With the EVO TR4, Hope has taken its Tech 4 formula and given it a healthy dose of refinement. With a new-shaped lever as well as heaps of fresh tech, the brand has delivered an incredibly impressive brake that balances lever feel and modulation with plenty of power. Performance-wise, it’s all any trail rider can ask for, but it does take a good deal of care when it comes to setup and bleeding.
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Hope EVO TR4 brakes – Technical details
At the very foundation of the EVO TR4 is the Tech 4, which was released in 2023. That itself was a great brake, but recognising room for improvement, the brand brought it back to the drawing board. As before, it’s available in three configurations built to please cross-country fanatics, trail riders, and those with a gravity persuasion by combining the same lever with corresponding callipers.
On test, I’ve got the TR4, which is the trail-going brake that utilises a four-piston calliper. With that, Hope says that it’s designed for ‘medium-duty’ use. The most obvious change that the TR4 and all EVO brakes receive is the new lever blade that’s more hooked. The brand reckons that the new shape brings better control and finger security, especially combined with a dimpled texture cut into the blade’s face. That lever then rotates around a roller bearing to encourage a smoother feel. Also new for the lever (or reservoir), externally, is a bleed port, so no longer do users need to take the cap off the reservoir for bleeding. Like Shimano brakes, it’s now a simple case of threading on a bleed cup.
Additionally, Hope has paid attention to the cam design in a bid to reduce the brake lever’s free stroke without affecting modulation.
Elsewhere, there have been a bunch of changes made internally. Now, there are a pair of guide bushes to keep the internal piston moving smoothly, and there’s a one-piece calliper that’s been made to promote stiffness and reduce weight.
That calliper uses larger pistons to boost power, and a new bore cap design has narrowed the calliper, which should mean that there’s more clearance and that it can play ball with more frame designs. The brakes also use a larger brake pad, which Hope says improves lever feel.
As expected from Hope, the brake is CNC machined from aluminium and the brake is available in black or silver, with black, silver, smoke, blue, red, purple, and orange accents. Here, I’ve got the black body with smoke accents, for reference.
Hope doesn’t claim a weight for the EVO TR4, but I’ve weighed the front brake with a cut hose and all of the mounting accessories to be 285g. That makes it fairly competitive with the old SRAM Code Ultimate, weighing 291g, and the SRAM Motive Ultimate coming in at 271g. Though the Hayes Dominion A4 pips it at 259g.
Something that may put some off is that the EVO TR4 runs DOT fluid over mineral oil.
Hope EVO TR4 brakes – Performance
Although similar aesthetically to the older Tech 4, the EVO TR4 is a markedly improved brake in all areas. But importantly, the brake retains the build quality that Hope has built its reputation upon. It’s an excellent-looking bit of kit that acts equally as bike bling as it does a performance boost.
There is a little bit of air to be cleared here, however. Although Hope has absolutely made the right move in adding a bleed port to the reservoir, bleeding and setting up the brake requires more care and attention in order to squeeze out the best performance. It’s all the same affair as usual, other than threading a bleed cup onto the reservoir, but I found myself bleeding the brake more than once to clear all of the hidden air. That’s all while rotating my internally cable routed bike in the stand so that the reservoir is well above the calliper. It took a few attempts, as after the first few initial rides, the lever began to feel a little squishy.
With that in mind, I took a look at the calliper to find that the pistons weren’t extending evenly. A bit of a clean and relube of the pistons helped, but I spent a lot of time trying to balance the pistons, and being honest, they’re still not perfect. However, it’s a step I thoroughly recommend taking, and the extra attention paid to set up is very much worthwhile as the TR4 has proven to be a cracking brake.
The EVO TR4 impressed me an awful lot. Hope’s tweaks to the designs have paid off in a big way. Now, I was a fan of the Tech 4, though it wasn’t without its foibles, but the EVO TR4 is another beast altogether, thanks to an improved feel and performance. First up, the new lever blade feels excellent. With its new hook and generally rounder profile, it’s a lot more comfortable, it’s more secure, and it’s just better.
Then, as a result of the brand’s tinkering with the brake’s insides, it’s a force to be reckoned with, even as a trail-focused, ‘medium-duty’ brake. It’s both snappy and modulation-rich as there’s a clear point of engagement in the lever as the pads contact the rotor, but there’s tonnes of modulation. In fact, the brake reminded me a lot of the SRAM Maven in that it can deliver a lot of power without requiring a strengthy pull on the lever. Thus, it reduces arm pump, all while providing plenty of stopping power.
Although I say that the brake feels snappy, it doesn’t throw all of the power at you at once. You get that super positive engagement, but it won’t send you over the bar if you’re unprepared. Instead, the brake offers useful feedback, helping the rider apply just enough power that’s required, while communicating traction, or lack thereof.
I like to ride with as little free stroke as possible (distance in the lever before the pads engage), so the brand’s work in reducing it has been very appreciated. It means that I reach the brakes’ bite point almost instantaneously, offering up its power earlier in the stroke, while allowing me to revel in the modulation thereafter. It also means that I can run my levers further out, enabling me to tune the bite point to be at a comfortable place, without having to reach for miles to touch the levers.
Despite Hope saying that the TR4 is built for ‘medium-duty’ use, that doesn’t mean that it holds back on the power front. Rather, there’s tonnes of it, and I don’t think I’ve ever reached its maximum, even when rolling down the steepest terrain I could find. That’s perhaps down to its excellent modulation.
Even when dumping the anchor, the brake has always had a little more left in the tank for when I really needed it, if ever, but importantly, with a thorough bleed, it’s mighty consistent. As it warms up, it performs exactly as it does when it’s a little cooler. The lever feel is exactly the same, and there’s little difference in the brake’s bite through extended descents.
Hope EVO TR4 brakes – Verdict
The TR4 has seen a bit of a price hike against the outgoing Tech 4, now at £225 an end. Saying that, as a high-performance and uber blingy brake, its value is fairly competitive. Put it against SRAM’s Maven Silver brakes, which will set you back £570 for a pair, you’re saving £120 on a brake that I’d say looks better, and is lighter. The TR4 might not be as outright powerful, but it’s a package I’ve found myself preferring for its general performance.
Shimano’s recent XT brakes do provide better value if you’re more function over form. It’ll set you back £400 for a pair, but you do sacrifice that lovely CNC-machined and potentially coloured finish.
I’ve found myself becoming a big fan of what the Hope EVO TR4 offers. That’s a serious combination of power and modulation that’ll please any trail through to enduro rider. It delivers an impressively positive and consistent lever feel that’s heightened by a beautifully sculpted lever. Just be prepared to spend some quality time with it to get it set up and bled perfectly.
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Product purpose:
Build extra:
// New dimple design improves comfort during hard braking and retains grip in all weather conditions
// New cam design decreases the free lever stroke while maintaining the feel and modulation in the braking zone
// Roller bearing main pivot
// 2 guide bushes keep the piston running perfectly smooth and straight
// Bleed port added to the master cylinder body enables bleeding without removing the lid
// One-piece caliper design for the best stiffness to weight ratio
// Larger pistons increase ratio of the brake for more power
// New bore cap design decreases overall width of the caliper for easier packaging and better frame compatibility
// Larger pad shared with the GR4 caliper improves lever feel and consistency
// Available in Black or Silver with Black, Silver, Smoke, Blue, Red, Purple or Orange accents.
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