I'm finally putting a Commencal Supreme V5 together for 2025. I've picked out most of the parts, but I'm having trouble deciding on brakes and rear shock.
For brakes I've narrowed it down to Trp Dhr Evos and Sram Mavens. I've already ridden Trp for a season and like the feel. My only problems with Evos so far is the one piece non-repairable lever body (I've broken one and bent another) and lack of contact adjust. Otherwise have loved the feel of Trp Evos. On the other hand I don't want to miss out on the Mavens because they seem to be doing something drastically different and going in a direction I like. I recently got a chance to hop around in the parking lot with some mavens and was surprised at how hard it was to pull the lever and how hard the brakes bit. As someone who accidentally drags brake here and there, would I be able to get use to the mavens and benefit or should I stick with the evos? If I do stick with the evos, how soon till Trp releases the new dhr evo and I feel like I wasted my money?
Now for the shock I'm deciding between the fox x2 or dhx2 (paired with fox 40). I've ridden a dhx2 for a whole season on another bike and like that but it did take me a little while to setup and a few coils to find the right one. How much feel am I loosing out on if I just skip the hassle and get the air shock. Also I've seen that new fox shock and heard it was coming out soon; anyone know if that's worth the wait. (maybe vivid touchdown competitor).
I'm getting the feeling that I'm putting together this bike at the perfect time so that when its done all the parts will be old versions.
My feedback is in the shock choice. The V5 is very progressive, I’d use a coil shock and get a stiff/fast valving set up.
The Vivid air will be much too soft initially with the touchdown tech and soft initial leverage rate. X2 can work with no volume spacers but it’s going to increase the ramp of the leverage ratio.
New TRP levers have been spotted many times by now, I'd guess they're getting released this spring (again, guessing).
I've got a lot of time on Mavens now with them on two bikes, but I just can't develop the feel for them. Plenty of power but at the cost of control. TRPs were fine when I tried them, but felt a bit numb to me. At this point I'm taking Hayes Dominions over any other brake.
I second the Mavens being too difficult to get along with if you like a light feel and somewhat sensitive modulation. I couldn’t keep the rear wheel from breaking loose when trying to drag them in flatter turns. Modulation during manuals was also near impossible, so I ditched them and went with my go-to, which is the Formula Cura 4. I’ve also been using the Dominions on a Santa Cruz Vala, and hate to say that I actually like them. I’ve been shitting on them for a long time because they seem kinda cheap. Modulation is really good and the lever feel might actually be too light if that’s possible. It too early to tell how well they hold a bleed, but I feel my rear one could use a firming-up after 7-8 rides. No comment on the frame or shock, I’ve not ridden the Commencal.
Although I totally agree that Mavens and TRP's are awesome, I would highly recommend the Hope T4 V4's if you're looking for an amazing brake with loads of spares available. If you can get your hands on a Vivid coil, I would pick that over the DHX2 as the Hbo and touchdown is amazing
this april i will have owned/used/raced my DRH-Evo's for 4 years (basically the day they came out) been running them with cascade brake adjusters since they came out a few months back, pretty snappy!!
in the beginning they were by far the best brake I've ever used. and it took years to change my mind, recently i built a 5010 for my wife and I, i got Dominions for it and dang... they're so freaking good, exactly how you'd want a brake (lever) to feel. just hate DOT fluid... argh.
so, long story short i just ordered some Intend Trinity's last wednesday haha.
but I'd stick with mineral oil over DOT any day- TRP is an easy brake to own and has been around longer to prove its consistency and reliability. make sure to use trp fluid and pads of course. the new race rotors are pretty sweet too, but either 2.3 rotor works good. Selling my TRP's once intends show up...
Dale stones channel is really good data as well although he hasn't ridden trp's yet. can confirm sram will deliver mad arm pump, no bueno for racing!
When Frameworks was on TRP initially neko was running them w saint hoses and shimano oil and ive been on that. Firms up the feel a little. I dig it.
yep, been running saint hoses for a while myself, for sure added bonus!
EXT Arma V4 for the shock. TRP for the brakes. Simply dialed.
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