The TRP Slate T4: Our affordable mountain bike brake tested
Outstanding performance for little money - anyone who pursues a material-intensive hobby like cycling will know the search for the best compromises between these two poles. If you're a mountain biker looking for a new brake, you've just hit the jackpot in this respect: 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 manufacturer TRP, the high-end brand of Taiwanese company Tektro (the abbreviation TRP stands for Tektro Racing Products). TRP initially made a name for itself in cyclocross before eventually setting out to challenge the big names Shimano and Sram in the MTB sector as well. To do so, they brought multiple overall MTB World Cup winner Aaron Gwinn onto the team, among others. Today, TRP components are installed as original equipment by numerous bicycle brands. Even if the name may not be as well known, TRP is a genuine alternative to the industry giants.
Technical Details of the Slate T4 Disc Brake
The focus in designing the TRP Slate T4 was ease of use and a fair price. Its four-piston design 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 use those too - 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 brake lever reach is easy to adjust. You occasionally read that an Allen key is required for this. However, this is no longer the case with the current version of the Slate T4; you can conveniently adjust the levers to suit your needs without tools.
Four-piston brakes generate more braking power than two-piston brakes and offer better modulation because the brake fluid pressure is distributed across two pistons per brake pad. This increases the pad's contact area with the rotor without causing the pad to “flutter.”
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. There are also metallic or sintered pads. These are harder and more durable, but they also brake more loudly. If you brake intermittently, relieving the brake briefly at regular intervals during longer descents, you counteract pad overheating and thus keep wear within limits even with resin pads. Resin also has a positive effect on brake modulation.
Experiences with the Slate T4 for MTB
But does our test candidate really live up to its promises? We looked at test reports for you and also took the bike out ourselves. Here are our results!
Installation
Installing the TRP Slate T4 is a major plus because it is genuinely easy. It's best to take a look at our installation video right away, which we filmed for you alongside our own installation 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 hoses (this was the case for tester Daniel Sapp from Pinkbike ), it's perhaps useful to know that the bleed ports are compatible with Shimano. So if you already have a bleed kit for a Shimano brake, you can continue using it. Naturally, 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 for this reason and found them somewhat bulky. However, after adjusting the reach, this no longer bothered him. He found the brake comfortable to use; he also highlighted the improved leverage resulting from the larger size. Johannes Haidn from World of MTB also says that the lever “fits well in the hand.” We can only confirm that we were impressed by the ergonomics, easy adjustment, and leverage.
Performance
The TRP Slate T4 scores highly in almost every respect when it comes to braking performance. Daniel Sapp tested it particularly extensively. He says he rode in all conditions, wet and dry, warm and cold. The brake consistently delivered reliable results. He only noticed fading, meaning a decline in braking performance caused by overuse and the resulting overheating of the system, in situations where brakes costing twice as much would also have struggled - 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 reaches the same conclusion: “The Slate T4 is a powerful and fade-resistant brake,” he writes. Even when braking from seventy km/h, he noticed hardly any fading. He therefore sees “virtually no limitations” regarding its range of use. Its suitability for heavy e-MTBs and gravity bikes was also confirmed for him. Sapp shares this view. He makes only one minor qualification for downhill extremes: “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 need to hide behind the big names. If you've previously ridden a two-piston model and want an affordable upgrade, enjoy riding downhill without being drawn to downhill extremes, or need a reliable brake for your e-MTB, this gives you plenty of performance for little money.
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