Formula Cura 4 Experience

I don't have any "long-term" review for you.  About 6 months worth.  My Trickstuff brakes are constantly having issues, so I put on some Cura 4's while I awaited more parts.  The Curas don't have all the mental power of the Trickstuff brakes, but it's close enough that I simply haven't bothered putting the Trickstuff's back on (220mm rotors though).  The levers fit me fine.  The adjustment is a little finicky, but that's something I took care of in the first ride.  You need a hex to adjust the standard lever.  No issues with fade, leaking etc.  Feel is right about where I like it.  Not really crazy grabby off the initial pull like a Shigura setup, but it also doesn't take much to get them really working and the power builds in a linear fashion so I don't really have to think about it.  In light of the cost being low, and parts easy to get.  I'll be speccing them on my next trail bike build.

I ran mine for 3 season and never had any issues. They would get bled whenever I changed pads, and not because they needed it, rather just because I find it’s a good time to do it. They are also fully rebuildable, and parts seems to be pretty easy to source from distributors. I fully rebuilt a lever for a buddy who managed to damage his in a crash and it was easy and straightforward. Power is okay with the stock organic pads, really good with the sintered pads, and way more than enough with some Trickstuff power pads installed. I personally really liked the ergonomics and power delivery. Like mentioned above, they deliver power is a very linear and controlled, which really helps when you need to manage traction in loose or wet conditions. I’d definitely recommend them.

+1 to Trickstuff power plus pads with them.  Only negative is I burn through them more on park days, but the performance improvement is noticeable versus the stock pads.  Only pads I'll run anymore.

I've got long term experience using Cura and Cura 4 brakes.  It's all I've ran since they came out however many years ago now.  I lean toward the regular Cura or Cura X because they're crazy powerful for two piston calipers, they modulate well, and are really easy to setup drag-free and maintain.  I've had a few issues with Cura 4 in the past, mainly user error, but not enough bad things to not recommend them.  I actually just put a new set on a Heckler SL and they set up drag free and have been running without issue for a couple weeks now.  As mentioned, they can easily be rebuilt, and they run mineral oil which is a plus for me.  I'd be happy as hell if they came spec'd a new bike.  No reason to switch in my book.

Have used nothing but Cura4 on several bikes over several years. No issues, basically bleed after cutting hoses to fit and then pretty much replace pads when needed, that is it.

I prefer Galfer pads and rotors over the Formula versions but strictly preference there, nothing wrong with the Formula versions.

Great modulation and power, the only thing that I have found that I like better is Hope V4 on lever feel and a little bit more modulation.

Pretty much a 'do you like pie or ice cream' type deal there, no wrong answer just nuances really.

I liked mine when I had them, pretty minimal maintenance, good power and modulation. 

Given Hayes has complete service parts availability for the Dominions, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just rebuild rather than buy new. That's one reason I was looking at the Doms and Curas when my Shimanos developed issues, you can get caliper and MC rebuild kits as needed. 

I run cura 4 since they came out on a couple of bikes and they’re perfect. I am cheap so I only run AliExpress brake pads from KingStop. All good, plenty stopping power and no issues with durability.

I've been running them for over a year and they are really good. All I've done is replace brake pads...

Cura (both 2 and 4 piston) are hands down some of the best brakes Ive ridden and highly recommended. The new hayes brakes are great from a performance standpoint, but the finish and ID is super cheap feeling in my opinion. The "fit and finish" is on par with the $60 set of tektros that came on my kids bike. Lots of lever slop, mediocre finishing feel whereas the formulas are on the other end of the spectrum and the finishing is much nicer than the price suggests. 

I think Formula used to have even better finish and more attention to details in their The One in 2008/2010 and R0/Oval in mid-2010. The only thing that sucked a lot back then was non-existent pads spacing - combined with flexy rotors it was a recipe for a neverending song on the trails.  Glad they fixed that problem in the Curas.

FYI Cura 4 is now on sale for around ~105 EUR on german bike retailers each.  I've just got another pair...

Been on the same set of Cura 4’s for 3 years and had that set on 4 bikes.

only had to bleed when changing hoses to go onto a new bike , faultless other than need a good bleed on setup , wind the adjusters right out when bleeding to get more fluid in the system 

this ends up with a good solid lever feel if that makes sense , I run galfer wave discs 203/180 which are better than the formulas , even though galfer make the formula discs the galfer ones have a bit more bite.also prefer the formula sintered pads , miles better than the standard resin ones , tried galfer purple ones and red but wore down too quick in the wet red ones were awful , now run sintered all year long , also since day one have been running RG components billet levers , so much better that the stock levers , longer , better feel , better grip and look better……

+1 for the RG components billet lever, a really nice upgrade option. I’d be curious to try the new Formula 2-piece lever as well. 

I'm using the new Formula FCS lever on a set of Cura 4 brakes and can't tell much of a difference what the dial adjustment does when adjust all the way in or out.  That technology is lost on me.  I do like the feel of the blade and appreciate the tool free reach adjustment, but I wouldn't recommend them based on my experience.  If I was gonna splurge, then I'd spend the money on the carbon lever blade from the Cura X, which is now available in the U.S.  

On the Cura 2 what is your trick to get drag-free setup? My set seems to be getting less and less pad rollback over time. They were bled not long ago and it didn't seem to help. Do you think it would be worth replacing the piston seals?

I'm terrible at getting my brakes to run completely drag-free, but I've had several sets of Cura 2 and 4 with severe pad clearance issues, and replacing the piston seals did help.  My thought is the cause comes from using fluid and bleed kits that have been used with mixed fluids, new and old.  Like if you use the same fluid you used to bleed a Shimano or Magura brake then used the same fluid again in a Formula.  This was definitely happening in my shop, so now I'm particular about keeping my bleed kits separated and using only Formula mineral oil along with a dedicated bleed kit in all Cura brakes.  The Formula bleed kits are great, but any good mineral oil bleed kit should work fine.  I could be wrong, but it seems like I've seen much fewer problems since going this route.  Hopefully this helps.