DISC BRAKE TEST MOUNTAINBIKE 03/2015 ENGLISH

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1 ENGLISH

2 Winners brake correctly! Brakes don t just save lives, they re fun too! MB took eleven disc brakes in two price classes and put them through their paces in a laboratory and field test to find out which bike stopper has the edge in Text Chris Pauls Braking s for losers is what you hear around biker groups; but every active athlete knows that if the brakes aren t applied before a curve, even a daredevil will lose control. Brakes aren t just for safety, they enable bikers to modulate their speed and that is crucial. That s why we say, Winners brake correctly! Correct braking is best done with modern disc brake systems that combine true braking power with a high degree of stability, sensitive modulation and sophisticated ergonomics. MB wanted to know which current bike stoppers could master these four tests and put eleven disc brakes in two price classes through their paces in a complex laboratory and field test. Comparison of disc brakes from 84 Four braking systems priced between 84 and 176 were in the low-cost category. The Shimano Deore One threw down the gauntlet to its competitors with its low price. The Japanese haven t officially published a price yet, but Shimano s German Sales Division has a market prices list, according to which the Deore will be sold for 84 including disc. The Hayes Radar package costs 119. More expensive, but made in Italy is the new CR3 by Formula ( 140). Sram offered the new, four-piston Brake Guide R at 176 for the test. At 221, Sram s Guide RSC was the least expensive in the higher-priced segment. Magura, with the new MT 7 four-piston brakes costs 256 and Hope comes in at 281 with its Race Evo E4. FSA is a newcomer to the bike brakes segment and its light K-Force comes in at 284. Shimano XTR Trail follows that with prices from 338 another approximate price. Made in Germany is of course more expensive and Brake Force One and Trickstuff systems cost 390 and 399 respectively.

3 MB ordered the test brakes with 180 mm front and rear wheel discs, a size that should be suitable for most riders bikes. For bikers who weigh more than 85 kilos or for mountaineers who ride mainly in the Alps, a 200 mm is the better choice, at least for the front wheel. Light bikes and cross-country and marathon racers can get along just fine with the 160 mm discs. The advantages and disadvantages of the disc sizes are shown in the box above. Since the front brake transfers most of the braking force, it s often useful to mix the sizes by installing a larger disc at the front than at the rear. 140 mm discs are very hard to find nowadays and they are really only recommended for weight fetishists. MB carried out the theory part of the test in the laboratory at the Vienna Technikum. The testers checked braking force in wet and dry conditions. You ll find these results in the diagram on page 55. Stability was also measured on the test bench and the results are listed in the How MB carries out tests box. MB s practical test took place on a challenging mountain descent in Latsch (South Tyrol). Four riders rated the braking power and stability of all the braking systems and checked out their modulation performance on hairpin bends. Positive: Most of the lower-cost brakes also achieved good scores. The Formula CR3 provided plenty of power, even performing better than the more expensive FSA, Hope and Sram systems. In the higher-priced class, the Brake Force One, Shimano and above all the Magura generated tremendous power. The Sram, Shimano and Hope brakes with the one-finger lever had excellent ergonomics. The best modulation was achieved by Shimano, Sram and Magura. The practical test for stability only produced minor abnormalities, but in the laboratory tests, the aluminium fins of the Shimano Ice Tech disc distorted so much that they ended up rubbing on the calliper. The test letters have all the results in detail. You ll also find rankings for the best stability, modulation and value for money on page 60. Magura won the higher-priced category with its great power, top modulation and solid stability. In the lower-cost class, the new Formula CR3 gained a deserved victory, but the Shimano Deore also offers you a lot for your money. Straight to the point: Disc brakes have revolutionised biking thanks to their enormous braking force, especially in wet conditions; and they re becoming more sophisticated every year. The new Magura MT 7 stood out among the current 2015 models thanks to its cutting-edge performance. The prices of the Shimano Deore and the Formula CR3 are especially competitive.

4 Conclusion for FORMULA CR3 Full braking power and good stability that s where the very light Formula CR3 convinced the testers. The bite point is defined, but also very hard and this can tire fingers sooner. Once you become accustomed to the CR3, it s a safe companion for every terrain. However, for riders with very small hands, the lever adjustment could be a little too minimal. These Italian brakes were also prone to squeaking during long descents. Conclusion for HAYES RADAR The low-cost Radar is a throwback to the famous Mag21, which established Hayes on the market in the late 1990s. The ergonomics of the giant brake lever are especially old-fashioned. The hard bite point is also reminiscent of the early years of disc brakes. The rider must use a lot of finger force to apply the very efficient stopping power. Excellent: Braking performance is even slightly better in wet conditions. Conclusion for SHIMANO DEORE Shimano brakes are currently enjoying great popularity, thanks mainly to the system s very good ergonomics, its high degree of reliability and the carefree operation of this Japanese bike stopper. Ergonomically, the low-cost, heavy Deore is also top-quality, but the testers felt slight fading on the rear brake. The modulation is very good. The braking force is also good, but in wet conditions it deteriorates drastically. Conclusion for SRAM GUIDE R The Guide R is the entry braking system of the new Guide Family by Sram. It has four pistons on the calliper like all Sram models, but it does without the reverse curve on the lever. The Guide R is ergonomically very solid. It also offers tool-free lever adjustment, but this caused problems in the test (see left). Brake modulation is excellent. Braking force could, however, be higher, especially in wet conditions. The rear brake showed some fading.

5 Conclusion for BRAKE FORCE ONE BFO1 missing Conclusion fpr FSA K-FORCE missing Conclusion for HOPE RACE EVO E4 The four-piston Hope Race Evo E4 brake has a perfectly shaped one-finger lever. Thanks to the extremely comfortable bite point, the Hope can be very finely modulated. However, strong fingers are a must if you want to squeeze a lot of braking force out of the Hope. The Race Evo should also generate more power. In the practical test and the laboratory, it proved to be sensitive to heat and this caused its braking force to rapidly deteriorate. Conclusion for MAGURA MT7 Magura is back! As this test showed, the new four-piston MT 7 brake, with its extremely powerful braking performance in wet and dry conditions, perfect modulation and solid stability is best in its class. However, bikers with small hands and those who like to have the bite point as close as possible to their handlebars should try out the MT 7 before purchase, due to the minimal adjustability of the lever reach.

6 Conclusion for SHIMANO XTR TRAIL The Shimano XTR Trail is not too heavy and possesses a sharp bite. It offers perfect brake lever ergonomics for both small and large hands. The bite point itself is crisp, but also comfortable for efficient modulation. The discs have aluminium cooling fins which are meant to make the XTR Trail extremely heat resistant, but they distorted badly in the laboratory test (see box for details). This problem, however, did not crop up in the practical test, not even after long braking cycles. Conclusion for SRAM GUIDE RSC In addition to the obligatory four-piston calliper, Sram s new top brake, the Guide RSC, offers a elaborately reverse-curved lever (see box) as well as bite point and lever routing adjustment. The Guide performed well in the practical test. The testers noted its perfect ergonomics, modulation and very good braking force. The Guide did show some weaknesses in the laboratory test, however, especially in wet conditions which caused its braking force to deteriorate drastically.

7 The best in class: The table shows which of the eleven brakes had their callipers in front in four different tests. Braking efficiency: High braking force doesn t strain the muscles in your hands and forearms and also shortens braking distance. 1. Magura MT 7 2. Formula CR3 3. Shimano XTR Trail The MT 7 gave the best performance on the test bench, especially in dry conditions. Formula also scored with its braking force in wet conditions. These two were followed by the Shimano XTR Trail. Stability: If there is sufficient heat resistance, the braking performance will remains constant even after long descents. 1. Trickstuff Cleg 4 2. MAGURA MT 7 3. Formula CR3 The Cleg 4 s braking performance was consistently high, both on the test bench and in the practical test. Magura and Formula also displayed excellent heat resistance. Modulation: Correct modulation leads to the desired or necessary braking force comfortably and fast. 1. Sram Guide RSC 2. Magura MT 7 3. Sram Guide R The tests showed that good modulation is the main strong point of the new Sram Guide Brakes. And the Magura MT 7 proved that modulation and tremendous braking power are not mutually exclusive! Value for money: Good brakes don t have to be expensive and these three below give you the most value for your money. 1. Shimano Deore 2. Formula CR3 3. Hayers Radar Shimano offers high braking performance and top ergonomics at a low cost. The Hayes is a good braking system for budget-conscious bikers. The CR3 is more expensive, but it s also better.