Introducing a very fancy 3D printed titanium lever, the Trickstuff’s cross-country and trail brake, the Piccola has received a bit of a glow-up. As a result of its new lever, it’s one of the lightest four-piston brakes on the market while carrying a seriously high build quality that’s tough to find elsewhere. However, it’s more than just very expensive bike bling as it’s powerful, rich in modulation, super consistent, and very easy to look after, but its short lever and high price will leave it out of reach for many.
Trickstuff Piccola HD Titanium – Technical details
Lofty asking price and titanium goodness aside, there’s an awful lot going on within the reservoirs of the Piccola HD as it promises ‘linear power transmission’, and that’s where Trickstuff claims to achieve its power. This brake, as well as all of the brand’s other products, gets a 9mm pump piston, which is attributed to pulling off a higher hydraulic transmission ratio compared to the 10mm pistons you’ll likely find elsewhere. That piston is made from pressure-resistant POM plastic chosen for its durability and slipperiness.
Much of the power is then realised via the brand’s chosen lever design. As exhibited by the lever’s two mounting points – one on the reservoir body and one on the pump – the Piccola employs a knee lever design that introduces a level of progression, allowing its transmission ratio to increase as the lever is pulled. The brand also says that this reduces the force required to pull the lever. The lever then rotates on a cartridge bearing, something that’s become very popular on nearly every performance brake.
Although there is some progression built into the power delivery, Trickstuff aims for a linear power transmission. With that, it states that the ‘full braking effect’ is achieved as soon as the pads bite, and this effect increases the more the lever is pulled.
The biggest story behind the Piccola HD Titanium is its 3D-printed titanium lever. While looking mighty cool, it’s printed with a honeycomb structure at the main part of the blade for grip, and it’s a very hollow structure, which has allowed the brand to shed grams wherever possible but without sacrificing the lever’s strength.
Connected to the reservoir via a Kevlar hose is the C42 caliper that’s found on the brand’s Direttissima brake, which is designed for enduro-flavoured riding. Pushing the pads into the rotor are a pair of 14mm and a pair of 17mm stainless steel pistons. The C42 caliper is of a two-piece design with both sides bolted together with steel yoke bolts in a bid to boost stiffness and, therefore, power.
The Piccola HD Titanium runs on Trickstuff’s own vegetable oil-based brake fluid dubbed Bionol. It’s a low viscosity oil chosen for its easy flow and ability to perform in lower temperatures. The brand then says that it has a boiling point that sits between 360 and 420 degrees centigrade.
In an environmentally friendly wooden box, you get your pair of brakes, two pairs of Power+ pads, as well as two pairs of standard pads. Trickstuff then says that a pair of brakes weighs from 442g, and I weighed the front brake with an uncut hose and all of the fittings at 224g. Compared to SRAM’s Motive Ultimate at 271g, that’s certainly a saving, but stacked up against Hope’s XCR Pro X2, a two-piston brake, the Piccola HD Titanium is 25g weightier. Still, that’s not bad given the increased number of pistons.
Trickstuff Piccola HD Titanium – Performance
To start with installation and bleeding, it’s simply the most fuss-free setup experience I’ve had. Bleeding is ridiculously easy as the brake uses a similar method to SRAM’s Bleeding Edge tech, so it’s a clean task. There’s seemingly nowhere for stray bubbles to hide as fluid and air are pushed through the whole system incredibly quickly. After nipping up the bolts and bleed ports, I’ve been left with a solid feeling brake, not even five minutes after filling the syringes with oil.
Now, as Trickstuff aims for a linear power transmission, the Piccola HD’s lever feel is very different. Unlike the key players in the braking space, the bite point is nowhere near as harsh and sudden. It’s still defined and very much present, but it’s a much softer pad engagement. And the brand has achieved that linear feel as the brake delivers much of its power as it hits the bite point, though it still brings more with the harder you squeeze, so while it feels different, it still performs with a real level of familiarity. That said, the initial bite did take a bit of getting used to.
Power is where the brake impressed. For such a small reservoir and such a light weight, the Piccola HD is one powerful little number. Although it’s destined for cross-country, down-country, and smaller trail bikes, I ran the brake on my 150mm bike, expecting to be a little underwhelmed, but I was very wrong. Paired with a 200mm rotor up front and with a 180mm disc initially, I never felt undergunned when riding the stuff I usually ride. Later in the test, I found that I was perhaps pushing the 180mm rotor a little too hard, as it showed discolouration, so I moved to a 200mm at the rear to help dissipate heat and boost power further.
Where that linear power delivery makes loads of sense is in the modulation that the brake provides. There’s not much on the market like it. With great power comes great modulation, and throughout that band, there is an excellent level of feel and communication with the brake. And all of that modulation sits within a reasonably tight register, so the lever doesn’t have to move a huge distance while adjusting the power output. That’s while running the Power+ pad.
It’s a consistent brake too. Even during the longer and brake-intensive descents, power and lever feel have pretty much stayed the same, even with warm rotors. The Power+ pads cope very well in all weathers too. Granted, I’ve not ridden the brakes through the heaviest of downpours, but through wet to dry, they’ve remained quiet and consistently powerful.
Previously built from carbon, the new titanium lever is pretty cool. It’s stiff, but as a byproduct of the 3D printing process, it’s textured, which alone brings good grip. Boosting finger traction further is the honeycomb structure cut into the lever blade. With or without gloves, I’ve not found myself wishing for a better hold.
However, it is short, which is the main drawback of the Piccola HD Titanium for me. I’ll admit, I may be a bit weird in the way I hold my handlebar – I place my hands far outboard to the point where some of my palm hangs off the end. But the titanium lever just isn’t long enough to suit my preferred position. As a result, I’ve moved to cut-down silicone grips from Wolf Tooth Components, which fixed things straight away. I’m told that the short lever came after Trickstuff received feedback from its XC athletes, and with silicone grips, I can see why it works, especially as weight is a key focus with this brake. However, at this price, there should be no compromise in any form. A long lever option would be excellent.
That said, I’ll reiterate my weirdness in the way that I hold my bar, but if you’re like me, I wouldn’t recommend the Piccola HD Titanium for that reason. Unless you’ve got a pair of short grips on hand, or prefer the silicone/foam grip life, that is.
Trickstuff Piccola HD Titanium – Verdict
Okay, so an asking price of £1,200 for any brakeset is nothing short of sky high, and to say that you can’t find a similar level of performance for half that price is simply untrue. However, it’s the finesse, quality, and weight, or lackthereof, on top of the power and consistency that you’re paying for. And it’s down to you to figure out whether that spend is worthwhile.
For example, SRAM’s Motive Ultimate kit will set you back £585. You are getting a heavier brake, but you’re also getting a bleed kit, two rotor sizes, and everything a privateer XC athlete could ever need from a pair of brakes, apart from a mechanic. These carry an impressive power-to-weight ratio, says Matt, and they still provide a bit of a bling factor, with their limited edition colourway.
If it’s weight savings you’re after, Hope’s XCR Pro X2 brakes weigh 199g, but that is with a two-piston caliper. It sounds mad to say, but while still excellent, Hope’s build quality doesn’t shine a light on Trickstuff’s.
Now featuring a low viscosity brake fluid, like Trickstuff’s, is the new Shimano XTR M9220. A front brake weighs 298g with a four-piston caliper. We’ve not yet tested it, but we’ve got it in for a test coming soon. A pair will set you back £500.
Without an ounce of surprise, Trickstuff has delivered something rather special with the Piccola HD Titanium. It’s mighty powerful for its weight, and that’ll appeal more to just the cross-country athlete. It’s among the lightest four-piston brakes on the market; it’s consistent, and its lever feel is luxurious. That lever is short, though, so beware if you run your brakes far outboard, or close to the grip, and be prepared to drop £1,200 on them.
You might also like:
- How to bleed SRAM and Hayes
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