TRP HY/RD and Spyre road/CX disc brakes - full details

TRP HY/RD and Spyre road/CX disc brakes - full details

Plus new road rim brakes and MTB Quadiem enduro discs

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Published: March 18, 2013 at 9:00 pm

Just prior to the public unveiling here at the Taipei Cycle Show, TRP today released official information on the new HY/RD and Spyre road/cyclocross disc brakes that wepreviewed a few weeks ago.

Full hydraulic systems from SRAM and Shimano are still on their way but for those of you that aren't interested in an extensive – not to mention expensive – upgrade, these new options are looking even more appealing than before.

TRP says that the cable-actuated Spyre will deliver 20 percent more power, 20mm more ankle clearance, 40g less weight, and more even pad wear than a standard BB7 thanks to its symmetrical dual-piston design.

Claimed weight on the complete standard Spyre is just 239g (front caliper with 160mm rotor and hardware) – 61g lighter than the new Avid BB7 SL – while the previously unofficial Spyre SLC cuts that down to 231g thanks to a molded carbon fiber arm.

TRP's new hy/rd mechanical-to-hydraulic disc brake caliper looks to be a winner based on preliminary specs.: - James Huang/BikeRadar.com

TRP's new HY/RD mechanical-to-hydraulic disc brake caliper looks to be a winner based on preliminary specs

Setup should be a cinch, too, and the cable pull ratio has been designed to work with Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo-standard systems (although we still expect lever feel and power to vary slightly depending on the exact combination). Suggested retail price for the Spyre will be US$80 per wheel and the Spyre SLC will cost US$110. TRP promises retail availability by the end of April.

Likewise, the mechanical-to-hydraulic HY/RD (say, "high road") caliper promises all the features we had guessed at earlier, including an open hydraulic system with pads that self-adjust for wear and a much easier setup than TRP's existing Parabox system. At a claimed 284g per wheel (complete front brake with 160mm rotor), it'll also be about the same weight as Avid's standard BB7 caliper but with a silkier and more feedback-laden lever feel based on our hands-on preview.

In addition, TRP insists that our initial worries about heat capacity on long road descents are unfounded based on in-house testing. TRP marketing director Lance Larrabee claims that the integrated master cylinder actually surrounds the caliper with more oil than a traditional fully hydraulic system while the generous amount of surface area on the forged aluminum body supposedly dissipates more heat. Moreover, TRP fits the HY/RD with insulative Bakelite composite pistons so at least in theory, less heat should be getting into the system than with metallic pistons, anyway.

Suggested retail price will be US$150 per wheel and brakes should be available by the end of April.

Updated road rim brakes

Coming in '14 from trp is the new rg597 road caliper with up to 57mm of reach for use with large-volume tires.: coming in '14 from trp is the new rg597 road caliper with up to 57mm of reach for use with large-volume tires. - James Huang/BikeRadar.com

TRP's new RG957 road rim brake

For 2014, TRP will add a new RG957 long-reach, dual-pivot road rim brake caliper for the growing gravel road market. Claimed weight is 167g per wheel with forged and machined aluminum arms, an integrated barrel adjuster and quick-release cam, angle-adjustable cartridge-type pad holders, and stainless steel hardware. Reach is listed at 47-57mm and suggested retail price is US$180 for a complete front and rear set.

TRP's more mainstream Tektro label will toss its hat into the new direct-mount road brake standard as well with the new T730F and T740R front and rear calipers. Claimed weights are 180-185g per wheel, both with forged aluminum construction.

Mountain disc range expands

TRP includes a two-piece stainless steel-and-aluminum rotor with the new quadiem sl.: trp includes a two-piece stainless steel-and-aluminum rotor with the new quadiem sl. - James Huang/BikeRadar.com

TRP Quadiem SL mountain bike disc brake

After a one-year delay, TRP says its new four-piston Quadiem enduro hydraulic disc brake system is now ready for release by the end of April thanks to a revised master cylinder plunger diameter that produces more power than earlier prototypes.

The standard Quadiem will feature forged aluminum construction all around, tool-free lever reach, stainless steel caliper pistons, a hinged handlebar clamp, and a standard stainless steel rotor for US$160 per wheel. Claimed weight is 525g for a complete front system with 180mm rotor. The higher-end Quadiem SL, however, upgrades to lighter and more insulative composite pistons, a carbon fiber body, and a two-piece stainless steel-and-aluminum rotor that brings the system weight down to a more reasonable 472g.

Retail price on the Quadiem SL is US$200 per wheel and both models will be available at the end of April.

Finally, TRP has added a new mid-range two-piston hydraulic mountain bike disc brake called the Dash Sport. Just US$160 per wheel gets you forged aluminum construction all around, a hinged clamp, and tool-free reach adjust with a claimed weight of 410g per wheel with a 160mm rotor. As with most of TRP's new models, the Dash Sport is slated to arrive in stores by the end of April.