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
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
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 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.