Brake science

[2WheelsNot4]

OK, lets not be having its Sram slagging off Shimano* and try to stick to the topic in hand.

*Which it obviously is

But I found this link interesting.

The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison

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

enduro-mtb.com

It gives facts and figures but one strikes me as odd. In the comparison it looks like Hope E4's are better than Hope V4's. Surely theres been a mix up. The E4 has 4 identically sized pistons, but the V4 has 2 large and 2 small, the small being the same size as the E4 pistons.
It lists V4's as having slightly higher braking torque, but less actual stopping power by way of time from 45kph-0kph
Maybe Im missing something, but if the greater the torque, then shouldn't it be more powerful, and certainly V4's have been touted as more powerful than e4's

I can clearly see there are more powerful brakes out there, but Ive been a Hope fan and user since the mid 90's, I'm very familiar with servicing, bleeding and all so despite better being out there it's unlikely I shall ever change.

I would love them to carry out a comparison test between today's brakes and the first Hope hydraulic, the C2. Now there was a brake 26mm pistons on return springs, so you never had to worry about pistons not returning properly.
I did hear somewhere lost in the mists of time that C2's were better than mini mono m4's. or at least comparable.

 

[Mikerb]

Personally I think there is quite a bit of nonsence....or call it marketing hype or magazine copy.........when talking about hydraulic brakes on a mtb. We do not ride terrain that offers relentless grip and even with 2.6 soft compound tyres, we do not have tyres that would take advantage of a high grip surface anyway. Most of the time when we use the brakes the most significant problem is trying to avoid locking up the wheel and I have never come across a hydraulic brake system that can fail to do that...even the most basic. So the amount of torque the brake system provides does not need to be huge. What differentiates different hydraulic brake systems is lever design, adjustability, modulation (pressure variation between reservoir and calliper) and heat management. Heat management is mostly achieved through larger rotors and rotor heat sinks , plus larger callipers.
How efficient any mtb brake performs is mostly a bout maintenance.

 

[militantmandy]

Personally I think there is quite a bit of nonsence....or call it marketing hype or magazine copy.........when talking about hydraulic brakes on a mtb. We do not ride terrain that offers relentless grip and even with 2.6 soft compound tyres, we do not have tyres that would take advantage of a high grip surface anyway. Most of the time when we use the brakes the most significant problem is trying to avoid locking up the wheel and I have never come across a hydraulic brake system that can fail to do that...even the most basic. So the amount of torque the brake system provides does not need to be huge. What differentiates different hydraulic brake systems is lever design, adjustability, modulation (pressure variation between reservoir and calliper) and heat management. Heat management is mostly achieved through larger rotors and rotor heat sinks , plus larger callipers.
How efficient any mtb brake performs is mostly a bout maintenance.

Absolutely fair point. However, I think it matters more if you are riding steep trails, where having to use less force on the lever makes a big difference to confidence and hand fatigue. On my local trails, difference in brake performance becomes extremely noticeable across something like a Code R and a Magura Mt-5. Maybe overall potential power is not that different, but the Maguras require a lot less lever force to get the same result.

 

[Mikerb]

yes..the degree of modulation varies with different brake sets. Shimano have a reputation very limited modulation and SRAM for much more on the Code series. That is a deliberate design function. A lack of modulation leads to constant lock ups on loose round so there a re pros and cons. Personally I have no trouble applying brake lever pressure and for my typical terrian I prefer the modulation of my Code RSC brakes.
What I would like to see from all the brands is a calliper design that keeps all the trail debris out rather than being wide open!!