Today Magura releases a completely new brake that the brand claims is its most powerful yet. Magura is also changing things up with the new Race Pro brakes — aluminum where fiber-reinforced composite material once was, reworked master cylinders, and a new shape. Not only are the new brakes the most powerful that Magura offers, the brand claims they’re more powerful than the competition too.
The Magura Race Pro brakes feature a new design
Magura went fully aluminum with the new Race Pro brakes. Compared to existing Magura brakes like the Gustav, which also uses an aluminum caliper, the big difference is that Magura opted to fully CNC the Race Pro caliper after forging. Machining the brakes lets Magura be incredibly precise and eliminate unnecessary material, cutting system weight to 310g — fairly impressive for a four-piston offering.
Aluminum is also used for the master cylinder, replacing the composite “Carbotecture” design Magura is known for using in its lever system. Like the caliper, the master cylinder is machined after it is forged, and is one-piece, as Magura says they “don’t do things by halves.” Well, unless you count their brake pads, which are split in half to improve heat dissipation and simplify pad replacement.
Magura continues to use its Easy Link hose coupling to connect or disconnect the hose from the lever quickly. In addition, the new Race Pro brakes have a threaded Easy Link valve, which Magura says keeps the master cylinder completely sealed when the hose is removed. And, like the previous Easy Link system, the Race Pro hoses can be disconnected and connected without any special tools.
Look at that lever!
Probably the most noticeable change from previous Magura brakes to the Race Pros is the levers themselves. Magura is known for its aggressive lever shape, which isn’t as prevalent on the new Race Pro levers. Perhaps the change addresses criticism regarding the previous lever design?
Magura doesn’t say, but the change is noticeable. However, the brand offers a variety of lever shapes for any Magura brakes. The levers on the new Race Pro brakes more closely resemble the Magura HC-W levers, though the same adjustments that the Race Pro levers seem to have don’t appear to be present.
Magura is claiming its most powerful brakes with the new Race Pro, with a lot of master cylinder talk
Similar to the existing Magura Gustav brakes, the new Race Pro uses the same size pistons in both the caliper and brake lever — four 19mm pistons in the caliper and one 12mm piston in the lever.
Magura also continues to use its radial master cylinder design in the new Race Pro brakes, aligning the piston with the direction the lever is being pulled. Basically, the master cylinder is perpendicular to the handlebars. This contrasts with the more standard axial design where the master cylinder piston is nearly parallel to the handlebars. The radial orientation is why Magura has a boxier master cylinder look, as opposed to the slimmer, more in-line look of something like a SRAM Maven lever.
“The proven radial master cylinder and a ball-bearing lever pivot ensure exceptionally smooth actuation and maximum efficiency,” Magura says in its press material. But on the Race Pro brakes, Magura mixes the radial and axial design somewhat.
Ultimately, Magura opted to improve efficiency and sharpen the mechanical leverage ratio rather than increase the hydraulic leverage ratio by changing piston sizes. Along with using the same-size pistons and radial master cylinder, they mention a slight tilt of the axle to the radial design, combining the two designs and claiming an “optimized kinematic” in doing so.
They also boast a linear leverage curve at the lever. “When you pull the lever of our Race Pro, the braking force builds up in a smooth, linear way: The more you pull, the more you brake. Period,” the press material continues. Magura claims both a very powerful initial bite and power that builds the more you pull the levers. However, unlike the “competition,” this extra power doesn’t require extra pull force, according to Magura.
Magura’s most powerful, but do they beat the Mavens?
That is tough to say for sure. In the press material, Magura clearly states that the Race Pro brakes are the most powerful brakes the brand has ever made. Would they beat a set of Shimano Saints or SRAM Mavens? Magura didn’t name names, but has previously touted test results showing superior braking power over key competitors.
The chart above shows the relationship between newtons of force at the lever and the resulting newtons of stopping force. The new Race Pros are clear winners: 90N at the lever produces nearly 700N of stopping force, beating the Magura Gustav Pro brakes by nearly 100N. It also shows the Magura brakes beating out SRAM Maven Silver and Shimano XT brakes.
Magura Race Pro extras and details
At 310g, Magura says you can spec the Race Pro brakes on any bike — from XC to DH, and eMTB. The brakes are compatible with Magura’s Black, Silver, and Yellow pad compounds, letting riders further tailor the brakes’ stopping power.
Magura also made the Race Pro brakes compatible with all 2mm Magura rotors, though the recommended rotor for maximum power is the MDR-P, designed for “the highest possible braking force and heat resistance for prolonged braking and high system weights.” The brakes can accommodate rotor sizes from 180mm to 220mm.
The brakes are also compatible with Magura’s new shifter and dropper post adapter.
Both the master cylinder and the caliper are forged and then CNC-machined, with a silver matte, nearly raw aluminum finish. The brakes are backed by a “5-year leak-proof guarantee,” but they aren’t cheap.
A set of the new Magura Race Pro brakes is nearly $699, assuming the rotors aren’t included (they usually aren’t). For comparison, SRAM Maven Ultimate brakes are priced a little over $300 each, and they also don’t include a rotor, putting the new Magura offering on par with the Mavens.
The news stinks. Why not follow Singletracks on Google News to bring more joy to your day?
0 Comments