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On the Scale: TRP’s New HYRD and Spyre Road Disc Brakes

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There was a lot to see at CX Worlds, both on the course and off. While we were cruising the TRP booth and taking shots of bourbon from TRP shot glasses working, the new brakes caught our eye tucked away in the back. While we weren’t able to get TRP to divulge any more details until their official launch (soon!), we were able to snap some photos and get them on the scale. Keep in mind that the Spyre dual mechanical shown above still has the brake adapter mounted to it, so figure it is about 15-30g less, which means it would be less than Avid’s BB7 SLs which weigh 170g for the caliper only. Those two silver bands on either side of the red brake pads looking down from the top look like they could be massive springs to help the pads retract and keep things rattle free. Overall, the Spyre looks like it could be the new champion in the road disc world – we can’t wait for the launch.

Check out the HyRd and the new 4 piston MTB Quadiem after the break!

Apparently, these are the exact same brake as the black prototype I had seen previously, though the metallic finish makes them look smaller somehow in person. There is no hiding the fact that you have a brake reservoir grafted on top of a caliper, but you no longer have many of the issues with the Parabox – like the need to bleed them to install, steerer stack height issues, shipping built bike hassles, etc. The braking performance would have to be pretty spectacular to compete against the Spyre though if it works as advertised. Although, one advantage of the HyRd would be self adjusting pads.

A brake that’s not getting quite the attention of the Spyre and the HyRd, but one that I feel just as worthy is TRP’s new Quadiem. It should be out about the same time as the previous two brakes, but is obviously geared towards mountain bikes. I rode a prototype of this brake at Dealer Camp, and it was surprisingly smooth and hugely powerful. If the production model is anywhere near as good, TRP will have a contender in the world of high powered mountain bike brakes.

We wish we had more info for you, but for now you’ll just have to drool at the pictures. More as soon as we get it!

 

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Danno
Danno
11 years ago

Spyre mechanicals – looks like someone bought the rights to, or was “inspired” by the IRD Dual Banger

ChrisC
ChrisC
11 years ago

@Danno –

The Spyre appears to work completely differently from the Dual Banger (more of a true dual piston style vs. the IRD’s weird “let’s move part of the caliper body with a wonky cam set up” system), and the TRP is waaaaay lighter. The only similarity seems to be that both units move both brake pads together.

Willis24
11 years ago

Hope they offer a leverage ratio for mountain levers also.

Steve M
Steve M
11 years ago

Hyrd? what kind of effed up name is that? Heard, High Road, Hired? In keeping with the theme -Y?

Canucklehead
Canucklehead
11 years ago

How do you adjust the Spyre, or is it floating?

anon
anon
11 years ago

@Willis24

Me too. Just called to inquire. The gentleman said they do have plans to make a long-pull mountain lever compatible caliper but it won’t be available for “some time”. I’m thinking some time later this year (2013) or early next.

38 Frameworks
11 years ago

Yup, +1 on the Spyre comments – Make it for mountain!

Seth
Seth
11 years ago

@SteveM
HyRd – Hydro Road, as in hydro road disc brakes.

JonDanger FTW
JonDanger FTW
11 years ago

How big are the pads on the Spyre compared to the bb7 pads?

Rasmus
Rasmus
11 years ago

Will the Spyre be powerfull enough to xc mtb racing?

mudrock
mudrock
11 years ago

Very cool. I can’t ditch the BB7s on my crosser fast enough. I’ll be an early adopter fer sure.

Michael
Michael
11 years ago

Nice. For CX/Road frames with post mounts, bet you could get the Spyre mechanical calipers even lighter with titanium hardware.

suede
suede
11 years ago

FWIW many mtb brake levers have adjustable cable pull, allowing you to be the first on your block with the new handsome road brakes like these and the Avid’s. If your levers have screw type adjustable leverage, and you have mtn bb7’s try dialing them back about halfway. I did and love the power and modulation balance it gives.

Mike Pryde
Mike Pryde
11 years ago

Tyler- How would that work with SHI or SRAM shift levers?

Chris
Chris
11 years ago

“Overall, the Spyre looks like it could be the new champion in the road disc world”

Amazing how much hype the Spyre is getting, I mean I love the CONCEPT and look forward to seeing more but perhaps we should wait until someone gets to try them first? I for one would like to see those ultra-thin arms prove themselves before jumping on the bandwagon…

Rob
Rob
11 years ago

@Zach Overholt, I see the Spyre is weighed, loaded with pads and adaptor. Does your BB7 SL weight of 170 grams include that of pads or caliper only?

Cheers,
Rob

Tim
Tim
11 years ago

You could also use old style canti brake levers with these, right?
How do you adjust the pads? If you can’t adjust them by hand, they still have a minus compared to the BB7.

naysay
naysay
11 years ago

Why would one want the spyre for mtb? Just use a hydraulic. The whole point is it mimics the movement of a hydro’s while they still really aren’t available for road levers. It’s a next best thing type of thing…

Tim
Tim
11 years ago

@Chris- yeah, gotta say, the caliper arm looks long and thin, and therefore flexy. Especially when using a high-leverage canti or road brake lever.

Walter
11 years ago

I don’t see why the arms would be too thin. They’re broad in the direction that matters, and there’s two of them, so the force is only half of the force on an BB7 arm.

Tim
Tim
11 years ago

I miswrote- the strut that the barrel adjuster threads into looks long, thin, and potentially flexy.

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

How about making an MTB version? Looks nicely done.

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

@naysay: Mechanicals on MTB have a lot of uses. Winter fatbikes for example.

Walter
11 years ago

@naysay The world is bigger than road racing and MTB. Mechanical disk brakes are in most cases the best choice for commuting and travelling. You don’t want to mess with hydraulics when you are 3000 km from home, or need your bike two times a day to get to work and back.

Erich
Erich
11 years ago

Unless there is some structural issue that makes the Spyre unsuitable for MTB use, there are myriad options for flat bar cantilever brake levers out there. I like the Paul canti levers, but if that’s too spendy, there are still some solid pairs out there from Tektro for a fair price. It is really no big challenge to be an early adopter here.

Also, thanks for the “looks flexy” comments. It is my favorite armchair criticism, with a proud history dating back all the way to the debut of the Santa Cruz Bullit, if not further. It’s definitely the center of my Internet Bike Critic bingo sheet.

Tim
Tim
11 years ago

@Erich- yes, there are enough flat bar canti levers out there, not to mention NOS or used ones on eBay from when short-pull levers were standard. It’s no challenge to find a decent pair, although you may lose of the (relative) weight advantage of these brakes.
As for “flexy”, your argument seems to be a combination of “past criticism of MTB parts for being flexy has often proven unfounded, therefore there is no chance it is true this time” and “if you’re not convinced yet of this untested brake’s rigidity, you are criticizing it for being flexy”.

MATT
MATT
11 years ago

Where the f*** is the Hywire…???!!!

bikebill1
bikebill1
11 years ago

Nice …. But I’ll stick to my xtr 985’s baby 🙂

kevin
kevin
11 years ago

any idea of eta for it to hit distributors such as qbp? love the idea and suprised it took so long to come up with. Im glad I havent spent the money on shimanos new cx70’s yet.

Canucklehead
Canucklehead
11 years ago

Bikerumour:
I hear there’s a carbon version of the Spyre – can you confirm?

BenjaminJ
BenjaminJ
11 years ago

I hope there is a carbon version with blurple anodized hardware debuted at sea otter. These will take skidding around switchbacks on my monstercross bike to the next level!!!!

man
man
11 years ago

mountain version of mechanical brakes please.

Jayson
Jayson
10 years ago

Any ETA on these bad boys? I’m keenly considering some for my ‘Crosser…

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