E-bikes and brakes have a challenging relationship.
Although contemporary hydraulic disc brakes are plenty powerful for most mountain bikers, the added rolling mass of the best e-MTB, can push brakes to their limit. Quickly.
This is even more evident when riders repurpose their e-bike as an adventure touring rig, adding bikepacking goodies and gear.
Most e-bike product planners have been aware of the issue and specify the largest possible brake rotors to their models. Larger brake rotors have more surface area and can adequately dissipate heat, resisting fade and providing the secure and repeatable stopping power riders expect.
Warping is an unhappy reality with brake rotors, and can be deeply annoying, considering the tighter tolerances between brake components orientating within the caliper. An overheated brake rotor is a lot more susceptible to warping and running out of true, which will deliver that irritating and drag-inducing pad contact noise when riding.
Thicker rotors last longer under load
The designers at Hope have deep knowledge of the mountain bike brake system market and are now marketing a new rotor. With its lighting bolt cooling ducts cut into its brake surface, this V4 brake rotor is clearly designed for e-bikes.
Technicians machine it to 2.3mm thickness, making this V4 e-bike brake component the sturdiest rotor in Hope’s product portfolio.
With more material thickness than a conventional brake rotor of the same diameter, the V4 e-bike rotor is ideal for those longer enduro-type descents. Exactly the kind of riding that e-bikes are so good at, as they can easily climb to the trail’s start point, without inducing too much rider fatigue.
If you want more fade-free braking performance on long descents, or a rotor with greater robustness when feathering brakes on your fully loaded e-bike down a 30-minute gravel road descent in the Rockies, these new V4 rotors are up for the task.
Hope has the new 2.3mm thick V4 rotor available in 180-, 200- and 220mm sizes, with all those options priced at $50.
