Daan

Nope, I used to use silicone sealant in the tips of my MT5 blades, but the Shimano's are a slightly different shape or movement and never hit my knuckles. I've just installed some super cheap Shimano M4100 brake levers on some old Echo TR callipers (25 mm piston diameter) on my 20" bike. Feels amazing, surprisingly short throw, and seems like massive power, but need test them properly outside when the weather is good enough.

I'm using the MT501 levers, so with servo wave linkage. No wandering bite point. I've bled them with Putoline hpx 2.5, was way cheaper than Magura fluid at the moto store, and a bit thinner too, if that makes a difference. Of course with trials they don't get hot either. Chose these instead of the 6000 series Deore levers, as the 501 still use the thicker old style lever blade. Unfortunately they don't have the support bridge at the clamp for extra stiffness, but figured the stronger lever blade would be more beneficial for trials.

Hope really should replace your levers free of charge, out of warranty or not, as this was an acknowledged production defect.

@craigjames I used to run T4 V4 for a few months on my trials bike, nothing but issues (eventually got to send them back for a refund), the wandering bite point being one. There were actually two flavours of this. The first type was the issue with the lever moving closer and eventually all the way to the bar when constant pressure was applied. This was due to faulty CNC machine setup at Hope, and quite a few brakes of the early batch were affected. Hope replaced both levers. The second type was that on quick successions of squeezing the lever, the bite point would move out significantly, so the lever had less and less stroke. This points to fluid not being able to flow back fast enough. This was an issue Hope wouldn't/couldn't fix, and it was super annoying, especially with trials, where you tend to quickly squeeze the lever in short succession. I tested a brand new T4 E4 of a friend of mine a few weeks ago, and these also exhibited this problem, though less extreme. The final straw is that both callipers started leaking past the piston seals, also after multiple seal and piston replacements by Hope (same as also always happened with Hayes Dominions). Back on Magura MT5 with Shimano Deore levers, cheap and powerful, these have been going strong for a few years now, zero issues.

Well, in case of the Hydra, it does improve things a lot, except for sound. Was originally suggested by I9 themselves, after I contacted them about the constant skipping, and them having already replaced one hub. It'll help in longevity of the drive ring, the teeth of which will get rounded off with every skip, not good since they're so tiny already. Rolling resistance is still low; compared to my FFW bike, it almost feels like being propelled on an ebike, rolls scary fast

Have you tried installing two pairs of springs behind each pawl? Ever since I did that, skipping has been relatively minimal. It is obnoxiously loud now though. And those pawl pockets are getting pretty stretched out.

Can't comment on the Avid, but Magura with BBB pads (the blue organic ones) is absolutely silent, pads seems to fit slightly tighter than stock. Lewis is a blatant Trickstuff copy, not for the ethically conscious.

Just saw this new Mantra Drive hub announced by Halo, might be interesting? Single speed hg body, boost or 142 through axle, or 135 bolt on, 150 poe, 5 pawls, and best of all, purple: https://www.corebike.co.uk/new-halo-renthal-teravail-ht-product-releases-ison-corebike-2025/

Using a cheap Giro Radix without mips for trials. Nicely finished, no styrofoam on the bottom like the super cheap helmets. I like it much better than my expensive Troy Lee Designs A2, with mips, that I use for MTB. The TLD squeeks/rattles a bit, sits too low on my forehead, is heavier, and feels and looks bulky.

If it has slower engagement than a Pro 4, the pawls must not be engaging properly, and it's defective. Or your memory is off Hex has 102 engagement points, Pro 4 SS only 88. I have them here side by side and the difference is noticeable if you look for it (in practice, not so much).

Don't know, perhaps the same factory as Inspired? They're just a bit too clone-y for my taste, exact same integrated bash ring too for example. Plus you can actually order them on AliExpress. Never seen one fail, but other than the bash ring, never seen one in real life either.

Inspired indeed, one too many bunny ups, and maybe a bad weld. Still, held up for three years. But I'd even get an Alibabba Extention before that abomination of a Clean.

Case in point 🤪 Anything can break, but better have something that at least looks good while breaking it.

I'd say this video makes a compelling argument that 40 is the new 30. Wish I could make it look that easy dude.

€ 145 at trialmarkt.de. Looks alright, 9 pawls, offset so 3 engage on a 42 tooth ring, so 126 engagement points. Too bad there's no 135 mm bolt on option it seems, only 12x142? Let us know how you get on with it!