Hope Vs Magura brakes

Hi all,

Looking to upgrade my brakes, my initial plan was Hope X2’s but i’ve heard good things about the Magura MT5 (though the MT4 is a more direct comparison).
Obviously the Magura brakes have the price to their advantage and i’ve heard good things about stopping power. But are they as reliable as Hope brakes? Plus, can you buy spares to replace anything that does go wrong?

Opinions welcome.
Thanks

We’ve a hard ridden (read crashed) set of MT5’s that have needed a few new levers or lever bodies.

Parts aren’t cheap, but are available, if you crash.

Do remember they have a 5 year warranty.

Ours are as amazingly powerful and progressive as day 1, we have had one faffy bleed where a bubble was hiding *somewhere*.

I’m buying a set for my bike when I need new brakes.

Be aware hope brakes have a 6 week lead time at the moment unless you can find somewhere with stock.

Might make your decision for you.

Be aware hope brakes have a 6 week lead time at the moment unless you can find somewhere with stock.

True but i’d rather have the right brakes than the ones i can get right away. Having read reviews the magura seem to be very much ON or OFF when it comes to stopping power rather than the progressive brake you can get out of hopes.

I have the Maguras and they have loads of power and I wouldn’t say they lack modulation,they are a lot more powerful than my Hope E4’s.I have just fitted a Shigura front brake on the ebike but haven’t had chance to try it yet

True but i’d rather have the right brakes than the ones i can get right away. Having read reviews the magura seem to be very much ON or OFF when it comes to stopping power rather than the progressive brake you can get out of hopes.

Worth the wait imo, I’ve got V4’s on my current bike and have just ordered another set for a new frame which I should have in a few weeks.

I’ve got v4s and really like them. However, I’ve ridden a mate’s Maguras (Trail Sport I think? 4/2 pot combo?) And I was really impressed. Trod a really nice line between power and modulation. I’d definitely consider them as my next brake.

Only thing I’m aware of is the bleed screws are plastic and very torque sensitive…

Having read reviews the magura seem to be very much ON or OFF when it comes to stopping power rather than the progressive

Compared to my shimanos the maguras have huge modulation.
They also have power that just builds and builds above my Deore 4-pot or middle_oab’s XT 2-pots.

I’m 14st, the Deore’s 4-pots stop me well enough apart from looking descents – the Magura’s ask where I would like to stop and how much of a stoppy would I like while doing so…and would I like to do that all day for giggles…

Do Magura levers still have a bleed port screw made from Blu-tak?

Thread hijack -ive a brand new pair of magura trail sports c\w rotors brand new unused that I purchased for a bike bui!d that’s been put on hold.
4 pot frt 2 pot rear with 180mm magura rotors
£1555.00 Inc special delivery
They look awesome comes with spare olives etc

Buy British.

Oops that’s £155.00 obviously

Magura have magnetic pistons so the pads just stick and need no spring clip.

That alone would swing it for me.

Vorsprung durch technik 🇩🇪

£1555.00 Inc special delivery

That had better be some special delivery 😉

I hated hope brakes. Lacked power and you needed to really pull them to stop (apparenlty that’s modulation…).

Plus danny mcaskil rides mt7s and look at thay slab he rode down, lots of faith in the brakes!

I have an hope e4/X2 set on one bike and magura trail sport on the other. I like both, both have plenty of power and both have modulation. If you are looking at maguras pay close attention to the lever blade shape fitted to the ones you buy. There are a number of different ones, those on the trail sports are a nice shape. I’ve not had the maguras long but based on experience so far I’m happy with them.

Both are way better than the hateful Shimano brakes the maguras replaced.

I ran a set of Hope V4’s on my bike for a few years and really loved them until i had a hire bike with Magura MT5’s on. That was it for me. Sold the hopes and bought a set of Maguras.

They have great modulation and stopping power. Essy to bleed ( but not as simple as Hopes).

Yea and the magnetic pistos are ace 🙂

So in short, very very happy with them. Was thinking of running my Shimano Zee Levers on them at some point.

One of my main concern was bleeding as I’ve heard people suggesting that the first time you try bleeding them they mess up and never work again. Or something to that effect.
Any experience with this?

I have Magura MT5’s on two bikes.

They work very well; powerful and with good modulation.

I’ve bled both sets of brakes a couple of times each and have had no more trouble than I had bleeding my previous Shimano brakes.

I’m very pleased with my selection :o)

I have never owned any Hope brakes.

My personal experience with Hope V4 is…terrible. No power, needed bled all the time, sticking pistons (from new and after they had been to Hope to check). I know that may be just unlucky, but I thought they were absolute crap. Looked nice though.

Run Mt5s across 4 bikes now. They don’t feel as “premium” as the nicest from other manufactures. The performance is superb though. Massive power, very easy to control…not to mention they’re about half the price of Codes/XTR/V4. They are the best brakes I’ve ever used in slippery, rooty, wet conditions.

Yes they have plastic grub screw in the lever body, I’ve never had any issue with them. I sometimes find getting a decent bleed on the rear can be tricky, not sure why. Also, they can be fiddly to align to the caliper. The old loosen the caliper, spin wheel and hold lever trick just doesn’t seem to work with them and I nearly always have to adjust by eye.

Overall though, the best brakes I’ve used by miles.

My personal experience with Hope V4 is…terrible. No power, needed bled all the time, sticking pistons (from new and after they had been to Hope to check). I know that may be just unlucky, but I thought they were absolute crap. Looked nice though.

Exactly the same as I’ve had with my E4’s! I really don’t rate them at all. Always wanted a set of hope brakes and now I wish I’d not bothered!