Hope Technology has ramped up its lights for 2012, with the R8 packing eight Cree XPG LEDs for eyesight blinding 2000 Lumens of output.

The cluster of LEDs are packed tightly into a small CNC machined unit with Hope’s own custom optic that lets you choose from a range of beam angles with different modes depending on the riding you’re doing. A Race setting offers the highest power setting while a Trail sequence is a more economical setting with spot or flood.

A small LCD screen displays important information such as battery usage and which mode you’ve selected . The light clips to the handlebars using a simple to use bayonet-style quick release clamp, which can also be used to affix it to a helmet.

The smaller R4 uses just four Cree XPG LEGs with a combined output of 1000 Lumens, 65% up on the previous Vision 4 light which this one replaces.

It’s much smaller and lighter than its predecessor to, and makes it a much more versatile investment. A helmet mount opens it up for running, adventure racing, caving and other sports beside mountain biking.

With cyclo-cross bikes featuring disc mounts more increasingly (since the UCI relaxed its ruling on disc brakes in cyclo-cross racing) Hope has been developing this remote master cylinder that will allow standard cable operated road brake levers to operate hydraulic disc brakes.

The cables from the brake levers route into the dual master cylinder, which is held in place by a small aluminium bracket that fits around the steerer tube, and activate the front or rear Hope disc brake, delivering the high levels of power us mountain bikers are used to.

It’s still in prototype form, with final testing expected to be carried out at this months 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross race.

These lovely red wheels are Hope’s new 1295g lightweight offering. Custom anodised NoTubes Crest are paired with Pro3 XC6 hubs and Sapim Super Spokes. Numbers will be limited as Hope will only be doing a few small batches, first in blue then later in Red. Be quick to join the queue.

As everyone is now committing to 29ers, it was only a matter of time before Hope offered a 29er wheelset. And here they are. These NoTubes Crest 29er wheelsets will be available with either Pro2 Evo hubs or, for a little more cash, Pro2 Evo hubs with straight pull spokes for a stiffer wheelset.

Here’s Hope’s work-in-progress rear cassette. It’s aimed at the downhill market, with the ability of the unique freehub body allowing a 9 tooth sprocket to be fitted, allowing for a smaller front ring increasing the ground clearance. When finally available, it should be perfect for 1×10 setups on cross-country race bikes, where the low weight will be hard to beat.

Titanium sprockets are riveted to a carrier which is machined with the ratchet mechanism. It’s designed to carry just six sprockets for the downhill market, but if successful we can’t see why the design can’t be expanded to suit trail riders.

Hope will now offer flat pedals in its range. They’re machined from a solid billet of aluminium, with a very low profile.

No news on the cranks yet, they’re still working on them, Hope tell us.