New made-in-UK carbon components, DH bits, plus orange ano options
Hope has redesigned its venerable Pro 3 hubset for 2016 to create the next-generation Pro 4. Hope says the new version is more durable, even more versatile, and builds into stiffer and stronger wheels. Orange is a new anodized option, too
Hope has redesigned its venerable Pro 3 hubset for 2016 to create the next-generation Pro 4. Hope says the new version is more durable, even more versatile, and builds into stiffer and stronger wheels. Orange is a new anodized option, too - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope will offer the new Pro 4 hubs in both standard and Boost spacings - James Huang / Immediate Media
Larger spoke flanges make for stiffer wheels while also leaving more room for a bigger ratchet ring with more teeth for faster engagement - James Huang / Immediate Media
Whereas the previous Pro 3 driver body used rather small cartridge bearings on the inboard side, the new Pro 4 hubs switch to a single, larger-diameter cartridge for improved durability, according to Hope - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope's been teasing us with its wide-range cassette for what feels like years, but it's now ready for primetime. The seven smallest cogs are machined from a single chunk of steel while the rest are milled from alloy and hard anodized - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is definitely using a novel architecture for its new cassette with what is basically a mini-SRAM X-Dome cassette made of steel sandwiched on top of a second aluminum assembly - James Huang / Immediate Media
The one major downside of Hope's new cassette is that it'll only work with its own proprietary freehub body, which is basically a standard Shimano/SRAM driver that's been shortened to make room for the 10-tooth sprocket - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is Boost-ready for 2016 with properly offset direct-mount chainrings and hubs - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is expanding into carbon with this ultralight seatpost. Claimed weight is just 200g - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is using a single-bolt head for its new carbon seatpost but with a knurled interface that should resist unwanted rotation - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is simplifying its disc rotor options for 2016, switching to a single brake track pattern across the board instead of offering both sawtooth and round versions - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope is launching its first front light with an integrated battery pack for 2016. The new R2i boasts 1000 lumens of output from two Cree LED emitters with burn times ranging from 1 to 30 hours - James Huang / Immediate Media
Separate indicators on the top of the new Hope R2i light display battery life and light output settings - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope's new Tech SD mountain bike rims feature a 28mm internal width along with a tubeless-ready profile - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope says its new Tech SD mountain bike rims are more than tough enough for everyday downhill use while still boasting a reasonable 600g claimed weight for a 27.5in diameter - James Huang / Immediate Media
Also new on the carbon front from Hope is this riser bar. Specs aren't available just yet but like the seatpost that's coming in January, Hope is keeping its manufacturing in-house, including laying up the carbon plies, baking the assemblies, and – naturally – cutting its own molds - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope certainly isn't shy about its new orange anodized option - James Huang / Immediate Media
Almost too pretty to ride - James Huang / Immediate Media
Is there such a thing as too much orange? - James Huang / Immediate Media
Hope's show bike included a few items that won't actually be offered in orange, such as these disc brake rotors - James Huang / Immediate Media
The orange chainring looks fantastic on the show bike but Hope says it won't offer it for production, saying the finish just isn't nearly as durable as a proper hard anodized surface - James Huang / Immediate Media
Likewise, the new cassette won't be offered in orange, either - James Huang / Immediate Media
Do the CNC machines in Barnoldswick, UK ever get to rest? Apparently not – Hope has unleashed a slew of fresh shiny bits for 2016 at Eurobike this week, including the all-new Pro 4 hubset, new direct-mount chainrings, dedicated DH-specific components and, after years of teasing, that lustworthy wide-range cassette. Let the alloy and steel chips fly, indeed.
Meet the new Pro 4
One of the best things about the current Hope Pro 3 hubset is its incredible versatility, being adaptable for nearly any axle and cassette configuration. Hope has expanded on that trait with the new Pro 4, including a slightly longer freehub body dimension that’s now compatible with 11-speed cassettes from Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo. To offset the closer spoke flange spacing, Hope has increased the flange diameter for what the company claims is actually a net improvement in wheel stiffness compared with the Pro 3.
Hope will offer the new pro 4 hubs in both standard and boost spacings: hope will offer the new pro 4 hubs in both standard and boost spacings
Hope says the new Pro 4 hubs are stronger yet even more versatile than before
That increase also creates more room inside for a bigger ratchet ring – which now sports 44 teeth for a reasonably quick eight-degree engagement speed – and a bigger inboard freehub body bearing for improved durability. Despite the bigger dimensions, Hope sales and marketing manager Alan Weatherill says there’s no increase in weight for comparable sizes.
Speaking of sizes, there will be plenty on tap (along with six colors, including a new orange hue). Front hubs can be adapted to work with 9mm quick-release or 12, 15, or 20mm thru-axles while the rears will convert between 10mm quick-release or 10x135mm, 12x135mm, or 12x142mm thru-axle fitments. Wide-format ‘Boost’ variants will be available, too, with dedicated hub shells built with broader spoke flange spacing.
Larger spoke flanges make for stiffer wheels while also leaving more room for a bigger ratchet ring with more teeth for faster engagement: larger spoke flanges make for stiffer wheels while also leaving more room for a bigger ratchet ring with more teeth for faster engagement
The bigger spoke flange leaves more room for a larger-diameter ratchet ring as well as a larger inboard driver bearing for improved durability
Speaking of Boost, Hope will complete the ensemble with matching direct-mount chainrings that feature 3mm offsets for a proper chainline.
The wide-range cassette is really real this time
After what has felt like years of teasing, Hope is finally officially launching its new wide-range cassettes. Three sizes will be offered: 10-40t in 10-speed and 11-speed spacings; and 10-44t in 11-speed only. Both feature a novel stacked layout with the first seven sprockets machined out of a single chunk of steel (not unlike SRAM’s XX1 and Red 22 X-Dome cassettes) and the rest machined out of aluminum.
Hope's been teasing us with its wide-range cassette for what feels like years, but it's now ready for primetime. the seven smallest cogs are machined from a single chunk of steel while the rest are milled from aluminum and hard anodized: hope's been teasing us with its wide-range cassette for what feels like years, but it's now ready for primetime. the seven smallest cogs are machined from a single chunk of steel while the rest are milled from aluminum and hard anodized
Hot!
Claimed weights range from 250g to 284g depending on size, and Hope says that the ratio jumps have been capped at 20 percent across the spread to minimize big changes in pedaling cadence.
If there’s one downside, however, it’s that anyone wanting to use Hope’s new cassette will also have to have a matching Hope rear hub – along with a proprietary freehub body. Instead of using SRAM’s existing XD driver, Hope’s new cassette uses a Shimano-style freehub body that’s slightly shorter to make room for the 10-tooth sprocket and requisite lockring.
Hope is definitely using a novel architecture for its new cassette with what is basically a mini-sram x-dome cassette made of steel sandwiched on top of a second aluminum assembly. : hope is definitely using a novel architecture for its new cassette with what is basically a mini-sram x-dome cassette made of steel sandwiched on top of a second aluminum assembly.
The new cassette is basically two cassettes sandwiched on top of one another
New downhill-specific components
On the plus side, that same seven-cog steel cluster will serve as a dedicated downhill cassette. Hope will offer a matching DH-specific rear hub, too, with a shorter freehub body and wider spoke flange spacing that should yield noticeably stronger and stiffer wheels in comparison to ones built on standard hubs.
Completing Hope’s DH component suite is a new alloy rim, with a generous 28mm in between the bead hooks, a tubeless-ready profile, and a triple-cavity extrusion that the company claims is strong enough for “everyday” downhill runs without falling apart, despite a still-reasonable claimed weight of 600g in a 27.5in diameter.
Hope's new tech sd mountain bike rims feature a 28mm internal width along with a tubeless-ready profile: hope's new tech sd mountain bike rims feature a 28mm internal width along with a tubeless-ready profile
Hope says the new Tech SD rims are tough enough for everyday DH use
Expanding into carbon
Hope may be best known for its machined components but as it turns out, that skillset also comes in handy for carbon kit. Impressively, Hope is expanding into composites but retaining its proud ‘Made in UK’ tagline, not only laying up carbon plies and baking components in-house but cutting all of its own molds, too.
Hope is expanding into carbon fiber with this ultralight seatpost. claimed weight is just 200g: hope is expanding into carbon fiber with this ultralight seatpost. claimed weight is just 200g
The new carbon seatpost will come first...
Hope’s first carbon product is an ultralight seatpost with a claimed weight as low as 195g despite having variable wall thicknesses to help improve durability. The one-piece shaft and head is topped with the same single-bolt machined alloy clamp assembly used on the company’s old Eternity post, complete with a finely splined interface for what should hopefully (no pun intended) be a slip-free setup.
Also new on the carbon front from hope is this riser bar. specs aren't available just yet but like the seatpost that's coming in january, hope is keeping its manufacturing in-house, including laying up the carbon plies, baking the assemblies, and - naturally - cutting its own molds: also new on the carbon front from hope is this riser bar. specs aren't available just yet but like the seatpost that's coming in january, hope is keeping its manufacturing in-house, including laying up the carbon plies, baking the assemblies, and - naturally - cutting its own molds
And a new carbon riser bar will come later
Save for the new Tech SD rims and wheels (which will be available in October), all of the new components are expected to arrive in shops in January. Prices are to be confirmed.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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