With out query, brakes are some of the essential elements of a motorcycle. Ask any aggressive rider what they need out of a brake, and the very first thing most would say is tons of stopping energy. Now ask SRAM what’s up with their new Maven brakes and so they’ll say “Maven is absolutely the strongest brake we’ve ever made.”
The brand new Maven brakes have beefy 4-piston calipers, massive caliper and lever pistons, a re-tuned lever, and new XL brake pads, all of which make them an extremely robust brake. With all that energy, riders can loosen up on squeezing their levers and scale back arm fatigue. After all, sheer energy is not any good with out the flexibility to manage it, so the Experts might be tuned in varied methods to offer a lighter or extra forceful chew.
SRAM has produced three totally different fashions of the brand new brakes. The Maven Final, Silver, and Bronze. I’ve had the Maven Ultimates on my bike since early this month, so my preliminary impressions are included on this publish. I plan to put in writing a full evaluation later this summer season after much more testing and tuning.
SRAM Maven Brakes:
Let’s begin with some numbers. Most significantly, SRAM says the Experts produce nearly 50% extra energy than their DH-grade Code brakes. In addition they say it takes 32% much less power on the lever to match the chew energy of Codes. With gobs of energy, the Maven brakes are appropriate for any kind of using; DH, eMTB, enduro, or path.
Within the Maven’s press materials, SRAM dove deep into explaining how warmth administration gives optimum braking energy and management. I’ll describe under how a number of the Experts’ elements assist obtain this…
Calipers:
The Maven calipers are fairly beefy wanting, and people 4 large bolts are there for power! They preserve the caliper physique additional stiff, decreasing flex and energy losses. All fashions of the calipers use massive pistons, with two 18mm and two 19.5mm in every. The massive pistons supply extra floor space to push on the brand new XL pads the Experts require. The Experts’ brake pads are bottom-loading.
As for managing warmth, the Maven calipers are literally designed to not quiet down too rapidly. The calipers do take longer to warmth up, however as soon as they do they are going to resist overheating and keep inside an optimum temperature vary longer than different brakes. SRAM says much less temperature variation as you trip interprets into extra constant braking energy.
Maven is Mineral Oil-Based mostly
Surprisingly, the Maven is a mineral oil system. A number of years in the past, SRAM constructed two variations of the identical brake system and examined them back-to-back with each mineral oil and DOT brake fluid. They preferred a number of the benefits of mineral oil, notably a longer-lasting setup with much less upkeep. Nonetheless, they needed to overcome one challenge: the seals within the calipers.
Conventional mineral oil-compatible seals merely don’t carry out in addition to these designed for DOT brake fluid. The oil-resistant materials they use doesn’t deal with excessive temperature variations in addition to DOT-compatible seals. To resolve this SRAM discovered a brand new proprietary seal materials that’s mineral oil-friendly, however can deal with high-heat conditions and low temperatures.
On the subject of mineral oil, SRAM solely approves using Maxima Mineral Brake Oil (co-developed with SRAM) for the Maven brakes.
Levers:
The Maven brake levers supply an analogous really feel to SRAM’s Code levers. They function the identical pivot level, blade form, tool-free attain adjusters, and (on most fashions) contact level changes. I like how shut the lever physique sits to your handlebar. It’s not a tiny lever, however SRAM tucks it in properly so it doesn’t look too cumbersome. The Maven levers had been designed with SRAM’s ‘stealth structure’ in order that they do have a reasonably smooth look for his or her dimension.
SRAM has re-tuned their SwingLink lever and optimized it for the Experts. The lever’s leverage price adjustments via the stroke, delivering extra energy the additional you pull. The intention is to offer extra progressive energy supply and forestall an ‘on/off’ feeling.
SRAM ensured to match the large caliper pistons with an appropriately sized lever piston. They are saying the ratio between the 2 have to be balanced to offer most stopping energy.
Rotors:
The brand new Experts don’t require particular rotors. SRAM recommends utilizing their HS2 rotors for essentially the most stopping energy and finest warmth administration, or their Centerline rotors in case you’d moderately shave some weight and don’t thoughts a 7% loss in energy. Selecting the proper rotor dimension is a part of how one can handle the Maven’s energy supply. SRAM recommends organising the Experts with the smallest rotors your bike can run, and upsizing from there if wanted.
Apparently, SRAM gives some directions on the way to verify your rotors to make sure you’re managing warmth accurately. The very first thing they level out is that warmth isn’t all the time a foul factor. You want a certain quantity of warmth to maintain the brake pads and rotors heat sufficient to seize one another optimally. For those who run rotors which are too large it’s possible you’ll not generate sufficient warmth as you trip, so smaller rotors may very well present higher seize.
To watch this, SRAM suggests checking for discoloration on the spokes of your rotors. If there are bronzed or brown spots on the high of the spokes, you’re attaining the proper warmth ranges. The rotor is getting too sizzling in case you’re seeing purple or rainbow colours, and you need to transfer up a dimension. If there is no such thing as a coloration, the rotor isn’t warming up sufficient and you need to go to a smaller dimension. Take a look at the above video for SRAM’s full rationalization.
Brake Pads:
The Experts’ brake pads are distinctive to the calipers, coming in a brand new XL dimension to offer tons of contact on the rotor. There are two compounds obtainable; natural and sintered. The natural pads supply a powerful preliminary chew and fewer noise and are perfect for dry situations. The sintered pads supply superior sustained warmth resistance and higher efficiency in moist or muddy situations.
Brake Mounts:
Brake publish mount brackets are particular to the Experts. Two sizes can be found; The 20P-1 bracket works for 160/180mm rotors, and the 20P-2 suits 200/220mm. No conical {hardware} is required with these brackets, and 4 chrome steel mounting bolts are included.
Weights:
SRAM did present weights for the Experts: They checklist 362g for the Final mannequin, 371g for Silver, and 369g for Bronze (that’s the rear brake with pads, lever, and an 1800mm hose). My scale confirmed the Ultimates coming in barely larger than claimed, at 350g for the entrance and 371g for the rear. Clearly, these are usually not a super brake for weight weenies, however they’re not considerably heavier than Codes.
The HS2 rotors are available in at 171g/180mm, 203g/200mm, and 270g/220mm. Every matchmaker handlebar clamp weighs 28g.
Bleeding:
Whereas bleeding the Experts is generally a normal job, there’s one distinctive half to the method – massaging the caliper pistons. In simplified phrases, as soon as the system has been stuffed and bled there’s one additional step of pumping the pistons out and in over the skinny facet of the pad spacer, after which pushing them again out earlier than putting in your wheel.
Mannequin Lineup:
There are three fashions of the Maven brakes, and an possibility to purchase the Final mannequin with an Skilled Package that features every part you want plus a number of extras. Under are some key variations between the fashions.
Maven Final Skilled Package – $599
The very deluxe Maven Final Skilled Package is a restricted run, introductory package deal deal that anybody contemplating the Maven Ultimates ought to positively soar on! For a similar value as a entrance/rear combo of Maven Ultimates, the Skilled Package provides you a ton of additional elements so you’ll be able to fine-tune the brakes to your wants, or for various race tracks. As soon as these kits promote out, they’re gone.
The Skilled Package consists of each levers and calipers, 4 HS2 rotors (180/200/200/220mm) in a zippered carrying case, rotor bolts, two MMX clamps, two 20P-2 publish mount brackets, two units of sintered brake pads, a set of pre-installed natural pads, and a Professional Bleed Package that features Maxima mineral oil, 4 barbs and 4 olives.
Key specs on the Maven Final brake embrace Ti caliper bolts and Ti lever bolts, and if you may get the Skilled Package you’ll get polished lever our bodies. Final however not least, the calipers within the Final Skilled Package are available in a novel purple splash anodized end.
Maven Final – $300
For the Final, Silver, and Bronze fashions SRAM lists pricing for one brake (entrance or rear). All fashions embrace the caliper and lever, hose, a 20P-2 publish mount bracket with bolts, a barb, an olive, and a matchmaker clamp. Rear brake kits embrace a Bleeding Edge becoming.
The Final mannequin will get Ti caliper and lever bolts. The calipers are available in a transparent anodized end.
Maven Silver – $265
The Maven Silver steps right down to chrome steel caliper and lever bolts, and the calipers are anodized in Daring Black.
Maven Bronze – $185
The Maven Bronze options the identical dimension pistons, Bleeding Edge bleed ports, and tool-free attain modify levers because the higher-end fashions, however there are some variations.
The bronze fashions use stamped aluminum caliper our bodies, whereas higher-end fashions are all cast aluminum. In addition they get chrome steel {hardware}, and a bushing lever pivot as a substitute of a bearing. There is no such thing as a contact level adjustment on the bronze levers, and the calipers are anodized in Darkish Polar.
When it’s time for replacements, XL natural or sintered brake pads each promote for $27.
The Maven brakes will likely be obtainable at SRAM retailers this month.
Preliminary Impressions: Arrange
For preliminary setup, SRAM recommends beginning with the smallest rotors your bike can run! I might truly put a 160mm rear rotor on my bike, however my native trails can get fairly steep so I caught with two 180mm rotors.
I’m not a heavy man, and I used to be placing the brakes on my non-electric enduro bike. Anticipating what the Maven Ultimates are able to, SRAM’s North American PR agent Chris Mandell urged I begin with 180mm rotors and the natural brake pads.
On account of slippery, snowy situations, my first check trip was simply an opportunity to begin bedding within the pads. On snowy trails, it was exhausting to get a really feel for brand new brakes, however I observed an apparent preliminary chew and it didn’t take way more of a squeeze to lock up a wheel.
On-Path Efficiency:
My subsequent couple of rides had been higher for testing, as I used to be totally on damp filth. I observed a lot much less effort squeezing the levers versus every other brake. The Experts have a stable preliminary chew and the facility comes on rapidly. As quickly because the pads contact the rotors you are feeling braking energy, however you received’t simply lock up your wheels. Past that, it solely takes a slight squeeze to ramp up ample energy for many brake faucets into corners, and many others. The one time you need to put out something near the hassle most brakes require is on steep descents or high-speed sections.
A few of my trails are nonetheless slippery and the Spring filth is a bit slick, so I’m nonetheless having some points with locking up the rear wheel. Feathering the Experts does take some getting used to; you actually do have to loosen up your contact on the lever for mild and mid-level braking, or the Maven’s energy can come on too robust. Even on filth sections of path, I locked up the rear a number of instances once I didn’t intend to. I count on with a number of extra rides I’ll adapt to the lighter contact wanted.
As for the levers I like how SRAM caught with their established form. Other than squeezing them extra gently, the Maven levers will supply a well-known really feel to anybody who runs SRAM brakes. Additionally, the matchmaker clamps left my dropper publish distant and shifter in comfy positions.
With just a few rides thus far, I’ll dive deeper into long-term efficiency and fine-tuning in a full evaluation later this summer season… keep tuned to Bikerumor!
