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Spy Shot! TRP Hydraulic Road Brake Lever with Integrated Di2 Buttons

Written by Tyler Benedict
TRP prototype Di2 hydraulic brake lever for road bikes
27 Comments
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TRP prototype Di2 hydraulic brake lever for road bikes

Thanks to an anonymous tipster we just got this photo of an early prototype of TRP’s forthcoming hydraulic road brake lever with integrated Di2 buttons. This one was taken at the Taipei bike show in December, but we’re expecting to see a more polished final version in a few weeks when they unveil it to OEM folks at Taichung. We have it on pretty good authority that the button layout and shape will change dramatically, but that the lever shape will look very similar to what you see here.

Thanks to the easily hackable nature of Shimano’s Di2 system, we suspect TRP’s not the only non-drivetrain brand working on something similar.

We’ve been promised early photos of the new version, so stay tuned!
Tyler Benedict
11,281 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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27 Comments
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LB
LB
12 years ago

they should learn how to tape bars before venturing into hydraulics …

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chadquest
chadquest
12 years ago

That looks easy to use with gloves………..

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Matt
Matt
12 years ago

Combine this with the fact that TRP was saying (in your crash-report) that they were coming out with a sweet no-bleed connection system and we might have ourselves a real winner.

Hydraulic and electric shifting seem like they’d be like peas and carrots together. The non-tech lovers can keep their cables and the tech-lovers can get both of what they want.

What would be really cool is if they could also make some sort of integrated ABS system. If you’re already running electronics, why not go all the way?

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ryan
ryan
12 years ago

Now if they could wrap a handlebar properly they would be all set!

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Dan
Dan
12 years ago

You must be a Dentist. ABS ha

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James
James
12 years ago

I hope they get a bit better at wrapping bars to show off their shiny prototypes.

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Matt
Matt
12 years ago

Nope, engineer.

I used to think tech like this was just stupid, but after getting in a wreck on my motorcycle at <30mph speeds that could have been easily prevented with ABS.

Plus, the implementation shouldn't be too hard once you've already got a power-system in the mix. Just put a small solenoid on the brake cylinder and some sensor on/near the caliper and you could make it work.

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Singletrackroadie
Singletrackroadie
12 years ago

Hopefully the people building it is beter at brakes than wrapping handlebar tape.

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anon
anon
12 years ago

why would you even bother making a mold like this ?
we have alloy levers, di2 button shifters not blades, what looks like a grossly un-ergo design
and no toolless adjustment.
why didnt they build around their carbon single speed road lever?
looking at this i would take the Di2 stock lever any day

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Evan
Evan
12 years ago

I’ve been wondering when this would finally happen but I’d be awfully surprised if Shimano actually lets them sell it.

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kyle
kyle
12 years ago

holy hell those are ugly

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Brandon
Brandon
12 years ago

Not only are these bars wrapped like crap, they are wrapped like crap AT A BIKE SHOW ON DISPLAY. Wow.

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Chris
Chris
12 years ago

Love the idea, but the button configuration will not play well with full finger gloves. The buttons are small and close together. I’m certain we’ll see this style appear though as it will play so well with hydraulics, I just hope they think it through properly first.

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WannaBeSTi
WannaBeSTi
12 years ago

Hey! I want to say it too…bad bar wrap. That makes me, like, the 6th coolest kid! Yeah!

At least give the wrapper some credit, he did one of the harder things about wrapping bars…he kept it symmetrical.

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django
django
12 years ago

I sincerely hope you’re kidding about ABS. What happened to just riding your bike? Do you even know how? Silly engineer with no skills needs extra technology for those epic, Rapha inspired weekend club rides with his dentist friends. Tsk tsk tsk.

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Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

These look way better than SRAM’s in my opinion.

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reynard
reynard
12 years ago

Has anybody mentioned the bad handlebar wrap job yet?

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Evan
Evan
12 years ago

As for ABS, there was a small company at the 2010 Taipei show displaying a system. Seemed to work really well and I can actually see it being helpful in some situations. Don’t condemn something you haven’t tried.

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Ralphy
Ralphy
12 years ago

To everyone moaning about the buttons, the article was five sentences long, did you miss this one?: “We have it on pretty good authority that the button layout and shape will change dramatically”

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Matt
Matt
12 years ago

@Evan
Thanks for the tip. I did a little digging and it appears that this is the company sporting an ABS system in Taipei:
http://www.sabs-us.com/

Not sure if I’d use it, but cool to see stuff like this created. And that’s ultimately the fun for guys like me. Let’s try some new things, see what works, and as you said don’t knock it till you try it.

@django
Sadly I don’t have any dentist friends. Likely because I use an mechanical toothbrush. But why on earth would I need tech like that when a hog-bristle toothbrush and some baking soda will do just fine?

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Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

I wonder if a company can incorporate the master cylinder inside the handlebar. Is it possibly to integrate those two components?

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ds690
ds690
12 years ago

The real issue with road disc brakes is failure due to heat build up and ABS will do nothing to prevent that. ABS will only prevent your brakes from locking and skidding. If you can’t properly modulate your brakes to keep them from locking up, maybe you should find another sport because I certainly don’t want to ride anywhere near you.

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anon
anon
12 years ago

@ds690
you idiot ABS on a bike is there so that when you grab your brakes really hard in an OH SH!T moment that they dont look up on you. They are not for modulation purposes at all, they are there to make you stop faster.
I doubt its the ABS system in modern cars that helps people modulate their speed around corners.

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David
David
12 years ago

@anon – All of us come equipped with ABS. It’s called a brain and the ability to control how hard we squeeze the brake lever to prevent lock up. And you are correct, it’s not ABS that helps people modulate their speed around corners, it’s the aforementioned brain and ability to control how hard they apply the brakes. ABS is not necessary on a bike, but those with more money than skill will just have to have it on theirs to impress all the folks at the coffee shop ride.

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Robin
Robin
12 years ago

@ David: it’s beautiful when snobbery rises to the top as it does in your judgmental post. What group do you think you fit in that you’re so much better than those you upon whom you spray disdain?

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cjeder
cjeder
12 years ago

I like the zip tie routing the hydro line above the internal cable port.

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Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

Looks like they are gonna have anodized red calipers. (Blurry back ground photo)

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