Since their release in February 2024, the new SRAM Maven brakes have taken the mountain bike world by storm. The Maven is by far SRAM’s most powerful brake ever, producing “nearly 50% more power than one of the most capable brakes ever, SRAM Code,” according to the brand.
Almost everyone who’s installed a set of Mavens on their bike has absolutely raved about them. The phrase, “once you go Maven, you never go back,” has been bandied around, and we’re even seeing riders installing the heavy downhill-oriented brakes on lightweight trail and XC bikes thanks to their unparalleled performance.
As someone who’s struggled with out-riding brakes in the past, I had to try out the Mavens for myself.
SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes key specs
- Four-piston brakes
- Mineral oil with air-tight, heat-tolerant seals
- SwingLink pivot design
- Weight: 362g (claimed, rear)
- Price: $299 (each), rotors not included
- Buy from Competitive Cyclist
The burly Maven brake calipers feature four exposed Torx bolts and a reinforced caliper body. The Ultimate version of the Maven brakes utilizes a shiny silver coating on the caliper, which is definitely a statement piece on the trail. Other levels of the Maven have different caliper finishes. These four-piston brakes utilize a 19.5mm piston and an 18mm piston on each side, providing maximum force against the pads. A hard plastic cap with two vents wraps over the top of the caliper, keeping the pads firmly in place and protecting the rotor. This means the pads load from the bottom, which SRAM claims increases stiffness and performance.
The brakes utilize mineral oil in the lines, and to optimize performance, the pistons feature air-tight, heat-tolerant seals. The seals are made from “a proprietary material that retains its properties to maintain air-tight sealing regardless of extreme braking heat or low atmospheric temperatures,” according to SRAM.
“This isn’t the first SRAM brake to use mineral oil,” Matt Miller noted in an article at the time of launch. “The DB8s use the fluid, but SRAM has traditionally used DOT 5.1.”
The Mavens feature a new pad design which comes in both organic and sintered metallic options. I tested the Mavens with metallic pads installed for maximum bite and longevity.
Rotors are available in three different sizes: 180mm, 200mm, and 220mm. They also come in two types: the HS2, which offers a claimed 7% more power and better heat distribution, or Centerline, which is lighter. I tested the HS2 rotors with a 220mm on the front and a 200mm on the rear.
The master cylinder and lever are fairly similar to the Code Stealth brakes, featuring SRAM’s SwingLink pivot design and reach adjustment. The SwingLink is designed to optimize the leverage ratio of the lever pull so that it works seamlessly with the massive power provided at the caliper. The lever sends progressively more power to the caliper as it pulls through the stroke, which is designed to provide excellent modulation. According to SRAM, it takes 32% less force at the lever to generate the same braking power as the Code brakes.
A pad contact adjustment dial is also included on each master cylinder, allowing the rider to easily move the pads in and out directly from the handlebars.
Out on the trail
I mounted the SRAM Maven brakes on my new V3 Pivot Switchblade, which features 142mm of rear travel and 160mm of front travel. As the strongest brake in the SRAM line, you can expect to see Mavens on freeride and downhill bikes, making the 160/142 Switchblade a little on the short end of the intended travel spectrum for the Maven.
Or is it? I’ve out-ridden four-piston brakes on trail bikes on steep ski slopes in Colorado and near-vertical rock slabs in Squamish. There’s nothing quite so terrifying as locking up a pair of brakes on a vertical rock slab and still feeling your bike accelerate down the slab as you careen out of control. No mountain biker wants to out-ride their brakes, and with how capable modern trail and all-mountain/enduro bikes are, speccing a burly brake is a smart choice for aggressive riders.
This summer, I tested the Mavens primarily in the high mountain terrain surrounding Durango, Colorado. I put the brakes through their paces on the steeps of the Purgatory Bike Park, as well as innumerable miles-long descents on classic, chonky trails such as Engine Creek, Kennebec Pass, Graysill Creek, and more. I even pummeled the brakes on steep, rocky hits on our in-town trails, and traveled to Crested Butte, Salida, Carbondale, and even New York’s Adirondack Mountains to test them in a variety of terrain.
In short, everywhere I took the Mavens, I found them to perform superbly. In fact, I never felt like I was close to finding the limits of the Mavens. In order to attempt to reach the limits of the Mavens, I’d need to travel to some of the toughest terrain in the world: the near-vertical rock slabs of Squamish and Whistler. But of any brake I’ve ridden, I’d choose to ride the Mavens on my next visit to Squamish. Indeed, the SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes set the new standard by which all brakes will be measured.
The SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes set the new standard by which all brakes will be measured.
There are more variables to judge a brake by than sheer strength, however. I’ve heard some friends claim that the Mavens “feel grabby.” However, I didn’t have that experience myself. I think it’s possible that the Mavens may feel grabby if you’re unaware of just how little force you need to activate the lever, and you go in and grab a fistful of lever the first time you ride them. Sure, if you’re used to a weak brake, and you grab a bunch of lever, it’s going to grab hard — but that’s because the Maven is so damn powerful.
Share your SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes review
In my testing, I didn’t find the brakes to feel grabby. In fact, I found the modulation to be quite excellent. The truth is you just need to use less force at the lever to generate the amount of braking force that you’re used to, and after a few rides, you quickly adapt to the force required. The lower force required at the lever dramatically reduces fatigue and arm pump, especially on long high alpine descents.
Over hundreds of miles of riding, I haven’t had to address a single maintenance issue with these brakes.
If I had to find a way to complain about the Mavens, their noise when wet can be ear-piercing, especially with metallic pads installed. Also, there’s no getting around the fact that these burly brakes weigh 53g per brake more than the Code brakes that SRAM compares them to in their marketing materials. The weight of the Codes is on par with other burly brakes from the likes of Shimano and Hayes, making the Mavens notably heavier than most other brakes on the market.
Pros and cons of SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes
Pros
- Maximum power
- Excellent modulation
- Durable and reliable
- Visually-stunning
Cons
- Weight
- Loud when wet
Bottom line
If you’re an aggressive rider who demands maximum performance and power from your brakes, then you need to hop on a bike equipped with SRAM’s new Mavens. Once you’ve sampled their revolutionary stopping prowess, there’s no way you’ll be able to go back to the brakes you were running before. However, if you’re an endurance or XC rider and weight is a significant factor for you, you may need to look elsewhere.
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