Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? - Bike Forum https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/ Singletrack World Magazine Forum. Come for the bikes, stay for the boll**ks en-GB Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:25:19 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161800 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:22:40 +0000 I have had the Hayes 9's then Juicy's and replaced with M4 Evo Race. The other bike has Elixir 7's.

Hope's have the best feel/modulation. The Elixirs are more of an on/off style feel, but I only think this due using the Hope's. I will be putting the M4's on the AM bike and Elixirs on the HT.

]]> Bike Forum Milkie https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161800 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161799 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:10:49 +0000 There are certainly lighter brakes available, however power is a different matter (not saying m4s are the most powerful brake on the market as I'm sure there are other equally or more powerful). I think that often that grab/bite is mistaken for power, you get a jolt therefore a brake must have lots of power. As I've posted before consider the example of car brakes. Our golf has servo assisted brakes, which give the impression of loads of power very quickly (as the servo bites), my elise on the other hand has way more powerful brakes, but is not servo assisted so does not have that bite/grab feeling. It does generate a lot more retardation though when you press the pedal further. To me the m4 is like the elise brakes, with plenty of modulation and power on tap if you want it. The shimano brakes are more like old hayes 9's and the golf. The power is there all at once with little modulation.

+1

My new XT's are whiplash induceingly powerfull at first, but if you pull the lever to the bar, even with 200/180 rotors, they don't actualy lock up (of hold me still) on tarmac (at low speed, decending a 1in3 hill with my weight back).

Whereas I can lock my X2's up doing the same test, and they're the older non-EVO versions with mini levers which got panned in reviews.

I've got shimano brakes, but only as they're half the price of HOPE, if HOPEs turn up for a good price second hand I buy them as even if they're buggered, they'll be easy to get new seals in and back to normal.

]]> Bike Forum thisisnotaspoon https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161799 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161798 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:36 +0000 I generally go M4 front X2 rear awesome brakes! Power, reliability, adjustments, service all excellent .
From experence I wouldn't buy anything else .
As said, set them up as per Hope instruction on website (which is really the only way you should set up your brakes regardless of brand)Rather than the Shimano fans "squeeze lever nip up bolts" way.

]]> Bike Forum spectabilis https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161798 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161797 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:42:31 +0000 I'm using both Evo X2's and Evo M4's here. Both are fabulous and a massive improvement over the Elixirs that came off the bikes. To be honest, I do feel a tiny bit over braked with the M4's on the Enduro sometimes, but I'm still getting used to the power. The X2's will probably be man enough for anything you want to do. Either way I can't fault them so far.

]]> Bike Forum Potdog https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161797 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161796 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:16:05 +0000 Deore ? XT ? or SLX...depends on your budget

Great brakes, if you like the grabby feel, if you don't the

There are plenty of brakes out there that are lighter, or more powerful

There are certainly lighter brakes available, however power is a different matter (not saying m4s are the most powerful brake on the market as I'm sure there are other equally or more powerful). I think that often that grab/bite is mistaken for power, you get a jolt therefore a brake must have lots of power. As I've posted before consider the example of car brakes. Our golf has servo assisted brakes, which give the impression of loads of power very quickly (as the servo bites), my elise on the other hand has way more powerful brakes, but is not servo assisted so does not have that bite/grab feeling. It does generate a lot more retardation though when you press the pedal further. To me the m4 is like the elise brakes, with plenty of modulation and power on tap if you want it. The shimano brakes are more like old hayes 9's and the golf. The power is there all at once with little modulation.

]]> Bike Forum nixie https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161796 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161795 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:08:19 +0000 How do these compare to Avid Elixir 7? I'm happy with mine but they do squeal a lot and I really like the look of the Hope M4.

]]> Bike Forum justatheory https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161795 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161794 Thu, 16 May 2013 08:59:28 +0000 Race X2s ... lighter, plenty of power and the levers are neater.

]]> Bike Forum GeForceJunky https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161794 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161793 Thu, 16 May 2013 08:56:51 +0000 I really do like the M4 to be honest, a mate recently put them on his Stumpjumper and they are a leap forward over his elixirs, which also began to suffer from seeming unbleedabilty (?).
Guess I'll either have to stump up, or forever wish maybe I had !

]]> Bike Forum cakefacesmallblock https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161793 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161792 Thu, 16 May 2013 08:54:14 +0000 Provided they are set up as in the video on the Hope site, they can't be beaten.

Don't be silly.

There are plenty of brakes out there that are lighter, or more powerful, or lighter and more powerful, and just as reliable.

]]> Bike Forum butterbean https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161792 Re: Hope M4 brakes. Why not ? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161791 Thu, 16 May 2013 08:46:21 +0000 Deore ? XT ?

or SLX...depends on your budget

]]> Bike Forum gonzy https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/hope-m4-brakes-why-not/#post-5161791