CNC-machined from the lever tip to the slotted hole, decorated with chic anodised finishes and artful brake rotors - visually, the Hope Tech 4 Evo GR4 stands out from the test field. But does this also apply to the performance of the British brake? We tested them in the lab and in practice.
Conclusion on the Hope Tech 4 Evo GR4
A lot of braking power only makes sense if it can be called up with a manageable amount of force and can be finely controlled - the Hope does this very well. In my opinion, the pressure point towards full braking could even be a little harder. The flashy look is not my cup of tea, but fortunately the GR4 is also available in simpler colours. - Dimitri Lehner, BIKE test editor
Technical data: Hope Tech 4 Evo GR4
| Price (without disc and accessories) | 300 Euro |
| Weight per piece | 283 grams (incl. 800 mm cable + pads) |
| Slices / thickness | Ventet rotor 180 / 1.80 mm |
| Brake pads | Organic |
| Braking medium | DOT 5.1 |
| Pressure point adjustment | Yes, tool-free |
| Lever width adjustment | Yes, tool-free |
| Special features | Floating disc, 3 lifting options |
For 300 euros a piece, Hope goes all out and pushes its Gravity flagship not only visually but also technically to perfection. The shiny metallic surfaces are adorned with precise milling grooves. The milling machine eats its way through a single aluminium blank for the clamp - no gluing, no screwing, the saddle is created in one piece. Not only does this look stylish, it also pays off on the scales. Paired with the pistons in hybrid construction - resin inside, ceramic coating around it - the Hope achieves a top value despite its massive look. Also strong: The GR4 has smooth-running, easy-to-grip ratchet screws for both the pressure point and the lever width. The adjustment range is large enough and every turn is noticeable. The handlebar clamp with hinge makes mounting easier. There are deductions for the brake fluid: DOT draws water and corrodes, mineral oil is the less complicated choice for home mechanics.
Feeling top, ergonomics flop
Hope hits the bull's eye when it comes to lever feel. In our eyes, the lever circles around the ball-bearing pivot point with optimum resistance. Not too tight, so that no force peaks occur during the initial bite, but also not too soft, so that there is no counter-pressure on the finger - bravo! However, there is still room for improvement in terms of lever ergonomics: Small fingers in particular are bothered by the angular, wide surface. This creates the feeling that you have to fold your finger around the lever instead of placing it loosely around it. But not so bad: In addition to the standard lever on our brake, Hope offers two other lever geometries - a shorter control lever, ideal for smaller hands, and the longer power lever, perfect for riders with particularly large hands. Or for all those who want to tickle more power out of the GR4 with the longer lever.
Taming the brake made easy
Once the pads are in contact with the disc, the lever yields a good bit before the pads bite into the disc. We like the slightly spongy pressure point: the brake provides a small buffer before it develops almost supernatural braking power - this is how the deceleration force can be utilised effectively in the first place. The braking artwork also flexes its muscles on the test bench - top marks for dry braking!
Loud and afraid of water
In wet braking, the powerhouse slips into the midfield. Annoying in the long run: In the practical test, the Hope constantly hung in our ears with its deep gurgling under load. In contrast to the Magura, which also has a very soft pressure point, the GR4 requires less manual force to lift the rear wheel around bends downhill, for example. This makes the brake feel more lively overall and prevents arm pump on long descents.
The BIKE rating
| Category | Grade |
| Braking power (50%) | 1,4 |
| Wet braking (10%) | 2,5 |
| Dry braking (40%) | 1 |
| Practice (50%) | 1,5 |
| Modulation (30%) | 2 |
| Usability / Handling (10%) | 3 |
| Weight (10%) | 2 |
| BIKE NOTE | 1,8 |
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How BIKE tests disc brakes
Our impressions of the character, modulation and handling come from practical tests. We determined the maximum braking power and thermal stability in accordance with the DIN standard on the roller test bench of the brake manufacturer Magura.
Braking force test in the laboratory
To ensure that the brakes can deliver their maximum performance on the test bench, the test standard stipulates a defined braking procedure. All models must maintain a constant braking force of 200 newtons over 20 braking intervals in order to come up to temperature and rule out pad fading during the brake force test. Only then does the actual test of strength begin. It consists of three brake applications per force applied to the lever. It starts with 40 newtons of manual force. The test stand increases the force on the lever in 20 Newton increments until the brake reaches its maximum lever travel. Each brake undergoes this procedure twice: once in the dry and once in the wet. During wet running, the disc is continuously wetted throughout the entire measurement. For optimum comparison, all models run with 180 mm discs. The pad compounds always correspond to the standard equipment. The manufacturers were allowed to select the discs themselves - if several options are available in their own range - in favour of braking performance. For uniform comparative values, we carry out the braking force test and the heat resistance test with a fresh pair of pads and a new brake disc. For the evaluation of braking performance in the laboratory, we only use the results at 80 N manual force. In this range, all models still deliver practice-relevant values below the 600 N threshold, especially during dry braking. Above this level, there is a risk of rollover under ideal grip conditions.
Heat resistance
As a second hurdle in the laboratory, all brakes have to pass a standardised heat resistance test twice. After all, the candidates should decelerate reliably even under high thermal loads. The programme includes three endurance braking sessions of five minutes each. Shortly after each interval, an abrupt control brake application follows, which shows whether the brakes still decelerate perfectly despite the heat. Finally, the test bench calls up the required minimum braking force three times. All brakes passed this test.
Practical test
No test bench can measure how a brake develops its power off-road, how it reacts to low manual forces, how finely it can be metered and how it feels in the hand. This is where experience counts. And our testers have plenty of it: over 100 complete bikes go through our test procedure every year. Our editors therefore know most of the brakes inside out. In addition, two testers rode all the brakes in this test in direct comparison on standardised bikes with identical setups.
Max Fuchs
Editor
