Home > Bike Types > Road Bike

SRAM HydroHC ties together eTap and hydraulic road disc brakes

22 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

SRAMHydroHC_3

We have been seeing prototypes out in the wild for several weeks now, but had been told that the hydraulic disc brake version of SRAM’s acclaimed Red eTap was still a long way off. Apparently that long way off is just this fall at the tradeshows, because today SRAM pulled the cover back on the new HydroHC system. Whether or not the UCI and road professionals want to commit to it yet, everyday riders know that disc brakes just deliver more consistent braking across all possible conditions. And we’re pretty excited to give eTap some proper testing racing cyclocross! Whether it is sunny, raining, or muddy, proper hydraulic disc brakes provide the ultimate mix of braking power and consistency, and when designed for road conditions and surfaces they can offer a level of modulation and control that is unparalleled. Take a closer look a the new SRAM levers and calipers with us after the jump…

SRAMHydroHC_5

SRAM’s new HydroHC disc brake platform will be found exclusively on their Red eTap groupset that will be detailed at the end of the summer. HydroHC builds on the HyrdoR brakes that SRAM ironed out after a rocky start and then adds on what they’ve learned developing the recent Level XC mountain brakesets (which themselves build on the success of Guides).

SRAMHydroHC_6

What that means is that besides bringing disc brakes to eTap, HydroHC will deliver more setup adjustability. Riders with smaller hands will be able to use new Reach Adjust to get the levers where they fit best. We’ve heard many riders who thought that the current HydroR lever bodies were too wide, and SRAM is addressing that too. This will be another boost for riders with small hands. Much like the difference between Shimano’s mechanical and electronic shift levers, the new HydroHC lever bodies have smaller diameter hoods for better hand wrap and more comfortable ergonomics.

And for those who want more free flow of the lever, HydroRC gets independent Contact Point Adjustment to truly customize your brake setup.

SRAM-RED-eTap-HRD-Shift-Brake-Control

SRAM-RED-eTap-HRD-Caliper-FM-Front.jpg SRAM-RED-eTap-HRD-Caliper-PM

The new HydroRC brakes will be available in October 2016 (in time for cyclocross racing!) as the newest update to SRAM’s wireless Red eTap groupset. The rest of the eTap group including 11 speed crank, chain, cassette, and front and rear derailleurs will be unchanged. The new brakes will be available in both post mount and flat mount calipers.

SRAMHydroHC_1 SRAMHydroHC_4

Complete SRAM Red eTap HRD spec details, along with final pricing will be available at Eurobike, and we can assure you that we will get our hands on a set as soon as possible to review…

SRAM.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

22 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jami
Jami
7 years ago

Shut up and take my money!

mudrock
mudrock
7 years ago

My next group, when the Force version in 1×11 comes out, that is. But then we’ll have 1×12.Which will make it even sweeter cause the 1×11 will be on sale.

Heffe
Heffe
7 years ago

I am loving what they are doing here. Let’s see the wi-fli rear derailleur!

Randy Rando
Randy Rando
7 years ago

Clutch der for CX?

Imightbearobot
Imightbearobot
7 years ago

Is that a 2017 Amira disc, or a tiny Tarmac?

matthew moseley
matthew moseley
7 years ago

clutch der?

-oct is not realistically in time for racing

Heffe
Heffe
7 years ago

What is that make of that bike, BTW?

lonefrontranger
lonefrontranger
7 years ago

*throws money at computer screen*

lonefrontranger
lonefrontranger
7 years ago

Heffe: it’s an Sworks Tarmac Disc.

TomM
TomM
7 years ago

Does “independent Contact Point Adjustment” mean I can adjust the pads so that they are not rubbing on the rotors all the time?

Nicholas
Nicholas
7 years ago
Reply to  TomM

You’d think that it would be just a software update to the der. You’d just need a new cassette.

Bazz
Bazz
7 years ago

I find it hard to save for the wireless 2 x 11 groupset now that XX is 12 speed. Where’s the 2 x 12 wireless Red groupset?

badbikemechanicx
badbikemechanicx
7 years ago

These look like that word Super Bike that the industry loves to throw around. Maybe hyper bike? In any case disc brakes are the future of high end road bicycle sales and hopefully the Euros and the Euro trash that is the UCI gets on board. No one in the history of mountain bike racing has lost an appendage due to a hot spinning disc and boy we crash way more than roadies.

onrhodes
7 years ago

But how often do 20+ mtn bikers go down in a pile at 30+ MPH? I don’t disagree with you, but your example is not a good example.

lonefrontranger
lonefrontranger
7 years ago
Reply to  onrhodes

have you not seen the massive high speed pileups that occur when 50 cyclocross racers all try for the holeshot at the start of a big race?

Matt
Matt
7 years ago

@Heffe – I 2nd that comment. Get the wi-fli also!

BA
BA
7 years ago

Clutch please!

Antipodean_eleven
7 years ago

BOOM!!!! Yup, yes, ya and ja! When the time comes, I’ll throw my money at them.

dustytires
7 years ago

Big reason I want this group is that on the Focus Izalco Max with disc brakes I can run up to 30mm tires and for the mostly bladed dirt roads I ride that is more than enough tire and 30mm is small enough to ride quick on pavement. I want this group in a bad way, and I have not wanted a new road anything in several years. So is it the SRAM engineering machines fault that I am getting psyched to spend more on a bike, ever?

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
7 years ago
Reply to  dustytires

I tested that Focus with Di2/hydro earlier this Spring. 40 miles in light rain, long steep climbs, fast twisty descents, tempo on the flats. So good! One of the best road disc bikes on the market right now! Having also ridden eTap on a Felt it’s safe to say the Focus/Sram combo is going to blow your mind! All being said I ended up with a Wilier GTR Team disc. 🙂

brattercakes
brattercakes
7 years ago

Are they going to market these with hydraulic rim brakes?

Yorick
Yorick
7 years ago

Where are the HRR rim brake shifters that are eTap compatible?. Road bikers don’t need or want (heavy, non-aero) disc brakes, we want the performance of hydraulic.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.