is a bit more weight and cost and sometimes more maintenance (more pistons to keep moving in decent synchrony).
I wouldn’t use different calipers front and back because of the different pads hassle.
The pad hassle is a slight annoyance however in my experience it's easier to look after a 2 piston rear. That might have something to do with where I ride but I spend less time fiddling with a 2 piston rear than I ever did with 4 piston.
“The pad hassle is a slight annoyance however in my experience it’s easier to look after a 2 piston rear.”
I think it probably is!
But having tried having more braking power up front and less at the rear, I found that it makes me over-cautious with using the front brake, so I actually brake better where I’m pulling both levers hard but then feathering the rear - so I’d rather have matching calipers and discs front and rear.
I’d disagree about needing anything more than Hope X2. Unless you are seriously quick or freakin’ mahoosive.
I’ve got Tech X2 f&r with 203mm rotors. I’m 120kg in all my naked glory. They feel like trials brakes, they have so much stopping power, with loads of modulation too.
I’d disagree about needing anything more than Hope X2. Unless you are seriously quick or freakin’ mahoosive.
Well it depends what you do doesnt it, if you plan on doing steep long descents you might find X2 underpowered.
That might have something to do with where I ride but I spend less time fiddling with a 2 piston rear than I ever did with 4 piston
How much time do you spend fiddling with brakes? I've Hope X2s which started life on my 2006 Orange Five. Other than new pads when required and changing the oil every few years, the only fiddling I recall was oiling a stuck caliper a few weeks ago.
Not much now as I barely ride outdoors :(. At one point too much. The issue with all four pots is that the pistons get sticky at different rates, especially on the rear. Consequently you have to spend more time making sure they move evenly. If you don't performance suffers. The last 4 pot I had on the rear was an M4 with different size pistons rather than and E4 with equal sized. This may make a difference.