Hope Tech Evo X2 disc brake review

Hope’s Evo tweaks give the super-smooth and adjustable Tech lever and X2 calliper combo the braking power they’ve always deserved to create the ultimate custom tuneable anchor.

Rather than the smooth forged build of other brakes, Hope machine every bit of the master cylinder, long drilled grip blade and calliper from billet in their Barnoldswick factory and hand assemble it all on site too. Master cylinder bulk and some shifter interaction issues make it a Marmite choice aesthetically and it’s not light either. 

Proper pivot bearings – rather than bushings – and structural stiffness mean it’s super-smooth in action, which translates to fantastic control whether you’re tickling the blades or hauling hard. The two metal thumbwheels give totally independent reach and bite point adjustment for the ultimate in brake tuning too.

The cylinder actuating roller and altered pivot point of the new Evo version increase power to make it competitive on torque and the long lever blade means extra grunt depending where you grab it. Resin pads as standard reduce previous squeal issues, but we’d switch to sintered for wet weather use. 

Basic price is good and upgrades include braided hoses, lightweight alloy centered floating rotors, Matchmaker clamps plus colour kits. Hope’s legendary factory-direct support backs up excellent reliability from long-term brakes we’ve run, too.  

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.