Source: The following is excerpted from Mike Kazimer’s review of TRP’s new DH-R EVO Brakes posted on Pinkbike.com.
SQUAMISH, B.C. – Love ’em or hate ’em, e-bikes have inspired the development of products that are also well suited to downhill or enduro applications. Heavy-duty tires, burly forks, brakes with oversized rotors – there’s a growing list of items built with durability in mind that work just as well with or without a motor.
TRP’s new four-piston DH-R EVO brakes are a prime example. Back in 2018, Neko Mullaly began experimenting with TRP’s e-bike brakes on his downhill bike, which lead to the development of the first generation of DH-R brakes.
The EVO brakes are an updated version of that model, with several changes intended to give them more power, consistency, and improved lever feel. They’re not just for DH bikes, though; the range of rotor sizes (from 180mm all the way to 223mm) allows them to be adapted to everything from trail bikes to big-wheeled downhill sleds.
Related post:
TRP Introduces Calipers for DAF LF Range
The DH-R EVO brakes weigh in at 311-grams for the front lever, caliper with pads, and brake line. Price? $229.99 per brake without a rotor – those go for $34.99 – $54.99 depending on the size.
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Details
The DH-R EVO brakes use mineral oil to push its four stainless steel / composite pistons. The caliper is specifically designed for use with 2.3mm thick rotors; according to TRP that extra width creates a 47% increase in torsional stiffness and an 8% better cooling capacity compared to the usual 1.8mm rotor. Of course, more material does come with a slight weight penalty – for comparison, TRP’s 203mm rotor weighs 244-grams versus 186-grams for a SRAM 200mm rotor.
Updates from the previous version include a 9mm lever body piston, which changes the leverage ratio to increase the amount of power available at each finger. The hydraulic line diameter has been reduced from 5.5mm down to 5mm in order to make it compatible with internally routed frames, and it’s said to be stiffer, too, for improved hydraulic pressure.
The entire review, with several images, can be viewed by clicking HERE.
