Skip SRAM and Shimano, Buy These Instead | Hayes Dominion A4 Review

[@DaleStone]

Part 2 has finally arrived! Does the Dominion's impressive performance outweigh their concerning build quality to you? 👇

[@alejandroramos6231]

Yesss!!!! finally the video us owners of Dominions A4 wanted to claim trail bragging rights for taking the chance... The Dale Scale basically gives you 2 options unless you have very deep pockets: a) MT520's for a budget performance-oriented solution b) Hayes Dominion for the best-feeling and performance brake As far as the decision on taking the chance on Hayes, I think if you gravitate towards performance and feel, doubt you have any better option For me personally it is tough to drop "top-of-the-line-fork-budget" money for the extra features in those Intends, but then again I do not have any single component in my bike that is close to 1.000 € (not even the fork). Thanks again for all your efforts, looking forward the next video!

[@darylgreen3446]

Dale could you review the lewis 6 pot brakes? Would be great to see if they are over kill or ideal for downhill / ebikes? Thanks love the channel

[@leomman0913]

I'm waiting for him to add TRP to his list. I have a set of TRP dh-r , I am not sure if I totally like them, but everyone on the internet says that they're good. Maybe my set is bad LOL

[@DaleStone]

@@darylgreen3446 could be fun eventually!

[@DaleStone]

@@leomman0913 I'm not a huge fan from the parking lot tests I've done, so don't hold your breath haha

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I've recently left my sponsorship with Hayes after many years of support. I have to admit that I do REALLY like the brakes for their intended use...on my MTBs they've been flawless (other than the pad rattle which I fixed with a bit of rubber). My issue was with trials use (my main type of riding), the pad rattle meant that the pads had a lot of room to slide within the calliper and because trials has sharp spikes of power both forwards and backwards it meant the pads slid violently and would bottom out loudly at either end making a loud horrible noise. I suspect it also cause a lot of flex on the pistons and potentially damaged the 0-rings (aggravated by the occasional use of tape on the back of the pads to help them grip the pistons and not slide so much). As a result I had many leaking brakes when used for trials. To give credit to Hayes, they always replaced them and were really interested in finding out the cause, they do care about having good products and happy users and I believe I was an extreme stress on the brakes.

[@jester6578]

The support from Hayes/Manitou is absolutely top notch. I run full Manitou suspension currently, partially for that reason. They are always quick to respond with technical/tuning advice, diagnosis, or RMA if required. Happy to support them. I've been wanting a pair of Dominions, but I can't get my TRPs to act up in a way to justify replacing them. 😂

[@The_Blessed_Cowboy]

@@jester6578 I need to replace the Boxxer's on my DH. I'm not sure $2800cdn is in my budget. But I like the price point on the Manitou. You sound like you are quite impressed with them.

[@dadlife8289]

During the pandemic they were awful and you could not find a service kit for their forks. And they would never email me back

[@jester6578]

@@The_Blessed_Cowboy I have a Mezzer Pro and a Mattoc Pro. Both are miles ahead of anything I've ridden from RS or Fox. Heard good things about the Dorado and I expect the IRT air chamber would be great for downhill applications.

[@jester6578]

@@dadlife8289 As someone who worked in a shop during the pandemic, that was pretty par for the course with any manufacturer. It sucked for everyone.

[@HollyBoni]

I was trying to diagnose an issue with a Markhor fork, sent a question to the Manitou/Hayes tech support. As a response, I received the contact info for the Hayes distributor in my country... That place is a wholesaler, and I'm not even sure if they do any servicing. I don't really get what's the point of having tech support if they won't answer an actual technical question about their own product.

[@matrixracing8268]

I'm glad you came back to give another review of them. When you originally reviewed them, I was the person you mentioned at the start of the video. I was happy you tried them, but you got a bad batch. I got mine with zero issues and still use them fine. With brake pads I would recommend looking at MTX they have an option for the Dominion A4 I am currently using them and like them over the Hayes factory brake pads. Hayes probably has the best customer service in the bike industry but they for sure should work on the design and build quality of their products.

[@YongPark-g3h]

As an engineer who have been working on product development over 15 years, that flush and finish quality is something I would expect from $40 or below price range products or pre-production samples.........

[@DaleStone]

Agreed... until management approves it anyways. Definitely not a design issue! 🙂

[@YongPark-g3h]

@@DaleStone I agree with that it's not a design issue but the engineer should've made that as a design issue. You know squeaky wheels get grease. Someone should've made that issue squeaky so management can't just ignore it. Maybe I should apply at Hayes and help them out.

[@DaleStone]

@@YongPark-g3h while I don't disagree, I can see your experience probably lies primarily outside of the bike industry with that response, haha.

[@YongPark-g3h]

@@DaleStone You are correct. I've only worked on consumer electronics, semi-conductor, military, and automotive industry. BUT if your competitor (Shimano) can do it, then you should be able to do it. It you (Hayes) problem, not industry problem.

[@JeffreySmith1967]

Spot on. I have both, the Trinity's, the Ti version they did on Black Friday, and the A4's. I have run the same A4's on 2 bikes now, my old Revel Rascal and my Timp Peak e-bike. The A4's have been used for 4 years. The Intends were finally delivered 3 weeks ago and installed promptly. I was shocked at how close the performance and feel were to the A4s. Those A4s have done long descents in CO, 6,000' and some bike parks, East Coast mountains, and the flats of FL and have been perfect every step of the way. Never any hand/arm fatigue never faded; they have been the same in every instance. I love the Intends; it is one of the ultimate bike nerd components; the machining and precision are otherworldly, and the lever and bite point are as good as it gets. With that, the Intends is a unique product with a limited clientele. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Hayes to anyone. The price is right; 3rd party pads are easy to get on Amazon(Top Brake Copper/Kevlar have been amazing and are made in Taiwan), and for this user, they have been powerful, invisible, and have handled everything I throw at them. Love your reviews and thanks for turning me onto the Intends.

[@DaleStone]

Thank you for confirming that I'm (mostly) not crazy here! 🫡

[@JeffreySmith1967]

@@DaleStone 100% not crazy. Remy Metailler has been running the A4s for years. If it is good enough for him, it is good enough for anyone. I also have touched the Lewis brakes, parking lot test. Nice feel but I would take the Hayes over them.

[@DaleStone]

I'd be a bit careful with that logic, as Remy is taking home what is probably a 5 figure check from Hayes, and his brakes have a colorway that isn't publicly available (a purple master cylinder body, what else could that be hiding? 👀).

[@JeffreySmith1967]

@@DaleStone I didn't even think of that. I think I heard him mention the brakes once; I was just assuming/hoping it was organic. I let my fanboy get in the way of logic. It happens. Thanks again for your excellent reviews.

[@robrider838]

Thanks for the purchase tip on the pads. Picking up a new bike next week with these brakes.

[@nickryan3287]

Tip for bleeding these that I've never seen documented anywhere. If youre using the sram pro bleed kit over the hayes one (you should, hayes is trash) the o-rings on the syringe tips/fittings that help seal the system do not work the same way as on sram. Seems like the caliper side works fine, but on the lever side you'll need to dig through the bag of extra orings you get in the sram bleed kit and find the one with the same ID, but bigger chord diameter. That one seals NICE. The smaller seal actually sits down into the thread bore on sram brakes, whereas the oring just sits on top of the thread bore on hayes, so you need the stiffer seal, otherwise you just pull in air endlessly. Once you do that, they are the easiest brakes to bleed well.

[@valciobanu]

Thank you for your comment. I’ve bought the dominions last summer. Upgraded from code r’s. I didn’t need to bleed them yet. I have a standard ram bleed kit. Not the pro version. I’ve been thinking to get a Hayes bleed kit. Why do you say it’s terrible? I’ve heard that the hayes bleed ports are tapered and that’s why you should not use a seam kit? I don’t know what to do. I also have some spare o-rings in my sram kit but I think they are all the same.

[@nickryan3287]

Buy the pro bleed kit. Its worth it for the nicer hardware. Easier to operate and stand up to use over a long time. Hayes syringes are like cheap medicine syringes. Threads size/pitch are identical, no significant taper (like pipe threads) that i can tell. In fact the hayes fitting is long and has lots of threads. It never really bottoms out on any positive stop. The sram one only has a few threads and tightens just until the shoulder seal compresses enough.

[@Heyits_haze]

Absolutely agree on using a better bleed kit. With the pro syringes you can also degas the fluid making the vacuum part of the bleed even quicker.

[@Mytube6138]

Did my bleed today with the sram pro kit and it was super easy and smooth, with a better result than my local shop gave me. First time ever bleeding too, idk why some people complain so much about the process

[@maxwelllong3308]

Glad to hear Hayes took care of you with a replacement set. My experience with their customer service has also been very good. I run a set of Dominion A4’s on one of my bikes paired with their D series rotors. I’ve been really happy with them. I have gotten some squealing from the rear brake, with two different sets of pads and 2 different rotors, but have not found any detectable contamination. It may be that I don’t have long enough descending time locally to heat them up adequately. One note on bleeding: you really have to torque the syringes down hard, I use a small pair of channel locks to tighten them to the lever/caliper. I believe in an instructional video out out by Hayes, they actually do this as well. Otherwise you will get significant leaks while bleeding in my experience. All in all, I have other bikes with Shimano XT 8120’s, Magura trail, and Code RSC (too many bikes), and I’m happiest with the Dominions and would likely run them on any new bikes in the future if possible.

[@stankersten532]

Love my set of A4's! Everyone who has tried them in the parking lot has let out a "wow" over how awesome the lever feel is. When I bought them in 2023 I managed to get the entire set + rotors for €400!!! Absolute steal if you tell me. Awesome review Dale, keen on seeing what you think of the Hopes.

[@5dayMovingAverage]

Same experience. I went to neveda and ride with my brother i had all hos friends tried and ride my bike. They were all shocked with the braking power if the A4s. Then again all their bike have brakes with DB8 and G2s and probably with non sintered pads.

[@motocraneguy17]

My A4’s have been flawless on a full DH season on a fat emtb. I’ve tried many big name brand flagship models with aftermarket levers and have come back to Hayes for the combination of feel, reliability, and stopping power. But light action lever feel took away my DH finger cramps is what sold me.

[@DaleStone]

I've watched a few riders come to that realization in the past 6 months. So good to see people taking fatigue seriously!

[@orestisvas7277]

I am going to leave yet another complain here for Hayes since this is the most likely place they will see it (other than direct). When i first got them 2 and a half years ago they were amazing. Soon after I recall they started to squeal and i had D series rotors. Fast forward some time, the rear caliper was leaking but since i had a trip only a few days later I did not go for warranty and just bought a piston and seal kit. Fast forward some more and the front was leaking, I was now out of warranty time, I emailed Hayes and they just sent me the contact info of they local representative without ever mentioning their leakproof lifetime warranty. Representative told me to change pistons so I did at the same shop. Now the brakes have very uneven bite dead strokes, a lot of lever blowout under sustained braking (i weight 55kg ~60 with gear, 203 rotors). I flushed the system, bled and yet rear brake is spongy and the bite point move around. I want to and I do like them so much but the reliability is frustrating to say the least, when you are tight on money and don't have a KZbin channel its hard to get all of this fixed. I am probably the minority so don't let this move you away if you are considering them but have this in mind. Thanks for reading

[@DaleStone]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am very sensitive about receiving preferential treatment when it comes to reviews, and I hope that your experience is an outlier!

[@orestisvas7277]

@@DaleStone I know, you have made that very clear but i am sure when they knew they were talking to you, they put some of their better CS people. Thanks for replying Dale, you make imo the best reviews at the moment

[@heliosdawnsong]

To solve this problem, @DaleStone you could purchase through a proxy, either a company you control or have a friend order for you, etc.

[@DaleStone]

@@heliosdawnsong to solve that problem, I need more money. 🫠 I do my best with what I can now, but would like to proxy everything eventually.

[@sbanks91]

I've run these brakes since 2019. The pad rattle is a 2 minute fix. Just spread the pad retainer spring apart a bit to increase tension on the pads. I do it with every new set of pads.

[@DaleStone]

Glad to know it's that easy to fix, but after 6 years the end consumer shouldn't have to fix a BNIB product.

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Shimano pads with the cooling fins do the same rattle and need to spread the retainer spring to stop that too.

[@turbo280zzz]

+1 for the support being top notch from Hayes/manitou. Some random break happened on my dorado and they were quick with the communication. they sent me not only the replacement part, but nearly everything else needed to service the fork… and an apron lol.

[@SpencerBaum]

Woo finally! I've recently bought two more of these brake sets and now all three of my mountain bikes have them! Best brakes on the market imo.

[@DaleStone]

At this price it seems hard to do better!

[@ryansteiger6960]

Thanks for revisiting those brakes Dale 👍 Those are the brakes that I settled on after owing the TRP Evos, the MT7s, XTs, Codes and Formula Curas.

[@frntz0r]

Great review, was looking forward to hearing your take on the Dominions after having the contamination issue. The takeaways align with my experience riding these fantastic brakes - loooads more on-trail confidence. It's also worth mentioning that through lighter lever actuation you actually ride more relaxed, because the arm tension doesn't propagate onto the rest of the body. I weigh 90kg/200bald eagles and I moved onto these brakes from Code RSC, mainly due to the arm pump during longer enduro stages... needless to say I should've done that way sooner!

[@graemehankey2532]

Would be really interested to see a review of the Hope Tech 4 V4.

[@petedivine]

Nice review !! Very thorough. I just installed a set of Hayes brakes and will be testing them sometime this weekend. 🤞I hope I have a great experience.

[@DaleStone]

I hope you do too! 🤞🏽

[@Fleijah]

There it is! I've been waiting for this one

[@joshuarebennack68]

FYI - a town of 25,000 in rural Wisconsin is not a "small town" - these size of towns are likely county seats/regionally large cities. 🙂 Same with most of the Midwest/Plains. You still need to try TRP brakes, specifically the Trails. Though, if you dinged the Hayes for "Function over form" in the looks department, TRP is not going to score very high.

[@Doggepp]

Amazing review as always, and the "Dear Hayes" portion at the end really hits the nail on the head. And for me personally - Hearing almost entirely positive stuff about these brakes performance wise. I honestly wouldnt mind if they were like $100 cheaper, if their quality control/manufacturing was better. People are picky these days, and the lack of finish you've shown in this video, makes me never want to get a pair. If their next version is on par with for example shimano/sram (which usually arent 100% perfect either - But a lot better) I would 100% consider a pair. For now, i'll continue with my trinitys (And probably get another set for when I inevitably build another bike that I probably dont need)

[@DaleStone]

A good plan!

[@5dayMovingAverage]

Someone on youtube did a lever actuation weight test that are non scientific but i believe its the best way to test without bias. All he did is put water in the bottle and then wait until the lever actuate and then measure the weight of the water. Thank you for pointing that out that mineral oil is as toxic a dot if not, more toxic than dot because DOT are based on ether. We dont know what additive they put on the mineral because its not required. I agree that the quality is si cheap and they charge everyone with premium price. The saddest part is you won't be able to rebuild the master cylinder, so this set are disposable. They should make a single piece caliper. Im excited to see more of your videos 2025 and beyond. Id like to see come part swaps between company's like the shigura or something super crazy like hayes lever with maven caliper. Would the performance change? would the actuation change? Dead stroke? Im not sure if everyone else is interested on different type of pads with different companies available, including the aliexpress pads that are so cheap😅. I hope and pray for you to be blessed in your journey😊

[@DaleStone]

I'd argue it was pretty scientific, not for plotting out the full curve of a brake but for identifying its X-intercept. It was measurable, repeatable, and logically correlated to fatigue.

[@jordanpanich]

Everything Hayes makes is amazing. The amount of people that sleep on their brakes and Manitou forks and shocks is crazy. Once you ride a Mezzer Pro or Mattoc Pro, you'll understand.

[@DaleStone]

Their forks have a good reputation, especially for lighter riders like myself, but I've heard very mixed opinions on their shock.

[@jester6578]

@@DaleStone The Gen1 Mara shocks had fantastic sensitivity, but lacked midstroke support. The Gen2 added a larger negative air chamber which completely solved the issue. Both chambers are adjustable with volume bands which enables an absurd level of tunability. Hands down the best "standard" air shock I've tried. (Can't compare it to things like the Vivid or twin tube designs as I haven't had the opportunity to try them.)

[@robstyle7573]

Another great review Dale, pretty bang on. I think lever feel is actually better than the trinity's! It pains me to admit that 😅 Specifically the bite point is sharper and more defined and when you're really squeezing the brakes hard, the a4's let you know you're riding max pressure whereas the trinitys are mushy at the same finger pressure if that makes sense.

[@AZMTB]

I’ve been running the Magura MT7’s and Shimano levers since 2020 and have had zero issues and love the way they perform. I put the same exact setup on my ebike starting in 2021 and they’re awesome on that bike, too. I have ridden two bikes with A4’s and they were good, too, but I do prefer the way my setup feels.

[@DaleStone]

Familiarity bias is a powerful thing haha. But if they're meeting your needs, then why spend money unnecessarily, I do get it. 🙂

[@AZMTB]

@ haha, it's not that. I had SRAM RSC's for years, tried brand new ones, tried XT/XTR's for a few years, then demo'ed and rented bikes that had A4's. The RSC's made my hands tired on longer runs. The Shimanos didn't really work until you were squeezing the crap out of them, and the bite point was all over the place (I tried a few new calipers, they were all the same). The A4's had good braking power but consistency wasn't always the same. The Magura's are extremely consistent, powerful, and have been 100% reliable over the many thousands of miles I've ridden some tough trails on with them.

[@The_Blessed_Cowboy]

Hayes were my first real upgrade. After a few months the rear locked up on my brother who was bombing a hill. He and the bike ended up in the trees. Luckily my brother was ok, my bike got some serious road rash. On the bright side, my brother will never borrow anything from me again.

[@DaleStone]

This reads like the way a good joke is told. Glad everyone and thing is ok! 😂

[@The_Blessed_Cowboy]

​@@DaleStoneI never chased the warranty. I figured it was a heat issue as we ride Revelstoke, and alot of times you need to ride the brakes in the steep sections. I just put the Shimano Zee back on my bike. And now the Hayes sit and collect dust unfortunately.

[@TheS4jordan]

I tried these before I bought Lewis LHT's, so glad I bought the Lewis LHT's and their support has been awesome compared to every other brand i've tried

[@KaydenGiraud]

Best brake reviews available on this channel for sure 👍

[@hardmtnbiker]

I’m very happy with my XT M8120 with Flow Pro 120 levers. I’m also happy how the Pro 120 levers improved the throw somehow. They just felt more premium. As for Hayes, I have no idea but my friends that run them are pretty happy with them. I do like the fact that you can rebuild them, but I have been able to rebuild my Shimano’s and find small parts pretty easily too. For me shifter and dropper clap mix mount is essential. Shimano mixes with my Wolf Tooth dropper and my Fox dropper on my other bike. As for wondering bite point, I haven’t ever experienced this. The worst thing about my Shimano/Flo is the expensive brake pads and Ice rotors. They also need bleeds more than many other brands.

[@pernyberg2816]

I pretty much run the full Hayes experience: - Dominion brakes - D-Series Rotors - Mezzer Pro fork - Reynolds Black Label wheels. This will be my 5th year on the wheels(or rims rather - spokes haven been destroyed and wheels rebuilt). My second Mezzer fork. My second and third pair of Dominions. Long story short I sold a bike that was equpied with A4s. Bought another bike with SLX, then XTs and the Hope Tech E3s. MIssed the A4s so much I bought 2 pairs so I never need to be without em. They do make really good products - but yes, the finish on the A4s is far from what they should have been.

[@a8f235]

Weird they do not offer center lock rotors even to this day though.

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

I have these now on my new Ripmo v3. I switched from TRP DH Evos and so far, had no issues with them. Been on them for about 8 months. I do run them with new TRP rotors, 2.3.

[@DandyHippo]

whats the difference? tried trps for the first time and easily the best brakes Ive tried. The feel and modulation is insane though the levers feel like toys, just like magura. Always loved Hayes since had nines 20 yrs ago, but still havent tried dominions

[@DaleStone]

Initial curve is similar, but Hayes ramps up the power much more progressively, leading to less fatigue (through lighter squeezing) in steeper terrain. In flatter parts of the world they're bang on equals IMO.

[@DandyHippo]

@ holy ish. Sounds amazing, gonna order a set after Ive suffered enough with two sets of code rsc's and a set of actually pretty amazing 70 usd aliexpress brakes. Lacking power but lever feel is better than even the high end stuff and theres decent modulaton and feel! Rsc's are actually a rly good brake brake untl you try some actually great brakes. But I gotta earn them dominions 👿

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

@ I agree that the lever feel is much more sensitive and easier for them to respond powerfully. This does translate to less hand fatigue in long steep descents. TRP lever has a really nice return to the lever every time and doesn't move forward. Hayes is similar but you can move the lever forward which I wish Hayes would fix that. Bite point is consistant every time on Hayes. I do run MTX brake pads with the Dominions and TRP 2.3mm rotors. Great combo.

[@neilmartinez143]

Great video. I just installed the A4 with Galfer shark rotors 3 wks ago. Semi-metallic stock pads. They were powerful but noisy/squeeling after only 4 rides. Swapped to the D series rotors 2 days ago and they are much quieter now. Never heard of brakes that prefer a particular rotor. Really wish I could use the Galfer shark rotors.

[@vicentemorande1558]

I have them with Wave rotors from new, made noise only the first ride, probably becausa I'm too light to bead them on the parking lot either. they've been silent since ride 2.

[@pizzapie4me]

I've had the best luck with Shimano rotors. The Hayes rotors are certainly better than most, but Shimanos offer more consistent performance in my experience. Would run Hayes on my hardtail too, but they don't make em in centerlock.

[@duncancampbell3673]

I'd be keen to try a pair as I've always liked Hayes group products. Unfortunately in the UK the price is just too high to be competitive, you see Shimano and Sram regularly being heavily discounted but never Hayes.

[@DaleStone]

If I lived on your non-EU island too, I'd go Hope without much hesitation right now. HEL certainly interesting soon.

[@KotakMeister]

I've had my issues with my Dominion that lasted almost a year. I couldn't, for the life of me, centre them. There was constant rubbing and the wheels won't spin freely. There was also the issue of it resonating through my frame...it'll make my bike sound like a truck horn when i clamp down on the brake levers. I had to wrap some old tube around my lower triangle to dampen it and the noise stopped. I have to admit i hated my Dominion and i already made up my mind on getting the Lewis. One day, after watching countless videos on bike maintenance, i suddenly got the idea that perhaps it wasn't bled right. I decided to undo the bleed ports and release 1-2 drops of fluid...lo and behold, the calipers centered, the wheels spun freely and there was ACTUAL modulation. It still made my frame honk like a train stopping (so i wrapped back the triangle) but the on-trail performance was solid. I might still get the Lewis but that is no longer certain...I love the light lever action so who knows.

[@SkiRidesMTB]

I'm running a 5.0 hose on my T2 rear without any issues because my frame can't fit the 5.5. It was a bit of a bummer but the 5.0 is performing fine so far.

[@tylerbruce5731]

For the hose you can use the Jagwire Mountain kit which is what I did on one of my bikes. The sfl lever is fantastic and its the brakes I run on my sons bike. Way better than full size levers for small fingers.

[@DaleStone]

That's a good tip for those in a jam, thanks!

[@leereiyuu]

Do I get you right? The Jagwire Mountain kit is for fixing the issue with the oversized 5.5mm hoses?

[@tylerbruce5731]

Hayes/Manitou is funny. On one hand their documentation for maintenance is awesome and full of info. On the other hand their websites always leave something to be desired.

[@gmssickclips8275]

Been waiting for this. Love my A4s

[@ChaseAdams-f4h]

A4s are awesome. The lever-pull is perfect. Really helps cut down on arm fatigue on long gravity days. Can’t recommend them enough.

[@CrispyDollar]

I love my Hayes A4 levers with Hope calipers. Best combo and i liked that the bleeding of the Hayes lever is way better then Hope's.

[@DaleStone]

I've never heard of this unkosher combo before, glad it works for you!

[@mikezhang2745]

Hi Dale, love your videos!

[@HoltPhysics]

Intend brakes are so good you're drooling on them at 12:56

[@DaleStone]

🤤 confirmed.

[@ethanrevitch]

Been waiting for this one! 🙌

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

Love mine. Don't have the issues you do on either set. I've got short throw on my heckler sl and long throw on the V10. Both feel great build quality is good, and performance is amazing. They are 9/10 for me (point deducted for proprietary pads).

[@DaleStone]

Glad they've been working for you! On a blind trail test, you won't notice the pad standard, so they're still a 10. Dock a point in serviceability for sure. 😉

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

@@DaleStone Yeah that's what I meant! haha. I don't want to have to buy pads I can't find at any bike shop.. but it's worth it for the performance and feel.

[@PNWMountainBiker]

Lol I love these brake so much (and apparently enjoy spending money as well) that I also got them for my park bike and more unnecessarily (but necessarily) my aggressive hardtail that I ride on the same types of trails

[@TheMTBRider96]

the 3 on the build quality is absolutely accurate, here in NZ they cost the same as the Tech4 V4 with braided hose, that come with 3 set of pads and have a way higher build quality. It really bugs me when i see these "premium" products ( maven calipers look just like the dominion ones, misaligned halves ) at a premium price with a VERY cheap finish

[@heliosdawnsong]

Hayes unfortunately blew their load on engineering many years ago when they did a clean sheet design of these using a bunch of telemtry data gathered from top riders bikes. They then set out design goals to solve each issue they saw in all the top brakes of the time. This is how they arrived at strong brakes with impressive modulation(direct, no cam actuation), consistency, fade free (rotors are thicker than most at 1.95mm and the greater thermal mass, especially if you use twin 203mm, soaks up more heat on long downhills), adjustability and ergonomics(two levers available and tool free reach adjust as well as split clamp), short bite point, non-fatiguing ease and smoothness of lever pull (ball bearing lever pivots), relatively turkey-squeal free (d-series rotors have special shapes to minimize harmonic resonance), serviceable (docs, parts, twin bleed ports, cross hair alignment system). All engineering choices are compromised, be it weight, longevity, cost, etc. I prefer performance over anything else and I don't think they are so hideous or have manufacturing cosmetic defects obvious for anyone to really notice but me or someone else who works on my bike (which won't happen, as I do my own wrenching). From more than a foot or two away, not a chance. Does it bother me a little knowing they are there, yes, I'm a Virgo racer. Do I ultimately give 2 shits? NO! I ride for me, not my friends or anyone else, and I like cool shit but I also only like cool shit because I like it, fuck what anyone else thinks about my bike. I bought a set of the Purple Hayes when I already had a bronze set on my bike, but my color theme is purple, so I didn't feel like I had an option, given how much I love the feel of the Dominion A4s 💜

[@DaleStone]

@heliosdawnsong for the most part I agree, but at a certain point build quality will begin to impact reliability, which one could argue I did experience already.

[@TheMTBRider96]

@@heliosdawnsong I agree with you to a certain point, given the price I’d expect better quality, the caliper finish is quite bad, not that it matters in performance, but compared to a nicely machined hope or Magura caliper it doesn’t stand a chance, hell not even with Lewis to mention stuff on the same price range. Lever wise I could never have something that ugly on my cockpit, call me bike snob or whatever I understand it works phenomenal, but damn a nicer finish doesn’t cost millions and it would help, I would’ve considered them if they didn’t look so cheap, again if the price point was half I could sort of understand, but for what they retail no way

[@romand123]

I love these brakes. Affordable, powerful and solidly built. They're a nice feel, right between Sram's excellent modulation and shimano's on/off power delivery.

[@mostly-galbraith]

I tried to get a set of Dominion A4s after getting tired of (tired by) my SRAM Codes' dead stroke, but my LBS warned me away from them because of a handful of internal routing complications and resulting wear issues they've seen caused by the hose diameter. (In a Turbo Levo.) They also mentioned fit and finish issues, but that's not a priority for me. I ended up with TRP DH-R Evo brakes on both of my bikes and like them quite a bit. I haven't squeezed a set of Dominions, so I'm considering myself in blissful ignorance for now!

[@DaleStone]

Blissful ignorance is the place to be, trust me. 🏝️

[@euanbegbie]

Shocking build quality would put me off big time!

[@russellmontez3936]

I have these on three of my bikes, including the xc bike. Such a good product. I do agree with the looks. They could have a better design esthetic. Still love my A4s

[@duncanh6045]

The only thing that sometimes bothers me with the Dominons is changing brake pads requires taking the wheels off or removing the brake caliper. Sram or my Magura's, I could take the pads out without having to remove another part. I grab a set of the MTX Ceramic brake pads and they fantastic.

[@DaleStone]

You also cannot do that on the new Mavens, for better or worse.

[@duncanh6045]

@@DaleStone Its not a deal breaker since I replace once or twice a year and they have no chance of falling out. I have forgotten to put the screw back in, so it has saved me.

[@harv83]

Love that IMBY supports you, but can't say I loved the service they've provided (no email responses before coming to the mainland for over a week, and then no help with a warranty issue when I showed up at the shop; forgot to include all parts when I bought and picked up a bike from them, but at least they mailed the missing bits right away). Part of my reasoning to buy from them had to do with supporting your channel, but can't justify doing it again based on my experience

[@harv83]

Maybe I was just unlucky, but I guess I felt they could have done better. Figured the feedback might stick better if it comes through you

[@JC27813]

I run the A4's on two bikes and absolutely love them. My only complaint is that the bite point or free stroke adjustment screw is poorly made and i basically stripped it the first time i tried to adjust it. They are set the best they can be from the factory and are better left alone. The A is for alloy or aluminum I suppose and the T is obviously for titanium.

[@MrSkyline1337]

I did exactly that and I love these brakes!!

[@Greg41982]

I need a pair of these. I love all of my SRAM stuff except for their brakes. I have used SRAM since GripShift 9.0SL and love their drivetrain stuff. Even my old Avid BB7s are still working perfectly on my 2003 Santa Cruz Chameleon. All of my SRAM hydraulic brakes are just garbage though. Maybe I'm setting them up wrong, but I don't think so. My son has some DB8s on his Canyon and they are SRAM's super budget mineral oil set up and they feel way better than my Levels.

[@FOTB407]

Pretty sure A stands for Aluminum, since the T4s are the same brake but with titanium bits for weight savings

[@FOTB407]

Or alloy

[@LyndonRumpel]

Love A4s on my trail bike and now also just put a set on my newly built enduro bike. However, I'm curious how you would judge the Formula Cura4, as I've been riding older Formulas on past bikes and loved them too in terms of performance and modulation.

[@DaleStone]

Hopefully this year!

[@BradBuege]

Dale, excellent in depth review. I personally bought some Hayes Dominion A4s, switching from Code RSCs. Did you have any bite point issues? Despite a careful bleed, using the sram bleed kit syringes with o rings, I have more travel in the lever before the bite point than I'd like. However, when they get some temperature under braking, this seems to go away and the bite point firms up (at which point, reach is set too far out). Thanks again for the great content I'm sure it was a lot of work.

[@DaleStone]

I never encountered these brakes pumping up under sustained descents. Sounds like a common bleeding symptom, or something else could be at play? I also had a very reasonable dead stroke throw distance, definitely not too much movement required before the bite point.

[@BradBuege]

@DaleStone Hm, must be a bleed thing for me, I'll try again. Thanks man!

[@paradox963]

It's amazing how personal, brakes are. I gave these a try for a while and to be fair are at the bottom of my list, mostly for frame compatibility issues, build quality that is below a $60 set of tektros, and I really don't like the lever feel, I find the action too light to the point I didn't even want to rest a finger on them, but that is a personal preference, but the build quality is inexcusable.

[@DaleStone]

Fair enough! It can also be a personal preference for sure, but a lighter lever feel is objectively a performance pro as it reduces rider fatigue with all other variables being held equal.

[@Alex-md6bu]

So when buying new brakes I decided on a set of hope t4 v4s, they’ve been great so far, I did look at these and I’ve heard good things but when looking at fit and finish I couldn’t bring myself to buy the Hayes for near as makes no difference same price (in the uk) as hope!! Yes I’m British so I’m sure made in uk also had a draw to me on some level, but if someone could get Dale a set of the hopes would be interesting to get a comparison between the two

[@mattyrogers7203]

Would love to see you review some Hope brakes, V4 or E4. Any plans?

[@DaleStone]

Plans? Yes.

[@FreerideNick]

the A in dominion A4 stands for alluminium and the T in dominion for Titanium (the caliper of the A4 is out of alluminium and of the T4 out of Titanium)

[@DaleStone]

Your conclusion appears correct, but the T4 calipers are definitely made out of aluminum as well.

[@dasanoneia4730]

excellent review love my Hayes brakes

[@danjelvantijnintellijel756]

You have convinced me that Trinity Intends are the brakes to get but unfortunately they will be extremely difficult to purchase for at least another 1-2 years according to their website. It sounds like the Hayes Dominion A4 are the ones to buy if you want almost equal performance for a lot less money, but only if you are willing to accept sub-par build quality and more of a reliability risk. It would be great to get some kind of hint on how far off a re-design is from Hayes but I am sure they will not divulge this information.

[@DaleStone]

🎯

[@jjobraun]

Thanks for the great review part 2. I am currently in the process of deciding what brake to put on my new bike. The Hayes was also on my list, but I ended up with the trusty Shimano XT. Do we see a Magura MT5 or MT7 review in the near future?

[@DaleStone]

I wouldn't expect those anytime soon unfortunately! Too many more interesting products first. 🤓

[@jjobraun]

@@DaleStone I am curious 👍🏼

[@alexaichberger3741]

Will you test the Hope tech 4 V4 in the future?

[@deadfinggerz]

I've been waiting for this! Thanks Dave! How much is is your free stroke? I couldn't get mine lesser than 25mm. I kindof expected less. Perhaps around 20mm.

[@DaleStone]

I don't typically measure that, but it was slightly less than what is typically, which is nice. Probably below 20.

[@deadfinggerz]

@DaleStone Thanks! I appreciate the brake reviews! Ride safe, brother!

[@mellissanash7517]

What advantage does the T4s have over this? Do you think it might be better build?

[@DaleStone]

There's a chance they're binned the forging quality by T4 and A4 models, but I'd be a bit surprised. The T4 has a carbon lever blade which is much nicer in the winter and is quite a bit lighter.

[@mellissanash7517]

@@DaleStone Would make sense carbon blade to be lighter. Do wonder what the changes if any are there to the build of the caliper.

[@DaleStone]

Would be interesting to know for sure!

[@mellissanash7517]

@@DaleStone Indeed. I wonder if enough email Hayes asking to see you review it would help in you getting a unit to test out.

[@DaleStone]

@@mellissanash7517 I'd be keen to try it out if they feel I've given their A4 a fair assessment. 🙂

[@Tekniq1210]

Love the vids bro but still waiting on the hope break review was hoping it would of been out before my purchase but I guess not anyway my setup is only going to be completed on 1st Feb so hopefully you might have it out by then as if they are whack I’ll send them back I got the HOPE E4 hope you are well 🎉

[@DaleStone]

hope you are well too

[@geode232]

Will you update on noise issues when you receive a set of their D rotors? Anyone else can compare Noise between the Hayes D and the Sram HSC rotors?

[@DaleStone]

I don't plan on retesting these brakes for a third time. I would be keen on testing their next generation brakes eventually though!

[@BradBuege]

Hi, I have the D series rotors, and a buddy has the SRAM HSCs. We both have these brakes, Hayes metallic pads. No noticeable noise difference between either really. My D series rotors tend to squeal for a few seconds after heavy sustained braking, a short cool down, then braking again, but nothing else to report.

[@DaleStone]

@@BradBuege thank you for the data point, interesting!

[@BradBuege]

@@geode232 update on this data point: SRAM HSC rotors noisy until up to temp.

[@notyourbro5519]

Hello, super informative videos, love the content. Have you reviewed the Hope tech 4 V4 brakes? I think you should give them a go!

[@sterimar9557]

I would love to see a test off the hope tech4 v4. Maybe u can get your hands on a pair😊

[@DaleStone]

👀

[@jayjohnson6825]

On the bar clamp, can you rotate the end clamp, a 180° to see if they align better?

[@DaleStone]

I could try that, but I believe they are directional, and maybe shouldn't be ran "upside down" or with the gap away from the arrow. Would have to look closer to see if it is asymmetric.

[@Schwabz33]

Hey man, you should go back and review the maven…you tested the very first irritation of the brake system. All the issues have been resolved so I think it would be a fair to go back and purchase the latest generation maven at the ultimate level and retest…

[@DaleStone]

If SRAM feels they've resolved the issues that I noted, I'd be happy to accept reimbursement for the purchase and installation of a brake set and from a random shop. But I'm not spending my own money on a product I didn't enjoy. 🙂

[@testpilot2399]

Are you going to make a review on the hope v4 at any point in time? I've been looking at those or Hayes for my bike but not sure which to go for.

[@heliosdawnsong]

@DaleStone at 13:02 is that a crack in the rear caliper mounting boss? Or is it just dirt or something?

[@DaleStone]

Dirt or something thankfully

[@JasonChambersPhoto]

Seriously considering a set of these. My Hopes are squealing a little in my latest video. Great videos Dale. 😉

[@Hansmagnetron]

Cool video! Could you do the formula cura 4 next?

[@DaleStone]

If someone compensates my hours, sure! haha

[@SylvainProov]

Waiting for the next purple batch to get them :D i'm just curious, I like my Code RSCs ^^

[@collinmcballin]

Awesome video! Was waiting for this! Can anyone confirm they fit 2.3 rotors?

[@DaleStone]

I found one person online who says they do, and one person who says they don't. 😂

[@rustysmc1]

You should go review Radic Kahas brakes too!!

[@DaleStone]

If they send a set over I'd be happy to prioritize!

[@MarianWYK]

I hope you will test also formula cura 4:)

[@emilee9697]

Would you recommend these more than the hope tech v4 or e4s?

[@DaleStone]

You'll have to wait and see for that one... haha

[@fivetool]

Have you considered widening the topics of your reviews to include things like bike parks, trails, lodging options and maybe even restaurants? I rather enjoy your analytical point of view on things.

[@DaleStone]

That would be pretty fun honestly! Just have to avoid stepping on all of the sensitive egos, haha.

[@sprousaTM]

I am "almost" pretty sure by now, that the Hope Tech4 will score extremely well somewhere up between the top 2.

[@DaleStone]

👀

[@floris2872]

Would be interested in a review of 612 brakes

[@DaleStone]

👀

[@dārkflāmē-h3l]

Does anyone know whether these build quality issues are commonplace on their more expensive t4 brakes?

[@DaleStone]

The T4 caliper has a visual step on its official product page, so I'm going to assume yes.

[@geode232]

These are great reviews. May I offer one more metric that might help viewers establish relativity for themselves? - a simple grip strength meter reading taken before and after a given ride route you frequent, where you maintain same overall matching speed between different brake models.. just an idea, thanks

[@DaleStone]

I like the idea, but eventually I'd just like to remove the human aspect and dyno test each brake to show people exactly what's going on. One can dream... 🙂

[@LawrenceMacMacster]

Didn't retry them yet, a bit expensive at 300$+ per wheel... Considering I just upgraded the Nissins with a brembo caliper kit for my YZ250 all n all for 550$ it's quite a chunk. I was looking for kits that featured the Hayes rflex caliper for the YZ but couldn't find adapters or anything related to hayes, same for honda dirtbikes, it's weird I was sure I'd find some since there's options for all sorts of ATVs but apparently not much for dirtbikes. Kinda surprised

[@mynamejeff8940]

Shagura review

[@DaleStone]

You buying? 🥳

[@mynamejeff8940]

I don't got any money i ride mountain bikes lol

[@64x83]

hope tech 4 review soon!?

[@leereiyuu]

If they fixed the aweful steps/misalignements and make the reservoir a tiny bit more sexy, then I would buy them 100% in a heartbeat. But since they dont, and I refuse paying the pricetag for the Trinitys, I stick to my Shimano Deore.

[@eliaswiesenthal3419]

We need you to test the hope tech 4 v4

[@plainuser48596]

I am never going to get any DOT breaks. Too much hassle and cost to store and use them, and I am far too messy when bleeding and working on bike(multiple spills) that I want it nowhere near me. Other than that, they do look lovely. Hope when they release new version it will be mineral oil

[@mattpoe9391]

I purchased these very brakes mid 2024. At first, I loved them. Very powerful and like to be "feathered" with very little power required to bring my 42 pound ebike to a full stop. BUT...after about a month the rear brake began to squeal loudly when braking downhill. I swapped pads, rotors, tweaked to no end but the loud squeal always comes back. The only response that I got back from Hayes was that it was possible the harmonic squeal of the brakes might match the same pitch of the bike frame and that the frame was acting like a speaker. Um...BS. I don't ride this $7500 bike very often because of the brakes.

[@TheFinnito]

It actually is no BS.

[@DaleStone]

What they're describing could absolutely be the case, but I think it's more likely they are leaking. Did you check for this?

[@mattpoe9391]

@ I see no leaks.

[@michaelmitchell6125]

I believe the A stands for aluminum and T is the titanium variant.

[@DaleStone]

That's the consensus, but which bit is that referring to specifically?

[@davidbolam71]

Have you tested the Formula Cura brakes yet?

[@DaleStone]

Not beyond parking lots

[@davidbolam71]

Cheaper than most of the brands you’ve tested so far, especially if you buy them from Europe.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Great performance, just that build quality for how much they cost. If they were cheaper than XT or Lewis then sure, but not at a price that is up there with TRP DH-R Evos, Hopes and Code RSCs.

[@DaleStone]

I'd argue that they trade some build quality for some performance, especially compared to Codes or TRPs. It's almost always going to be a tradeoff!

[@brandonb6164]

Please try the Radic Kaha brakes!

[@justind5262]

Hey do you plan on doing a trp dhr evo review?

[@DaleStone]

If someone sends over a pair for sure! Haha