If you’ve seen many of our YouTube videos or reviews, it’s probably not a surprise that we’re fans of the TRP (Tektro Racing Products) EVO brake lineup. After a mediocre review on their G-Spec Quadiem brakes a couple years back, TRP took the gloves off and came back with what are some of our favorite brakes available. Taking the EVO brake line to the next level, TRP Cycling kept refining the EVO platform and now have a family of EVO brakes to suit a variety of riders and needs. In this feature we’re going to take a look at the three models currently available and the subtle differences and similarities between them all.
COMMON FEATURES
TRP’s EVO brakes share the same dual 16mm pistons in burly 4-piston calipers. These calipers have 360-degrees of oil flow inside with a large internal volume. By eliminating any sharp turns for the fluid, TRP hopes to improve power distribution across the pads and facilitate easier bleeding as air bubbles can purge easier since they don’t have corners or nooks to hide in. A benefit of being able to pull more oil is that heat management is improved as it takes longer to heat up and boil. This also means you have to bleed your brakes less since they’re not degrading as quickly from reaching extremely hot temperatures as often.
The fluid volume inside the calipers is maximized to reduce heat buildup and keep the brakes consistent on sustained descents, something we’ve raved about in our reviews. The TRP EVO brakes use a newly developed mineral oil with an increased boiling point of 230C to maintain brake performance under the harshest conditions. TRP Cycling also use 5mm housing for high oil flow rates with a Kevlar wrap that reduces hydraulic expansion when the brakes are being actuated, giving a firmer lever feel, instant power and eliminating that squishy feel, no matter how long your downhill run is.
The levers all feature a hinged bar clamp and tool-free reach adjustment to get them dialed in. The calipers are designed around TRP’s thicker 2.3mm rotors. TRP’s thicker rotors improve heat management as there is more material to handle the friction and also reduce the chance of warping compared to the 1.8mm standard rotors found on many other mountain bike brakes. All of TRP’s EVO brakes are compatible with rotors up to 223mm to give stopping power fit for a Clydesdale on a full powered eBike.
SLATE EVO BRAKE
The more budget-focused, aggressive trail brake in the TRP EVO lineup is the $139.99 Slate EVO. The TRP Slate Evo brake sees a smaller lever body and caliper to save weight, with a reduced oil volume to produce a lighter and more modulated lever feel at the expense of slightly less heat resistance and all out stopping power. The ergonomic lever blade and 10mm brake lever piston are designed to give a linear and predictable lever feel that should offer the best performance for a lighter weight aggressive trail rider. Stainless pistons and forged lever and caliper bodies add to the cost savings to let these high-performance stoppers come in at a lower price point. We think these brakes are going to be ideal for aggressive trail riders who want TRP’s EVO brakes without the weight penalty, but aren’t super heavy, regularly riding extended downhills on heavy enduro bikes or eBikers. If you love shredding your 120-150mm sled, these could be a great option.
TRAIL EVO BRAKE
The premium trail brake, the $209.99 TRP Trail EVO offers most of the premium features found on the DH-R EVO in a more trail-friendly package. The larger 10mm master cylinder piston compared with the DH-R improves modulation at a slight expense of all-out power compared to the DH-R EVO, giving a more suitable brake for those who don’t require the ultimate power and prefer some lighter lever feel and modulation. The price is reduced thanks to the stainless pistons and slightly more cost-friendly finishes.
DH-R EVO BRAKE
The $259.99 DH-R is the flagship brake in the TRP EVO lineup, developed on the track with World Cup athletes specifically for racing at the highest levels and high-performance E-bikes. It’s designed to offer all-out stopping power, with a reduced 9mm lever piston that clamps hybrid composite pistons to the rotor with the most force in the range.
The lever and caliper are forged, machined and polished to minimize weight and give a premium look. It all adds up to the stopper of choice for heavier riders or those looking for the most reliable power on sustained descents. The penalty is a slightly reduced modulation that can have lighter or less aggressive riders potentially struggling with wheels locking too frequently, similarly to a Shimano Saint, but we’d say slightly better.
THE WOLF’S FINAL THOUGHTS
TRP’s EVO brake lineup features a lot of overlap, which means that many riders will be well served by a couple or all of the brakes in the range, but we hope that this has helped to shine some light on the brake that may be best suited to your needs. With a dedicated support center in Utah that is set up to handle any after-sales support, it could be a great time to try a TRP brake if you’ve been in the market for something different.
Leave a comment if you’ve got any more specific questions you’d like answered by ourselves or a TRP engineer and we’ll do our best to give you an answer.
For more info visit TRPcycling.com
