SRAM Maven heats up the brake world!
Maven = expert and Maven = some bloody powerful new brakes from SRAM.
SRAM have just upped the ante in the brake game releasing the Maven – the new expert of brakes. The 4-piston brake is touted to the most powerful brake that SRAM have made, with 50% more power than SRAM's own Code, which is already a very capable brake. But that's not to say it's all power without control. They also state that modulation is impressive as well.
The benefits of stronger brakes are many: less fatigue, faster speeds with later braking points, and greater confidence.
Do less. Stop more.
SRAM reckon the Maven brakes have a 32% lighter braking force required for the some eye-pooping braking as a set of Codes. This is where less fatigue comes into play, meaning on a race run or long trail arm pump will be kept at bay a lot longer.
The four pistons are 19.5mm and 18mm – bigger than other brakes. More pushing force = more braking force = more simple.
The modulation comes from SRAM's SwingLink, which changes the leverage throughout the lever stroke. Feather touch means you feather the brakes, but get hauling with fear and you'll probably have more braking power than you know what to do with.
The power comes from a few places. Piston size is one of them, but so is reduced flex. The four bolts on the caliper aren't for a a Mad Max Fury Road aesthetic, they're holding the damn thing together under high braking loads. Any flex in the caliper will be felt in the lever and represents lost power. The Maven caliper prevents that.
Touch points count
The lever for the maven brake is said to have a familiar feel, which is exactly what you want for a brake on a bike that is built for charging jank, racing the clock or just finding your limit. With the blade length, pivot point and contact point adjustments runing over from the Code, ergonomics should remain unchanged for riders upgrading to a set of Maven brakes.
The hose setup is the Stealth setup, which helps for a clean run close to the bars and into a head set routed frame, but, and bike industry take note, ALSO WORKS WITH FRAME ENTRY ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HEADTUBE.
Hot stuff coming through!
SRAM have said that the Maven brake is so strong, many riders should consider downsizing their rotors. A lot of this has to do with heat. Maven is all about heat. Not about getting rid of it – but using it. Brakes need some heat to work their best, and the size and heft of the Maven is in part to hold onto heat to maintain a consistent operating temperature.
This adoption of heat might mean you are surprised to see that the Mavens use mineral oil, which isn't a huge fan of heat. Part of the design of the new caliper is bumping up the seal strength – with a new material thatb is hush-hush but apparently the bees knees.
Suitably, rotors are part of the braking equation. While a bigger rotor can increase power, if you're not stopping hard enough to get heat into it, you aren't really getting the best bight out the rotor. We like SRAM's tip: look at your rotors. Purple and rotor means that your rotors are asking for help – please use something bigger! Brown or bronze is spot on. No real sign of much action means you have too much rotor, drop a size.
There are organic and sintered pads available, ostensibly for best use in dry and wet conditions respectively. But useage sugegstions are inline as they are for any brake.
Maven options
There's a bunch of spec levels available in the new Maven brakes, and chances are your reliable local mountain bike shop – so give them a call for pricing and avilability.
