TRP EVO Pro Brake Review: The 'Set and Forget' Favorite Now Has More Adjustability [Review]

The EVO PRO secures a top three finish in Pinkbike's Big Brake Test

By Pinkbike
July 23, 2024

Read more at Pinkbike.com

TRP's brakes have been on a steady upwards trajectory over the past few years, with the DH-R EVO cementing the brand as one of the main competitors in the space. The recently updated EVO PRO is a refinement of the previous model, adding adjustments at the lever and modifying the ergonomics to better suit the wide array of preferences out there. They piggyback on an existing caliper design, meaning existing users can upgrade the lever without replacing the entire system.

The EVO PRO is easily associated with their loud gold anodization, but are also available in silver and black finishes, for those that want a stealthier look. TRP uses mineral oil in their brakes, and states that they are only to be used with their 2.3mm thick rotors.

Setup

The TRP bleed procedure is quite easy, and requires very little upkeep to maintain performance. On the whole, these are some of the best brakes for those that simply want to set them up once and never think about them again, thanks to a robust design and lack of required maintenance or adjustment.

TRP recommends a piston massage while initially setting up the brakes, in order to get all four pistons firing at the same time. You can use an old brake rotor or a plastic tire lever to gently move them back in after advancing them, with only a couple cycles needed to get things in sync.

New to the EVO PRO is what they've dubbed the Pad Activation Dial, which allows the user to change how sharp the initial bite of the brake is. You can make the bite firm and solid, or soft and easier to modulate, all via a dial inside the lever. The levers still implement a simple reach adjust mechanism, with a far wider range of reaches than the previous DH-R EVO.

Though neither Matt nor I experienced any issues with leaking on these brakes or a few other test sets, I have heard of such issues from other users.

Livability:

Easy funnel bleed, very long service interval. Good lever adjustment, with meaningful change to feel and performance to suit different users.

Feel

The previous generation of TRP's gravity brakes - the DH-R EVO - was very well received, save for one issue: the ergonomics simply didn't work for some users. The lever reach was quite far from the bar, even at the minimum adjustment, and didn't suit those with smaller hands. The EVO PRO solves for that, implementing a more aggressively hooked lever shape and a revised reach adjuster that allows for a wider usable range.

It might not be their calling card, but TRP has achieved a nice light lever feel that doesn't have as much of a learning curve as brakes like the Hayes Dominion. There's little resistance when pulled, but it's still easy enough to intuit where you are in the stroke and get a feel for when the power will come on. That activation point is incredibly consistent, with no change in the throw across long runs and lengthy service intervals alike.

Feel Ranking:

Light lever action that doesn't feel vague or too feathery. The sturdy and stiff feel gives them a strong feel under force, and works well with their extremely consistent bite point.

Water Bottle Pull Test: 503 g pull force (4th overall)
As you'll see in the full-length video review, this test simulated the force required to get the brake to the bite point. Water was incrementally added to a bottle attached to the brake's lever, until bite force was achieved.

Power

The power on tap with the EVO PRO doesn't feel drastically different to that of the DH-R EVO, but don't take that as a negative. The TRP feel is fairly average when it comes to reefing as much power as possible out of the brakes, but that is more than enough to control speed in extreme terrain, especially if you don't have perfect on/off braking technique. The initial bite isn't as sharp as the strongest options like the Mavens, Saints, or Hopes, but once you pull into the stroke the power ramps up nicely.

It's worth noting that these new brakes are just a revised lever, with the caliper remaining the same. That caliper houses four 16mm pistons, and is compatible with either lever option, should you want to swap between the two.

We ran the blue Performance Resin pads for this test, matched up to the RS05E rotors. Those ultra-perforated rotors add quite a bit of power to the system, and are a notable upgrade for those running the older rotor design. The Resin pads have a nice initial bite, all the more so if you're very diligent about bedding them in correctly - we found that this played a notable role in how much power was felt at the wheel. All brakes benefit from patient bedding, but the TRPs seemed a bit more sensitive to a rushed job.

Power Ranking:

Mid pack in this group, but adequate for any serious riding. The RS05E rotors go a long way in increasing power, and are a solid upgrade for the older DH-R EVO as well.

Honda Fit Stop Test: 27.4 m / 90 ft (5th overall)
As you'll see in the full-length video review, this test was meant to highlight the raw stopping power of each brake. We attached Matt to the back of Dario's Honda Fit, revved up to a consistent speed, at which point Matt used only the bike brakes to slow the vehicle to a measured stop.