Product Review: TRP R979 EQ Road Brakes

TRP has been around for quite some time making one of the most important pieces of equipment for your bike. Whether it’s disc brakes or rim brake calipers, TRP has a niche market on making some of the best brakes on the market.

The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team has been using the TRP R979 EQ Magnesium Brakes for the last few seasons, with plenty of miles of racing and training on the TRP R979 EQ’s. The TRP R979 EQ’s magnesium caliper brakes with titanium parts make for the ultimate upgrade to any bike, especially if your looking for feathery light weight upgrade that doesn’t sacrifice your braking confidence.

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The one thing I really like about the TRP R979 EQ’s is the modulation on how they slow you down just enough to navigate any correction that you might need to make when speeding down that twisty decent. Paired with the proper brake pads for aluminum or carbon rims you will feel confident with the way the TRP R979 EQ brakes handle, especially considering their weight which is 130 grams per caliper.

Some other nice features include the CNC machined aluminum brake pad holders. Which are nice when you have to switch out brake pads for alloy or carbon rims.

Additional features include the cam style release and the additional patented sliding release when swapping out wheels. They also work with a 30 mm rim width.

The TRP R979 EQ’s are stiff due to the forged and CNC machined magnesium arms so you don’t lose any stopping power when you have to grab a hand full of your brake levers. The CNC machined magnesium arms also adds to the weight reduction as magnesium is lighter than forged aluminum alloy which is most commonly used on most brakes on the market. Magnesium is a more difficult material to work with when it comes to CNC machining them. When it comes to the price of these ultra light weight brakes, they don’t come cheap as they retail for $629.99, but are a great investment.

The Bottom Line – The TRP R979 EQ Magnesium Brakes are Reliable, Efficient, Incredibly Light Weight and Easy to Maintain. Oh and Cool Looking!

The Specs:

Ultra-light dual pivot caliper brake
Forged / CNC machined magnesium arms
Inplace Road CNC adjustable angle cartridge pad holders
TRP Carbon and Aluminum compound pads included
Titanium hardware
Cam and Patented Sliding quick release
Color: Matte Black or White
Reach: 39-49mm
Weight: 130 grams per caliper
Maximum Rim Width: 30mm
Sold as a Pair (front and rear)

MSRP: $629.99

For more information or to purchase TRP brakes, please visit trpbrakes.com.

Review by Frank Sarate / SoCalCycling.com

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