[Closed] SRAM G2 RSC vs Hope E4?

The E4 is identical in performance to the previous M4 (not the earlier M4 though). I had them on my Cotic hardtail and they’re on my current hardtail too. Great brakes! I’ve got the V4 on my Levo as it’s faster and heavier.

The high-end SRAM brakes seem to be great nowadays but will they still be great in many years’ time? Hope’s support for parts etc means their brakes go on and on and on...

I've been an Avid / SRAM devotee for 15 years now and can't see past them. My current SRAM Guide RS are 5+ years old and have had no problems (like leaky lever seals that blighted the Juicy's). My mind has turned to Hope's recently, as and when replacements needed, mostly out of support for a good British business, but it'll be an expensive upgrade. Meantime, the Guides keep going strong...

Interested to know what the lever feel is like on Hopes - on / off, like  Shimano, or more progressive like SRAM?

I'd not touch Hope brakes ever again, I had them (sold bike) and several of my mates have them and we all suffer(ed) from the same issue of sticky pistons ruining several rides and the brakes sticking on.

Yes they're easy to service but when you're having to service them a lot/mid ride, kind of defeats the point of reliability.

Sram/Shimano have always been faultless.

Thanks so far. The previous Hope M4s never let me down, that was about 6+ years ago though so not sure whether that reliability exists still today? The SRAMs look more of a disposable unit, but seem solid from what I've read...

Any thoughts on the Hope Evo Race lever vs the Tech 3?

Just get Codes?

issue of sticky pistons ruining several rides and the brakes sticking on

Is that really a common problem?  I have had it happen twice, a rear E4 and a rear X2 and on both occasions I’d let the pads wear too low and knew I had.  Otherwise reliability has been brilliant.

I have hope e4 on one bike and v4 on another.

They are both great!

I tried my mates RSC brakes and was amazed at how little the lever had to travel.

They will both probably be great!

@tall_martin how did you feel the power and modulation, in comparison to the E4s?

I have E4s on the hardtail and G2 RS on the Spur and I like both. Had Guide RS on my old Whyte and replaced with E4’s on that. Both are similar in terms of power, feel is a little different both modulate really well, but the Srams seem to bite earlier than the Hopes. Pad choice makes a big difference too, I swapped the original SRAM pads on the Guide RS to swissstop and the difference was massive, shame they don’t make them for the E4. Either will be good, go with what you like the look of better!

Being tall Martin’s mate with code RSCs I would. Say they are the best brakes I’ve ever had. Have previously had hope E4, most versions of 2 pot and 4 pot shimano. I won’t be going back! The modulation and power is superb.

Thanks - you have the Code RSCs not G2s right?

@_leon_ and @loverofminkys

It was someone else's codes that surprised me. I rode it for 5m up a fire road while hanging about waiting for some folk at the top of a fire road.

I tried loverofminkys for one wee DH run. The brakes worked fine. On a not very steep, long or fast track I didn't notice any difference between than and the e4 The bike was ace 🙂.

Inconclusive anacdote is inconclusive.

I had a half day on DH bike in Whistler when my bike broke. I think that had code r brakes. They were not hugely different to the e4. I was absolutely trying to stop that day! The E4 were fine for the other 8 days of riding. No fade or lack of stopping power. I'm not mega fast.

Enduro MTB did a massive break test. They are very sure they are correct. However, they also decided that wide bars are slower. I've got a bigger pinch of salt to take with their reviews now.

ENDURO-MTB.COM "https://enduro-mtb.com/en/best-mtb-disc-brake-can-buy/"

The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison | ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine

We tested the 14 newest and most powerful MTB brakes - in the lab and on the trail.

i have sram codes, both the r and rsc. both are superb power wise. I also have a box full of failed shimano brake levers.

I like the sram brakes. Bite point has always been consistent and nothing has failed yet. Which is more than can be said for the shimano brakes of late.

@_leon_ I have code rsc. They are only a tiny bit heavier than the G2 and it seemed like the worst place to save weight for me. The thing I have really liked is being able to set them exactly as I like, the dials do actually make a big difference (I know hope do as well) the power for me was significantly better than hope or shimano 4 pots. For reference I’m probably heavier than most and give my brakes more of a workout than a lot of people

Absolutely love hope brakes but for me code rsc have been top dogs for the last five years, unfortunately my bike has shimano 🙃

I have a set of G2 Ultimates, been very happy with them. Not the most powerful brake, but the modulation is even better than Hope E4's and they actually bite harder too if you pull the lever hard enough. They are the most direct brakes I've owned in terms of what you put in at the lever translating to the stopping power you experience at the wheel. Highly recommended!

In fact, mine are for sale (12 months old, only done about 30-40hrs worth of riding) as I simply couldn't resist an upgrade when offered a set of Trickstuff Maxima's recently! PM me if you fancy some G2 Ultimates in good condition at a competitive price.

I wouldn't say that Sram brakes are disposable as mentioned above. You can buy rebuild kits for everything, new lever blades, pistons etc. You can buy naff all for Shimano.
I currently have G2 RSC and like the modulation. With a 220mm rotor up front they are just powerful enough for the steep rock slabs around here. If I was buying brakes from scratch and had the choice of Code RSC vs G2, it'd be a no-brainer to get the Codes though if you prioritize absolute stopping power.

I’ve not used Hope brakes (mainly purchase costs deters me). I really like my 2015 SRAM Guide RSCs; I’ve had a problem with sticking lever pistons; the brakes are fully serviceable and were sorted by a new lever internals kit.

The Code RSCs seem the right choice... The advice has been much appreciated thankyou!

Probably all said upthread but...

If you like Hope E4 you're unlikely to like Shimano. Completely different lever feel. Hope and Guides very similar.

Hope
In terms of lifetime cost, Hope are cheapest because even the oldest, non-working Hope sell for good money on eBay. Any other second hand brakes are (or at least were) near enough worthless.

I've cooked Hopes on uplifted holidays and run them long enough to wear out discs (to way below the replacement point which won't have helped the function). Pistons can get sticky but they're fixable (lube them with fluid or silicon spray/grease. Pistons can get sticky on other brakes too - have had that happen to guides and shimano as well.

Bleeding is simple but messy. Advantage is you can rig something up and do it in a campsite with stuff you can buy in any garage. Disadvantage is you'll probably end up with fluid all over your hands, bike and kitchen floor if doing it at home.

When the seals do need replacing Hope's full service gets you a like-new brake with seals, pistons and pads for about £50 and they're not that hard to do yourself.

SRAM
Older guides had some lever issues (solved now I think). Like the Hopes the two adjustments mean you can get free throw and bite point exactly where you want it. The SRAM adjusters are prone to getting stuck though. the SRAM lever clamp is too small and levers can get loose after a few crashes (some side to side wobble). Katies' managed to bend a whole lever (still works but sits strangely)

Spare parts are at least listed on websites.

Bleeding is quick and clean (even easier now with bleeding edge) so long as you ignore their fussy 'vacuum' method that never seems to work.

I now reckon you -
- change the fluid by flushing from *top to bottom* until fluid is clean (bad idea to push the dirty fluid from the calliper up through the break).
- then new fluid in syringes, push some from bottom to top then push/pull back and forth to get all the air out of the system (the 'proper' method of creating a vacuum at either end never worked for me on the back brake).

But you do need a decent set of syringes with the right adaptors on - good luck finding that in a rural garage.

Guides are probably about the same power as Hope. Codes are hardly any heavier (30g?) and no more than XT's. My new bike comes with XT and I've got a set of Codes sitting on the side to put on before I ride it...

Thanks so much for the advice. Frankly it's difficult to choose. Heart says E4s, head says G2s are enough, Code if you want that guaranteed.

Do the SRAMs need bled if you shorten the hoses on initial fit?

“ Bleeding is simple but messy. Advantage is you can rig something up and do it in a campsite with stuff you can buy in any garage.”

Did it out the back of the BPW building, in the rain and still caught the first uplift! Had those E4s on my Spitfire, now they’re on my Zero AM.