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Hope's road/gravel RX4 caliper is a powerful and easy-to-use aesthetic product. Made in the UK, there are six colors to choose from, it does require a lot of effort to set up, and it will produce more noise than you want. A kind for purists who are willing to invest in setup and maintenance.

For the past 30 years, Lancashire Hope has been at the forefront of bicycle performance. Its products have introduced many world firsts in brake, wheel and earphone technology, adding luster to the bicycles of many world-class racers and winners. Its spirit of "build the best or not to disturb" has prompted the company to continuously improve and fine-tune its products for riders and racers seeking every advantage.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

In the RX4 caliper, Hope brought his thoughts into the slash gravel/adventure bike field, and its four-piston calipers are designed for use with the slash handles of Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM. These are different models/internal parts to deal with different brake fluids-Shimano/Campag's mineral and SRAM's DOT. In addition to using different types of rubber in the seals, the only difference is that the SRAM version uses two pairs of the same size pistons in each four-cylinder caliper, while the Shimano/Campag version reviewed here uses a larger and a smaller pair ——The difference lies in the different lever fluid mechanics.

On Hope's website, RX4 is listed as incompatible with the higher specification Di2 controllers in the Shimano GRX series. This is obviously because the Di2 rod uses Shimano's "Servowave" technology, which makes the pad move faster at the beginning of the rod, and then increases power after contact. Some people have successfully set up RX4 on Di2 levers, and Hope is testing the compatibility of a set of Di2 levers. support.

Of course, nothing is easier than this-Shimano's V3.2 technical document released in November 2020 says that the 810 series GRX mechanical handles are * Servowave, but Hope lists them as compatible. I have a combination-my front rod is a non-Servowave 600, and my rear rod is a Servowave 810 dropper rod actuator. Yes, the feel is slightly different, but to be honest, there is not much difference, and the bleeding process is no different. What seems silly is that Hope lists many other compatible Servowave levers on its chart (for example, Di2 9170). The usual disclaimers always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. My bike has not caught fire, and I have not crossed the railing while braking, or over the fence at the bottom of the non-brake descent.

Hope internally CNC machined its brakes (and almost everything else) with a monolithic alloy, and then anodized them in one of six glittering colors. Compared with almost every two-piece caliper made by other people, making the brake in one piece means that the possibility of any bending or leakage is absolutely zero. This really brings you the challenge of how to install the piston-this is why there are two black piston hole covers that can be removed with special tools for repair. We will talk about it later.

In the box, you will get calipers, brass hose olive/inserts, caliper bolts, two sets of pads-red organic and blue metal-and a high-quality syringe and drain port adapter. You can also get a pair of alloy gaskets for the discharge process. There is a description, but you do want to determine the bleeding process through the video on the Hope website.

Unlike Shimano, the front and rear calipers are obviously different and not interchangeable. They are also only suitable for 160mm rotors, so they are more aimed at the gravel adventure crowd than the minimalist pure road. You don’t need an adapter for the front caliper, it is bolted directly to the front fork, which looks really cool. If your frame or fork is older, Hope will also provide a post-install version.

Comparing the weight, the RX4s is quite light-100 grams at the front and 85 grams at the rear. Adding a pair of 25g brake pads and accessories, I added them to 235g, while the two GRX calipers with fin brake pads and 160mm adapter are 280g. Surprisingly, they are lighter than calipers with half pistons and smaller brake pads.

I installed them and reused the Jagwire hoses I used to run GRX calipers, no problem. The included brass hose insert and split olive shape are easy to install and reusable. There is no torque specification on the guard nut, but 8Nm seems to be correct, and there has been no leakage since.

The setup process is indeed a multi-cup tea/beer duration. When the brakes bleed, you will create more chaos than you think, and you need to have spare fluid on hand, because if you get it dirty, you will start again. I really don't want to do this kind of bleeding with the SRAM version-the idea of ​​so much DOT fluid everywhere is not attractive.

Hope recommends removing the caliper from the bike and hanging it vertically on the lever so that you do not leave air behind any pistons. The number of pistons that need to be cleared is twice that of Shimano, which is really a breeze. It is worth noting that the process involves using two alloy exhaust blocks to push out almost completely on each side, exhaust to remove air, then push back and repeat on the other side. The deflation block cannot completely separate the piston, so the alignment of the caliper depends on your eyes and the line marked in the center of the caliper. Strangely, it is not mentioned in the manual, but it is very convenient.

Basically, what you are doing is exactly the opposite of the alignment of Shimano or SRAM calipers. In their system, you squeeze the lever, both pistons move forward, and then fix the caliper, hoping that when the pistons are also retracted, the rotor will be centered. In the Hope system, you center and fix the caliper, and then fine-tune the pads on each side to make it equidistant from the rotor.

Like I said, prepare a spare tea/beer-maybe some colorful language. It is essential that the rotor must not move when it is squeezed by the pad, otherwise one side will always be closer and friction will occur more easily.

This is where the problem lies. Cough. Because there are four pistons doing what two pistons do in a lever-designed caliper, logically, they cannot move that far for the same lever throw/fluid pump. So the gap is not so good, there is less room for error, and there is less room for any grit/cracks that may appear between the pad and the rotor.

Hope recommends that you try to stabilize the system a few times, I can guarantee this. When I rode for the first time, every puddle and every stain was destined to cause the RX4 to fall into a noisy and frightening state, and it would settle down only after the material was worn or ejected.

At the same time, there is no significant increase in the original power or modulation-the ability to gradually increase the braking force during the stroke of the lever. I don’t know if this is due to pad aging, removal or other reasons, but at first I was very disapproving. The braking force is not better than the standard GRX.

> 12 basic braking techniques-better control of ramps and parking

Then after a few rides, the situation stabilized and the power really improved. I can comfortably stop on the top of my GRX810 lever with a finger or two, with my hand still on the hood. In a fall, one finger can lock two wheels without any problem.

I want to say that the gritty pickup problem disappeared, but it reappeared on the muddy road, although it was not as serious as it was during the first ride. I have always insisted on using red organic mats because I prefer quietness and plenty of motivation. In addition, there has never been enough heat here that heat dissipation is a performance issue.

In terms of maintenance, Hope sells replacement seals (a set of £7.40), pistons (£5 each) and tools to replace them. The only reason you need to replace the piston is if you used a tool to rough and shred one while handling the piston, then follow any calipers, please relax.

You will need two different-sized hole cap tools (£8 each) to remove the cap-don't try to fiddle with it because of the low price.

For the SRAM version, you only need a capping tool. Hope recommends using Hunter silicone lubricant on the seals every time the gasket is replaced. Be sure to perform this operation after thoroughly cleaning the piston and surroundings so that you do not simply transfer dirt to the seal.

> Everything you need to know about disc brakes

When the piston cannot be retracted smoothly or the fluid starts to leak, the seal needs to be replaced. The professional tip is to pump out the inner piston first-if you remove the hole cover and outer piston first, you will never be able to remove the inner piston because the system will no longer be under pressure. If the piston is really stuck, the air hose will help, but be careful not to make projectile weapons.

Hope recommends not to use brake cleaners to avoid damage to the seals. To apply the brakes, you can follow the default 10-gear bedding process, but don't make a long descent. Another option is to ride the bike normally, let them get dirty, put up with the noise, and they will eventually fall asleep.

For my cycling needs, Hope RX4 may be a bit overkill. I weigh 75 kg and did not use my gravel bike to carry heavy loads during the review period-this is the purpose of a fat bike suitable for winter. If you are a heavier rider, riding a tandem ride in a steep country and/or planning a heavy load-bearing ride, the extra power and heat provided by the RX4 can prevent hand sprains or rough inability to stop-no stopping moments.

Then there is aesthetics-there are six colors to choose from, you can mix and match with Hope's matching six-color rotors and lock rings according to your preferences. Of course, it is not said that both calipers need the same color. Repairability is also a plus.

RX4s at £100 per end are not cheap-but they are not ridiculous either. Two-cylinder GRX calipers with 800 specifications cost £70. Brexit and the global bicycle boom/end of channels mean that the availability of sourcing components in Asia is a potential nightmare, so more people may shop locally through Hope. Shimano doesn't make four-cylinder flat calipers, so if you need more power than stock, Hope is the only game in town I know.

Hope made the best brakes for a set of use cases, only in one version. That's it. It does not do the product level. The company has supported its equipment for many years, and many parts are interchangeable throughout the range, such as hose fittings, seals and pistons. Although it may be a small brand, any distributor may have what you need.

Inevitably, RX4 is a picky beast, it rewards attention to detail with better stopping performance, and will not let you forget what you bought. If this sounds like your multiple cups of tea, you will not be disappointed, and your bike will look great.

Lightweight, shiny and easy to maintain, you can get more power from your brakes, and it’s a bit laborious

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Brand and model: Hope RX4 flat-mounted front and rear brake calipers

Tell us the purpose of the product and the target audience. What is the manufacturer's comment on this? How does this compare to your own feelings?

Hope said: "The RX4 caliper is built on 25 years of experience in designing and manufacturing hydraulic disc brakes, and transferring the acquired knowledge and skills to the world of road and off-road bike boom brakes. The overall design of precision CNC machining leads to The caliper is stronger and provides unparalleled feel and modulation. Choose Shimano or Sram according to your lever.

Tell us more about the technical aspects of the product?

Front flush mounted hydraulic calipers to adapt to boom settings

Shimano or Sram special calipers

The one-piece design creates a stiffer caliper, reducing fuzzy lever feel and brake pad friction

Available in black, silver, red, blue, purple and orange

Processed by 2014 T6 aluminum CNC

RX4-SH Caliper-designed for Shimano and Campagnolo boom brake systems

(Mineral oil, Shimano recommended for Shimano, Campagnolo/Magura recommended for Campagnolo)

Campagnolo compatible calipers (RX4 SH)

RX4 SH-122g Inc pad

Gorgeous CNC machining and anodizing.

If you need more braking power, they can certainly provide it, but at the cost of troublesome setup and driving noise.

Given that they are completely repairable and Shimano's calipers cannot be repaired, I hope to truly win here.

Excellent-with four pistons, the weight is less than two.

If "comfort" means "comfort of the hand while in use", then yes-because of more power, there is less hand fatigue.

It cannot be denied that these items are expensive, but they are good value for money for as little as £100. You can get bleeding syringes and spare pads, and they are made in the UK and easy to repair, and they are easy to repair, which are all advantages.

Tell us how the product performs as a whole when used for its design purpose

Flat-mounted calipers can provide the best braking force, which is a real boon for long-term use of the hood. You will come to avoid puddles, pay attention so that you do not ingest feces.

Tell us which aspects of this product you particularly like

Blingtastic, made in Lancashire by Hot Pot and Love.

Tell us what aspects of the product you particularly dislike

Bleeding procedure-messy AF. Prepare a towel.

Do you like to use this product? Yes, once I learn how to set them up.

Would you consider buying this product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but there are warnings.

Use this box to explain your total score

have conflict. They are very picky about normal work, but once set up, they will start business-although the noise is louder than a caliper with a larger gap. Bling and suitability are the real rewards.

Age: 47 Height: 183cm Weight: 77kg

I usually ride: Sonder Camino Gravelaxe. My best bike is: Nah bro. That’s it

I have been riding: for more than 20 years I have been riding: a few times a week I classify myself as: expert

I often do the following types of cycling: cross-country bikes, general fitness cycling, mountain bikes, GRAVEL

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