TRP Trail EVO Brakes Review with Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro 2 Pads TRP E.23 Rotors

Gorilla Brakes Ride Test

We tested the TRP Trail EVO brakes fitted to our new Priority Vanth demo bike using Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro 2 compound brake pads and TRP E.23 rotors to see how they perform under real UK trail riding conditions.

First Impressions of the TRP Trail EVO

When our new demo bike arrived the Priority Vanth gearbox bike it came supplied with the TRP Trail EVO brake system paired with TRP E.23 rotors.

While the new HINE-R brake system is still in development, we decided to keep the Trail EVO setup on the bike for a few weeks so we could properly test them, push them hard, and create some real-world content for riders looking at aftermarket brake pad upgrades.

Straight away we swapped to the Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro 2 compound to see how the system behaved under harder riding and repeated heat cycles.

First Thing We Checked: Brake Bleeding

One of the first things we did when the bike arrived was leave it upside down for around an hour before riding.

Why? Because air inside a hydraulic brake system travels upward. When a bike is upside down, trapped air can migrate toward the caliper which increases lever travel and quickly shows whether the system needs bleeding. You cannot always do this on every brake system depending on the internal master cylinder design.

The Trail EVO brakes still felt consistent afterwards which was a good sign, but in general we always recommend checking or bleeding brakes before serious riding on any brand-new bike.

A brake can feel perfectly fine on a shop floor because the air bubble is sitting high inside the system. Once the brakes get hot on a long descent or rough terrain, the air moves, expands, and lever feel can suddenly deteriorate very quickly.

It is always worth checking with the bike shop you purchased from and asking if the brakes have been properly bled before delivery.

Trail Performance & Modulation

First impressions of the TRP Trail EVO were genuinely good.

The initial lever pull feels light and smooth, but the power ramps up quickly with a firm bite point that makes locking the wheel easy when needed.

On fast bridleway runs and some rough off-piste local trails around Lancaster, the brakes felt powerful and predictable with very good modulation.

The Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro 2 compound handled heat exactly as expected. Even during repeated heavy braking the power remained stable with no noticeable fade and very consistent friction under load.

This is exactly where a high-performance aftermarket compound can make a difference. The hydraulic system creates the stopping force, but the brake pad controls how that force is delivered to the rotor.

Build Quality & Design

Visually, the TRP Trail EVO sits somewhere between performance-focused and budget-conscious.

The cast aluminium calipers actually look quite good and feel solid, but the levers are fairly basic visually compared to some higher-end CNC setups.

Riders chasing maximum bling or premium machining will probably want something more refined aesthetically, but functionally the Trail EVO works very well.

The lever reach adjustment is easy to use, the ergonomics feel comfortable, and overall the braking performance is stronger than the visual appearance might suggest.

Full Brake Strip Down Coming Soon

Over the next couple of weeks we will be fully stripping the TRP Trail EVO brakes down to inspect the internals, piston bores, seal design, fluid routing, and bleed architecture.

Looking inside a hydraulic brake system tells you a huge amount about long-term maintenance, piston retraction behaviour, bleed quality, and where air bubbles can become trapped inside the system.

We will also compare the internal design philosophies against some of the concepts we are developing with the HINE-R brake project.

Final Thoughts

The TRP Trail EVO might not be the flashiest brake on the market, but so far it has impressed us with strong power delivery, good modulation, and predictable braking feel.

Paired with Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro 2 pads and the TRP E.23 rotors, the setup feels very capable for aggressive trail riding and heavier bikes.

If you are running Trail EVO, DH-R EVO, Slate, Quadiem or other compatible TRP systems and want more consistent braking under heat, upgrading to a premium aftermarket compound is one of the biggest improvements you can make.