TMB Review: TRP EVO Pro Brakes

Let’s get this out of the way: Though I don’t generally care about aesthetics, the DH-R EVOs are stunners. Available in three colors (goes-with-anything Matte Black, understated shiny Grey, and no-Fs-given Gold bling), there’s something that will stand out for everyone. I am 100 percent not a Gold flash person, and yet that finish on these brakes has me thinking about flamboyant bikes I could build. Kudos to TRP for bold AND classy industrial design.

Looks notwithstanding, these brakes are loaded with features. They have had a tactile, tool-free reach adjustment since their inception five years ago. But this second PRO iteration of the model, launched this year, adds what the company calls a Pad Activation Dial (PAD for short), which allows for quick tuning of how much lever throw you get before the brakes engage. The lever has been redesigned, too, with a shorter blade. Some riders had a difficult time with the longer reach and throw of the original DH-R EVOs, this new iteration should work for all hand sizes.

On the trail, the DH-R EVOs split the ticket with the Hayes Dominion A4s for best-overall brake in this group. The two have a very similar lever feel, throw, and bite point, meaning the TRPs have a nice light touch, very little stroke before the pads engage, and miles of room for modulation. If you want to nitpick, it feels like the TRPs have a bit more overall power than the Hayes, a slightly firmer grip feel, and possibly a touch less modulation. Having said that, I bet most riders would have a difficult time telling one from the other in a blind test. And more importantly, as with the Dominions, I felt an appreciable decrease in hand fatigue during long rides with the EVO PROs.

That might be partly down to the bike and brakes they replaced. These now ride on a Lenz Behemoth, with 140mm of rear travel and 150mm Rockshox Lyrik fork. It’s a bit of a strange bike. Heavy trail-oriented but old-school, tall geometry, and even stranger because it previously ran with Shimano 2-piston 9100 XTR brakes. Those were great brakes but largely chosen to offset the Behemoth’s portly alloy frame, and realistically, two pistons were always underpowered. So when I put on the TRPs, it felt like the bike had finally grown up. “Feels like you just bought a brand new bike for the price of a brake set,” said my local wrench who installed the EVO PROs.

And that’s the point, both specific to these brakes and globally across all of these models. New stoppers can, indeed, transform your ride.

TRP EVO Pro Brakes Bottom Line: The TRP DH-R EVO PRO is a powerful, exceptionally consistent, and reliable brake for riders who prioritize smooth modulation and set-and-forget performance. They have functioned flawlessly for over a year with zero tuning or bleeding. Performance is on a par with the Hayes Dominions, but the sharp aesthetics made these my number one, all-around pick, assuming you don’t mind paying the extra 15 percent over Hayes. Shop TRP EVO Pro Brakes

TRP EVO Pro Brakes Bottom Line: The TRP DH-R EVO PRO is a powerful, exceptionally consistent, and reliable brake for riders who prioritize smooth modulation and set-and-forget performance. They have functioned flawlessly for over a year with zero tuning or bleeding. Performance is on a par with the Hayes Dominions, but the sharp aesthetics made these my number one, all-around pick, assuming you don’t mind paying the extra 15 percent over Hayes. Shop TRP EVO Pro Brakes

by Aaron Gulley Aaron has been writing about cycling, travel, and the outdoors and reviewing gear for the likes of Outside, Bicycling, Velonews, and others for over two decades.