The TRP Slate T4: Our Affordable Mountain Bike Brake on Test
Great performance for little money – if you indulge in a material-intensive hobby like cycling, you'll know the hunt for the best compromises between these two poles. If you're a mountain biker looking for new brakes, you've just hit the jackpot: the TRP Slate T4. In our review, we'll introduce it to you in detail.
TRP: An Alternative to Shimano and Sram
The Slate T4 is a hydraulic four-piston disc brake. It was developed by the manufacturer TRP, the high-end brand of the Taiwanese company Tektro (the acronym TRP stands for Tektro Racing Products). TRP first made a name for itself in cyclocross before finally setting out to compete with big names like Shimano and Sram in the MTB sector. To do this, they brought in, among others, multiple MTB World Cup overall winner Aaron Gwin. Today, TRP components are installed as original equipment by numerous bike brands. Even if the name may not be as well known – TRP is a real alternative to the industry giants.
Technical Details of the Slate T4 Disc Brake
The focus during the construction of the TRP Slate T4 was on ease of use and a fair price. As a four-piston brake, it promises plenty of power. It comes with the brand's own resin pads; however, if you're switching from Shimano and happen to have Saint or Zee pads in stock, you can also use them – they are compatible. Mineral oil is used as the brake fluid, which is less aggressive than the DOT fluid commonly used by Sram, for example.
The reach of the brake levers is easy to adjust. Occasionally, you read that an Allen key is required for this. With the current version of the Slate T4, however, this is no longer the case; you can conveniently adjust the levers to your needs without tools.
Four-piston brakes generate more braking power and offer better modulation compared to two-piston brakes because the brake fluid pressure is distributed over two pistons per brake pad. This way, the friction surface of the pad with the disc can be increased without the pad "fluttering".
Brake pads are made from various materials. The resin pads supplied with the Slate T4 belong to the category of organic pads, which use synthetic resin as a binder. In addition, there are also metallic or sintered pads. These are harder and more durable, but also brake louder. If you make sure to brake intermittently, i.e., to briefly release the brake repeatedly on longer descents, you counteract overheating of the pad and thus keep wear within limits, even with resin pads. Furthermore, resin has a positive effect on the modulation of the braking force.
Experience with the Slate T4 for MTB
But does our test candidate deliver on its promises? We looked for test reports for you and also got on the bike ourselves. Here are our results!
Installation
Installing the TRP Slate T4 is a big plus, as it's really easy. Feel free to check out our installation video, which we filmed for you during our attempt. In many cases, you won't even need to bleed the system after installation. If this is necessary, for example because you had to shorten the brake lines (this was the case for tester Daniel Sapp from Pinkbike ), it might be good to know that the bleeding ports are compatible with Shimano. So, if you already have a bleeding kit for a Shimano brake, you can continue to use it. Of course, you can also buy a brand-specific kit.
Feel
The brake levers are relatively large. Daniel Sapp from Pinkbike admits that he was initially skeptical and found them a bit bulky. However, after adjusting the reach, this feeling subsided. He found the brake pleasant to use; he also highlighted the improved leverage due to the increased size. Johannes Haidn from World of MTB also says the lever "fits well in the hand." We can only confirm that the ergonomics, easy adjustment, and leverage convinced us.
Performance
In terms of braking performance, the TRP Slate T4 excels in almost every respect. Daniel Sapp conducted particularly thorough tests. He states that he rode in all conditions, wet and dry, warm and cold. The brake consistently delivered reliable results. He only noticed fading, i.e., a decrease in braking performance due to overstressing and resulting overheating of the system, in areas where brakes twice as expensive would also have encountered difficulties – namely after very long, continuous downhills.
„For the price, the Slate T4 brakes perform at or above the level of the competition, with easy setup, along with excellent consistency and reliability. Looking to upgrade your current setup without breaking the bank? These four-piston stoppers are well worth the money.“ – Daniel Sapp, Pinkbike
Johannes Haidn comes to the same conclusion: "The Slate T4 is a powerful and stable brake," he writes. Even when braking from seventy km/h, he hardly noticed any fading. He therefore sees "virtually no limitations" regarding its range of use. Its suitability for heavy e-MTBs and gravity bikes has been confirmed for him. Sapp also shares this view. Only for downhill excesses does he make a small qualification: "The T4 could get the job done, but it may be a little underpowered if you're consistently riding sustained higher speed descents or doing top to bottom bike park laps day in and day out."
Our Take on the TRP Slate T4:
This MTB brake definitely doesn't have to hide behind the big names. Those who have previously ridden a two-piston model and want to upgrade affordably, those who enjoy downhill riding without tending towards downhill excesses, or those who need a reliable brake for their e-MTB, get a lot of performance for little money here.
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