Hope is phasing out its powerful V2 hydraulic disc brake design for 2013, replacing it with an even more powerful V4 caliper. The key change is a return to a four-piston layout with bigger and longer pads for more surface area – and more grip – than the old two-piston configuration. Hope also says the new caliper is stiffer for improved lever feel and power.
Naturally, Hope machines the aluminum V4 caliper in-house as a single piece and the updated form features an array of subtle cooling fins and a big window to help dissipate heat. The matching levers are unchanged for 2013 and still feature machined aluminum construction (with nearly everything done in-house) plus independently adjustable reach and pad contact.
According to Hope, the new V4 is slightly lighter than the V2 with complete single brake weights starting at 400g. Suggested retail price is £200/€255 per wheel for a complete set.
The new Hope F20 flat pedal features up to twenty removable stainless steel pins and a big, supportive machined aluminum body.
After showing prototypes last year, Hope has now also released production versions of its new F20 flat pedal for downhill and freeride use. The big machined aluminum bodies are fitted with up to 20 replaceable stainless steel pins and rotate on chromoly spindles with one Norglide bushing and three cartridge bearings per pedal.
Claimed weight isn't all that light at 390g but in fairness, Hope admits to targeting durability, support, and traction here instead. Retail price is £120/€155.
Hope's slick new 1x chain guide and bashguard system features a one-piece chainring and bashguard combo.
Fan of 1x drivetrains will soon be able to get a slick machined aluminum chainring, bashguard, and chain guide combination from Hope, too. The awesomely tidy chainring and guard and machined from a single chunk of aluminum in standard 104mm BCD fitments for compatibility with most currently popular crankarms.
The matching aluminum upper guide is offered in seat tube, bottom bracket, or ISCG mounting standards with an adjustable upper chip for good chain security.
Claimed weight for the chainring-and-bashguard combo is 66g with sizes ranging from 32-36T in one-tooth increments. The upper guard starts at 32g depending on configuration. Total cost for the set is £105/€135.
Hope will add rear derailleur pulleys to its collection for 2013, featuring machined aluminum bodies, stainless steel cartridge bearings, and machined aluminum dust caps.
Other small bits to be released soon are machined aluminum derailleur pulleys with stainless steel bearings and aluminum supplemental dust shields plus a new SRAM XX1-compatible XD driver body that can be retrofitted to Pro2 Evo and Pro 3 rear hubs.
Finally, the mountain bike wheel range gains Stan's NoTubes ZTR Flow and Mavic 719 rim options for 2013, the road range gets Stan's NoTubes ZTR Alpha 340 and 30mm carbon tubular and clincher variants, and there's now a full range of disc brake wheels for road and 'cross.
As for Hope's crank and cassette projects, don't hold your breath. Hope says neither project has a projected availability date.