Continuation: IIIPRO E4 4-Piston Hydraulic MTB Brakes - Are they to be trusted?

[Fat Larry]

Time will tell.   I'll be riding the bike tomorrow, on regular gravel roads without any steep higher-speed descents, and without any camping gear loaded onto the bike. The bike will be down to its 22lb base weight, +water.  (Versus my 53lb bike camping loaded weight.)

How are they getting on? I wanted to ask, do they handle a gravity bleed ok or do they need more elaborate techniques with syringes?

I found a good 11.11 price for the Zrace version of the R2X4, which after spending the afternoon trying to get a TRP Slate calliper with stubborn sticky pistons to function properly is looking tempting.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009315025990.html

[Tijoe]

How are they getting on? I wanted to ask, do they handle a gravity bleed ok or do they need more elaborate techniques with syringes?

I found a good 11.11 price for the Zrace version of the R2X4, which after spending the afternoon trying to get a TRP Slate calliper with stubborn sticky pistons to function properly is looking tempting.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009315025990.html

On my 29er hardtail, the rear brake is still marginal, at best. I recently rode my full suspension 29er that has the IIIPros E4s installed and those brakes work as one would expect.   

I have a IIIPro brake lever and E4 caliper taken apart.   I have measured and examined the E4 caliper apart, and they appear to be very very close in design to the Hope Tech E3 calipers.   I can't see anything in the calipers that would lead to poor stopping power, other than air bubbles that somehow one can't easily purge.  The IIIpro Lever, could be the problem.   I haven't had time to measure and calculate the reservoir size compared to the amount of fluid that is required in the hydraulic piston area of the lever. 

I am looking into purchasing either Magura or Hope brakes for the bike I keep having braking problems with. 

My gut feel (Not based on real data yet) is that the IIIPro lever is where my rear brake problem is coming from.  To date, I haven't figured out anything definitive.

Above being written,  Perhaps the lever hydraulic and reservoir design of the Zrace, or R2X4 or Frog Wake is better than the IIIPro levers.   Since I haven't purchased this style of brake lever assembly,  I can't comment or recommend on the Zrace design.   
(Perhaps someone is running one of these and can start a new thread about those specific brakes.)

I made the decision to purchase different brakes for my 29er Carbon hardtail that I use for my extreme terrain Bikepacking events.   I will keep the IIIPros on 2 of my lesser-ridden bikes until they exhibit the same problems.

[Fat Larry]

On my 29er hardtail, the rear brake is still marginal, at best. I recently rode my full suspension 29er that has the IIIPros E4s installed and those brakes work as one would expect.   

I have a IIIPro brake lever and E4 caliper taken apart.   I have measured and examined the E4 caliper apart, and they appear to be very very close in design to the Hope Tech E3 calipers.   I can't see anything in the calipers that would lead to poor stopping power, other than air bubbles that somehow one can't easily purge.  The IIIpro Lever, could be the problem.   I haven't had time to measure and calculate the reservoir size compared to the amount of fluid that is required in the hydraulic piston area of the lever. 

I am looking into purchasing either Magura or Hope brakes for the bike I keep having braking problems with. 

My gut feel (Not based on real data yet) is that the IIIPro lever is where my rear brake problem is coming from.  To date, I haven't figured out anything definitive.

Above being written,  Perhaps the lever hydraulic and reservoir design of the Zrace, or R2X4 or Frog Wake is better than the IIIPro levers.   Since I haven't purchased this style of brake lever assembly,  I can't comment or recommend on the Zrace design.   
(Perhaps someone is running one of these and can start a new thread about those specific brakes.)

I made the decision to purchase different brakes for my 29er Carbon hardtail that I use for my extreme terrain Bikepacking events.   I will keep the IIIPros on 2 of my lesser-ridden bikes until they exhibit the same problems.

I was flipflopping again. Almost ready to get them, then saw another video with a chap saying they're great except they don't handle heat and long descents well... so ho humm back to maybe just getting some mt520s as the TRP slates i picked up are being finnicky.

Have you looked at Lewis brakes? They seem to review well and if i was building a big bike they're what I'd put on it. As it is my use case is ebike commuting and light trails... pretty much any functional brake would work.

[Tijoe]

I was flipflopping again. Almost ready to get them, then saw another video with a chap saying they're great except they don't handle heat and long descents well... so ho humm back to maybe just getting some mt520s as the TRP slates i picked up are being finnicky.

Have you looked at Lewis brakes? They seem to review well and if i was building a big bike they're what I'd put on it. As it is my use case is ebike commuting and light trails... pretty much any functional brake would work.

As you know, there is a Lewis thread.   I thought about them, but after the US tariffs were added,  My focus shifted to Magura and Hope Tech.   I can tolerate the IIIPro problems on my other bikes, but I really need the bike I use for bikepacking to have fantastic stopping power, predictable initial bite, modulation, and reliability.

[Fat Larry]

As you know, there is a Lewis thread.   I thought about them, but after the US tariffs were added,  My focus shifted to Magura and Hope Tech.   I can tolerate the IIIPro problems on my other bikes, but I really need the bike I use for bikepacking to have fantastic stopping power, predictable initial bite, modulation, and reliability.

Understandable.

I haven't seen that thread actually. Will have a look.

I run a Shigura MT5 front brake on my enduro hard tail, it's been fairly trouble free, though i barely ride that bike.

[Tijoe]

Groan. (Sad to see money flowing out of my pockets again)  I couldn't resist.  I ordered a set of the "Frog Wake" brakes this morning.  I ran across a seller selling them for $10 less than all the others, so with coupons, and coins I snagged them for $112.32 USD.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809773680151.html

I think I will start a new thread once I get them installed on one of my bikes.     My plan is still to purchase Hope tech brakes, or Magura on sale, closer to Black Friday.

[Fat Larry]

Groan. (Sad to see money flowing out of my pockets again)  I couldn't resist.  I ordered a set of the "Frog Wake" brakes this morning.  I ran across a seller selling them for $10 less than all the others, so with coupons, and coins I snagged them for $112.32 USD.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809773680151.html

I think I will start a new thread once I get them installed on one of my bikes.     My plan is still to purchase Hope tech brakes, or Magura on sale, closer to Black Friday.

Hahaha keen to hear how they are.

I nearly bought the Zrace version of the R2X4 or whatever it's called. They were down at $115nzd when 11.11 started which was very tempting. Resisted and instead spent 11 hours rebuilding, bleeding and lubeing my trp slates which have leaking, lazy pistons and no seals available. Managed to get one calliper possibly working but I'd feel like throwing them in the ocean after sinking this much time into them. If this fails i'm tossing the slate callipers and attaching some shimano deore 6120 callipers which are really cheap on ali.

[carbonazza]

... I ordered a set of the "Frog Wake" brakes this morning...

I was just about to order a pair, and thought I would look around here first 
Did you get them already ? Even if not installed, any first impressions to share ?

[Tijoe]

I was just about to order a pair, and thought I would look around here first 
Did you get them already ? Even if not installed, any first impressions to share ?

Tracking states they cleared custom on the 21st.   Probably 4 to 5 days from being delivered to me. (+Thanksgivings, who knows when they will arrive.)

[Tijoe]

My frog Wake brakes arrived today.   I started a new thread and wrote my initial impressions and added pictures.

https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6752.0.html

[Majoeric]

Any suggestions on who’s makes the lightest two piston brakeset? Anything under 400g total for front and rear?

Cheers