[Closed] Hope tech 3 X2 upgrade

What’s the cost difference between changing to v4 calipers (keeping your existing levers) vs getting something like Codes or Magura 4 pots?

About £150.....

Go up a rotor size if you haven’t. And swap the X2 for V4. The Tech 3 levers are amazing. I have them with E4 but if you’re short of power you might as well go the whole way!

I'm already running big rotors.

I think my large arse needs more stopping power!

V4 may be the best option

Try just changing the front to an e4. I'm using e4 front and x2 rear (81kg+kit) both on 180mm rotors and have plenty of power.

E4 are certainly more powerful than X2 but I'd never describe the X2 as pants. Hope brakes are however, very variable depending on set up. They might not need to be as pants as they currently are.

I'd agree with what's already been said, I'm 100kgs + kit and have an M4 front/ X2 rear with the race levers with 180mm rotors front and rear.  I've never been short of power but I have noticed a lot of people saying that the Hope's seem to be low on power due to the way they feel at the lever compared to the solid feel of Shimano brakes.

Yes, the Deores on my old bike feel like they want me to endo when I brush them whilst my E4 and M4 Hopes are much more subtle. But squeeze the Hopes harder and the power keeps on coming!

However, rider weight matters far more than most think. Look at how much bigger the brakes are on big vs small cars of similar performance!

Simon - when you say £150 difference is that new calipers are cheaper than swapping to Codes / Maguras etc?

I think I’d swap to v4 calipers if that’s the cheaper option.

If you like how Shimano brakes feel I would get a set of Shimano brakes.

As a gross generalistion Hope/Sram feel weaker/easier to modulate, Shimano feel much stronger/grabby depending on your opinion.

I can ride either but prefer just being able to lightly feather shimano brakes, I know some people who find them very on/off.

If you change to E4s make sure you like brakes that constantly squeal whether it’s wet or dry, hot or cold, new pads or old, Hope pads and non Hope pads, different compounds, pistons serviced and centered, properly bled and setup correctly!

For massive descents (Lakes, Scotland and annual trips abroad) I have Tech 3 E4s with 203mm rotors, I’m a big lad on a big bike. I have yet to experience brake fade or any lack of power, they are hugely powerful but not instantaneous like Shimano. My only complaint is the bloody awful brake squeal!

Sounds great Duir! Lol.

Surely all the people running Hope and saying how good they are can’t be having squealing brakes all the time?

I’m on Guide R’s and they only squeal occasionally when it’s really wet and muddy.  Other than that they are silent and just endless power with centreline 200/180 rotors.m and uberbike race matrix pads. Got them on 2 bikes at that.

I’m only around 12 stone though, so not very heavy I guess - although still heavier than a lot of people.

The ‘squealy-est’ brakes I have any non series Shimano 105 equivalents on my racer. They’re silent in the dry but in the wet they can make a lot of noise. Although they’re always strong and reliable so far.

“If you change to E4s make sure you like brakes that constantly squeal”

Mine don’t. Nor do my M4s which are basically identical (bleed port and hose are swapped).

Hope’s have much more modulation; i.e. braking force is much more sensitive to how hard you pull on the lever. A lot of riders like this as you can “feather” the brakes for more control over speed with less risk of locking the wheels. SRAM brakes are also pretty similar in this respect.

Shimano are much more on/off in my experience, which is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. This makes it easier to get full power from them. You’ll have to put more force through the lever to get full power out of your Hope brakes.

I have Hope X2 Race on one bike and Shimano XT’s on another. Both with 180mm rotors. Stopping power is very similar on both. I prefer the Hopes.

I have a brand new in box set of XT's with lightly used discs and spare set of unused pads- £150 posted uk mainland. DOI recently switched to X2's from XT at considerable expense. x2's have loads of power for 80kgs trail riding. If you want on off grabby then hopes aren't for you, but properly set up the x2's definitely do not lack power.

Used to have Code R brakes, they were ok, better than the guide R on the previous bike

Just upgraded the Code R's to Hope V4's and there's no way id go back!! very similar feel to the Code R but just more power and no squealing unlike the Code's

Also had Shimano XT M8000 and ZEE and didn't get on with the on off feel, actually used to hurt my fingers after a while from pulling the brake

Thanks for the replies.

Joebristol - I would save £150 by just upgrading my clappers over buying new codes. Definitely the cheapest option.

I tested my back brake last night, and it couldn't even lock up the rear. I think something is up with it..

I'm going to put new pads in and clean the rotor, then see how they perform.

If not V4s here I come!

That sounds contaminated. Single finger lock ups with mine.

What pads do you use?

Do.you run the levers really close to the bars?

Not sure what pads, they came with the bike.

I'm going to see if a clean and new pads help.

Any recommendations for pads?

Hope oem work for me. Don't do enough miles to worry about the cost.

Mine don’t. Nor do my M4s which are basically identical (bleed port and hose are swapped).

Wow! You got the only pair in the world that don’t squeal, what are the chances of that??!

Only kidding, please tell me your secret, my E4s are driving me nuts! My Hope M4s and XTs only made noise in the wet and then it was only until they heated up. What rotors are you using?

New pads and a clean of the rotor has to be the first port of call definitely. If that doesn’t sort it something must be a bit wrong with the calipers I’d imagine. Then V4’s would be the route forward - especially if thats the cheapest option.

“I tested my back brake last night, and it couldn’t even lock up the rear. I think something is up with it..”

Yes, for sure!

“Only kidding, please tell me your secret, my E4s are driving me nuts! My Hope M4s and XTs only made noise in the wet and then it was only until they heated up. What rotors are you using?”

Standard Hope floating rotors - the older style since the latest ones came out. I almost ignore them in terms of maintenance - bleed every few years, new pads as needed and align and clean/lube the pistons at that point.

My E4s have been silent so far, loads of modulation and power too.

Cleaned the rotor, brake caliper and fitted new sintered hope pads.

Much better- they work!!

However would only describe them as adequate...

How have you aligned the calipers over the rotors?

Have you transferred a layer of that brake compound onto the rotor yet?

How old is the fluid, how well are the bled?