Intend have released their brake set, could be an alternative to those with deep pockets and don't want to wait 18months + for a set of Trick Stuff...? Currently three sets left in stock so I'm sure that they'll sell out today, even at €900+
They do look good, interested to see how they perform/if any get sent out for review.
So far out of my reach that they may well not exist.
Intend do seem to eschew the usual process of sending stuff out for review.
Very few reviews of the forks or shock either.
It's pretty hard for a small company to send out stuff for review, but if they needed the exposure I'm sure they could. But If your entire product line is selling out regularly why would you need to send it out for review?
The secretive marketing technique works well for boutique brands who are already performing well.
If it did review really well then they would likely struggle to keep up with demand and end up in a situation like Trickstuff.
It’s pretty hard for a small company to send out stuff for review
He used to but then got the hump when his stuff didn’t review quite as well as the mainstream alternatives, so stopped.
Are these one of those components which you’ll only ever find user reviews of online, all of which will be positive, as no one will want to admit that they’ve spent the best part of £1k on a set of brakes that are not much better than some £150 SLX ones?
How are Intend supposed to do this then?
Reviews come from real users rather than journos who spend half a day with the kit. Yes, the owners might be biased but right now, if they don't like them, they can sell them for what they paid, if not more.
But if you think there's too much bias from owners, how would you ever find out if they were better than SLX or not?
No brake is worth that amount, it's a specific type of clientele, make of that what you will.
The user reviewers/YouTubers/IGers seem to buy stuff at a discount, on the basis of them giving a review. I take them with a pinch of salt.
No brake is worth that amount
Based on what metric? Objectively, I agree with you, there are brakes that are 90% as good (possibly even closer now, with the T4V4) for half the money, with a lead time of days, rather than weeks/months/years. Subjectively though, they stop a bit better, feel nicer and look better than anything else. To some that’s worth the extra. (IME of Trickstuff)
So, this ‘specific type of clientele’ care to expand on that? What with it being so specific and that…
Atgnfi.
And what’s the problem with that? Had Trickstuff not released the Maxima, would Hope have bothered to develop the T4V4?
Had Trickstuff not released the Maxima, would Hope have bothered to develop the T4V4?
I’m not sure a brake so far off the cost scale and with limited availability would have had much influence. Repeated group tests where Hope were praised for lovely machining but fell short on the power comparison probably niggled them more
The brake at the top of the power charts would have given them something to aim for though.
old thread resurrection:
recent review.
That review popped up on my YouTube suggestions yesterday.... I stopped watching after 2min as I found the guy incredible annoying.
Not sure that there's a need for them when we can fit 200 or 220mm discs?
The point isn’t so much that you have all the power, it’s that it’s less fatiguing/easier to access the required amount of power.
Had a set from batch 3 in my basket but couldn't process the payment quickly enough. I reckon 50 sets went in under a minute.
Not sure that there’s a need for them when we can fit 200 or 220mm discs?
Always find this argument amusing, moto discs are what, 270mm? But the bike must weigh almost 10x that of MTB?
Unless your on a dh bike 200+ size rotors just compensation for bad brakes imo.
Always find this argument amusing, moto discs are what, 270mm? But the bike must weigh almost 10x that of MTB?
Unless your on a dh bike 200+ size rotors just compensation for bad brakes imo.
Their calipers and pads are a bit more meaty though, eh?
Nowt wrong with a 200mm rotor on a trail bike, with a good 4-pot brake. It just works.
Unless your on a dh bike 200+ size rotors just compensation for bad brakes imo.
200mm on all my bikes. Consistent feel regardless of what I’m riding.
My brakes get called a lot of things (see above). Bad is not one of them.
I've always liked a larger disc up front. Newest frame will be 200mm native at the rear. Guess that's going to force me onto a 220 up front.
Nothing to do with bad brakes, just preferred feel.
That review popped up on my YouTube suggestions yesterday….
I enjoyed the video and was impressed by the brakes*, not impressed enough to spend £900+, well not after trying Magura MT7's and some TRP DH-R Evo. All that said my apparently crap SRAM Code R's are still doing the same job quite well.
I'd never even heard of the brand previously, but they won't sell him spare parts? A dealer network might be nice to idea to distribute parts, but if you've no retailers in a country... that sounds like a deal breaker to me
* apparently they sell forks too?
apparently they sell forks too?
And shocks. And stems. And cranks. And seatpost clamps. And headsets.
They were brilliant for spares when I was refurbing a set of, second hand, forks 18-24 months ago. (Stanchion, damper, axle, brake mount)
Distributed by TF tuned here (for forks anyway)
I'd be surprised if they won't sell you spare, unless they simply don't have any. With such small production runs, I imagine they're pretty tight for parts.
Only (minor) critique from the video (except he say they need a tool for reach adjust, then say their tool less later), is they caliper look fairly chunky.
Unless your on a dh bike 200+ size rotors just compensation for bad brakes imo.
Or 2k vertical descents.
The point isn’t so much that you have all the power, it’s that it’s less fatiguing/easier to access the required amount of power.
I agree, bigger rotors give that too IMV.
Code RSCs with HS2 rotors 200 and 220mm have been absolutely bomb proof for my heavy, unskilled, brake riding, steep, long vert alpine descents.
What do they do better than TRP or Magura ones don't
What do they do better than TRP or Magura ones don’t
Nobody knows, because as Tom suggested above - Mr Intend never sends stuff out for proper review.
Mr Intend never sends stuff out for proper review.
this returns to this point...
Reviews come from real users rather than journos who spend half a day with the kit
That video is from someone who bought it with his own money, and his comments suggest he's had them for a while, but maybe not long enough to suggest a long term review. Still not convincing me to spend the money, but it's a better review than any of the Lewis brake video's.
Well, having tried for pretty much every 50 piece release from day one, I finally managed to bag a set.
I see they do spares for forks and shock, but what about spares for these brakes.
Having super powerful brakes is one thing, but if you cannot easily get the spares, then theres little point in shelling out that much.
Happy to stick with Hope, pretty much guaranteed spares for the next ten years at least.
There are enough bikes (with Hope brakes) in the house that it's never going to be rude stopping. I've seen on other forums that Intend have been really good with small parts. Just because they don't list them, doesn't mean they don't have them.
I think I'm just curious about these brakes as much as anything else.
Nice work @Onzadog, I've got a set of their Samurai TR forks ready for my Starling Beady Little Eye when it arrives and nearly went for the brakes too, but had my heart set on some Trickstuff Maxima's which are now in a very expensive pile of parts waiting to be dropped up to Starling HQ for the build when the frame's ready in the New Year.
@abingham cheers. That's sounding like a nice build and would love to hear your thoughts on the fork when it's all up and running.
I would have thought that being a fairly small manufacturer, they could quite easily make spare parts to order and not need to keep a large inventory on the shelf.
I get the impression that the parts are out sourced locally and then assembled in batches. I think they've just made a point of keeping spares in stock.
Well, having tried for pretty much every 50 piece release from day one, I finally managed to bag a set.
I got some DH ones in the one before (not the black Ti). Just waiting for a the destination frame to be built now 🙂
They do feel lovely to use in hand though. Enjoy the bog roll.
The TriniTi was very pretty
Another batch of 50 pairs gone in under 5 minutes again.
it very impressive, how quick they sell out!
*smug face*
@onzadog, parts arrived, seemingly via most of Europe 😀
On the access to spares front, the parts I’m referring to above is a small bag of spare bolts, barbs etc that came in the box, which I’ve somehow now lost. I emailed Intend to ask about buying a replacement. They had one in the post the next day, no charge.
That's good news. I'm liking that level of customer service.
Hearing on other forums that some people have ripped hoses out in crashes. Hope it's just user error
