jst0076

I'm (still) in the middle of build project based around a Kona Explosif frame. It's a long term project as I have a working bike in the meantime, however completion seems to keep getting further and further away....

What I'd like is some advice on disc brakes. Its a XC build and I have been intending to get Hope mono minis since before the frame was bought. This was partly because they look great and partly because they are british, and also they'll complement the Hope hubs, quick releases and headset. However after reading through the reviews on MTBR.com, I'm now not convinved. There were 83 reviews on the mono minis, and not one of them was average. The verdict seemed to be either they were excellent or c**p.

Do these brakes suffer problems with heat, noise and fade? If so do koolstop pads solve the problem? Or is there a much better brake out there on the market? I've heard that juicys are good but to be honest I don't much like the look of the caliper.

Any advice would be great thanks. Cost is a factor, but not a major one. Looks and performance are more important.

dirtbikedude

The Monos are a very nice brake. Good modulation, power, lite weight and look good. I find that most riders that do not like the Hopes is because the brakes were not set up properly to begin with. Hopes can be a pain in the arse to set up but once they are they are a very very nice system.

I have used Hayes, Shimano, Avid and Grimeca on my race bikes and I find that the Hope brakes worked the best for me. Even the Minis can stop my big arse with out a problem.

If you do get the Hope brakes I would recomend getting some EBC "Green" or "Gold" pads. They will add even more power.

DBD

LowCel 

I have never used them but was considering buying them at one point. The reason I stayed away from them was the reviews on MTBR. Later on I saw several people at the local races using them. I asked a few of them what they thought about them and if they were having any of the problems I had read about. Not one of them had anything bad to say about them. Personally I trust what I hear from people in the real world over what I read in the reviews.

Now, this is coming from a faceless screen name on the internet so take it for what it's worth.

mx_599

i have the HOPE Mono M4 up front and the Mono mini in the rear. i love them! they seem like they are still gaining power with each ride i take.

i don't know what people's problems are setting them up?? could be one of two things, neither of which is HOPE's fault.
1) they are mechanically inept and expect the brake system to mount itself
2) their brake tabs were so far out of whack and should have been faced

the only thing i had to do was mount and dismount the M4 a couple times a get it spaced right with the 3 different shims provided until the rotor was centered in the caliper. that's it...done....thread lock 2 mounting bolts and have not had a problem since.

about noise, i barely have any. against the advice of some people here, i prepped the back side of pad with CRC brake noise stuff that you can get at an auto store. whether this helped or not, i don't know. i did it before i ever used them. this stuff is cool. its not like potent "glue"...more of a "silicone" type cosistency. if it goes somewhere you don't want it it will booger-up after it dries. the idea is that it creates a "plasticized" film between the pad and piston and reduces oscillating noise, ie. screech.

i run my front brake on the RIGHT side so i had to swap hoses AND i shortened them both for a custom fit to my bike. this went smoothly as well.

i did go through the trouble of getting Motul brake fluid from a motorcycle store rather than cheap auto stuff. but even the cheap auto stuff is fine i am sure.

mx_599

price? i shopped around online and bought mine for less than the new JUICY 7s. i love the JUICY series as well. they are great. on my next bike i was going to get JUICY 5s.

i think the JUICY 5's are better

mx_599

power, feel, modulation, etc

well, since i haven't tried other MTB brakes i can't give an honest comparison. what i can tell you is that when i apply the HOPE brakes, i sort of feel like i am applying the brakes on my Honda CR motorcycles (CRs have been known for their brakes for many years).

that is the best comparison i can give

free_pizza

great googley moogley thats a nice bike

never

I second that!

mx_599

thanks!

after i get a few more rides on it, i was going to try my hand at a "Ride Report" for you guys. I want to weigh it as well. someone was wondering about a component break down. so i was going to do all that, etc, etc... soon

i did the wheels myself too i think that was my proudest moment

the only thing i didn't change from the stock bike is the HS, X-ray shifter, XT derailleur, seat post, and seat

never

Sorry to get this thread off topic but how about some pictures of it all dirtied up!

mx_599

hahahah...i think LowCel was questioning its use too

it's actually dirty right now

Mtn Mike

I have the Mono Mini's on my XC bike and Hayes on my SS. After using the Mini's for almost two years, and the Hayes for 3 years, here's the verdict: Heyes is an all around better set-up.

The Mini's aren't too bad once you get them set up correctly, and I’m not trying to discourage you, but the Mini’s have a few weaknesses when compared to the Hayes:

1) Setting up Hope's is a pain. I found that the Hopes worked well on my custom frame with correctly machined brake tabs. On my other frame, I never could get them working correctly. Heyes have been just "plug and play" on any frame I’ve tried them on.
2) Once the Hope set up was dialed in, the main problem I've had with them is their lack of tolerance for excessive heat build-up. We have quite a few hills around here, and I find that the Mini's start to fade after a few minutes of sustained downhill. Sure, the Mini is a cross country brake, but so is Hayes and it doesn't fade. For almost the same weight, the Heyes do much better on the downhills. The reason, I think, is that Hope cuts down on weight by reducing the mass of the rotor and the pads. This means less metal to dissipate the heat... BTW, I have the 160 mm rotor in front and 140mm in the rear.
3) My experience, which may be unique, is that the Hopes are just “finicky” out of the box. They came from the factory with loose screws. On one of my first rides, I found myself leaking Dot 5 fluid from the rear inline hose screw (not the banjo screw). No problem, I just tightened it down…but WTF, it was supposed to be a pre-bled system that was ready to go out of the box. Also one of the pads seemed to be contaminated out of the box.

Hope Pros:
1) The CNC design looks and feels great.
2) That chi-chi look, that the girls love so much!
3) Relatively light.
4) The BEST modulation


As I said in my review on MTBR, Hopes are like the Land Rover of brakes; very British, and have lots of character. It takes a special person to love them. The Heyes are the Toyota Land Cruiser of brakes; Bullet proof and reliable all the time! All and all the Hopes are pretty cool, but if I had to do it again, I’d choose one of the new light weight Heyes brakes, or the Avid Juicy’s.

mx_599

double up

dirtbikedude

I had to use some minis for a dh race once because I forgot to change the pads on my race rig and was in a hurry to get to the lift. I had no issues with fade caused by heat and I weigh a bit more then most riders They also had enough power as well. Do you ride your brakes on the descents? If so you may just be glazing the disc and that is a no no .

as far as your line leaking, sounds like you got a bad set. I have insalled 100's of Hopes and never had one with a line that leaked out of the box. I do agree that Hayes are easier to set up but Hopes are worth the hassle.

DBD

1Fast4500

LOL If the Hopes areen't better than the Hayes ANYTHING's then just get some avid BB7's LOL I have never absoloutly NEVER rode a bike that had hayes discs on it that I like yet.

Be it the install or the brakes them selves.

I test rode one iron horse (don't rember the model) that had the M4 up front and a mini in the rear, and as soon as I upgrade my rigind frame thats the way I will go.


Unless you are set on Hydros though the Avid BB7's are fantastic, easy to setup and strong stopers.

I have let more than a few peopple at the LBS test ride MY bike and I haven't yet had someone come back and not mention how fantastic the brakes are.

just my 2cents.



PS, I have the Avid BB7's

Mtn Mike

It very well may be that I got a quirky set of Hopes. Recently I bought Hope's 2 piece 160 rotor for my front brake. My LBS said the two piece rotor will handle the heat better....DBD, do you have experience with these?? Maybe I should get a two piece for the back also?

zx108

if you are riding xc, i would go with bb7s with some speed dial levers. the hopes look great, from what other people say on this post, feel great. but for xc i dont think they are really worth that much money. i have crap brakes and i can stop fine. and the money you save on brakes, some $150 can go to something more important.

my 2 cents

bobflyer

i read from MTBr that these brakes dont have power. One of the reviews said they smoke when they are hot.

mx_599

HOPEs??? yeah okay...i am like a smoke bomb through the woods. they have no power.

you're killing me. don't believe every review you see

stapfam

Put it this way. 400lbs all up tandem. 40mph on the road, after a downhill section. Put the brakes on and there is daylight under the rear wheel. HOPES WORK.

Had them for nearly 3 years, only problem on setting them up was getting the alignment right and that only took 3 attempts at shimming the caliper out correctly with the shims provided. Not a difficult job, but you do have to get this right on any brake.
I use the sintered pads and these do squeal a bit in the wet but work exceptionally well. There is a normal pad that works better, but don't think I need them. On the smoking side- I have had them smoking but that was also when the discs took on a dull orange glow after a long downhill, and the smoke was probably steam, or WD40 residue from when I clean them.

Can't comment on other brakes as I have never used them, but the way the Hopes work- I don't want to try any other brake.

mx_599

WD on a rotor?

give me an H....."H"

give me an O....."O"

give me a P......"P"

give me an E....."E"

what does it spell??? HOPE !!!

yea...HOPE

dirtbikedude

It should work a bit better at reducing the amount of heat but if you ride the brakes on descents you will still glaze the rotors or even warp them from to much heat. As I said, I have used Hopes for years on my race bikes and I have never had a problem with the brakes fading even on my DH rigs w/solid rotors and I am prety sure I out weigh you by a lot

As far as the comment about smoke, it is possible but the guy must be a large a$$ like me and riding the brakes the entire time down the hill. I have gotten some Grimecas to smoke but we were also riding in 100° weather and I was at my highest weight at the time. It was funny because the guy who I had passed said he could smell my brakes all the way down the course and he was 1min behind me.

DBD

Mtn Mike

Not riding the brakes any more than needed, although some decents just require lots of braking to keep from being launched into the woods on a hairpin switchback..

stapfam

Not on the rotor, but on the caliper to give it a shine and protection

jst0076

Cheers for all the advice. I would have replied back sooner, but have just got back from an internet-free christmas holiday. Still got a lot of thinking to do before spending out the cash. Has anyone used formula discs by the way ??