Intend's New Trinity Brake System Hides High-Tech Features

Mar 24, 2023
by Matt Beer  
photo

Intend BC manufactures quality, boutique components like inverted single-crown forks and freewheeling crank systems in Freiburg, Germany. Their latest creation is the Trinity Brake System, which is a machined 4-piston caliper that features high-tech functions with two models, one for trail/enduro riding and another for downhill racing with cooling fins. The brakes run on mineral oil, use black titanium bolts, and feature a free-spinning master cylinder hose connection.

One of the major design features of the Trinity brakes is their minimal dead stroke that uses a 46:1 leverage ratio. The lever itself pivots on four bearings and has a massive range of reach. A single pinch bolt attaches the lever to the bar and has space to accommodate SRAM’s MatchMaker connector for other controls. The hose entry is protected behind the pivot and a trick connection allows for 360 degrees of rotation to best avoid damage.

Intend Trinity Brakes
Intend Trinity Brakes

The two-piece caliper is CNC’d from 7075 aluminum, housing four 17mm pistons and contains a banjo fitting with an adjustable angle. Cleverly, Intend offsets the depth at which the seals on each side of the caliper sit, rather than using a bigger piston in the front than the rear in order to create a consistent brake pressure and even pad wear. In total, the Trinity enduro system weighs 244g while the DH version is just 13g more, including the lever and 85mm hose.

Then there’s also the “Painless” technology developed for easy fitment, bleeding, and piston alignment. Intend BC founder, Cornelius Kapfinger, explains in full detail with this in-depth look at the brake architecture. As for the Refrigerator cooling fins, they mount around the forward piston, so rattling noises shouldn’t be an issue. The fin itself protrudes towards the front of the pad where the generated heat is highest.

photo
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The price ranges from €798 – €903 (excluding VAT/UST) per pair, depending on which brake mount and pad options you choose from. The bleed kit, oil, spare seals, piston spacer, and standard “White Magic” SRAM-size pads are included in that base price. The “Refrigerator” option with cooling fins and Intend’s brake mounts can be purchased for €37 and €14 per caliper. Rotors will have to be purchased separately.

A first production run has already sold out from Intend-bc.com, but a second batch of fifty sets is said to be on its way and ready for sale in two to three months.

Intend Trinity Brakes


Author Info:
mattbeer avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2001
355 articles

149 Comments
  • 103 18
 Honestly, 900$ seems to be a pretty fair price for these. They seem to be really well designed, and considering the time it takes to make a batch of 50, there are considerable man hours in each one. Idd never get it, but I think its really nice to see innovation.
  • 22 10
 I don't get the pricing tbh. These seem to be a load more expensive compared to other brake options than intends forks are to the regular fork options.

If they made them in chrome/raw though....ask me again!
  • 22 2
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: Like most things in the cycling world: economies of scale
  • 11 2
 @dorkmire: that would apply to their forks too. I get that its boutique/small.

I rather think they're priced based on what trickstuff brakes go for.
  • 4 0
 for some reason it commented twice, and i dont know how do delete so i just edited it
  • 22 1
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: a set of code rsc's is about $530 that is 60% of $850 (the middle most expensive intend brake option) . A pike ultimate is $1054 msrp (and can be found a lot cheaper) which is 54% of $1935 dollars( the price of intends equivalent trail fork).

so proportionally the brakes are less of a mark up than their forks are (Using top end sram products as an equivalent).
  • 27 1
 @huvudvind: that's some top maths there.

I guess that makes sense. F*ck me those code rsc's seem a rip off!
  • 25 4
 if you consider that a set of shitty codes ultimate are 700 Euro, and these 950, the quality between the two is oceans apart
  • 13 32
flag mhoshal (Mar 24, 2023 at 13:21) (Below Threshold)
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: until you use codes and then realise you never wanna use another brake again!! I will rock my 2011 chrome codes until the fall apart!! Ive been on them a decade now and have to say they have outlasted any other brake ive used by miles!!!
  • 6 0
 @mhoshal: did you say.....chrome?
  • 4 0
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz:
Well, Kapfinger did use to work at Trickstuff, and the pricing is similar
  • 7 4
 Yes, it makes sense for custom made brakes to cost this much BUT most of us are not going to buy $900 USD brakes.

If they could make this brake in a production oriented design with all the same features for half that price, I'd buy it; and so would many others.

#myTRPbrakesworkfine
  • 4 1
 I want these so bad, but just like Hays Dominion’s the fear of needing replacement parts on a destination trip will prevent me from buying them when everyone has Code parts……. But if I got 3 I’d always have a spare!! Hmmmmmmm
  • 6 1
 @NicolaZesty314: to be fair, one can get a set of code ultimates sometimes for less than 300 euros. You won't see these big discounts on intend brakes
  • 8 20
flag notthatfast (Mar 24, 2023 at 14:24) (Below Threshold)
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz:
I mean Code RSCs are probably the best and most reliable mass-market brakes out there so I'm fine with it.
  • 13 5
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: Do you get it?
Do you know what machine time is worth on a CNC?
raw materials, finishing, protective coating, packaging, etc?
Do you have an understanding of what those costs are for a small company?

I'm guessing you want to be paid a decent wage for the work you do, so do you understand the costs involved with manpower, benefits, rentals/mortgages, electricity, etc?

People are free to make, and price things as they see fit, the market gets to decide if its successful or not
  • 4 7
 @NicolaZesty314: So you know that the Code Ultimates, which were released to public knowledge on Monday, are shitty? Please advise how you came by this insight so quickly?
  • 5 1
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: German skilled labour @ €45,622 per annum versus €13,943 per annum in Taiwan would be a good start. Then add materials sourced from Europe rather than China and it will all add up pretty quickly.
  • 3 0
 @sanchofula:

And so I run Hopes..with trickstuff mounts ;-) ..never looked back tho I might look sideways at trickstuff and Intend brake sets often....

The prices and lead times are just off the charts..maybe if I was 20 yrs younger...
  • 1 1
 @andrewbikeguide: the new Codes are the same like the old ones apart from the angle of the lever body to the bar and the carbon lever on the ultimate version.
Far from shitty nevertheless
  • 2 0
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: They're a small enough company I bet they'd send you a pair that aren't anodized.
  • 4 2
 @onawalk: yes I do mate. I work in engineering/manufacturing. That's why 900 euros retail does not make any sense to me. They calipers aren't even monobloc.

I do think they are market priced and fair play to intend that they have the kudos to pull it off.
  • 4 0
 @andrewbikeguide: in my head it adds up to Hope pricing plus a bit for relative scale of intend to Hope.

Not 900 euros.

I'm sure intend will be successful at these prices though.

I'm not bitching....its just remarkable it hasn't raised more eyebrows.
  • 4 1
 @Chief2slo: I run Hopes and I am sure I will not get spare parts in all parts of the world.
But I will not need them.
And I travelled Nepal and stuff like that.
It's just a shimano / sram Problem. ;-)
  • 2 1
 @notthatfast: I wouldn't praise so much. Twice a year, the brake caliper must be serviced, because there is always a stuck piston.
When I rode Shimano Saint, it didn't need to be done for 3-4 years.
  • 1 0
 @davemays: they don't make non-anodized parts anymore and they have their reasons (I practically begged for a silver shock but they cannae do it).
  • 1 0
 @bashhard: im not talking about the current ones, the new ultimates that just came out, that suck like the last ones.
  • 1 0
 @andrewbikeguide: cause if you even read about them they’re just changed aesthetically, it’s pure cosmetic, so, it’s the same shit, again
  • 3 3
 A good design would be more straightforward to manufacture. Don’t mistake complexity with quality.
  • 1 0
 @bummel42: I’m sure 99% of the time it’s fine, but I’m a “2 is one, one is none” kind of guy! But I do already carry a full code RSC assembly with me so I could do the same for them… but it’ll cost me a lot more!
  • 3 1
 @ShredG: Ditto, I have the new Hope Tech 4 V4 on two of my bikes and they are absolutely PHENOMENAL. I still have a few sets of Code RSC's laying around in case I decide I don't like the Hope anymore, but I don't see that happening. What I DO miss is the Bleeding Edge bleeding system from SRAM, now that is a painless bleed. Hope on the other hand, even with the Tech 4 bleed kit, just is a bit messy. Still have to bleed fluid into a bucket. But hot dayum are the Hope Tech 4 V4's gorgeous to look at, dare I say prettier than any Intend or Trickstuff out there.
  • 1 0
 @mcharza:
We can agree to disagree then. If you ride regularly you should be servicing your calipers that frequently regardless of brand.
Also Saints are well known for leaking oil out of the pistons so they're hardly a reliable benchmark.
  • 3 2
 I mean you can all downvote me but there are reasons pros still use them at rampage over newer brakes!!!
  • 1 0
 @Chief2slo: the thing with Hayes dominions. They won't need service parts
  • 1 6
flag thewanderingtramp (Mar 26, 2023 at 5:56) (Below Threshold)
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: "They calipers aren't even monobloc." I actually lolled so hard

I had to assume you were the cleaner at an engineering/manufacturing company or one of those people who listens to engineers talk then goes and tells someone higher up the chain of command the exact opposite of what the engineer meant.
  • 4 0
 @thewanderingtramp: I don't think we met before but you are very rude.

monoblocs are cheaper to manufacture are they?

Not expressing an opinion about whether monobloc are better or not. Just how much these intends might cost to make.
  • 2 0
 @The-Spirit-of-Jazz: my apprentice works in construction, but I certainly take most of what he says with a grain of salt……and tell others not take what he said as if it came from the site super.

Hope and Intend are at very different places in terms of scale, and production levels, but clearly you already know that.
  • 1 0
 Razz why tho? is it really that expensive to produce? It should be priced and produced for the masses. Im sure its possible, i believe this brakes should somehow be made for mainstream. Right now they seem a bit high priced IMO.
Still i would get them just to test them they look so proper.
  • 24 0
 Yes, I have purchased nice entire bikes for less than these brakes. Yes, I could buy 7 or 8 sets of perfectly adequate Shimano brakes for less than one set of these brakes. Yes, I still want these brakes. I love a good brake. Bike jewelry at its finest.
  • 25 2
 Is it bad that I would rather run these and a Microshift Advent then the new AXS setup and some reasonable spec brakes?
  • 3 11
flag sanchofula (Mar 24, 2023 at 14:05) (Below Threshold)
 $700 "nice bike"?

Sure from Walmart, maybe they even threw in some discounted lunch meat Wink
  • 5 0
 @sanchofula: Not NEW bike, not recently, not MTB, but nice bike, yes.
  • 6 0
 @93EXCivic: Couldn't agree more
  • 5 0
 @93EXCivic: no, brakes are infinitely more important than gears. Without one, you can't go anywhere, without the other, youre going into a tree at mach 10. I know which I'll take.
  • 4 0
 @93EXCivic: no that is smart use of money
...i run advent x and a intend edge!
  • 2 0
 If you are in a position where you can spend $900 for some product that you don't need, there is nothing wrong with spending it on stuff from Intend because you are getting quality. Yes, it won't make you faster, but it will definitely be more robust than other systems given the same abuse. The manufacturing tolerances are tighter, everything is metal with proper treatment, and systems are rebuildable, which means that you will spend less time dealing with brake issues with less maintenance.

The big issue with most expensive parts in MTB is that you are not getting any additional value.
  • 4 0
 I intend to start saving for this trick stuff.
  • 1 1
 @sanchofula: they may be old. $700 was xt and a nice frame, once upon a time!
  • 37 11
 What kind of riding are these Intended for?
  • 56 4
 As long as is written in article: "In total, the Trinity enduro system weighs 244g while the DH version is just 13g more, including the lever and 85mm hose.", I suppose it's for road bikes...
  • 55 1
 Horseback
  • 98 1
 reverse cowgirl
  • 26 5
 For people with bmx backgrounds
  • 1 0
 @slickwilly1: I've already got a set on order for mu cozy coupe.
  • 18 3
 I'm not sure if your pun usage had its Intended affect
  • 1 0
 BC style
  • 2 1
 @nfontanella: My horse has an automatic braking system built in, nothing aftermarket can compare.
  • 1 0
 the Trinity of trail, enduro, and DH
  • 2 2
 Bareback?
  • 5 1
 Downcountry.
  • 11 0
 These are so sweet! Ready for another batch of em to come out.

youtu.be/_79juE8JBa0

The run through of them is worth the watch too.
  • 3 0
 The sealable hose barb and no compression fitting is an awesome ideal for internal routing! Replacing bearings the other week would have been nice to take off the rear triangle without having to cut the hose to remove it
  • 8 0
 They seem very thought-out. With the Intend and Trickstuff components he designed being top level, I'm sure these brakes will be great as well. Not in my budget, but sold out anyway
  • 8 0
 It's cool that the hoses can pivot. That'd allow me to rotate them so that they rub the bar as much as possible, since I hear that's the hot new trend.
  • 10 0
 My kids don't need clothes, dad needs to stop in style.
  • 8 3
 "Cleverly, Intend offsets the depth at which the seals on each side of the caliper sit, rather than using a bigger piston in the front than the rear in order to create a consistent brake pressure and even pad wear."

You what? Please tell me this was written by a marketing guy, cos it makes zero sense...
  • 2 2
 But it sounds cool. Job done.
  • 2 0
 It was probably written by Matt. As Cornelius explains in his video, the piston / seals offset is done to bring the pistons closer together and get a smaller overall size of the caliper.
  • 4 1
 Why do companies use ball bearings in brake levers? Bushings are literally the perfect solution here. Alignment is assured unlike a frame, low speed, high forces, light weight.

I want to hear about the durability of the master piston etc, what coatings they use?
  • 3 0
 Gosh I sure do love everything that Intend makes (well, that 1-1/2 crown fork isn't gonna hear me say I Love You anytime soon). Sadly, they are a bit out of my price range, but if I start making more money then I guarantee Intend will too.
  • 3 0
 They revisited Hayes' old Prime Expert & Pro poppet valve design on the MC piston and use uninsulated steel pistons at the caliper. There's a lot of interesting design features on these, but there are some pretty questionable ones too.
  • 2 0
 These are super sick and pretty good value compared to other brakes considering they are quite boutique. I would definitely fork out the money for em if I was a middle aged man with a 6-fig salary.

I have to say though for AU$350 (€215) for two sets, Shimano's MT520s are f*cking insane
  • 5 0
 They should call him Cornelius Goldfinger because he has a midas touch. Wow!
  • 3 1
 that moment when 60 bucks Shimano pads do not feel as something ridiculous anymore Big Grin . Love my Shimano XT but just cannot get over the fact that 2 pairs of brake pads for my car are cheaper and that is OEM, not some eBay junk.
  • 6 0
 Try getting the non-finned pads. Much cheaper and I haven't noticed a difference in performance in real world use
  • 2 0
 @QuantumIce: this. Finned pads are for looking cool, spending more money or racing, in that order of priority. I always found the icetec rotors to do far more for cooling than the pads, especially with other pads being able to brake later.
  • 1 1
 Order the non finned pads from amazon. Work just as well, I think i paid like $10 for 4 sets.
  • 1 0
 not sure what you all talking about, non finned one is 5 bucks less than a finned one. So doesn't make much more difference. 10 bucks from eBay - I've yet to see good ones
  • 2 1
 Why is it that companies are not selling their ebikes as frame only??? wouldn’t that help a lot of people transition into the ebike realm without selling their cars or getting a loan? i know its a great idea, and I should have credit for calling out companies for this one simple trick.
  • 3 2
 Hypothesis: the e-bike market (lazy and/or out of shape people) aren’t about to put the effort into sourcing parts and building a moped themselves. The zen of biking and bike maintenance is lost on that crowd.
  • 1 0
 Big S does that
  • 1 0
 @initforthedonuts: A buddy of mine told me everyone in Colorado Springs that likes donuts is a dick. I disagreed with him - that would be a huge generalization with no thorough analytics put into it, or even just plain thought.

Some people swap every single component on their eebs themselves. And do their own suspension mods/rebuilds because they love bikes - for longer than some donut lovers have been alive. Just sayin.
  • 1 0
 @GeneralGroovus: that’s fair. But most are fat/lazy/ full of excuses. These facts have been gathered by completely non-scientific means, but may offend those to whom they apply.
  • 1 0
 @initforthedonuts: All good, personally not offended - still hitting the jumplines and shralping berms. Keeping up with a 19yr old that lands in manuals ain't easy. The fat guys are having their fun. I'm ok with that. Lol - for a good back handed compliment I like "man, you were really moving when I passed you"

Hopefully you'll be rippin when you're in your 60's. The TQ eebs are gonna be something. To each his own. Fully rigid in the 80's sucked. But it was fun too, we just didn't know any better. The older eeb groups in my neck of the woods tear it up. Santa Cruz too. Pre storms, ugh. Ride On!
  • 4 0
 Ok, at this rate, how long before we see a bike with a 20k + OEM price tag?
  • 1 0
 specialised epic in a month or two
  • 1 0
 These look really nice, but while I could afford some (or Trickstuff) and appreciate craftwork, my mind can't just wrap itself around the idea of spending almost a month of minimum wage (1200€ here) in such a tiny component which some fairly decent mass produced Japan-made equivalent exist.
  • 4 3
 46:1. 4 bearings. 1 bolt. 360 degrees.

Lots of numbers and "features". Do any of them matter?

What's a "normal" ratio? Why does it need 4 bearings when it's only taking the load from one finger? Lots of brakes use a single bolt for the clamp, so what? When would the hose being able to twist 360 degrees at the lever ever save it from damage?
  • 1 0
 "Cleverly, Intend offsets the depth at which the seals on each side of the caliper sit, rather than using a bigger piston in the front than the rear in order to create a consistent brake pressure and even pad wear"

In the video, he mentions the offset seals as a way to get bigger pistons into a smaller package (that won't interfere with current/common forks and adapters). And it makes space for the cooling fin. Says _nothing_ about consistent pressure or pad wear.
  • 4 0
 I could possibly postpone servicing my car...
  • 2 0
 These look amazing. I'll never pay 1000$ for a pair of brakes when Curas can be had for 250$ but if money were no object these would be my choice.
  • 3 0
 A set of Klampers with matching levers can cost $750, so these don’t seem too crazy!
  • 2 0
 Metal pistons, eh? I know that Hope for example changed from metal pistons to phenolic plastic many years ago. Anybody who can explain the pros and cons of a metal piston?
  • 4 0
 Metal pistons move more smoothly and transfer more heat into the brake fluid. Phenolic pistons vica versa. That's why Hope went to hybrid pistons.
  • 4 0
 TAKE MY MONEY
  • 7 0
 they can't because sold out
  • 3 1
 @vhdh666: they can still take his money. He just won’t get anything in return lol
  • 1 1
 they can take my money too, it’s just not gonna be anywhere near $900 lol
  • 3 0
 Is this what Grafton would be doing if they were still around?
  • 3 0
 In anodized purple, blue, and red.
  • 1 0
 I grew BMX in the 80's & 90's and started riding /racing MTB mid 1990's. I mechaniced on the MTB and BMX national scene much of that time as well. Every single pair of Grafton cranks we sold or I ever saw cracked or just broke off. Not saying they couldn't evolve, but......... Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Second batch in only a couple months? That’s 6x faster than Trickstuff. Sold!
  • 1 2
 I got 2pot xts instead of saints this go around. I have not noticed much difference but haven't bike parked em yet. I couldn't imagine needing more than what saints offer. But fancy and small batches is a thing people like
  • 1 1
 A lot of bike stuff is overpriced, but this seems like a fair price given the quality. Intend really seems to be making the coolest parts out there
  • 1 0
 thats almost the same price as for pair of Hope Tech4 V4 with disks. Reasonable price for the tech tho
  • 1 0
 I have Trickstuff for 5 years of abuse... worth every euro spent. I think these are the same.
  • 1 0
 Looking very similar to piccola HDs at the master cylinder. Probably a great brake!
  • 1 0
 lol looks like a custom made reverse shigura Magura lever, Shimano caliper
  • 4 3
 I'm sold when i readed "Cornelius Kapfinger"

Seems the name of the villain of a new Bond movie
  • 1 0
 I’d say it’s the dark pictures “hiding the high-tech features.” How’s the rotating connection work?
  • 2 1
 Will these be the colorful CNC machined overpriced brakes that don't work for the person with 5Dev cranks, i9 Stem etc???
  • 2 0
 5dev cranks and I9 stems are almost "cheap".
More like Sturdy cranks and 5dev stems....
  • 2 0
 @Bitelio: I was referring to those products in particular because they are expensive, anodized AND unreliable. But I suspect we’ll have a lot of colorful, expensive and fragile options soon. Hate seeing this trend return.
  • 1 0
 @wyorider: wait how are 5 Dev cranks unreliable?
  • 1 0
 Cornelius designed some Trickstuff brakes and great suspension as well as othe parts. These brakes will probably be some of the best on the market
  • 1 0
 @Bitelio: pfft, what sort of mug buys them?
  • 1 0
 He was afaik mostly responsible for the Trickstuff brake when he worked there, so these should be some serious stoppers!!!
  • 1 3
 Forks (many designs), shocks, cranks, stems, now brakes? The hubris on this guy to think he can do all of them better than the companies that specialize in these things, that have had decades of experience, with failures and successes to learn from. Maybe pick one, make it ridiculously good, get some economies of scale, get it in more people's hands, make a real difference.
  • 3 0
 Well, I mean, the guy worked in Trickstuff as an engineer to create the best breakes in the world...
  • 1 0
 @Auxx: Define best
  • 1 0
 @Auxx: and that means he can make great forks?
  • 2 0
 @justinfoil : the guy has been making forks for something like 5 or 6 years now? And already designed extremely successful brakes at another company that have been out for years? He can't make a difference if you don't buy one of his products.
  • 1 0
 24 months delivery period?
  • 2 1
 I heard they have a single-Kapfinger lever action
  • 1 0
 holy sheet almost half the weight of my hayes a4 dominion!
  • 1 0
 Dominions are 0.5kg each end?
  • 1 0
 How much better could this be?
  • 1 0
 I'd love to try these, they look pretty sick Big Grin \m/
  • 1 0
 Gotta be the best looking brakes out there!
  • 1 1
 Well they look rad and thats pretty much most of the value proposition with mountain bike brakes. Wink
  • 2 1
 brakes are definitely something that's well worth overpaying for
  • 1 1
 I always thought Intend & Trickstuff were the same company. So what's with the suspension division making brakes?
  • 1 0
 they are not. Cornelius formerly worked for Trickstuff and then created his own company Intend
  • 1 1
 They’ll be perfect on a dentist's bike.
  • 2 4
 Is minimal dead stroke really a good thing?
I did a winter ride on some Saints that developed "minimal dead stroke" and almost died a few times.
  • 4 1
 Minimal Dead Stroke combined with good modulation is a great thing. I rode with Trickstuff for a bit and that is a good way to describe them...
  • 2 2
 Yes huge difference in braking confidence and reaction time. Sram brakes are painfully slow to engage,braking times are way longer with a ton of death stroke in the lever.
  • 4 0
 U need to work on your Trigger control, or get some mushy srams
  • 1 0
 @sam2222: That thing sure looks like a mush bucket with a metric crap load of free stroke when he squeezes the lever...Smile

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_79juE8JBa0&t=1302s&ab_channel=IntendBicycleComponents
  • 8 11
 So it still has a front brake hose that will stick out like a sore thumb and not look neato? Come on bike industry, do better.
  • 17 0
 I just cut that ugly part off, braking performance suffers a tad, but visually it is an improvement.
If you don't like the soft feel of the lever afterwards you can find a plug (thank you Amazon!) for next to nothing which after bleeding the lever and installing the plug returns a firmer feel to the lever similar to the rear.
  • 2 1
 What i did was "wrap" my front brake hose in the color theme of my bike. It looks cool, adds drip, and is an easy soultion.
  • 9 0
 @tkrug: Awesome hack! Now if I could just find a way to hide my ugly, dirty pedals my bike will be so bitchin.
  • 9 0
 @DBone95: I recommend taking off the pedals and seat and riding directly on the seat post for a much cleaner look.
  • 3 0
 @MauiMax: Integrated seat post!
  • 1 0
 @joostd: Without the seat if you hit a jump it could end up integrated into more than just the bike
  • 2 0
 @MauiMax: It won’t be so clean and tidy after a few miles. And don’t get me started on the bike…
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