Y'all knew it was coming. I've been enjoying creating these more produced videos recently; what topics do you want to see in 2025? The wilder the better! 🧠
May be switch calipers from different brands. Hope to hayes to code. Same for mineral oil brakes. That's gonna be wild. In case you guys didnt know, you can use DOT fluid on mineral oil brakes. But you can not use mineral oil brake on DOT brake system. For example, I use magura caliper on hayes A4 and Sram code levers using prestone DOT 5.1 fluid. But when I used mineral fluid, it swell the Hayes and Code seals. Thank goodness aliexpress seal replacement are cheap lol.
About Goodridge: I'm running Goodridge hoses on all of my bikes, even my internally routed road bike. You can lower the outer diameter of the hose, by pulling the shrink wrap off of them. This will not expose them to rust, as they are stainless. I mainly run Goodridge on everything, because of the ease of use: You can swap and disconnect brake components easily without trimming the hoses, as the brake fittings are screwed in and no olives or barbs are needed in order for the system to be sealed.
I came to this channel after I found the Lewis deep dive and I have to say as an engineer I very much enjoy watching your content. Your trails over there look incredible. Bucket list stuff. I live in the UK and I also like to support UK manufacturing. I ride an Orange and run (drum roll please...) Hope V4s! Having started my mountain biking rebirth on Shimano SLX 4 pots and experiencing a fractured piston and subsequent no rear brake mid-ride, I bought the Hopes. They are made in the UK and have excellent technical and spares backup. I agree that ultimate power is completely relative for most of us, and can be affected by pad choice and rotor size. The Hopes are lovely, very nice to use and will last for years. It's an important consideration for me that components are serviceable and not just landfill in a couple of years. I would love to try a set of Trickstuff brakes though, just to see...😂
Great video again, thank you!! You mention that "neither brakes levers will move outward in the event of a crash to spare your fingers". Maybe I understand you wrong (english isn’t my first language), but the Maxima will move outward in the event of a crash. The piston rod will pop out of the housing with enough force, it’s only secured with a circlip that holds a certain amount of force. Like this the lever won’t get bent, and you can insert the circlip and the piston rod again with a circlip plier.
I still find it absolutely hilarious that the Maximas are more expensive than my entire mountain bike 😂 but then again my bike is second hand and absolutely not locally made by a small independent company. (Spesh)
When I first got my trinity brake set I was so excited, I had to install them during my lunch brake. I bled the back brake while cooking rice on the stove. It took 10 minutes. Since then I never touched them, expect for changing the brake pads.
Nice review. My friends already think I am a divo for switching to Magura, and running 3rd party anodized parts whenever possible. I'd never hear the end of it if I got either of these. I do love both companies for offering unusual products, (Intend with both USD forks and anodized legs, Trickstuff with the only hydro gyro I've every heard of.)
Great videos and thanks for the comparison! Sometimes I´m happy to be european, changed my mind about buying mavens and now I´m waiting for trinitys to pop up again. I´ve discussed on forums with people with mass of 2+ Dales that trinity feels better even for heavier riders, both are powerfull and can stop even 3 Dales if you squeeze hard, but trinity´s got faster income of that power and maxis requires more pull (distance) to achieve the same power. That´s not my mind about them, but from 4 random german dentists that are buying every expensive brake apparently.
The SLX 4 pot are great! I got a barely used pair of them for around 150 USD. No wandering brake point like my XT 4 pot set. But MSRP is way too high! Good luck!
That's what I came here to say. Funny! I hope nobody gets offended because Dale seems nice enough to cut back rather than telling them to go (insert witticism here).
@@DaleStonehe said we need it to level the playing field!! RAHHHH USA! USA! 😁 Serious note: you recommended a Model 3 even with an XL mtb a few months ago. Five months into ownership and I can’t thank you enough! I absolutely love it, and I just put down a ton of towels to protect the white seats.
Niiiice, glad to hear it! I love my model 3 haha. I'd recommend picking up a work/utility mat with a rubberized backing to replace your towels. A 4'x6' (yes, imperial...) one at your local hardware store will run you probably $50. The rubberized backing will waterproof your car from your bike and it can be easily folded into your trunk when you fold up your rear seats. It's wildly convenient over towels, and it keeps my trunk area cleaner than my back seat dog area! 🫡
@YanDoroshenko I Have Saints on both my bikes . Switching to the MT7s On My CF Demo8 everyone says they are Great And I Like MonoBlocks . Should be Excellent with green propads if I like it I'll swap my CF Warden 😎
Solid summary Dale I’m fortunate to have a pair of both. Not much time on the intend so far. Wholeheartedly agree with all your comments. The Maximas are my slight favourite solely because of power being a heavier rider and like the steeps. If that were to change I can definitely appreciate the nuances you’ve outlined for intends. One piece of feedback for the summary would be the inconvenience both these brakes have for spare parts if you travel with your bike. I have a number of spare parts for the Maximas (lever blade, seals, hose etc) I take with me. Intend if you break (or brake 😂) something aside from the hose you’re pretty much dead in the water. PS please keep posting POV footage. You’ll always get a view from me
Thankfully I don't crash often, so it must have just slipped me mind to reinforce that point during the conclusion. You are absolutely correct of course!
I fall into the "my bike came with XTs" club so when looking at brake options it boils down to is it better enough than XTs to justify the cost. My favorite of what I've personally ridden are the TRP DH-R Evos, they match the XTs for power, but are more consistent while still having a firm lever feel, I personally hate the "SRAM Squish" and can't stand SRAM brakes in general. The TRPs also use the Shimano 4 piston pad standard so have a huge selection of pads.
Luckily I was able to buy the German toilet paper things in the 8th batch in September. The stock pads were not strong enough for me, so I changed them to SwissStop Disc 29 E and now I am satisfied with the feel and the power.
intends are so freaking good. Had em for a whole season and had ZERO problems and the EASIEST bleed process in the world. I've heard some can have interference between the caliper and spokes depending on what else you're running such as berd spokes or i9 system wheels, but I have i9 system wheels and have no problems. Excited to see if I can scoop up another set when their smaller caliper comes out so I can try it on some other bikes I have that might have that interference problem
Call me an idiot, but after i purchased one pair of Intends, i had to buy the second pair for my other bike, because it was difficult to use a different brake. As always such a good video!!! Greetings from germany
Great to see this comparison! And great videos like always. Would be interesting to see how the Intend would stack up against TS Direttissima with Kevlar brake lines. As the maxima seems to trade in some modulation for pure power compared to the Direttissima. Wonder where they sit in relation to the Trinity
Nobody else in the comments has mentioned Formula brakes. I'm a huge fan of their two piston units for power, modulation and the fact that they just keep on working. I am a 75kg rock climber though so my power needs may be different than others😅.
Great video as per usual! Really digging this type of content. Ever think about doing reviews on tires/inserts? Also what kind of brake hose clamp is that (the one that keeps them together)?
Cool vid Dale. You should do an overview video of all the brakes youve reviewed. Also, definitely need that review of German TP you promised. Maybe a bike bell shootout style review of all the bells you've used? You Could follow that up with a How-to vid of dinging the bell in the air 😅
The toilet paper was... thin. Prioritized efficiency over enjoyment in both manufacturing and usage. Great compatibility and adjustability though, so we'll score it at a 4 out of 10 overall. I love the bell shootout idea... 👀
Bought from NZ direct from Trickstuff (pre-DT Swiss). During the two year wait, they also updated the callipers. The newer C42 callipers take SRAM Guide style pads rather than the Hope style they originally went with. Those Maximas must be a few years old.
Next you should try out the Radic Kaha brakes from New Zealand. Adjustable lever reach, adjustable dead stroke, rebuildable at home. A very nice brake set.
Finally another great vid! And calmed my curiousity for the Maximas, even though I have a set of Trinitys. Regarding the matchmakers etc - Bikeyoke also sells an adapter called the "BikeYoke Poddy" which works great with intends Sram matchmaker if you're running the Sram Transmisson Pod shifters.
Hey Dale, have you tried Shigura brakes yet? A few days ago I took an old Magura Louise brake I had laying around and replaced the old ugly worn floppy lever with a dirt cheap Shimano MT200 lever and I'm absolutely blown away by them. Granted, I haven't tried any new high end brakes but I was really surprised just how much more power they have than a stock MT200 brake, even with just a very old 2-piston caliper. They keep the strong immediate bite of the MT200, but then when you dig deeper there's a LOT more power to be found, and with really good smooth modulation too! Dead stroke of the lever is light (edit: 330g according to the water bottle hanging test like you did in the Maven review) and surprisingly shorter than the stock MT200 brake. I bet a Shigura setup with a more expensive Shimano lever and a modern Magura MT5 or MT7 caliper is absolutely amazing.
6:00 THANK BLOODY YOU. The amount of naff UA-camrs who think they're being so cleaver pandering to the masses (looking at you GMBN) with slackjaw comparisons like "DoeS THiS $10,000 BiKe RiDe 4x BeTTeR THaN THiS $2,500 BiKe?!?! WaTCH aND FiND ouT" hurts my brain as someone who works in procurement.
What?! Diminishing returns exist? And the worst part is that when the 10,000 dollar bike outperforms the 2500 dollar bike in every single way, they come to the conclusion that "It is better, but is it worth the price? That's for you to decide"
I run an Omnium Cargo (hard), and use Shimano Saints with a 230mm rotor at the front, and a 180mm at the back. I weigh 100 kg, and due to bike length, there is no risk of endoing the bike. As per your video, the Maxima would be best for me, but the bleeding faff scares me.
I'd wager your use case is tame enough that you're probably not struggling with arm pump at all, so I'd probably go with something cheaper. Would be very bling.
@@DaleStone It is not a matter of arm pump. It is a matter of stopping power. The Saints with those large discs stops well - the best brakes I have ever had,. Yet, I still want more stopping power at times. Again: No risk of endoing, but there is a lot of weight to be stopped. More powerful brakes means less stopping distance, and it means I can do more braking with just one finger, rather than having to use two.. "Arm pump". Pfft.
It was easily missed, but the "filling cavities" reference made me smile. Another great video, if someone wanted loads of power with minimal hand pump at a more sensible price, would Hayes with 220 rotors be your pick?
Another incredible review and overall video! Quick question, since the Intends have the least dead stroke, can I assume it also has the tightest pad to rotor clearance? Also, how was rotor rub on either brake?
Good question. I haven't really paid attention to that specific clearance throughout my testing of various brakes, but they were definitely very close when I initially set them up. However, even with ice tech XTR rotors that are notorious for warping, I've encountered no issues with rubbing (outside of maybe the first 2-3 rides). No out of the normal contact on the Maximas either.
Now I am really waiting for your take on the hope tech4 v4 regarding modulation. I thought about trying the trinity and putting the tech4 e4s on my hardtail. I have felt the maxima and found them to have way less modulation than the hope but more top out power that I even with 220lbs being a bigger rider (in height :D ) still do not need.
Great comparison video. I have a pair of Trinities and I desperately want another one. Now that you've established yourself as a premier brake reviewer, perhaps consider moving onto the next important category that is drivetrain? Is Eagle transmission worth the extra complexity over Shimano Deore? or TRP? Does one really need an expensive step stool for the grams?
I'd love to in 2025! Some drivetrains definitely deserve a light roasting. I think I just heard Box Components breath a sigh of relief since they've officially exited the premium drivetrain space... 😅
I've had reliability troubles with my first set, but performance they were up there with the very best. Tied with Maximas as my second favourite brake to use.
Nice! I've been looking for a nice brakeset (mostly for bling value) and my magpie eyes have me havering over a TRP DH-R brakeset as they seem to be quite coveted (not just cos it's gold and shiny 😂) - have you considered reviewing these? They seem to be a slightly cheaper (though not by much) high-end alternative - ~£250 (450CAD ish) in case you're running out of brakes to test!
I'd love to get a pair of Trinities. But yeah, the availability issue means I won't see a set for years if ever. They really need to partner with a north american machine shop, or watch someone copy the design.
I'm not sure what their bottleneck is, but I think it's a conscious decision to grow as sustainably as possible. I agree that they could easily double their production just to serve the North American market though.
@@DaleStone Yeah, just tried for their special black Friday release, got the dumb things in my cart, hit buy within 20s of them going live and nope. Totally get the desire to keep quality high, but if you can only meet a tiny fraction of the demand people will quickly move on to other brands. Alas, good engineering doesn't always pair with smart business plans, or vice versa. I'd rate Intend down in the negative numbers for availability. No point in making the best of anything (into a faux commercially global product) if you only have a couple hundred people riding on them.
@@DaleStone Ah yes I didn't really state it the way I meant too, I edited it to more clearly make my point. You only have to look down the road from yourself to find an examples of a bespoke mtb component company that delivers high quality small batch solutions available to a global market. Both Vorsprung and Cascade, or Push further down the road, make top quality gear, and keep up with demand without the contrived ordering process. My point is about Intend is the wonky business model, my old background in whitewater racing and its vendors, which are niche and even more bespoke and just as critical from a design and engineering aspect with a similar global market. I own a fair amount of old racing gear that was custom built for me (and yes it took a while to get a kayak from the EU), and never had a company say "oh we only take a small amount of orders at random intervals". And the realization just now that Intend's sales model reminds me of the false scarcity sales model from luxury brands, means I won't be supporting them with my business. The same problem mindset that plagued Trickstuff availability is found at Intend, which says a lot. But now I will go outside and yell at clouds! lol I look forward to someone with a digital scanner and a CNC machine copying the good parts of the brakes and making a better version that is wireless!
On the topic of boutique european brakes - are you planning a review on the 612parts "die bremse"? This one seems to be less well known than intend or trickstuff but have better availability.
I would love to, but I earn a Canadian UA-cam salary, not a Swiss one. If enough people reach out to them then maybe they'll send a pair for reviewing!
Will you review the Hope Tech 4 V4? Would love to hear what you have to say about them. I personally think they are the best brakes after Trinity and Maxima.
Hey Dale, maybe this was covered in another video but I haven't seen in your future break reviews the TRP DH EVO, any reason? I ride these and I love them but if there's a bigger reason I would like to know if the brand is evil or anything lol.
From the parking lot tests I've done on friend's bikes, they're a bit too weak for my liking, so I haven't prioritized purchasing and reviewing them when I know they aren't my favourite. Excellent for mellower terrain though, just not Squamish slabs. Definitely not evil! 🙂
@DaleStone thank you! Interesting I got them because I'm a heavier rider and friends with similar weight recommended them nonstop. I've noticed the power is inconsistent and it might feel weak depending on idk, magic. But that inconsistency is not cool and I agree if that's the reason not to review them :).
I have 8 bikes and using Shimano saint,zee,Xt,XTR brakes and Mt7 Magura and few code R.. they are absolutely brilliant! And why these brakes in this video are so expensive?? What are the difference?
@@DaleStone You seemed so sure that these two were the best. Then I will promote my Hope Tech 4 V4 as the reigning king of... at least repairability. I had to actually have them repaired the first time I got them. One lever was lose. But now, they are great, and I can't live without them. Surprisingly much better than Hope Tech 3 V4, which I always found different but sort of the same quality as a Shimano Saint M820. Now with the Tech 4 V4, I will never use a Saint again. Also, Shimano wants you to buy a new caliper or lever every time you have an oil leak. Shimano is one time usage trash.
Oh I'm still pretty sure haha, I've parking lot tested a couple of V4s and although I'm excited to give them a proper trail test, I would be surprised if they can match the performance of these two. I will assess with an open mind though! 🙂
@ If Trickstuff has more of the On/Off feel of a Shimano Saint, then I might like the Intend Trinity more. I hd to modify the my Saint heavily with Galfer Advanced brake pads and Hope rotors to get the progressive feel that I like from the Hope. Ironically, I tried trickstuff on the Hope Tech 3 V4 before I sold them and it was more power, and definition, compared to the Galfer pads, but I liked the softness of the Galfer Advanced. Sadly Galfer Advanced pads was so soft that they started losing pieces.
@@TheS4jordan ahhh I probably did. Well Lewis has since sent over a brand new set of LHPs haha. I'd like to test both, but the LHPs win for current market relevance. 🥲
Is that because they look like the Intend's with the cooling fins yet don't Lewis maintain the LHT is still their top brake. It's certainly the one that so many nehsayers argue are Trickstuff rip offs.
@@TheS4jordan yeah LHP have the cooling fins. I think more people will be interested in them due to them having more features with the same sized pistons, while also being cheaper.
Lewis having that interferance not allowing full pull, it's a FAIL, and the review should ended there! For the price of a Lewis set, after Tax+Customs, would price them equal to Hope V4! Is this in anyway close to Hope quality? Sure not!
Depends how you define "quality". If you spin the adjustment at random, I'd bet it's a 10% chance you land on an interference condition, and a 90% chance you don't.
TRPs are good enough for 99% of riders. They would already have too much power for almost everyone. Getting either of these 2 brakes is useless. If you experience “rider fatigue” it means you need to hit the gym. People use I ride steep and gnarly trails as an excuse to justify something. Same with e-bikes….it all stems from laziness to not hit the gym
''buying from brands that share your values is the best thing you can possibly do'' really irks me the wrong way, ''voting with your money'' is a paper thin argument that reeks of consumerism and liberalism.
Y'all knew it was coming. I've been enjoying creating these more produced videos recently; what topics do you want to see in 2025? The wilder the better! 🧠
I’d like to see a detailed grip x vs x2 video like this one! 🫡
which brakes have the best modulation at both heavy and light loading..
Probably TRP, at the expense of weak top end power (which you have to squeeze hard to get at). Intend strikes the perfect balance IMO.
May be switch calipers from different brands. Hope to hayes to code. Same for mineral oil brakes. That's gonna be wild. In case you guys didnt know, you can use DOT fluid on mineral oil brakes. But you can not use mineral oil brake on DOT brake system. For example, I use magura caliper on hayes A4 and Sram code levers using prestone DOT 5.1 fluid. But when I used mineral fluid, it swell the Hayes and Code seals. Thank goodness aliexpress seal replacement are cheap lol.
Intend makes forks too 💀💸
3:44 as an american i will use anything but a reasonable unit of measure, so i appreciate the bigmac conversion ;)
May BCpov live forever.
About Goodridge: I'm running Goodridge hoses on all of my bikes, even my internally routed road bike. You can lower the outer diameter of the hose, by pulling the shrink wrap off of them. This will not expose them to rust, as they are stainless. I mainly run Goodridge on everything, because of the ease of use: You can swap and disconnect brake components easily without trimming the hoses, as the brake fittings are screwed in and no olives or barbs are needed in order for the system to be sealed.
Oh yeah, the comparo test my wife won't ever let me do. Thanks Dale! 😅
My pleasure. 😉
I came to this channel after I found the Lewis deep dive and I have to say as an engineer I very much enjoy watching your content. Your trails over there look incredible. Bucket list stuff. I live in the UK and I also like to support UK manufacturing. I ride an Orange and run (drum roll please...) Hope V4s! Having started my mountain biking rebirth on Shimano SLX 4 pots and experiencing a fractured piston and subsequent no rear brake mid-ride, I bought the Hopes. They are made in the UK and have excellent technical and spares backup. I agree that ultimate power is completely relative for most of us, and can be affected by pad choice and rotor size. The Hopes are lovely, very nice to use and will last for years. It's an important consideration for me that components are serviceable and not just landfill in a couple of years. I would love to try a set of Trickstuff brakes though, just to see...😂
hope v4s were the worst brakes I ever had.. so finicky it gave me a headache
Great video again, thank you!! You mention that "neither brakes levers will move outward in the event of a crash to spare your fingers". Maybe I understand you wrong (english isn’t my first language), but the Maxima will move outward in the event of a crash. The piston rod will pop out of the housing with enough force, it’s only secured with a circlip that holds a certain amount of force. Like this the lever won’t get bent, and you can insert the circlip and the piston rod again with a circlip plier.
Interesting, I did not know that! So the circlip acts like a sacrificial part in the event of a crash?
@@DaleStoneyes, exactly. They say you should replace it after it pops out, but in my case it would have been fine to insert it again.
You are becoming the “go to” source for detailed, objective and unbiased gear reviews. 👍
I watched your Trinity videos multiple times. I just ordered a set through yesterday batch. It sold out like in one minute. I’m from US, excited!
You'll love em!
I have the Maximas and Piccola HD that I got before the Trinity was released. No regrets. They’re all so good!
So this is the video you were hinting at... Keep up the great work dude, love the videos as always.
I still find it absolutely hilarious that the Maximas are more expensive than my entire mountain bike 😂 but then again my bike is second hand and absolutely not locally made by a small independent company. (Spesh)
Same here, still rocking a 3x9 xc ht, even with all the upgrades and maintenance..I still get to keep like 800 euro omfg
When I first got my trinity brake set I was so excited, I had to install them during my lunch brake. I bled the back brake while cooking rice on the stove. It took 10 minutes. Since then I never touched them, expect for changing the brake pads.
Every other brand should take note.
Nice review. My friends already think I am a divo for switching to Magura, and running 3rd party anodized parts whenever possible. I'd never hear the end of it if I got either of these. I do love both companies for offering unusual products, (Intend with both USD forks and anodized legs, Trickstuff with the only hydro gyro I've every heard of.)
We divas gotta live our best lives. 🕺✨
Great videos and thanks for the comparison!
Sometimes I´m happy to be european, changed my mind about buying mavens and now I´m waiting for trinitys to pop up again. I´ve discussed on forums with people with mass of 2+ Dales that trinity feels better even for heavier riders, both are powerfull and can stop even 3 Dales if you squeeze hard, but trinity´s got faster income of that power and maxis requires more pull (distance) to achieve the same power. That´s not my mind about them, but from 4 random german dentists that are buying every expensive brake apparently.
You won't be disappointed. 🙂
Upgrading from mechanical to hydraulic made such a huge difference for me. Im saving for a pair of shimano slx 4 pot
Great choice!
Dude, I've been exactly where you are. Congratulations and good luck!
The SLX 4 pot are great! I got a barely used pair of them for around 150 USD. No wandering brake point like my XT 4 pot set. But MSRP is way too high! Good luck!
dude you're killing me with the USA nicknames 🤣🤣
That's what I came here to say. Funny! I hope nobody gets offended because Dale seems nice enough to cut back rather than telling them to go (insert witticism here).
I have no issues making fun of the country that needs it the most. 😁
@@DaleStonehe said we need it to level the playing field!! RAHHHH USA! USA!
😁
Serious note: you recommended a Model 3 even with an XL mtb a few months ago. Five months into ownership and I can’t thank you enough! I absolutely love it, and I just put down a ton of towels to protect the white seats.
Niiiice, glad to hear it! I love my model 3 haha. I'd recommend picking up a work/utility mat with a rubberized backing to replace your towels. A 4'x6' (yes, imperial...) one at your local hardware store will run you probably $50. The rubberized backing will waterproof your car from your bike and it can be easily folded into your trunk when you fold up your rear seats. It's wildly convenient over towels, and it keeps my trunk area cleaner than my back seat dog area! 🫡
@@DaleStoneAwesome thanks! I’ll have to give that a try.
Excellent Video Thanks . I got some MT7 MonoBlocks for my Saint Levers Going Shigura For Next Year with GreenPro Pads 😎
Did you have Saint calipers or just went Shigura from the get go?
@YanDoroshenko I Have Saints on both my bikes . Switching to the MT7s On My CF Demo8 everyone says they are Great And I Like MonoBlocks . Should be Excellent with green propads if I like it I'll swap my CF Warden 😎
@@darrinkulyk9560 Awesome man, good luck!
Solid summary Dale
I’m fortunate to have a pair of both. Not much time on the intend so far.
Wholeheartedly agree with all your comments. The Maximas are my slight favourite solely because of power being a heavier rider and like the steeps.
If that were to change I can definitely appreciate the nuances you’ve outlined for intends.
One piece of feedback for the summary would be the inconvenience both these brakes have for spare parts if you travel with your bike. I have a number of spare parts for the Maximas (lever blade, seals, hose etc) I take with me. Intend if you break (or brake 😂) something aside from the hose you’re pretty much dead in the water.
PS please keep posting POV footage. You’ll always get a view from me
Thankfully I don't crash often, so it must have just slipped me mind to reinforce that point during the conclusion. You are absolutely correct of course!
Your reviews are excellent, Dale.
Been waiting for this video!
Great video like all your review videos!
I fall into the "my bike came with XTs" club so when looking at brake options it boils down to is it better enough than XTs to justify the cost. My favorite of what I've personally ridden are the TRP DH-R Evos, they match the XTs for power, but are more consistent while still having a firm lever feel, I personally hate the "SRAM Squish" and can't stand SRAM brakes in general. The TRPs also use the Shimano 4 piston pad standard so have a huge selection of pads.
I chose hope tech e4 brakes for 1 simple reason.
The blue matches the colour of my norco sight a3 2023 😂
Luckily I was able to buy the German toilet paper things in the 8th batch in September. The stock pads were not strong enough for me, so I changed them to SwissStop Disc 29 E and now I am satisfied with the feel and the power.
intends are so freaking good. Had em for a whole season and had ZERO problems and the EASIEST bleed process in the world. I've heard some can have interference between the caliper and spokes depending on what else you're running such as berd spokes or i9 system wheels, but I have i9 system wheels and have no problems. Excited to see if I can scoop up another set when their smaller caliper comes out so I can try it on some other bikes I have that might have that interference problem
I've had no issues with Berd spokes using both 180mm and 200mm centerlock rotors, for what it's worth haha.
Same here... they are my favorite part of my dream build...
Already missing them, and winter is just about to start...
Call me an idiot, but after i purchased one pair of Intends, i had to buy the second pair for my other bike, because it was difficult to use a different brake. As always such a good video!!! Greetings from germany
If I didn't have a UA-cam channel, I'd be in the same boat! 🇩🇪
I won't call you an idiot, but I have to go with rich 😅
@@IvanPrskalo nah , Just spending the money on the important things.
who needs food if you can eat old innertubes ;)
Great to see this comparison! And great videos like always.
Would be interesting to see how the Intend would stack up against TS Direttissima with Kevlar brake lines. As the maxima seems to trade in some modulation for pure power compared to the Direttissima. Wonder where they sit in relation to the Trinity
The high end pedals? The new Outiler pedal out of Calgary vs the NSB pedal as an example
YES PLEASE !!! :)
Nobody else in the comments has mentioned Formula brakes. I'm a huge fan of their two piston units for power, modulation and the fact that they just keep on working. I am a 75kg rock climber though so my power needs may be different than others😅.
Perhaps not on this video, but frequently on the others! Haha. Glad they've been working for you!
The Trickstuff Maxima works fine with 2.3mm rotors, using mine with the ones from Intend.
how does the lever feel has changed corresponding to 2mm rotors? how does the liver throw has changed with them?:))
@ I wouldn‘t know, never ran it with anything thinner than 2.3mm.
Great video as per usual! Really digging this type of content. Ever think about doing reviews on tires/inserts? Also what kind of brake hose clamp is that (the one that keeps them together)?
Tires would be interesting for sure, I'd like to dabble in that next year. I borrowed the clamps off Eric's bike so I'm not sure what they are!
Cool vid Dale.
You should do an overview video of all the brakes youve reviewed.
Also, definitely need that review of German TP you promised.
Maybe a bike bell shootout style review of all the bells you've used? You Could follow that up with a How-to vid of dinging the bell in the air 😅
The toilet paper was... thin. Prioritized efficiency over enjoyment in both manufacturing and usage. Great compatibility and adjustability though, so we'll score it at a 4 out of 10 overall.
I love the bell shootout idea... 👀
Have you given the Radic Kaha a review before? Would be awesome to see. Great video as always!
Not yet. They're a bit out of my budget, so maybe a set decides to make its way to me eventually... haha.
3:03 Bought some Trickstuffs a couple of years ago, there was no deposit - full amount due when they’ve been built.
Could be region or dealer specific, nice if not!
Bought from NZ direct from Trickstuff (pre-DT Swiss). During the two year wait, they also updated the callipers. The newer C42 callipers take SRAM Guide style pads rather than the Hope style they originally went with. Those Maximas must be a few years old.
The Maximas still run hope style pads, no similar update there.
Next you should try out the Radic Kaha brakes from New Zealand. Adjustable lever reach, adjustable dead stroke, rebuildable at home. A very nice brake set.
If enough people reach out I'm sure they'd be keen to send over a review set!
Finally another great vid! And calmed my curiousity for the Maximas, even though I have a set of Trinitys. Regarding the matchmakers etc - Bikeyoke also sells an adapter called the "BikeYoke Poddy" which works great with intends Sram matchmaker if you're running the Sram Transmisson Pod shifters.
Finally?!? 😆
@@DaleStone Hahah, being a non native english speaker I may have worded it wrong, but your videos can never arrive too early!
Hey Dale, have you tried Shigura brakes yet? A few days ago I took an old Magura Louise brake I had laying around and replaced the old ugly worn floppy lever with a dirt cheap Shimano MT200 lever and I'm absolutely blown away by them. Granted, I haven't tried any new high end brakes but I was really surprised just how much more power they have than a stock MT200 brake, even with just a very old 2-piston caliper.
They keep the strong immediate bite of the MT200, but then when you dig deeper there's a LOT more power to be found, and with really good smooth modulation too! Dead stroke of the lever is light (edit: 330g according to the water bottle hanging test like you did in the Maven review) and surprisingly shorter than the stock MT200 brake. I bet a Shigura setup with a more expensive Shimano lever and a modern Magura MT5 or MT7 caliper is absolutely amazing.
I'd like to test out a shigura setup eventually! 🤤
@DaleStone sweet looking forward to it, love your brake reviews
Can't wait for you to try the V4s
Soon...
6:00 THANK BLOODY YOU. The amount of naff UA-camrs who think they're being so cleaver pandering to the masses (looking at you GMBN) with slackjaw comparisons like "DoeS THiS $10,000 BiKe RiDe 4x BeTTeR THaN THiS $2,500 BiKe?!?! WaTCH aND FiND ouT" hurts my brain as someone who works in procurement.
Marketing is the most powerful drug.
What?! Diminishing returns exist? And the worst part is that when the 10,000 dollar bike outperforms the 2500 dollar bike in every single way, they come to the conclusion that "It is better, but is it worth the price? That's for you to decide"
I run an Omnium Cargo (hard), and use Shimano Saints with a 230mm rotor at the front, and a 180mm at the back. I weigh 100 kg, and due to bike length, there is no risk of endoing the bike. As per your video, the Maxima would be best for me, but the bleeding faff scares me.
I'd wager your use case is tame enough that you're probably not struggling with arm pump at all, so I'd probably go with something cheaper. Would be very bling.
@@DaleStone It is not a matter of arm pump. It is a matter of stopping power. The Saints with those large discs stops well - the best brakes I have ever had,. Yet, I still want more stopping power at times.
Again: No risk of endoing, but there is a lot of weight to be stopped. More powerful brakes means less stopping distance, and it means I can do more braking with just one finger, rather than having to use two..
"Arm pump". Pfft.
It is remarkable how accurate and well defined your reviews are. radicnz next please . btw, ever ripped a hose out of the Intends?
Ask Radic to send over a pair and I'll be right on it! 😉 And never. No issues.
Have you ever done a review on the Hope V4s? Wonder how they stack up to these beauties
soon!
@@DaleStone I'll be waiting eagerly (i just bought a pair of them, dont talk crap about them please!! )😆
i definitely prefer the new American price units 😂😂
It was easily missed, but the "filling cavities" reference made me smile. Another great video, if someone wanted loads of power with minimal hand pump at a more sensible price, would Hayes with 220 rotors be your pick?
So far yes, but Hope may shake that recommendation up a bit. Depends on your region for which one is cheaper too...
Another incredible review and overall video! Quick question, since the Intends have the least dead stroke, can I assume it also has the tightest pad to rotor clearance? Also, how was rotor rub on either brake?
Good question. I haven't really paid attention to that specific clearance throughout my testing of various brakes, but they were definitely very close when I initially set them up. However, even with ice tech XTR rotors that are notorious for warping, I've encountered no issues with rubbing (outside of maybe the first 2-3 rides). No out of the normal contact on the Maximas either.
@@DaleStone Thank you for the reply! Both are bucket list brakes and I keep telling myself that I'm worth it... 🙃
Thanks again for great content.
I'd like to see a in-depth review of the Hope Tech 4 V4 with comparisons to the usual suspects!!
It's coming!
Now I am really waiting for your take on the hope tech4 v4 regarding modulation. I thought about trying the trinity and putting the tech4 e4s on my hardtail. I have felt the maxima and found them to have way less modulation than the hope but more top out power that I even with 220lbs being a bigger rider (in height :D ) still do not need.
I'm also keen to get my hands on a set of V4s!
Great comparison video. I have a pair of Trinities and I desperately want another one.
Now that you've established yourself as a premier brake reviewer, perhaps consider moving onto the next important category that is drivetrain? Is Eagle transmission worth the extra complexity over Shimano Deore? or TRP? Does one really need an expensive step stool for the grams?
I'd love to in 2025! Some drivetrains definitely deserve a light roasting. I think I just heard Box Components breath a sigh of relief since they've officially exited the premium drivetrain space... 😅
I have no idea why I watch these, I’ve got £80 XT M8120s on my bike and mostly ride XC lol
Well I appreciate it. 🫡
There is a 3rd contestant, 612 parts is a Swiss break maker, they fit well in this line up
As soon as I see one in North America, I'll believe they exist. My PO box is open. 😁
Great review as always!
Any chance you also do a Radic Kaha review, there are a few updates lately… 😊
I'd love to! But they're a bit rich for my blood at MSRP...
@DaleStone will you be reviewing and comparing either the Lewis LHT or LHP+ (4x17mm)? I know you did the older, less refined LH4's
I have plans to cover both soon! I wouldn't say the LH4s were any less refined though.
@DaleStone well, I should say less features, more accurately.
Funnily enough some of the best aftermarket code pads are made by ... Trickstuff
Definitely true. I just don't see thaaat many shops stocking them on this side o' the pond.
I want see comparsion Intend Edge and Push Nine One 😀Thank You!
I would love to do that eventually... 🤤
We NEED a hope brake review
👀
Great video. How this compare to dominion A4 ? I heard that those have a light lever force
I've had reliability troubles with my first set, but performance they were up there with the very best. Tied with Maximas as my second favourite brake to use.
Xtm82hundo with pro pad brake pads from Galfer with Galfer 203 1.5 rotors are butter
Nice! I've been looking for a nice brakeset (mostly for bling value) and my magpie eyes have me havering over a TRP DH-R brakeset as they seem to be quite coveted (not just cos it's gold and shiny 😂) - have you considered reviewing these? They seem to be a slightly cheaper (though not by much) high-end alternative - ~£250 (450CAD ish) in case you're running out of brakes to test!
They've been extremely highly requested recently haha. I hear rumors that their replacements are imminent, so they may beat me to it. 🙂
Brilliant brakes , running a set for 3 months now and loving them.
I'd love to get a pair of Trinities. But yeah, the availability issue means I won't see a set for years if ever. They really need to partner with a north american machine shop, or watch someone copy the design.
I'm not sure what their bottleneck is, but I think it's a conscious decision to grow as sustainably as possible. I agree that they could easily double their production just to serve the North American market though.
@@DaleStone Yeah, just tried for their special black Friday release, got the dumb things in my cart, hit buy within 20s of them going live and nope. Totally get the desire to keep quality high, but if you can only meet a tiny fraction of the demand people will quickly move on to other brands. Alas, good engineering doesn't always pair with smart business plans, or vice versa. I'd rate Intend down in the negative numbers for availability. No point in making the best of anything (into a faux commercially global product) if you only have a couple hundred people riding on them.
@@BrawndoDrinker strongly disagree with your last sentence. 🙂
@@DaleStone Ah yes I didn't really state it the way I meant too, I edited it to more clearly make my point. You only have to look down the road from yourself to find an examples of a bespoke mtb component company that delivers high quality small batch solutions available to a global market. Both Vorsprung and Cascade, or Push further down the road, make top quality gear, and keep up with demand without the contrived ordering process. My point is about Intend is the wonky business model, my old background in whitewater racing and its vendors, which are niche and even more bespoke and just as critical from a design and engineering aspect with a similar global market. I own a fair amount of old racing gear that was custom built for me (and yes it took a while to get a kayak from the EU), and never had a company say "oh we only take a small amount of orders at random intervals". And the realization just now that Intend's sales model reminds me of the false scarcity sales model from luxury brands, means I won't be supporting them with my business. The same problem mindset that plagued Trickstuff availability is found at Intend, which says a lot. But now I will go outside and yell at clouds! lol I look forward to someone with a digital scanner and a CNC machine copying the good parts of the brakes and making a better version that is wireless!
On the topic of boutique european brakes - are you planning a review on the 612parts "die bremse"? This one seems to be less well known than intend or trickstuff but have better availability.
I would love to, but I earn a Canadian UA-cam salary, not a Swiss one. If enough people reach out to them then maybe they'll send a pair for reviewing!
Me watching this video with my srams level tl from 5 years ago
Glad you're still here with those! 😆
Have you tried Radic Performance Kaha brakes? About $ 1,000 CDN. Very impressive performance.
Not yet! A bit pricey for my blood. If enough people ask, maybe they'll be keen to send a set over for testing... 😉
Will you review the Hope Tech 4 V4? Would love to hear what you have to say about them. I personally think they are the best brakes after Trinity and Maxima.
I will!
Any chance of review on TRP brakes?
see other replies 🙂
I have purchased the TRP evo dh and find them to be outstanding, more power and modulation than the old hope tech 3s they have replaced
Will you review the hope tech 4s in the future, heard a lot of good things about them.
I addressed this in my last video, yes. 🙂
Ok, thanks
You should compare the hope's with the vented rotors.
Would be interesting, but I'm very light and they are outrageously expensive... 🫠
@ they're not that bad. Like $350 a set. Much cheaper than what you've reviewed so far.
Oh the brakes aren't a problem, they're on their way. It's the rotors at $165++ per side... 😶🌫️
I love the us currency names
If I had to choose between both - I would pick Intend, even if Maxima reduce their absurd price to Intend's.
Same
@@DaleStone This free rotation of the hose is so good decision. But the whole system looks so well designed and produced.
If you recall I was asking about LHT's and you clearly said they were next, check your comment on the Fakes / Lewsi LH 4 review 😢
I'm 158kg and i can lock up the trinity's pretty easy at the park haha
Hey Dale, maybe this was covered in another video but I haven't seen in your future break reviews the TRP DH EVO, any reason? I ride these and I love them but if there's a bigger reason I would like to know if the brand is evil or anything lol.
From the parking lot tests I've done on friend's bikes, they're a bit too weak for my liking, so I haven't prioritized purchasing and reviewing them when I know they aren't my favourite. Excellent for mellower terrain though, just not Squamish slabs. Definitely not evil! 🙂
@DaleStone thank you! Interesting I got them because I'm a heavier rider and friends with similar weight recommended them nonstop. I've noticed the power is inconsistent and it might feel weak depending on idk, magic. But that inconsistency is not cool and I agree if that's the reason not to review them :).
What is your current top recommendation for people who are over slightly over 100kg?
If you are an advanced rider, Maxima. If you are an intermediate, Trinity.
@ Dear Santa…
I'm a hair over 100kg with intends and they're perfect. Never feels like they're struggling.
@@erikhortsch awesome, another useful data point. Thanks!
I have 8 bikes and using Shimano saint,zee,Xt,XTR brakes and Mt7 Magura and few code R.. they are absolutely brilliant! And why these brakes in this video are so expensive?? What are the difference?
I take it you probably didn't watch the video before commenting.
Watch the video with sound! 👌
Was going to click off teh video until I started hearing all the amazing alternative US currencies.... Bald Eagles and Big Macs. LMAO
Generally if you look at it you see one copy of Maguras and one copy of TRP/Shimonos
Similar in terms of layout, but definitely far from copies!
"If you weigh less than I do". Yeah, all those twelve year old girls should definitely go for the Trinities!
True! Gotta love OR statements.
Could you tell me if you world prefer a Maura or a Shimano or a Hayes?
Pros and cons to each. Probably Hayes, if they don't leak.
@ if that was a joke is it refereed to your video review
@@exoghost3596 ha, not a joke. Yes it's in my first review.
@ thanks
How are they compared to Hope Tech 4 V4?
To be determined
@@DaleStone You seemed so sure that these two were the best. Then I will promote my Hope Tech 4 V4 as the reigning king of... at least repairability. I had to actually have them repaired the first time I got them. One lever was lose. But now, they are great, and I can't live without them. Surprisingly much better than Hope Tech 3 V4, which I always found different but sort of the same quality as a Shimano Saint M820. Now with the Tech 4 V4, I will never use a Saint again. Also, Shimano wants you to buy a new caliper or lever every time you have an oil leak. Shimano is one time usage trash.
Oh I'm still pretty sure haha, I've parking lot tested a couple of V4s and although I'm excited to give them a proper trail test, I would be surprised if they can match the performance of these two. I will assess with an open mind though! 🙂
@ If Trickstuff has more of the On/Off feel of a Shimano Saint, then I might like the Intend Trinity more. I hd to modify the my Saint heavily with Galfer Advanced brake pads and Hope rotors to get the progressive feel that I like from the Hope. Ironically, I tried trickstuff on the Hope Tech 3 V4 before I sold them and it was more power, and definition, compared to the Galfer pads, but I liked the softness of the Galfer Advanced. Sadly Galfer Advanced pads was so soft that they started losing pieces.
Please test magura mt5 :)
Eventually that would be fun!
bigmacs eagles football fields
Was expecting "AR-15s" next
So yu have a crash bend or break a lever and yu cant get a replacement??
It appears that you cannot just purchase one anonymously, but I can guarantee either brand would be happy to help you out if you reached out.
850 football fields 😂
Heh Dale, i thought you said the Lewis LHT's were next
I believe I said the LHPs were next, and that's still true! 😉
Nah, I was asking about LHT's and you said they were next, check your reply under your Fakes / Lewis LH4 review 😢
@@TheS4jordan ahhh I probably did. Well Lewis has since sent over a brand new set of LHPs haha. I'd like to test both, but the LHPs win for current market relevance. 🥲
Is that because they look like the Intend's with the cooling fins yet don't Lewis maintain the LHT is still their top brake. It's certainly the one that so many nehsayers argue are Trickstuff rip offs.
@@TheS4jordan yeah LHP have the cooling fins. I think more people will be interested in them due to them having more features with the same sized pistons, while also being cheaper.
No TRP love?
See other replies
couldn't imagine having better brakes than my 20 eur tekros, well my hub motor is better, but that it apples/oranges.
I encourage you to explore your imagination. 😆
1k plus? Justify!
I encourage you to watch the video you commented on. 🙂
I wonder if Dale is aware, that both brakes are literally designed by the same person?
I've heard this rumour before, but was told it didn't apply to the trickstuff levers, only calipers.
Lewis having that interferance not allowing full pull, it's a FAIL, and the review should ended there!
For the price of a Lewis set, after Tax+Customs, would price them equal to Hope V4!
Is this in anyway close to Hope quality? Sure not!
Depends how you define "quality". If you spin the adjustment at random, I'd bet it's a 10% chance you land on an interference condition, and a 90% chance you don't.
This is the product for the people who don't care about money.
Or, people who care about peak performance, serviceability, and supporting small businesses! 🙂
Hope are better
For sure not. Have you seen their prehistoric bleed process?
I live in the UK , their customer service is gold class, so all good
I've also heard great things about their customer service, but that doesn't make them overall better. 🙂
Overrated Impractical Brakeset
Uneducated jealous commenter
TRPs are good enough for 99% of riders. They would already have too much power for almost everyone. Getting either of these 2 brakes is useless. If you experience “rider fatigue” it means you need to hit the gym. People use I ride steep and gnarly trails as an excuse to justify something. Same with e-bikes….it all stems from laziness to not hit the gym
It sounds like you don't understand what rider fatigue means. Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Radic is better....
[citation needed]
''buying from brands that share your values is the best thing you can possibly do''
really irks me the wrong way, ''voting with your money'' is a paper thin argument that reeks of consumerism and liberalism.
ok SRAM
Just get Lewis brakes
There is always someone...
ewwww
What's wrong with them?
@@totalglitch Watch the video on this channel about the story of the company and choose for yourself
@@DaleStone tell me im wrong