Another Hope Question - E4, XC4 Differences

many..the two important ones are size and type of system

XC4 - tiny and light
E4 = slimmed down DH4 but still a big heavy caliper by comparison

XC4=closed system
E4 = open system

pads are different too, default disk size ie: XC4 is 150/130 (F/R) E4 will be 185/165 I think, it wasn't until later that they went 180/160

Also I'm pretty sure (could be wrong here) that the E4 tends to use a 90deg banjo connector and the XC4 uses the 0deg straight-in style connector at the caliper end - obviously they can be changed but i think thats how they come default for sensible hose routing.

you should be able to mate both with a pro or sport lever but will need the different master cylinder caps for open or closed respectively.

Matt
 
bit of a polarizing question I think...

personally I love them, best brakes I've ever had, on the flip side a lot of people say they are under-powered and overheat too easily.

think a lot of it depends on where you ride, how you ride and what you want out of a brake.

They do overheat on long downhills as there is very little fluid in them compared to bigger systems and they do run very small rotors which doesn't help. They do lack a bit of power too compared to bigger and newer brakes but the level of control you get with them is amazing.

For light XC they are fine, but even I wouldn't use them on a rufty-tufty bike.
 
For my riding, Hope C2 165mm F&R are just powerful enough, and a 185 front is overkill. I'm looking to lose some weight yet keep decent brakes. The only XC4's I've tried were akin to cantis in the wet, but there MUST have been summat amiss, surely?
 
sounds like they had issues....

C2s are a heavy system, you could try lookign for some minis, they're about the same power as a C2 (for same rotor size) but weigh a lot less
 
The XC4 was possibly the prettiest caliper made. I loved them, worked perfect for me. Though i had a friend who had problems with heat build up. I've never been the heaviest on brakes and the only time i had problems was at the bottom of Walna Scar Road on a Klein full suss.
The E4/O4/M4 was heavy but powerful. Some would argue the best modulation of any brake, ever.
 
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