Tweaking/upgrading Hope Mini performance??

[Carbon_Kiwi]

hi guys,
i'm not for an instant unhappy with the way these brakes perform, but i have heard [i'm a newbie when it comes to disc brakes] that housing and/or pads etc can make a noticeabe improvement. being one who wants his gear to perform the best it can [and i like tweaking stuff] can any of you guys give me any advice/links on this kinda thing?

[Dennis]

having no personal experience as of yet with hydro brakes, all I can tell you is that many, many people have said that the Goodridge brake lines are a must have upgrade.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

[Simon]

To improve performance you could try EBC Pads (Red,though these don't last long) I believe Hope's come with EBC Pads (Green General use),when bedding your brakes in get them hot then pour water over them (could use water whilst riding from your water bottle) do this afew times,this makes pad material fuse onto the disc,you then end up with the brakes operating with pad on pad material,go for the goodridge hoses they improve the general feel of the brakes, plus they are very flexable and don't kink,because of there protective coating they are also kind to your frame,plus they look great,you could also look at the Hope hose guides,or the Pace hose guides that use the canti boss thread,just to tidy things up,no cable ties,Simon [smiley=nod.gif]

[Mark Spruce]

Hope Minis are great brakes.

Things to improve performance.

1) Make sure all bolts are tight with no vibration.

2) Bleed the brakes with fresh Dot5.1 fluid. Play around with differnet thicknesses of spacer between the pads to alter lever bite point - I perosnally use a Britsh 1.00pound coin - its jsut thicker than the diac rotor and gives a good feel.

3) Goodridge hoses are supposed to be good but I have not tried them. I would imagine they would work better on DH brakes and longer alpine style descents.

4) Scrupulously keep the pads and disc rotosr clean. Sand off any surface glaze from the pads occasionally.

5) All disc brakes need to be re-bedded in at the start of each ride - on your warm up speed up and brake hard a few times to heat them up and re-set them.

6) Finally - make sure the caliper is et up perfectly parrallel with the disc rotor. get the disc mounts re-faced if necessary.

7) Softer compound organic pads give more bite/power but at the expense of pad life. Decide what condiitions and type of rising you do and change pads accordingly. In the UK I ride metal sintered in the winter (mud, rain hard on pads) and organic / enduro in the summer (less heat build up and better power in dry).

I do all these things in my shop and we have very little problem with these brakes.

Sprucey

[Carbon_Kiwi]

hey Sprucey,
lots of excellent info there - thanks very much  

[Sprucey]

Hey Carbon Kiwi,

where in NZ do you live/ride?

This time last year (late November) I was riding the Queen Charlotte walkway. It was first thing in the morning and I was going up hill (just left the road and started the trail proper leaving Portage bay) and a guy on an Oz came past me the other way - downhill at speed.

I yelled "nice bike" but that was the last I saw of them.

What's the chance that was you?

Just curious! Can't be too many Oz bikes in NZ?

Sprucey

[Carbon_Kiwi]

hmm... yes, interesting indeed - but alas it was not me. have yet to ride the queen charlotte track...  
i would be interested to know how many there are over here - i've only ever come across one - in Queenstown.