EB18: TRP expands G-Spec line to trail bikes, more price points

Last year, TRP introduced the G-Spec DH brakeset that was designed with input from Aaron Gwin. Now, that R&D is getting spread into several new models aimed at the far more ubiquitous “trail” category. The 2019 TRP G-Spec Trail gets three versions to hit different price points, a slimmer master cylinder body, and downsizes the pistons slightly to improve modulation.

The DH caliper has four 16mm pistons. This new G-Spec Trail version gets a 16/14mm pairing. Same casting, just a different bore.

New lever that gets a composite cover and slimmer profile.

Three levels will be available:

• SLC (carbon lever, hybrid pistons, steel piston with ceramic insert – about $230/wheel)
• SL (alloy lever, probably mostly an OEM option)
• S (loses indexed reach adjust, but still has an external knob, about $300/pair without rotors)

The SLC and SL models keep the anodized finish, CNC’d fins on the caliper and phenolic pistons (left), but S gets a standard painted caliper and hollow steel pistons. They’ll be available this fall. Weights are TBD, but should shave about 20g off the DH models.

The G-Spec Quadiem becomes the G-Spec DH, helping clarify the intended use with a new naming scheme. These get two new options, one with a black ano and carbon lever at the high end ($220-$230/wheel), and one that’s painted with an alloy lever at the low end ($150/wheel) Available in the fall, same performance for both, just different finishing and materials.

It wouldn’t be a proper Eurobike launch if there wasn’t something for eMTB, so they also showed off the new TRP G-SPec eMTB brakes.

They get a 2.3mm thick rotor, which is 30% thicker than their standard rotors, which they say helps keep heat about 9% lower. That’s too thick for regular calipers, so you can’t swap them in for your regular mountain bike brakes. To make it work, the e-calipers start with the pads’ retraction point set a little wider. They used FEA to optimize the design for heat management without giving up power. Uses the same lever as the G-Spec Trail but with different branding.

TRPbrakes.com