It has been just over a year since TRP introduced the EVO Pro. The new offering from Tektro Racing Products (in case you didn’t know the acronym) provided what some thought were some long-awaited improvements to TRP’s DH-R EVO brakes.
Now, two more brakes find their way to the EVO Family: the EVO Expert and EVO Comp. TRP simplifies the EVO offerings and claims to provide race-level stopping performance at all levels.
TRP EVO Brake Family
Okay, to be clear, the TRP EVO Family actually consists of four brakes. Also on the docket is the EVO X, a 2-piston brake for light trail and cross-country. The EVO X brakes feature titanium hardware to save weight and were developed in collaboration with XC World Cup race teams.
Now let’s jump to the 4-piston options. We already know quite a bit about the TRP EVO Pro brakes since their release a year ago. The introduction of these brakes established them as the brand’s new flagship brake, providing the most prolonged power and adjustments.
The EVO Pro brakes feature hybrid pistons (alloy/ceramic), which dissipate heat more effectively. The levers are forged alloy and feature both pad contact and reach adjustment without the use of tools. And, the EVO Pros come in gold, silver, and black color options.
Moving to the new TRP EVO Expert, we see a very similar offering to the Pro, with some slight differences. Aside from the lack of color choices (black is the only option), the EVO Expert brakes lack pad contact adjustment. They maintain the hybrid pistons, though.
Reach adjustment is still there, however, and still without tools. And the Expert levers are a bit different as well. While the EVO Pro levers are 6061-T6 forged alloy, the Expert levers are die-cast alloy.
Stepping down to the EVO Comp, TRP still claims quality power but without the “bells and whistles.” Inside the calipers, the hybrid pistons have been swapped for alloy. While there is still no pad contact adjust, there is lever reach adjustment, but it isn’t toolless. The Comps also share the same die-cast levers as the Experts.
- EVO Pro: 632g / $307.99 (black), $318.99 (silver), $329.99 (gold)
- EVO Expert: $224.99
- EVO Comp: $169.99
What About Previous EVO Offerings?
Will the DH-R EVO brakes still be around? What about the Trail EVOs?
While TRP didn’t say it directly, this announcement seemed to imply that former brakes would be put out to pasture. So, I reached out to TRP to ask whether any current offerings would be phased out or discontinued.
According to TRP, the “Trail EVO and Slate EVO are being phased out.” That said, they also told us the Trail EVO will remain an OE option on select bikes for another year.
As far as the DH-R EVO, it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Again, according to TRP, it “will continue to be part of the lineup for the foreseeable future.”
Hopefully, we can get a set of the new EVO Comp or EVO Expert brakes in for some long-term testing.