If it helps, the Tech 3 E4 and X2 are in a different league to the Tech 2 and M4s/Race/X2 caliper.
I'm comparing old Hopes to modern Shimanos, as Hope didn't manage to get them right when I spent lots of money buying them ages ago, so I bought Shimano for less money and they work better and don't see the point of 'Hoping' Hope have got it sorted on modern brakes.
i've had hope race x2 on all my race bikes for last few years, bought a pair of deore's for my training bike and the power and reliability is incredible for £65 a pair! will eventually phase out my hopes.
It's about time hope moved to mineral oil like Shimano have.
Shimano brakes don't need bleeding every year to keep the seals happy.
I would like hopes, but I can't say they would be better than the XT brakes I'm running now, especially as they're quite a bit more expensive.
Part of the reason people compare old v new is that Shimano are a big oem supplier and hence come specced on a lot of new bikes, there's a good chance anyone who's bought a new bike in the last few years will have had Shimano.
Hope generally don't come specced on new bikes understandably, and so are generally bought as an upgrade by people who like to add bling to their bikes and considering the price will be more likely to transfer their expensive bling from one build to the next than punt them on.
Despite there being probably a few thousand times the number of Shimano brakes in circulation compared to Hope, the fact that they still have an overwhelming reputation for reliability should speak volumes.
overwhelming reputation for reliability
Most people i know with Shimano brakes have blown the seals on the m785 stylE lever or caliper.
I dont think its a fair comparison though, Shimano are cheaply made, good brakes. Theyre almost identical in action and feel from their very cheap Deore to the more expensive XTR. My favourite of all the brakes I used from the range were the Slx, they just felt spot on.
On the other hand, Hope make a single lever, with three types of caliper depending on your intended use. There's no budget option.
Also worth noting, I never got on with the pre-Tech 3 lever brakes and the comparison between new Shimano and pre-Tech3 is pointless, and Shimano are far better performers than older Hopes, the difference was always parts availability and service support.
deviant - MemberThe modulation thing baffles me
The modulation characteristics of a brake are provided by the brake, not your finger. 💡
I've just had a set of Race Evo E4's land on the mat this morning 😀 They are replacing a set of Mini Pro X2's I've had for the past five or six years. These have been absolutely faultless and will now probably see service on my wife's bike (she loves getting my hand-me-downs). The only reason for the change is i'm looking for a bit more power.
Before buying I tried the new Shimano XT and XTR options as well and was very impressed. They were a significant step up from the Mini's and I would be very happy to run them. Brake feel was definitely different but neither were bad and I could easily get used to either. All including the Mini's are so much better than the dire Hayes, Avid and old Shimano dual control crap I have had before. If anyone wants a lovely set of Avid Elixr's let me know, they're fantastic (honestly).
I got 30% off at Whinstanley's and paid £125 an end. This is cheaper than I could find a set of Shimano 9020's (£145) which are arguably the direct comparison. RRP for all the XTR seemed to be pretty much the same as for the Hope's. Older 985 and 987 brake were only slightly cheaper. You could argue that a set of XT's would be cheaper and comparable but i'm not sure its a like for like comparison. I'll go with it though and make the assumption I could have spent £100 less. So why did I choose to spend more on the Hope's?
The main reason is things break and wear out. I'm not saying Shimano brakes are less reliable or poorly made but that ham fistedness or lack of skill on my part mean there is a good chance I could break any component. When they do break it is also likely to be at the worst possible moment. For example the bearings on my rear Hope hub wearing out just before a trip to the Alps. Inevitably lax maintenance and poor planning mean I am left with a bearing race seized to the axle with only 48hrs until we leave. A panicked call to hope results in a new axle being dispatched at 3pm on Thursday and arriving at 9am Friday totally free of charge. Or the circuit board on my very well used seven year old lights packing up and again being replaced within 48hrs free of charge. Well out of warranty so above and beyond in my humble opinion.
Customer service seems to have become a bit of cliche with Hope but in my experience their reputation is warranted. It is only my personal opinion but as long as their products are as good or better than competition I can live with paying a bit of a premium. I also feel fairly good about supporting British industry but agin thats just me and opinion will no doubt vary.
Most people i know with Shimano brakes have blown the seals on the m785 stylE lever or caliper.I dont think its a fair comparison though, Shimano are cheaply made, good brakes. Theyre almost identical in action and feel from their very cheap Deore to the more expensive XTR. My favourite of all the brakes I used from the range were the Slx, they just felt spot on.
My other half's capliper blew a seal (deore) but it last good four years. Now on the new style of Shimanos. We both have SLX and they feel great more importantly when you need stop, you stop!
I couldn't comment on Hopes really, used V4s in the past and thought they were excellent the short time I had them. Bike thief probably thought the same too...
